So back in February the lovely Katie did a post on A Writer's Faith about how she writes a blog post. I thought that this was a really cool idea, and so I decided to do a post on that as well! Thanks for letting me steal your idea, Katie!
I'm going to be using this post for some example pictures.
Step One Initial Idea
So when I get the first idea, I either open a new post in blogspot, or I write it down in my writing notebook, or blogging notebook.
If I'm I'm blogspot, or at my computer when I have the idea I'll usually just go ahead and start a new post in blogspot and put any ideas I may already have in the body of the post.
If I'm not on my computer, then I will write it down, either on my phone, in my writing notebook, or in my blogging notebook!
*cue squeals*
I just put it together, and I'm already so excited about it. It's got post worksheets, content planning calendars, and future goals. I'm thinking about doing a post about this notebook, so if you're interested in seeing that (with lost of links to printable blog-themed worksheets), let me know in the comments!
Step Two Outlining
Sometimes I will just skip this step altogether, and to go on to step three, but if I'm feeling like I might get stuck, then I go ahead and write out my bullet points, i.e. the main ideas of the post. Usually my posts are all pretty orderly (like this one, for example) and sometimes I even already have all of the main points from my original notes when I started the post draft.
Step Three Drafting
This is where I fully develop my outline (if I had one) and get down all my ideas. I usually do it in one sitting, and go straight through from the opening to the end post. Step Four Proofreading I proofread all my posts in the preview option of Blogger. Somehow I spot mistypes and missing words easier when it actually looks like a blog post and not a block of text. I read through the text and make corrections in the editor as I go, then update the preview to show the corrections and read through everything one more time. Step Five Creating the Image I use Canva to create all my blog post images. If anyone's interested, I might do a post someday about how I create them, and where I get my photos from. Once I've finished the image, I add it to the post. Step Six Post It Press Publish! The End. That's it! I hope you guys enjoyed this. If anyone else wants to do a post on how they write blog posts, let me know. I'd love to read it! Thanks Katie for inspiring this post!
There are so, so many tools out there that are specifically for helping writers write books. It can be confusing to try to decide which tools to use for your project. There are websites that tell you how easy your writing is to read, and check your grammar and spelling. There are books on writing craft, books on how to write more words faster, and books on spelling and grammar. There are sites like Pinterest that make it easy to visualize your characters and settings.
So many options, but it would be impossible and confusing to try to use all of the tools on one project.
Today I’m going to talk about the three tools that I use on every novel I have ever written.
Tool #1
Baby Naming Websites and Books
I know, I know.
But character names! It’s so hard for me to come up with names for my characters (example: across three novels I have two Wills, two Laura’s, and two Grace’s). I like the same sort of names, and there are endless websites out there on the internet to help you chose a name (baby or character, same thing), but I prefer using an actual book.
You can find a baby name book at any bookstore, but it’s cheaper to find one at a second-hand bookstore, or Goodwill. I found mine at Goodwill for about three dollars.
If I'm stumped on a character name, I just flip through the book until one jumps out at me. There are also popular name lists by year that go back all the way into the 1900s, and names that are popular in different countries, if your character isn't from the U.S.
Tool #2
Grammar Books
I do not typically use Google when I have a question about grammar.
Here's why.
Google gives about five different answers per site, and none of them are usually decisive. This does not help me at all, it only makes me more confused. Confused Olivia is not a good Olivia.
Anyway, here are a few of my favorite grammar books to use for writing:
The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White This book is great for any kind of writer, but was written specifically for novel-writing grammar rules. It's almost 100 years old, but is still a must have for any writer.
Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book I love the blog Go Teen Writers, and this book is a must-have extension from that blog. There are some really great tips here on how dialogue should be correctly punctuated, and how to correctly format your novel to send it to agents.
Any other grammar rules book I use my textbooks to check more specific grammar rules, like sit or set and other confusing things like that.
Tool #3
Writing Notebook I am going to do a post that goes into more depth about my writing notebooks, but for now I will just say that there are two different kinds of notebooks that I use when writing.
Idea Notebook
This is a very small notebook that I carry in my purse or backpack wherever I go. If I have an idea for a character, or hear a snippet of someone's conversation that inspires me, or even if I think of a whole plot for a novel, I write it down in here.
Book Idea Notebook
This is a larger notebook (usually a one-subject composition notebook or a 3-ring binder) that I use when I am plotting and planning a new novel. I do character worksheets, plot beat sheets, and research here. I do not usually do any of this kind of planning for a novel on a computer, just because I feel like I am more creative and more connected to the ideas when I am writing them out with a pencil, and looking at them on paper.
I hope you enjoyed this post and the little peek it gave you into my writing process. Are there any books that you use for writing every project? Would you be interested in reading a post about my writing notebooks?
So......I'm back! I don't really have an excuse that justifies me being away for four weeks (eeesh) but I will just say that for two weeks I was getting ready to leave for/in Texas, and the last two was just my last few weeks of my senior year and being crazier than anticipated.
I guess re-starting my blog at the end of my senior year, while working part-time and preparing for my senior recital was a little more than I should have taken on.
Anyhow! I am back now, and hopefully back to stay for a good long while. I'm still horrible at commenting on other people's blogs, and I apologize for that. Things have calmed down somewhat, so I will try to get better at that.
She’s the coach’s brilliant daughter, clueless about love. He’s the dethroned football star, ready to teach Romance 101. When dark secrets and sparks collide, there’s no playbook for what happens next.
The day Andrew Levin arrives at Washington High, Harper O’Malley knows he’ll make the perfect starter boyfriend. The school’s newest band geek is totally in Harper’s league, yet completely out of this late-bloomer’s reach. Between fitting in with a new family, scoring the first chair in band, and rescuing dogs for the local animal shelter, Harper’s never had the opportunity to hone her dating skills. But even though Harper’s love life is far from perfect, she’s got the perfect plan.
Harper knows she’s insane to agree to tutor Ridley Estes, a notorious heartbreaker and the star of her high school’s football team—but in exchange, he’s offered to school her in the game of love. Just when she sees promise with her crush, a football scandal rocks her family, her town, and Ridley’s entire future. Harper suddenly has everything to lose—her family, friends, and even her heart. When the dust of the scandal settles, nothing will be the same. Including the girl who asked the most popular jock to teach her about love.
Guys, I'm so excited to read this book. Jenny's The Charmed Life Series features possibly my favorite couple EVER, and from the excerpts I've read from I'll Be Yours, it looks just as good.
Link Therapy Cait from Paper Fury's writing process. Wow. Just wow. I literally have no words except that I am in awe and I wish I could do that. Even if I did have the time I think my brain would literally run out of words to say. From the snippets it doesn't look like Cait had that problem. (okay, so, this post shouldn't technically be in here because it is from April, but heyyyy it's all good) Katie from A Writer's Faith's writing process. It's another writing process post! I always find it interesting to read about how other writers write. And this one was actually posted in March. Hannah from Ink Blots and Coffee Stain's inspirational pep talk. Love this girl and this post. Check it out.
Writing Therapy
This month hasn't been terribly productive for me, honestly. I've been feeling a little sad because I only got a couple of chapters edited. Life has really gotten in the way of writing lately.
However, I did get a really great idea for a book. I mean, like, really great, possibly-the-best-idea-i've-ever-had great.
It's all about the little things.
Next month my goal is to either work on my blog or my WIP every day. Even if it's only for five minutes.
Also, I've had an issue with my Google account for a long time, because I wasn't able to follow blogs using Friend Connect. That issue is resolved, so if I haven't followed you, that's why. I will be following everyone now!
Music Therapy
Coming Home From The Sea
James Horner
So funny story: this song is from the soundtrack of the movie Perfect Storm. It plays at the very beginning. I’m sitting on the couch watching the beginning of this movie, and it starts with a fishing town and fishing boats coming in with their catch with this really great music playing in the background. I thought to myself, This reminds me of the Titanic.
I decided it was because both movies start with the hustle and bustle and excitement of a dock, and it has to do with ships, and (sorry for spoilers if you don’t know the history of both stories) everyone knows at the beginning that the characters are pretty much doomed.
Then I decided that I wanted to listen to the opening song again, so I looked it up. Turns out, James Horner, who composed the score for the Titanic, also composed the score for Perfect Storm. That would be why it reminded me of Titanic.
Anywayyyyy, I’m not going to say much more about this song except listen to it. It’s a good song. And sorry for that long story that doesn’t really have a purpose except to tell you that I know James Horner’s musical style. I guess it comes from the many hours I spent as a kid running around with the Titanic soundtrack playing on my CD player.
