Friday Feedback: Do You Have What it Takes to be a Writer? Quiz with Amy Fellner Dominy

Hey, shiny campers! Guess what today is? 

It's my birthday!!! 

And in honor of my birthday, thought we'd lighten things up around here just a bit. Because, really, all this feedback is all well and good if you're meant to be a writer. 

But what if you're not? 

Why waste your time with it, then? 

And, anyway, how do you even know?

So, courtesy of my good pal, often critique partner, and amazing writer, Amy Fellner Dominy, we thought we'd give you a little quiz. See if you're really cut out to be sharing your words.

Because, if you're not, well. . . 

Amy has been here on Friday Feedback with me since the beginning of TW, I think, so many of you know her already, and love her like I do. 

But in case you don't, she is the author of several award winning books including A MATTER OF HEART (an ALA Top 10 Sports Book for 2015) and DIE FOR YOU, a dark romance, coming November 8, 2016 from Delacorte Press. 

From DIE FOR YOU:

It sounds amazing, doesn't it? I have read a bunch of it, and cannot wait to read the rest! If you're interested, please pre-order. Nothing helps a book (and author!) more than preorders! 

Okay, so now, let's get to it. Do you have what it takes? Take a deep breath and find out? (Amy will share her excerpt, too, down below):

Do You Have What it Takes to be a Writer?

10 Questions to Consider

by Amy Fellner Dominy

         So, you’re three weeks into Teacher’s Write. You’ve learned so much in such a short time. You’ve begun to experiment with ideas, develop characters, discover voice and setting. Maybe you’ve even felt the tingly rush of inspiration, the goose bumps of an “ah ha” moment. This writing thing is, well, it’s hard work, sure…but it’s also fun.

         But are you really cut out to be a writer? Should you retire to a smoking jacket, an old comfy chair and a keyboard? The answer to that just might lie in the answer to these 10 questions. So take the quiz and find out: Do you have what it takes to be a writer?

1. Can you write absolute crap? 

If so, congratulations! You’re on your way. Most first drafts are truly terrible. The trick is—can you open your heart, pour out what you think is awful and still continue? That’s what a writer must do. It’s only through revision that the work begins to shine. So if you’re a perfectionist or you’re too embarrassed to reveal that very bad beginning, you won’t make it far.

2.  Do you crack yourself up and creep yourself out?

As a writer, you have to write first for yourself. If you’re worried about what everyone else thinks, or what the market is looking for, or what the next big trend is, you’re in trouble. But if you can sit down each day and write what’s in your heart, this could be your dream job.

3. Do you have extremely strong abdominal muscles?

Have you ever seen those guys on TV who tighten up their stomachs and then dare someone to punch them as hard as they can?  Well, that’s what it can feel like to share your excerpt online. (Maybe you’ve already felt this for yourself?) It’s exactly how it feels to send your book out. You’re basically giving a stranger the opportunity to punch holes in your story. Which is like punching a hole in yourself. A writer knows how to tighten those core muscles and absorb the blow. Yeah, it hurts.  Yeah, it leaves you bruised. But then a writer stands back up and readies those abs again.

4. Are you willing to stand naked on a stage and yell, “Look at me!”

In other words, let’s discuss book marketing and promotion.

There’s a joke by Stephen Wright: “It’s a small world. But I’d hate to paint it.” I always think of that when it comes time to promote a book because the world begins to feel like an extremely big place. And it seems to be full  of books. If you want people to know about yours, you can’t be shy. You have to open your arms to the world and cry, “Me Me Me!” (Clothing optional.)

5. Check out this dancing baby on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77ql1emlCn4

This was actually a test. Did you click over (did you think about clicking over?)  Because what you’ve just experienced is a DISTRACTION. There are a million of them every day and a writer has to fight them off, stay focused and resist temptation. If you want to be a writer, you must turn off social media, tell your children not to bother you unless there’s fire or blood, and you must forego the joy of browsing a well-stocked pantry. Can you do it?  Then you just might have what it takes.

6. Is writing so hard it makes you want to cry?

Yes? Excellent! You’re doing it right. Creating a full-length novel with a unique voice, characters who leap off the page, and a plot that compels the reader to keep turning pages is a monumental task. So if you’re pretty sure you can knock out a novel this weekend, you may have unrealistic expectations. (But if you manage to do it, please let me know HOW!)

7.  Do you love chocolate?

Okay, so this really doesn’t have anything to do with anything. I only mention it here because I’ve noticed a lot of writers seem to have addictions to chocolate—could this be the key to success?  (Could the fact that I prefer an apple fritter to a truffle be holding back my career?)

8. Do you have a muse you can rely on?

If you answered yes, I’m jealous. I’ve spent years hoping mine would show up and I’ve come to the opinion that muses are like Unicorns and a Post Office with no lines. Inspiration is magical but you don’t need it.  Perspiration (which is unpleasant and sticky) is completely necessary.

9. Do you hear a voice in your head, and it’s not kind?

I keep a sign by my desk that reads: “My Inner Voice Hates Me.” Every day, there is my voice, whispering in my head: “You have no talent. Your idea is crap. You should give up and see what’s in the pantry.” My inner voice is mean, and she seems to be part of a worldwide organization of inner voices which plague authors. (Or maybe they plague everyone?) To succeed as a writer, you have to invest in mental duct tape—and use it!

10. Did you write today?

This is the only question that really matters. Did you write today?

Will you write today?

Bad or good, inspired or tired—writer’s write.

Which means that this summer, you’re all writers. J

I hope I’ve given you all something to smile about.

Now back to work.

And to the hard part: Sharing. Since it's Gae's birthday, think we'll keep it fun and light where possible. Share whatever you want, but if you have a humorous section of your manuscript to highlight, all the more power to you! If you don't, post whatever. Really, it's okay. And don't forget to follow the RULES (what works? what doesn't, if anything, and are you compelled to keep reading. And despite my longer excerpt, limit to 3 - 5 paragraphs, please). 

I guess l go first. 

This is from a middle grade novel I've been working on in between other projects, called BAD KAT about a girl named Katie who wants to change her image so she can win the part of the villain in the school play. This is a conversation between Katie and her younger sister, Alison: 

“I need to figure out how to get sent to detention.”

Alison unglues her eyes from the TV to look at me. “What? You?”

“Yes, me.” 

She bursts out laughing, which I find highly offensive. Why does no one believe I can be bad? “Just give me some ideas,” I say.

She glances at Mom, then back at me. I can almost see the wheels of her mind turning.  They’re tiny wheels to fit inside her pea brain. “If I help you, you have to take out the trash for a month.”

“A month!” 

“You want to be bad or not?” 

My eyes narrow and for a moment I bask in a vision of me throttling my little sister. “Fine,” I agree. “A month. Now tell me how you got detention.” 

She glances around me to make sure Mom isn’t listening and then whispers, “I got caught cheating on Michael Alston’s vocab test.” 

“Michael Alston?” I picture the skater boy from down the block.  “He can spell?”

“No.  But he sits next to me.” 

“And that’s your only criteria for cheating?” 

“I was fake cheating.”

I shouldn’t ask.  I know I shouldn’t but… “Okay, I’ll ask.  Why were you fake cheating?” 

“To get sent to detention because Bentley Howard is there.” 

“And Bentley Howard is?”

“Hot.”  Alison manages to turn it into a two-syllable word. 

“I should have known it had to do with a boy.” 

“He’s not a boy.  He’s on the cusp on guyness.  And for all you know, Bentley might be The One.” 

“You’re twelve, Alison.”

“Nearly thirteen.  And I’m not going to end up like you, alone at fifteen.  I mean, you had your shot.” 

----

Now it's your turn. Share anything you want, funny and light if you've got it. And happy birthday, Gae!

Thanks for having me!

Amy (and Gae)

Friday Feedback: Already So Long, My Usual Parting "Gift" and Some Other Cool Stuff...

This is me. Here in my swim cap and bathing suit poised on the edge of the pool.

(Why YES this is an excellent way to ruin your iPhone if you're not careful. Thanks for asking...)

At any rate.)

I'm here, hanging on to summer because:

WAAAAAAH.

I mean, BIG OL' WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Only bigger than that.

As usual, I don't want summer to end.

I don't want Teachers Write to be over.

I don't want you or my own kids to go back to school.

I'm on the end-of-summer precipice for realz over here.

It isn't pretty, and it gets worse every year.

*breathes*

Alas, here we are at the end of these things, and, this, the final FINAL unofficial Friday Feedback of the 2015 Summer. I can't tell you all how much it means to me that so many of you stop here week in-week out, chime in, and dig down to do the real nitty gritty brave of sharing your writing. I'm proud of you, even if I really have no right to be.

And my guest authors were pretty darn impressed by you too!

As such, I want to offer a few parting gifts (and other cool stuff):

First: for those of you who participated here on Friday Feedback regularly this summer and plan to continue on with your writing toward a goal of publication, I make you this standing offer: When you are ready, you may ask me for help with your agent query letters. Trust me, they're a stress-inducing beast, and I'm fairly decent at them, so when you're ready, find me here: g.polisner@gmail.com.

BUT before you send me any query, please do read THIS POST on some dos and don'ts of query letters FIRST (fyi, you can skip all the dog stuff and scroll down!), and THIS awesome POST by agent John Cusick too!

Second: Remember the talented Amy Fellner Dominy who did the fabulous exercise on character mapping? Author of OyMG (just chosen as a PJ our Way Reading Program selection!) and her new pulse-pounding young adult novel, A MATTER OF HEART?

Well, Amy has a few author copies left of "HEART" and has offered to give away some classroom copies here! So IF your classroom is ages 12+ and you're interested, please say so in the comments with what grades you work with. We'll draw a few random names and hook you up!



And, third: frantic about heading out into the wild west of novel writing on your own?!?!? Have no fear, a new awesome resource for you is here!




Remember the lovely Martha Brockenbrough who was here in July with her extraordinary post on The Art of Persistence?! Author of the beautifully woven THE GAME OF LIFE AND DEATH?

She asked me to tell you about her new novel coaching program, Nothing to Novel, that she's started with a few other talented author friends. Martha invites you to explore the website and sign on for some services when you are ready! Is there anyone better to seek advice from? I can answer that for you: There is not!!!

And that's that, my lovely, shiny campers, like it or not, TW Summer 2015 is in the books.

But since we're here and it's Friday, why not a little Friday Feedback as a send off?

You know the rules. Feel free to share an excerpt in the comments one last unofficial summer of 2015 time.

No excerpt from me today. This is all about you.


For those of you still wringing out more summer like I am, ENJOY!

For those returned or returning to classrooms imminently, I wish you a joyful school year. And if any of you use my books in the classroom or library, etc. please reach out to me about making a Skype visit to your school!

-gae

Friday Feedback with Amy Fellner Dominy - Character Mapping

Already Friday again!

Whew!!

I'm super happy today because I have one of my besties here -- or as we like to call ourselves "BVFEs" (You figure it out)!

Amy Fellner Dominy and I were both members of the Class of 2K11 now The Graduates, and we fell instantly in love with each other's writing, and it went from there.

Her first middle grade novel, OyMG (see what they did there?!?) and her second, AUDITION & SUBTRACTION are both chock full of wonderful characters searching for identity, and beautiful writing.

Amy is also an incredible "Beta reader" for me and I believe her insightful feedback on an earlier draft of THE SUMMER OF LETTING GO which sent me frantically revising, was substantially responsible for the book finally getting a deal.

Amy's newest book, a YA this time, A MATTER OF HEART, follows 16-year old Abby Lipman who, on track to win the state swim championships and qualify for Olympic trials, learns she has a deadly heart condition.

Now, Abby is forced to discover who she is without the one thing that's defined her entire life.

School Library Journal said of A MATTER OF HEART, "More than a sports novel, this book delves deep into issues of identity... and the importance of support systems while making life-altering decisions."

I picked up a copy last week and, though I'm still finishing two other books, allowed myself to read the opening breathtaking chapter. It's so very good!

So, without further ado, here's Amy!**




Good Morning!

I’m so glad you’re here for Teacher’s Write and Friday Feedback.

I’m really glad to be here, too!

Today, I want to talk to you about what I think is arguably the MOST important part of your story.

Your characters.

But before I get to that, I want to talk about how RIDICULOUSLY DIFFICULT it is to write a book.

"If you’re writing a book you’re juggling characters, problems, goal, stakes, dialogue, narrative, POV, action, setting, theme, symbolism, language, pacing, rhythm, style, grammar, rising tension, character arcs, growth, subplots, climaxes, denouements, beginnings, endings, middles—well, it’s like juggling ten octopuses who are juggling ten octopuses who are juggling." 

I don’t want to be Debbie Downer here, but if you’re writing a book you’re juggling characters, problems, goal, stakes, dialogue, narrative, POV, action, setting, theme, symbolism, language, pacing, rhythm, style, grammar, rising tension, character arcs, growth, subplots, climaxes, denouements, beginnings, endings, middles—well, it’s like juggling ten octopuses who are juggling ten octopuses who are juggling. In other words, lots of balls in the air. So, when you can, if you can, wouldn’t it be nice to make things a little easier?

Which brings me back to our discussion of characters.

There are many ways to discover/develop your character and I’ve tried most of them over the years: character interviews, 5-page questionnaires, creating monologues, accosting strangers in the mall to ask about their lives (definitely don’t try that one) and on and on. But recently, I discovered another way that seems almost (dare I say it?) easy.

It’s called Character Mapping. I’m going to illustrate it here in case it might be something that will work for you, too.

Start with a blank piece of paper with a circle in the middle. 

See how easy it is?

Now, inside of that circle, write down the thing that defines your character. Usually, it’s what they’re doing in your book. It might be a job, or if they’re a student than maybe it’s what they love to do. So, for example, in my novel A Matter of Heart, Abby is an elite swimmer.

Now, brainstorm all the things that might define that person. Well, if you’re an elite athlete then you must be competitive and disciplined. You follow a certain regimen and you’re tanned from being in the sun and fit from all that exercise. You spend a lot of time in your sport, so your coach is a big part of your life and your friends are swimmers and so is your boyfriend.  If you just start writing, you’ll be surprised at how many details come to you. And then there will be details for the details.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Take one of those attributes and flip it. Turn it around. Make it be the opposite and see what happens to your character—to your story.  Because here is where you just might discover the main conflict of your book. It can be a real “ah ha” moment and one that sparks imaginative thinking. I can flip any one of those attributes and create conflict and questions for my character.  Here’s the one I flipped.

What if Abby, an elite swimmer, is NOT healthy. What would that mean to her—how could she compete? And what if she can’t? In the story, Abby discovers that even though she’s in the best shape of her life and on track to make the Olympic trials—she’s also sick. She has a heart condition and if she swims, she can die.

And that is an example of character mapping.

“But, Amy,” you say, “I can’t think of a concrete character trait to assign my character like being an elite swimmer. My character’s traits are more emotional, like she is anxious,” or “he feels unworthy” or “he's the class clown” or “she brightens people’s day.”

Don’t despair! Although character mapping works best if you can put something concrete in that center circle, if the main thing that defines your character is something emotional, the exercise can can still work. However, instead of a plot twist, you’ll likely flip a trait to discover the emotional arc or conflict or maybe even growth and change of your character. 

Here’s an example from my new book, DIE FOR YOU, using an emotional trait.

  

Emma, the main character is a caretaker. By using that as the center point, I come up with behaviors that fit her. And while being a caretaker is a positive trait, every positive trait, taken to extremes, has the potential to become a negative. Can a person be too selfless? Too loyal? Of course, and that is where, for Emma, the problem eventually lies.

Note that, unlike in the first example where the flip will actually drive the plot of the story, here, because it’s the character’s emotional center that’s being flipped, the twist or conflict won’t likely turn up until a little later in the story.

So, give it a try and see if it works for you. Start with one thing you know about your character. Or if you haven’t even gotten that far, try creating a story from a character map. Start with TEACHER or LIBRARIAN in the center. (Hmmm, you might know one of those, right?) J

What are all the expected attributes of that person? 

What can you flip?

And what problems does that create?

And now, since we’re here for Friday Feedback, and we’re talking about character traits and  development, I thought I’d invite you to share a defining or pivotal character moment, and I’d share one from DIE FOR YOU, one which I hope reveals the essence of Emma, who she is and what she loves. What works for you? What doesn't? Does it compel you to want to read more? 

If this is your first time posting, please read the FridayFeedback Rules at the bottom of that linked post! 

I look forward to reading your words!

From DIE FOR YOU (Delacorte 2016):

Over the years, I’ve read so much about Pompeii I sometimes wake up hearing the screams of the people and tasting volcanic ash in my throat. To think that I could actually visit and maybe even volunteer makes my fingers itch. The collection of broken pottery and colored tile must be incredible. Pieces of the past waiting to be made whole. It’s what I’m good at, what I love most—fitting together jagged bits of pottery. Dad says it’s a gift I have, like a sculptor who can see a statue in a block of stone. I can picture the original shape of an artifact from just a few pieces, sense the patterns and designs before other people can. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world, too, when you put something back together—turn rubble into real.

-Amy (& gae)

p.s. a gentle reminder from Gae: please, please, please adhere to the 3 -5 paragraph limit for your excerpts as set out in the RULES, 3 if the paragraphs are long, 5 if shorter. Only more if the excerpt consists primarily of lines of dialogue. Several of you shared excerpts of well more last week, upwards of 400 - 500 words which, to put this in perspective, is more than a page and a half of writing. Multiply that by thirty or forty excerpts and that is a whole lot of reading to ask my guest authors to give thoughtful feedback on in one day! 

Also be reminded that Amy is on Pacific time - 3 hrs earlier than me on NY time so will be here a bit later in the EST day! And she will only be here through today. I will continue to give feedback on excerpts posted through Saturday morning. After that, feel free to keep providing feedback for one another, but I will be moving on to preparing next week's post!

p.p.s. If you loved this post and learned from it, please buy, share, borrow Amy's titles and tell your friends about them! 

Friday Feedback: Fresh Beginnings

Just a bunch o' writers putting it out there... 

... and, HERE WE GO! Summer 2014 of Teachers Write Friday Feedback is on!

*everybody breathe*

Good! Are we ready?


If you haven't read THE RULES, STOP HERE!

=====================================================
=====================================================
(Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200).

Please read the RULES and abide by them! There are a LOT of you (Yay!!) and I don't yet know how many of you are going to BE BRAVE and participate here (hopefully many!), so there could be a lot of excerpts. Please keep them brief so we can get to them all!

As a reminder, I am travelling today en route to EIGHT COUSINS BOOKS in Falmouth MA (please stop by after 3 pm if you are nearby -- or tell nearby friends -- and say hi!). I will also be at BUNCH OF GRAPES in Martha's Vineyard on Saturday! (same -- same!), so you may hear from me very little before late night tonight, but you are in incredibly capable hands with my dear and talented writer friend Amy Fellner Dominy, author of OyMG, AUDITION & SUBTRACTION and the forthcoming YA, A MATTER OF HEART (Delacorte 2015) (Double yay!!!!)

Speaking of which, here's an awesome little book surprise for you all: This is the first I'm ever doing of one of these. I get to do Amy's A MATTER OF HEART COVER REVEAL!!!!

(Hey! If you did not click on that video, go back and do so. We need full atmospheric sound effects here!)

Ah, isn't it lovely?!?! Congrats, Amy!!!

In further celebration, Amy has agreed to give away a signed ARC to one of today's participating TW FF campers, so I will do a random drawing next week and let you know at the beginning of next week's post! We're awesome, I know!

my lovely friend, Amy. 

Okay, without any more of my rambling, here's Amy to talk about

Fresh BEGINNINGS:

I’m thrilled to help kick off the beginning of Friday Feedback with a discussion of—what else—beginnings!  

If you’re just beginning a story, you know it’s both exciting and terrifying.  You can’t wait to bring your idea to life…but where do you start? And how? 

There are so many elements to introduce at the start of a story:

•Characters

•Setting

•Your voice and style

•Mood and atmosphere

All of these elements are vital to hooking a reader, but I’m going to suggest there’s something even more important to introduce on your very first page. Something that will make your beginning stand out:

A problem.

At its most basic level, stories are about people with problems.  As readers we’re hooked when we start wondering, “What’s will happen?  What will they do?  How will this turn out?”

Study the opening paragraphs of your favorite books and see if you don’t discover a problem.  For instance, in the first Harry Potter, by the end of page one we know the Dursley’s have a dark secret and it’s their greatest fear that it will be uncovered.  In The Hunger Games, we know by the end of the first paragraph that fear is working through the family.  That “This is the day of the reaping.”

To write a great beginning, start with a great problem.

This isn’t always easy.  OK, so it’s never easy.  But here’s something to try that usually works for me: 

Start your book at a moment of change. 

This is sometimes called The Inciting Incident.  Think of it this way:  Your character’s life is chugging along as usual and then something happens to change everything.  A problem is introduced.  Or maybe an opportunity?  There’s a death.  A visit.  A tornado.  An accident. A murder. A trip.  A new job.  Someone new moves to town.  Something is uncovered…discovered. 

 

Whatever it is that happens, life can not go on as it did before.  That’s the moment of change.  And it can be a heck of a great place to start your story.

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.” The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

“Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.  We’re moving today. I’m so scared, God.”    Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret by Judy Blume

What is that moment in your story? 

Write it down. 

If you can’t write it down, if you’re not sure what it is or if there really isn’t one, then you may not have enough conflict in your book.  Give your character a problem—the bigger the better—and show us why now. What’s just happened?  What’s just changed? 

If you’ve got it written down, then ask yourself this:

Can I start my book when everything changes?  If not, how close can I come? 

Of course, there will be exceptions.  Maybe you have a character that is so unique, you first have to introduce us to that person and their daily life.  That’s okay.  You’ll hook us with voice and character, like Sherman Alexie did for me in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which begins with the line: “I was born with water on the brain.” (Which is actually a problem.)

If you’re writing fantasy, paranormal or sci fi, you probably have to set up the world and the type of people who live in it.  Even so, you can hint at the problem through the details you show. 

For example, in The Program by Suzanne Young (a world where teen suicide is epidemic), the first paragraph is just a description of a girl sitting in her school classroom.  But, the windows are sealed shut—in case anyone gets the urge to jump.  Immediately, I know that something is wrong in this world and I’m hooked.

What is the detail in your story that will keep us reading? Can you sneak it in to the first page…the first paragraphs?

With all of that said, the best way to know if an opening grabs a reader, is to go to the source and ask. And since it's Friday Feedback, that's exactly what we'll do today. Below is the beginning of A MATTER OF HEART. I invite you to be brave and post your beginning in the comments. 

And, remember the rules: What works? What doesn't, if something doesn't? And mostly, since it's a beginning, does it hook you? 

I can’t breathe.

There’s no time.  

All around the pool, coaches yell and pace along the edge of the pool as if that’ll make us swim faster.  Parents shout out names I can’t hear.  In the water, it’s a different kind of sound.  The whoosh and thrum of the surface  breaking over my cap.  The churn of arms and the fizz of an exhale.  The chant of pull, pull that I repeat in time with the Bmm Bmm of my heart. 

Mostly, I just hear the scream of my burning lungs.

I don’t listen.

In the last leg of a hundred free, there’s no time for breathing.  Not if you want to win.

Pull, pull. 

Twenty-five yards left.  That’s it.  Almost in reach.  Everything I want is almost within reach.  

_________

- Amy & gae