Okay, so it's not 'Lady Rees of Cardiff' but I think it's even better news as I've spent months worrying about it BUT I finally have a title for my book!
I have spent so long trying to think of something that sums up the book and so finally deciding on a name has been a huge relief. As I mentioned in my previous post I'm completely useless when it comes to opening/closing sentences and titles so it's a small miracle that it hasn't taken me another five months just to think of a name. I think my biggest concern over the title was that I'm hoping for the book to be the first in a series and so I feel there is more weight placed upon the title of the first book as it sets the tone for the rest of the series. As well as this a book series is often named after the first book and, if by some amazing piece of luck, my books are successful then I don't want to be wincing every time someone mentions the 'X Series'. So what is this [incredible] title I hear you cry! Well, I can officially announce (I'm trying to sound more important than I am, you may have noticed) that Ellie Rees' debut novel will be called 'Enkindled'. "That's amazing! How on God's green earth did you come up with that?!" Thank you, dear reader, that is most kind of you and in answer to your question, I had to put pressure on myself. During the course of my writing I've kept telling myself that I can think of a title at the end but now that I'm in a position whereby the book is very nearly where I want it to be I can't really move forward with it until I have title. Therefore, I made myself sit down and think about a title. I thought all about the useless ones I had come up with thus far and told myself never to think about them again, there's no way I could ever make them work. I then thought about my story as a whole, rather than focusing on just one aspect of the plot which I had been doing until that point. Surprisingly, forcing myself to come up with a title actually worked and I almost slapped myself for not thinking of it before, especially because it's one of my favourite words that I use in the book. As it turns out, 'Enkindled' could not be more perfect for me nor for the story I'm trying to tell.
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So I've finally finished the second draft of my book! Hoorah! I am actually really excited and happy about this as I feel that the story is a lot stronger and more developed than the first draft, although there are still some kinks I need to iron out and so the third draft beckons!
One aspect of writing that I've always struggled with and that has become more prominent during the writing of this book is ending a chapter or paragraph effectively. When I've come to the end of a section, like most writers, I want it to end with a punch that stays in the reader's head but I always feel that my attempts are mediocre at best. I became aware that I am falling in to a pattern of ending chapters with short, sharp sentences, which is great when you want to shock the reader or create suspense but twenty-two chapters of the same technique can get incredibly boring and predictable. I know that a lot of screenwriters live by the rule of 'end a scene with a visual' but there doesn't seem to a general train of thought when it comes to novel writing. I suppose this is a good thing as the writer has complete creativity but I have to say that I am clueless when it comes to writing a powerful ending. Another thing I struggle with is titles, I still haven't given my book a title let alone the chapters! I know I'm going to forego chapter titles otherwise I'll spend months screaming in frustration but I can't not have a book title, can I? Everything I think of seems too over the top, cheesy or dramatic and I don't want people to laugh at my book before they've even read it. I've tried looking at key themes and plot points but nothing is coming to me and I just wonder if this is a problem for a lot of writers or just me. I know that some writers have a title before they even begin writing but I always thought I'd discover mine along the way and so I'm hoping that the third draft brings with it a light bulb moment. Anyway, if anyone has any tips on how to rectify this problems I would be eternally grateful if you could send them my way. I'm more excited about this book than ever and I really want it to be as great as it can be before I begin the, no doubt, painful task of getting it out to publishers. And now I can't think of a decent sentence to end this post with. As my search for a job goes on I have suddenly become my family's PA, which means that anything that needs posting, buying or collecting is now my responsibility. My mother has also been on at me to clean the house from top to bottom every twenty-four hours but we all know that's not going to happen (even if I did I would never meet her high standards, she takes house proud to new dizzying heights.) But besides my new role as Ellie Rees, Family Admin Clerk, I have tried to fill as much of my time with writing my book as possible and it's all getting quite exciting!
I'm currently writing the second draft and all the anxieties and worries I had over the first are ever so slowly disappearing as I develop plots, add new ones and change my characters. My main problem is that I tend to get a bit carried away and want to cram all of my new ideas in and, a lot of the time, I don't need them or I just need to hold back until later on in the book or series (if it ever gets that far.) Sometimes I will have a sudden brainwave and solve a plot point that has been nagging at me for days so I quickly make a note of it and before I know it this new idea has spawned another twenty that I have to include, somehow. Although I do believe in writing down every idea that pops in to my head in case I may want to use it for other projects, there does come a point when you have to be strict and critical with yourself. One of the biggest dilemmas I have been facing in writing a fantasy book is that I want this world to seem as real as it can be, which means every aspect from what food is popular to what its people do for fun has to be covered if it's going to be convincing. Therefore, I feel like I need to keep adding a plethora of information in to the book so that the reader has no doubt in their mind that this place could be real. The tricky bit is knowing what to include and what not to include, something I'm learning as I continue along the writing process. Do I really need to describe how my fantasy people live in great depth or is it best to slowly reveal this over the course of the story? Which is more natural? I suppose there is an argument for both as the reader needs to know the characters' surroundings before that part of the plot can move forward but I also think that an overload of description and information can quickly become dull and boring. In any real life situation we are not given the facts all at once and straight away, we discover them for ourselves or learn about them so I think that is the best way to approach my writing. Getting carried away with ideas is a great way to get creative and open up new possibilities but I know that I also need to try and be that person who can show some restraint and can lead my reader along with enough juicy bits to keep them interested. Here's hoping! Once again I have neglected my blog but I have spent the last month hopelessly and tirelessly looking for a job and slowly moving back to South Wales with my parents so things have been a bit crazy!
The only thing that has been keeping me marginally sane is my writing (although I think being a bit crazy can only be good for your work) and today I realised that I had written myself in to a corner. Without going in to too much detail I've had to write certain rules for my fantasy world but there was one crucial part of my story that completely broke all of these rules and I didn't even notice it until today when I was redrafting my outline. However, one of my friends (Hi, Molly) gave me a brilliant idea that, although after some serious thinking I can't really use, seemed to solve my problems. I immediately shouted out with joy before joking that she better not sue me for intellectual property if I ever get published. Although this was a joke and I'm pretty sure she would never sue me (please don't sue me, Molly) it did get me thinking about inspiration, ideas and when it's acceptable to use other people's. I know that there are many theories about there are only a handful of stories in the world that we rehash and that some authors use other authors to inspire their work but is it okay to blatantly take another person's idea and put it in your story? I think it can be a very thin line and in my situation it is perfectly acceptable as my friend was genuinely trying to help me get out of this hole I had dug myself in to. Asking people to read your drafts and then give you ideas is only going to improve your work and if they give you the last missing piece of your puzzle then, hopefully, a dedication at the start of the book will be enough for them. Writers may be creative people but that doesn't mean we have everything defined and sorted from the start so I do not see why we should feel guilty about helping each other out. After all, if we're truly committed to our stories why shouldn't we do everything we can to make it the best it can be? Of course, taking one author's idea and just rewriting it something I cannot get on board with. There will always be similarities between books, especially fantasy ones as magic and the supernatural are always going to be prominent features across the board. I think the key is to put your own spin on it and make your own rules and stick to them in order to make your story original. There are plenty of story formulas and it can be difficult to avoid these but stealing key elements of someone else's work is dodgy to say the least. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but it's probably not very interesting and I'm sure you'd end up in loads of trouble. With this in mind I'm beginning to appreciate that writing is not as insular as I once thought. Without sounding too pretentious, I get inspiration from the people around me, the things I do and everything else I see in the world so my ideas can't all just be lazing around in my brain waiting for me to pluck them out. Writing isn't necessarily a team effort but I think that maybe it would be a little arrogant of me to think that everything I write is a simple result of my creativity as there's a lot more going on before the words even hit the page. Apologies in the long delay (and for the awful title, I'm no good with titles), I'm sure you've been checking this site everyday for my latest post and have been ridiculously disappointed to find that it has not been posted but, do not worry, as the wait is over. I've just finished a very intense and tiring summer job so now I have a lot of free time to write and blog (unless I get another job, which would be very nice.)
Anyway, the job I have just finished involved guiding students from other countries around London and entertaining them when they weren't being taught English by the summer school's teachers. I only bring this up because, without sounding like a pretentious twit, the whole month that I worked there has changed my perspective on what I want to do with my life. I still want to be a published author and write screenplays but I've also realised that I want to see the world and have new experiences. I always knew this to some extent but it was more of a wish than a burning desire but that's now changed and I'm desperate to experience as many new things as possible, preferably good things, the bad things can just do one. I believe that immersing yourself in new ideas and ways of living is also the best way to improve yourself as a writer. If you're meant to write what you know but all you know is a nondescript street in South Wales then that's not going to make for a very good story, is it? Obviously imagination is crucial to a good story and I'm a firm believer that imagination is as important as life experiences but when it comes to the sights, smells and interacting with the people from a place then the best way to understand these things is to be there in the flesh. Therefore, I'm going to throw myself into any interesting opportunities that may come way, as I try to do anyway, but I'm also going to actively seek out new experiences just to see if I have a hidden talent or passion for something that I never knew existed. Check back in a month to see if this chipper gal is still as optimistic as she is right now, I certainly hope so for all of our sakes! For the few of you that read this blog I have to apologise for the delay in my latest post as I've just started my summer job and the hours are very long and tiring, which means very little time for writing!
Speaking of my new job, there was a little incident today that, although it wasn't anything major, it did force me to question my ability to do the job. I think Ii'm a fairly confident person and, as Maria von Trapp would say, I do have a great deal of confidence in myself. However, I'm very aware of not coming across as big headed, arrogant or egotistical twit and so sometimes I do doubt myself. I'm sure this is the case for a lot of people, particularly writers. I know that I'm a fairly decent writer but even writing that sentence puts me on edge. Stating that I am somewhat talented opens me up to criticism and ridicule if I cannot back up my claims and the only way to confirm if I am talented is by putting my work out there for other people to read. Therefore, I am one of those people who always downplays their abilities so that I don't risk disappointing anyone. For example, I love the idea of my book and have thoroughly enjoyed the process so far but when someone asks me to explain it to them I am very reluctant to go in to too much detail in case they think that I've bitten off more than I can chew or, perhaps worst of all, that it just sounds awful. I am particularly worried because if the book does end up being a YA fantasy fiction book it may be compared to incredible writers such as Suzanne Collins or J.K. Rowling (now that sentence does sound arrogant) and I would never claim to be as talented as they are. However, believing that I could be targeting a similar audience may be a useful way to inject some confidence in to my writing. Not all writers want to be published or for their work to be read, which is great for them, but I would really like my work to be out in the public arena and I think that a certain degree of confidence is essential in order for that to happen. I know I'm the kind of person who can get things done and I also know that I'm incredibly hard working. I don't believe that this is arrogant but a fact about my personality and I'm not afraid to promote that about me. On the other hand, I would never say that I'm going to be a famous author because a) I can't predict the future and b) the only way to determine my worth as a writer is by the feedback from my readers. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with being confident in your writing by pushing it to new levels or believing that it is a unique story that must be told but you must also write with an attitude of humbleness because thinking you are something doesn't make it true, no matter how much you wish it. Well, guess who's had a very exciting couple of days?! Maybe you have but I'm going to regale you with the latest events in my life for a moment!
Firstly, I discovered on Monday that I will be graduating with a 2:1 so I have been living on cloud nine for the past three days! I'm also very pleased that all of my closest friends got incredible grades and I couldn't be more proud nor pleased for them. It's such a relief to know that the last three years have finally paid off and I've now got the degree I wanted! Secondly, about ten minutes ago I finished the first draft of my book! I've never written anything of that length before and, although it needs a hell of a lot of work, I'm also very proud that I managed to plan and execute and novel length story. I'm actually quite excited now about reading through it, cutting out and adding in new parts, rewriting parts completely and generally trying to perfect it as much as I can. I have no idea how most authors go about their writing process but I've found that once I've written my plan, I try to stick to that as best I can and just get the bare bones of it down. I'm hoping that when I read over it I can add more detailed descriptions and see where I need to provide more dramatic conflict or character development. I definitely think that you discover your characters rather than create them. I've written a lot of character profiles but, sometimes, I struggle to make them any different from your average Joe on the street, and who wants to read about that? Once I've put them in to my story and give them situations to deal with I have found that I gradually understand how they would react. This means that during the (undoubtedly, numerous) redrafting stage I will have a much firmer idea of how they would behave and, of course, where they end up! So that's my bubble of happiness for this week! I hope you've had as equally a good couple of days and I'm sure you'll be checking your computer everyday to find out the progress of my book. It's okay, I understand if you have better things to do. Attempting to write my own book has presented me with many questions such as how my characters should behave, where the story should be set and, more recently, should they swear or not?
I did not intend to write a YA book but as the story has developed I can see how it would be marketed that way should it ever be published, which is absolutely fine with me. However, my characters have been voicing a few expletives along the way. I haven't written them in to cause controversy or to try and get away from the YA genre, I have only made my characters swear because I believe that is how they would naturally react in a certain situation. My concern is that most YA novels do not contain swearing and I will have to edit what my characters say. I don't have a problem with editing my work (you shouldn't really be a writer if you have a problem with editing, in my opinion) but I do want to be faithful to my characters and, sometimes, that means that they have to swear. I understand that parents don't want their children picking up bad words but, to me, the YA genre is for the ages 14-17 ish (a lot of adult readers read this genre, too, so it's difficult to pinpoint) and, personally, by the time I was 14 I knew A LOT of swear words. However, this didn't mean that I was using them in every other sentence; the wrath of my parents ensured that. So are we underestimating those who read YA? Is it possible for them to read a book with a few swear words and not become vicious hooligans? I think so, after all, there are millions of debates surrounding violence on television and in video games yet not every teenager who engages in these things ends up as a bloody murderer. So, for now, at least, I'm going to continue writing my book as I intended and if I'm ever lucky enough to have it printed we'll have to see what happens. Perhaps there is a new genre waiting to be discovered called 'Not Quite Adults But Almost' where swearing is acceptable? I think I might look in to that. What an eventful week it's been! Last night I landed in London after a few days in Barcelona and had to go straight to A and E as my foot is very swollen with a suspect rash all of it. I have no idea what it is and neither do the doctors, which is always very helpful. I can't walk properly and trying not to scratch the thing is a task in itself. On the plus side, I think this means that I can use my extended sofa time to do lots of writing and apply for jobs, hurrah!
I thought I'd write a post about Barcelona as I'm sure anyone who has ever been there can verify what a wonder it is for the eyes. I'm definitely a writer and not an artist but I now have a huge respect for Antoni Gaudi who was an architect whose influence over the city is just incredible. I thought I might enjoy his work as I've always had an affinity with the fantastical and the slightly strange and he did not disappoint. In fact, I have been so taken with his work that I'm going to rewrite some of my book as the essence of his buildings perfectly capture one of my crucial chapters. Of course, I would never dare to compare myself to Gaudi but his ideas and their creation have made me see my fantasy world in a new way. Finding inspiration can be one of the most challenging aspects of writing, particularly when you are desperate to write something but cannot for the life of you think of a decent, original idea. I haven't written even half of my book yet and I'm already doubting myself (but I will persevere!) I think that the key is to not over think these things and get too anxious about them; the best ideas are always the ones that just pop into your head. I think that you can probably speed the process up by travelling, listening to music or reading other books but I think that can still feel like a way of forcing your brain to be creative. I'm not sure if this is necessarily the case for most writers but it's just a thought from my little brain! Now I'm going to go and rewrite that chapter with my new ideas and see if it really will make a difference. |
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