Author
A few weeks ago during a particularly nasty bout of (dare I say it?) writer's block, I stepped back and spent some time analyzing my outline process. To be clear, I'm a natural "pantser," but if you want to publish novels on any sort of regular basis, at some point, you're just going to have to break down and work on your outlines. So, I did. And in so doing, I developed the skeleton for a W.I.P. Workbook.
By the time you reach week nine of the self-publishing process, you'll already have quite a few things on your plate. So, if you've found yourself drowning in the administrative details of preparing to release your first novel, this is the point at which you really want to step back and make sure that you finish your first draft. After all, you'll want to have plenty of time for revision and editing before your publication date!
When it comes to self and indie publishing -- especially if you're doing all the design work on your own -- it's important to find sources of unbiased feedback wherever you can. And it's never too early to started searching!
Your deadlines are set and your calendar is drafted. Now, it's time to start writing! But as daunting as penning a whole novel may seem, there are a few strategies you can use to keep yourself on track.
Now that Pieces of Pink is officially out, it's safe to say that I've learned a lot about independent publishing in a very short amount of time. From LLCs to Photoshop and InDesign, there are so many road blocks that spring up along the way -- especially for your first novel -- and it can be really helpful to have a clear-cut guideline to get you moving in the right direction.
In less than two weeks, I'll be releasing my first novel, Pieces of Pink. As thrilled as I am to be putting my work out there, my friends and family have a lot of questions about my subject matter. So, I'd like to take some time to address those questions (along with a few lighthearted memes).
It's worth noting that we readers are usually pretty solitary creatures. We spend our free time curled up in nooks and crannies wearing the coziest clothes we can find, and we rarely "go out," because nothing is as exciting as the worlds we find tucked between the pages. That being said, we are human, and sometimes it's important to socialize. So if you're an avid reader, who spends too much time alone, starting a book club could be a great opportunity to make new friends and find new books!
When it comes to writing fiction, death is often inevitable. No, I don't mean writing fiction will kill you, I mean eventually, you will have to write the death of a beloved -- or despised -- character, and sometimes, your fictional fatalities will have far-reaching consequences for the rest of your novel or series.
Over the past few years, trigger warnings have become a pervasive topic of discussion in higher education and pop culture; and as I've worked to finish revisions on my novel, Pieces of Pink, the question of their efficacy has crossed my mind more than once.
When it comes to life, I tend to fly by the seat of my pants. Of course, I'm capable of making plans and holding myself accountable (it would be almost impossible to work from home if I weren't) but when it's time to get down to plot, I tend to let my characters take the… Continue reading Drafting Your Novel: The Netflix Road Trip
Annelise Driscoll 