Writing Conference in Tucson

Arizona writers: There is a writing conference, Pima Writers' Workshop, coming up in Tucson this May. It doesn't get a lot of publicity, but it usually has a slew of agents and all attendees get a manuscript consultation.

13 Week Novel—Week 4: Exploring Structure

Oh god! It can't possibly be done in thirteen weeks! Can it?

I, personally, am overwhelmed and behind. I'm beginning to think that I should, at the very least, be one week ahead of you to say what has worked for me. But in truth, what works for me may seem ridiculous to you. And what works for you may be drudgery to me.

Get ready to dissect a novel. Image: Arallyn!

13 Week Novel—Week 3 Activities: Plots & Subplots

I've got several things on my mind this week. I know I'm late, and it's not from all the issues swimming around in my little human brain. The Tucson Festival of Books wore me out, and I think it added to the ideas lazily backstroking into my consciousness from my subconscious mind. 

I know you've been keeping up on working through the next 2500 words, though. 

And I've been thinking.

First, about the long novel process. (How unlikely.) I was at the gigantic Tucson Festival of Books. I only got to one panel. I couldn't get into two others because they were so crowded. Ridiculous. 

The size of this book festival is difficult to fathom. Image: Lars Hammar

Anyway, in the panel I actually attended, it was encouraging to hear one author say he wrote what he thought was a novel in six weeks, then he spent three years actually rewriting and shaping it into a novel. The other novelist on the panel was floored. “It took me six years to write my last novel!” he said. (Or something like that.) I like being reminded that it takes a while to struggle through this.

What I Learned During Week 2: First Chapters & Character-Driven Story

Week 2 has been a little crazy for me. Teaching, preparing for the Tucson Festival of Books, feeling ill, editing, writing the book, and trying to keep up with this blog. I have mixed feelings about week 2.

How did you feel about week 2? I have mixed emotions on the productivity... Image: Soren Rajczyk

Write Your Novel Now! Week 2 Activities: First Chapters & Character-Driven Story

What do we expect from the first few chapters?
A great first line? Establishing the tone of the book and a character that readers care about? Some sort of conflict or trouble?

Do we get hooked into stories the same way each time? Image: Local Studies NSW

Some people think that the central conflict must be apparent of the first page. Others say that may be more about your style, your story, and your genre. Some think hinting at that conflict may be enough in the beginning and simply creating a question in the readers' minds can intrigue them into reading on.

What do you need in the first chapters of a book?

What is your process?

We all have different processes of writing a book and planning it. It's a matter of figuring out who you are as a writer.

There’s a profound difference between making something up and imagining it. You’re making something up when you think out a scene, when you’re being logical about it.
                                                                                 ----Andre Dubus III

Admit it. You write because you like the dream state. Image: Caden Crawford