Advice For Writers #39: Quote

This post is going to be short. How short? Well, you'll see it underneath this cut. 

Advice For Writers #38: How To Keep Focusing On Your Writing

Ha! It is Penelope again. How many of you all can stay focused on your writing? Well, it is easy to go off and look something up on YouTube. (I can't get enough of Kevin Conroy's singing.) 

Let's admit it. It isn't easy to remain focused and motivated. Everyone has a certain attention span, and others are shorter while some are longer. 

Advice For Writers #37: Just Live

How many of you guys are tempted to simply write all day and night? I know I am. I love dunking my head into different places, places where I can spend a million dollars and not get there. 

Advice For Writers #35: So Now What?

Camp NaNoWriMo is over (for now). So what does one do now? I know I've probably written a version of this post, but I think repetition would definitely hit everyone in the head. Multiple times. 

So what do we do now?

Okay, first of all, if you aren't finished with NaNoWriMo, finish it. If you can't bring yourself to write it (because of a lack of inspiration, not a lack of determination), then you don't finish it. 

You put it aside. Let it sit. Let it cool down. Let yourself be removed from it, so when you start editing it, you'll be able to see it in a much better light. 

You let it sit. 

You let it sit for a long time, until a month has passed and you feel like visiting the world again. 

Then you read it. You read it again. You read it again and again. You notice the plot holes. You notice the strange words you used. You notice the lack of a good transition. You take notes. You take A LOT of notes. 

That is when you start rewriting again. Because it is a freakin' long process. But don't worry. You are getting closer to the final product. Every step is a step closer to its perfection.

Happy Writing!

Advice For Writers #33: Panic Attacks

I have one of the worst panic attacks of all times. Well, maybe not, but to me, it certainly feels like I'm suffering through a 6.0 earthquake while trying to do tap dancing. 

So how to deal with panic attacks?

Advice For Writers #31: The First Week of Camp

So we are halfway through Camp NaNoWriMo. If you haven't joined Camp, then hurry up and sign up! Come on! Don't be shy. Camp is awesome. You get to meet others like you. In my co-ed cabin (first time I'd ever been in a cabin with boys), there are people from Florida and other such places. Idaho. Many places.

Advice For Writers #29: My Schedule Is Full

Oh, yes. These dreaded schedules. Don't you hate them? Seriously. Monday, busy. Tuesday, busy. Wednesday, busy (got to save time to watch Supernatural). Thursday, busy. Friday, busy. Saturday, super busy. Sunday, DON'T BOTHER ME! 

Advice For Writers #27: Writing As A Whole

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm bringing us back to ALMOST the very beginning. Writing. Writing the first draft. Writing the start, the first chapter, of the story. The prologue. Whatever is the first part of your first draft (I have to admit that I almost never use prologues). 

Advice For Writers #25: At A Loss For Words

So what does one do when they are at a loss for words? Well, from my experiences, I go back onto Tumblr, spend ten hours on that site, and reblog everything I see. But I suspect that most writers probably won't waste half of their lifetime on there.

Advice For Writers #23: How to Revise Your First Draft Part 3

Part 2 is here.

So two weeks ago, I talked about beta readers. It is the second step of revising. As I'd said before, beta readers will open your eyes a bit more. Be careful not to pick those who care more about your feelings than your work. After all, they might sugarcoat the critique. And don't pick your enemies. They are not the most pleasant lot. 

Advice For Writers #21: How to Revise Your First Draft Part 2

And I'm back! Part 1 is "Advice For Writers #19." Feel free to go back and reread that! It will open in a new window. At least, it should.

Read more of this post underneath the cut.

Advice For Writers #19: How To Revise Your First Draft Part 1

Congratulations! You finished your first draft (I assume!). Now what?

Advice For Writers #16: Two or too? The Icky Thing About Grammar

Raise your hand if you hate grammar. I think half of us really hate grammar and the other half are probably Grammar Nazis. Just kidding. I'm sure I can create a poll to gather the correct data and statistics and everything, form the right conclusion, analyze the data...

Alright. Now, I'm going to tell how this: you seriously need to let it go about grammar. Just write. Don't get down because of a spelling error.

Advice For Writers #13: How To Lie

Now, I'm not trying to teach you how to lie. Whoops! That was a lie. 

Anyway, Penelope Grace is here. I'm going to tell you what excuses you can tell to your family when you are trying to hide the fact that you are writing like a maniac/insane person. Quite honestly, I'm going to tell you that if my family knew I was participating in NaNoWriMo and writing 100K+ words in a single month, they would send me to an institution. Or therapy, at least. Or rehab.

Either way, it is icky. 

Advice For Writers #10: How To Win NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo. National November Writing Month. The craziest acronym I have ever seen. With the exception of Misha Collins' scavenger hunt's acronym. Remember that one? GISHWHES. "The ugliest acronym the world has ever seen" as stated by Misha Collins somewhere. I agree. 

Wholeheartedly, of course.

But how do you win NaNoWriMo? I think it is safe to say that everyone wants to write a novel by the end of the month. Or at least a novella. 

Advice For Writers #7: Outlining

I'm getting all worked up now. Outlining! One of my favorite things to do when writing a book! Other than writing the book itself, of course. 

An outline is basically a guide, a blueprint to your book. It tells you how to build it and makes sure you don't go off-topic. I'm going to tell you the different ways of how I outline. And yes, it is going to be very interesting. You can most definitely use my ways or not. Outlines saved me many times. Sometimes, I get lost or at a loss for words. Outlining gives answers to where you have questions or bumps in the road.

Advice For Writers #5: Let's Write

Yoohoo. It is Penelope Grace again. It looks like Alex took over Week Four completely. (Grace & Steele's brand new week always starts on Friday. If I had the control over the entire world, the new week starts on Friday).

We all know know writing is hard. We are constantly being plagued by irritating things like Writer's block (the kryptonite), ourselves (self-doubt/low self-confidence), our mothers (who tells us that we should be washing laundry instead of spending long hours typing out plot bunnies), and our (fictional) boyfriends (who always demand more attention to themselves, but we know that they can't have everything they want!). 

Advice For Writers #4: How To Be Original

Let's admit it. There are tons of wannabe copies of Twilight, Harry Potter, and The Hunger Games. Some of them are quite distinctive enough, that most people wouldn't consider them copies. But long-time readers like me could see the similarities easily. In fact, I would probably know it in an instant and wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. Shall I name a few of those copycats? 

Advice For Writers #3: Distractions Called Life

Life brings a lot of things. Joy, sorrow, tears, happiness, new babies, and of course, the eventual fate, the infamous and endless reaper, death. Those are just a few examples of distractions life brings. The trouble is finding a balance. Should we spend more time writing? Should we spend more time with our mothers? Mother-in-laws? Well, we definitely don't want to spend time with future mother-in-laws or current mother-in-laws. They are certainly a chore.

And yes, I do realize that I posted last week's "Advice for Writers." Well, I'm taking over it for Week 3. Alex Steele will be back next week. I myself do not know what advice she will be giving to you, fellow writers and awesome readers. 

Note: This post is more serious than the other posts I've written. I'm aiming for sentimental. But I'll accept serious.

Advice For Writers #2: Get Over That Writer's Block!

Ah. Writer's block. They are the bane of our existence. They are the kryptonite to our Superman and yes, Supergirl. Writer's block is caused by one reason and one reason only. Actually, two. But I'll pay more attention to the former than the latter.