#am writing
1. Turned down an opportunity that didn’t feel right for my work2. Pitched a story3. Got edits back on an essay4. Pitched a story5. Delays in getting a literary journal I’m in because COVID-19 shut them down6. Made edits on an essay in response to feedback from an editor7. Pitched a story8. Started sending asks for endorsements for Chew This Journal 9. Got edits back on a time sensitive article 10. Made edits on the time sensitive story11. Got a call from an editor offering me a feature story12. Phone pitched a story - got a mabe! 13. Got edits back on another article14. Had a great phone conversation with one of my editors15. Reviewed and made edits on a article16. Organized my planner for the week17. Made a video for my patrons18. Positive rejection on a pitch19. Got outreached for a possible new writing gig20. Eeemmmaaaiiil21. Document prep of the Chew this Journal manuscript for sending to influencers for endorsement 22. Got a story offered to me to write for end of week23. Sent 7 pitch ideas to an new editor with a publication I write regularly for24. Started sending Chew This Journal to influencers for endorsements 25. Got a bit more feedback from an editor on a personal essay26. Made edits on a personal essay for an editor27. Pitched a essay 28. Got two essay assignments from a publication 29. Had a personal essay published at GO30. Invoicing 31. Contract signing for magazines32. Reviewed trick titles 33. More invoicing 34. Published my month of favorite things for my Patrons35. Read a book36. Finished edits on an article and sent it back to my editor37. Pitched an article 38. Drafted an article39. Outreached sources for an article40. Got outreached by a reporter that was creepy41. Made a request for an article to get pulled from a publication 42. Made a video for my patrons43. Engaged with a source for an article 44. Connected with influencers that may blurb Chew This Journal45. Had a publication honor my request to pull an old article46. Edited an article47. Filed an article with one of my editors48. Followed up on pitches 49. Pitched an article50. Followed up on a pitch51. Tried to negotiate for more information and a better rate from a possible new client52. Designed a coloring page for my patrons53. Got an update on an academic journal that I have an article being published in54. Sent a pitch55. Had a pitch rejected56. Followed up with sources57. Made a video for my patrons58. Made a coloring page for my patrons59. Sent Chew This Journal to more influencers60. Followed up on if a local magazine is still printing the next issue where I’m supposed to have a few articles in61. Reached out to sources62. Connected with a collaborator 63. Wrote a post for my Patrons about publishing and sticking with a story64. Sent a followup email to a source65. Found out a local magazine is still in print during covid-1966. Outreach to more influencers67. Interviews for an article 68. Published a new piece of queer fiction for my patrons69. Got really positive feedback on an essay of mine that is appearing in a academic literary journal - and a little over a month to make very minimal edits70. Updated my website71. Correspondence with sources72. Got new writing from one of my writing clients 73. Got beta reader feedback on an in-progress novel74. Finalized last quarter accounting numbers for my collaborative picture book 75. Kept up with my daily doodle challenge76. Sent a pitch77. Had a story run in The New York Times
1. Got a small royalty payment from one of my publishers2. Connected with a PR person for an article i’m writing3. Organized my planner for the week4. Connected with some sources5. Followed up with an editor6. Got positive responses from an editor 7. Rough outlined/sketched out an article8. Rough outlined another article due next week9. Made a video for my patrons10. Connected with a source for an article11. Finished my second revision of my (hopefully) forthcoming novel Rooftop Kennel Club12. Got some revisions back on one article13. Read a book14. Email with editors15. Panicked about some upcoming deadlines and sources being late16. Emailed with my editor about proofs and last minute edits on a feature magazine story17. Revised an article based on edits from an editor18. Kicked Out made a Book Riot list of books about homelessness19. Article just ran at AKC about conservation dogs20. Drafted a section to include in an article based on some conversations with editors21. Connected with my publisher around design ideas for my activity book22. Invoiced for an article!23. Connected with sources for an article24. Reviewed trick dog titles25. It’s an amazing feeling when people like the stories you write about them and their work!26. Pitched a new(to me) editor/publication27. Did a voice over on a video for my Patrons28. Drafted an article29. Pitched a story30. Found out scheduling information about an interview that I did for a literary publication 31. Reworked an article32. Organized materials for an article 33. Outlined an article34. Drafted another article35. New article of mine ran at AKC36. Eeemmmaill37. Revised an article38. Pitched a magazine editor39. Got a fast and positive response with outreaching a new publication40. Pitched 5 stories 41. Wrote an article42. Made a video for my patrons43. Reworked an article 44. Final edits on an article45. Submitted an article to my editor46. Pitched a newspaper story 47. Pitched a magazine story48. Sold an essay off of a pitch49. Planned my March writing schedule for a new in progress novel50. Pitched a story51. An interview with me talking about writing and publishing was published on Narratively 52. Made a video for my patrons53. Got some positive responses to some pitches I sent 54. Had a new article get published by AKC55. Edited an article56. Submitted an article 57. Edited an article and added an introduction 58. Worked on reading some research and making notes for an ongoing book project 59. Kept updated on my daily doodles60. Design conversations with my publisher61. Patreon stuffs62. Read a second book63. Scheduling with a writing coaching client
I know I’ve been on accidental hiatus from here for a while between moving, kicking off a new semester at work, applying to grad school, and starting a new part-time job, but I just want to say that I love xoxosierra.store – I used one of her notebooks to take notes on the first day of my PT job:
ALTAnd now I’m about to take advantage of her 20% off Labor Day sale to buy a “writer tears” mug (code is LABOR DAY).
I’m not making any money off this post, I just want to share the love – support a queer Black woman-owned business today!
[Image Description: a black notebook with the words “LESS to-dos MORE ta-das” in purple and orange, surrounded by stars]
ALThttps://mobile.twitter.com/rebexxxxa/status/1403364242322038788
[Image Description: Tweet from rebecca jennings (@rebexxxxa) dated June 11, 2021: “my writing process is finishing one sentence and then admiring the items i bought online that will arrive in 4-6 business days”]
Let’s Talk About Plot Points
here are seven plot points you should know about and explanations of what plot points are and why they’re useful // @writingzawn on instagram
source:https://blog.reedsy.com/plot-point/
What is a plot point?
A plot point is ‘an incident that directly impacts what happens next in a story’. Essentially it’s an event that moves the story forwards in a fresh direction, preventing it from simply drifting. There’s a difference between a point in the plot and a plot point: a point in the plot can be a significant event but if it doesn’t move the story forwards it’s not technically a plot point. A plot point must:
1. Move the story in a different direction
2. Affect character development
3. Close a door behind a character and force them forwards
What’s the difference between a plot point and plot?
The plot is a chain of connected events that add together to make the narrative: it’s a continuous storyline comprised of multiple events. Plot points are the big, exciting moments that move the story in new directions and keep it building: when you think back on a story, these are likely the moments you’ll remember the best.
Why are they important?
Plot points make the story feel purposeful and identifying them helps you to see how stories work. At heart, stories are not complicated. The good ones are a series of: this happened, so this happened, but then this happened, therefore this happened. The bad ones are simply: this happened and then this happened and then this happened with nothing organically joining the events together.
What’s the seven-point story structure?
This is a common story structure comprised of seven plot points. I’m going to be explaining the plot points that make it up below.
Hook
If you want to keep the reader reading, the beginning of your story must push the story into motion and illustrate how your story is different from all the others out there. The Hook is a premise that hooks your reader’s interest long enough to keep them reading until the first important reveal.
First Plot Point
The Hook sets the stage for this point. The First Plot Point, often referred to as the Inciting Incident or the Catalyst, is the first big event. It forces the protagonist into conflict, throwing them out of their status quo and setting the story out in a fresh direction. This usually occurs around the ¼ to 1/3 mark in the story and signals the end of the beginning.
First Pinch Point
The middle of the story consists of the protagonist reacting to the consequences of the Big Event. These are Pinch Points that put the character under pressure and force them towards making a choice. Initially the character chooses not to act and moves forwards more passively than they will do later on in the story.
Midpoint
This is a crucial turning point in the story, near the middle of the story, that forces the protagonist to 'stop reacting and start acting’. Perhaps it’s an event that makes them aware of the fact that they must take matters into their own hands.
Final Pinch Point
For the second half of the middle of the story the protagonist becomes more active. They experiment with agency and take different approaches to overcoming the conflict. The Final Pinch Point illustrates the (often still small) ways the protagonist deals with the conflict. Here they are learning to have agency and act for themselves. In a dystopian story where the primary conflict is an oppressive government, this might comprise of the protagonist experimenting with small acts of rebellion.
Final Plot Point
Going into the beginning of the end, there’s a Final Plot Point. Here we see the character at their lowest, having taken a major misstep after their newfound agency. This drives them directly into the Climax and the Resolution. Perhaps they are forced to make a major decision after something terrible goes wrong.
Resolution
Stories usually finish on a Climax, a Realisation and a Resolution. These are a series of events that bring the character full circle, often revolving around a choice the character is presented with. Their decision should illustrate in what way the character has changed since the beginning, or that they haven’t. This point should bring the story to a satisfying conclusion - it doesn’t need to be a happy ending, but it should feel organic. Looking back, readers should feel that everything that came before led inevitably and organically to one place.
To conclude: each plot point should move seamlessly into the next and create an ending that feels like a surprise but also, when looking back, the only possible outcome.
Seven Sentence Sunday
Tagged by @mellaithwenand@clusterbuck thanks pals!
(Edit: also @sibylsleaves what did we do? Post at exactly the same time?)
Have a little bit of my very silly “Come here often?” fic
“Say when,” the bartender says, opening the jar of maraschino cherries and scooping them out one at a time. They’re fancier than Eddie buys for ice cream sundae nights at home, the syrup dark and thick and deliciously sweet. Buck may talk a big game about his palate and his mixology skills, but when it comes down to it, he still takes his drinks as sweet and strong as he is.
“You know I’m charging you for these, right?”
“Go ahead,” Eddie answers as the fifth cherry sinks slowly to the bottom of the rocks glass.
Six. Seven.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to just throw a spoon in the jar?”
Eddie snorts. But actually…
“Do you have a fresh jar?”
“Seriously?”
“Add it to my tab.”
“I don’t even have a price for them. The jars are like twenty dollars retail.”
“Charge me forty.”
The drink he’s had is not that strong. Eddie doesn’t have any excuse for what he’s doing and the look the bartender’s giving him like he might have a traumatic brain injury is completely warranted. But if he’s doing this. If he’s really going to do it after all this time. Then Eddie’s not going to hold anything back.
Tagging@fleurdebeton,@princessfbi,@annabethwrites,@buckactuallys,@queerpanikkarand@rewritetheending if anyone would like to share on this lovely June Sunday.
1000 Words of Summer Day 8: 1069
Eddie loves their normal. He loves that being with Buck is nearly effortless, except for the times when the effort is the most satisfying thing in the world. He loves that he knows how to soothe the too wild, too frantic beating of Buck’s big heart when it threatens to overwhelm him and he loves that Buck trusts him to do it. That he opens himself up to Eddie and pries that same honesty from Eddie in return. (Though there’s much less prying these days. Eddie’s… Eddie’s learning. He’s growing.)
“We’re not allowed to go into the pool.”
“It’s really hot, Johanna,” Yousef takes off his shoes.
“I know. it’s just, I’m not allowed to without mom.”
“You know you can go in when she isn’t here.” Erik laughs a little.
“She’ll know.”
Post link
“That’s for my friend.”
“I’m your friend,” he says, taking a sip.
“Sorry, who are you?”
“Bill. I’m here to take your life. In about 24 hours. Anyway, this is awesome.”
“I could kill for coffee right now,” I say to Mark. He’s looking at me like he’s had the worst day of his life, which is definitely his everyday look. For some reason I find it hilarious. I try to hide my glee as we arrive at the coffee house. I’ve been dreaming of that cappuccino all day. You might think it’s funny to obsess over something so small. It’s kind of a reward for me. I’m rewarding myself for living another day.
Mark looks at the menu. “I want mine dark. No sugar.”
I approach the counter as he walks away. “Hi, I’d like a Cappuccino, iced, unsweetened. And strawberry mocha for my friend, extra sweet,” I nod towards Mark, who’s idly standing over a few feet away to wait for his order.
After I’m handed Mark’s drink I turn to him but he’s not there. I look around. Darkness. The shop’s gone. So are the people.
“I can have that,” someone says. I turn and meet with a hooded figure, who’s already reaching for the drink.
“That’s for my friend.”
“I’m your friend,” the figure says, now sipping through a straw. “Yummy,” he has strawberry cream smeared all over his mouth.
“I’m sorry, who are you?”
“I’m Bill.”
“Bill who?”
“Bill the reaper. I’m here to take your life.” He checks his watch. “In about 24 hours. Anyway, this is awesome.” He leans in, drinking heartily as I try to figure out who came up with this stupid prank.
“Don’t act like this is a surprise,” he says.
“It is.”
“Oh?” Now he looks surprised. As surprised as someone with empty eye sockets and no skin can look. He’s a skeleton who’s sipping on a strawberry mocha while tapping his Nike clad foot.
“You’re sponsored by Nike?” I ask.
He lets go of the straw. “Wouldn’t that be rad?” He sighs. “But no. This is more like a government job.”
Of course it is. “Right.”
He smirks, I think. ”I’ll tell you a secret. Sometimes I make these deals with mortals I really really like.”
“And what do you get in return?”
“A favor, usually.” He pauses. “But in your case, I just want you to give up coffee,” He says as he takes another sip from his drink before continuing, “All kinds of coffee. Cold. Hot. Sweet. Fresh. Instant.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. You’ll give up something trivial and I’ll give you something precious in return: time.”
I wave my hands around the darkness, which used to be the coffee shop. “This is my only pleasure.”
“I’m sorry,” he takes another long sip.
God damn. “Okay,” I say. “Just do it.”
He laughs. “That’s hilarious.”
He stands straight, the drink in his hand disappears. He looks at me or in my general direction with his non-existent eyes. He touches my forehead as he makes the sound “Boop,” and I’m back at the coffee shop with Mark who’s looking impatient. I look at my hand and see that I’m holding an iced cappuccino.
I push the cup toward Mark, who of course, fails to hold it and is now covered in iced cappuccino. He looks at his stained, dripping suit, then back at me.
“You okay?” He asks simply.
“I’m fine,” I say, hurriedly moving to get him a napkin. “Sorry. I was trying not to die.”
He tilts his head like a puppy and nods because that obviously makes sense.
“Right, from the cappuccino.” He looks around the counter. “Where’s my coffee?”
I shake my head. “It’s not important, Mark. Coffee is a no, now.”
“A what now?”
“A no. Something we won’t do from now on.”
“You just decided that.”
“Trust me. I know things.”
The secret to becoming a good writer is pretty simple: write with your heart. Just write with your heart. Allow it to guide you. Allow it to dictate your story.
Your writing is good enough. You just have to believe it. Stop criticizing yourself and acknowledge the beauty of your craft.
Make every writing session special. Make it fun. Don’t think about the word count. Don’t think about every single aspect of your outline. Just have fun with it and see where it leads.
Write what you enjoy. Thanks to this, you’ll always have the motivation to work on your manuscript. Don’t write something only because it’s trendy. Write the story you want to write.
Just write this first sentence. You don’t have to know everything about your story to start. Allow it to unfold.
“You can fix anything but a blank page.”— Nora Roberts
“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over.”— Stephen King
Maybe I should have Martha, a side character from An Icy Road to a Warm Heart, be a side character in Roman and Isolda. I can even bring Chris back!
Hhhhmmmmm
Anyways, links to my books!
https://www.amazon.com/Icy-Road-Warm-Heart-ebook/dp/B08MFT7P4Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=An+Icy+Road+to+a+Warm+Heart&qid=1637539981&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Nichol-DeCastra-ebook/dp/B09JZZTJC3/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Nichol+DeCastra&qid=1637540070&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
So a modern-day marriage of convenience where the friend of an older sibling, marries the younger sibling so said sibling can get that sweet, sweet health insurance that allows them to afford the life-saving medication they need.
Possible title - With This Insurance
Don’t worry I am still working on my Romeo and Juliet/Tristan and Isolde retelling, Roman and Isolda, as well as my BDSM romance, Chrysalis and Whips book 1.
Also Red, my Red Ridding Hood retelling is available on Amazon in ebook form with the print book to hopefully be available later on this year. WARNING: ABUSIVE PARENTS AND TALK OF SEX SLAVERY - https://www.amazon.com/Red-Nichol-DeCastra-ebook/dp/B09JZZTJC3/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Nichol+DeCastra&qid=1637021162&s=audible&sr=1-1-catcorr
My holiday romance, An Icy Road to a Warm Heart is available in ebook and print WARNING: ABUSIVE EX BOYFRIEND - https://www.amazon.com/Icy-Road-Warm-Heart-ebook/dp/B08MFT7P4Q/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1637021210&refinements=p_27%3ANichol+DeCastra&s=digital-text&sr=1-2&text=Nichol+DeCastra
My room smells like a toasted sandwich. In other news, I am now officially on my second week at my new job and so far am loving it.
I also hope to finish Roman and Isolda in time for a release in July 2022. But I have to figure out how to deal with things in the story and where to introduce certain characters and ideas first. So wish me luck.
I can say, “I don’t like x,” in a story and still fully appreciate how x fits in the story. My personal preferences don’t dictate whether or not a plot point, a character, or any other feature of a story is effective.
I can also dislike a story and still think it’s “good” story. I respect a lot of books for the author’s writing, the structure of the plot, the pacing, and the characters but they’re not my cup of tea so I don’t like them. They’re not bad, they’re just not what I like.
Damn I love this guy.
Guess who published her blog a day late because she was too busy switching career paths to write it… lol, not me.
Jk, it was me.
This month we have a little mermaid theme going on as well as some advise to just… be. Swim a little, my dear mermaid. Your tail will thank you.
On Saturday, I cleaned our three-seasons porch room and got my writing desk all set up for the year. I’m excited that it’s finally warm enough for that, because over the past four years I’ve done some of my best work at this desk/in this room. (May 7, 2022)
Post link
I just want to say I’m so so so so sorry it’s been a year since When Madness Dies was posted.. I’ve been in a rut and really don’t know where it’s going. I think about it daily and I see that comments about asking for a new chapter. I promise I haven’t forgotten about When Madness Dies. In the mean time enjoy this “cover” I made for When Madness Dies.
To any fic writers who worry they are wasting their time… I read a fic for a relatively small and inactive fandom about three years ago. And there was one specific scene where a character watched another dancing like an idiot to a beyonce song and it was so sweet and loving that even now years later I have that song on one of my spotify playlist so every once in a while it will play and remind me of that fic, and every time it does I smile and feel a little happier.
The stats on a fic will never really tell you if your writing touched someone. There’s no numerical way to show you what impact you made. Maybe you are wasting time, or maybe you are writing something that someone will remember for a long time, something that will never fail to make them smile.
This was written ATme
Time to read.
