Heyy!
As I was riding in the car the other day, I had the idea to post Writers' Confessions in here - one for every month of November! Once I looked up the phrase on the internet, I realized I hadn't come up with anything new and exciting... but, I thought I'd try it out all the same. That way, we all can celebrate National Novel Writing Month...even though I'm not doing NanoWriMo! :)
So, what's a Writer's Confession? (I can't decide where to put the apostrophe...am I talking about writers plural, or writer singular? Guess it depends on how many people send in their submissions!) A confession might be something like, "I find myself in love with my main characters. Frequently." That one's awkward, but it was the first one I thought of. Sooo...comment below, or e-mail me, and your confession will most likely be posted sometime throughout November!
Also, if you're doing NanoWriMo and would like to guest post, let me know! :)
Happy writing!
-- Klara C.
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
More "Why I's"...
Hey, it's me!!! Posting in my little portion of the humongous writing world. Posting just for YOU, whoever you are!!! I'm feeling particularly creative (in the sense of wordiness...) after being inspired by reading blogs, so I thought I would post for you, the sweet person who chanced (or deliberately visited) my crazy portion of the blogosphere.
I'm glad you stopped by!
When I started blogging over at the other half of the blogosphere, I really didn't know what I was getting in to. But I did know that maybe I could finally type out all the articles I wrote in my head but never wrote down. And here's one of the main thoughts that runs through my head when I talk to writers. It's called, "Why I Decided Not to Go the Mainline Publishing Route" (Lordwilling).
So here you go. I'm typing this out from my head, through my body, to my fingers, onto the keys, onto the screen. And eventually, once I click "publish", and once you click into this blog, onto your screen.
So here we go.
:O
I'm nervous now.
"Why I" #1:
I've enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. For nearly as long as I can remember, I'd also dreamed about publishing a book...publishing a book, that is, someday. I always wrote fiction - crazy, fun, and possibly outlandish tales of alternate worlds that I produced in large, but for the most part unfinished, quantities. When I was nine years old, right before and after moving to England, I wrote mainly about my magical world called Cunburra.
I didn't know there were two ways to publish, but I know now. There's Mainline Publishing, and Self-Publishing. Let me explain.
Mainline Publishing is the one you generally hear about - the publishers that require you to send your beloved story far, far away, only to most likely receive a rejection slip. You tend to hear about writers being rejected over and over again before finally being picked up by a publisher, who agrees to publish their work. Their writing becomes a bestseller, and everyone (publisher, writer, reader) is happy. Yayyy!
Self-Publishing is where the writer pays the publisher to publish the work. The publisher doesn't have to necessarily like their work, or have any particular interest in it. The books are "print on demand", which means when someone orders a book, it's printed and shipped out (instead of, say, 5,000 copies being printed - copies which the author then has to try to sell).
This is the short, un-complicated explanation which may be lacking information you might consider important...and for that I apologise (the British way... the "s" instead of the "z"...). If you care to find out more about the differences between these two publishing methods, feel free to research them out...and let me know what you discover, if you feel so inclined!!! :)
I'd never heard of self-publishing. I'd imagined myself, as an adult, one day publishing my books with one of those mainline publishers. This all changed when, while being treated for cancer in England, I was asked if I had a dream I would liked fulfilled. The charity, Dreams Come True, existed to make the wishes of terminally or seriously ill children, come true. Although many kids requested Disneyland Paris, or swimming with dolphins (both of which are super cool!), I knew I only had one dream, and that was to get my book published.
We'd heard about a self-publisher through a hospital teacher who had become a friend of our family and was using the said publisher to publish her father's book. The publisher agreed to publish my book and even offered to do it for free! : ) That's how my first book, Tales of Cunburra and Other Stories was published. I am sooo thankful for the opportunity! : )
A while after I finished treatment for cancer, and while we were still living in England, I had finished another book (unrelated to Cunburra) which I hoped to have published. Mom and I researched Christian publishers (not self-publishers) and actually sent my story in to one of them. It was not accepted, but it was a good experience for us. At this time I was still learning the process of editing, learning how to write in an active (instead of passive) tense, etc. I continued writing, but we started looking at self-publishing options instead.
I wasn't planning for this to the story of how I got my books published, but that is how it is turning out. :p Well, that's the life of a writer, right? We occasionally end up being surprised by ourselves. :p
The main point I was planning to write in this post were the reasons why I chose not to publish the mainline way. So I guess I'll say them now.
1) I don't write in hopes to become the next bestseller. Although I sometimes dream about my stories becoming famous, being made into movies, etc., many bestsellers tend to be fads that are not based on a Biblical worldview anyway. Also, I don't write to be famous; I write for a different reason...
2) I write to glorify God and hopefully point others to Him. I don't think it's His will for me to mainline publish. I have now found there are even FREE self-publishing options. Many mainline publishers want to know that the author's plan for publicizing their book is. When you're a student (even a homeschooled one! :)), running around the country to market a book generally isn't very synonymous with finishing school. I want to impact those around me with my book(s), and as soon as possible (or rather, as soon as God wants me to). I don't want to wait until I'm old enough to travel and publicize my books. I want to share my books and my passions with people right now, and free self-publishing options, such as Lulu.com can make that possible for writers like you and me.
I guess this is turning out to be one of my typical "all over the place" posts. The words are coming out of my brain nearly as fast as my fingers can type them out!
I suppose I simply wanted to share with you my reasons for choosing to go the self-publishing route (how I ended up finding out about it, and my hopes and plans, if God wills, for future projects) and encourage you, a writer, that you can share your story - whether it be fiction or non-fiction, outlandish or serious ;) - with the world. You don't even have to wait until you're an adult or even wait until you've finished with school! Though I have not personally used Lulu.com yet, I know people who have and I believe their experiences with that publisher have been for the most part positive. Although this is something to discuss with the Lord, and of course your parents, I just wanted to encourage you, I guess.
Well, I've done enough rambling for tonight (or how about for the next five months? :p) so I'll leave you to think about all the information I've just dumped on you... :D
-- Klara C.
I'm glad you stopped by!
When I started blogging over at the other half of the blogosphere, I really didn't know what I was getting in to. But I did know that maybe I could finally type out all the articles I wrote in my head but never wrote down. And here's one of the main thoughts that runs through my head when I talk to writers. It's called, "Why I Decided Not to Go the Mainline Publishing Route" (Lordwilling).
So here you go. I'm typing this out from my head, through my body, to my fingers, onto the keys, onto the screen. And eventually, once I click "publish", and once you click into this blog, onto your screen.
So here we go.
:O
I'm nervous now.
"Why I" #1:
I've enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. For nearly as long as I can remember, I'd also dreamed about publishing a book...publishing a book, that is, someday. I always wrote fiction - crazy, fun, and possibly outlandish tales of alternate worlds that I produced in large, but for the most part unfinished, quantities. When I was nine years old, right before and after moving to England, I wrote mainly about my magical world called Cunburra.
I didn't know there were two ways to publish, but I know now. There's Mainline Publishing, and Self-Publishing. Let me explain.
Mainline Publishing is the one you generally hear about - the publishers that require you to send your beloved story far, far away, only to most likely receive a rejection slip. You tend to hear about writers being rejected over and over again before finally being picked up by a publisher, who agrees to publish their work. Their writing becomes a bestseller, and everyone (publisher, writer, reader) is happy. Yayyy!
Self-Publishing is where the writer pays the publisher to publish the work. The publisher doesn't have to necessarily like their work, or have any particular interest in it. The books are "print on demand", which means when someone orders a book, it's printed and shipped out (instead of, say, 5,000 copies being printed - copies which the author then has to try to sell).
This is the short, un-complicated explanation which may be lacking information you might consider important...and for that I apologise (the British way... the "s" instead of the "z"...). If you care to find out more about the differences between these two publishing methods, feel free to research them out...and let me know what you discover, if you feel so inclined!!! :)
I'd never heard of self-publishing. I'd imagined myself, as an adult, one day publishing my books with one of those mainline publishers. This all changed when, while being treated for cancer in England, I was asked if I had a dream I would liked fulfilled. The charity, Dreams Come True, existed to make the wishes of terminally or seriously ill children, come true. Although many kids requested Disneyland Paris, or swimming with dolphins (both of which are super cool!), I knew I only had one dream, and that was to get my book published.
We'd heard about a self-publisher through a hospital teacher who had become a friend of our family and was using the said publisher to publish her father's book. The publisher agreed to publish my book and even offered to do it for free! : ) That's how my first book, Tales of Cunburra and Other Stories was published. I am sooo thankful for the opportunity! : )
A while after I finished treatment for cancer, and while we were still living in England, I had finished another book (unrelated to Cunburra) which I hoped to have published. Mom and I researched Christian publishers (not self-publishers) and actually sent my story in to one of them. It was not accepted, but it was a good experience for us. At this time I was still learning the process of editing, learning how to write in an active (instead of passive) tense, etc. I continued writing, but we started looking at self-publishing options instead.
I wasn't planning for this to the story of how I got my books published, but that is how it is turning out. :p Well, that's the life of a writer, right? We occasionally end up being surprised by ourselves. :p
The main point I was planning to write in this post were the reasons why I chose not to publish the mainline way. So I guess I'll say them now.
1) I don't write in hopes to become the next bestseller. Although I sometimes dream about my stories becoming famous, being made into movies, etc., many bestsellers tend to be fads that are not based on a Biblical worldview anyway. Also, I don't write to be famous; I write for a different reason...
2) I write to glorify God and hopefully point others to Him. I don't think it's His will for me to mainline publish. I have now found there are even FREE self-publishing options. Many mainline publishers want to know that the author's plan for publicizing their book is. When you're a student (even a homeschooled one! :)), running around the country to market a book generally isn't very synonymous with finishing school. I want to impact those around me with my book(s), and as soon as possible (or rather, as soon as God wants me to). I don't want to wait until I'm old enough to travel and publicize my books. I want to share my books and my passions with people right now, and free self-publishing options, such as Lulu.com can make that possible for writers like you and me.
I guess this is turning out to be one of my typical "all over the place" posts. The words are coming out of my brain nearly as fast as my fingers can type them out!
I suppose I simply wanted to share with you my reasons for choosing to go the self-publishing route (how I ended up finding out about it, and my hopes and plans, if God wills, for future projects) and encourage you, a writer, that you can share your story - whether it be fiction or non-fiction, outlandish or serious ;) - with the world. You don't even have to wait until you're an adult or even wait until you've finished with school! Though I have not personally used Lulu.com yet, I know people who have and I believe their experiences with that publisher have been for the most part positive. Although this is something to discuss with the Lord, and of course your parents, I just wanted to encourage you, I guess.
Well, I've done enough rambling for tonight (or how about for the next five months? :p) so I'll leave you to think about all the information I've just dumped on you... :D
-- Klara C.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Thoughts on NaNoWriMo, or, "Why I am Not Participating in NaNoWriMo This Year But Wishing All the Participants Happy Thoughts and Good Things"
No, it's not a foreign language! Some of you have probably heard of / participate in NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month... And for those of you who haven't heard of it, or am thinking I am speaking gibberish with lots of "N's" in it, NaNoWriMo is where writers from all around the world try to write a 50,000 word (or more) novel in one month - the month of November. You can check out the website here...it's pretty cool! I believe I first heard about it from my dear friend Talia.
Last year I kinda wanted to participate in this amazing month of crafting a novel, but I was busy with a homeschool concert at the time, so I told myself, "I'll do it next year." Well, "next year" is here...and it looks like I'll be waiting 'til "next year" again...for two (and a half) reasons.
1. I'm a high-schooler. :p Sadly, I don't think my school schedule will allow me to take a vacation in NaNoWriMo style - "Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!" as the website explains. (By the way... isn't that such an inspiring description? It makes you wanna sign up! Right then and there!)
2. I have worked the same series to pieces* (or perhaps, to eventual completion) for the past 4 and a half years(!?). And during those 4 1/2 years, with a few minor deviations, several cases of writer's block in varying degrees of severity and a couple major detours, I have focused on writing, editing, developing and giving quality time to that same series. So basically, this means: I have zero ideas for a new novel. No ideas whatsoever. Not even a whatchamacallit of the series (It's 10:27 PM...not that that's any excuse...but I can't remember the name of a book that is inspired by but deviates from the original book).
Subpoint 2.5 Q. Are you sure you don't have any ideas? A. At the moment, yes. Basically, when I get an idea for a book, I write it. I start the book. And since NaNoWriMo requires a novel that has not yet been born (although I believe the website says storylines, character sketches and stuff are fine), I have nada. Nothing.
* Oh no, it rhymes! But it's funny, so I'm not going to edit it out. :p
(You just read the fine print, didn't you?)
And yes, I do know that there is a set-your-own-goal version of NaNoWriMo... It looks neato too, and you can check it out, too! I guess it's something to consider, but at the moment I'm just ridiculously busy. This blog and my other one keep me busy. So do my {many} characters, accumulated over the course of 5 novels. They tell me I don't spend enough time with them anymore, and they tell me that if I start a new novel, they will feel cheated. :p
However, I think NaNoWriMo looks like a completely amazing opportunity and I want to wish all participants inspiration, passion, ideas and of course, time to get all that good stuff written down. :)
To you (yes, you!): Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? What are you thoughts on the matter? :) Also, maybe one (or more) of you participants would be interested in guest posting about your experience once November rolls around?
-- Klara C.
Last year I kinda wanted to participate in this amazing month of crafting a novel, but I was busy with a homeschool concert at the time, so I told myself, "I'll do it next year." Well, "next year" is here...and it looks like I'll be waiting 'til "next year" again...for two (and a half) reasons.
1. I'm a high-schooler. :p Sadly, I don't think my school schedule will allow me to take a vacation in NaNoWriMo style - "Thirty days and nights of literary abandon!" as the website explains. (By the way... isn't that such an inspiring description? It makes you wanna sign up! Right then and there!)
2. I have worked the same series to pieces* (or perhaps, to eventual completion) for the past 4 and a half years(!?). And during those 4 1/2 years, with a few minor deviations, several cases of writer's block in varying degrees of severity and a couple major detours, I have focused on writing, editing, developing and giving quality time to that same series. So basically, this means: I have zero ideas for a new novel. No ideas whatsoever. Not even a whatchamacallit of the series (It's 10:27 PM...not that that's any excuse...but I can't remember the name of a book that is inspired by but deviates from the original book).
Subpoint 2.5 Q. Are you sure you don't have any ideas? A. At the moment, yes. Basically, when I get an idea for a book, I write it. I start the book. And since NaNoWriMo requires a novel that has not yet been born (although I believe the website says storylines, character sketches and stuff are fine), I have nada. Nothing.
* Oh no, it rhymes! But it's funny, so I'm not going to edit it out. :p
(You just read the fine print, didn't you?)
And yes, I do know that there is a set-your-own-goal version of NaNoWriMo... It looks neato too, and you can check it out, too! I guess it's something to consider, but at the moment I'm just ridiculously busy. This blog and my other one keep me busy. So do my {many} characters, accumulated over the course of 5 novels. They tell me I don't spend enough time with them anymore, and they tell me that if I start a new novel, they will feel cheated. :p
However, I think NaNoWriMo looks like a completely amazing opportunity and I want to wish all participants inspiration, passion, ideas and of course, time to get all that good stuff written down. :)
To you (yes, you!): Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? What are you thoughts on the matter? :) Also, maybe one (or more) of you participants would be interested in guest posting about your experience once November rolls around?
-- Klara C.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Sometimes I Wonder...
...if I shouldn't have made this blog.
There, I said it.
I mean, I'm not as eloquent or as interesting as others who write about writing... I read other people's amazing style of writing, and wonder if my passive / conversational tone makes me sound as if I have little authority on the subjects I speak about (and maybe it's true!). And I think about how I mostly post about grammar on here, and who wants to read about grammar?
But, there's other times when I remind myself I wanted this blog. I already set it up, so I might as well use it. :p I occasionally do get random inspirations (about once a month) to post on here, and if I didn't have this blog, where else would I post them? On my other blog, I guess.
I dunno. I'm not exactly looking for you to give me love and hugs at this moment in time, I'm just musing. I may or may not publish said musings. But I probably will, since I haven't posted anything in a month or so...
-- Klara C.
There, I said it.
I mean, I'm not as eloquent or as interesting as others who write about writing... I read other people's amazing style of writing, and wonder if my passive / conversational tone makes me sound as if I have little authority on the subjects I speak about (and maybe it's true!). And I think about how I mostly post about grammar on here, and who wants to read about grammar?
But, there's other times when I remind myself I wanted this blog. I already set it up, so I might as well use it. :p I occasionally do get random inspirations (about once a month) to post on here, and if I didn't have this blog, where else would I post them? On my other blog, I guess.
I dunno. I'm not exactly looking for you to give me love and hugs at this moment in time, I'm just musing. I may or may not publish said musings. But I probably will, since I haven't posted anything in a month or so...
-- Klara C.
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