C.G. @ Paper Fury

Bookshelf Tour + See How My Bookshelf Has All Growed Up Over 4 Years!

9th Dec 2017 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 152 Comments

If I could only list two things I’m very very proud of, they would be: (1) my ability to forget a character’s name 3 seconds after I read it, and (2) my entire bookshelf.

I love my bookshelf. It is my actual pride and joy, my smol nest, my long-suffering pile of wood, my visual representation of all my hopes and dreams, and also BONUS: it hasn’t fallen over and killed me yet!! I acknowledge its kindness!

So today I want to give you a lovely bookshelf tour! And fun story: while planning this post I thought, “Oh it would be cool to do a Bookshelf Tag or something, right?!” So I googled for questions and HA, CAIT, HAAAAAA…the first two posts to come up on google were mine. Right. OK. So I’ve done a bookshelf tag in 2014 and 2015. But bookshelves, like small children and cakes left out too long, are apt to change! And many of you are NEW so I figure a new tour is still in order.

Plus, let’s be real, my shelf is freaking fantastic and we should all just admire it for a while and then admire me for my fantastic curating abilities.

ME THO

The first order of business is definitely too look waaaaay back to when dragons were still household pets and helped grill our toast — to when I first bought my shelf!

Now fun story: this is the very very first piece of furniture that I owned myself. I’m the 2nd youngest of 6 kids, so basically everything is 3rd or 4th hand by the time it gets to me. BUT NOT THIS, SIR. THIS IS MINE. It’s just an IKEA shelf and I coveted it for many many years.

Also I’d like you to note that in 2014 that was ALL the books I owned. Someone has developed hoarding tendencies. But we won’t name names.

2014

2015

2016

2017

HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU OWN:

After I moved in June this year, I counted 600 that I packed. I’ve maybe added 40 since then?? Look I could count again but I can’t squeeze that into my busy day of existential crises and writing books where everyone you love dies. Excuse me.

WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR BOOKS FROM:

I’m going to calculate my book-acquiring-ship in my stats this year for a definite number! But I estimate that about 60% are sent from publishers. I’m extremely lucky I KNOW. And extremely grateful because I can’t afford to buy many books. I’d say 20% are from library sales and thrift stores, so we’re talking $2 for a book or less. Then the other 20% are books I buy myself! Most of those too actually payment for a freelance blogging job I have for an Aussie bookstore.

WAIT, SO CAIT, YOU ARE NOT AN EXTREMELY RICH PERSON?

I do get a few snide comments on bookstagram about my collection and how “rich” I must be. But eh. People can say and judge how they like. I am lucky and blessed and I appreciate how lovely publishers have been! But last year, no joke, 65% of my books came from libraries too. VIVA LA LIBRARY.

BUT YOUR SHELVES ARE COLOUR-CODED…HOW DO YOU FIND ANYTHING????

Look I remember the colour before the title anyway. I can tell you where EVERY book is immediately. It’s my only talent in life besides being super good at eating brownies.

DO YOU SPLIT UP SERIES?

Sometimes! Other times I use my two other very very smol shelves or the other side of this shelf but shhhhh. I’ll show you soon.

While we’re here, I might as well walk you around my evil lair too.

I did this earlier this year but I MOVED HOUSE UGH. (Forever displeased.) Now my room is half the size of my old one, much like a cosy shoebox. And I just killed a spider with my bare hand. Either I’m the Chosen One or the next Spiderman or about to be dead. We don’t know. Exciting.

So first you walk into my room and are greeted with:

Now in an ideal world my shelf is supposed to be screwed to the wall. I’m letting it live its life in freedom now, because (A) I want it to experience life to the fullest and not be held back by hardware, and (B) I can now use both sides. #GENIUS My room is smol so I do what I must.

AND NO IT WON’T FALL OVER ON ME. ~~I CLIMBED IT AND IT DIDN’T EVEN WOBBLE.~~

Also my bed is on the floor??? Because the frame didn’t fit with my shelf. Obviously I have priorities here.

This is my new TINY shelf! Which is like two shelves in a trench coat.

My mum just came in 2 minutes ago and leaned on the little white one and it nearly fell over so THAT’S FUN. Honestly I’m just trying to live life to the fullest and take risks and etc. etc.

It’s also mostly empty because it’s for transferring books from my TBR to my shelf.

DON’T JUDGE HOW MANY COPIES OF CITY OF BONES I OWN. SOMETIMES THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

Now this is the top and other (less pretty) side of my bookshelf.

I mean obviously I hide the ugly things. Would we pick visual honesty over visual prettiness? OF COURSE NOT. So the other side of my bookshelf is for most ugly things and the colour overflows and the top of my shelf is my TBR of shame.

Sometimes I lie under on my carpet and look at up at my TBR and think about mortality.

Slightly daunting.

LOOK I’LL GET TO IT??? IT’S NOT LIKE I’M BUSY OR ANYTHING. [insert me screaming under 901 commitments]

And lastly, these are my hardcover shelves…which I…um…stole… from my sister that one time.

You know what if you leave stuff lying around, you should expect it to go missing.

Also please view my STIEFVATER SHRINE. It doesn’t even fit The Scorpio Races OR All The Crooked Saints and I’m a little bit distressed.

Now as an author, it’s obvious I need space to work. It’s also very obvious I have no desk in this room. So I have three options for writing and they are:

#1 = SITTING ON THE FLOOR

I actually want to shout out to Owlcrate right now because I use one of their boxes as a desk. 10/10 recommend.

Also Red Rising is everywhere in this post because I’m currently reading it and it’s also very attractive. The ugly notebook beneath it is my bullet journal that died about 3 weeks after I started it. Now it just contains list of books I can’t buy but I appreciate its effort.

#2 = A TINY SQUARE OF FLOOR

I mentioned this recently in my monthly recap post, but I also tend to fold myself into a tiny huddle between my bed, bookshelf, and beanbag. On the floor. Not, you know, anywhere comfortable. I get very hyperfocused, okay?!? But sometimes I do also sit on the beanbag but then my dog gets offended because he thinks it’s his.

Could I actually sit somewhere better and more logical?

#3 = MY ACTUAL GENERAL BED

And don’t look @ me wanting a photo. Do you think I was going to make my bed for this. Hilarious.

I’m extremely professional. YOU WANT TO BUY MY BOOK. 180 days to go.

1. LASTEST BOOKS YOU ACQUIRED.

2. BOOK SERIES YOU WISH YOU HADN’T TRIED.

3. BOOK YOU DIDN’T THINK YOU’D LIKE BUT YOU DID!

4. FAVOURITE COVERS YOU OWN.

5. LAST BOOKS YOU’VE READ LATELY.

DIVIDING EDEN: Look I was whinging that I hadn’t read this last week AND THEN I READ IT!! So proud. Pity it wholly sucked but oh well. ★★☆☆☆
AMERICAN STREET: This was really brutal and gritty and amazing! Let’s lowkey ignore the fact that I got a whole lot of racists commenting on my Goodreads review. Ugh. People. Why. ★★★★☆
THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE: Yes I’ve read this twice this year and I shall not stop. It is my favourite. My favourite. ★★★★★
THE LOVE LETTERS OF ABELARD AND LILY: Look it was good? With #ownvoices ADHD rep! Which I thoroughly appreciated. Buuut the ending left me feeling very sour and the autism rep was not…great. ★★★☆☆

And because you shouldn’t have to put up with a post from me without A PUPPY PICTURE…here’s my dog, Atticus.

He’s poking his tongue at me and then looking very very very tired about my life choices, which is basically his entire aura. Also YES I bribed him with a treat to actually sit on my bed for a photo. I’m that kind of low species but don’t judge me because at least you get a photo!!

And thus concludes my bookshelf tour!

Yes I just said “thus” because I’m slightly pretentious.

I am basically one smol bean surrounded by a lot of books and the ultimate aim is, obviously, to become a book. I’m not even sure how to exist if there aren’t books in every direction. Also shoutout to my parents and I as we managed to fit this many bookshelves in this room. Wizardry was involved. Probably the darkest kind.

Ah how my books have grown in 4 years. Just think! In 4 more years you probably won’t be able to see me as I’ll be living in a book igloo. #Goals

#ATTRACTIVE

tell me about your bookshelf! do you have the shelf of your dreams? how do you organise it? (pls tell me there are some other rainbows out there???) also while we’re here, tell me what you’re currently reading!!

How To Write 50K In A Month And Not Die (Tips Are All Safe! Blood Sacrifices Only Optional!)

31st Oct 2017 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 109 Comments

It’s that time of year when many of us plan to write a book because we hate ourselves.

Hello to NaNoWriMo! And if you don’t know what it is (ARE YOU LIVING UNDER A ROCK, SON) it’s basically a month-long challenge in November to write 50,000-words. Writing is hard, okay. This is a truth universally acknowledged. You’re trying to be a bunch of different people ALL AT ONCE in a story that hopefully makes sense by the end. *

Some people take years to write. Other incredibly annoying people take a few days.

Yeah, um that was a massive burn @ me who writes 90K in 3 days quite regularly. But look at my blog title. I’m basically the Fast & Furious and I do use my “fastness” for other purposes, like getting the heck out of there when it’s time to socialise. #Skills

But that’s not what this post is about.

In honour of ~~the month of trauma~~ NaNoWriMo, I want to give you 10 tips to help write 50K in a month! These are really intelligent writing hacks that you can use all year around. And I wish to doubly underline that they’re intelligent and not at all dangerous.

(Just, um…get an adult when you’re using scissors, a stove, or that bloody meat cleaver, okay?)

* LOL.

1. YOU’RE WRITING A FIRST DRAFT, NOT A POLISHED MANUSCRIPT.

Now I can see the panicked sheen of your eyes as you whisper, “Cait, I’m a perfectionist and I can’t help that.” And OK! I am a perfectionist too! BUT NOT DURING 1ST DRAFTS. When it comes to perfectionism, you honestly have to make a deal with yourself. A good way to go about this is:

Realise you want things perfect OR YOU WANT TO BURN DOWN THE SUN.
Say that’s ok. Love yourself, satan.
Make a deal with yourself in that: NO you may not edit while you’re writing in November. But YES you may edit when you’re finish.
I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.
Reward yourself with cookies, cake, the true throne of England — it doesn’t matter. But you WILL get to be a perfectionist, just. not. yet.

I actually nearly quit writing because of perfectionism. I acknowledge that it sabotages my writing and I work with it.

Anyhow I also wrote a FANTASTIC post on how to write a “perfect” (aka gnarly) first draft last year before NaNo. So go reeeead that and bask in my genius. Or, you know. Don’t bask. I can bask alone. I’m my own biggest fan which is very supportive of me.

2. NO CLUE WHAT THE HECK YOU’RE SAYING IN THAT SCENE? JUST KEEP WRITING IN CIRCLES TILL YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

The reason my 1st drafts are usually 100K+ is because (A) I hate myself and wish I was a piece of bread, and (B) I often don’t know what I’m saying in every scene. So I just keep writing until the meaning appears. A LOT of people would edit that as they go, or think, “Woah woah this is a dialogue bunny trail! I need to back up.”

I leave those waffling moments in. Let them argue about cornflakes for a hot second. IT’S OK.

Why? Because:

I’m actually learning more about my characters for every word I write <— super important
that scene might be dumb now, but it might be useful in rewrites
DON’T DON’T DON’T GO BACK AND EDIT. ALWAYS GO FORWARD. NO BACKSPACING. Unless you are heinous at spelling like me and need to retype your own characters’ names. I…I would not do that. Ha ha.

Every scene SHOULD have a point, but in 1st drafts? It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters. The world is a void and you’re screaming into it and laughing until you fall over.

#We #Love #Writing

3. DON’T BE SCARED TO MAKE HUGE CHANGES MID-DRAFT.

Because if you don’t wish for death while editing, are you even writing`?!? HA HA JUST KIDDING. OH WOW PLEASE SAVE ME FROM MYSELF.

The point is: sometimes I get violently hit with a way to make my book BETTER…and I’ll be 15,000 words in already. I don’t go back and add in that character. I just keep going like that character was always there. It’s OK. You can fix that in edits. Make a little note to yourself if needed.

Otherwise, onwards, son. Stop crying on the floor. Your ancestors were not puddles. Up, UP.

4. SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH JEALOUSY OVER SOMEONE ELSE’S SUCCESS? UNPACK THE REASONS WHY.

Look, it’s hard to see other’s success while you feel like a soggy piece of bread. It sucks. You want to feed yourself to the duckpond.

A good way to work on this is to talk yourself through the situation:

“They’re writing much faster than me, but does it really MATTER????”
“I have two favourite professional authors…but do I know how long it takes them to write a draft? Nope. Does it affect my enjoyment of their published books? NOPE.”
“Maybe they’ve been writing longer than me so have more experience.”
“Oh that person has been working FOR FAR LESS YEARS than me but has a book deal?? Maybe they’re a marginalised voice that needs to be heard? Maybe it was right-place-right-time. Maybe my book isn’t quite ready yet anyway. Maybe I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes in their journey.”
“MY TIME IS COMING LIKE THE QUEEN OF THE CONQUERORS.”
“I support them = they support me.”
“Their first draft looks SO MUCH BETTER than mine, but does it matter??? Everyone has to edit!”

Mate, it literally matters 0% how you get to the end of a book.

Just GET THERE. And honestly if you actually enjoy yourself and take pride in whatever breadcrumbs you’re putting onto the page? Then you’re going to enjoy this.

5. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS JUST KILL OFF YOUR CHARACTERS.

This is the kind of quality advice you come to me for. Don’t @ me with your questions. I’m not here to make sense.

6. IF YOUR SCENES ARE TOO SHORT, TRY FLESHING OUT WHAT’S ALREADY HAPPENING.

I mean OBVIOUSLY this isn’t a problem for me. (I say while I murder my 100K first drafts.) But if you find your little weedy NaNo book is look like a prune that’s been in the bath too long, instead of a fat plum — you’ll start to panic you won’t hit the 50K because you don’t have enough to say.

HOW TO MAKE FATTER SCENES:

Feed your scenes small chocolate pastries.
Not working?
OK feed them to yourself. Let’s not waste anything here.
Next look at what’s coming up in your book (ex: they have to steal the ancient cured dagger)…so make something interesting happen on the JOURNEY THERE. Oh! A new scene!
Make dialogue longer so we get to know characters better.
Remember to add in snippets of thoughts and feelings.
ADD THE 5 SENSES INTO YOUR DESCRIPTION DANGIT, JANET, THIS WILL IMPROVE YOUR VISUALS 500%
Instead of saying “they had a morose dinner” actually describe the morose dinner (and make sure to add in pivotal dialogue or thought processes that’ll impact the novel).
Feed everyone more chocolate pastries because by this point why not.

7. BUY A REALLY COOL WRITERS MUG AND KEEP IT NEARBY FOR COFFEE OR TO CATCH YOUR TEARS.

I’m sure this is quality advice on this quality blog where I’ve only called you a piece of bread in a duckpond once.

You’re doing fine, sweetie. Keep going.

8. TREAT YOUR WRITING AS SOMETHING IMPORTANT, NOT AS THAT “OH THIS HOBBY WILL NEVER GO ANYWHERE” THING.

Unless you just want it to be a lowkey hobby? Then do what you want, my little Loki.

But otherwise, never never never talk yourself down.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY TO YOURSELF:

My book is dumb.
I’m not the best writer there is so I’ll never get published.
I CAN’T FIND MY BRAIN WHAT BOX DID I PUT IT IN.
If I don’t finish this book, I failed.
If I can’t write fast then I failed.
I don’t really deserve to be published because other people work harder than me.
I’ll never figure out what I’m doing.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD SAY INSTEAD:

My book sucks right now, sure, but I can make it better.
I’m not the best writer there is, but I love telling stories so why shouldn’t I tell them??!
If I don’t finish or like this book later, I’ll write another one.
OH WOW! THAT’S THE BOX I LEFT MY BRAIN IN HAHA I’M SO GLAD I FOUND IT.
I don’t have the time/energy/resources to work really really hard at publishing, but if I WANT it super badly, I will make time for it when I can.
My writing is IMPORTANT. It’s not a hobby.
I DO HAVE MORE THAN ONE BOOK INSIDE ME. IT’S OK. THEY’LL COME WHEN THEY’RE READY.
It’s totally fine if I sacrifice my sibling under the full blood moon to aid my writing process.
The more I write, the better I’ll get.
I AM A WRITER IF I’VE WRITTEN 50 WORDS OR 50,000 WORDS.

I’m not even joking, it took me till my 21st manuscript to be unashamedly proud of every word I write.

Hopefully it’ll be faster for you. But self-destructive thinking is the WORST. You need to be your #1 fan. And, hey, I acknowledge my writing still sucks a lot! I cry over my mother * that I think my book is dumb and will never nevvvvvver work.

But do you know what? I have a 2-book deal.** I drafted that book and thought it was absolute trash…and then it got better. Look I’ll always get rejections, have to do huge edits, or write something I might not love or that my editor might not love. But I’m telling myself that (A) I love writing and I deserve to be a writer, and (B) the world is over-populated anyway so human sacrifices are fine. ***

* She has an umbrella and raincoat for these days so she’s cool with it.
BAM HIT ‘EM WITH THE SELF-PROMO AGAIN. PEOPLES, I SWEAR I JUST CAN’T SHUT UP ABOUT IT.
* Juuuuust kidding. I think. Please don’t look in my freezer.

9. TAKE TIME OFF IF YOU CAN AND TELL YOUR FAMILY YOU’RE DEAD TO THEM.

Obviously not everyone can do this, but IF YOU CAN, try to put aside specific times for writing. I’m lucky enough that I can take 3 days off and put in 8+ hours writing.

But anyway, if your family doesn’t like this idea, get some fake blood and be creative.

Make sacrifices. Writing is important.

You can sacrifice…

endless scrolling through social media
sleep (get up earlier!)
watching TV / movies
reading
(although make sure if you’re in writing for the LONG HAUL that you refill your creative tank!! don’t work empty!! you will die!!)
random teenage boys
your weird cousin (unless you are the weird cousin)
socialising (don’t cut yourself off forever, but hey this draft will be over sooner the faster you go)
other hobbies
eating food, i mean, you can exist on air

10. DO THE BULK OF YOUR WRITING WITHOUT ACTUALLY WRITING A THING.

Isn’t this clever? This is what we go to Hogwarts for. dARK MAGIC.

OK fine. I’ll be specific. If you think about what you want to write BEFORE you sit down to write it, you have way less time panicking at a blank page. I write a ton of my scenes “in my head” while I go for a walk. I also outline pretty intensely as I’ve mentioned to avoid writer’s block.

This is the PERFECT time to ignore reality —-> get sucked into your own world. I personally adore “living” in my own head intensely while I draft. I’m fascinating ok. Super humble too. But don’t be scared to really really think about your book all the time. Don’t forget to like breathe/eat/communicate with humans/work/take breaks…but let yourself be immersed!

This is a super fun exploration. A BEAR HUNT! You’ll probably die via being eaten by a bear, but not before you’ve had fun.

RIGHT. YOU ARE SO PREPARED YOU ARE BASICALLY A PEAR.

I shall shout vague encouragements at you at all times. Especially on twitter. (Actually I’m just kidding, I’ll probably be pithy over there and ask what is wrong with writers.) But it’ll be fun. Join me.

And just remember I’m not doing NaNoWriMo until later in November. So you all have a great chance to beat me. Go for it.

OMG THIS PHOTOS IS GENUINELY ATTRACTIVE AND I WANT TO MARRY IT.

anyone freaked for NaNoWriMo (WHICH STARTS SO SOON?!) tell me what’s MOST exciting you about your story?? do you let yourself write messy 1st drafts? and importantly: do you talk yourself down or do you take pride in your writing?? <— makes a world of difference

Oh? Oh What Is This? My Debut Novel Will Be Published in 2018!

21st Oct 2017 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 397 Comments

**I have simply extraordinarily delicious news for you today because, HI, my debut novel is BEING PUBLISHED.**

You have no no idea how long I’ve waited to tell you this. And also how long I spent trying to title this post. I swear, titles are the actual death of me and take 5 years off my life every time. But we can’t get distracted today. We must talk books.

Specifically: mine.

(It’s a really good topic.)

I’m so freaking proud to announce my first novel, A Thousand Perfect Notes, is coming June 2018 with Orchard / Hachette Children’s Books!

I have worked so so long for this and I’M SO HAPPY TO FINALLY SHARE THE NEWS WITH YOU.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I’ve been pursuing publishing for 4 years. I’ve been dreaming of it for nearly 8 years. And in 7 months??? Holy heck, peoples, you will get to hold my small novel in paperback. I will be in a bookstore. I will write more books. I will hopefully make this my career. I will try not to eat the moon.

LIKE CAN I TAKE A MOMENT.

Usually people wait till they’re asked questions before answering them, but I’m very clever and have decided to answer some questions YOU NEVER ASKED and also probably never will ask. You’re welcome.

Q: What’s the title?
A: A Thousand Perfect Notes!

Q: Is that like…notebook notes?
A: No it is like musical notes because this is a story of pianos and darkness and I really can’t say anything more than is in the pitch so GO READ ABOVE.

Q: Ok ok, so who the heck is CG Drews?
A: Me, you dense nutmeg. Now you know all my secrets.

Q: I do admit I’m kind of disappointed to see you have a human head.
A: I actually am disappointed too.

Q: I saw it’s on Goodreads.
A: It is! The blurb will be changed in the future though, so keep your eyes peeled. The pitch in my press release does say “salvation through love” but it’s not really. Ha…trust me pls.

Q: So…two book deal?
A: TWO BOOK DEAL. My second novel comes out in 2019 and you know nothing about it mwahah haha.

Q: Will there be ARCs?
A: Yes. Possibly only in the UK though, since I’m being published in the UK. (I will give more info on that when I know it, but it probably won’t be for a while.)

Q: Are there dragons?
A: no

Q: Is there cake?
A: absolutely

Q: On a scale of 1 to Mt. Doom when Gollum fell in with the ring — how freakishly excited and prone to combustion are you?
A: yes

Q: So all the times I’ve asked this year “when are you getting published?” and you said “I don’t know!” you were lying?
A: yes

Q: wow
A: Look I said I was from the dark side. These things happen.

Q: What does this mean for PaperFury.com?
A: Honestly I’m NOT sure. I love blogging and will have tons to say if I don’t do book reviews…but I’m just not sure if it’d be appropriate for me to review books now. But the chances of me stopping blogging? HAHAHA 0% MATE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THIS BLOG FOR A WHILE LONGER.

Q: When will we see the cover?
A: IDK MATE, BE PATIENT.

Q: I’ve already congratulated you on facebook / instagram / twitter, must I comment again?
A: No it’s okayyyyy. You don’t have to keep shouting “congrats” haha. I feel bad for repeating myself EVERYWHERE but (a) I’m excited and (b) I’m freaking excited, and (c) I’m making sure everyone knows! Also I’m excited. A little bit.

Q: Tell me something cool.
A: Ok ok here is something: every single time someone says “congrats!” or “I love this” or “I would give you my castle in Scotland with 94 libraries within” or “I’m so proud of you” — I HONESTLY CAN’T WITH THE EMOTIONS THAT GIVES ME. You are all incredible. You’ve championed my blog and my writing and given limitless encouragements over my art and I just…I’m super thankful. I’M BEING MUSHY AND THE BOOK ISN’T EVEN OUT YET. But this is the truth —> I appreciate your support so much it’s absolutely impossible to summarise it.

JUNE 2018, OKAY NOW.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS OR CEILINGS OR WHATEVER.

I NEED TO GO CALM DOWN.

i love turning discussions back to you but this is such a flail post…so JUST BEAR WITH ME. if you’re a writer tell me what your sparkly author dreams look like! (my #1 is to walk into a bookstore and see my book) and if you have any advice for authoring + blogging, DO let me know!!

How To Outline Your Novel (Without Biting Your Own Head Off)

7th Oct 2017 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 120 Comments

If you want to learn how to write a novel outline, then WELL DONE. You’re at the right place.

People constantly ask me how I write so fast and my truest answer is always: ~~DARK MAGIC~~. Um, sorry…I just…sometimes my fingers slip on the keyboard and it’s a bit awkward? Anyway. My truest answer is: OUTLINES.

As soon as I say that, the human (or robot, like I don’t judge) asking me immediately follows up with, “Oh so how do you write an outline?”

And I just…

I mean…

I have no idea.

So in honour of having no idea, I thought I’d write a post on my outlining process. This seems reasonable. Unfortunately for me, about 99% of my “writing process” is just doing. I have a very hard time explaining what I’m doing. But here I am. Sacrificing my weak braincells for you.

Now obviously there are many ways to go about writing a novel.

No you do not have to outline to be a successful writer. I’ll quickly list a few of the other writer’s life options:

PLOTTER: You write outlines and plan very meticulously. Usually a method used by control freaks and those pretentious people who like to use words like “meticulously”. (AKA IT’S ME.)
PLANSTER: You write bare-bones outlines. Which is maybe a few paragraphs or a page with a vague direction. Like go forward three paces and turn left at the blue tree and don’t die if you please.
PANSTER: You write what comes to you as it comes. Just wing it, mate. Something will fly out (tears?) and this process is guaranteed to be full of creative freedom. People who pick this one usually hate rules and never wear matching socks.
WEIRD COUSIN: You do all three of these methods at once. Usually done by people who have no idea what they’re doing and eat quite a lot of chocolate brownies in the name of “writing”. Ha. I see you. I understand you. Can I have some too.

Now let me explain my outlining process to you with a lot of tears and existential crises.

(In time for NaNo too! Look at me being punctual!)

Because see I do not go with the Snowflake Method or Skeleton Outlines or Mind Maps or Index Cards or 3-Act Structures. I’m influenced, but I legit have no method except what I like to call:

THE MOVIE TRANSCRIPTION PUZZLE BOX

It doesn’t make any sense, just how it should be.

Please only try this at home with adult supervision when you need to use the oven or stove. Be safe, kids.

FIRST I COME UP WITH THE PREMISE OF MY STORY.

It can be anything from something small…like I want to write about, say, witches. Or something with a little more direction, like I want to write a Van Gogh retelling. But my #1 thing is to PICK something. I don’t generally wait for inspiration to club me in the back of the head in a dark alley. I know people are all for freedom of creativity and letting their characters take over the story. But I’m not like that! And that’s OK! Being different is OK! *

I prefer to use 32% inspiration and 68% decision.

I also will note that I want to make a career out of writing, so I do view things through a business brain. NOT to say I follow trends and such (bad idea!!! do not do this!!), but I do analyse if an idea has potential to be sold.

* Look I know this is true. My mum told me so when I was little and reenacted the fall of the Roman empire with my dolls.

NOW I FIGURE OUT THE PITCH OF MY STORY.

I sum up my book easily and quickly and interestingly. Mostly so I can tweet about it but ALSO so I get a solid direction of what the point and climax of my story is. <— Important.

I figure out:

what my characters want to achieve
what’s going to stop them achieving it
how their personalities will react to the situations I’m about to throw at their cute heads
where the story starts and ends

Like currently for my upcoming NaNo story, I knew right up front I wanted a stabby girl and a bubbly boy and they’ll be stuck in a dance contest and hate each other.

Knowing that, next I ask:

how can I raise the stakes?
whatever I think of: DOUBLE THAT PAIN, SON.
so they’ll be on live TV…what if that was super dangerous for them?
why is it dangerous?
who are they running from?
we have a Big Badie opposing them, but what little oppositions can they meet?
how do the characters sabotage themselves on accident?
what are their vulnerabilities and tipping points and triggers?

I unwind the story like that. But the biggest and most crucial tings I think of are: (a) what does my character WANT, and (b) how can I stop them from GETTING IT?

Authors are so freaking nice.

Also if you don’t have that figured out, there is a 99% chance your story will read like a directionless soup.

WORK ON YOUR CHARACTERS UNTILL THEY’RE CUTE BUT HOT MESSES.

I’m so all for character-driven books, but I think up my premises first. Then I fit in characters. BECAUSE CHARACTERS ARE HARD. And once you’ve been an idiot like me and written 25+ novels *…your eye twitches and you then cry when you have to think up new people.

THINGS I THINK ABOUT:

I like making my two narrators personality-opposites so they’ll argue and sass each other to death
I think up their backstory
#Make #It #Tragic
I weave in diversity because that’s important to me (at this point, I mostly pick things I have experience with)
I develop how that diversity affects their lives
I NAME THEM WHICH IS SO HARD I CAN’T EVEN WITH HOW HARD THE NAMING THING IS
I figure out how they’ll change by the end of the novel.

Currently? I have 78% of my outline worked out but no character names. This is the kind of organised structure I have.

Why are you reading this post.

Run while you can.

* So I literally just wrote “25+” because I have no freaking clue how many books I’ve written?????

OKAY SO I GOTCHA PREMISE + CHARACTERS…NOW I NEED TO MAKE STUFF HAPPEN.

Here is where the “movie transcript” part of my plotting method comes in.

I do not write anything down yet. I do not break out the index cards or systematic rulers or use the oven for singeing my hair. (ALTHOUGH THAT SOUNDS FUN.)

I proceed to write a “movie” in my head. Epic soundtrack playlist. Cinematography angles. Director commentary. Scene cuts. Blooper reel. The works. I build things as a TV series would, because novel chapters = TV episodes = surprisingly similar.

TV series = you need to have interesting arcs in every episode.
Book = every chapter needs to matter and 500% bonus points if you end each with a mini “cliffhanger” to keep you reading.

I also usually am moving while I do this. Because I think better when I’m in motion, so running, walking, etc. But remember: make !! time !! to !! think !!! Books don’t happen if you don’t MAKE them happen.

“OK, Cait,” you say while firing up the oven because I brought it up so why not, “but how do I come up with the ideas???”

I find that if you cry enough, your tears will form patterns which might look like words and you can use them.

But yet failing that….

I generally work like this:

Start with imaging action scenes that go with the far-too-upbeat music I’m listening to at the time.
Ask: “can a contemporary have explosions?”
Rework contemporary so the answer is: yes.
I play out a scene and see where my imagination takes the characters.
If the characters are dUMB GOATS and the scene gets stuck, I rewind and go in a different direction.
I think of things that amuse me, excite me, or interest me and work them into the story.
This changes ALL THE TIME, so my books are always full of interesting things. Like right now I’m think of masks, abandoned dance studios, an old pizza place with blood stains on the floor, a dumbly adorable golden retriever, a rich kid who hates being rich, coffee addictions, Instagram, knee injuries and boys doing ballet.
You can TOTALLY go on pinterest and get inspired by an aesthetic photo and work that in.
JUST THINK UP STUFF HONESTLY.
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
USE YOUR GOD GIVEN IMAGINATION.

NOT SURE IF THIS IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF IMAGINATION BUT THERE YOU GO.

You can be inspired from what you read and watch too. But bE cAREFUL. Don’t steal. If you find your idea looking suspiciously like something in another book you’ve read…rework it.

Or a leviathan might eat you.

I mean, I don’t know mate, but do you want to take the risk.

But don’t freak out. I read a book about dancing = I want to write a book dancing. They will be NOTHING ALIKE but obviously I was inspired. See?

GET STUCK AT LEAST 54 TIMES.

Because haha haha HAHAHAHHA.

Your brain loves you and wants to see you suffer. Um, excuse me while I get an umbrella for when you cry all over me.

And if you get stuck? Read more books. Watch more movies. Actively DON’T think for a day and then tomorrow actively DO think until you smash that block.

But the delicious thing is: you might get writers block now, but when you’re actually drafting? BOOM. You won’t.

That’s how I write so fast. Because I do the bulk of my “writing” without ever touching my laptop.

[crowd gasps and whispers paperfury is a genius]

By this point I’ve imagined up a lot of scenes. And I haven’t a heckin’ clue where they go.

I do plot out of order. But I never write out of order. I’m about as logically consistent as what happens when you throw a box of marbles in the air.

Anyhow.

I feebly glue all my scenes together and filling in the gaps. Usually if you have a gap TOO big, you can fix it by putting all your characters in a kitchen and making them argue their life plans out over lasagna. 10/10 recommend because this is delicious.

IT’S TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE!

Because, you know…you’re a writer! Maybe! We hope!

TURN THE OVEN OFF, YOU CHILD, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS WHY AREN’T YOU FOCUSING.

So the first thing I do is open up Scrivener and cry over it because it’s beautiful.

Yes I have a whole file just for outlines and story ideas. I’ll start a new Scrivener file for the actual project when I start to write it.

Now obviously YOU DO NOT NEED SCRIVENER TO WRITE A NOVEL. And obviously if you talk to me I’m just going to rant about how much I freaking love it. So do whatever, mate. I’m only here to tell you how ~~far gone my brain is~~ I’m doing things

I also have a lot of files for names which helps me 0% when picking one out. I usually just wait for a lightning strike. Which will give me character names or death. Either is OK.

Firstly I write:

Out that horrid pitch we talked about. So just like 2 sentences or so. DOESN’T HAVE TO BE GOOD. Just functional.
Then I write a “blurb” or “query”. I write blurbs because I already have an agent hallllllelujah no querying for me.
But, dude, if you write the blurb BEFORE THE BOOK, you automatically can identify your climax + the thing that makes your story cool. If you DON’T know what makes your story cool or stand out —> your story needs more work.
Then I might write out a teeny tiny character profile. Mostly stuff like “HE HAS RED HAIR AND BLUE EYES” because I will no doubt change his eye-colour 84 times because I have no memory.
Obviously I sort my characters into Hogwarts Houses. #Crucial
I do any specks of teeny tiny research I might need and make notes.

A SMOL WORD ABOUT THE RESEARCH:

I don’t research a lot before first drafts. This is because (a) I don’t know if this draft is going to be any good???! Why waste time on research?!? and (b) I don’t want to bog myself down in details and then NEVER WRITE.

Obviously I’m sensible about this. If I’m going to put someone in hospital, I research their wound a bit. But otherwise I skim where I know I’ll put details later.

THIS IS FIRST DRAFT STUFF. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE CUTE TRASH.

BOOOOYAH. I write out my outline in bullet point lists.

Because I love lists. Are you reading this post.

Also good time to mention: my outlines are extremely detailed. Not all outlines are! But since this whole blog is about me, here we go.

My outlines look like this:

Detailed explanation of what goes on in a scene.
Yes, I’ll even note people’s emotions and maybe a line of dialogue.
I use bullet point lists because you can’t use knife-point-lists which I think is discriminatory to knives.
I include the most SALTY AND SASSY COMMENTARY on my own book you can imagine. This is because outlining can be “boring” so I make it more amusing than the actual book.
IF YOU’RE NOT HAVING FUN, WHAT R U DOING M8.
I also plan out my first sentence in advance. Because those are hard.
I usually finish up around 20,000 words which will equal a 100,000 word novel. Which I will then edit the living heck out of because I prefer books to be around 70-80K.

EXAMPLES OF SOME OF MY OUTLINE SKILLS:

From different novels. Not the current one because I’m writing this post instead of outlining it. #ProcrastinationQueen

You sit back and realise you are PREPARED.

I actually have written 10+ outlines this year and only written 6 books. THIS IS NICE. I outline in such detail that I can come back and write the book later. Like….12 years later. TWELVE YERAS IN AZKABAN LATER.

A lot of writers hate outlines for crushing their creative limbs — which is cool. But I personally NEVER get stuck while writing if I have an outline like this. I can also spit out 30,000 words per day. WIN FOR ME, YES?

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS TOUR OF MY MIND.

Yes, it’s OK if you are shaky and need to take a moment. Me too though. The important thing is to find your OWN process and make everything fit with you. But if something here inspires you or you’re delusional enough to say “Yeah I’ll give this a go”…then well done. I’m glad I helped.

(Are you even OK?)

Go forth and outline! There is at least a 4% chance you will not not bite your head off while doing so.

LEGS, THO. DIFFERENT STORY.

tell me about your writing-prep process? do you outline? do you find detailed outlines crush creativity or enhance it? and how do you figure out your ideas?!? is it more decision or inspiration for you?

10 Books With Unique Formatting (Because They’re #Special #And #Precious #Souls)

11th Apr 2017 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 203 Comments

My eyeballs are quite fond of the delicacy that is unique formatting in books.

What is “unique formatting???”, you might be asking whilst you gnaw on a cupcake or a piece of cheese or the souls of your mortal enemies. WELL. It’s when a book frolics past normality and adds illustrations, or uses verse, or changes the font size, or explodes the font all over the page, or just does some little things that shake up the way an average book is written. Because uniquely formatted books are Not Like The Other Books™ and they are Independent Young Hipsters Who Can Stand On Their Own And Don’t Need Society’s Approval. *

And, quite frankly? I absolutely LOVE IT. Books with peculiar formatting are auto-need for me. I read a lot, okay? And everything starts to sound the same after you’ve read 2,401 books about red-haired rebellious heroines with two boyfriends and a country to save, who’s probably a lost princess and has the personality of three collective dead onions. I want to read text that illustrates the book’s emotions! I WANT VISUALS. I want to go “ooooh woah” while reading like the eloquent fish I am.

bRING IT.

I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday for their prompt “Top Ten Of The Most Unique Books” and I’m going to list some with epic unique formatting! Mostly because I’m actually a child and think more books should have PICTURES in them. Or something crazy happening with the font, at least. **

How am I a bookworm with the attention span of a dead moth? No one knows. It’s one of life’s best kept secrets.

* Unless they are a paperback??? And they they aren’t going to stand. They’re going to flop around like a spineless eggplant and need life long assistance. Reason #9289 why hardcovers are better.
** I’M ALSO GASTON BECAUSE WHY DOESN’T THE BOOK HAVE PICTURES IN IT???????

1. THE BOOOK THIEF

[goodreads]

This one is unique for a whole conglomeration of reasons like, HELLO IT’S NARRATED BY DEATH. And Death likes to put little existential crises statements in now and then because why not apparently.

They’re also delightfully quotable and Death just might be my favourite character…which makes me feel a little bit odd.

But these things happen.

2. THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

[goodreads]

I loved this book. Have I read the others? HAHHAHAHAH #NO OF COURSE NOT DON’T BE RIDICULOUS. I haven’t had time. Honestly I don’t have time for anything on my TBR at the moment??? There’s a conspiracy in 2017 to give us less hours and I’m lodging a formal complaint to the atmosphere. I may even stamp my foot. I’m pretty riled.

Anyway.

There are lots of confusing explosions of font in this book to summarise what it’s like to live in a town where everyone can hear your thoughts.

BASIC REPRESENTATION OF MY MIND TOO. But holy kelp, please let no one ever read my thoughts. There are dark mad dragons there and I don’t know who’d start crying first, me or you.

3. CHALLENGER DEEP

[goodreads]

This book took me a looooong time to actually get into because it was so endlessly confusing. But that was also the point??!? It’s about schizophrenia (the author wrote it based on his son’s experiences!) and it’s smushes together reality and delusions and IT’S ACTUALLY A PIECE OF ART, TO BE HONEST. Plus it has these fantastic drawings that I am 1000% here for.

It just really adds to the experience of this glimpse of what it’d be like in Caden’s mind.

4. ME BEING ME IS EXACTLY AS INSANE AS YOU BEING YOU

[goodreads]

THIS BOOK IS ENTIRELY WRITTEN IN LISTS AND THAT’S JUST PHENOMENAL. I LOVE LISTS. WHO DOESN’T LOVE LISTS??? LISTS ARE THE REASON LIFE CONTINUES. *

Unfortunately the book is about a seriously angsty boy who’s 78% ungrateful and kind of like a potato salad without the mayonnaise or the potatoes so really just salad and that’s a small horror story right there. But lists. It’s nearly worth it just for that.

* Some people think the reason of life is, like, family or happiness or achieving contentment but pfffft. It’s making lists.

5. THERE WILL BE LIES

[goodreads]

Since the narrator is deaf, there are lots of gaps in the dialogue in this book! I think that’s such an excellent visual of how inaccurate lip reading is and how often people forget to cater to a Deaf person’s needs.

And sometimes I felt like I was only getting half the story, which is exactly Shelby goes through.

6. HALF BAD

[goodreads]

OKAY JUST PAUSE A MINUTE FOR MY PRECIOUS HALF BAD CHILDREN OF NATHAN AND GABRIEL WHOM I LOVE SO MUCH AND DON’T TALK ABOUT EVEN HALF ENOUGH. This series is 500% destined to smush your heart into little pieces. I’m still not okay, to be honest. Whenever I glance at the covers, I go back to howling.

10/10 recommend having your heart broken by these books.

ME LOOKING THROUGH THE HOLE THAT WAS MY HEART.

Also Nathan has a learning disability and serious PTSD from the torture he’s been through, and the font goes wild to reflect when he’s having a meltdown. And the book has lists. Like we’ve established: any book that has lists is excellent.

7. 5 TO 1

[goodreads]

I’m not a real huge fan of books partially told in prose?? I mean, it’s cool. But I have about as much poetry comprehension as a piece of bread. I’m a cute piece of bread, but yet…unpoetic nonetheless.

I did like how this book is an Indian dystopian though!! AND THAT COVER, RIGHT?!?

8. NEVERNIGHT

[goodreads]

Did I ever tell you I have a huge weakness for footnotes?!? I MEAN IT’S HARD TO TELL ON THIS BLOG OF COURSE. * And while Nevernight and I were a bit skeptical of each other at first…I’m quite mildly fond of it now. It’s super stabby. Super bloody. SUPER FOOTNOTEY. **

I heard most people hated the footnotes, because they just give random bits of world building…but the narrator is super sarcastic and I relate. Except I’m not very sarcastic. Just on Thursdays through to Mondays. Occasionally on Tuesday afternoon. From 3pm to 4:15pm on Wednesdays. That sort of thing. I have a schedule.

* I use footnotes only rarely.
** This is a word. And if not, when I rule the world officially, it’ll be a word so best prepare your dictionaries now.

9. THE LEAVING

[goodreads]

This has 70 billion narrators but one of them has unique formatting in her chapters AND I LIKE IT. When the words start acting like they’re on a roller coaster of emotions or else the printer got stuck??? I’m totally a fan.

It captures the feeling of the words visually and I need all the help I can get with feelings. #VulcanAtHeart

10. ILLUMINAE

[goodreads]

This is obviously the ULTIMATE BOOK OF UNIQUE FORMATTING because the entire book is told in emails, transcripts, art, photos, and glorious maps of spaceships. I’ve never been more in love with how a book looks??? This is just TOO AMAZING and I want 99 more books like this.

It just makes me so so happy to read books with pictures. Apparently I am Peter Pan. Feel free to use my new title.

And I was about to shout “WHO’S READY FOR ILLUMINAE 3 THIS YEAR?!?!?” but I realised none of us are ever going to be ready. We basically just need it to put us out of our misery. These books are so so good. So so pain. The authors actually snack on bagels made of our pain and sip our tears for their morning brunch. #TrueStoryMate

have you read any books with unique formatting?!? do you like unique formatting or would you rather a book be normal/straight-forward text??? does it ever detract from the story? and do YA books need more pictures??? (spoiler: yes) and feel free to link me to your TTTs!

Tutorial: How to Photograph eBooks Using Free Photo Manipulation on Pixlr

2nd Dec 2016 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 168 Comments

It’s time for me to spill photo manipulation SECRETS.

Well. Sort of secrets? Mild secrets? Basically they’re not secret at all — BUT LET’S NOT DWELL ON SEMANTICS.

It is unfortunately hard to photograph eBooks. And if you’re a big fan of #bookstagram but don’t own a lot of books…THIS CAN BE KILLER. The book covers colour seems dim or your device always goes black when you go to take the photo or the light has hit at a weird angle AND IT’S JUST ALL HORRIBLE. Rest your fluttering little souls, fiends. I can help.

Today’s tutorial is how to take a successful photo of an eBook using photo manipulation. We’re using Pixlr. Which is free. Which is what I live for to be honest — free photo apps and free pizza.

LET’S DIVE IN SHALL WE?!

Also: apologise to everyone who I promised this tutorial to like…a month ago. I DIDN’T FORGET I JUST DIDN’T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO IT. I swear, my secretaries these days are all failing. No one makes me fresh cupcakes. No one rearranges my TBR. No one stands on the rooftops quoting The Princess Bride to all and sundry. I have to do it ALL MYSELF. #overworked

TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR EMPTY EREADER DEVICE.

Yes. Empty. So you don’t need anything on the screen. The darling thing can be turned off if you want. It can be quietly playing Brahms. All you need is IT.

Also, it can be an iPod, a Kindle, a Nook, an iPad, an iPhone, and iSpaceship. Whatever the kids are playing with these days. I personally use my iPod touch which is about 4 years old and likes to scream at me all day long.

Take the photo like you would of a normal book. SO GO WILD. BE PRETTY.

Don’t let my screensaver fool you. I actually dislike Captain America immensely and his bleeding shield on my iPod actually just represents how FREAKING ANNOYING MY IPOD BECAUSE IT’S SO OLD AND CAN’T COMPETENTLY DO ANYTHING EXCEPT THINK ABOUT BUCKY.

Excuse me. I shall not rant on my dying iPod. Back to the tutorial at hand.

I suggest you edit this photo now (if you like editing) with whatever editing program you like. Get it all nice and ready for adding the ebook cover on top.

OPEN UP PIXLR.COM/EDITOR.

Or you can click the above link that I have provided for you because I am Queen Of Lazy Shortcuts and I imagine you are too. But I mean, you know this??? This tutorial is basically titled “HOW TO TAKE PHOTOS OF EBOOKS IF YOU ARE LAZY AND CAN’T BE BOTHERED GETTING GOOD LIGHTING FOR YOUR PHOTOS.” But that was a bit long. So.

Click “OPEN IMAGE FROM COMPUTER” which will look like so:

Upload that nice photo you just took of your empty eReader screen.

Admire it. Good job you for getting so far in this difficult task.

Now get a book cover off Goodreads!

Or google, or whatever. I’m using The Problem With Forever for no other reason than IT’S DOWNRIGHT GORGEOUS. #ShallowBookworm

Next you go to “IMAGE” and then click “OPEN IMAGE AS A LAYER”.

The image will appear just in the middle of the screen and not on your eReader screen, obviously. But patience grasshopper.

Now go to “EDIT” and click “FREE DISTORT”.

This is going to make the book cover you just uploaded completely twistable and bendable like Elastigirl from the Incredibles of which we’re still waiting for that darn sequel.

Just twist and manipulate the cover layer (by pulling on the 4 corners) until it fits onto your eReader screen. You want to make sure it lines up nicely so it looks nice and not like you spent 4 seconds doing this on pixlr. LIKE YOU ACTUALLY DID.

And then TA-DA! DONE!

Now save the beast. Very important. You can go to “FILE” and then “SAVE” or just click “CONTROL S” (or “COMMAND S” for macs).

ADMIRE YOUR GENIUS.

This is pretty much the most crucial step. You are officially a Photoshop Pro and people will be hiring you all over the world for your prowess skills. Well done.

I hope that made sense!

And if not…eh. Just admire my beautiful photos and graphics and definitely don’t blame me for my terrible tutorial skills. But hopefully your #bookstagram game can be STRONG NOW as you represent books you don’t physically own or want to do cover reveals for or just want to pretend you have a cover edition you don’t have. #winning

any more tutorial requests for me?! (so i can…um…hopefully get to them before it’s 90 years later) because you’re welcome to shout suggestions! also do you think this tutorial might come in handy for you? also: is The Problem With Forever cover not the most ridiculously gorgeous thing ever!??

How To Win #NaNoWriMo In 3 Days

5th Nov 2016 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 165 Comments

**Now I know I’m super annoying but…I FINISHED NANOWRIMO IN 3 DAYS.**

Well, technically I wrote 62,000-words in 3 days and even finished up early enough that I got to spend a pleasurable evening relaxing and doing nothing. * This wasn’t actually a record for me either as back in September I wrote 130K in 6 days WHICH IS KIND OF A LOT AND I LIVED TO REGRET EVERYTHING. **

I KNOW I KNOW I’M SUPER IRRITATING but there. #NaNoWriMo2016 finished in 3 days. Someone save me from myself and bring me the cake. pic.twitter.com/Srr89AAKc3

— Cait (@PaperFury) November 3, 2016

Okay, come back. Stop hissing at me through the laptop screen. I will give you cake if you read on, you delightful little kumquat.

This post is inspired by the fact that when I tweeted “HEY LOOK WHAT I CAN DO” I had a variety of things yelled at me, including:

Congrats!
Cake for you!
Want to write my book for me?
You aren’t human.
I love you but also hate you right now.
#goals
Did you know it is actually National Novel Writing MONTH not week?
Could you not.
HOW???????

I decided I shall answer the last one: HOW DID I WRITE A BOOK IN 3 DAYS? Because clearly it’s time to spill secrets and then pat you on the shoulder and assure you that, yes, you too can do this if you want.

But I also accept titles of Immortal Dragon Queen Of All if you prefer to think of me as not-human. That’s cool.

* I was lying catatonic on the floor with chocolate BUT SAME THING.
** Or did I live??? Is this a human typing now or the Ghost Of Caits Of The Past? Or perhaps just a clone I left to keep things together while I am dead after a 27K day that one time. Or perhaps there WAS NEVER ANY CAIT AT ALL AND I AM JUST PRETEND. #ExistentialCrisisIntensifies

1. PRACTISE SPRINTING UNTIL YOU CAN SPRINT LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SPRUNT BEFORE.

You know the word “sprunt” sounded right in my head but now I’m second guessing my ability to use the English language. (Which, FYI, is the only language I’ve ever had. I need to be restrained from it.)

But that aside — look I didn’t wake up one day and say “I’M GOING TO WRITE 20,000 WORDS IN ONE DAY!” I worked up to it. I also figured out my process which is to write wild and messy and bad first drafts and do serious editing/rewriting later when I have the skeleton here to work off. Everyone’s writing process is different! BE AWARE OF THAT. But if you want to learn to sprint: then do it. Very rewarding. As rewarding as taking over small galaxies and ruling them nefariously. *

But a little backstory on my last three NaNoWriMo experiences?

2014: 65K in 7 days
2015: 63K in 5 days
2016: 62K in 3 days

On top of that, I’ve written 22 books, editing copiously, rewritten more, and just WROTE AND WROTE AND WROTE UNTIL I COULD WROTE NO MORE AND THEN YOU KNOW WHAT? WROTE MORE. **

Practise, is what I’m trying to say. Praaaaaaactise. You learn to write fast. You learn to sprint. You do it so often that writing 20K in a day is actually No Big Deal.

* I mean…not that I would know. [WINK WINK]

** Genuinely worried about my use of grammar now.

2. HAVE A 5-YEAR PLAN.

Well, that’s a little excessive, Cait. Maybe chill.

Try having a 3-day plan. AKA — AN OUTLINE FOR YOUR NOVEL. I wold not be able to do this as a panster! I JUST WOULD NOT. As is, I have a very detailed outline (this year’s outline was 7,000-words long and outlined every. single. scene) so I have zero chance of either going: “omg no writers block I don’t know what to do now” or “where am I going with this”. Because I know. I have The Outline. I follow The Outline.

The Outline and I are ONE. *

Because of having a detailed outline I don’t get stuck! I don’t need to overthink. I literally can just write.

* Just kidding, we still fight, but mostly it’s a good relationship.

3. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE AWFUL.

I do not write neat perfectly stitched together 1st drafts. I WRITE WILD AND MESSY AND AWFUL. I give myself permission to write badly because 1st drafts are just always going to be bad no matter what. * So my method is to write awfully and freely and have fun because there’s 0% pressure here…I know I’ll fix it later!

I’m not just hitting my keyboard. And I will write scenes that I, modestly, view AS PURE GOLD. But there will also be sentences like “He ate the potato because he loved potatoes because potatoes were good” and yes I still call myself a writer. Although sometimes I make myself cry.

I’m great.

* Okay, fine, maybe your 1st drafts are perfect little works of art but I can’t look at you. Whose soul did you sell?

4. HARVEST THE SOULS OF YOUR READERS AND DRINK THEIR TEARS.

What?

I thought this was good advice.

5. MAKE THE TIME, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO STEAL A TIME MACHINE.

Obviously you can’t write for 6 hours a day IF YOU ARE BUSY DOING OTHER THINGS. Personally? I make time in my schedule. I can afford to take 3 days off from…everything. I PLANNED TO TAKE THESE DAYS OFF ALL YEAR. I had freezer meals ready, chocolate stockpiled, my dog bringing me sandwiches, and zero commitments to anyone or anything anywhere. I could be 100% focused on my writing.

If someone so much as looked at me with a, “Hey Cait could you –” I JUST SAID NO AND RAN AWAY.

Plus I don’t read or watch movies or blog or, like, talk. (I do faceplant on the internet during breaks though. And nap. So much napping.) That frees up a lot of extra writing time.

And yes! I do type for upwards of 6+ hours a day! SO THAT’S KIND OF A LOT. I get rather hyper-focused and can type and type and type and be perfectly happy lost in my own mind. *

A very simplified schedule of how I write would look thusly:

8:00am – 9:30am = 3,000 words
10:20am – 11:50pm = 6,000 words
12:30pm – 1:30pm = 2,000 words
3:40pm – 4:30pm = 1,000 words
7:00pm – 10pm = 8,000 words

BUT SEE ALL THOSE TIME BREAKS???? I am not writing the whole day. I am exercising or playing with my dog or gone for a walk or eating FOOOOOOD. Take care of your brain, pumpkins. You’ve only got one. **

And least to say: no procrastination. NO. NONE. NONE. AT. ALL.

Oh don’t give me that look.

* Wait. That is scary.
** And some of us have less than that after NaNoWriMo. But yet we remain! Go us!

6. I’M A MOTIVATED LITTLE MONSTER.

Honestly I think a lot of writing intensely huge word counts just comes down to: DO YOU REALLY REALLY WANT TO DO THIS??? You practise. You build up your skills. You write. I honestly have no Secret Recipe Of Awesome. There is nothing magical in my cake. * I do not have 8 arms and 7 clones. My dog does not type well unless I want my manuscript to saw “rawr and woof”. WELL, I MEAN, I AM THE IMMORTAL DRAGON QUEEN. So there’s that. But that only contributes a little.

And if I’m struggling to motivate me? I get YOU to motivate me. Twitter! Chatting with NaNo friends! Blogging about my projects! Comparing character tortures with writerly buddies! I mean, what’s the point of living on this planet unless you get to demand the mere mortals to encourage you and your word count and bring you cake, amirite?! What else are the mortals for???

Also, um…I’m hugely competitive with myself and have to keep beating my old records and it’s a disease probably. Shh.

* Except for the fact that I baked it and I am beautifully magical.

Speed writing isn’t for everyone, but if you want to do it: GO FOR IT.

Work up to it! Challenge yourself continually. And the basic mathematical equation is: plan + clear your schedule + stick your butt in your chair and don’t procrastinate + type fast + be motivated by the reward that is a finished manuscript + focus + cake + write wildly and badly with no editing + be just a teeny tiny itty bit INSANE = you did NaNoWriMo in 3 days.

You’re welcome.

NOTE: This post isn’t intended to be braggy! If any of my methods are helpful to you, GREAT. If not: your process and journey is different but just as awesome. Trust me.

hey NaNolings! how are you doing? surviving??? DO YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT BECAUSE I HAVE CAKE FOR YOU. what’s the highest word count you’ve reached in a day and what’s your Ideal Goal World Count for someday? are you a speed writer or a slow writer? what’s your process?! let’s chat of all the fun things.

NOTE: I will not be sharing snippets on my NaNo book this time, fiends! There there, it’ll be okay. Lemme be secretive occasionally.

How To Write A Successful 1st Draft (Without Stabbing Yourself In The Eye With a Spork)

14th Oct 2016 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 128 Comments

**Writing can be mildly terrifying…particularly if it’s a first draft.**

It’s like going where no one has gone before. It’s like conquering a planet except you’re blindfolded and the planet is full of holes you could fall down and end up in Wonderland and rename yourself Mad Hatter for the rest of eternity BECAUSE WRITING HAS REDUCED YOU TO MUSH.

[Deep breaths. Deep CALMING breaths, everyone.]

NaNoWriMo is coming and that means writing a 1st Draft. And it can be scary! Particularly if you’ve never done this before! Some of us are hardcore veterans and some of us are crying like wretched onions. But guess what? I’M HERE FOR YOU, MY ONION FRIEND. I have written 21 first-drafts so I would like to think this makes me ~~a genius~~ relatively dependable when it comes to dishing out tips and advice.

Today I’ll list some top tips for how to write a successful 1st draft. These tips are FLAWLESS, since I invented them. Although I will remind you that: all writers have difference processes! So if you look at my list and wrinkle your little nose in heinous disgust and retreat back into the darkness hissing, “Noooo, noooo, that is not good for me” then THAT’S OKAY TOO. But maybe something in this post will help you! And if so: MY WORK HERE IS DONE.

And if nothing helps you, then hey, at least you got to spend time with me. And that’s the best thing ever obviously.

When it comes to NaNoWriMo (or actually any novel I write of ever) I am pretty big on planning. Of course YOU DON’T “HAVE TO” PLAN. But I’m going to talk about planning because that’s who I am as a person.
If I am a person?
No one truly knows, to be honest.
There are many different types of outlines and methods and you can GOOGLE THEM because I don’t know how they work. The important thing is just to figure out your (A) beginning, (B) middle, and (C) ending.
That way you lower the risk of wandering aimlessly through the middle of November screaming “WHO AM I. WHAT AM I DOING. WHAT IS THIS BOOK. WHAT IS LIFE.”
Existential crisis during NaNo? Not recommended.
My outlines are bullet point lists…basically like a long synopsis. I plan the full book in my head before I outline, so I’m basically blurbing my own book! GO ME. FYI writing synopsises is so much easier before you write the book.
You know what else is easier to do before you write the book? REMEMBER WHAT JOY AND SUNSHINE FEELS LIKE BECAUSE SOON THEY WILL BE GONE.
I’m kidding, writing is fun. Totally fun. We’re having so much fun all the time.
If you’ve never written a book before I definitely recommend trying some sort of outline. It makes things a little less overwhelming. You have a PLAN. You can DO THIS.
Also planning helps if you have a horrid memory (like I) and end up writing 20,000 words that basically involve characters eating food and then saying “Okay but where was I going with this???”

My tippiest toppiest advice for writing is this: GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE THE WORST MULBERRY TO EVER FALL OFF THE TREE.
Also realise that “tippiest and toppiest” are probably not even words, but whatever. Back to the mulberries. Focus on the mulberries because that’s what we’re talking about right now.
Give yourself permission to write badly. To fail. To be imperfect.
Oh don’t don’t dooon’t give me the “well I’m a perfectionist and it’s who I am to try and make it right” lecture because guess what? I’M A (RECOVERING) PERFECTIONIST TOO. I nearly quit writing altogether because I couldn’t get my first drafts “perfect” the first time. That’s ridiculous. The world would probably have decayed into fire and poisoned mushrooms without the glorious blessing that is my writing to the universe.
I had to decided either: (A) I will write imperfect first-drafts and then edit/rewrite them to perfection later, or (B) I will not finish novels and I will be a sad potato.
I chose (A).
PLEASE CHOOSE OPTION (A) WITH ME.
I firmly believe striving for perfection in first draft is the #2 cause writers fail. The first cause is, of course, getting distracted by twitter. DARN YOU TWITTER. IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT.
The object of your first draft is to write a skeleton. An ugly skeleton. It’s to get all the scenes down and to get into your characters’ heads. It’s to actually have fun. Because there’s no pressure to write beautifully! There’s just writing wild words and being a horrible mulberry and enjoying getting to know your children.
YOUR SMOL CHARACTER SONS AND DAUGHTERS. BLESS THEM.
Plus you know how freeing it is to write badly?! It’s AWESOME. It’s fun and exciting and there is zero pressure. Enjoy this. (Editing is actual hell.)

Sticking with a 1st draft can be abominably hard. Especially if you’re aware of how horrendous your writing is. Trust me: I knooooooow. My first drafts are AWFUL.
The trick is to accept your first drafts are about as attractive as a moose — and to realise they’ll get better.
You must believe me now. When have I ever lied to you? (I mean there was that one time I promised you cake and then ate it all myself, but you can’t hold that against me. Move on, fiend. Forgive and forget and all that.) I AM ALWAYS THE TRUTH.
Good writing is rewriting.
I think that’s a quote from a famous person, actually. Or you can pretend it’s a brand new though from me because that’d also be fun.
There are several things I do to motivate myself. Which I’ll share with you, because I’m nice:
- I think about how much I want a career in writing and that ain’t happening UNLESS I SIT AND WRITE THIS BEAST. There’s no greater motivation for me than thinking that one day I could be an author.
- I remember that this book will be better after I rewrite it.
- I picture my book on the shelf and me being famous and all that stuff that will OBVIOUSLY HAPPEN.
- I excite myself by making pinterest storyboards. There is nothing like aesthetically pleasing conglomerations of pictures to make you think “WOAH MY BOOK IS ACTUALLY QUITE AWESOME.”
- I chat with a writing buddy while I draft. For some reason talking about it gets me more excited?!?
- I make sure I have epic scenes I’m specifically looking forward to: like an explosion or a huge plot twist reveal ~~or a super stabby scene~~. And I hype myself up for how fun they’re going to be to write.
- I REWARD MYSELF FOR ACHIEVING GOALS WITH FOOD, DANGIT, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETIMES.
Reward yourself! It’s a great motivator. Chocolate, for instance, or buying yourself a book or nice stationary, or conquering a small planet and crowning yourself Ruler Of All. Just go for the simple things that make you happy.
Also focus on your writing strengths. For me that’s dialogue. I have soooo much fun writing dialogue in my first drafts. My description sucks. My action scenes are horrendous. My world building is like a bunch of yogurt tubs taped together. BUT HEY, THAT DOESN’T MATTER, BECAUSE I WRITE SOME GREAT DIALOGUE AND ENJOY MYSELF. The rest comes later.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember writing can be enjoyable. But it can.
OH STOP IT.
There are fun parts about writing. Exploding doors. Riding dragons. Majestic hair flips.
Find the parts that make you happy to write and FOCUS ON THEM.
So much focus.
And don’t think your writing strengths are insignificant. Pfft. Lemme let you in on a little secret: half of writing is just faking you have confidence until you get into the habit of being confident. It totally works.
Also please don’t compare yourself to other writers. Is your name Mulgabill? No? Then don’t compare your process to Mulgabill’s.
Trust me, when you get to be an old gnarled writer (like I) you stop caring about other writers’ journeys and you just become a self-absorbed pineapple frond who only cares about yourself and your journey and your process. As it should be. 10/10 would recommend being narcissistic when it comes to your writing journey. You’ll be happier, trust me. I have scientific evidence (myself) to confirm this theory (you’re welcome).

THERE. Now go forth and write a very successful first draft of your glorious novel for NaNoWriMo.

Also, FYI, “successful” means “a finished novel”. That’s the total definition. If you don’t believe me look it up in any dictionary ever. Just remember: PLAN (!) SILENCE YOUR PERFECTIONISM (!) BE A MULBERRY (!) ENJOY YOUR WRITING STRENGTHS NO MATTER HOW SMALL THEY MIGHT SEEM (!!!)

Be writing the writing queen. Because your story is important and deserves to be told. *

* OMG THAT WAS SO SAPPY AND MOTIVATIONAL! AHH!! Aaaaand…I just ruined the moment, didn’t I? #MyBad

do you like writing first drafts?! (i actually love it because freeeeedom!!) or do you struggle to find motivation? do any of these magnificent tips seem helpful to you? what do you think is your writing strength (or what do you particularly enjoy) during first drafts??

10 Books Secretly By The Villain’s Perspective (Oh Be Still Your Dark Little Beating Heart Of Glee)

4th Oct 2016 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 180 Comments

It’s time to speak of my favourite topic of them all: VILLAINS.

Come settle down with a dark chocolate truffle cake and get comfy so we can have AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS TOGETHER OVER HOW MUCH WE LOVE VILLAINS AND HOW MILDLY CONCERNING THAT IS. But before I launch into my list of books that are actually (sneakily) by the perspective of villains, I want to explain why villains are my favourite. Because you’re totally curious. *

* And even if you’re not curious, guess what? YOU GET TO KNOW ALL THE REASONS ANYWAY because my #2 life skill is talking about dark-hearted cinnamon rolls. (My #1 life skill, by the way, is cake. Cake is a complete life skill.)

Their thought process is intensely intriguing. Like Tom Hiddleston said “Every villain is a hero in his own mind.” <– That right there? That is sucks me in. I love analysing how they think and their justification processes. Excuse me while I just flail over THE BRAIN.
Villains have complex plots. Well, there should be complexity and if there’s not the following consequences are (A) I am an angry grape of strife over wasted potential, (B) the villain is just a sneezing joke because no one wants paper plate villains. THIS IS NOT A PICNIC. Now back on topic — I adore the complexity of villains’ plots. Because it shouldn’t be “I woke up this evil mwahhah”…there should be reasons. My very very favourite is: doing evil to do good. BECAUSE THAT TWISTS YOUR BRAIN AND LOVE THAT.
Cookies from the dark side. Because dark chocolate is the best and OBVIOUSLY that’s what cookies from the dark side are made out of. I want.
The tortured tragic villains are, ultimately, my favourite. Excuse me while I become a puddle of squish in the face of a villain who never MEANT TO BE BAD but life was cruel to them. They need love. They need warm pretzels. Everything will be okay, slightly-psychopathic smol child.
And even if I hate the villain with the power of a thousand suns…I appreciate that. Like, make me feel things, mate. All the things. I want to rage against an unfair dark-souled-slightly-squinty Sauron too. Epic stories need epic villains.
I just adore morally grey stabby complex characters. Heroes, villains, innocent bystanders, a local cat — I don’t care, if they’re morally-grey, I just love ’em. Who wouldn’t??

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is, obviously, all about VILLAINS so let’s discuss evil that DOES NOT SLEEP. Also, I’m not going to sit here and call ALL VILLAINS adorable cinnamon rolls. Some I want to smack in the face. For instance: Voldemort is like the worst kind of burnt toast. * But I still have 938 questions about what made him like that and why. SEE? VILLAINS ARE INTRIGUING.

And things that make me curious = I love it.

Today’s post really focuses on the more anti-hero style villains, who are my favourites. I love tragic villains because they have elements of reedemableness ** in them. And that just makes them even more complex and interesting. And also just dark books are my favourite. #TrueStory

AND ALSO I JUST REALLY LIKE COOKIES, STABBINESS, AND THE DARK SIDE. ***

* Not true. UMBRIDGE IS THE WORST KIND OF BURNT TOAST.
Apparently this isn’t a word? #rude
* Oh, and also: yes I swear I’m a normal nice creature. I don’t get library fines. I wear matching socks. I clean my room and pet my dog. I mean, sometimes I talk about magnanimously taking over the world and reigning supreme as evil overlord dragon queen of all. But, you know. I can be whatever I want.

1. SIX OF CROWS DULOGY

[goodreads]

Deja vu? Wasn’t I just flailing over these books YESTERDAY? TRUE. I WAS. BUT HERE I AM TO FLAIL AGAIN BECAUSE INFINITE FLAILING IS NEEDED. (Sorry my all caps key got stuck…hahhhahahah. It totally didn’t. I’m just that obsessed with this series.) This is my favourite band of villainous misfits of EVER. Kaz is terrifying and tragic and a genius. All synonyms for “Cait Will Like This Book”. Plus Kaz is my favourite of villain because he can (A) be evil as the dark side of the moon, but (B) also has panic attacks and cannot talk to his crush because #anxiety.

Be still my darkly beating heart.

2. PRINCE OF THORNS

[goodreads]

This is actually an adult fantasy despite the protagonist being 14…because IT’S SERIOUSLY VERY DARK AND VIOLENT. And actually there is no way I like Jorg. He is evil. But the story is brilliant. So somehow that works?? But Jorg is Game of Thrones level despicable although he has occasional kind moments which are baffling to us all and his sass is on point.

3. ROCKS FALL EVERYONE DIES

[goodreads]

Okay but firstly: DARN YOU LIBRARY BOOKS AND YOUR SHINY WRAPPERS.

And now that that’s out of the way — I liked this one! I enjoyed it more in retrospect than while reading because Aspen is an A+ jerk. He has the magical ability to steal from people. Thoughts, ideas, feelings, motivations etc etc. And he manipulates a girl into being with him and he’s horrible to his friends and — oh wait. HE’S A VILLAIN. Technically his whole family is kind of villainous. So A++ for making me hate you and also be intrigued by the entire story, Aspen.

4. VICIOUS

[goodreads]

Because apparently all my lists must have SCHWAB ON THEM THESE DAYS. Vicious is a super-villain origin story and it’s so freaking brilliant I CANNOT EVEN. It features two villains and you’ll honestly not know who is the “right” side. They’re both awful. Everything is awful. Except for (A) the adorable little mostly dead girl, and (B) the huge brutish tech guy who likes chocolate milk.

I love this book. I LOVE THIS BOOK. I lost my sense somewhere along the line because one shouldn’t probably love villains as much as I do for this book. I’d be sorry? But I’m not.

5. CURSEWORKER TRILOGY

[goodreads]

CRIME !! FAMILIES !! That’s all I can say.

No wait. I can say more. Because this is magical realism with MAFIA and people who’s touch can curse you and a simply delightfully sassy sociopath protagonist whom I basically adore over all things. Cassel is actually downright scary at the end, but hey, he tries to be good and can honestly be a real sweetie. And then con you so bad. Lovely.

Did I mention CRIME FAMILIES?!?!?!

6. V IS FOR VILLAIN

[goodreads]

Surprise! This is a super-villain origin story. YOU DIDN’ SEE THAT COMING, HUH, HUH?? Anyway, despite it’s alternative title being C is for Cliche * I still think this is a fun story! I mean, I think I do??? It’s been 39 years since I read it. And I don’t even know what I ate for lunch yesterday, let alone what I read back in 2014. **

* SORRY I COULDN’T EVEN RESIST MAKING A BAD PUN HERE.
** 2014 was 2 years ago, not 39 years ago. But it’s only a slight difference and don’t get so hung up on the details omg.

7. HOW TO LEAD A LIFE OF CRIME

[goodreads]

I sooo need to re-read this because I remember LIKE NEXT TO NOTHING except for the fact it’s one of my favourite books ever. A school to turn you into a psychopath/sociopath??! With the protagonist being a tragic little cinnamon roll that is equal parts scary and adorable?? I CAN’T EVEN WITH THE LEVELS OF APPRECIATION HERE. *

* Fun Story: I bought my copy at a library sale and TORE THE COVER trying to get the stickers off. So you will only ever see the spine to hide my shame. Also this is not a fun story. Who said it was??? Who is writing this post because they are fired.

8. MY SISTER ROSA

[goodreads]

This is technically cheating because the story is from Chee’s perspective, but his little sister Rosa is the psychopath. BUT STILL. Chee does some thing that made me go “Um, but wait dude, you are eating cookies from the dark side yourself there” so onto the list it goes!

Plus I just needed a chance to flail because this book is downright brilliant. It’s diverse, it’s an Aussie author, it’s gloriously written, it’s kind of terrifying.

I am pleased.

9. AND I DARKEN

[goodreads]

Because the world needs a Vlad the Impaler retelling…GENDER BENT. Woooo for actually scary YA females! Lada will actually stab you in the face and was yelling “SMITE INFIDELS” from the age of, like, 2. You know she’s going to be fun at parties in the future.

By the way: I started off rating this book 3-stars, but now it’s like one of my top-read books of the year??! I just love it so much in retrospect that I WANT TO RE-READ. What is this dark wizardry.

10. HALF BAD TRILOGY

[goodreads]

And lastly WELCOME TO MY FAVOURITE TRAGIC WITCH STORY. This is fully a villain origin story, but it’s the “let’s do evil to do good” tale which melts me every time. Everyone is horrible to Nathan. He’s so abused and yet so precious and — fair warning — this series will STAB YOU IN THE FACE WITH FEELINGS. But it’s so so good. Plus it contains a fair amount of sass. Hey I’m sensing a pattern here…so many sassy villains??? *

* You know what this means, right?! I have my moments of glorious wit = ergo I’m obviously in the prime position to take over the world and eat it maliciously mwhaahhahh. Ahem.

obviously i must ask: do you often end up adoring the anti-heroes/villains/morally grey grapes in books?!? if you’re a villain-enthusiast: TELL ME YOUR FAVOURITES!! and please do recommend me any other villain-centred books because obviously I need more. (plus link me to your villainous TTT posts!)

How To Fabulously Get Started On #Bookstagram

16th Jul 2016 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 308 Comments

One of my favourite parts of book blogging is definitely #bookstagram.

“What is #bookstagram?” you might ask if you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t seen its wildfire takeover across the blogosphere. WELL. I will explain all.

#Bookstagram = Instagram for books.

Most people with instagram accounts like to post pictures of their food, their children, their selfies, the poltergeist in their bathroom, their coffee, their engagement ring, or new car they just bought or…BASICALLY THEIR LIFE. When it comes to bookstagram…we bookworms are also posting about our lives. It just happens to be 100% books.

Today I shall guide you throw how to kick start your #bookstagram obsession.

Because you probably don’t have enough to do already. And it’s also super fun and you don’t want to miss out on how fun this is. Trust me. I know everything. But before we dive in, feel free to follow me @paperfury…just sayin’. I’m friendly and probably won’t eat you.

EDIT NOTE: This post has been updated November 2018.

SIGNING UP

This part is rather obvious. But hey I’ll say it anyway. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The only tricky part here is that you must have a smartphone (or an iPod touch or iPad) to actually be able to use the app. It is not available on the computer. I AGREE THAT THIS SUCKS. Someone talk to instagram. Make them change their ways and threaten them a little with dragons and the promise of a life with no snacks if they don’t comply.

Moving forward.

PRO TIPS:

Pick a username that matches your blog. Or your name. IF YOU CAN. Obviously the user name you like might already be taken and you’ll have to be creative. But shortness is key. If your user name is Books-Are-My-Best-Friends-In-All-The-World-Of-Ever-I-Love-Them-So … I will 100% die. Try to keep your name to two or three words. Making it match your blog is super handy, too, because it makes you easier to find. FOR INSTANCE: I am @paperfury absolutely everywhere.
Writing bios is HARD. And don’t look at mine, it’s atrocious. But maybe put 4 or 5 words about yourself. Ideas include maybe your country, your age, your favourite cake, your favourite author, your hobbies. Make it brief. Mine also includes my book title since i’m an author.
Add a link to your blog. You only get to have one link, unless you use something like linktree, which I thoroughly recommend because then you can use a whole stack of links and truly live again.

USING THE RIGHT CAMERA

People assume you have to have DSLR. You do not! You can affably use an iPhone camera. But I will say — the better the quality, the more people are going to like your shots. If you take grainy photos…..eh.

However I do have DSLR and it’s a Nikon D3200 and I only ever use automatic BECAUSE I KNOW NOTHING, JON SNOW. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Yet I still get pretty far, so there you go.

Anyway. Feel free to use whatever camera you have on hand. If you have a relative/friend with a nice camera, steal from them too. I stole from my parents for about 6 months before buying my own camera.

THE AESTHETIC

“What the mangled monkey does that even mean anyway????” you grumble because now I’m just getting pretentiously complicated with this tutorial. BUT KEEP YOUR POLKA DOT SOCKS ON. I shall explain.

Actually I’m going to screenshot a dictionary. Ha.

Basically “aesthetic” on bookstagram relates to how you want your feed to look. Is your aesthetic consistent? Do you automatically know who’s photo that is when you see it? Does your feed match? Is your feed aesthetic black and white…super colourful…a consistent background???? Etc. Etc.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

(They’re totally not frequently asked…but they could be. I’m being organised just in case.)

DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONSISTENT FEED? No you don’t. You can do whatever the heck you want because guess what….it’s your bookstagram.
WILL A CONSISTENT FEED GET ME MORE FOLLOWERS? I personally noticed a huge increase in my followers when I started trying to get a theme going.
HOW DO I GET A NICE BOOKSTAGRAM AESTHETIC? You take photos. They don’t have to be identical. But you work with patterns. For instance: my theme is cluttered and colourful. Someone else might be simplistic. Someone else might take 90% of their photos outside.
CAN I STILL POST PICTURES OF MY DOG ON THERE? Aren’t you listening, dangit? YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. But. Be ye aware that often people follow accounts that look visually pleasing all the time. If you want to grow your account, make sure it’s like 98% books and 2% your dog. Or better yet, put a book on your dog’s head. That works.

THE PROPS

Props are a scary thing because WHERE DO YOU GET GOOD ONES FROM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SPEND $89093840 DOLLARS?

Calm down. I’ve got you covered.

You don’t have to spend money on your #bookstagram account if you don’t want to! After all those books are downright expensive by themselves. Another PRO TIP is to use what you already have about your house.

FREE OR CHEAP PROP IDEAS:

ORIGAMI. I am an origami lover. I frequently use lucky stars and kusudama balls and paper cranes in my photos. Which anyone can make! Better yet, get that old ARC you don’t want, cut it up, and turn it into art. VOILA. Genius. Or, to be even more of a genius, you can hop over to my Etsy store and I WILL MAKE THEM FOR YOU. (Support me. I’m poor.)
YOUR BOOKSHELF. It makes a grand backdrop. Especially if it’s organised. Go do that.
FAKE WOODEN PHOTOGRAPHY MATS. Okay, I have a love/hate relationship with mine. It was $7 off ebay…which is really not a lot. Mine is basically a sheet of material that looks like white floorboards. The problem is…it scrunches and looks like material. I assume you can get expensive, better quality, ones that don’t do this. But have we met? My name is Scrooge. (EDIT 2018: I actually ended up drawing my own rainbow mat! Not super cheap once I used up 50 million pens, but very pleasing to behold and helped keep my theme cohesive.)
PAGES OF THINGS. I use ripped out pages of a very old, browned book. I also use atlas pages and scrapbooking pages. (Remember how I run that etsy store? I have a lot of pretty paper lying around.) If you don’t have anything on hand, may I suggest a thrift-store? Or 2nd hand store? I buy atlases for around $3 each and often get my books free because they’re old and spotty and no one else wants them. (THANK YOU LIBRARY.)
MUGS. This is super easy. Every house has mugs.
ART SUPPLIES. Like me you might not be an artist at all. Also like me, maybe someone else in your family is. Steal from them. They’ll understand it’s books before bros. I also use old tins/cans that I’ve saved from cooking, let go a little rusty, and then fill with pencils. BECAUSE AESTHETIC. I also have a lot of Bic markers, which are fake sharpies. They look fabulous in photos.
RANDOM THINGS ABOUT YOUR HOUSE. Honestly just trawl your house and nab stuff. My mother keeps peacock feathers. I found a wooden little elephant in the cupboard. I found hessian sacking too. SCORE. Pretty plates? Knick-nacks? Buttons? Jewellery? Skull bones? Old photos? Food? Musical instruments? ALL CAN BE USED.
FLOWERS: Fake flowers are best, but also keep an eye out for other people’s abandoned bouquets. I tell you Valentine’s day is a fabulous time. You can also get wildflowers from florists that last a long time because they dry out instead of die. That’s what I have…although they shed like nothing else omg.
YOURSELF. Your face, your hands, your feet. Kidnap a child and make them pose too.
PLAIN WHITE BACKGROUND: I bought a small piece of white cardboard from a Newsagency. (What is that in American language? An art store? IDEK.) It was like $1.

THE PHOTOS

**Now how do you actually take the photos?**

This is an excellent and mysterious question, my fiends, and I will actually not give you many tips because, like I mentioned, I KNOW NOTHING.

But here are some general guidelines I’ve acquired during my short #bookstagram career. (I’ve been going for about 1.5 years, I believe.)

NATURAL LIGHTING. Everyone says this…but what does it mean??? Take your photos near a window. Don’t use flash. Don’t take your photos at 5pm in the afternoon.
FLAT-LAYS VS ANGLES. Why can’t we have both? I do a lot of flaylays (the camera is directly above the book arrangement) but angles are fun too.
FIGURE OUT YOUR STYLE. This will help you know how you want the photos to turn out. Do you want a messy throw-everything-in-there style? Will your photo just display the book? Are you using a backdrop or taking them on your bed or by a wall or with your bookshelf in the background?
BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. What’s in the back of your photo? Your messy kitchen? Are you taking the photo on your kitchen table? IS IT CLEAN? Are you taking it with a window directly in the background? It’ll probably be too bright and washed-out-looking. Are you taking it outside? NOT IN FRONT OF THAT SCRAPPY BUSH. MOVE TO YOUR LEFT.
DON’T COPY OTHER’S STYLES TOO CLOSELY. I mean duh. But this needs to be said REPEATEDLY because it really sucks to have your style stolen! Trust me! Be inspired by other people, but don’t copy exactly.

EDITING YOUR PHOTOS

I’ve discovered that most bookstagrammers don’t edit their photos. WHICH IS COMPLETELY FINE. But I am a perfectionist and editing is where my photos actually turn out…nice. (Plus I use my DSLR and don’t have a phone, so I have to send the photos to my iPod anyway. I might as well edit them before that.)

I’ve done a tutorial on how I edit my photos here.

But the basic idea is (A) make it brighter, (B) sharpen it up so it’s really cripsy like a bacon sandwich, (C) crop out anything unsavoury…like my feet which always end up in there, and (D) add a watermark.

NOTE: Watermarks are, of course, very optional. I use them because my photos constantly get stolen. Or “reposted”…but the person reposting says NOTHING ABOUT THE FACT IT’S MY PHOTO IN THEIR CAPTION. They just tag me for goodness knows what reason. So I can see they’re using my photo like their own??? HELP ME CONTAIN MY DRAGONISH WRATH. Ahem. So use watermarks if you want. Or don’t.

THE HASHTAGS

What’s a hashtag? It’s a GLORIOUS way for people to find your photos. I just click on #bookstagram and thousands of photos and accounts will come up for me to browse. Do not underestimate these!! People browse them all the time, and if you want new followers — HASHTAG IT, FIENDS.

Here are some common hashtags you could use: #bookstagram #bookworm #bookphotography #bibliophile #booklover #bookaddict #instareads #book #bookblogger #instabook #reader #bookish #bookgram #beautifulbooks #reading #booktag #prettybooks #coverlove

Make sure you ONLY hashtag what’s in the photo though, okay? It’s super annoying to be looking at #bibliophile and be bombarded with selfies of humans outside admiring their toenails or whatever. I mean. C’mon.

2018 EDIT UPDATE: I’ve since learned that you can use 30 hashtags, but it’s better to use maybe 10? And many hashtags are shadowbanned. You can check and see if your photos/hashtags are being shadowbanned on this site. Which is helpful ya. But use a few big ones (like #bookstagram and #booksofig) and then a few specific ones depending on your photos (like the book’s title or #anticipatedTBR or #bookishfonts or something).

CHALLENGES

Up until a few months ago I had NO IDEA HOW TO DO CHALLENGES. But holy cake crumbs they’re fun. They’re also inspiring when you don’t know what to take photos of!

What the heck is a “challenge”? WELL. A blogger will host it and give you a list of prompts for every day in the month! You can interpret them as you like and join in the challenge’s hashtag. For example I’ve been doing the #RFABJuly16 hosted by my glorious friend Charnell @ Reviews From a Bookworm! I make sure to tag my photo so it shows up in the challenge list LIKE SO:

Honestly challenges are great for inspiration. When it’s Day 13 and it’s “book and snack”? I GOT THIS.

I like to hang out on @bookstagramchallenges to see what upcoming challenges are happening!

PRO TIPS

Just some more random #ProTips from your FAVOURITE PERSON IN THE WORLD. (Spoiler: that’s me.)

You’ll get more likes if people recognise the books in the photos.
I also notice I get more likes when there’s multiple books in my photos. So lines of books, stacks of books, towers of books — ALL THE BOOKS.
Build things with your books! Build towers, chevrons, windows, hearts, circles, squares, mazes, etc etc. SO MANY OPTIONS.
Like and comment on people’s photos. INTERACTION IS GRAND.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what your “style” is! Just keep taking photos and it’ll come to you. And you do not have to have a consistent theme if you don’t want.
If you don’t own many books, take photos of your ebooks with your ereader! Use your library! (Although those shiny library jackets are THE PAINEST OF PAINS.) And take photos of the same books. Pfft, have you seen my feed?!? It’s 87% Maggie Stiefvater and I have no regrets.
Write interesting or fun captions!
Post consistently! I post 1 to 2 times a day. You don’t have to post everyday, but I’ve noticed it definitely boosts the follower count if you do.
Instagram hates allowing paragraph gaps in your captions…WHICH IS JUST SO RUDE. But if you type your caption in your Notes App, this should help. I also put lots of dots (like so: ••• ) because that helps keep the paragraph gap too. DON’T ASK ME WHY.

INSPIRATION

Before I wrap up this gargantuanly mammoth post…I want to give a shout out to some of my favourite #bookstagram accounts!

Plus this’ll help you know who you should be following. AND will give you inspiration! AND LET’S JUST ADMIRE PRETTY BOOKISH PHOTOS, OKAY?!?! Okay.

@theloonytuney

@aenteereads

@myfriendsarefiction

@therusticwindow

@jenniferwindram

@thedarkestpartsofsnow

Aaand…I’d like to mention the other 147 accounts I follow, but I shall RESIST. (For now.) (You can always go stalk who I follow on my instagram page.) (It would be a good life decision FYI.)

ALSO SOME OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE…

SO THERE YOU ARE! GO START YOUR #BOOKSTAGRAM ACCOUNT!

And hopefully you aren’t too entirely overwhelmed by all of this. But seriously — baby steps. It’s not hard! Just take photos of books and post them, basically, and enjoy yourself. Super easy.

If you’re really serious about your account and want to, like, become rich and famous (good luck with that, by the by) then utilise hashtags and network by commenting and liking other photos. Or else just have fun with this!

BECAUSE WHAT TRULY IS AS GLORIOUS AS THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS OF PRETTY BOOKS???? It’s honestly a dream come true. Oh, excuse me. I need to run away and marry bookish photos. Goodbye.

**do you have a bookstagram account?! do you have any beginner’s tips you can add to my list??? LET US HELP THE NEWBIES! if you haven’t started taking bookish photos…do you want to?!?**

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C.G. @ Paper Fury

If I could only list two things I’m very very proud of, they would be: (1) my ability to forget a character’s name 3 seconds after I read it, and (2) my entire bookshelf.

2014

2015

2016

2017

HOW MANY BOOKS DO YOU OWN:

WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR BOOKS FROM:

WAIT, SO CAIT, YOU ARE NOT AN EXTREMELY RICH PERSON?

BUT YOUR SHELVES ARE COLOUR-CODED…HOW DO YOU FIND ANYTHING????

DO YOU SPLIT UP SERIES?

While we’re here, I might as well walk you around my evil lair too.

So first you walk into my room and are greeted with:

This is my new TINY shelf! Which is like two shelves in a trench coat.

Now this is the top and other (less pretty) side of my bookshelf.

And lastly, these are my hardcover shelves…which I…um…stole… from my sister that one time.

#1 = SITTING ON THE FLOOR

#2 = A TINY SQUARE OF FLOOR

#3 = MY ACTUAL GENERAL BED

1. LASTEST BOOKS YOU ACQUIRED.

2. BOOK SERIES YOU WISH YOU HADN’T TRIED.

3. BOOK YOU DIDN’T THINK YOU’D LIKE BUT YOU DID!

4. FAVOURITE COVERS YOU OWN.

5. LAST BOOKS YOU’VE READ LATELY.

And because you shouldn’t have to put up with a post from me without A PUPPY PICTURE…here’s my dog, Atticus.

And thus concludes my bookshelf tour!

tell me about your bookshelf! do you have the shelf of your dreams? how do you organise it? (pls tell me there are some other rainbows out there???) also while we’re here, tell me what you’re currently reading!!

It’s that time of year when many of us plan to write a book because we hate ourselves.

* LOL.

OTHER WRITING POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

1. YOU’RE WRITING A FIRST DRAFT, NOT A POLISHED MANUSCRIPT.

2. NO CLUE WHAT THE HECK YOU’RE SAYING IN THAT SCENE? JUST KEEP WRITING IN CIRCLES TILL YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

3. DON’T BE SCARED TO MAKE HUGE CHANGES MID-DRAFT.

4. SMACKED IN THE FACE WITH JEALOUSY OVER SOMEONE ELSE’S SUCCESS? UNPACK THE REASONS WHY.

Mate, it literally matters 0% how you get to the end of a book.

5. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS JUST KILL OFF YOUR CHARACTERS.

6. IF YOUR SCENES ARE TOO SHORT, TRY FLESHING OUT WHAT’S ALREADY HAPPENING.

7. BUY A REALLY COOL WRITERS MUG AND KEEP IT NEARBY FOR COFFEE OR TO CATCH YOUR TEARS.

8. TREAT YOUR WRITING AS SOMETHING IMPORTANT, NOT AS THAT “OH THIS HOBBY WILL NEVER GO ANYWHERE” THING.

HERE ARE SOME THINGS I NEVER WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY TO YOURSELF:

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD SAY INSTEAD:

I’m not even joking, it took me till my 21st manuscript to be unashamedly proud of every word I write.

* She has an umbrella and raincoat for these days so she’s cool with it. ** BAM HIT ‘EM WITH THE SELF-PROMO AGAIN. PEOPLES, I SWEAR I JUST CAN’T SHUT UP ABOUT IT. *** Juuuuust kidding. I think. Please don’t look in my freezer.

9. TAKE TIME OFF IF YOU CAN AND TELL YOUR FAMILY YOU’RE DEAD TO THEM.

Make sacrifices. Writing is important.

10. DO THE BULK OF YOUR WRITING WITHOUT ACTUALLY WRITING A THING.

RIGHT. YOU ARE SO PREPARED YOU ARE BASICALLY A PEAR.

anyone freaked for NaNoWriMo (WHICH STARTS SO SOON?!) tell me what’s MOST exciting you about your story?? do you let yourself write messy 1st drafts? and importantly: do you talk yourself down or do you take pride in your writing?? <— makes a world of difference

I have simply extraordinarily delicious news for you today because, HI, my debut novel is BEING PUBLISHED.

I’m so freaking proud to announce my first novel, A Thousand Perfect Notes, is coming June 2018 with Orchard / Hachette Children’s Books!

I have worked so so long for this and I’M SO HAPPY TO FINALLY SHARE THE NEWS WITH YOU.

JUNE 2018, OKAY NOW.

i love turning discussions back to you but this is such a flail post…so JUST BEAR WITH ME. if you’re a writer tell me what your sparkly author dreams look like! (my #1 is to walk into a bookstore and see my book) and if you have any advice for authoring + blogging, DO let me know!!

If you want to learn how to write a novel outline, then WELL DONE. You’re at the right place.

Now obviously there are many ways to go about writing a novel.

OTHER WRITING POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE

THE MOVIE TRANSCRIPTION PUZZLE BOX

FIRST I COME UP WITH THE PREMISE OF MY STORY.

* Look I know this is true. My mum told me so when I was little and reenacted the fall of the Roman empire with my dolls.

NOW I FIGURE OUT THE PITCH OF MY STORY.

WORK ON YOUR CHARACTERS UNTILL THEY’RE CUTE BUT HOT MESSES.

* So I literally just wrote “25+” because I have no freaking clue how many books I’ve written?????

OKAY SO I GOTCHA PREMISE + CHARACTERS…NOW I NEED TO MAKE STUFF HAPPEN.

“OK, Cait,” you say while firing up the oven because I brought it up so why not, “but how do I come up with the ideas???”

GET STUCK AT LEAST 54 TIMES.

That’s how I write so fast. Because I do the bulk of my “writing” without ever touching my laptop.

By this point I’ve imagined up a lot of scenes. And I haven’t a heckin’ clue where they go.

IT’S TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE!

So the first thing I do is open up Scrivener and cry over it because it’s beautiful.

A SMOL WORD ABOUT THE RESEARCH:

THIS IS FIRST DRAFT STUFF. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE CUTE TRASH.

BOOOOYAH. I write out my outline in bullet point lists.

My outlines look like this:

EXAMPLES OF SOME OF MY OUTLINE SKILLS:

You sit back and realise you are PREPARED.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS TOUR OF MY MIND.

tell me about your writing-prep process? do you outline? do you find detailed outlines crush creativity or enhance it? and how do you figure out your ideas?!? is it more decision or inspiration for you?

My eyeballs are quite fond of the delicacy that is unique formatting in books.

* Unless they are a paperback??? And they they aren’t going to stand. They’re going to flop around like a spineless eggplant and need life long assistance. Reason #9289 why hardcovers are better. ** I’M ALSO GASTON BECAUSE WHY DOESN’T THE BOOK HAVE PICTURES IN IT???????

* She has an umbrella and raincoat for these days so she’s cool with it.
BAM HIT ‘EM WITH THE SELF-PROMO AGAIN. PEOPLES, I SWEAR I JUST CAN’T SHUT UP ABOUT IT.
* Juuuuust kidding. I think. Please don’t look in my freezer.

**I have simply extraordinarily delicious news for you today because, HI, my debut novel is BEING PUBLISHED.**

* Unless they are a paperback??? And they they aren’t going to stand. They’re going to flop around like a spineless eggplant and need life long assistance. Reason #9289 why hardcovers are better.
** I’M ALSO GASTON BECAUSE WHY DOESN’T THE BOOK HAVE PICTURES IN IT???????

* I use footnotes only rarely.
** This is a word. And if not, when I rule the world officially, it’ll be a word so best prepare your dictionaries now.

**Now I know I’m super annoying but…I FINISHED NANOWRIMO IN 3 DAYS.**

* Wait. That is scary.
** And some of us have less than that after NaNoWriMo. But yet we remain! Go us!

**Writing can be mildly terrifying…particularly if it’s a first draft.**