C.J. Brightley's Hosting a Writing Contest! {The OATH & IRON Anthology}

GREETINGS, DRAGONS! Today, I'm popping in for a brief moment to share about a new writing contest -- the Oath & Iron anthology from C.J. Brightley and Spring Song Press!

THE DETAILS AT A GLANCE

• Clean fantasy (noblebright)
• 1k - 10k word count
• Accepted authors receive $0.01 per word (USD)
• Must be a short story / novella with the theme of fae mythology
• Entries may be submitted between April 1st - July 1st, 2018

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

I'm so excited for this!!!! After the recent close of Rooglewood Press's fairytale contests, it's so thrilling to see something similar appear! I've a story idea brewing already (which may or may not impact my original Camp NaNo plans 😉)! 😍

Tell me, Dragons: Are you planning on submitting a story for Oath & Iron? Are you excited for this new contest?

❤,

Why Your Story Needs Parallels

I AM ALIVE AND AWAKE AND WELL AND IT IS OFFICIALLY THANKSGIVING BREAK, Y'ALL!!!! (PSA: There are going to be a LOT of posts next week. Like, almost every day. One tour, one party, two announcements... just an FYI. Consider it my reaction to #FREEDOM. 😁)

Today, I am talking parallels! Parallels/ironies are huge deals that can add SO MUCH. This is usually the point at which I'd discuss why your story needs them, but... that's sort of the whole point of the post. 😉 So read on and enjoy.* 😄

*I mean, you don't NEED to enjoy this post... but it is the recommended course of action. No pressure, though. 😜

1. PARALLELS ACT AS MIRRORS

Ever heard of a foil? Foils reflect another character's (usually the protagonist) morals, standards, weaknesses, and strengths. Where one character is strong and courageous, the foil is weak and cowardly. Where the character feels hopelessly lost, the foil feels a sense of guidance.

Parallels are just the same as foils.

If one couple is overjoyed with their coming child, there might be a single, pregnant woman who fears for her future. If a poor but sincere man proposes to his sweetheart, a lonely yet wealthy man might inherit a title and estate, thus adding to his already great fortune. Where one couple's marriage might crumble, another's might be strengthened.

2. PARALLELS SHOWCASE THE CHARACTERS' EMOTION

Besides reflecting other characters' situations and increasing the tension between them, parallels also display the raw, gritty emotions the characters already feel. A continuation of mirroring, parallels serve to prove these emotions true, like foils work as evidence for the protagonist's virtues.

3. PARALLELS INCREASE TENSION

Say the single woman from the first reason learns of the couple's pregnancy. Or the poor man of the wealthy man's riches. Or the lonely man of the sincere man's happiness. Or the first couple of the second's empowerment. Parallels increase conflict and add the potential for jealousy. And nothing makes a story more enjoyable than heightening the risk. 😉

Granted, not every story needs parallels. And sometimes they're just not helpful to throw in. But, when available, they sure are fun to work with. 😁

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me: have you ever worked with parallels/ironies before? Have you ever found them in fiction?

❤,

How to Outline Your Novel in a Day

SO NANO IS HAPPENING IN FOUR DAYS. *shrieks*

The story of my NaNo success always seems to look like this:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo. Though she knew that it was fast-approaching, she also forgot (probably because she wanted to avoid doing an outline).

You see, this little girl was a plantser, meaning that she loved to pants, but she needed to plot. And so, when the first day of NaNo arrived, she ran around screaming and calmly ignored the task that lay before her.

"I'm outlining," she told her friends, when they inquired after her delay (in truth, she thought she was outlining; she still worked hard at school and Life™, and outlined once or twice a week).

Eventually, the month ended, and the little girl had yet to write a single word of her NaNo project. And so she ran around screaming and calmly ignored what had transpired. 

Sound familiar? I AM TOTALLY THAT LITTLE GIRL, BTW. If you've ever been that little girl (or boy), too -- or MAYBE YOU'RE THAT CHILD RIGHT NOW??? -- then congratulations! Because, despite the fact that Life™ (school, acting, church, volunteer work, and a new job) has commanded I refrain from NaNo this year, I have developed a sure-fire plan for preparing for NaNo last-minute (think outlining). All you need is one full day to yourself: no school, no work, no chores, no distractions. And the best part? You can be done before teatime.

(A quick note, before I get to the good stuff 😉: this post was inspired by Jill Williamson, who shared her outlining process at #RealmMakers2017. The card labels and whatnot were entirely her advice! 😁💜)

1. BE PREPAAAARED!

You need:

• One full-ish day of freedom
• Fourteen to eighteen 5x8 index cards
• One pencil/pen
• One eraser / vial of white-out
• Your sources of inspiration; maps, Pinterest boards, blog posts, playlists... whatever makes you happy 😁
• This blog post 😉

2. LABEL YOUR CARDS

Label your cards as follows:

1. Beginning
2. Inciting Incident
3. Second Thoughts
4. Act I Climax
5. Obstacle A
6. Obstacle B
7. Midpoint Twist
8. Obstacle C
9. Disaster
10. Crisis
11. Act II Climax
12. Act III Climax
13. Dénouement (Wrap-Up)
14. End

Note that, by the time you get around to writing what actually happens on your cards, you may need to re-number them.

3. BREW TEA

Trust me. You'll need it.*

*And no, this does not count as teatime.

4. IDENTIFY YOUR KEY EVENTS

Now that you're armed with warm tea and your fourteen cards, start identifying. You already have at least a slight idea of where your novel is going, right? Because it's totally okay to label your cards out-of-order! And it's totally okay to take a five-minute break to brew some more tea and come back, too. 😉

5. DON'T FORGET TO REFUEL

Refueling can be counted as a lunch break, as taking a walk, as grooming your cat... but try to avoid using the internet unless it counts as research / help outlining. You're in the zone, and we don't want you to fall out of it. 💜

6. DO A FINAL READ-THROUGH

Now that all your key scenes' roles are identified, do one last read-through. Everything makes sense, right? Though it may be hard, the flow and current make sense?

7. CELEBRATE, CHILL, AND GET SOME SLEEP

You're finished, you've revised, you're excited... now all you need to do is write that novel! So, this deserves celebration. Treat yourself to ice cream. Now that it's teatime, have some more tea! Re-watch Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban. Just chill, and get some sleep, too. 💕

Thank you so much for reading, my sweet Dragons! Just so you know, I'm totally rooting for you this NaNoWriMo. 😊

Since I totally missed posting this last weekend, I think I'll be back tomorrow with my October Highlights (better late than never, right?). I'm still trying to get the hang of reincorporating blogging into my it's-not-summer-anymore lifestyle. 😎

What's your #NaNo2017 project, Dragons? Any new blog posts of yours that you'd like to share with me?

❤,

Post banner background
image recovered from
Pixabay.

6 Steps for Luring Your Readers Into Emotional Investment

Hey-hey, Dragons! I promised a new post and now HERE IT IS. I actually managed to do it during the same week as the PSAT and a college info night, so BE PROUD OF MMEEEE. (JK, it's okay to not be proud... I'll just heap a load of dishonor onto you, your family, and your cow -- no biggie. 😜)

Today, we're talkin' emotional investment.

Have you ever cracked open a book to find the characters so dull and boring? Maybe cliché, too? Perhaps the writing's fantastic, -- maybe even the best you've ever read -- but you just don't care?

Now, have you ever opened a book to find that you do care? Like, a lot? Have you ever found yourself so obsessed with such a book that you daydream over it in class? At work? On the way to the grocery store? This is called emotional investment. And congratulations, my friend, because whether you want to be this invested or not... you are, now.

You can have a fantastic world. You can have a brilliant writing voice. But ultimately, what will draw your readers in the most is your characters.

1. GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS MOTIVATION

What does your character want? Why do they want it? Solid -- even changing -- motivations allow your readers to relate to the character. We're all on a quest for something; find our what your character's "something" is.

2. GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS MORALS
(YES, EVEN YOUR VILLAINS 😉)

Everyone has morals. True, they might not align with the traditional sense of right and wrong, but they make us human. Morals give us reason -- for our actions, our choices, our worldview.

Not only that, but morals provide a boundary, a line your character simply refuses to cross. So what happens when he does overstep his boundary?

3. GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS CONSEQUENCES

So your character oversteps his moral boundary, out of ambition to achieve his goal, which (ideally) would leave your character with the consequences of his actions, thus raising the stakes.

I once heard an interview on The Very Serious Writing Show with K.M. Weiland, author of Dreamlander, Behold the Dawn, and A Man Called Outlaw, along with several books on writing. In this interview, K.M. discussed how consequences are rarely dealt with in fiction, but how they provide such a massive impact on your plot, your characters, and your world.

In the very beginning of Downton Abbey (don't worry, folks, this is spoiler-free! 😉), Mary makes a huge mistake, which leads to direct consequences within the same episode... but throughout all six seasons, more consequences (yep, from that one mistake!) continue to haunt her.

4. MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS GRIEVE

Consequences lead to grief. Wanna raise the stakes a bit more? Then give your characters even more reasons to grieve. No, it doesn't need to be death or cancer or lost love, but those are certainly options you can go for! 🙂

If you're are going for death, cancer, or lost love (anything majorly weaving in other characters), be sure to take the same measures with these new characters as you are with your old ones. Give them motivations, give them morals, give them flaws. The more human your characters seem, the more beloved they'll become to your readers. 💜

5. GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS HUMOR

It can be the darkest tale in the world, but I still believe that there should be a little bit of laughter hidden within it. Humor gives your characters -- and your readers! -- a break from the sorrow, a break from the grief, a break from the consequences. Go ahead and give your characters all the grief in the world, but be sure to give them a little bit of humor, too. 😊

6. GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS HOPE

I'm a firm believer that hope should be in every story.* Hope gives your characters reason to go on, pushing, shoving, striving to reach their goal. And if your readers are enduring a difficult time in their lives, and they're living through your characters... then that hope might be just what they needed, too. 🌟

*Did you know that there's a whole community centered around the idea of hope in YA literature? It's called #rebelliouswriting, and you can check it out here.

Thank you so much for reading, my sweet Dragons! Is there anything you think I missed? Any ideas you'd like to contribute?

❤,

Banner background image
recovered from Pixabay.

How to Discover & Harness Your Writing Voice

So I totally missed last week's post AND I AM SO SORRY, MY DEAR DRAGONS. Unexpected company, a multiple-hour-long SAT practice test, attempts at Camp NaNoWriMo, and just life in general kind of laughed at me and poked me with a stick.*

*Rude, right?

So today we're going to be talking about writing voice.*

*Oopsies for missing that, last week! Again, I'm terribly sorry! 🙁

I have a confession to make: I don't like Jane Austen's books. Don't get me wrong; I love the era and the romance and the drama and all the pretty books and dresses and such. Having thrived upon BBC's Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Death Comes to Pemberley -- as well as the 1990s Emma Thompson version of Sense & Sensibility -- for the past few years, I cracked open Emma last December, expecting all the fun and sweetness of the miniseries. In truth, I hated it. (*runs screaming and hides behind stack of Rick Riordan books* *dislodges Austenites' arrow from ribcage* *dies a slow, painful, miserable death*)

Thus, I set Emma aside and picked up Pride & Prejudice, a much preferred tale... I thought it was better than Emma, but I still slugged through it, hating every moment.*

*It was a class assignment to choose a pre-1900s, non-US novel, in case you're wondering why I kept reading. (*coughs and casually attempts to dodge another Austenite arrow*)

Though I enjoyed Austen's plots and characters, her writing style was not for me. The rich, witty writing was too fudge-like: it was good at first, but as time passed and I digested more of it, my senses rebelled.

~

Last summer, I won a copy of Ivy Rose's The Old River Road, and I started reading immediately. Ivy's beautiful writing style, adorable characters, and sweet plot line drew me in from the first page. By the end of the novel, it had earned both a place in my heart and a spot on my favorites' shelf.*

*Haven't read The Old River Road? GO READ IT NOW.  Here's the link to the kindle edition, and here's the link to the paperback. NOW GO BUY IT. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO.

Ivy and Austen's books became either favorites or non-favorites based solely on the author's voice. Your voice can drive your novel to be a win for your readers.*

*Of course, not every story is going to be for every reader, and a certain writing style may not just fit a certain type of reader. Like Jane Austen. Lots of people adore her novels, but her books just aren't my favs.

~

I first learned about writing voice early last year. My reaction was basically a weird screaming goat thing because whaaat? You have to worry about whether or not your writing = your voice ALONGSIDE your plot, characters, setting, and theme?

A few months later, in August 2016, I had a crazy dream, which soon transformed into an idea for a sci-fi novel/novella.* Upon awakening from this dream-with-no-apparent-source, a few first lines came to mind over the course of the day. Elated by the concept that, hey!, these sentences were actually decent, I proudly shared them with my parents. From all appearances, I'd unveiled a small window with a blurry view of my writing voice.

*This idea is now my problem-child, but that's beside the point.

Looking back on my first few lines, they weren't great (and will probably undergo a thousand-and-one eons of construction before I ever let them risk seeing the light of day, again). Since then, I've learned more about my voice, and I've found that -- thank God -- there's a lot more of your voice to be discovered than what first appears on the surface. Here are a few practices that have helped -- and continue to help -- me learn more about my writing voice:

1. READ THE BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ

You want to read the books you want to read with good reason. Go ahead. Read them. Take chances with the stories you're not as interested in, too. The more you read, the more you learn.

2. KEEP YOUR STORIES TO YOURSELF

(WHEN REASONABLE)

I'm not saying to never let people read your books. But during the first draft or two, it's extremely important to write with your door closed. I love my family and value their input, but I think being so eager to share my sci-fi story helped it to lose its stability and become one of my least favorite book-babies.

Waiting to share your story with the world (or even just a few friends, family members, or beta readers) allows the creativity to flow when you need it most. In other words...

3. WRITE WITH NO LIMITS

Don't think about how your story will be published and an international bestseller, someday. 😉

Write. Just write. (Easier said than done, though, am I right?) Let your creativity fly as free as Maleficent.*

*SPOILER for the 2014 movie (in white, in case you haven't seen it, yet 😉): Just don't let your true love steal it. 😐

4. STUDY AUTHORS WHOSE VOICES YOU LOVE

Got a favorite author? Ask them questions, if you can. Is there anything different they do that you can work into your routine?

If you can't ask them questions, don't be afraid to open your notebook and jot down a few paragraphs of their book. Feel their writing style -- how their sentences are structured, how they introduce the characters or the setting. For a few moments, let their story be yours. Just don't plagiarize. 😉

5. WRITE... A LOT

Got a few moments at the end of a busy day? Take that time to write. Like reading, the more you write, the more you learn.

~

I hope you found this post as helpful to read as I found to write it!

Do you have a particular way of learning more about your voice? Anything you'd care to share?

❤,

Post banner background
recovered from Pixabay.

How to Design a Business Card

Whaaa? I actually went outside and was social for this one? *gasps*  #beproud

Hello, my dear Dragons! So I kinda totally forgot that, whoops, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW BLOG POST, TODAY. 😲 I guess that would've been good to remember.

So! Today I'd planned on talking about writing voice. Change of plans. That'll probably be coming next Saturday. Today we're talking about business cards! 1) Because it's conference season, and 2) because I GOT MY FIRST EVER SET OF PERSONAL BUSINESS CARDS IN THE MAIL LAST WEEKEND, YA'LL.

Look! Just look how pwutey they are! 😍

They look even more epic in person! 😍 😍

Eeeeep!

Anywhozens, on to designing. Or constructing, rather.

During my template-choosing process (I used Vistaprint), I WAS LOST. I mean... what was I supposed to put on there? But thanks to this helpful post I found via Google, I gots ideasez. Apparently Your business card's background should relate to what you have to offer. Me? I'm a fantasy author with a love for historical elements, so a glowing, Neverlandish pirate ship seemed the right fit for me. 😊

1. YOUR NAME / YOUR BUSINESS

Hopefully this one is easy. If not, I apologize and I recommend researching how to know whether or not you have amnesia.

Your business name needs to come first, and be biggest. Let the world know who you are!

2. WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER

Basically, why should people care? (That probably sounds awful. I apologize.)

When someone hands me a business card, 75% of the time I ACTUALLY DON'T WANT IT. (Hopefully that will all change when I go to my first conference later this month! *squeals*)

Sell your product (or your soul) by making what you have to offer sound appealing. Add in the extras, if you feel the need.

Here's an example: I'm a writer, and that's mainly what these business cards are for. But I'm also an actress; that's cool, isn't it? (😉) I'm also a blogger (probably way more than I actually write and act *blushes*), which helps because it means that, ta da! I'm easyish to connect with! (No promises on how easy I'll be to connect with in person, though.)

3. YOUR TAGLINE

This one's way more optional. If you have a cool slogan, this is your time to use it.

4. HOW THE PEEPS CAN FIND YOU

Website time! Where can people go if they want to learn more about you? Or contact you? Or buy your product?

5. (IF YOU HAVE ROOM...) ZEE EXTRAZ

Mine's a Bible verse. If you're going somewhere where you'll meet a ton of other Christians, chances are that their business cards will all have verses (or at least some references) on them, too. If you're just not feeling quoting the Bible (why?!), this is a good spot to put a few social media links. But this all depends on whether or not you have room. If you're going for a simpler, more minimalist-ic look, stick with your first four lines. If you feel confident that your business card's not too crowded, then feel free to add some more!

~

So I hope this helped! Also, if you're looking for a printer, I highly recommend Vistaprint. (Don't worry, this post isn't sponsored. 😉) They gave me a major discount on my first order, ran through everything slowly with me so I wouldn't get lost, and when I ordered the slowest/cheapest form of shipping, they got it to me eleven days early!

Now, enough about me and designing and whatnot. What about you?

Are you going to a writing conference, this summer (or any time soon!)? Are you bringing business cards?

❤,

Your 4 Key Characters

Whether your story's cast consists of twenty characters or five-hundred, at least four of them are your primary characters. As once eloquently put by writing wizard K.M. Weiland in a post on Helping Writers Become Authors,

"These four characters are important for the simple reason that, together, they provide the foundation for not just your plot, but a multi-faceted theme."

YOUR ANTAGONIST

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, we meet Lord Voldemort (and yes, I'm pronouncing that "t" as silent). He's the reason Harry's an orphan, and provides a stark contrast to the story's theme of love and loyalty.

Voldemort {source}, George Warleggan {source},
and Lady Tremaine {source}.

In the BBC's Poldark, there's George Warleggan. Crafty, manipulative, and determined, George shares Ross Poldark's burning anger and desire for change... which makes him the perfect villain.

In Disney's 2015 remake of Cinderella, Lady Tremaine serves as the primary villain. She's jealous of Ella: jealous of the time she spent with her father, jealous of her father's passionate familial love for her and her mother, and jealous of the beauty, courage, and kindness Ella holds.

The antagonist ultimately revolves around who your protagonist is. What traits do they share? Does your antagonist ever try to partner with your hero? How does your antagonist help to support (or not support) your story's theme? What drives your villain?

YOUR PROTAGONIST

And now, we come to the hero.

Harry Potter, like Voldemort, is an orphan. He even shares Voldemort's "race" or "blood type". The difference between Harry and Voldemort is Harry's use of his sorrows for good: his passion for justice, his kind heart, his unwavering loyalty, and his dedicated friendship.

Harry Potter {source}, Ross Poldark {source}, and Ella {source}.

George Warleggan once looked up to Ross Poldark. The two of them started from nothing. Both are, as once again put by K.M., "vastly ambitious, aggressive, [and] intelligent".

Ella's parents taught her to "have courage and be kind". She is driven by her constant desire to be good, and not the sort of woman her stepmother is.

What is your protagonist's motivation? Why don't they team up with their villain? What makes them who they are?

YOUR FOIL

Draco Malfoy is a coward. He longs for protection, and desires to carry on his father's legacy, but is unsure how.

Draco Malfoy {source}, Francis Poldark {source},
and Anastasia and Drizella {source}.

Francis Poldark longs for his wife's unconditional love. He is afraid of failure, which is a reflection of Ross's fearlessness in taking risks in the hope of success.

Anastasia and Drizella both want riches -- and handsome husbands to be by their sides. Their carelessness and lack of brains allows for Ella's love and compassion to shine through.

Your foil is a mirror image of your protagonist. Take a look at your hero -- what makes them tick? Now take a few of those traits, and flip them. Your hero and your foil's similarities and differences allow your protagonist's strengths to be more visible.

Consider your foil like a clear coat of nail polish. Though it may be weak in some areas, its weakness provides the bottom coat with shininess and an extra boost of endurance. 😉

YOUR LOVE INTEREST

Not every story has a love interest, and not every story needs one. Still, there is oftentimes a character who serves as an element of attraction for the protagonist, and, possibly, in the dreaded case of a love triangle, another character, as well.

**Warning: To proceed may involve spoilers from the last three Harry Potter movies

and the last two Harry Potter books; the latter half of Poldark, season one;

and the majority of Cinderella.**

Ginny Weasley exists to guide Harry. She guides him through ridding himself of the Half-Blood Prince's Potions textbook. She throws herself forward as one of the mourners at Harry's "death".

Demelza guides Ross into a purer life, and allows him to teach her the manners of an upper class society.

Ginny Weasley {source}, Demelza {source},

and Prince Kit {source}.

Kit guides Ella to embracing herself just as she is, without the need for wealth or power.

Your love interest (or center of attraction, if there is one) serves to guide your protagonist along their journey. They may be, in a sense, the protagonist's foil -- or someone who shares a majority of their traits and beliefs.

~

In the process of outlining, identifying your four key characters and their clockwork can be extremely helpful.

Tell me, Dragons: does your story have a love interest? How is your foil similar to your protagonist? How is he/she different?

❤,

FIVE POISONED APPLES // Creative Writing Contest & Cover Reveal

{Banner background by Picography, from Pixabay. Cover images recovered from Rooglewood Press.}

Dragons, it is with great pride and deepest pleasure that I welcome you this fine Thursday morning, to present Rooglewood Press's fourth and final Five Something Somethings contest! Now, without further ado, may I present...






...a tale so dark and lovely...







...retold by five unique authors...







...of whom you just might be one of...

FIVE POISONED APPLES

{Image provided by Rooglewood Press.}

Eeep, I'm so terribly excited for this Snow White retelling contest! And that cover is SO gorgeous! It just might be my favourite, yet! And I happily have several story ideas brewing... 😉

ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY

The cover -- Like the covers for Five Enchanted Roses and Five Magic Spindles, this beauty was done by Russian artist Julia Popova. The model -- who also happens to be a photographer! -- is named Wynter Clark. A fitting name for a Snow White collection, don't you think? 🙂

The contest -- Rooglewood Press requests that contestants write a recognizable retelling of Snow White, preferably one with a happy ending; however, it is also requested that authors do not merely retell the Disney version.

The prizes -- The prizes are quite large and spectacular, this year! The five winning authors shall each receive:

• $125 in cash
• The opportunity to work one-on-one with the Rooglewood Press editors, to polish and perfect his/her story
• An individually designed title page within the collection, one that matches the story
• An author bio within the collection, including personal links
• The opportunity to feature advertisements in the back of the collection for his/her other published works
• A print copy of the collection
• The collection in an audiobook format

COMMON QUESTIONS

1. I'm a minor -- may I still participate?

Certainly! You need only add your parent/guardian's signature in approval.

2. I write under a pen name. May I use that?

Yes!! There is a space on the submission form specifically for the contestant's pen name!

3. When is the deadline for my submission form?

The deadline is December sixteenth, 2017.

4. When is the deadline for emailing Rooglewood Press my story?

The deadline is December thirty-first, 2017.

5. When will the winners be announced?

The winners will be announced on April second, 2018.

6. When will Five Poisoned Apples be published?

Five Poisoned Apples will be published in ebook format and print in December 2018. The audiobook will come to follow.

7. May I submit more than one story?

Yes, indeed you may!

8. If I don't win, do the rights of my story revert back to me?

Happily, they do! And many of the authors who were not selected have gone on to publish their lovely stories individually!

9. Is there a submission fee?

Yes. For each of your Snow White retellings you choose to submit, you must fill out a separate submission form and include $10 with each one.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE FIVE POISONED APPLES CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST, CLICK HERE

PREVIOUS YEARS

And now, because I am a sentimental being, here's a little tribute to the Rooglewood anthology winners of times past --

{Source.}

Elisabeth Brown ~ What Eyes Can See

Emma Clifton ~ Broken Glass

Rachel Heffington ~ The Windy Side of Care

Stephanie Ricker ~ A Cinder's Tale

Clara Diane Thompson ~ The Moon Master's Ball

{Source.}

Kaycee Browning ~ Esprit de la Rose

Savannah Jezowski ~ Wither

Jenelle Leanne Schmidt ~ Stone Curse

Dorian Tsukioka ~ Rosara & the Jungle King

Hayden Wand ~ The Wulver's Rose

{Source.}

Rachel Kovaciny ~ The Man on the Buckskin Horse

Kathryn McConaughy ~ Guardian of Our Beauty

Grace Mullins ~ The Ghost of Briardale

Michelle Pennington ~ Spindle Cursed

Ashley Stangl ~ Beyond the Tomb

~

{Image provided by Rooglewood Press.}

So! Do any of you Dragons plan to participate in the final creative writing contest? Are you excited for this year's theme?

Also, a quick note: Due to all the busyness of finishing up school (and finals! *shrieks*), there will be no post this Saturday, and my May wrap-up will be moved to sometime in the middle of next week.

❤,

7 Steps to Outlining Your Novel (When You're NOT a Plotter)

A pantser is someone who, "flies by the seat of their pants," meaning they don't plan out anything, or plan very little.

~The Magic Violinist,
The Write Practice: The Pros & Cons of Plotters & Pantsers

I'm a hardcore pantser. I've never been much into outlines, and when I try to write one, I fail miserably. I have a half-decent idea of where I want my story to go -- but how do I get there? I've tried storyboarding. I've tried the synopsis method. I'm currently reading Randy Ingermanson's How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method (and am beginning to realize that it just won't work for me).

The thing is, I need an outline. It's been one of my goals to write and finish one by the time summer roles around, so I can make some serious headway on my WIP. So this Tuesday, during my lunch break, I pulled out my favourite notebook and began taking a few notes. By the time I was finished, I had seven steps for outlining your novel... when you're a pantser.

~

1. PINTEREST

Pinterest: The ultimate tool for ultimate procrastination.

How to use this step:

1. Create a secret (or non-secret) board for your story.
2. Edit the description to be a one-sentence summary for the direction you want your novel to take. (Example: During the Regency, a middle-class woman and an upper class gentleman fall in love, but must face the trials of pride, prejudice, and social boundaries along the way.)
3. Find pictures. Pins that describe the setting and/or characters are particularly helpful.
4. Organize your pins by giving them descriptions. (Example: Elizabeth Bennet, age twenty. Middle class. Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, sister to Jane Bennet.)

2. CREATE A PLAYLIST

My favourite playlist-creating program is Spotify. Of course, it's entirely up to preference whether you choose Spotify, YouTube, or another app. This tutorial will be for the first.

How to use this step:

1. Create and title a playlist.
2. Hunt down songs you feel describe your story's theme, characters, etc.
3. Add them to the playlist.
4. Listen to the playlist whenever you want to mull over (and/or write) your novel.

3. SKETCH A MAP

I'm a horrific artist. Blog design and my Photography class are about as good as I can get. Plus, I care about accuracy -- which means that whenever it's time for me to make a map, it usually involves a ruler (or three) and a compass (and maybe a protractor, too 😉 ).

How to use this step:

1. It's simple (even if you're not a good artist, *coughs* like me). Just draw your map.
2. If you haven't figured out the names of your locations, feel free to research. If it's a sci-fi novel set in outer space and you're busy naming planets, consider what today's planets are named after (Roman gods).
3. Build a map key. It can include centimeters-to-miles, what each province contains, etc.

4. WRITE A ONE-SENTENCE TO ONE-PARAGRAPH SUMMARY OF ACT ONE

I prefer to view this (and steps five and six) as the hardest parts of outlining a novel.

About Act I:

• It takes up approximately twenty-five-percent of the story
• The protagonist is introduced while in the midst of his own little world, and quickly encounters the problems he needs to solve
• The three main events include the opening scene, the inciting event, and the Act I problem

How to use this step:

1. Write a brief summary in a style similar to the description for your Pinterest board (in step one). (Example: Three handsome strangers make their way into the five Bennet sisters' lives. Mr. Bingley, a wealthy member of the upper class, falls in love with Jane. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth develop a hateful relationship. Elizabeth develops a crush on Mr. Wickham.)

5. REPEAT STEP #4 FOR ACT TWO

About Act II:

• It takes up approximately fifty-percent of the story
• The protagonist abandons his current life and faces obstacles between him and his goal, causing him to repeatedly struggle
• The three main events include the choice, midpoint reversal, and Act II disaster

How to use this step:

1. Repeat part one of step four, this time for Act II. (Example: Mr. Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth, despite the disadvantages of her current situation. When he proposes, Elizabeth angrily rejects him. He responds with a letter disproving her accusations.)

6. REPEAT STEP #4 FOR ACT THREE

About Act III:

• It carries the story out and brings it to a close, taking up the story's last twenty-five percent
• The protagonist puts a new plan into action, using the education he's acquired over the past two acts; he knows his goals and sets out to achieve them
• The three main events include the plan, the climax, and the wrap-up

How to use this step:

1. Repeat part one of step four, finally for Act III. (Example: Elizabeth begins to fall for Mr. Darcy, but Lydia's elopement with Mr. Wickham tears them apart. Mr. Darcy solves Mr. Wickham's debts and convinces him to marry Lydia. Mr. Bingley proposes to Jane and Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth.)

7. SKETCH THE PROTAGONIST'S JOURNEY

This is only necessary if your story involves any sort of quest. For Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice, it might show Elizabeth's journey with her aunt and uncle through England and to Darbishire, as well as her journey with Maria and Mr. Luckas to Mr. Collins's parsonage near Rosings Park.

How to use this step:

1. Photocopy the map.
2. Using a pencil, draw the protagonist's journey from place to place.
3. If there's more than one primary character, use a different-coloured pen to mark his own progression.
4. Build a map key to identify the characters and their colours.

TIPS FOR OUTLINING AS YOU GO

Track your chapters:

1. Start and label an Excel sheet.
2. Let the first column be dedicated to page numbers.
3. Let the second column be dedicated to chapter numbers.
4. Let the third column be dedicated to chapter titles (if applicable).
5. Let the fourth column be dedicated to one-sentence summaries of each chapter's contents. (Example: Mrs. Bennet informs Mr. Bennet that Mr. Bingley has rented Netherfield, and requests for Mr. Bennet to send Mr. Bingley an introduction.)

Keep a calendar:

1. Print a calendar for the time period your novel takes place during (or is inspired by).
2. Keep track of events that occur. (Example: Tuesday, October fifteenth, 1811 -- Mr. Darcy insults Elizabeth at the ball in Meryton.)

~

Dear pantser-Dragons, I do hope this has helped you outline! I'm happy to report that this method has helped me to develop a minimalist outline for And Did the Waters Tremble. 😁

What do you think? Do you have any tips or steps to add? The comments are open!

❤,