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10 Tips To Win NaNoWriMo (Dark Magic Not Required! But Encouraged)

by 67 Comments

With NaNoWriMo slinking around the corner, many of us are saying quietly to ourselves…

“Oh no.”

There’s nothing like writing 50,000-words in a month to both fill you with anticipation and dread, basically DREADTATION. It feels so so good to complete NaNoWriMo, to finish a book, to conquer a challenge. But actually doing the writing part of it? That’s really really hard. Not impossible, but really [pauses to cry] really hard.

If you aren’t familiar with NaNoWriMo, definitely check out their website. But basically it’s a challenge. It’s like a challenge to drink 3 litres of water a day. The reward for that is you’re hydrated. The reward for NaNo is you’ve finished a book and you’re so sleep deprived you accidentally did a blood sacrifice with your neighbour to finish on time. (KIDDING!!! You totally would not…do…that…)

You only have to write the 1,700 words a day, which isn’t that much. You just have to know what to write everyday, which sometimes is rather hard.

This will be my 6th year of NaNo, and that’s not a streak I can break (obviously, c’mon, I am a Slytherin), but I confess that I am actually feeling underprepared this year. Probably because I have not prepared. But let’s stuff that little reality in the corner and look at it later. The fact is: I have done FIVE years of NaNoWriMo and won each time. My best time was finishing in 2 days. My most ridiculous/stupid time was cram-writing in the last week after having been away for a month. And my most exhausting time was launching in after I’d just finished a massive intensive rewrite on an epic fantasy on a deadline — my brain was MUSH. That NaNo was…a mess. But hey! I still won.

I love doing NaNo and knowing thousands of people are writing every day and spinning magic into the midnight sky. Worldwide WRITING CLUB. 🙌🏻

Also did you know my novel that came out this year with Hachette UK (The Boy Who Steals Houses) was my 2016 NaNoWriMo project!?? So SEE. Anything is possible.

But in case the idea of writing 50K in a month is making you feel like you have a swarm of anxious bees in your mouth, I thought that I would…

give you some tips to win NaNoWriMo and finish your book in a month!

You’ve got this. 😌🙌🏻 Also feel free to add me as a buddy!

other posts you might find helpful…

💬 How To Write a Successful First Draft
💬 How To Win NaNoWriMo in 3 Days
💬 How To Stay Motivated While Writing Your Book

1. remind yourself that you’re writing a first draft

So it can suck! Did you hear me? FIRST DRAFTS CAN SUCK. They !!! are globally known !!! to be awful !!! And even if you write clean drafts (which is fine, I’ve started focusing more on this myself, but it takes me way longer to write a draft), the point still is to keep moving forward and get the draft done. Think of your first draft like a skeleton.

NaNo is for just digging the bones out of their gnarly grave and doing a little dark magic.

#SpookySeasonReference

2. take yourself seriously

And by this I mean 👀 don’t act like it’s not a big deal that you want to write a book. It is a big deal. It’s special and important. I can be wholly hard to carve out time (especially with school and family and work commitments), but snatch your times and make them sacred.

And seriously, get off twitter. Take yourSELF seriously means prioritising what you WANT. And you want the draft.

3. plan your time

Put aside time. Legit, wrestle it out of the darkness and claim it as your own. You only have 1 hour to write? Make it count. And try not to leave writing 2K to the 20mins before bed, because…I don’t know. Do you want to die? Do you? 🤨

4. plan your book

Even if you’re not a plotter, it’s still helpful to go in with SOME sort of plan. Look, you don’t have time for writer’s block and you don’t have time to restart your book 40 x while trying to find the right scene. Even if you just write a bullet-point list of things that need to happen, your characters’ goals, and a rough idea of the ending.

If you’re going to hurl yourself screaming into a novel on a deadline — then KNOW where you’re going!!!

💬 How To Outline Your Novel (Without Biting Your Own Head off)

5. write your book’s blurb first

This is my favourite cheat-tip 🤗So many people say to me “um, summarising my 80K novel into 3 paragraph is too hard”. Okay so: write 3 paragraphs and then summarise them in an 80K novel. Do the blurb FIRST. (Or query, or synopsis. Whatever fits for you.)

Also this is a great way to know if your book sounds unique and hooky enough. If you can’t write a blurb that makes your soul ignite — then your premise probably needs more work! You can plot it better now, before you’ve written it. And then you don’t have to rewrite so deeply later.

6. have you got your panic buddy!!!

Some people have writing buddies, but!!! The true term is: PANIC BUDDY. And you need one.

“oh but c.g. i don’t have friends,” you say in a small voice.

Eh, neither did I when I started blogging and writing. You make them. There are forums on NaNoWriMo’s website, or you can use twitter hashtags, or follow along with Instagrammers. Start conversations. Be friendly. Support others. Seriously, YOU can be the one who is friendly too. You don’t have to wait for friends to come to you — this is advice from someone with social anxiety!!! The internet makes friendship easier for some reason!!! Less eye-contact and you can answer messages when you’re ready, not before. 😌 SMART.

Also just give updates. I will be nattering away on my Stories on Instagram, because it’s rather motivating to talk about your own progress. You feel seen. But blog, tweet. Whatever it takes to keep you motivated.

7. take pride writing what you’re good at

Look we all have our writing strengths. Description. Incredibly imaginative worlds. Character banter. Emotional scenes. Action. Whatever it is! LEAN into it. Write the scenes you’re not good at and leave them. Then focus on the thrill of writing the parts you ARE good at. (You can fix the messy things all later.)

Getting through NaNo is about not feeling like piece of soggy bread. So cheer yourself on and revel in your strengths.

8. let your story evolve as you write

One of my personal biggest problems with writing a first draft is that, about 20,000 words in — I’ll always get a dash of sudden inspiration. Sometimes this derails my whole outline and I hate everything (mostly myself). But sometimes it’s just a smaller thing. The villain should have been younger. The book should’ve been set by the sea. I don’t need three characters were two could go. Etc. Etc.

The instant reaction is: oh no I have to start again.

But you don’t.

Just keep writing from where you are, implementing the changes NOW. This way you’re not wasting time writing an old villain when you know it needs to be a young villain. You can fix the first 20K in edits. It honestly doesn’t matter if your book’s beginning doesn’t match the ending right now. Let it be a tattered jacket with elbow patches. Seriously, work with your story and your muse, not against it.

9. don’t self-sabotage

Stop telling yourself you can’t do this!! I will quietly shake you, just a little, and remind you that you are NOT an “aspiring writer” and your writing isn’t “a total garbage fire” and you are not a “dead eyed llama stuffed into a trench coat”. (I mean MAYBE the last one is true, fine. I won’t judge.)

But don’t talk yourself out of writing your book. This is my #2 favourite hobby. My #1 favourite hobby is, of course, deciding my story is unimportant and nooooo one will ever want to read it. Then I move onto deciding I’ll never write it well enough. JUST 🗣STOP 🗣THAT.

It’s a lie, and you know it. Your story is important and you don’t have to get it “right” instantly.

10. write by not writing

And I cannot stress this enough…but I do my best writing when I’m NOT writing. 😂 I literally will get up for a glass of water, and think of a much better way to write a scene. I plan out all my scenes when I go for an afternoon walk. Or sometimes I lie on my bed daydreaming (fine, sometimes it turns into a nap; but other times it’s work.)

If you want to have a very fruitful and productive writing session: KNOW what you’re going to write before you sit down!!

Mentally go through a scene like a movie in your head before you write it (even if it’s just one scene a day!). Let it morph as you go. Give yourself a plan but also be flexible. Writing becomes so much easier then. 😌

| what do you say? |

hellooooo tell me who is doing NaNoWriMo this year? give me a hint on what your book’s about? do you have any other tips to share for those writing a novel in a month?

 

Pantser Vs Plotter | Which Is The Best Way To Write Your Book?!

by 31 Comments

When it comes to being a writer, you’re usually a “pantser” or a “plotter”.

Or you can throw your papers defiantly in the air and refuse both titles and be a “plantser”, which means you have the best and worst of both worlds. And you cry a lot. But don’t we ALL.

The whole pantsing vs plotting debate is usually conducted as a small war amongst writers. You either fervently hate the idea of being boxed in by an outline; you need freedom to let your characters roam and inspiration gnaw at your bones and guide your pen. Or you want organisation, outlines, firm goals, and books you can foreshadow and set up plot twists.

Both are valid. Both will, as we’ve already established, make you cry.

I am a hardcore plotter. I know this. But do you know what I’ve been doing lately?

Yes. I’ve been pantsing.😑 (If you hear a dull thunking sound, oh nevermind, that’s just ME banging my head against the floor.) I thrive with outlines. I usually write ones that are 22,000 words long and basically a Draft Zero or a “script” where later I’ll come back and properly fill in the gaps. Outlining allows me to write fast, fierce, and free. 30K in a day? We gotcha. It’s a roadmap. It’s controlled. I don’t get writer’s block. I know what happens next (something that’s incredibly important to me).

“Ok c.g.,” you say, tossing a corn chip into your mouth, “you’ve made a pretty good case for your love of plotting. are you going to just reminisce pitifully or tell us why you and your outlines divorced?”

Oh mEGHUSGH I am going through a hard time with this break up, I swear.

I’ve had really bad writer’s block for a long time.

And when you get stuck, my top advice is always: shake up what you’re doing. I couldn’t plot. I couldn’t move forward. I couldn’t see the story I needed to tell. So I decided to just force myself to write, to get back into it.

I still plot. The plotting is just 99% in my head and 1% on a sticky note that says “DO NOT FORGET THE KNIFE SCENE” which, ya know, in 3 weeks I will yell at myself for not being more specific about that. I imagine my scenes before I write them. I’m a plotter deep in my soul. But I’ve been pansting so so much of my books and it’s stressed me out SO SO MUCH…

…and I’ve also written one of my best works this year because of it.

You know what? My opinion is 😒 @ myself at this point.

However it leads me to analyse…

which is better? pantsing vs plotting

There’s never going to be a definitive answer for this, but I want to list the pros and cons I’ve experienced while doing both! And yes…these are pros and cons for me, just me. 🤗

PROS

  • It was definitely helped shake me out of a funk where I “couldn’t write” unless I knew 100% of my story. And since my creativity had been misfiring…I just wasn’t starting at all.
  • Look, you DO surprise yourself and it is quite exciting.
  • It feels more relaxed in a way, because if you change something in the spare of the moment, you don’t destroy a 20,000-word outline you just spent a month writing.
  • I’ve come up with some fiercely brilliant things that I had NOT planned until I let the characters dictate the story. I am proud okay. This rebel-plotter is proud.

CONS

  • There are times when your character drops a “big plot twist reveal” and the secondary characters gasp! And you gasp! None of us KNEW. This is a surprise 🗣for us 🗣all 🗣. And while it makes for some dramatic twists, my main opinion is always: “What the actual frickity frack am I doing next.”
  • Getting stuck. Having no idea what to do next. Panicking, just a little.
  • When things aren’t well thought through, you can get to the middle of a manuscript and realise you need to rewrite the whole. freaking. thing.
  • You just have no idea what is coming up. Could be death, marriage, taxes. I don’t even know. 😑

PROS

  • Way way less writer’s block when drafting.
  • You can write cleaner drafts because you don’t write yourself into black inescapable holes.
  • FORESHADOWING!!! It’s much easier to pull off succinctly if you know 100% what is going to happen.
  • For me, there’s always a calmness into delving into a draft you know how to end. You can organise your characters’ themes, motivations, and arcs brilliantly ahead of time.
  • You can do those Walls of Crazy. Hush this is a Big Aesthetic pro.
  • It’s easier to write a blurb or synopsis before hand.
  • If you’re a traditionally published author, or working with an agent, it’s handy to pitch them a solid synopsis BEFORE you begin writing, therefore saving time in case they reject it.
  • “Plotter” just sounds better than “pantser”. I mean bold of whoever invented that term to think we are wearing pants.

CONS

  • For me? Absolute procrastination: if I can’t get the outline “right”, then I won’t write at all.
  • It can be so galling to write a whole intense outline and then…divert from it and have it be a wasted wreck. It’s even worse than finding a very old, forgotten zucchini in the back of your fridge.
  • So much “Pre-writing”, it feels like you’ll never start.
  • I never felt boxed in by my outlines or left without “room for inspiration”, but lately I’d been getting better ideas while I wrote, instead of before I wrote. Again, so much wasted work for these intense outlines.
  • I still got writer’s block so what then!!!!!! is the point of all things, Samwise!!!!!
  • It started feeling like a chore. My heart is sore. I used to crave the feeling of plotting. I’d basically be bored of writing before I got to the actual writing part.

It’s hard to let yourself change methods when you write. It’s hard to feel brave enough to experiment.

I’m letting myself recover from a very deep depression spiral, which left me unable to write effectively for nearly 2 years. I’ve got a lot of stage-fright to unpack from being published (it is my dream!!! but also affected me in ways I didn’t anticipate!!!). Despite loving plotting and knowing it was MY method: my writing wasn’t working.

Pantsing isn’t a cure-all for me either. I just wrote 30K of a draft I need to now rewrite from scratch. And quite honestly, I still plot out every scene mentally and know where my characters are going for at least that chapter. I’m also generally working off old/discarded drafts. So I’m knitting together a thousand threads in my head, not starting each day with no idea what might happen on my keyboard.

(I know exactly what’s going to happen to my keyboard. BROWNIE CRUMBS AND TEARS.)

My ultimate and professional opinion on plotting vs pantsing is: they both suck.

And they both work. 😂I know which makes me calmer (plotting) and I know which has been working for me lately (pantsing) and I know which one I can’t spell (continually, this whole post, I’ve been typing it panster).

It’s possible writing is just annoying, fulfilling, frustrating, and incredibly rewarding. All of them. Why, world. I’m exhausted.

| what do you say? |

I’d love to know if you’re a plotter vs pantser? have you tried both? do you change your traditional routine if you get stuck?

 

How To Stay Motivated When Writing Your Book

by 83 Comments

In a shocking turn of events, writing is very hard and it is a lot easier to take a nap.

And look, I’m admitting this when I’ve written 30-full-length novel drafts, had 2 books published by Hachette, and am neck-deep in currently editing a draft that is 100,000-words long. I write a lot and it is, still, very hard.

“c.g., listen,” you say seriously between bites of toast because I always mention food on this blog so you’re getting a headstart, “you are doing a very terrible job at talking about motivation.”

I am terrible. 😌 But I have only just begun, so sit tight.

I get asked a lot “how do you stay motivated to write?” and it is a valuable question that I think about a lot, but usually answer very badly.

“Uhh, I just do?”

Not particularly helpful.

The truth is: I want to be an author, and that want usually outweighs my need to merge languidly with the carpet. But there are still a lot of smaller things that all tie into my need (and want) to keep myself motivated to write. Because a lot of the time my #1 thought is: “I DON’T WANNA.”

So I thought it would be most helpful to list them for you and maybe you’ll find a trick or two that will give you that extra motivating shove.

And if it doesn’t, let me know and I’ll give you a shove 🤗 off a small cliff hehe

➢ treat writing like a job

I do have the absolute privilege (backed with an intense 10 years of unpaid hard work) of being a published author. I can walk into a bookstore and pick A Thousand Perfect Notes and The Boy Who Steals Houses off the shelf because I finished them. THAT is motivating.

But ok ok, say you haven’t gotten there yet. You’re a green author and don’t know what you’re doing. Or maybe you’re an old-hand author, been writing for years but you never seem to get where you want to go. Maybe you’re in the middle. Either way, you can still consciously choose to treat writing like something to prioritise.

I haven’t been prioritising my blog recently (SORRYYYY) and you can tell. Sporadic posting. More reviews. I keep using emojis because writing is hard. (Spoiler: you can’t???? use emojis??? In your novel??? Shocked and dismayed.) I used to treat blogging like a job and I murderously protected my time that I needed to put into it. I’ve swapped and am channelling that to writing (more important for me right now; but I’m not quitting blogging!). Sometimes you have to make the conscious effort to do this: prioritise writing, make it non-negotiable that you have to work on it.

And stop calling yourself ASPIRING. You are an author. If you want to be published, you need to treat yourself like a professional, not a potato.

 

➢ Make yourself

You can’t just NOT show up to work. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Look sometimes I don’t want to write. I hardcore procrastinate. Instagram is currently teasing me for #ProcrastiBAKING, and tbh I am well fed but there are no chapters written. 

But I just make myself. I write a chapter even when I don’t feel like it.

“But won’t it be bad quality???” you say.

Maybe? Maybe not? If you only wait until you’re maddeningly inspired in a hot rush, you won’t get much writing done. Some of my best chapters have come in the midst of a writing session where I told myself to work.

 

➢ Actually figure out why you don’t wanna

If I whine “I don’t wanna” there’s usually a reason tucked behind it. And not just that I am a lazy bucket. Because I’m not?? I’m a hardcore SlytherPuff overachiever and I want to work HARD and also achieve EVERYTHING. 🙌🏻Except….for when I don’t. My top reasons for not wanting to write are usually:

  • I’m scared I’m writing it wrong and it’s not good enough. (Translation: self doubt and anxiety. Usually the fix is to tell myself to shut up and finish the draft anyway. You get better by writing more.)
  • I don’t know how to do this scene. (Ok fair, don’t write yet. Purposefully brainstorm. I go for walks. Unless I can visualise the scene beforehand, I usually get really stuck on it.)
  • It’s gonna be haaaaard work. (Translation: yer a lazy, Potter. The cure is to just go do it)
  • I’m no longer invested in what I’m doing. (This rarely happens to me…because I don’t start a project unless I’m obsessed with it and have been for a looooong time. But if it does happen, I figure I need to backtrack or reboot this draft.)
  • I’m tired. (Translation: burn out is here, can you take a day off? refill your creative well? Make a new playlist, read some books.)
  • It takes me so long to get into the zone that when I finally get there, writing time runs out and I have to stop. (Big mood. I am still waiting for a fix for this. But sometimes it genuinely comes down to just accepting your process and STOP comparing yourself to how other writers do things.)

 

➢ Bribes 🎶 bribes 🎶 bribes

Hey no shame if you need treats to get through. I legit bribed myself with chocolate last night to edit 3K. I even edited it down to 2.5K to get to the chocolate faster. (Which is actually a good thing because this current WIP is far too long.) But do not underestimate the power of the treat. Do you deserve cake? YOU DO.

Obviously food rewards aren’t always helpful (for like, lol, your waistline) so bargain with yourself to buy a new book when you finish a draft, or watch a specific TV show, etc. (I get to watch Stranger Things 3 when I finish this draft.) If you finish this chapter, you get to scroll Twitter for 10mins. Or go hardcore and tough like: yOU GET LET OUT OF YOUR CHAINS IN THE BASEMENT IF YOU WRITE, DAMMIT, GIZELLDA.

 

➢ Make sure you’re writing what YOU want

I find it very motivating when I actually am proud of my work. When I want to write because I can’t wait for that next delicious scene. It might seem obvious, but sometimes we need to stop, breath, and consider if we’re writing what excites us. Are you facing putting your characters on a long desert roadtrip and you’re like “bleh don’t wanna write today”?? Consider it’s the SCENE you don’t want. If it bores you, it will bore the reader.

I once heard an author say leave yourself tasty cookie crumbs through your plot. (I feel like it was Susan Dennard but I’m not sure?? Correct me if you know!) Make sure there’s always a scene coming up that you’re 😍dying😍 to write. For me it’s usually a bantery scene.

 

➢ get a writing buddy

Writing can feel so lonely…but it honestly doesn’t have to be! I have incredible writing friends and we talk craft and swap chapters and yell encouragement at each other. We hype each other up as well as listen to the low times. We get competitive and keep up our daily word counts. This year has been so rough and low for me…I pretty much wouldn’t be working on my current draft without @cosyreads encouragement.😭💛

Now, yes, it can be hard to find someone to be a really close writing friend with you. But if you do = invaluable. I think this is why things like NaNoWriMo work so well! It feels like one big writing club.

 

➢ sticker charts

This is also a direct result of @cosyreads 😌she uses sticker charts which inspired me to use a calendar (I think Schwab also does this too). Right now I’m ticking off working days on a calendar in my notebook (it is a pretty calendar which is important) and you’d be amazed at how inspiring it is to not want to break a streak.

 

➢ focus on your ultimate goals

Write them down if you have to. But what do you want? Do you want to be a published author? Then 🗣 write 🗣 the 🗣book. Motivation for me boils down to: it’s really rather addictive to see my books on the shelf. I want that again and again. So I need to write. Even when writing sucks for no good reason. (And sometimes that happens too!) But I most desperately want finished books and to have success.

Finishing a book can be the hugest motivation. Keep your focus on that.

| what do you think? |

tell me your tips and tricks to keep motivated? do we have any of the same methods? have you ever realised you’re not writing the book that excites you? 

 

10 Things I Learned During My Debut Year (Ft. Efficient Panicking Aw!!)

by 51 Comments

Today is my official 1st year authorversary!

Which is kind of a big deal because I have been published for a whole year and have not (1) screamed myself into a million moths and vanished, or (2) eaten any hats, or (3) looked back at my book with horrible regret. I am very proud of A Thousand Perfect Notes. I am very proud of me. 😌 This whole author life is the opposite of “easy” (spoiler alert: it actually gets harder haha…oh) and while I’ve had some depressing setbacks, I am just ferociously pleased with the fact that I did it.

I have not one, but two books in bookstores, and my heart is forever filled with gratefulness!!

 

Author Milestones Achieved So Far!

(some of these are sarcastic shhh let me laugh)

walked into a bookstore and seen my book on the shelf!!!! ✓
had my debut novel featured in a book box (Illumicrate!) ✓
been tagged in negative reviews 🙃✓
actually told someone NOT to read my book haha (but for their mental health reason!) ✓
seen my book in a library! ✓
had BOTH my books featured by BookDepository.com
A Thousand Perfect Notes got written up in a UK newspaper ✓
I signed my name G.C. Drews and I just….😑 ✓
had some favourite authors buy copies of my book (Brigid Kemmerer, Elizabeth May, Nadine Brandes, Helene Dunbar!! AHH) ✓
been told, many many times, that someone “won’t be reading your book unless you send it to me for free” which I just…hmm. ✓
had someone review my #ownvoices autism book and call it “bad rep”😑😂 ✓
BROKE HEARTS. SO MANY HEARTS. WITH BOTH MY BOOKS!!!! ✓
had people say “I usually don’t like contemporary but…I loved yours!!!” ✓
hit #1 amazon bestseller list twice!! ✓
The Boy Who Steals Houses ranked in the 30s on the Book Depository bestseller list! ✓
have had people do twitter chats and book club meetings featured around my books ✓
been able to encourage autistics and people with depression after reaching out to me to say how much they connected with my books and I just 😭💛 am so honoured ✓
A Thousand Perfect Notes reached 10,000 adds on Goodreads! ✓
been asked desperately to write sequels which, while it’s out of my control, is really sweet and I appreciate it more than I can say ✓
had a book cake recipe inspired by ATPN ✓
HAD FAN ART MADE ✓
had my books read in one sittings ✓
found typos in both books 😬✓
had an inbox filled with encouraging messages from readers!!!!!! day after day!!!! ✓
petted my author copies and whispered “preciousssss” ✓

 

And so so many more things…honestly I can’t list them all. But I’ve been loved on and supported by the book community, but strangers, by friends, and by other lovely authors…and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Today is for celebrating good things but I *DO* want to say — no it’s not all been perfect or easy.

In fact, as we speak, things are really not easy and I’ve had more setbacks than I have teacups to fill with all my tears. I say this because it’s really easy to only talk about the highlights. Otherwise we sound ungrateful, right?! I strive to be honest, professional, and realistic with what I tell you about the publishing world, but I can’t always tell you the slumpy parts.

But if you’re a writer, sitting there amongst piles of setbacks and depression and listlessness –– You AREN’T alone and all authors go through this! To be honest, it’s like the author life 65% of the time.

Like I said, though, I am here to do a happy shimmy today because 🤗 look I survived a year of being a published author. And as crushing as this career often is, today is for flailingggggg.

📚 other posts you might like

>> What It’s Like To Write #Ownvoices Autism Rep
>> What It’s Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published
>> My Publishing Journey! How I Got An Agent And A Book Deal

Which also brings me to the second part of today’s post…

in my 1st year as an author!

I’m officially no longer a debut! I’m a veteran (me @ chokes on my soup) and definitely want to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gleaned which (a) might help other future authors out there, or (b) be absolutely of zero help which is totally on brand for this blog. Who knows which it will be? IT’S A SURPRISE.

 

1. Celebrate yourself!

Like I’m so guilty of always looking ahead, piling up new goals, gazing at what others have achieved while I fell short and being like “oh…I have not worked hard enough.” When in reality!?!? I have a freaking book out. Not everyone gets the opportunity to do that!! So sure maybe I have a Quiet YA and I’m not a bestseller but I still have worked super hard, tumbled into some luck, and I’m in BOOKSTORES.

This? This is good and worth celebrating. You do not have to be the Next JK Rowling to deserve celebrating.

Also 100% going to keep dreaming up big goals. BUT. Celebrate everything. Absolutely everything. 🤗

2. Get yourself some author friends.

You know what’s lonely?! Being in the publishing career without friends. My son, you need them. To understand what you’re going through, to flail with you, to offer candid feedback, to motivate you and scrape you out of meltdowns. I’m not even joking — my author-life became 1000% better and more bearable once I met @cosyreads. And now I’ve added on a ton of amazing author friends on instagram that I chat to regularly and I just 😭💛The best thing you can do for yourself is — don’t do this alone.

Also so much love to @lettuce_read @authorcrrhillin @anovelescape @daleydowning @helenedunbar @nadinebrandes 💛💛💛I can’t thank them all enough!!! (And pfft of course there are dozens more blogging and bookstagram friends I have and I would list you all if I could.)

3. Don’t assume someone else has an easy publishing journey.

I fail at this often. I admit! It’s really easy to see another author only list their highlight reel on social media and not see the behind-the-scenes…where they probably have dozens of breakdowns, rejections, monetary issues, and things going sour. Don’t 🙌🏻 ever assume 🙌🏻 anything.

4. Did you stockpile some chocolate? Get twice as much.

Just…trust me. Whatever you thought you’d need, it isn’t enough.

5. Learn to listen and collaborate.

Because prior to being a published author, we pretty much are in charge of everything ourselves. From our self-imposed deadlines to exactly what we decided to take vs discard from edits. THEN you start working with your publishing team. THEN you start pitching books before you’ve written them. Taking advice from agents/editors/industry professionals. Learning to listen and collaborate and be flexible is invaluable.

6. Thank bloggers!!

A like! A tweet of thank you! A share!! DO IT ALL. Bloggers (and bookstagrammers, booktubers and reviewers) actually will change your life and your book’s life. So 🙏🏻 thank them, treasure them, be polite. FYI I love all all all you book community creatures who have supported me. It has, absolutely, made such a difference and I am FOREVER in your debt!!!

(And yes they’ll overstep and you’ll get tagged in negative reviews. Go back to #4 and eat that chocolate. Then cry/yell with your friends in private DMs. Not in public.)

7. Don’t worry if you can’t do everything the “other authors are doing”.

Like a book event? School talks? Book signings? Tours? Maybe your publisher won’t even give you that opportunity or maybe you CAN’T DO IT. I am a socially anxious wreck who can’t even talk to my agent on the phone. Yet I got here. You can get here too.

8. Writing is probably going to get harder and that’s ok.

You’ll feel both buoyed and terrified by your success. “PEOPLE LIKE MY BOOK!!!!” vs “omg they will expect more what if that one time was a fluke.”

Panic. You are allowed to panic. You know what I’m doing right now? Probably panicking. I have had the worst writers’ blocks of my life after getting a book deal. There’s nothing like the validation of “You’re a good writer!” to actually suspect you’re not. Lol @ how that works.

But see? Controlled panic. Panic efficiently. Panic any day you want. Do a weird like panicky shimmy dance. All we debut authors are doing it, it’s ok.

And no I don’t have a cure. I just have the words — it’s ok. You’re allowed. (Just don’t stop writing.💛)

9. DON’T READ GOODREADS REVIEWS.

GET OFF. GO. RIGHT NOW.

do you know what idiot reads reviews?? Me. I read all of ATPN’s reviews until I hit the most debilitatingly harsh one ever, cried for like 3 days, and then swore of reading reviews. Things would be different for my second book!! I would learn!!

lmao

Anyway the exact same thing happened with TBWSH. I read all the reviews until I stumbled on one that gutted me to the core. Now I don’t read reviews. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Cait. There are easier ways to cure yourself, you intolerable onion.

Anyway, please just remember: Goodreads thrives off negativity. You get more likes for being salty. I know! I am a book reviewer (I’ve since stopped doing negative reviews of my own choice though…for this reason lol. I can’t handle getting them; I can’t give them now.) And also star-ratings mean nothing. I once read a 4-star review that was 90% hate and criticism…but they gave it 4-stars and I’m still like ??????????? Anyway.

Readers will be wrong. Readers will be right. You are not here to learn from them (you can’t write a book that solves every negative reviews issues because one person will hate your pacing and one person will love it!). They are for the readers. Not the authors.

And, authors? Don’t engage. Never never never.😘Your book is up to them to interpret and book reviewers can be problematic just like authors can be. It’s just best to stay out of each other’s spaces when it comes to opinions on your book.

10. Allow yourself grace to struggle with changes.

Now I’m really really bad at things changing. Being faced with change (and I’m also autistic, so this plays into it) sends me into a tailspin all the time. And like publishing a book is a HUGE thing. Suddenly I had less time to blog, my relationship with the book community (as a reader not an author) changed, I could spend hours on social media just upkeeping everything?!? My writing process started to change. My internet routines collapsed. I lost friends. I made friends.

It’s been a year of unfathomable change. And I’m still learning to cope with it.

But to my fellow debut authors? Let yourself have a meltdown over the world shifting if you need to. 🤗Give yourself time and space to refit yourself into what needs to be done. Make it work for you. It is like putting on a new sweater when the old one was worn-in and comfy. The new one will fit soon!! Just give it time.

MY SONS.

you know I am 100% just all the grateful feels right now so…

THANK YOU.

from the depths of my inky soul. I don’t know what my 2nd year as an author will bring, but I have two books out, I have an amazing community and epically loving friends, and I have ice cream.

I survivedddddd.

 

Best vs Worst Things About Being an Author + Book Blogger

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For the last 10 months, I’ve been fraternising with two worlds: authors life vs the book blogger life.

And let me tell you WOW it is like trying to drink a cup of tea with the cup. Or the tea. Like I love both worlds, but they do clash a lot? Authors and bloggers are frequently told to stay out of each other’s spaces. Which is fair! But also…which space do I belong now?

I find myself commenting on a book blogging issue and then backspacing quickly with the, “omg they might think I’m rude for chiming in since I’m an author too??” And then oh w o w try catching me talking to another author.

It goes basically like this:

Author: Hi! thanks for supporting my book!!
Me: *STARS SHINE OUT OF MY EYES*
Author: I can’t wait to read your book too!
Me: *EXITS STAGE LEFT WITH HAIR ON FIRE*

I think I’ve got impostor syndrome bad. 😂 But I generally feel like a excitedly shimmying fan of books not…someone…who also writes…books. I want to be?! But my books are small and I am small (truly; 5’1) and no ones has given me cupcakes with my book cover printed on them so clearly I’m still not a real author yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I don’t make the rules this is true.

But since I belong to both worlds, I figure it’s time to talk about…

the best vs worst parts of being a blogger and an author

I actually don’t know many authors who do both! At first I was like “omg maybe it’s taboo??? we can’t frolic about in both territories” but also I suspect that authors have no time for it all! But basically I wanted to talk about it because it’s good to be transparent sometimes and you’re all so with me on my author-journey so. 🤗 Here we go.

 

➸ Uhhh…seeing negative reviews.

I mean OBVIOUSLY. Reviews are for readers, noooot the authors. Awk. But I feel like it’s easy to stumble across negative reviews for my books while I’m still super active on Goodreads and blogs?! Authors always sagely drink their wormwood tea and nod to each other and say, “DELETE GOODREADS.” But then…I’m obligated to review ARCs I’ve requested so, uh, I need to be on there? Also the world would be bereft without me making Six of Crows memes, come on. (Also having people I’m friends with on Goodreads say my book is trash is …😭😂 Yeah I’m gonna go now. It’s so awkward…)

➸ Finding time?!?

I HAVE NO TIME. I haven’t blogged in so long because I have !!! no time !!! I’ve barely read this month and it’s freaking me out. But at the end of the day = do I conquer my TBR? Or do I write my own book? I don’t want to choose. I want it…all.

➸ Being treated as *just* a blogger.

Like I’ve had other authors be super friendly with me, while I sat there like an adorable puppy thinking, “Omg! I’ve made it! Fellow authors want me as a friend!” But then as soon as I promote their book once — boom they’re gone. So I was just a blogger to them. Staaaab me in the heart, why don’t you.

➸ Cringing at the awful things that happen between bloggers and authors.

SO much fault on both sides. From bloggers trash talking authors (I legit saw a thread of bloggers “rating” authors on how friendly/bubbly they were in person; and if they weren’t, then they were being tossed as “bad authors”😳Lots of us are socially awkward introverts, hi.) and selling ARCs and tagging authors in negative reviews. To authors harassing reviewers for their opinions or stalking them (LITERALLY STALKING THEM) or dragging reviewers in subtweets or acting like every reviewer is out to snatch free books and be snarky.

Like, I am on both sides. Why are we all such a mess. I want stand with my blogger friends (we are under-appreciated!) and also side with my author friends (we seriously have a hard job!). GAH.

➸ I don’t want to write reviews anymore! 

Like I do want to review books I LOVE. But I feel “meh” about a lot of books and I don’t want to do negative reviews anymore. It’s subjective! Life is subjective!! It’s too hard !! to review !! when I feel fragile about my own books!!

 

➸ I have the bessssst book community friends!

Ok I’m LUCKY here. I am so immensely comforted, supported, encouraged, and just loved on by the book community (!!!) and it’s frikkin’ amazing. I will never get over this.😍And a lot of bloggers have just been with me from the days when I scrawled scrappy NaNoWriMo novels and over-used gifs, and they’ve watched me fight for these book deal and gone all mother-hen over me and I love you all so much.😘Seriously. This keeps me going.

➸ It’s really boring to read and not discuss, okay!!

I kind of can’t imagine reading a book, nodding to myself, and then sliding it back on the shelf??? No no. I need to take photos of it. I need to write my feels. I need message several friends about what-did-you-think-of-that-plot-twist. I need to add it to lists of books for Top Ten Tuesday posts. I LOVE sharing about books and that hasn’t changed!

➸ I can get the gossip from both sides ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Here to be honest today. 😌But when drama arises, I can generally get the info about it from both sides: what the authors thought vs what the bloggers thought. Not that I chase dramas? Usually they make me annoyed or angry. But sometimes it’s interesting to view from afar. Like I can be one of those dashing people at a famous 19th century opera, using a binoculars to peer at the stage while drinking chocolate milk champagne and wearing spotless white gloves up to my elbows. #mood

➸ Also just being in the book community has taught me so much.

About problematic tropes. About what types of books are missing vs overdone. About just learning from the kind labours of love that marginalised people give out by educating the rest of us. About writing critical reviews and how I can improve my own work because of that. ABOUT HOW TO MARKET!?? All my online success for my books, I directly attribute to blogging and learning how to market and promote books!

➸ People talk to me about my books and I just love that.

You want to flail with me in my mentions about my books? Tell me your headcanons? Yell about my soft bois and their sadness? Tell me the parts you laughed at?

DUUUUUUUUDE. My life span increases by 1000%.😍I don’t even care if it’s not proper author-reader behaviour. It just makes me thrive. Yes yes thank you. And I think, perhaps, because I am a blogger and people already know me — it’s not hard to crash into my DMs yelling about how I ended The Boy Who Steals Houses or what should happen in a sequel. Love love love.

do you blog *and* write books? if you’re not published yet, do you want to continue doing both when you are published? do you think bloggers and authors should stay out of each other’s spaces? 🤔

 

What It’s Like To Write An #OwnVoices Novel (Ft. Autism Pride Month!)

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It’s time for a happy shimmy because it’s Autism Acceptance Month!

And honestly a happy shimmy is the best reaction to this because we autistics do love to stim. And yes, a lot of people call it “Autism Awareness Month” but you know what? People are aware. They just don’t accept us…plus I’m 99% sure Autism Speaks invented this phrase and they are actual problematic garbage. So I’m here for saying Autistic Pride and Autism Awareness and I can’t be stopped. 🙌🏻

Last year I did a post about how to tell if a book has good autism rep + some book recs, but this year, since it’s just THREE DAYS until my novel, The Boy Who Steals Houses, is out, I wanted to do something a little special and talk about…

what it’s like to write a novel with #ownvoices representation!

I have a lot of Thoughts™ about the actual concept of writing #ownvoices novels, because the main reaction to them is usually, “Oh at least that author had an easy time! They’re just writing what they’ve lived.” Ohhhhh sweet crepe, that doesn’t make it easy. So I want to talk about that in a little more detail!

Before I go on though, I’m super excited to point you to The Boy Who Steals Houses’ blog tour!

I’m over at A Little But A Lot with a whole deleted scene (it’s super cute!! and about potatoes and LOVE) and at No Safer Place for a really heartfelt review. So please check them out if you get a chance! There’s also going to be a post coming up about why Autism rep is so important in YA and an interview with my cover designer! 👀

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

Let’s talk about writing…

I wrote two #ownvoices storylines into The Boy Who Steals Houses. (1) being anxiety rep for my protagonist, Sam. (2) being autism rep for my secondary character, Avery. (Although I lowkey admit Sam could be diagnosed with autism too tbh. But he isn’t labelled on page, so discern what you will 🙌🏻)

Writing #ownvoices experiences left me with a lot of Thoughts™ which I’m about to share with you whilst I eat a chocolate chip biscuits and remember the good ol’ days when I got blog posts up on time. (It is…not…this day.)

1. Writing #Ownvoices includes a lot of pressure.

The thing people don’t realise is that ONE #ownvoices experience ≠ everyone in that marginalisation’s experience. I wrote Avery’s autism to be HIS autism. It isn’t 100% mine. I wrote the way we think and react to things rather similarly, but I didn’t want to author-self-insert, so his character still required a lot of rewriting and research and thought. But some people are going to read this book and think Avery isn’t good rep because he’s not relatable to them. So that’s nerve-wracking?! And I also turn into a moss-covered stump when I think about mistakes I might have made. Because that happens!! I’m not perfect and I’m still growing as a writer and human. (Although, um, not literally growing? I am very smol and that hasn’t changed since I was 14.) (dammit)

I think #ownvoices stories are asked to be perfect and relatable to everyone within that marginalisation. And that can be super intense to take on.

 

2. autism is also such a huge spectrum to try and capture

Basically: YOU CAN’T CAPTURE ALL OF AUTISM IN ONE CHARACTER! It’s impossible. There are higher-needs people who must have a 24/7 carer. There are also autistics out in the world with jobs and families. There are those of us in the middle (meeee and also my character, Avery) who cope with so many things but completely fall apart in other aspects.

Plus Avery isn’t the narrating character, so I built him through a lot of flash backs too.

(And yessss, I would love to write more about Avery…and also Sam and the De Laineys. But it’s largely outside of my control.)

 

3. you have to figure out how to tackle stereotypes

Because here’s the deal: stereotypes can have their nuggets of truth. They did spring into existence from somewhere lol sob. When I wrote Avery, I just wrote him. Then later I started to fret…ok he’s a white teenage boy, aka the most typical autism rep. It was what my story needed, but am I a total fail for this?! He’s also really obsessed with cars…another “typical” autism rendition in media. (But confession: I was obsessing over Baby Driver loooool so that’s where it sprung from.)

But here comes the difference: Avery is more than a stereotype. He has complex thoughts and feelings, he has dreams and wishes. He also is extremely physically affectionate, a boy who craves pressure hugs and was clinging to Sam long after it was “socially appropriate” for brothers to hug. Lots of people equate autism with = hating touch. I hate touch! But not all autistics do.

So here’s the difference when it comes to stereotypes.

…a marginalised character shouldn’t just fit stereotypes and nothing more.

If a character is just a list of stereotypes to tick of a list…then it’s probably not good rep. Because humans are uncanny creatures who don’t fit in designated boxes.

 

4. You also know way way way too much!

You’d think this would be a good thing right?! BUT, UGH, I KNOW TOO MANY THINGS. I think this goes for anyone who is a master of a topic: how much do you say?!? You don’t want to lecture. You don’t want to overwhelm readers with information.

It’s a burden to Know Many Things™. Smh. Bring us cake and condolences. I mean.

 

5. it’s hard to be vulnerable and then put yourself out there

#Ownvoices authors are brave and wondrous things, because we’ve just put our heart on the page. Some people are going to hate it. Some will connect with it. It will be critiqued and analysed. It will be compared to other stories like yours…and maybe you’ll fall short. It’s just A LOT. And you can both want this and also be anxious about it. 

I was so thrilled when I read someone’s review that said Avery reminded them so much of autistics they knew and that they felt the love for autism on every page.

So here’s the thing: I got to write Avery, a messy disaster, who is also unconditionally loved. It was special to me to write that and know it’s hitting other people’s hearts. It makes everything 1000 x worth it. I think there is so much power in #ownvoices stories.

(And none of this is to say “ooh how dare anyone critique my book!” Of course people should critique it. I won’t be reading that lol, but it’s a book like any other, to be loved or not.)

It’s important to know that #ownvoices books don’t necessarily equal easy books to write.

But they do equal absolutely special and heartfelt and IMPORTANT books. Because no one can capture an experience quite like someone who lives it. 💛

And they’re also so therapeutic to write. it’s like finally getting to talk about your perspective, your feelings, your truths — without being interrupted.

I’ve read a lot of books with autistic characters and a resounding theme (especially from non-autistic authors) seems to be “fixing” the autistic character. Getting them to stop their autistic tics and stims, break their routines, make eye-contact, and be more socially apt…and then letting them find love. Autism is always their personal villain. And sure autism really sucks to deal with at times. I live it! I know. I’ll be honest…today was completely shitty for me when my routine got messed up. And I feel a little fragile and drained as I write this blog post.

But being autistic is a huge part of who I am. How I think. How I see the world. And I love that about it. and getting to write an autistic character? It meant the world to me.

Avery’s autism isn’t the villain of the book. His decisions aren’t great (lol, sorry Avery) and he’s naive and vulnerable. But he also wears his heart on his sleeve. He loves Sam fiercely. He’s clever and witty and has an infectious laugh.

And he’s not broken.

I’m just so grateful I got a chance to write this book and fill it with love and ACCEPTANCE and pride.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

 

right, your turn!! tell me some #ownvoices books you’ve read? and some autistic characters in books you’ve enjoyed?!

 

Books To Read While You’re Waiting For The Boy Who Steals Houses!

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With just 10 days to go until The Boy Who Steals Houses is out, some of us just want to read it already.

Enough waiting okay.

Well, “some of us” does not include me, because I have read this book so many freaking times I can close my eyes, point to a page number, and know what scene it is. (Although tbh, if you guess “SAM WAS SAD HERE” then you’re 90% right for every page. But that’s beside the point.)

So it’s time for me to haul out some book recommendations…

6 books to read while you wait for the boy who steals houses!

I did a similar post before A Thousand Perfect Notes came out too, so it is becoming a thing. And I am okay with that. 🙌🏻 I love increasing your TBRs and your chances of being buried alive by good books. I’m just that kind of lovely friend.

Also these are “you might like…” sort of recs. TBWSH is a Goldilocks retelling but still most thoroughly my own monster.

OTHER POSTS TO READ

➸ What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published?
➸ Q&A About Publishing The Boy Who Steals Houses

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

 

…For big family shenanigans 🗝

One of my favourite things to write in TBWSH was the De Lainey family! They have 7 kids, they’re grieving the loss of their mother, their dad is so Chill™ he legit doesn’t notice Sam living in their house for, um, the whole summer, and there is at least 5 dramas happening at all times. Like I just loved writing this ok?! They are loveable chaos. There is a scene where Moxie rates her brothers on Usefulness Rankings. What can I say.

Anyway…you must absolutely try My Life Next Door which also features a Sam (a female one) and her next door neighbours are the messy and loveable Garrett family. This one is way more fluffy than mine loooool.

 

…For runaways looking for a place to belong 🗝

Am still not over Boomerang and how much it made me feeeel. It’s also about Sean who ran away from a neglectful home life and *found* a better family and a place in the world. Except now Sean has to go back home and he’s leaving people he absolutely loves, but his real-mum wants him back. It’s a book that tugs your heart all over the place. It’s also softly queer and softly stressful.

In my book ➸  Sam also runs away from home, with his autistic older brother Avery. But Sam breaks into houses when the families are home and just lives there. He has so many tragic dreams it’s just !!! kid, you need a hug and a hot drink.

 

…For autism rep 🗝

In When My Heart Joins The Thousand, Alvie is 17, autistic, and living alone and trying to be emancipated. But she is so lonely. Then she connects with this boy with such fragile bones that he can barely move without hurting himself. It’s an amazing story, and I just loved Alvie’s portrayal of autism?! She represents so many of we autistics: she’s got a job, she can take care of herself…but then she falls apart in so many ways that society doesn’t deem “acceptable” for her age.

This is pretty much Avery from my book. He’s vulnerable and naive and Sam basically gets grey hair the whole time trying to explain to keep Avery safe. Avery can hold down a job. He’s verbal. He has a wicked sense of humour and is so Soft™ and literally craves hugs. But he absolutely can’t see BAD THINGS COMING because he still trusts people. 😭 Dammit, Avery. Also these brothers have some co-dependancy issues and Sam is only 15, so he messes up a lot. He’s basically raising Avery, but the line between “protecting” vs “isolating” gets blurred.

 

…For found-family and disaster decision makers 🗝

Look The Foxhole Court is like my favourite thing so I had to find a way to mention it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I shan’t apologise. But look in this book we have NEIL who is on the run from an abusive father…but sacrifices safety because he so badly wants to play Exy and have a family. Have a place. And his team gives him that.

All I’m saying is that Sam and Neil have the same issue. “I don’t need anyone,” they say, while clinging to their new family and freaking out when they hold keys because it means they have a place.

Do their bad decisions come back to bite them? Yes.

 

…For neglected boys 🗝

The Wicker King is actually one of my all-time favourite books. I CRY. 😭 In my top 5, easy. And it’s about August watching his childhood friend spiral down into delusions and mental illness while the adults in their lives fully just neglect them. August and Jack just bREAK me…and their soft realisation that it’s ok to love each other through all of this is just everything.

In my book ➸ Sam has the similar experience of just turning to adults who aren’t there for him. At all. He’s totally ruled by his anxiety (like August) trying to keep it all together by himself. Part of why Sam holds so fast to the De Laineys is that for once he doesn’t have to be the adult. But if he’s not looking after Avery, then who is???

 

…For anyone looking for a Goldilocks retelling! 🗝

I can’t even recommend any other Goldilocks retellings?! I dare say Im not the first lmao, I juts haven’t found any. So HERE is to my genderbent Goldi-Sam-Locks who steals into houses and eats their pancakes, not porridge.

I have a ton of references too, so keep your eyes peeled for the Easter Eggs! Like the fateful Saturday when the book begins, Sam breaks into 2 houses before the 3rd is…just right.

have you read any of these? (and do you know of any ya Goldilocks retellings?) and if you’re a writer ➸ tell me what books you’d compare your current project to? i’m very curious!

 

What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published? (Ft. I Have A Finished Copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!)

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In exactly 12 days, my second novel (The Boy Who Steals Houses) will be out in the world.

Why yes I am absolutely 1000% freaking out, how are you. The weeks leading up to release day are equal parts thrilling and terrifying — and I still feel like I’m trying to find my footing after my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, came out just last June. Yes. That was only 10 months ago.

Am I tired??? Dude I am Very Tired™.

When I got to make the official announcement for The Boy Who Steals Houses’ release date + title, a lot of people said, “I can’t believe you have a second book already!” But I actually announced I had a 2-book deal right up front! So this was always always coming! I still have to pinch myself that I even landed a 2-book deal in the first place.😍 TBWSH wasn’t even written! It wasn’t even a blimp in my imagination yet! Being trusted — and wanted — like that was such an encouraging way to start my career.

My emotions were !!!!!!!!!!! for days and days.

 

So I thought I’d outline how The Boy Who Steals Houses came to be.

I was going to do this closer to release day but then I realised: “CAIT. IT IS CLOSE TO RELEASE DAY HOLY HECK GET ON THIS.” This is also a good time to admit I have very limited time-and-spacial-awareness. I’m the person who cheerfully believes, every. freaking. time., that I can fit 6 hours of writing into 30mins before bed. And then I wonder why I never sleep, but anyway.

 

Also I hope you are beholding the GLORY that is the finished copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!! I got sent two (the rest of author-copies will come later) and I may have just cried over my package. (I sent the second one off to my critique partner Maraia who this book seriously wouldn’t exist without.😘)

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

Also NOTE: It’s out in Australia on the 9th, instead of the 4th! So you get to suffer and wait longer.

I wrote The Boy Who Steals Houses in November 2016.

It was a NaNoWriMo novel! It was also a heckin’ mess. So if that doesn’t encourage you to resuscitate your beloved but also catastrophically messy NaNo drafts — then what will. There is hope out there, in the darkness.

I’d signed my 2-book deal (starting with A Thousand Perfect Notes) back in June of 2016, so I didn’t know what that “untitled 2nd contemporary” was going to be. My plan was to write a ton, cry a bit, and pitch ideas to my editors. I ended up writing two full novels and coming up with a few other pitches. Writing grew strangely hard right then. I had ATPN signed and in edits and there fore I had plenty of time to panic. (Ex: COULD I EVEN WRITE?!?! WAS ATPN A FLUKE!?!? have i ever written a novel in my life).

Am I dramatic?? Pshaw.

Anyway. The pitch that everyone pointed to with a YES was for → The Boy Who Steals Houses.

(What about the other contemporaries I’ve written and pitched? Some got rejected, as that’s the business. And some I’ve scoured their cold corpses and gone through their pockets to take scenes for other books.)

 

TBWSH was officially confirmed to be my 2nd novel around November 2017.

That’s pretty fast ok!! Almost exactly 1 year since it even crawled sulkily into existence.

And next?

edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits

Actually the whole process of how TBWSH got to be a final draft felt very different from how it went with my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes. So basically n o t h i n g is certain. Except cake. Bless cake.

➸ The Boy Who Steals Houses required a rather large edit.

The first things authors do when asked to rewrite something is: cry. I cried. It was a daunting taste and I was a New Green Author Hatchling still (ATPN wasn’t out yet remember). I was also insecure about writing about two things that were very personal to me: (1) anxiety, and (2) autism. When you splatter your heart on the table and people say, “Hm, this needs to be better,” it’s a terrifying moment of: I’m wrong. How could I be so so wrong. I shouldn’t be writing this. Cue me staring into the bottomless pit of despair.

So that life meltdown lasted, um, one day. Then I wanted to work.

The thing with being a traditional author and working with your editor is: they are ON YOUR SIDE. They see your work, they see the imperfections and the gnarly edges that you don’t see. Because you’re way too close to your own vision of the project. Half of my intentions for the story where still in my head. NOT on the page. They kinda needed to be on the page!

So we fixed it. We got MY full vision on the page. I worked with my editors ideas. (My agent is really supportive and close in my journey too and weighs in when I need her!) We made the book 100 x better, kept my vision, polished it, and turned out a book I’m so intensely in love with it makes my heart fit to burst.

Changing your story, your baby, will always be scary. But writing a novel isn’t a one person job. If your editor knows your book’s heart and knows *your* heart, then you’ll both work your hardest to turn this story into a fully incredible novel.

I emphasis this because I get a lot of unpublished writers tell me, “Yeah but I don’t want anyone to *change* me.” And look, I get the stubborn feels? Like I said: this is our baby. Our hardest work. But your editor is here to make it your best work. Not just your hardest. You’ve got the passion. They’ve got the professional knowledge to get your passion into trim shape.

ugh i love just love having people help me with my work lmao otherwise I’m a mess

 

Things That Changed Between Drafts

  • I added in the flash backs!! I LOVE THE FLASH BACKS. These were my editor’s idea.
  • Also fun fact: I legit wrote “backflash” every single time in the manuscript and my editor is like, “Uh did you know it’s flashback?” Well there.
  • I trimmed some scenes. I felt sad losing them, but also…the book was really long and as cute as the scenes were, they were pointless haha. (But you WILL get to see a deleted scene as part of my blog tour! More details will come!)
  • Avery’s character got a large overhaul. He’s my autistic character and I was scared to change him — but also the way he is in the final book? It’s 1000% what I wanted but didn’t quite get to originally.
  • The violence…had to be…toned…down. (Lmao. I swear I’m nice in person in real life.)
  • Approximately 39849839 typos had to be fixed.
  • I actually changed almost ALL the De Lainey kids’ names! The sole De Lainey who kept their name was Jeremy. I named him after A CHILD’S PICTURE BOOK ABOUT A KOOKABURRA.
  • And we did a bit of UK vs Australian translating. Apparently the British do not have “eskys”. What’s wrong with you lot.

Right! So the massive edits were finished! Then what?

Then waiting. Looots of waiting. I’d maybe do a few more tweaks. Copy edits came in. I did a last minute panicked fix of the very final pages.

I got to see the cover! It’s designed by Thy Bui who also did covers for: Shadow & Bone, The Astonishing Colour of After and Everless! I originally did hope it was going to be more yellow, because it’s a Goldilocks retelling. But in the end it’s perfect and I was stoked with everyone’s reactions. The keys are utter perfection and fit in with the story so well!

Acknowledgements writing time: aka when I freak out because WHAT IF I FORGET SOMEONE. I got all emotional while writing them though, so when you read the acknowledgements: picture me with my heart melting like a pot of warmed chocolate.

The dedication? I used a line out of the actual book:

if lost please return to the De Laineys

This captures both everything Sam feels and everything my readers also feel (!!) because, no joke, I am getting constant messages saying “I WANNA BE ADOPTED BY THE DELAINYS TOO.” Mood, my friends.

 

And on April 4th it’s going to be in bookstores 😍 and I’m going to be a happy mess.

This book stole my heart. It is both a story where I wrote vulnerable things and also heart things. There were so many times I thought it wouldn’t make it — but it did. And I just…!! Do you want to get an umbrella so I can cry on you, maybe? Because, me right now.

And look, I don’t know what happens after TBWSH. Being an author isn’t a place of guarantees. I have fingers so tightly crossed that TBWSH will do well, sell well, and be loved — and that I’ll be able to sell another book and keep telling you all my heart’s stories. So we’ll see, OK!?

Right now I’m excited and anxious about release day. I’m in love with this book and I can’t wait for you to meet my disaster son, Sam, and his desperate wish to find the home and family he is looking for.

 

5 (More) Underrated Writer Problems No One Talks About

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It’s a universally well known fact that writers have problems.

Wow…we just have so many problems. And to show how versatile we are, we collect dozens of different kinds and then put them in little glass boxes on our shelves and wave vaguely to them as we show visitors about our house. Yes, oh look right there is the box with No Idea How Grammar Works in it, and next to it is Crippling Self Doubt, and in that last box on the end we have Forgot My Own Plot.

 

(This is actually the most absurd imagery because LOL AS IF WE HAVE FRIENDS OVER.)

 

Now we’re all pretty well apt at wheezing in companionable terror over the average problems. So allow me to talk about…

5 (More) Underrated Writer Problems 

So even if these weren’t on your list of things to angst over, they can be now! Pshaw we talk about the Big Problems™ all the time. Like sure, dude, we all have self-doubt and end up clawing our hair out. That’s not special. Let’s talk about the underrated agonies.

 

You might also like…

➸ 5 Underrated Writer Problems (Part 1)
➸ 10 TBR Problems We Bookworms Face Valiantly

1. WHEN YOUR IMAGINATION WORKS FASTER THAN YOU DO

I want to shout out to my brain for its current habit of envisioning book three in a series where I haven’t eVEN WRITTEN BOOK ONE YET. Fine, I admit: a little of this is on me because I’ve been loafing about when I should be writing. (No really. I actually make bread. It’s very delicious!) But my brain works at at least 100 x the speed of the rest of me.

I have so many books to write. So many ideas to explore. So much potential and ambition?!?!??!?!?!??

But I just can’t physically write all day, every day, so I think about writing a lot more than I actually write. (Although I won’t discount the importance of this because some of our best work is done nowhere near the computer.)

Anyway. Hi. My brain is bored of my slowness, and has 62-books in line to be written while I’m still editing just one. So how are you.

 

 

2. WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM

This is my life’s bane. I can trace nearly 80% of my writers block back to = elastic ideas. Do you ever just get an idea and have so many options to explore?? So many settings it could be with?? It could work with ALL of these plot points and they’re ALL cool and yet!!! You can’t !!! have them all !!!

One option obviously is to: write multiple books. But I’ll have a plot that can span in fifteen directions, but I only have the characters for one.

For example, a plot I’m developing right now involves kids finding a body in a garden. The plot works for the body to be old AND for it to be new and I just…can’t…c h o o s e.

 

 

3. THE SHEER AGONY THAT IS CHOOSING AND CHANGING NAMES

I’ve always struggled with naming characters, probably because I suck at names in general. I collectively call all my sister’s children “Frank” because it’s just easier ok. I have 46 nicknames for my sister and have, um, never used her actual real name to her face ever?? I don’t even really like my own name, so I (obviously) think of myself as A Fury. So can you imagine me naming my characters?

It is a fantastic disaster.

My go to options are: (1) staring at my bookshelf and filching names off authors, (2) perusing lists on Nameberry.com, and (3) using a place holding name like JO and then it sticking for absolutely forever.

And ohhhh don’t get me started on changing names?!? I used to think once you named a character, BOOM, problems are over. But it turns out when you scrabble into publishing, your editor will have suggestions too. Absolutely everyone in the De Lainey family in my next book The Boy Who Steals Houses went through a name change. Either because of me, or my editor having thoughts. (Literally Jeremy is the only one who stayed — and I named him after FREAKING KOOKABURRA PICTURE BOOK.)

 

 

4. KNOWING WHAT THINGS ARE CALLED

Ok don’t look at me like that. Words are hard, ok. There are a lot of things in this world that we take for granted and have no clue what they are called. Sure I know what a castle looks like. But what are the tower thingies called???? Can I say “small wall” vs “big wall”? What are things called in an industrial kitchen?? What do you call that thingie thing on the house roof?! I want to describe a sailing ship but also: how.

What is — GESTURES VAGUELY TO ALL OF IT — this?????

And, ohhhh you know the true nightmare? Clothes. I can’t even with describing clothes. If you want to know why my characters where jeans and tee-shirts is because I have no idea how to name other things. Every time an American book says “he wore khaki pants” my brain is like: “WHAT.” What are those hipster hats called? What type of shoes are those??? How do you even describe medieval outfits?! Like. how.

And don’t even get me started on language differences. Because “pants” in the UK mean something different to “pants” in the USA!!!!!!

Someone is out there to make me cry.

 

 

5. GETTING SICK OF REREADING YOUR OWN BOOK

I love my books. I love that writing is my job. I’m so lucky and so fiercely proud of my work and this will never stop! If you mention A Thousand Perfect Notes or The Boy Who Steals Houses, I am just one long !!!!!!!!

Also, I am totally ok to never read them again.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Looool. It’s just when you’re polishing up a book for publishing, you read it so many times. Every round of drafts. Every round of edits. (And there are so many rounds.) You reread chapters to check facts. You reread it just before printing. You panic-reread it when your editor says “What do you want for the acknowledgements?” I HAVE READ MINE AT LEAST 10308 TIMES EACH.

I don’t know if this is truly an “underrated” problem for we authors, but I don’t see people whining about it as much so WOW Thank goodness for me, I’ll fill that quota. It’s just such a talent to love every single word of my book and then sort of die when I need to edit it again.

 

right. now please do tell me YOUR underrated writing problems. the little gnarly ones, particularly! and do you suffer with any of mine too?

 

Curious Writer Questions To Answer (And I Talk About Quiet Dreams, Critics, And Tropes I Love To Write)

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It’s time to answer some curious writer questions.

Mostly because I get to say curious and curiouser and remind myself that Lewis Carroll is pretty heckin’ famous despite making up his words because he couldn’t think of any existing ones. If that isn’t a big mood. That is like the origin of writers waving their hands vaguely and saying, “Can you pass me the thingie thing,” because wording on the paper is easier than wording with the mouth.

Anyway.

I am here to answer some QUESTIONS (that I pretty much stole) because I really love answering questions! I also love how writers can be so different with their processes and styles and reasons-for-writing — it’s most fascinating to discuss.

I’m always curious about other writers, so here let me just answer…

I got these questions from @rebeccarmix (who is fantastic on twitter you should follow her!!) from a thread here and am turning them into a blog post instead of a tweet thread because LET ME RAMBLE ON AND ON. So if you want to grab these questions for your blog, make sure to link back to Rebecca!)

Otherwise it’s nearly NaNoWriMo…so hey! Let’s talk writing!

OMAGHAOGH IT’S NEARLY NANO.

what are your favourite kinds of scenes to write? why?

Oh, hands down, it’s the banter scenes. I absolutely love them. Although the true irony is I put a lot of effort into making my banter sound, well…effortless. When it flows though, I AM MAGIC. I AM A MAGICAL CREATURE AVAST AND ADORE ME. (Usually it is a struggle that makes me cry tho so like, do not worry about my ego. It’s that smudge on the floor generally.)

I also really like the scenes were I absolutely break. everything. and. everyone.

(I am NICE.)

 

we’re all our own worst critics—so, what about your writing are you genuinely proud of? don’t hold back.

I’m genuinely proud of my prose! It can be a purple and flowery, and I use a lot of metaphors built from gossamer and eggshells and I freaking love it. I think, if you write the kind of books that you crave reading, then you’re on a good path.

I’m also super proud of MY DISASTER SONS. Ugh they are such ridiculous messes and make terrible decisions, but they feel like real people to me and I just??? I love writing my characters. I love it even more when my readers fall madly in love with them too.

 

what do you love about writing? what excites you? what makes all of this nightmare struggle worth it?

✧ i love love love writing outlines and developing threads of new stories and thinking, wOW DON’T MESS THIS UP CAIT, THIS COULD BE GREAT. (No pressure clearly.)
✧ publishing excites me. WILDLY!! seeing my book’s cover for the first time!! getting copy-edits back!!
✧ dude?! copy edits excite me !! I’m a real author!!
✧ I love finishing. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the writing process and losing myself in writing a scene, but that moment when you FINISH?! it is glorious.
✧ when you’re typing a line and you think, “Wow. Wow that was good.”
✧ the part where i explode into a thousand moths and vanish into the grim moors to avoid my problems

 

what’s something you’re not as strong in that you’d like to improve?

I need to get better at world building WOW do I just. I get so scared of info-dumping that I leave you with three breadcrumbs and a piece of cotton fluff and say, “Yes this my world, adore it.” Which is…not helpful.

I also want to get better at characters?! I tend to write many similar personalities (panics) and my idea of romance is often they kiss and then someone gets shot/falls off a cliff. You think I’m exaggerating but those are ACTUAL SCENES I have written. Because like what do you do with post-kiss emotions??? Burn them with fire???? hElp

 

we talk a lot about “big” writing dreams (movies! shows! bestseller list!) but do you have a smaller, quieter dream for you and your work? what is it?

✧ go into a library and see my book there !! (seeing it in a bookstore WAS UNREAL I’M STILL FLAILING)
✧ be blurbed by an author I admire (might be considered still a “big” dream though bUT I WANT THIS)
✧ have a shelf lined with books I have written
✧ hire someone to draw fanart for my books ajfdksald
✧ the cover of my book = on little edible cupcakes
✧ meet my agent/publisher in London someday!

 

are there things that pop up in your writing over and over again whether you like it or not? what are they?

The theme of “protecting” comes up a LOT. I find myself drawn to writing about characters who both need protecting and will do anything to protect another.

I also write a lot about violence, which is very ironic for someone who is a pacifist. But I like to explore things that make me angry or that make me want to do something to help. I write about how violence is also invisible bruises and how, just because you can’t see pain, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

I also write a LOT OF SLYTHERINS AND HUFFLEPUFFS OK. I CAN’T STOP. IT JUST HAPPENS. The stab and the soft. My children.

 

what are some tropes that you unapologetically adore writing? what are ones you never write bc you can’t stand them?

LOVE
✧ tiny feisty people who bite ankles
✧ nearly-happened-but-then-didn’t kisses
✧ monsters who want to be human
✧ sassy mouthed flirts who are secretly damaged inside 

HATE
✧ alpha males ughghg my boys will nEVER
✧ any sort of cure storyline ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
✧ they-break-up-they-get-together-they-break-up
✧ mean girls

 

if you could hop in a time machine and give baby-writer you one piece of advice, what would it be?

Write more books before you’re published and panic about meeting expectations!!

NEVER LOOK FOR REVIEWS. WAIT FOR NICE PEOPLE TO TAG YOU FOR GOOD ONES BUT (SMACKS HAND) GET OFF GOODREADS YOU LIMP LETTUCE

Just accept your 1st drafts are horrible. They are little night-demons. Let them be. They will settle down someday and wash their nasty little feral faces and learn manners, it’s ok. You are not a failure for needing to write a book 4 x to get it right.

 

what’s the last book/last books you read that made you go HOLY SHIT that’s some good writing!!?

oh!! OH!! I have read so many good ones this year! But ones that just made me sit with my jaw hanging while I whispered, “I want to learn to write like that,” are definitely:

   

do you have a book out? a book you’re working on? tell me about it!

You already know about my first son, A Thousand Perfect Notes, which has been out for FOUR MONTHS already! (And also just sold rights to be translated into both Czech and Slovak! And Polish!) And if you haven’t read it yet (OMG YOU SHOULD YOU LOVE ME) it’s about music and domestic violence, disaster siblings, the softest friendship, a whole lot of dubious cakes, many good dogs, and saving yourself.

And my second book, The Boy Who Steals Houses, is out in April (WHICH SEEMS SOON) and I swear the cover reveal is coming soon. Eventually. Maybe. (I have really no idea lmao.) But just know !! it is about homeless disaster brothers, a messy big family, autism, thievery, a very long string of bad decisions, lifesaving waffles, a prickly Slytherin girl and the softest honey Hufflepuff boy.

As for my current WIPs?!? It’s hard but I can’t really tell details much anymore. But I’m hoping my NaNo project will be something that tastes delightfully and wickedly of a story that’s Jumunji x Stranger Things.

ooh talk to me!! tell me what you’re working on? and what themes/tropes/topics do you find yourself writing again and again? have you read a book lately that’s inspired you?