Return to NaNoWriMo

 I'll be returning to NaNoWriMo on Nov. 1, the official start of the international writing event. It also will mark the official beginning of my 11th novel.

I've participated in National Novel Writing Month twice, both times resulting in young adult novels—Shooting Star and The Bully List. This time it will be for the fifth book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series.  I'm excited about getting started on the new novel. And as a former news reporter and sportswriter, I like working on deadlines.

There are several reasons I like NaNoWriMo:

• It keeps me focused for 30 days in reaching the goal of 50,000 words. That's a doable 1,600 words a day.
• I get energized leading up to the first day, my creative engines revving up for the event.
• As already noted, I feel I'm at my best when working on a deadline. 
• I'm basically a pantser so it fits my style of writing of letting the creative juices flow and going back later to clean up the scattered messes. 
• It's fun being part of a collective effort involving writers around the world. I like to be supportive of other writers, especially those who are developing their writing chops. 

While I'm a panster (letting the characters run wild wherever my subconscious plot and subplots take them), I will have a few notes jotted down to get me going in the right direction on the first day. And whatever I write will probably change, hopefully for the better, during rewrites.

One more thing. I've become somewhat of a procrastinator in my twilight years. You can't procrastinate in NaNoWriMo. You have to write each and every day. The organization also provides tips to prepare for the writing blitz.

For those who like challenges, I encourage you to sign up for NaNoWriMo. For more information, check out this FAQ.

Good luck!

Until the next time . . .

Back to the Manuscript

After four months, I've returned to the manuscript I wrote during National Novel Writing Month. 

I actually started on the rewrite, edit and revisions on April 1, and that's no joke. I did the same with "The Bully List" two years ago. 

For me, I need the passage of time to revisit the manuscript with fresh eyes and renewed interest in the story. 

There's a lot of work to be done to get the manuscript ready for publication: Holes to fill, scenes to connect or delete,  dialogue to fix, characters to develop, details to describe, and as the late, great novelist Elmore Leonard recommended to all writers, take out the stuff that readers don't read.

So, as you can surmise,  I have a lot of work ahead of me in the coming weeks. And there will be more since I usually go over a manuscript nine or ten times before I'm ready to let it go to the next stop on the publishing ladder.

I find the process to be mentally draining as I usually spend only two hours at a time before I have to take a prolonged break. But during that time after I close the file, I think about what I've done to the manuscript. I often go back to something I just worked on and make changes, before moving on. 

I sleep on it as well. I believe most writers will tell you that they carry along thoughts about their manuscript -- and much of it subconsciously -- during all hours of the day.

One of my favorite quotes about writing and thinking is attributed to Burton Rascoe -- "What no wife of a writer can ever understand, no matter if she lives with him for twenty years, is that a writer is working when he's staring out the window."

I must add that my wife isn't buying that from me!

Until the next time...

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

It's been a busy two months or so and I must confess that I haven't accomplished much on the creative side of writing.

I've written some posts to this blog, mostly about my recent two-week vacation to the western United States, and some other items related to the Kentucky Book Fair, of which I'm the marketing chair. 

But in the next two weeks I plan to prepare myself for the November writing marathon known as the National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo (sometimes I think it's easier to remember the proper name than the acronym). 

Two years ago I plunged into the grueling exercise -- the goal is to produce 50,000 words in 30 days -- which resulted in a novel, The Bully List. 

It was rough, raw and ragged when I finished the first draft, and I didn't look at it for five months. Then I decided to give it a read, and while it needed work, I was generally pleased with the effort.

So I took the next three months of rewriting and editing to get it in shape, submitted to my publisher, and then went through another round of edits with my editor. 

It wasn't the same manuscript that I had finished on the last day of November, thank goodness! It was transformed into a book for young adults.

So I'm going to venture into those semi-unknown waters again and see what happens. Why don't you join me?

Until the next time....

Keeping It Clean in Young Adult Novels

Sometimes I'm a bit perplexed when critics or reviewers knock a young adult novel because the language is considered too clean. In other words, simply not realistic.

I'm certainly not naive to believe that some young adults don't have potty mouth. It's almost like an act of rebelliousness. After they mature, many of them clean up their acts. 

But I know plenty of kids who don't cuss or use language that many would consider insulting or abusive toward others. Maybe they are mature for their age.

Or maybe they have been raised in a home where the parents and other family members set an example by refraining to use questionable words. 

As an aside, Vice President Joe Biden regretted saying, "This is a BFD" at the signing of the Affordable Care Act, adding that his mother would have totally disapproved! Hey Joe, my mom would have reacted the same way.

And that can be the same in the fictional world. Not all kids cuss and talk dirty. Many, if not most, are well-mannered and considerate. 

I wouldn't expect to find questionable language in a Christian novel (or any other religious-based novel) unless it was totally relevant to the story.

And I believe some authors -- perhaps acting as de facto family members -- try to set an example for their young readers by showing that you can keep it clean when talking to others, expressing anger or happiness, or any other verbal emotion.

I've been reading reviews of some books where folks thought the language was too adult. I don't have a problem with language if it pertinent, rather than gratuitous, to the story.  

I also think that kids may hear enough foul language in their lives from music, movies and from their peers that reading a clean novel might be somewhat of an escape for them as well.

Before I wrote "Shooting Star," I told several friends that I planned to write a novel that would be clean and inspirational to young people, much like the books I read when growing up by authors I admired such as Clair Bee and John R. Tunis. I thought their novels influenced me a great deal in terms sportsmanship and how to treat others, and I considered my novel as sort of a tribute to them.



And I took the same approach with "The Bully List," even though it would have been easy throwing in a few expletives here and there because of the subject matter.

I'm not being critical of authors who have used "realistic" dialogue in their novels. Whatever works for them is what they should write.

Your thoughts?

Until the next time...






  

The Bully List Trailer -- Finally

One of the tasks an author should do is have a trailer for their book. 

Ideally, it should be done before the publication date. If not then, at least by publication date. And if that can't be accomplished, then soon after publication date.

As you can see, the trailer for "The Bully List" is nearly five months after publication (Oct. 1). I don't want to make excuses but I will mention work, outside activities and the holidays. I hope you can give me a little slack.

One more thing: Procrastination.

But I figure it's better to get something out rather than nothing out all. I hope it will spark some more sales in the novel -- which is aimed for middle-school and above including adults.

So please forgive me for dragging my feet in producing this trailer (something indie and self-published authors can understand).

I'll try to be more timely with my next novel -- but I'm not making any promises!

Until the next time...

No NaNoWriMo for Me This Year

As much as I enjoyed participating in National Novel Writing Month -- NaNoWriMo -- last November, I won't be taking part this time around.

Thousands of writers around the world will take up the challenge on Nov. 1, and I salute them because it's not easy taking part in a daily writing marathon that has a goal of producing a minimum of 50,000 words.

My effort last year was fruitful because it did result in a young adult novel -- "The Bully List." The first draft was very raw, but I did get down the basics of what I wanted to say, and after six rewrites and three edits by others, it became a book.

So why don't I delve into another NaNoWri? It's simple. I have too much going on in November. I'm involved with the Kentucky Book Fair as marketing chair and a panel moderator. Then there's Thanksgiving holiday, promoting "The Bully List," and my regular daytime job. 

I do think that NaNoWriMo is a great way to jumpstart your writing. It worked for me last year. When I write a novel, I put down words every day until I'm finished. So next year I may have a personal writing month, or more, to produce another novel.

I also have plans to write another short-story collection so that will take up valuable time as well. And while I love to write, I also want to enjoy life by spending time with family and friends, taking trips, and playing with a few hobbies such as photography. 

So if you're thinking about doing NaNoWriMo, I encourage you to jump in and see it to the end. You won't regret it -- if you have the time.

Until the next time...

Let's Stop Bullying -- Now

I've been asked by a few people why I chose the subject of bullying for my latest novel, "The Bully List."

There are a number of reasons. While I was working on master's degree in special education a few years ago, I took several general education classes that discussed bullying in schools. I found it very interesting and enlightening.

I believe most, if not all of us, have experienced or witnessed bullying while we were in school. Maybe both. Even those who didn't get involved -- remained silent and didn't intervene -- would agree that bullying wasn't right. 

Even as I've moved on into adulthood -- the twilight years -- I recall bullying in different workplaces. I think that's another reason why bullying needs to be stopped in schools. 

We all know it's a serious problem. Just read in the headlines and you'll see where some children -- as young as 12 -- have been driven to commit suicide. That's heartbreaking. 

I hope that my novel will contribute to the dialogue about bullying. I'm happy to see it addressed more vigorously than in the past. It's not harmless teasing; it's mean-spirited behavior. 

And it needs to stop. 

Here are a few websites that I recommend about bullying:

Bully.org

Bullying Statistics

Kentucky Center for School Safety

No Bully

Pacer Center's Teens Against Bullying

Stop Bullying.gov

Stop Bullying Now

The Bullying Project

Family First Aid

I'll discuss the literary aspects in a future post.

Until the next time...

Book Release Day!

Today my manuscript became a book.

Wings ePress released "The Bully List" along with three other titles on Oct. 1. The young-adult novel is available that publisher's website -- www.wings-press.com -- and will be popping up at other sites in the next day or so.  

The novel is about two boys who are bullied by a gang. They try to get even but their efforts don't always turn out like they planned. I hope students, teachers, and parents find the story relevant, informative and entertaining. 

Coincidentally, October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

For those who have been following my blog for the past year, you know that I participated in National Novel Writing Month last November. 

I didn't look at the manuscript for about five months, then went through seven drafts before submitting it to Wings. From there, it was read, accepted, and then I worked with an editor for several weeks tying up some loose ends, fixing some scenes and dialogue, and cleaning the copy from typos and such.

I also worked with an artist on the cover. Then I had one more read to make any final changes and additions.

And now it's a book!

I had hoped to launch a new homepage today but I've got a few items to fix before bringing it to life. You'll be the first to know when it's online.

Until the next time...

Homestretch for Book Release

The galley proof for "The Bully List" has been returned to the publisher and now the waiting game until the Oct. 1 release.

I'm glad I had fresh eyes (my wife's) proofread the manuscript because she found "missing" words that registered in my brain when I went over the passages. Ever had a "peanut (butter) and jelly sandwich and glass of milk?"
She also picked up on a few other items that improved the novel.

I also received some biased feedback from her about the story -- she liked it! I may have to take her out to dinner next week to celebrate, and it won't be for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

As noted in a previous post, my attention now is marketing and promotion. Several review copies will be going out in the mail. I may even set up a Facebook page devoted to my writing life. 

I've been on Twitter for about a year. If you want to follow or connect, I'm @MichaelEmbry. You can also find me at Google+ (as Michael Embry).

And I'm still working on my revamped website that I hope to launch on Oct. 1.

When all of this is over, or at least simmers down a few degrees, I plan to get back to writing short stories to be included in a second volume of "Laments."

But for now, I'm focusing my attention on "The Bully List" and taking a few deep breaths and enjoying what has already been accomplished.

Until the next time...

P.S. I have set up a Facebook page -- Kentucky author Michael Embry. Please drop by and "Like" it.

Show Me the (Galley) Proof

It's getting down to the final days before "The Bully List" becomes a book on Oct. 1.

I received the galley proof several days ago. I hope to complete the process of finding typos and other parts that make an author cringe in the next few days. Needless to say, I hope I don't find many if any. 

Because I have read the manuscript so many times (at least eight), I'm going to have my wife read the galleys as well. She'll bring fresh eyes to the work.  

I received the postcards in the mail today so I'll be addressing them and getting them to the post office next week as well. 

For me, this is an exciting part of writing and publishing because all the hard work finally comes to fruition. Everything continues with promotion and marketing but at least you have a finished product. 

Until the next time...

Unveiling the Cover

My latest novel will be released Oct. 1. While I can't reveal all the contents, I can show you the cover.

Drum roll please!

The cover was designed by Pat Evans, the art director at Wings ePress. She's designed all the covers to my novels. I'm very pleased because it provides a visual idea about the young-adult novel.

There's still more work to be done before the release date. I'll be receiving the galley proof for final edits, corrections, and fixes. And there is the promotional side in getting the word out to as many folks as possible.

If you can judge a book by its cover, then I feel like I have another winner.

Until the next time...