Thank you for this. I too am writing a novel (children's spooky middle grade) and have stalled on my momentum. I have to push myself to keep going. Right now it is all uphill and I can't see the path on the other side (yup, gonna beat that metaphor to death). Thx for the encouragement.
Psst. Can you share a bit about what you are working on? Is it like 2 Dogs or will it be for slightly older audience?
This one is for a slightly older audience. It's middle grade. It's got some magic in it, and that's part of what's tripping me up. Also it started as a different book idea, and it was Book Idea A plus Book Idea B, and I've realized these book ideas need to be separate books, so now it's me figuring out what this book idea is all on its own.
I think I've figured out that I need ASSIGNMENTS. I'm going to post more about this coming up. But I bought a book on a whim at a used bookstore, and it turned out to be a college creative writing course textbook, and I'm doing the assignments in there, and it's helping.
OMG! Are we writing the same book? Mine also involves magical realism/paranormal and I find myself resisting the full-on commitment to it. Not sure why, but it is definitely a stumbling block. Mine was not Book A and B but, Plot A is being switched for Plot B making a whole new plot arc to figure out. At least the subplot is already there. :^)
i look forward to hearing about/stealing from your assignments. LOL.
p.s. Will you be going to the NE SCBWI conference in April?
The Flaxington girls! What a perfect name for next-door goody-goodies. (Apologies to anyone with the last name Flaxington, but I mean...what a great name!)
I am also bicycle-allergic.
Yes on looking where you are going--that's the same advice, weirdly, that I remember Martha Stewart giving for carrying a heavy tray without dropping it. 😂 If you look where you are going instead of repeatedly looking at the tray, you'll be fine. I use the tip all the time because I order a lot of coffee, and there's something about Seattle coffee shops where they know their clientele expect them to fill it aaaaalll the way up, so even if you take a sip or three before walking with it, your cup is for-sure dangerously full.
Where was I going with this? Oh, yeah, anyways, in this analogy, I'm picturing myself carrying my tray full of Elayne stuff. I need to look ahead at where I'm carrying that to and not let the babka slice that someone is eating nearby distract me--and maybe not even the other stuff on my tray. Even though I am hungry. Step by step, bird by bird. Even when sometimes the bird is a turkey. :)
As always, I enjoy all you share, Julie! Thank you also for the link--so generous of you! I have already gotten more Substack subscriptions from it--be still my heart!
I too like the roller derby vibe, ALTHOUGH if the only way for me to have creative success is to carry a heavy tray while on roller skates, I'm in trouble.
True (for me)! But we've been at this for a while, in the analogy--so we know we can do it, assuming no one suddenly opens a car door on us or something. Or, that's what I'm telling myself.
Thank you for this. I too am writing a novel (children's spooky middle grade) and have stalled on my momentum. I have to push myself to keep going. Right now it is all uphill and I can't see the path on the other side (yup, gonna beat that metaphor to death). Thx for the encouragement.
Psst. Can you share a bit about what you are working on? Is it like 2 Dogs or will it be for slightly older audience?
This one is for a slightly older audience. It's middle grade. It's got some magic in it, and that's part of what's tripping me up. Also it started as a different book idea, and it was Book Idea A plus Book Idea B, and I've realized these book ideas need to be separate books, so now it's me figuring out what this book idea is all on its own.
I think I've figured out that I need ASSIGNMENTS. I'm going to post more about this coming up. But I bought a book on a whim at a used bookstore, and it turned out to be a college creative writing course textbook, and I'm doing the assignments in there, and it's helping.
OMG! Are we writing the same book? Mine also involves magical realism/paranormal and I find myself resisting the full-on commitment to it. Not sure why, but it is definitely a stumbling block. Mine was not Book A and B but, Plot A is being switched for Plot B making a whole new plot arc to figure out. At least the subplot is already there. :^)
i look forward to hearing about/stealing from your assignments. LOL.
p.s. Will you be going to the NE SCBWI conference in April?
Ha, we probably are writing the same book. This poor book idea is probably like "ONE OF YOU. DO SOMETHING."
I'm not going to NESCBWI! tbh I've never been to an SCBWI conference. I can never justify the expense and time away.
I get it. I'm still a newbie so I enjoy the community and class time aspect.
psst...I became a paid subscriber so I won't miss your writing prompts :^)
Also! Thank you for becoming a paid subscriber!
I've thought about going so many times! My kids were so teeny when I was starting, I logistically couldn't figure out how to get away.
The Flaxington girls! What a perfect name for next-door goody-goodies. (Apologies to anyone with the last name Flaxington, but I mean...what a great name!)
I am also bicycle-allergic.
Yes on looking where you are going--that's the same advice, weirdly, that I remember Martha Stewart giving for carrying a heavy tray without dropping it. 😂 If you look where you are going instead of repeatedly looking at the tray, you'll be fine. I use the tip all the time because I order a lot of coffee, and there's something about Seattle coffee shops where they know their clientele expect them to fill it aaaaalll the way up, so even if you take a sip or three before walking with it, your cup is for-sure dangerously full.
Where was I going with this? Oh, yeah, anyways, in this analogy, I'm picturing myself carrying my tray full of Elayne stuff. I need to look ahead at where I'm carrying that to and not let the babka slice that someone is eating nearby distract me--and maybe not even the other stuff on my tray. Even though I am hungry. Step by step, bird by bird. Even when sometimes the bird is a turkey. :)
As always, I enjoy all you share, Julie! Thank you also for the link--so generous of you! I have already gotten more Substack subscriptions from it--be still my heart!
The heavy tray analogy works almost even better! I don't know -- are we carrying heavy trays, or pedaling toward our destinations? Or both???
I appreciate a coffee shop that fills the cup.
I don't know about you, but I definitely CAN sometimes feel like I'm "Bears on Wheels"-ing it, like that old Berenstain Bears book.
Maybe we are like roller-skating carhops?? I like the Roller Derby vibe of that. :)
I too like the roller derby vibe, ALTHOUGH if the only way for me to have creative success is to carry a heavy tray while on roller skates, I'm in trouble.
True (for me)! But we've been at this for a while, in the analogy--so we know we can do it, assuming no one suddenly opens a car door on us or something. Or, that's what I'm telling myself.