My family, several young volunteers, and I made this video to promote a writer's conference I'm teaching at this summer. It's called Realm Makers, and I'm teaching a teen track there. It's going to be a ton of fun. Details below. Enjoy the video. My son edited it for me. He's the guy in the Mario hoodie. ;-)
Which of those ten things kept you from finishing a novel for the first time? Was it more than one thing or something else entirely? Share in the comments.
And if you're looking for a fun writer's conference, consider these that we'll be teaching at. We'd love to meet you!
One Year Adventure Novel
http://oneyearnovel.com/events/summer-workshop/
June 12-17, 2017
Olathe, Kansas
Stephanie will be teaching this year, along with John Otte, Nadine Brandes, and a few other fabulous authors!
*Note: this conference can only be attended by OYAN students, but I'll bet there is still time to get enrolled in the class. Check their website for more information.
SoCal Christian Writer's Conference
http://socalcwc.com/
June 22-24, 2017
La Mirada, California
Shannon is teaching the teen track. Jill will be teaching a spec fiction track.
Realm Makers
www.realmmakers.com
July 27-29, 2017
Reno, Nevada
Jill is teaching the teen track. Keynote address by Ted Dekker. Also teaching is Robert Liparulo, Mary Weber, and several more.
Oregon Christian Writers, Fall One-Day Conference
http://oregonchristianwriters.org/fall-2017/
October 21, 2017
Portland, Oregon
Jill will be teaching a short teen track. Keynote address by Jeff Gerke.
Good job on the video! I think that when I have a hard time finishing my novel it's either because I get stuck or I hate it (self-esteem is an issue with me). Realm Makers looks really cool! Maybe I can save up for it next summer.
ReplyDeleteOh, man, Josie. I totally understand self-esteem issues. They sure make it hard sometimes. Realm Makers pops around the country, so next year it will likely be on the east coast somewhere.
DeleteNo airline! A sign I should go.
DeleteI liked the "revision girl". I struggle with a mix of some of those. I don't write as often as I should... I get a LOT of ideas and then my book doesn't seem as awesome... I get stuck, and then I don't want to write, and then I come up with more ideas....
ReplyDeleteYou get the picture. I did, however, finish my first draft in January! I have started revising.... I suffer from PWS. (Perfect World Syndrome) Anybody else suffer with me? Here's an example:
Background: Keanna has just been pushed through a magical portal, and has no idea where she is, how to get home or anything else. Then I threw this in:
When she finally did she sat up and looked around. What she saw amazed her. Trees of every color of the rainbow filled the forest with beautiful colors of moss growing on them and the animals were so cute you couldn’t help but fall in love with them at first sight. Even the toads were cute. And it looked so peaceful. She could see a lion about 200 yards away lying down and a little lamb was walking toward it! She began to get up but could see that she would be too slow to save it. Suddenly something wondrous happened: the lamb started playing with the lion and the lion started playing with the lamb like they did this everyday.
Case in point.
Yay! Congrats on finishing your first draft, Lexi. That's awesome. And don't be so hard on yourself about creating a perfect world. I think that's something every human longs for. I'd visit your world any day! :-)
DeleteI usually have a hard time finishing my novel because I get burnt out or lose motivation. I have to set a deadline to finish the first draft.
ReplyDeleteI'M SO EXCITED! I found out about Realm Makers a few months ago and my parents agreed that I can go. I can't wait! :D
audrey caylin
Deadlines can be super helpful, Audrey. Good idea.
DeleteAnd, yay! How exciting. I look forward to meeting you. :-)
I go through phases when I write. Sometimes I have a really good idea for a scene and I get on a roll which then peters out... Other times I don't have ideas. Or get board. I have started at least two books before.
ReplyDelete- Book Dragon
That's totally normal. It takes time to learn your own patterns, then practice to train yourself how to be productive. And starting new books is always so much fun! But at some point, every new book will get to that rough stage too.
DeleteThe constantly changing backgrounds were the best part. I loved seeing Narnia especially!
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Yeah, it was fun, though I think our green screen could use some fine tuning. And we should use a tripod next time so it doesn't look like me and my table was floating!
DeleteI'm DYING to go to the socal one! It's so close to me.. if only I can come up with the money xD
ReplyDeleteI hope you can, Eliza. This is random, but you might consider recycling cans. My son has been saving up all our cans and taking them down himself. He's earned $300! I was shocked. He brings them home from Grandma's house, from after school events when they were just going to trash them. He is quite loyal to the process. LOL
DeleteThat's a great suggestion, thanks!
DeleteI actually have a bread business that I'm working on growing right now so it's mostly a matter of figuring out how much money I need to put towards that and seeing if I have any left for the conference :)
Ooh, a bread business! Love it. Good job using your skills to make money. :-)
DeleteThis was great. A few of those really explain my writing. :(
ReplyDeleteI loved you mug: Careful or you'll end up in my novel.
In my writing I don't know what to write next, and thus, my writing seems boring and dull when I read it. UGH
*bangs head on the wall*
That can be SO frustrating. The best thing I can suggest is that you try and bring some trouble to your hero. Maybe a horrible Uncle comes to visit or your hero gets partnered with his nemesis at school or someone starts a nasty rumor that upsets everything. If something comes at your hero, he or she will be forced to react and the story should move along again. For a while. ;-)
DeleteOkay...this is creepy. I was thinking about my main character's uncle coming to get him! THIS IS CRAZY!!!! *eyes wide with wonder* I'm serious. I really did think of that!
DeleteI like your way of thinking. I had looked up some things on google and it said that sometimes if you get stuck, just make a problem pop up (like you said).
Yeah. It's kind of like a chain reaction. One person gets a problem and then the next person is effected by it. Yeah, that's a really good idea. Thanks for the great advice and ideas! You guys are full of them. :)
Yay! So glad you have some ideas of how to move forward. Sounds like the uncle is the way to go. LOL
DeleteYeah it does! Thanks for all the wonderful advice you give!
DeleteNevada is really far away, but maybe I can make it next year. The funds just aren't working out this year. xP
ReplyDeleteI've finished the rough draft of two novels, but I only like one of them. xD I'll probably be editing for one of the Camp NaNoWriMos this year.
That's exciting, Faith! Good job. And have fun with your edits. They are my favorite part. :-)
DeleteI don't finish because I get too many ideas and then I don't want to complete the book... Although I've been working really hard on that lately.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It is really hard work. But keep at it! You can do it! :-)
DeleteHmmmm, I'd probably be the #6 girl. I read my favorite book and it makes mine look terrible, LOL. But I did finish my first draft. :) And I'm editing now, can't ever seem to make it perfect, lol.
ReplyDeleteGood job finishing your first draft. That's amazing! Also, I think if you polled 100 multi-published authors, 99% of them would say that they can't ever seem to get their final drafts perfect either. Sometimes you have to learn to say, "It will do." Then love on to the next book. It's hard to do, but necessary if you want to write more than one book. ;-)
DeleteGreat job as always! These ten reasons all make a lot of sense, really. But the thing is, for me at least, I have characters and plot and setting, but the story just doesn't feel ready to be written- what should I do?
ReplyDeleteI understand how that feels, Isabella. Maybe try writing even if you don't feel ready, because sometimes doing that will help you discover your characters and plot and get you excited about them. Yes, it's really hard work sometimes and you may never feel ready, but once you get into it, that should change.
DeleteYou can always wait until you feel ready, but if you find that you never "feel" ready, then you should probably forge ahead and see what happens.
And if your lost as to what to write, you may need to brainstorm some scenes that will set up your plot.
Hope that helps!