What a wonderful story Kristy. We have something in common as I started my writing career as a columnist for a newspaper. Well actually for a couple of newspapers. Keep writing and keep smiling and keep loving your family.
Instantly sharing this link with a new friend from a book event in DE!! 💜 Sending her a copy of AHL (after I get to see you and get it signed to her)! When she told me THEY just wrapped up/took a break from renovations to their old home, it sealed the deal! 🩷 Like our homes (or Hemingways 😉), books are another treasure we can share, especially when written with so much love from you, Kristy! 💞 Thank you for sharing this essay with us!
Yes, with you 100% on being a huge Gilmore Girls fan all the way (as you know)! I have probably watched it 12 times, have attended the GG Fan Festival in Connecticut, & now enjoying the Podcast every week with Scott Patterson! I love A Happier Life so much, Kristy!
Love this series.....valuable information for the 'start up' author! And I agree....watching wednesday night's friends and fiction broadcast is a wealth of info and inspiration as well! Appreciate you sharing!
I really liked your opinion on beta readers. I have never tried it, but I know a lot use them, but I feel the same--there would be too many opinions, and I'd never get the book completed. Works for some but not for all! Thank you so much for these videos--so helpful and informative!!
Yay! Part 3, Kristy! Very interesting information! Thanks and I like the fact that you are not up at 5 a.m. writing! It's interesting to know that just jotting ideas down doesn't work for you, but actually- even if it's late- to go ahead and write that whole scene etc. Very cool!
Thank you, Kristy. You give me hope to keep trying. I sent over 100 queries for my first manuscript without landing an agent. I've recently started querying for my second manuscript. I'm hoping I have better success with this one. Like when you started, I have no connections, but I keep networking, learning about the craft, learning about publishing, and querying agents. A great tool today is Querytracker. Can't wait to read A Happier Life!
I don't get writer's block either. I've had times where I didn't feel inspired to write due to grief, but I have so many book ideas that I fear I won't live long enough to write them all. I literally think of a new book idea about every other day. My mind is always buzzing with stories.
Thanks for doing these videos! It's so interesting to hear you talk about writing on that time-crunch. Do you still do writing sprints? I feel like I remember a couple Friends & Fiction episodes where you talked about doing those.
This is so interesting! I was finally able to finish my own manuscript (that needs another decade of editing, lol) by giving up on writing it chronologically and writing the scenes that interested me most that day. It did create the added burden of then having to string the scenes together in a coherent way and going back to ensure nothing major was changed/the timeline was still accurate. I ended up having to create a whole timeline and master scene list to keep it straight! It turned out more complicated than expected, but it worked to get words on the page. Once that became my process, I switched to Scrivener to keep everything straight. Do you use a writing program other than Word when drafting?
I've adopted the "first draft: just write, don't edit" rule and am loving the freedom! But ... Does this segment mean that you like puzzles, too? 😉 Definitely finding I'm not the "chronological writer." The number of random scenes - that I know NEED to happen - are growing & becoming a little intimidating when I consider the process to piece them all together. I can see the start and finish lines but have to whack my way through some weeds to smooth out the characters' journeys along the way. Like you said: "just write something or make the characters do something." It will all come together ... piece by piece.🤞🏻
Oh, this was perfect timing for me! I had come to the part in my book where I knew something had to happen and. I thought oh oh, I don't know what. I wrote down 3 different scenarios and the lightbulb went off when I was looking for a coat in my closet! I also love your quote "No words are wasted; they get you to where you're supposed to go". Thank you again for another great video!!
Love this, Kristy! Thank you for the tips! I’m writing my second book and already using the “write first” method from your first video. Keeping the words flowing with other demands on my time has been the hardest part. I agree with the idea of jumping to what you know you can write even if it isn’t in order. I’ve learned that editing will make up for a messy first draft. When I’m feeling stuck I remember that I can’t edit a blank page so I have to write something. No jinxes! xo Kristen Ness
I appreciate hearing how you deal with NOT getting 'you know what.' No jinxing it. 😉 I got stuck in the middle on my last novel. I knew the ending, but I spent months away from it, thinking. Now I'm wondering if I should have written the end and maybe, just maybe, the middle would have developed sooner. Something I'll consider next time. Can you discuss openings in the 4th video? I don't let it stop me, but I always have problems with the opening chapter. I usually just write it and move on so I can get a first draft done. Still, when revising, that first chapter is my nemesis! And that's what the whole book is being judged on by potential agents. I sometimes wonder if that's why I haven't found "my" agent yet. Thanks, Kristy!
Thanks, Kristy! I always struggle with thinking I need an outline before I begin. I've written two books, unpublished so far, and neither had an outline. When I finish, I always think I must have done something wrong since I didn't plan it out. Maybe I need to just surrender to my intuition. Maybe it's just my way of writing. Thinking I need an outline just makes me freeze up!
Adore this video! Thank you, Kristy! ♡ 1. Thank goodness for the "delete" button! (Can we find one for those awkward scenes IRL?) 2. When you said "Feels Like Falling" ended completely different, I thought about the surprise character that I just met in my story that I couldn't wait to tell my husband about! (*Cue me going on and on about this person as if they are real met with my husband's "didn't you know this was coming?" face.*) 3. Thank you for permission to surrender and just write. As THE definition of type-A-nurse-pursuing-first-time-authorship, I find myself torn between: writing and "Wait! You haven't listened to the 'xyz' podcast and don't know what you're doing." I absolutely LOVE your reassurance and permission to just do the dang thang! FANTASTIC first segment! Can't wait for the rest! Xo
Thank you so much for this! It was nice to hear you really don't have outlines--me either! My editor asked me for one once and I had to "fake" it lol. Looking forward to your next video!
During my daughter’s childhood, her best friend, Airlie Anderson, would come to our house and stay for days and sometimes a week or two. She was a welcome part of our family. They both loved to create stories and Airlie was an incredible artist, even at 7 years old! I was extremely supportive of my daughter and my “second daughter”, Airlie , and encouraged them to follow their passions. Today, Airlie is with Little Brown working on her , I believe, sixth children’s book….writing and illustrating. I could not be prouder! And to make things go beyond even better ( I guess that would mean the best!) , Airlie is now my writing coach, first reader, guiding light, as I delve into the first of many books I am writing. We have come full circle. And it is so true what these wonderful best selling authors say, it is so important to have positive and supportive friends and family behind you as you follow your passion journey. I signed up for a writing group about 15 years ago and it was the biggest mistake I could have made. Instead of talking about our books we were writing, it was like being surrounded by human shredding machines! Thank you ladies for your fabulous “paper hugging” books and your super enjoyable Friends and Fiction podcast. It is so much fun and I am learning so much too. Thank you thank you !
