Good morning, my lovelies! I hope you have fantastic weekend plans waiting for you. If not, write something thrilling for yourself, alright? There are all sorts of ways to go on an adventure when you're a writer. Major upside to the hours and hours of alone time.
Next week, Jill, Steph and I are going to take turns sharing our journeys with you. We're already a pretty transparent bunch--we talk about the ups and downs here, the challenges of being a writer--but we thought it would be eye-opening for you all to see what it took to get our books on the shelf.
As we prepare to do that, I've been thinking about the process. And it is a process, publication. It's a cycle. A puzzle. An ever-evolving wheel and, even if I put all my brainpower into the effort, I have no idea what the next ten years looks like for me.
So, I thought we'd play with that today, and lay our exercise out like a good, old fashioned, elementary school prompt. Sound fun? I thought so.
Remember, when you participate in our writing exercises, you're entered into a drawing. Winners will have the opportunity to ask Jill, Steph and me a writing question on an upcoming episode of Go Teen Writers LIVE. Keep your eyes open for those, by the way. We just wrapped up a recording session and we'll be sharing soon.
A little change: Because we're having trouble locating some of our random winners, we're going to be using the Rafflecopter to keep track of entries. Super easy, you guys. As always, leave your exercise response in the comments section and then use the Rafflecopter to tell me you've done so. And be sure to come back throughout the weekend to see what your friends are up to.
Okay, here's that prompt. Now, scoot! I'm dying to know where you'll all be in ten years.
I'll either be writing about a young girl whose family supports the Czar. She is struggling to escape Communist Russia with the help of a mysterious peasant boy. This would be a big deal for me, since I write contemporary...a historical sounds hard!
ReplyDeleteOR
I'll be tackling a trilogy about a girl who lives on an old, ramshackle farm in a tiny, quirky countryside town in Oregon. She is desperate to learn more than her homeschooling parents have to offer, but finances are tight, their only car breaks down, her prissy, big-city cousin is coming to visit...
Thank you for the exercise, Shannon. It was fun!
Both of those ideas sound interesting! Good luck with your next ten years of writing!
DeleteI know what you mean about historical. I decided to plunge in this year (from contemporary). It's a lot of fun, once I got a little more organized. The best thing I did was to make a list of questions I needed answers about for that time period, so my research was more targeted and time efficient.
DeleteHappy writing!
-Ann
Specific! I like it!
DeleteI don't know what God has planned for my future. But I can have goals, right. My goals are in ten years to have my book published. I don't know if anyone will read it, but I have a felling God wants me to write it. I've but it away a couple times, but I kept finding myself going back to it, like it wanted to be written.
ReplyDelete-Emily D
I'm glad you're pursuing your calling, Emily! :D
DeleteI have no idea what God has planned either! It's faith, yes? And goals are absolutely fantastic.
DeleteI'm not sure what I'll be writing in ten years. I'll be nearly 28, and I'm hoping to have a little one to take care of, so writing will probably be low on my priority list, but I want to have a book published by then. I'll probably be writing fantasy, maybe some historical fiction, and I want to try my hand at Regency or Old West romance.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to play with all kinds of different genres?
Delete-Ann
Little ones definitely slow things down, but they're worth it!
DeleteIn ten years, I will have (hopefully) gotten around to writing my first supernatural. I will be penning a novel in which a human endowed with angelic gifts learns through exploitation from others that the only way to protect something innocent is to never let it see the light of day. She chooses to sacrifice a precious part of her to bless humanity and fulfill God's purpose for her.
ReplyDeleteNext week's posts should be enlightening. I look forward to hearing the behind-the-scenes of your writing journeys!
Wow, looks like you already have an interesting concept. Good for you!
Delete-Ann
Thank you, Ann! It'll be a while yet before I get to write this book, but I'm excited about it.
DeleteInteresting, Olivia!
DeleteIf you've already been picked in the raffle, and have gotten in touch, do you still have to do the Rafflecopter? I don't know if I can.
ReplyDeleteI probably can't. :\
DeleteAll of our drawings are totally random. Yes, you can continue to enter.
DeleteSo, you can be picked without the rafflecopter?
DeleteIn ten years, I'll be writing confidently and happily. I'll be published, and my books will be on display in Barnes and Noble. My writing style will be familiar and steady. I will have finally found my voice. I'll be writing fantasy and a little dystopian, and I might even have conquered the procrastination demon.
ReplyDeleteMaybe.
Maybe wait to conquer procrastinating until twenty years. Always best to put that off. ;P
Delete-Ann
Ha ha ha ha....
DeleteI may need help conquering my procrastination demon... He's been eying me quite a bit lately.
Delete~Mila
Look at those goals! You keep shooting for them, friend.
DeleteIn ten years I will hopefully continue to be writing my fairytale retellings. I might write some allegories with cat people. And anything that comes to mind. I would like to be published but everything in God's timing.
ReplyDelete- Book Dragon
Neat, and good for you! God's timing is always the best. :)
Delete-Ann
In ten years I'll still be writing contemporary fantasy (because it includes mythical creatures AND chocolate biscuits (my two great loves (whoops too many brackets). Ideally I'll also be published, writing full time, and be New York Bestseller... But maybe that'll take ten and a half... ;-)
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be looking out for your writings! *Nibbles stolen, chocolate biscuit*
DeleteI love mythical creatures. :)
New York better be ready for ya. :)
Ha, ha! Love the enthusiasm. And now I'm hungry...
Delete-Ann
Thank you everyone! ;-)
DeleteIt's true. They better have their printers ready, and their working caps on. :)
DeleteTen and a half! hahahahahahaha. Yes. Sometimes things take half a year longer than we intend. Sort of like this book I'm supposed to be finishing. ;)
DeleteAnd some things take several years longer than we intend. ;)
DeleteIn ten years, I'll hopefully have my first book published, and working on a second. My genre will be action-adventure (that's a real one, right? :) fiction. My goal is to write relevant and appropriate books for teens. I'll have conquered my struggles with low-self esteem, and not not be afraid to share my work with others.
ReplyDeleteNice goal. You go, girl!
Delete-Ann
Action-adventure is great! I love your goal--'relevant and appropriate books for teens'. Thumbs up!!
DeleteLove this! And we need more action-adventure out there.
DeleteIn ten years I'll be writing like there's no tomorrow. Not sure if it'll be my sixth or sixtieth book. Whether I'll be pounding away on a keyboard and stuffing my face with chocolate almonds, or scribbling on a notebook outside where breezes crinkle the pages' corners. Maybe my creative muse will have hit full stride. Or each word I spit out will be a taxing effort. Maybe I'll have thousands of faithful fans waiting for this book, or maybe only my family cheering me on. All I know is in ten years, words will still whisper in my heart, begging to come out. So I'll be writing...because that's what writers do.
ReplyDelete-Ann
'So I'll be writing...because that's what writers do.' - Love this :)
DeleteYou sound like a career author already!
DeleteIt was the chocolate almonds that gave you away. ;)
DeleteThanks, Meaghan! :)
Delete-Ann
Betrayed by my favorite food source...I can live with that.
Delete-Ann
In ten years I'll be writing teen fiction that speaks to issues burning on my heart. Maybe novels that help people understand what it's like to be a traumatized child, or to have a sibling with mental issues, or to be a secret Christian in the Middle East, or to move all around the world as a teen and not know where is 'home'. I'll probably still be moving. Maybe I'll be teaching school in Turkey or serving kids at the Boys and Girls Club in my hometown. Hopefully I'll be fluent in Arabic. :)
ReplyDeleteIf I still haven't been published, I'll be writing anyway. Because first I live to make a difference, and then I write about it.
Wow, I can't wait to see how you are used! Secret Christian in the Middle East-- I know God would use you greatly if you did that! :)
DeleteSomeone has oodles of stories running their veins. Good for you, girl. Keep writing.
DeleteIn ten years, hopefully I'll have my adventure/fantasy series finished, and I'll be published. My goal is to have ten books in ten years... We'll see how that goes! But you can always dream, right?
ReplyDelete~Faith
thefloridsword.blogspot.com
GOALS! Love this. A book a year is a fantastic goal.
DeleteIn ten years, I'll be a published author for (hopefully) a big time publishing company. I'll be writing by God's calling and showing the love of Christ to unbelievers. Hopefully, I'll be putting pen to paper for those who need hope in their pain stricken lives, and show them who Jesus is. I'll show how you are never too far gone. Never. Redemption will always be waiting with open arms. My writings will hopefully reflect my calling to give life to the lifeless through realistic fiction.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would really like to counsel to young teens who have suffered from abuse (mostly mentally). I'd love to have God use me mightily in 10 years, and I know he'll do just that. :)
Yes, He will, if you stay humble and open to his direction! Sounds great!
DeleteYes, I love talking to him and he has great plans for me. :)
DeleteThank you! :)
Eyes on God. Hands on the keyboard. I dig it.
DeleteThank you. Yes, that is exactly what I want to do. And, hopefully I'll get to do them all, but it will be wherever God leads me, and whatever he wants me to do. :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn ten years, I'll have already published one (or two) books and will be writing, and maybe story boarding as well, for an animated show (eventually i'll rise to be a creator/showrunner, but I don't know if that'll happen in ten years or not). But no matter how busy I am, I'll still try to make time for writing whenever I can :)
ReplyDeleteOoooo! A showrunner. FUN!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNfJNlPCgvc
ReplyDeleteHey, guys. This is random, but my little friends just made this and asked me to spread it around..... lol
In ten years, I will be writing. I don't care if I'm published, rich, or famous, I just want to write.
ReplyDeleteAnd write you will!
DeleteIn ten years, nine years and about six or seven months ago I will have (hopefully) written fifty-thousand words for Camp Nano.
ReplyDelete(Ten years is a bit too far for me).
~Mila
Yup. Totally get it.
DeleteIn ten years, I will be writing on the side of my pay-the-bills job (probably in technical writing or corporate comm), still working on fantasy, hopefully having tackled my political-fantasy-mystery novel, possibly having expanded into urban fantasy.
ReplyDeleteI hope 10 years brings you what you want, Sarah! Ooohh, urban fantasy. :)
DeletePolitical-fantasy-mystery! Love that.
DeleteI have a science fiction project that's close to my heart, but I feel that I can't do it justice as the writer I am today. In ten years, I hope that I'll have two contemporary YA books published and moved on to writing a fantasy series as my "serious" project with that science fiction story as my fun project that's my break from the fantasy project when my characters stop talking to me.
ReplyDeleteI hope your characters never stop talking to you!
DeleteIn ten years . . . that's a hard, long, far away thought! I would hope to have published at least the first two novels of my YA Christian fantasy trilogy, though hopefully all three, as well as start and run my own blog to encourage and amuse those who come across it, and use it to spread hope and God's call in mine and other's lives. Not a lot at all! ;P
ReplyDelete*Sarah
Good luck, Sarah! I know you'll do a very good job. :)
DeleteLove it! Purpose!
DeleteIn ten years ... well, that's kinda hard to fathom. Obviously, no one can really tell what's in store ten years down the road - but I hope that my ten-years-later-future holds multiple published books, lots of friendships made through writing, and a whole lot of doing whatever it is God wants me to do ;). This exercise was fun, Shannon!
ReplyDelete~ Savannah
scattered-scribblings.blogspot.com
It's impossible to imagine, yes? But we're writers! Imagination is our wheelhouse.
DeleteTen years...I hadn't really thought about it. I hope that my books will be some what popular and that my message will be heard. I hope to have more followers on my blog and people will be inspired by me. I hope to have a least a few books published. I'll be 23 in 10 years so I hope those dreams aren't too big. xD But I know with God all things are possible. I want my writing to be used for Him!!
ReplyDelete- Lilly Shyree
(alillyingodsgarden.blogspot.com)
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - I hope everything goes well for you, and that God blesses you. :) Keep trusting him and he'll lead you on the path he wants you to be on.
DeleteBig dreams are good! Keep writing, girl.
DeleteIn ten years, I'll be writing a science fiction book titled "Crux," testing the waters of something other than fantasy for the first time. By then I will have had several books published in varying degrees of fantasy, including my largest and greatest project.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan. :) "Largest and greatest project"... I'm interested to see how that holds up under the test of time. ;) Somehow the audience always seems to connect with different things than the author would expect. Blessings!
DeleteYou already have a title! AWESOME!!!
DeleteYou guys are awesome! LHE asked a good question. If you've been selected as winner for past LIVE episodes can you continue to enter? The answer is YES. The winners are chosen completely at random. Please enter in as many writing exercises as you like. This exercise will run for another day and a half, so if you haven't entered, please use the Rafflecopter to do so.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I can't use the rafflecopter, but if the person was already chosen previously then can their question still be in the upcoming LIVE video even if they don't use the rafflecopter? (Long sentence.) I mean, I really don't think I can do the rafflecopter thing (personal reasons). Sorry if I'm asking too many questions. I'm really dense.
DeleteIn ten years, I will be a powerful woman of God, bringing millions to Him. I will have two trilogies sold and part of the New York Times best seller list. I will be an actress in two or more movies, possibly in a TV show and will be married to an awesome guy, who loves God with all of His heart. I will be an impactful person who changes the world.
ReplyDeleteYou can do all things through God! Just keep trusting him and following his calling, and he'll lead you right where you need to go. I can't wait to see all the people you bring to Christ! Keep being bold and speaking out to the lost, and I assure you that you will completely change people's lives. :)
Delete