On occasion, I remember I’m a writer and should maybe talk about it.
Despite thinking about writing literally all the time, I often don’t blog about it because (a) that shy cinnamon bean over in the corner cowering behind the tulip bushes is me, and (b) what if no one even knows what I’m going on about!!! and (c) I know more of you are bookworms and probably want to read things about books and worms * and not so much what this psychotic frazzled bean called Fury and Paper is up to with her quill and ink. **
But regardless! Today I am gOING TO TALK ABOUT WRITING. In aimless and passionate shouting, probably. I’m actually partially stealing a tag from Dashie who did tag me, but it was on instagram — for #TheWritersTag. I’m sure I’ve done tags like this before but I don’t remember. So you probably don’t either. Honestly we can be just a small clump of forgetful Swiss Cheese *** together and it will be pleasant and slightly vague.
Also at the end of this post, feel free to ask me questions about writing! About my writing. Or about writing in general. Or about if we should stick to the title of “author” when the title of “professional feels destroyer” is free and needs to be used. Let’s just chat. And if you want to use this tag: GO FOR IT. Just link back to the hashtag on twitter!
* Except I’m raising you to be book dragons, so I hope you’re not failing me in that respect, my children.
** This is lies. I don’t have quill and ink. I have a Macbook Pro and 9 chickens with pencils to follow me around and take notes when I demand it of them.
*** Because Swish Cheese is full of holes??! GET IT?? GET IT?!?!? I’m so funny it’s ridiculous.
1. WHAT GENRES, STYLES, AND TOPICS DO YOU WRITE ABOUT?
I’ve written 25 books, so it’s safe to say: basically everything. But I of course have my small devious list of writing weaknesses which I either include in every book or keep coming back to. And I shall share ALL with you.
- Fantasy is my #1 of all. ARE YOU SURPRISED? YOU SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED. I’ve written twelve epic fantasies.
- I’ve also written four sci-fi/dystopian/apocalypse books. I suck at them.
- And five contemporaries so be proud of me for not stabbing everyone to death with dragons in this.
- Then there’s one steampunk after which I decided NEVER AGAIN.
- And then three magical realisms. So basically fantasy but they get toast and WiFi too.
- I always write in 3rd person and present tense. Which is not that common, apparently?! But it’s my favourite to read and obviously favourite to write.
- I write a really intimate 3rd person, so you do feel like you’re in the character’s head (I FREAKING HOPE ANYWAY) but I like the distance of 3rd, because 1st always feels too self-reflective, ergo angsty.
- Why do we generally like the secondary characters better???? BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT IN 1ST. Boom.
- (Okay by “we” I don’t mean everyone likes the secondary characters better. But it’s common!!)
- I’d also say my style might be a bit of VE Schwab (or that’s wishful thinking haha) with a dash of Derek Landy and Amy Tintera and Scott Lynch, and I’d love to say a smidge of Maggie Stiefvater but….#wishfulthinking.
- Blood and stabbing. OBVIOUSLY.
- Dark fantasy, and the darker the better, mate. Don’t let my rainbow aura fool you.
- Dragons. Obviously.
- I have cake in EVERY single book I’ve ever written. Obviously.
- I love writing ghosts. Love it. I have an unreasonable amount of affection for ghost stories.
- Most of my books are brother stories. I LOVE BROTHER STORIES.
- I write a lot of mental illness and disabilities. Two very separate things, obviously, but I 500% believe fantasy needs more starring characters with disabilities and illnesses. Who are still badass.
- Everything is 78% monsters.
- I write morally grey grapes at every opportunity.
- Tragic stabby boys with soft sweet sides.
- Clever sharp girls with book addictions.
- Excellent and most fabulous hair.
- MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC.
- Smol precious cinnamon rolls who save themselves.
2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
I distinctly remember plagiarising the Three Little Bears when I was 6 and informing everyone I wrote it myself. It was illustrated too, so please. I had strong beginnings.
Then when my little sister was 7 and I was 12, she started writing and stapling together novels and got FAR TOO MUCH ATTENTION. So I started. I dabbled from 12 – 14 and then wrote my first actual novel at 15. I’d say it was maybe 40K long? MAYBE. I have no memory of this place. But I always say 15 is when I got serious about writing. So 8 years now. #HelpImOld
3. WHY DO YOU WRITE?
Well, going off the above, my true origin story is:
“my little sister was getting too much attention for writing adorable books so I started out of sheer pettiness and because of #siblingrivalry and I now am pursuing an entire career in it”
Typical, Cait. Very typical.
And like if you want a sappy reason too, because pettiness isn’t convincing enough for you??? Then we’ll go: because writing gives me a voice. And for someone who doesn’t speak up and generally struggles to communicate my thooooooughts — writing gives me all of that. PLUS I get to be anyone, do anything, and go anywhere I want. Which is ridiculously exciting.
And I can’t stop thinking up stories.
I cannot.
4. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO WRITE?
I binge write, which is like 8+ hours per day of writing, for about 4 days. Then I DIE AT THE END. I start at 8am and finish around 11pm. (With breaks, you gumnut. I can do maths. Sort of.) I write the best in the morning when I’m fresh, but I write the most at night when I’m frantically getting to my word count goal.
My middle name is MADLY FRANTIC AT ALL TIMES anyway.
5. PARTS OF WRITING YOU LOVE VS PARTS YOU HATE?
- That moment when an outline comes together. I cannot even explain how PLEASED I GET. I feel ever so clever. Leave me alone in my delusions.
- Speaking of which…I just really love writing outlines. #nerd
- Finishing something.
- Being PROUD of my work. Which feels like only 17% of the time, you know?? But when you do write something and get the “oh…oh this is good” feeling…it makes everything so so worth it.
- Positive feedback. By which I mean someone saying “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU CAIT YOU’VE BROKEN ME”. My pleasure. Or an industry professional saying “THIS IS RATHER INCREDIBLE” because oh woooooooooow and thank you.
- Being so immersed in my world. When I binge write I only think about my book for like…23 hours per day. 1 hour is for snack breaks. I like to focus fully on my snacks. But in those times my characters feel more real than anything and it’s just ajfdksladjka.
- Surprising myself. Whether with a plot twist. A new idea. A character I didn’t think was going to do that…it’s just indescribable when you get A MOMENT OF EPIC and then have to silently wonder if it’ll ever happen again. Hahaha #NervousTwitching.
- How Scrivener refuses to recognise my naming skills. Or like…autocorrects me in the MIDDLE OF A SENTENCE. Seriously, Scrivener? That is not what I was saying.
- Not having an idea to obsess over! It happens rarely, but?? Sometimes my brain is BLANK. And then I panic, have crises, scream into the void, etc. etc. and am generally miserable. I must always be mentally working on a book.
- Rejection. It always feels personal.
- How slow everything takes. I’m a Super Speed Creature and the fact that editing is slow…submitting to agents/publishers is slow…waiting for feedback is slow…ARHHGHARHGHGHHGH.
- Self doubt. Well obviously. I hate hate hate hate when that gnarly little voice starts telling me I suck.
- Editing. HHAHAHAH HAHA HAH…hah..ha…
- All the sacrificing to the trees during the blood moon of the equinox one must do. I’m beginning to run out of humans to use???
- Falling down a plot hole and never getting up.
6. HOW DO YOU OVERCOME WRITERS BLOCK?
I don’t get writer’s lock! I KNOW. I’M SO ANNOYING. Because I outline so entirely thoroughly (we’re talking 20,000 word outlines, my pineapple fiends) I never get stuck while typing. However I get plotter’s block. Which makes me cry.
If I do get stuck, I know that (a) I need to put more good quality art into my life, so (b) I go read an EXCELLENT book or watch an epic TV show. I always keep hashing at it, though. Writers block is just lack of ideas and sometimes motivation. THINK THINK THINK THROUGH IT.
7. ARE YOU WORKING ON SOMETHING AT THE MOMENT?
I just finished writing a lovely bloody novel where almost everyone dies called His Paper Graveyard. It’s about magical libraries, origami dragons, and a badass quiet librarian boy who is taking all the magic out of the world to save it while sorcerers say #no and make life rather miserable for him. IT TURNED OUT SO WELL I NEARLY CRIED. WHAT IS THIS. WHERE IS MY VULCAN SOUL. I’m disgraceful.
And I’m mentally plotting the FREAKING 5TH BOOK in an adult epic fantasy series called Glass Monsters. It’s basically about two princeling brothers who decide to rob every single nation in the world because LOL @ WHY NOT. (And also because they’re distracting everyone from going to war by making them broke. #nice) They are sassy, stabby little devils basically. It actually worries me how I’ve come up with 5 heists???? Maybe I should’ve been, like, a crime lord actually?? And also this is a super dark series and I’ve tortured them so much that by book 5 I’m actually running low on ideas. But no one’s been poisoned yet so — GUESS WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW.
#GoodTimes
8. WRITING GOALS THIS YEAR?
- Write 2 novels and edit 2 novels. Which is hilarious because I’ve already written 3 and edited 0.
- Get something ready for betas. Which will involve editing and then anxious waiting. No I’m not freaking out. That’s someone else…
- Write a contemporary. Because I need to keep in practise and I’ve written three fantasies in a row and am kind of addicted.
- Write stories that are not kind or safe. Because stories are here to make you think.
- Write 40K in one day. I’m up to 33K. Soon, precious, soon.
- Figure out how to write while I’m sleeping. For practical reasons.
- Break some feels. Probably mine, but hopefully yours.
- Don’t be a nervous egg. Believe in yourself, Cait. YOU GOT THIS WRITING THING EVEN THOUGH IT’S HARD. YOU’RE GOOD AT IT AND YOU’LL KEEP GETTING BETTER. MAKE ALL THE EGGS PROUD!! #MotivationalEggMoment
Yay!!! I love hearing about your writing! <3 Your stories always sound so fun and fabulous, and I would one hundred percent want to read them. I'm going to ask you a tricky question: what's your favourite story you've written so far?
I love building worlds and connecting with characters; those two aspects, as well as living lives I never could in real life, have to be my favourite parts of writing. The parts I hate: being stuck in self-doubt and soooo much editing.
Awesome post! 😀
Melissa @ Quill Pen Writer recently posted…Any Questions?
AW THAK YOU, MELISSA. <3 You say such nice things. *flails happily*
Ahhhh, okay that IS hard.😂😂 My favourite thing I've written...probably a toss between my first adult epic fantasy I wrote last year (The Kill Season) and the Phantom of the Opera retelling duology I wrote just a month ago!! Have I edited either of them? NOPE. 😇😇😂 Someone needs to give me a serious talking to.
Yesss, to building worlds too. 😍 It's such an incredible feeling. And let's just agree that self doubt is the WORST PART OF WRITING ARGHH. I'm sure it kills more writer's dreams than anything else. *smacks self-doubt in the face*
Awww love this post!! By the way are your books published are they for sale?? I really want to read a book of yours and of course support you!
If yes please let me know where I can find and order a book of yours I would love that even if it is not published yet I wantttt oneee <3
Additionally I wanted to say that I love books about mental illness and some kind of disability, I really appreciate that you are actually writing about such characters as for me this makes the people in the book feel real and you can relate to them in one way or another much more easily if you, yourself have such a disability be it the same or a different one.
Personally I have tried to write, to be honest I am still secretly writing for myself, and I totally can relate to the shy cinnamon bean as I am one myself too. So, really being able to write 25 books and being totally serious about it and don't give up is really admirable and inspiring for the people out there that are insecure in their abilities and work. We need more awesome wizards like you to spread the magic and cure this society. (ok I got into too deep waters here, facepalms)
In conclusion I want to buy your book!! 🙂
(but seriously if there is really way I can do that please let me know I am hot damn serious I never joke about wanting to buy a book o.o ask my wallet!!)
*flails happily* THANK YOU.!!! THAT TRULY MAKES MY DAY!! And, aww, I’m so glad you’d want to read my books! I’m not published yet but fingers crossed for one day!😂
And I totally agree *nods* I think it’s really important for ALL types of people to feel represented in books. And also just to show the world that disabilities and mental illness isn’t something “broken” or that means you can’t go on adventures. Because 500% no to that. We CAN and it’s AWESOME and it can create a really dynamic and complex and interesting story. <3
Awww, that makes me smile! I'm glad you find me a bit inspiring.😂 I honestly just feel like a dork over here, flailing over words haha. I think the more you write, the easier it does get. You do get to a bit of a place where you understand your own style/patterns and you get comfortable creating without so much of the self-doubt. Although it's always still there.😂 A bit.😂😂
Yay, Cait!
‘His Paper Graveyard’ sounds fantastic. You spoke a few months ago about this project. Glad it came through.
A heist oriented novel! That is awesome! Keep up the good work little pineapple!
Happy Writing!
~Icky. 🙂
WHY THANK YOU, PINEAPPLE FRIEND!! And yes! I did mention my Graveyard book recently…I’m so glad it’s a real book now. *flails happily* Editing it however…haha *runs away to the Netherlands* 😂
Wow. I cannot plot for beans! I just go in blind and hope for he best loooool
I’ve been doing camp nano actually, but I keep getting distracted by Instagram (it’s a real problem). I’m working on revising, but I haven’t sat down to do any work in three days 😂 I suck!
I am always happy to find more and more people who love to write fantasy. The only times I’ve tried to write contemporary was for short stories in college, and they didn’t turn out so well 🙃
I am amazed at how you can find enough brain power to write so many words in a day lol.
Christina recently posted…April Giveaway
Hey everyone is different!! AND THAT’S ACTUALLY A SERIOUSLY COOL FACT!! 😂 Hehhh. Instagram is a total distraction. I mean, it’s not our fault right??? IT’S INSTAGRAMS. And revising is hard. Ugh. I prefer first drafting because I just write all messy and wild and have fun. For edits/rewrites I actually have to think about what I’m doing.😂😂
OMG FANTASY LOVERS UNITE *hi fives* People say they’re really hard to write, but they’re WAY easier than contemporaries right?!?
OMG 33k IN ONE DAY???? I’m literally in awe. That’s so cool.
Wow, your books all sound amazing! I cannot wait to read them. 🙂 Also, from personal experience, I know you’re probably going to hate this question because ahh?!?! Thanking about the future?!?! But I’m going to ask it anyway: Do you think you’ll publish any of them?
Also, I wish I didn’t get writer’s block. I think it’s fear of the blank page that holds me back. The only ‘block’ is my own doubt telling me that what I would write isn’t good enough, but I have to find a way to defeat that.
I’m doing Camp Nano! I’m editing/rewriting my first novel. I’m vivianparkinderosa on there! I’m super behind in my word count though, because I’m still in high school and tragically, exams were smack in the middle of camp, so I had to chose studying over writing.
I LOVE the sound of His Paper Graveyard. Keep posting writing updates, because I love knowing what you’re working on. Good luck with all your writing!
Haha, thank you!! 😜 I kind of died that day BUT I was also procrastinating a lot on twitter, so maybe one day I could hit the 40K!?? WHO CAN KNOW.
And omg yes that dreaded question.😂 Like I said in the post, I’m pursuing traditional publishing, so it isn’t really up to me whether I get picked up or not. Fingers crossed!
And it’s sooo true that blocks often come from doubt. Or like second (or third or fifth) guessing ourselves. Sometimes it’s just better to tell yourself YOU GOT THIS and just go for it. The best writing can be rewriting anyway. ALSO GOOD LUCK WITH CAMP NANO I SHALL BE CHEERING FOR YOU AND OFFERING SMALL DELICIOUS CUPCAKES. Exams though, nooooo. Still! I hope they go well!!
(Omg thank you.💕💕)
Your writing speed is incredible – but if you spend time outlining first, that kind of makes sense (still fast though). Out of interest, how long does it take you to outline? Do you have a process?
love the book titles btw.
Yes! So it’s not like I come up with a whole book on the spot.😂😂 I outline VERY extensively first! I can take like anywhere from a week to a few months to outline. And before I even outline, I write the whole book in my head first too. 😉 So the fast writing is really just a teeeeeny tiny point in my process tbh.
(Thank you!!)
Yay Cait congrats on winning Camp Nano yet again (it’s no surprise really). I’m doing Camp too and running behind my daily word count. Lol but I’m confident I still can catch up.
Anywaaaay, the novels you write sound fantastic! I REALLY REALLYYYY hope you publish them. I’d read the hell out of those books. My forte may be romance (when writing) but I like stabby books and dragons too!
Also, I know submitting your manuscript to publishers takes a looong time but have you ever considered going indie? Full disclosure: i’m both indie and trad published. Both have their ups and downs but they’re worth thinking over. 😉
I HOPE YOU CATCH UP TOO, FARRAH!! *gives you motivational cake* And I hope your book treats you nicely!! 🎉🍰
And afjdklsad thank you so much for your kind words. <3 It absolutely makes my day and it's so encouraging!! I hopefully will have something out someday! I don't intend to go indie, tbh, as I really want to make a career out of it and I know you can do that with indie, but it’s so hard. 😭 And I want to see my books in bookstores haha.
I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED.😱😱I should go look up your book!!
Yas more about your wonderful writing! I agree with bloody and stabby and dark and magical. THAT IS LIFE. And you’re gonna ask for betas??? Omg everyone will be begging to beta for you (including me haha) — your writing is simply too amazing to pass down. 😉 I really want to write a contemporary but I’m not sure if I could??? And I LOVE third person. Sometimes I will write in first (SOMETIMES) if it feels like the story calls for it, but I’ll almost always write in third. First is just… annoying to me???
SNIPPETS. WE NEED SNIPPETS.
May @ Forever and Everly recently posted…Mini Reviews // All the Contemporaries Attack Me
OMG YOU’RE SO KIND AND ENCOURAGING.❤️ I have two consistent betas but I might do a call out on the blog too!! I DON’T KNOW YET. SOMEONE MAKE ME EDIT. 😭😂
Contemporaries are actually really hard?!? Like how do you do a plot without any sword fights or dragons or magic? Sheesh. It’s a mystery. I have survived through 3 but they were HARD.😂
And I agree…1st is annoying to me too.😂 I get worried though because I read a lot of book reviews where everyone is like “I hate 3rd person” and I’m like BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM THEN.😂 Hopefully my 3rd person will win people over haha. *dies*
Well, thanks to intense outlining in February and March, I have already drafted concrete sentences of 21,000 words. However, when I got about 70% through my outline, a MAJOR INCONSISTENCY was discovered, and…well, I Tweeted my exact feelings about it. 😛
At least there are around 20 days to fix it, right?!
Seriously, I totally relate to having issues with plotting, with editing, and with making the vision come together with what’s actually staring at you on the page. I don’t mind editing – my issue is not being sure when to stop. 😛
You can do it!! *sprinkles confetti in your coffee to motivate you because shh that makes sense* I BELIEVE IN YOU. I actually just realised today that I had a MAJOR plot point in one of my books which I forgot about for the rest of the series. Nice, Cait. Very nice. *smacks self with a small scone*
Not knowing when to stop editing is one of my fears too. Or like being scared that if I take that out will it make sense??? Or do I leave it in?? Or put it somewhere else?? HOW DOES A COMMA WORK. 😭😭 (How even am I a writer. I have no idea.)
One day I will pare down all the books I must edit. WHY CAN’T BOOKS MAGICALLY EDIT THEMSELVES?? I would much rather get to write all the first drafts and never edit anything and stay in my happy bubble of perfect first drafts. #lifeplan
For Camp NaNo, I am rewriting my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel, and I just have one question: Why was I such an idiot? That’s all. I should probably throw my book into the abyss and move to Fiji.
I want to know that too. Like if we leave books in a dusty drawer somewhere, why can’t they edit themselves???? What else are they doing, hmm???? GET BUSY, BOOKS. EARN YOUR KEEP, YOU FREE LOADERS.😭😂
Can I come to Fiji too? And we can leave our books on a boat somewhere in the middle of the Pacific and maybe they’ll edit themselves then.
I can totally relate to not talking about my writers’ life on my blog. I’ve only posted about it ONCE on the blog!
I’m definitely very fine *nods* Cake is doing me very food. I hate writer’s block, WHICH SOMEHOW YOU ARE IMMUNE TOO? But I love putting pen to paper and admiring my weird thoughts. I’m not doing camp but I’m doing NaPo and it’s going good so far. Any cake to help, please? OOH, writing advice and requests?
1. How to write an outline
2.How to turn your plot INTO AN ACTUAL STORY
3. (post requet) How to be incredibly witty, eat cake, and read books so fast.
It’s kind of terrifying right?!? 😂i don’t even KNOW why because people are only ever supportive of me when I talk about writing! I AM JUST A NERVOUS EGG. *shares cake with you*
I’m not immune to plotter’s block though!! I have a plotter’s block right now because I have a mountain in my book and something evil in it AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT THING IS AND IT’S MAKING ME MAD.😂
Eeep, I want to write an outline post so THAT SHALL BE DONE JUST FOR YOU.
Woah. That moment when the super (fantastically) long blog post from Your Most Excellent Majesty is actually longer than all the comments.
Yikes. ;P
But ANYWAY!! I AM HERE TO COMMENT BECAUSE I WANT TO, AND YOU WANT ME TO, (yes, I know you weren’t talking to me specifically, as much as I wish you were… ) AND I HAVEN’T IN SOOO LONG!!!!
Seriously, it’s been waaay to long, and for that I apologise profusely!!
So as always I opened this email with a grin on my face and some high expectations. Needless to say they were surpassed and I really just want to hug you and your blog for the rest of my life, except if I do, you won’t be able to write which would be terrible beyond THOUGHT. I would never do it. I am a loyal little #1 minion, so uhduh I would never hinder your FREAKING AMAZINGNESS.
But anyway, I was reading and laughing and sighing because you are so amazing at writing and blogging I just… Can’t help it sometimes.
BUT.
THEN.
FREAKING THEN.
I SAW.
“Get something ready for betas.”
*SCREAMS*
*HYPERVENTILATES*
*FLAILS*
*FAINTS*
*DIES*
*GETS UP AND WRITES THIS COMMENT*
BECAUSE HECK I WILL BE A BETA READER IF IT FREAKING KILLS ME.
I’m sorry, I keep using the word freaking and it’s probably annoying by now, but REMEMBER. REMEMBER ONE TIME A LONG TIME AGO YOU SAID THAT MAAAAYBBEEE YOU WOULD LET ME BETA READ SOMEDAY AND I FREAKED OUT AND BASICALLY DIED OF STARSTRIKINGNESS… THING…
BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT, WHERE DO I SIGN, HOW MUCH DO I PAY, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE, PLEASE. FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE CAN I BE ON THE LIST OF READERS???????????????
AAHSJDHAJNSKDUWIKAHBCMJDAUAKAJABNAKSJDIUEYIAHAHXBNXKZJSHHDJKAKAJSHSJSKKAKAJSBXMZLALAOAPWIWJAJAHAJAKAHSHWUQOIDHJDAKKAJAHDJFIJAKSNKA!!!???!!!!!!!!!¿!!!!!!!!!!!¡!!!!!!!!¿!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE WAITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BROKEN HEARTED AND CRUSHED SOULED (LIKE A GRAPE) AND I NEEEED MORE PAPER FURY IN MY LIFE I WOULD READ AND REREAD THE BOOK AND PET IT AND SOB OVER IT AND KILL EVERYONE WITH IT IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THEM BUY IT AND READ IT AND FLAIL WITH ME FOR ETERNITY WHEN IT GETS PUBLISHED.
IN OTHER WORDS I WILL DIE IN PERFECT BLISS IF YOU SAY YES AND THEN I WILL SEND MY GHOST TO READ ALL YOUR BOOKS OF EVER THE VERY MILLISECOND THEY ARE PUBLISHED.
BASICALLY.
IT’S KIND OF COMPLICATED.
…
*realizes how creepy stalkerish I must sound*
*distant sobbing*
…
So, to answer your questions I love the snarky dialogue that comes from my characters and flows through my fingers into the page. I adore snark and sass and puns so basically there is at least one person in every single story of mine who has these traits, if not more.
I LOVE finishing. I love it to death. I love the weight of writing being taken from my shoulders with a meloncholy sigh and the feeling of accomplishment. However, I will not look at my novel for days excuse me it’s the most terrible thing ever, if you look I will send my dragon to kill you and your family and and your significant other and their family and basically anyone you’ve ever even looked at. NO! TOUCHY!!
I love when I get an idea after a long bout of writers block. And it’s so freaking good I die of happiness.
Almost.
I finish writing it down first, obviously.
HOWEVER.
I hate when I think my dialogue is so witty and AMAZING and then it’s… Really not.
WAAAAH!!!!!!
I hate when I finish and the even bigger weight of editing descends upon me without the least bit of warning and I am crushed into a pool of tears, ink and shredded paper.
I hate writers block. And I really wish I could get into plotting, because plotters block is at least slightly different than writers block and I need some change around here.
In NaNo I am writing a fantasy about a girl with hugemongous magical powers and she doesn’t know it, and a boy who is an offworlder but no one knows it except the magical Cat, Flame, and is being taken over by a demon of some sort but doesn’t know it. Also there’s an Egg of Tears about to release a brand new species into the universe, and the Cat Flame is high and mighty and snarky and anything but cute. He also meddles in too much business of which he has no part.
And there is a man named Uncle who is using Hana without her knowing it, to hatch the egg and keep it for himself.
I basically have no clue where this story is going but I love it so much.
IF you could think of anything that would roll the plot along, I WOULD BE INFINITELY OBLIGED.
Some day soon I hope to plot a book as detailedly as you, and write it all in one sitting, (it wouldn’t be very long) and when that day comes I will count myself among the ranks of accomplished writers.
Until then, I remain your respectful minion, and apprentice-to-be-i-wish
~E
Omg you’re so adorable. 😂😂😂I’m cracking up SO hard right now. I’ll let you know about the beta-ing okay?!?😂😂 I honestly have to do SO much work in editing and it’s a long process so dooon’t get too excited too fast. You should’ve been here last year when I had a story up on wattpad!!
And dude, don’t even worry! Sometimes I think my dialogue is amazing only to realise it is utter trash and I am an egg after all. Just an egg with fast typing fingers BUT YET AN EGG NEVERTHELESS. So we all get that!!
And omg I love magical power books. 😍 I hope you’re having fun with NaNo!! And I’m also glad your book has an egg because that ties in nicely with my post. 10/10 points to you for referencing my post in your novel. :’) Because obviously that’s what you intended.
YOU CALLED ME ADORABLE. I’M ADORABLE. *SQUEALS* I FEEL SO HONORED!!!
*WHISPERS TO YOUR OTHER MINIONS* SHE CALLED ME ADORABLE!!! EHEHEHEHEHE!!
Ahem.
GAWSH AND I MADE YOU LAUGH THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!!! AAGGHH!!!!!
*WHISPERS TO YOUR OTHER MINIONS* SHE LIKES ME BETTER THAN YOU!! HEHEHEHE
Ahem.
GASP! GASP! GASP!!! I LITERALLY WENT “EEEEEP!!!!!” WHEN I READ THAT!!!!! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH I WILL WAIT, I WILL WAIT FOR HOWEVER LONG I HAVE TO!!!!!
AND WHAT. WHAT. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!????!! YOU HAD A STORY ON WATTPAD AND I FREAKING MISSED IT?!?!?!???!!?!?? WHAT THE HECK THAT IS NOOOOOT FAAAAAIIRRR!!!!!!!?!!!!!! I FEEL SO CHEATED!!! AND TERRIBLY MISUSED!!! WHYYY OH WHYYY WASN’T I FOLLOWING YOU SOONER?!?!?!!?!?!??!!!!!???!!!??
AWW!!! YOU ARE TOO KIND, MAJESTY!!!!! YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE MY WRITING MAY BE WORTHWHILE AFTER ALL!!! *FLAILS*
WHAAAT???!?!!!?! OH- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY!! HA. HA. YES!! I DID THAT ON PURPOSE!!
GAAH!!! I GOT A 10/10?!???!?
*SCREAMS AND SHAKES YOUR OTHER MINIONS*
DID YOU SEE THAT!!!?!???!?! I GOT A 10/10!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*DANCES A JIG*
YOU HONESTLY MADE MY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌
E recently posted…An Adventure to Remember- Prologue and Entry 1
Ok well I am officially in NEED of Glass Monsters- all 5 please and thank you. I also sometimes wonder if I should have been in a crime ring ,as I love reading and writing those stories…….it’s all my mothers fault raising a honest decent human being (to be fair she ruins most of my unrealistic dreams, like being a hermit or living on a deserted island, hence why I write instead😂).
I’m currently trying to figure out the plot for my book where four boys pretty much destroy all stereotypes of different things , I know what I want it to look like but jeez plot get with it (or should I be scolding my brain, who knows?)
Omg I relate so much.😂 I was raised so nicely and yet here I am…writing dark stabby crime novels. My poor parents. What went wrong.😂 (And the hermit island dream is so nice, so luring. I want.)
Omg I love the idea of stereotype-destroying books. 😍😍
Ooh!!! First of all, this post was fabulous, and I think I might have to do this tag… Also…
YOU’VE WRITTEN 25 BOOKS???? WHAT IS THIS MADNESS???? I am all the envy! And I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU and also awed that you are such a writing magician!!!!! And I’ve always wanted to write a steampunk novel! I always thought they sounded so fun!! But now I’m slightly concerned because WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE STEAMPUNK GENRE?????
Ooh! Questions!!! Okay… I’m going to ask…..what is the weirdest character you’ve ever created? I’m not sure if this is a good enough question to ask, but I’m intrigued, SO IT SHALL BE ASKED.
ALSO! CAMP NANOWRIMO!!!! I have news on that front…
I HAVE OFFICIALLY FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY WIP!!!!! AAAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! I’m so excited and slightly fried and just…UGH! I don’t know what to do now!!!! So yeah! That’s my Camp NaNo news! I don’t know what I’m gonna be working on for the rest of camp. Probably worldbuilding and character development and all that salsa. But this is like the SECOND first draft that I’ve EVER completed, so I’m so stoked right now!!!
EEEK!!!!
OH YES DO THE TAG!! I’d love to read your answers!!
Hahha…yes. Slight madness over here. 😂 I mean are you even surprised?? I AM ANYTHING BUT NORMAL, LET’S BE REAL. #DragonAtHeart And omg nothing was wrong with steampunk! I just FAILED so badly at that novel I haven’t had the courage to try again.😂 Although I have a tentative idea for a Huckleberry Finn retelling but steampunk so…
Weirdest character?? Omg that is actually hard.😂I did write a grandmother in an apocalypse setting who knitted cosies for her guns and then shot robots in the dastardly robot uprising. To be fair, I was smol…and I will not revisit that book. BUT THERE YOU GO.😂
AFJDKLASD CONGRATS ON FINISHING YOUR IFRST DRAFT!!! SO MUCH CELEBRATION MUST BE HAD!! ALL THE CAKE FOR YOU!!!! Don’t forget to give yourself a break though. 😉 AND A NAP PROBABLY. AND ALSO CHOCOLATE.
OMG you’re so inspiring!! 25 books?! It makes me sad for not starting my writing journey at 12 when I wanted to… #10yearslater. Thankfully I can say that I’m successfully working on 2 books currently, with outlines for 9 total so like, progress?? Also you’re magical and inspiring. AND I WANT TO READ YOUR EPIC FANTASY NOVELS. They sound amazing! Those princeling brothers sound like evil little geniuses and I’m into it. Please just publish everything you write so I can purchase copies to add to my ever-expanding TBR.
Haha, but seriously, writing as a kid doesn’t mean you’ll write better when you’re older! I think I only really started producing good stuff when I was in my 20s!! BUT THAT’S SO MANY PROJECTS!! THAT’S AWESOME!! *flails*
Hopefully one day I’ll be published, right?!😂
If your novels are anywhere near as entertaining as your posts, I can only hope I get to read them one day!
I love learning about how other writers do what we do, and I have to say I am totally wowed by your speed. I think the most I’ve ever written in a day is 5K, but I guess that explains why you’ve written so many books! You have definitely inspired me to write for longer periods. In the past, I’ve only been able to write for 2-4 hour periods, partly from other time constraints but mostly because I hit a wall where I feel like I’m losing my goddamn mind at some point. But the fact is that I haven’t really ~tried~ to push my limits, not in a while, and, as they say, there’s no time like the present.
I also love outlining and the feeling that comes from having things nailed down in place. It makes the actual writing so much smoother and makes me feel…secure? I guess? (I’m the most insecure writer ever)
christine @ thestorysalve recently posted…Soundtrack Saturday: playlist for a protagonist
Omg that makes my day thank you.😂😂
Aww, I’m glad you found some of this inspiring! Honestly we do all have to just figure out what works best for us though. Like that’s one thing I love about writing: so many writers = so many processes. Although I do love speed-writing to get that crappy 1st draft out of the way.😂 And it is good to push ourselves occasionally right!?? Although I’m pretty much laughing at myself wanting to get to 40K in a day.😂 Maybe if I for went all sleep ever…
OH AGREED: outlining makes me feel confident about where the story is going. *nods* And also it makes me not get lost or blocked or panic. Outlines FTW.
I’m doing camp nano! and i’m starting small, not like last time. 😛 do you think you could help me find a title? I’ll include the link to where you can read about my book at the end of this comment. 🙂
duh, of COURSE I’m a book dragon! i don’t even like worms, unless you’re feeding them to chickens. 😛
I can’t tell what tense I write my books in. *smacks forehead*
But yestreday I felt so proud of myself, because I wrote 888 words in one morning. I was so proud. 🙂
Most crazily, ~Olive
http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/olive-loves-star-wars/projects/my-still-title-less-star-wars-book
Olive recently posted…A fish, chicks, and a kitten we didn’t get to keep
Starting small is good! And omg I WISH I could help you find titles. PLS HELP ME FIND TITLES HALF THE TIME HAHA. I honestly am the worst titler. I have books called “Book 3” and stuff like that because I just have no clue.🙈🙊😂😂
BOOK DRAGON LIFE FOR THE WIN I SAY.
Good job on the nearly 1K words this morning!! THAT IS GRAND.
😀
Olive recently posted…A fish, chicks, and a kitten we didn’t get to keep
I am cheering you on, and as usual high fiving you for letting people know that they don’t have to write every day. I grind my teeth when people say that, it can be very discouraging to others. 🙂
I totally agree!! I hate the idea that you have to be creative EVERY day. That’s the most draining thing I’ve ever heard. 🙈🙊
I’m actually doing pretty well on Camp NaNo…if by okay, you mean hiding from essays behind assassins and a royal family who will not stop poisoning each other… BUT I’M HAPPY WITH IT.
Are you doing Camp NaNo?
I love the way writing lets me escape from myself. I hate the fact that I have recently discovered that outlining my plot sucks all the joy out of first drafting and gives me a bad case of it-needs-to-be-perfect. *Hides head in hands* At least I know now.
Rain @ Ivyclad Ideas recently posted…Five Ways to Theme Your Pinterest Boards to Inspire Your Writing
I would hide behind assassins and poisoning royals too to get away from essays. :’) I THINK THAT’S TOTALLY LOGICAL. GOOD ON YOU. *gives you motivational cupcakes*
Well…I finished Camp. 😂😂I was going to write after Easter too but I’m not sure I will anymore…I might try and make myself edit. *laughs hysterically at self*
Great post, Cait! Love hearing about your writing. Can I just say: you’ve written 25 books? HOW THE HOLY WOTSIT?!?! I am in awe. I have had the same story bubbling in my head for years now and only started actually writing it in the last couple of months. I managed dribs and drabs of a sentence here and a sentence there, one binge writing session where I got about 3,000 words down, and haven’t managed a peanut since! 😐 I never feel like I can treat it as a priority. And when I do have time to write as well as all the other ‘life’ stuff that NEEDS doing, I often find I’m drained and feel meh about whatever I was going to write. Which I’m trying to work on because I LOVE writing and want to do more of it! I love the magic of words and bringing an idea to life and then realising it’s taken on a life of its own. Thanks for sharing a bit about your writing life, I look forward to reading more in future (hopefully along with your books!).x
Eeep, thank you, Jen!!
And that’s awesome that you’ve started writing too!! Every word is progress right?! And honestly even if you feel like it’s not very good right now, that’s how ALL writers feel when they start. The trick is to keep going and keep writing and know that you’ll get better the more you do it. 😀 The magic of words is truly just incredible. 😍😍
YASSSS A WRITING POST. I also have a question for you! I saw your review for Coraline on Goodreads and saw that you were taking notes for a childrens/middle grade book?? And like … you should totally write a post on writing middle grade fiction (or things readers like to see there) cause THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND LOVELY AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED 😀
Ahhh, that was so long ago! I HAVE QUIT MY MIDDLE GRADE ATTEMPTS.😂They were seriously so bad…I can’t even. I’ve actually gone the opposite way and I’m writing more and more adult books actually.😂😂
My most favorite thing about writing is probably the way you can let your imagination run completely wild, and anything you can think up can most likely be turned into a story. My least favorite thing… Probably the fact that I get story ideas in the middle of the night so I have to wake myself up enough to write it down😂 I am doing Camp Nano! My goal is 30k, and I’m on 13k! I’ve been having a lot of fun so far. Awesome post!!❤️ – Abi
YES AND YES TO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS!! And like when you have that awful moment of “Oh no I’ll just remember that and write it down in the morning” and …. no. Ha, no. *sobs because has forgotten everything* 😂
GOOD LUCK WITH CAMP!!! *cheers for you and gives you a cupcake*
I am a curious pumpkin: why are you never writing steampunk again? Is there something you particularly don’t like it, or is it just a general “Eh, no” towards the whole genre? Do you read steampunk? Or no?
*insert standardly awed comments about how fast you write*
I agree that editing can be hard. Sometimes it’s fun, though! It just depends how clean your first draft is. Also how many places you said stuff that makes you feel brilliant.
Finally, your Glass Monsters series sounds super fun. Let me know when it comes out so I can read it all.
Thanks for sharing this post!
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Hah, okay it probably wasn’t fair of me to say “never again”…😂 It was more the book was AWFUL and had no plot and I hadn’t plotted it out at all and rugh gurugh nunnngh.😂 I don’t really read steampunk though and I didn’t INTEND to write it, that’s just how it happened? I like to be way more organised now. To be fair, that was back in like 2013 and I was A WEE WRITING CHILD.
My first drafts are, understandably, rubbish.😂 Which is fine because that’s my process and I need to write fast to get my thoughts down before they run away. But it does make editing sheer torture.
Where on earth do I find something you have written??! I want to read your works!
Aww, thanks, Naomi!! Hopefully someday I’ll be published!😂
I wrote 50k in one week for Camp (without typos everywhere…); I’M CATCHING UP TO YOU XD. But I think everyone kind of hates me now. Love: that moment where all my random sub-plots finally make sense to the story! Hate: reading over my work.
YAS THAT IS AWESOME, JOSIE. WELL DONE!! *applauds wildly* Honestly I was looking back at some old notes I left of my writing and in 2013 I was so proud of doing 10K in a day. Adorable.😂
AHHHHH the random subplots fitting in just makes you feel so good right?!??!? I love that feeling. <3 And agreed: reading over is awful. It brings me down to earth really fast.😂
Quite adorable. I think I’ll go for at least 20k this Saturday if I don’t have anything. Thanks!
I love: finishing, and I hate: working on a story, feeling guilty because I’m not working on a story, getting distracted by other ideas and/or Pinterest.
I think my record is 4k in a day??? But I think I maybe got 8k once, but that was fanfiction and doesn’t really count. 33K HOW DO YOU DO THIS I DEMAND ANSWERS.
Excuse me while I cry in the corner and turn into a depressed blueberry bush.
I just got Scrivener myself, and I LOVE it. And I got it for free, because somebody I know got it and didn’t like it, so I BEGGED AND JUMPED AND GUESS WHAT. #cheapskate. I have windows, not mac, but I turned off the automatic spellcheck on mine. I just had to click a few buttons, so maybe google how??? Because I know not the ways of mac.
Hey fanfic counts! It’s all writing after all!! 🎉 And haha, I mean I couldn’t ALWAYS write that much in one day! It takes practise. 😉 And like…a whole day of writing and nothing else so you have to get the stamina up for that. 😂 Dooon’t be sad. HERE HAVE A BLUEBERRY SCONE. YOU’LL GET THERE!!!
And omg I’m so glad you love Scrivener!! I got it for free too from my relative who got a bundle of apps or something but didn’t want it. #WIN My problem is I LIKE the spellcheck, I just don’t like the autocorrect and you can’t seem to turn one off without the other? I can’t spell for anything though.😂😂
I’m pretty sure there’s an option in Scrivener for turning off Auto-Correct (I’ve seen other people saying they had to do it because it was messing up their characters’ names… so, pretty much the same problem you’re having).
I have more problems with writer’s block than plotter’s block. Sometimes I’ll just hit a slump where I have to push myself to write and then everything comes out worse than a rotting compost heap. It’s bad. It stinks. The plot’s there, but the words aren’t. That’s so frustrating!
I have a question: How many books have you submitted to publishers/agents? And what kind of feedback did you get? Helpful? Not so much?
I can only find the option to turn it off if I turn off spell check too aND I REALLY NEED SPELLCHECK. I’m a hot mess when it comes to spelling.😂
I only ever submitted the one book to agents and I got maybe 30 rejections and then signed with an agent in the UK! 🎉 But basically I got no feedback hahha. I barely even got rejections! Just flat out silence. Only one agent even asked to see my writing.🙈🙊😂😂 I can’t talk about publisher submissions unfortunately! Maybe one day. 😉
I LOVE YOUR WRITING POSTS!! THEY INSPIRE ME AND MAKE ME LAUGH SO MUCH! For a possible crime lord, you sure have a great sense of humor 😛 AND YAAAS TO EPIC FANTASY! And I want to read all the five books of Glass Monster Cait! Like now! But why you torturing the poor babies so bad?? 😛 And what do I hate most about writing? when I get stuck in the plot and can’t seem to figure out a solution! I love everything else about writing, world building especially 🙂 Awesome post Cait! 😀 😀
Uma @ Books.Bags.Burgers. recently posted…Review: Perfect (Flawed #2) by Cecelia Ahern
WHY THANK YOU, UMA, YOU MARVELLOUS BEAN.😉 There’s nothing like being a dastardly probably-villain with a good sense of humour about dragons and cake. 😇
(And omgggg THANK YOU for saying that about my Glass Monsters!! I’m so insecure about having such a large series because I really feel like it’ll never sell BUT I LOVE IT SO SO MUCH. 😭😂I absolutely am horrifically cruel to them though.😂 Someone pls abduct my characters from me.)
Ohhhh, getting stuck is SO SO BAD. It makes me feel like a complete puddle honestly. World building can be tons of fun though!! I really want to work more on doing maps and things. 😍
This was such a fun tag! I love writing when I come up with amazing plot twists and feel talented, and hate it when I realise how bad some of my stuff is. I also love when a story is pretty good and you just have to edit tiny things to make it better. I don’t love when you have to change the entire plot and IT’S HARD and editing is hard and kjalks;dfkljajsk. Also how have you written 25 books? #writingtalent right there. I haven’t written any; short stories (generally okay) and cringy, angsty poetry which the world does not deserve (did I say the world doesn’t deserve? I meant that it doesn’t deserve the world) .
Also YOU CAN BE A PROUD CONFIDENT EGG. You are so fabulous and I always adore your writing snippets and STUPID PUBLISHERS DON’T REALISE WHAT THEY’RE MISSING OUT ON DON’T LISTEN TO THEM. One day your books will be published and I can pull a ‘I knew it all along’ and feel smart. GOOD LUCK, NICE BEAN. <3 <3 <3 <3
shar@Virtually read recently posted…You know you’re a Reader when…
See this is why I don’t edit…so I don’t have to realise just how bad my writing actually is.😂 #CaitLogic EDITING IS SO HARD THOUGH THAT IS FOR SURE. And I hate when I have to rearrange scenes because I ALWAYS get confused to what I’ve said or not said yet. Gahhhh.
ItS amazing that you write short stories and poetry!! Those are like elusive unicorns for me.
FJAKDLSAD SHAR YOU ARE SO KIND. YOU MAKE ME FLAIL SO MUCH OMG. <3
haha. I loved this. I probably should do it, but I haven’t written in months.. Not feeling it. Thanks for the post
Angel @Angel Reads recently posted…Book Blogging Basics: Starting A Blog
I totally get that! Writing isn’t something that is there for us 100% of the time, right!?? But I hope your muse comes back soon!
Aaaah! I love this! Yes, YES, please blog about your writing more!! Or just, the act or writing more! Or even just your thoughts on writing more! I love this! I also can’t believe you’ve already written 2 novels this year. Where the heck have I been? And btw, I love your titles 🙂
You hit the nail on the head (at least for me), that writer’s block should actually be called plotters block, because that’s 100% what it is. It’s not so much that the words won’t come, but rather, how are they supposed to come when I don’t know what happens next!? I love outlining too, but I’ve never done so nearly as extensively as you! If it’s not too much, you should share your process!
Oh, and you’re making me want to include cake in my next WIP. It’s kind of weird that I haven’t, given its a Hansel & Gretel retelling, but now I’m like…huh. Cake. Cake is good. Cake shall be included.
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OMG THANK YOU, REBECCAH. <3 Honestly that just makes my daaaaay. *flails happily* And I'm really glad you like my titles because I generally suck at titles.😂 Either the book comes titled or I just glare at it and call it "Untitled Fiend" for forevermore.
And yesss! Because it's the "HOW do I write this" that always gets me. Like right now I have a smol block for knowing something evil is under a mountain but not knowing what.😂😂 It's driving me crazy haha. I should do an outlining post though!!
DEFINITELY PUT CAKE IN ALL YOUR BOOKS. IT WILL MAKE THEM 50000% BETTER. I'M SURE.😂 (And yessss to a Hansel & Gretal retelling. 😍)
Yes! PLEASE do an outlining post! And I’m sure you will figure out your evil-under-mountain-monster soon! It stinks when you just want to WRITE, but your brain has other plans. Uggggh.
And just for you, the cake has been included! Omg, what have you done to me…
Love your blog style! I’m curious…you’ve written a ton of books…Have you published any? If not, is it because you haven’t submitted or you haven’t found the right agent/publisher that is able to recognize your genius?
I’m nearing the end of my 1st novel and I’m feeling really great…but there are times I start to wonder what I would do if it doesn’t sell. Like at what point would I throw in the towel, stuff it in a scrivener drawer, and mentally and emotionally move on? I’m not so afraid of not selling this one as I am of not selling multiple, like trying again and again and never selling anything. That TERRIFIES me.
Also, I follow your writing binges on twitter and you are me hero. Just fyi.
Aw, thank you! I actually am agented and working on submissions.😊 I tend to write MUCH faster than the publishing industry works hhaha.
That is definitely a fear for all writers I think!! I put a LOT of passion and love into my first book and ultimately it did fail??? But like none of that was lost work, because it’s helped me become a better writer. But I do think it’s important to realise you can keep writing, and keep getting better. That really helps. Although the self-doubt is ALWAYS there, so I totally relate. *gives you cupcakes*
N’awww, *blushes* honestly this comment is just so encouraging THANK YOU.
Oooh, this was so cool! :3 I enjoyed getting to know writer-you. 😉 I may steal this tag to do in-between book reviews. XD B3
I love… the characters. They’re my babies, my friends… I love watching them grow and suffer– I mean struggle (I never make them suffer, or put them through agony…. never. Haha). I like too when plot elements click together and things explode with beauty and a feeling of “yasss this is right!”
What I hate…. hitting a plot hole that requires HUGE rewrites. -_- My main novel has hit that a couple times and it’s been the most discouraging thing ever. Smaller ones, like “this makes no sense now you have to figure out how to fix the whole part” are a pain in the butt, though not nearly so much as the bigger ones. >.>
I am doing Camp NaNo, though I’m a bit behind. XD My project focuses on my favorite character from above-mentioned novel, an assassin, and how he met his wife (spoiler: he kidnaps her 😉 ). I set the word goal to 20k, so between editing, blog posts, work, reading, etc. I won’t get swamped with too many words. But we’ll see how that goes. XD I may bump it down to 15k. But this is the firs time I’ve gotten a good start on their story. I’ve always wanted to tell it (seriously my assassin and his wife are my favorite ship XD). And it’s like…. a Beauty and the Beast thing, which is just X3 So I’m excited. 😀
Writing tags are kind of fun right?!? I should do them more often and not BE THAT INSECURE EGG.😂😂
Awww, YES watching them
sufferstruggle is so much fun! I love seeing how characters develop over series too. 😍 although I have yet to WRITE a series. But I have them planned hahha. And huge plot holes are the actual bane of my life so I hear you there. 😭That is so cool you’re writing an assassin story!! I LOVE ASSASSIN STORIES. EEEEEP. and I hope it behaves nicely for you and you reach your goal!! 🎉🍰
What I love most about writing is getting to share all the stories that are stuck in my head. What I don’t love is writing the middle parts of a book. That’s usually where my writing process dies dramatically and I get stuck for AGES. #THE WORST
Mironiel Blokzyl @The Life of a Mirkwood Elf recently posted…March Wrap Up || I’ve found a new favourite book. Help.
Yesss, sharing stories is honestly the BEST. 😍 And just like having created something?! I love that feeling of knowing I just wrote several thousand words of a story that NEVER existed before until this moment. It’s kind of mind blowing.
I’m weird though…I love middles!! I love/hate writing finales, because I die at writing emotion when people are all crying and can’t sass each other to death.😂
Guess who is totally going to now steal this tag? Spoilers- it’s me.😂😂 I have wanted to do a writing post on my blog since so LONG, but I didn’t know what to write in that lol so this is MY AID. Also, I feel like writing an outline is amazing because I remember I wrote a part outline (of like 1K) for Nano last year and I easily wrote 8K before deciding to quit Nano because I had wayyyy too many tests that month😂😂 I am going to continue that story but like time????? I also need to finish that outline so bye I gotta do some work.😵😜🏃
Prabhleen recently posted…BOOKISH TROPES THAT NEED TO #STAHP
OKAY GOOD. I CAN’T WAIT TO READ YOURS!!😂 And outlining is great!! I used to not outline and I’d get stuck SO often, but outlines just really help me fly through my stories.🎉 GO WRITE. 😜
DRAGONS FTW. You are basically responsible for my own new found love of dragons. I have Talon by Julie Kagawa to read and I’m hopeful it’ll be good. I also LOVE that you write third-person present, because from all the little bits and pieces I’ve ever read of your writing, it reads SO WELL. I think it takes a special author to write third-person like first-person, where it flows so easily and you feel like you’re in the characters head.
I know I say/ask this a lot, but do you plan to release any of your work? I would genuinely love to read all 25 of your books, and I am curious if this is going to be your career, Cait. It would be a travesty if you never published a book, through self-publishing or a traditional pub. IF YOU NEED A NEW BETA *WAVES HANDS MADLY*
I love that you don’t get writers block and you can write a book in four days. It honestly makes me so envious, I would LOVE to write like that! I would love more authors to write like that, I love the confidence you have in yourself, to just get a book written in days. AND I BET IT’S AMAZING.
I also LOVE that you only started writing because your sister did. Man, can you imagine though if your sister never did start writing? MY HEART WOULDN’T COPE because your writing is fantastic. I can seriously never get enough of your snippets.
You are my writing hero.
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Oh oh I loved and adored Talon!! It’s a bit cheesy but DRAGONS. So really what can go wrong. 😍 And fajdksald the fact that I have had a dragonish influence on you really makes my day. MY WORK HERE IS DONE AHHHHH.
Omg thank you so much about the 3rd person/present! I had someone on twitter ask me why I wrote like that and kind of indicated it wasn’t an easy style to read. And I was really confused. 😂 It’s the only style I have tbh. Haha. I tried to write in past and THAT went about as well as throwing a croissant to the crocodiles. #abort SO THANK YOU. THIS IS LIKE REALLY ENCOURAGING TO ME. <3
I'm working on traditionally publishing. 🙈🙊
I do have low expectations for my 1st drafts though!! Like I allow myself to write BADLY and I write shoddy dialogue at times and take forever to get a scene though across and repeat myself a lot...and it's fine?!? Like that's my aim for 1st drafts = write badly but get it written. 😂 And once you've written 25 books, you do get a rhythm for your style. WHICH IS A RELIEF.😂
YES, SO MUCH THANKS TO MY SISTER AND ALSO MY JEALOUSY. I should make that my first book dedication "to my sister; thanks for starting writing so I could get jealous and also start writing and make a career out of my pettiness".😂😂
AGH THIS POST WAS SO INSANELY #RELATABLE!!!!!!!! Also I adore outlining as well and you should probably know that it’s because of you????? I adopted your bullet-list method and I love it and it is fun so now I adore outlining!!!! Like you. We are twins! 😀
Kate Marie recently posted…Unedited: Pink
OMG THAT MAKES MY DAY, KATE. I SHALL JUST FLAIL NOW. I AM RAISING YOU RIGHT. <3
Wow, you are such a killer writing machine! Glass Monsters sounds amazing and I would read the hell out of that series. Also, the snippets of His Paper Graveyard you posted on twitter are literally the best things ever. 😂 And I will never not be in awe of your ability to write a book in four days.
I’m doing camp and am writing a YA high fantasy Lovecraftian apocalypse series which I’m having so much fun with. Are you working on any other projects for camp? ‘Course, there’s always *cough* editing *cough*. Which really is the worst, isn’t it? Might I suggest trying it in a crowded auction house? It does wonders for my concentration. For…some reason. Um…
Anyway, your story ideas all sound so amazing and I honestly can’t wait until you get published so I can read your books. Out of curiosity, how long does it usually take to plan your novels, from the moment you start seriously thinking about the idea to when you have a finished outline?
AJFDKASD THIS IS SO ENCOURAGING I CAN’T EVEN. *hugs you* I’m sooo glad you liked those snippets!! I kept sending them to my sister going “ARE THESE OK” and she’s said “PUT THAT ON TWITTER”. 😂 I’m glad I did hahah. It was an emotional and personal book to write in the end, but also SO fun?!?? I shall just hug it and then pretend I plan on editing it soon (spoiler: Nooooooot)
omg high fantasy is my fAVOURITE. I hope your project is behaving nicely for you!! And YAY that you’re having fun with it!!
I kind of planned to write another book after Easter (my sister is visiting from uni so I figured I’d be a bit distracted to write while she’s here😂) but I might be responsible and edit another project instead???? #hilarious
So planning always differs…for my Paper Graveyard book it was INSANE. I came up with the entire book, wrote a 16K outline, and then a 103K book…in 2 weeks. 🙈🙊 But usually it takes about a 1 to 3 months to come up with an outline! And I generally don’t write them straight away. I have like 7 outlines festering and waiting for attention. 😫😂😂
Your blog posts are so witty with a ton of self-humour, ergo I now feel like I was well entertained. Thank you, you furious paper <3 Though my writing career bows (probably more like kneels and kisses the floor) to yours, I could relate to a lot of aspects, especially the part about genres and styles. My head is stuck in fantasy with a few exceptions. Interestingly, the only stories I've ever finished are two contemporary short stories. Life has its own sort of humour. Technically, I'm close to finishing a Celtic-inspired fantasy novel about a stabby exiled princess with a pet wolf and I've also started an Arabian-inspired fantasy, because my patience is shorter than my height (and I'm small. Like, super small). However, university is a bitch. Furthermore, I agree with you on the POV. My fantasy work is written in 3rd person. The only times I've written in 1st were those two contemporaries. Because, as you correctly pointed out, angst.
Aww, thanks, Nina! I AM VERY GLAD.😂 And honestly I think the writers life is full of wonderful ironies and humour, because I’ve worked the hardest on my contemporary books but fantasy is where my heart is!😂 LIFE IS FUN BUT ALSO WEIRD. (And omg I’m sure your career is going to be aaaamazing. It just takes time, right?! And that’s incredible and admirable that you’re balancing uni + writing. I could never do that.)
I’m sooo glad you got what I meant with the 1st vs 3rd! I think 3rd makes much more relatable characters when we’re not glued inside their heads.😂
It is indeed wonderfully ironic how our poor fantasy minds pour double the effort into contemporary stories 😂 I’m wondering if perhaps we feel we need to make up for not writing within our comfy comfort zone? Idk, but it’s interesting to think about. Hahaha, the thing is: There is no balancing atm. University is taking up all my time. It’s not even like I’m not writing because this 100-page master thesis isn’t writing itself, but I haven’t been able to devote a single second to creative writing for weeks, and I AM HAVING WITHDRAWALS K?! (The only time I get with my characters is logging into my Pinterest which is sad. So sad).
Absolutely, a good introspection can be just as well done with 3rd person POV, if you ask me. Also 1st feels more like writing about myself?? And that’s weird because my smol children make lots of stupid life choices and I have to distance myself from their idiocy?? 😂😂😂
Also, as a past-tense-writer, I’d be very interested to know what made you pick present tense! 😊
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DON’T BE A NERVOUS EGG. I’m saying this to me too. XD Congrats on your Camp novel! (And pffft, who needs to write contemporary when there are fantasy addictions??)
I’m doing Camp! That is to say, I DID Camp, since I, like you, hit my goal already? Which was a very very measly tiny 5K? BUT IT’S A LOT FOR ME RIGHT NOW SO I’M PROUD. Ahem. But I wrote an entire short story and finished it and two cardboard boxes are the MCs and THEY’RE SO ADORABLE HOW DO I EVEN?? I had no idea I could fall in love with box characters and that their lives were so interesting. o.O But there you go, sometimes things surprise us writers. (Who am I kidding, ALL things surprise us writers.) Also there were books arguing about the merits of their genres, so that was fun. XD
Fun post! I love your writerly posts. ^_^
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WE CAN BE NON-NERVOUS-EGGS TOGETHER!! *hi fives* And omg thank you. <3 Camp was so fun. 🎉 I'm so proud of that book even though it's a hot mess. I'll just stick to fantasy. IT LOVES ME. And congraaaats on you hitting your goal too. WE SHOULD CELEBRATE WITH CAKE AND FLIGHTS UPON OUR DRAGONS. *flings confetti in your face*
(Being surprised by our own writing is the best and most amusing thing though. 😂)
I love hearing about your writing Cait and your origin story is hilarious!
Also, outlines are so much fun to do and just the feeling of when it all begins to make sense is just ahhhhhhh. Worldbuilding is also one of my favourite parts about writing a novel too because you are literally the creator of that mini-universe, it’s amazing.
Another amazing post, overall!
Yesss, world building is the BEST and I love that feeling of like just making an entire world! And that feeling of everything coming together is completely indescribable sometimes. IT MAKES ME FEEL SO CLEVER. 😂😂 Even if that’s only brief haha.
May I request to be a beta reader? Pretty pleaseeeeeeeeeee *slightly fails at puppy eyes*
I haven’t read any of your writing but you sound so so devious and efficient with it and I am a jealous little prawn.
Also, love this post.
Simi 🙂
Aww, thanks Simi!! I will let everyone know when I get to that point!! 😂It might be a while haha. *gives you cake*
GET SOMETHING READY FOR BETAS SHOULD BE NUMBER ONE ON YOUR LIST PLSSSSSS. Also 40k…I’d say that’s unbelievable but I know better than to doubt you by now. Also, the irony of you not writing many contemporaries is something I’ll never get over. NEVER. But I love your origin story. Sibling rivalry is such a strong source of motivation.
Mwahaha doubting me will just urge me on. :’) I mean I’m only 7K away??! If I spent less time whining on twitter I’d probably make it.😂
HAHAHA LAUGH AT MY CONTEMPORARY IRONY. OH LAUGH.😂😂 What even is my life.
I love hearing about your writing SO MUCH!!! I am 100% excited for all of the things you’re involved in! If you ever need support, I will always be ready to cheer you on (as I tell everybody, you are my actual favourite) <3
OMG THANK YOU, LISSA!! I appreciate this so much!! *gives you cake because you’re so lovely*
You’re welcome 💕💕 *hugs* *gratefully eats cake*
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I actually squealed when you said you were going to turn the tag into a blogpost because this is the content I’ve been looking for!!!
I love all your answers and I will forever lol at you pursuing a career because of #siblingrivalry like a true villainous turtle. 😀 While also being super jealous of your Vulcan super writing abilities. 🙁 🙂
For a serial stalker, none of these trufax are news to me though but I loved rereading them 🙂
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Oh thank you for tagging me!! 😂 It was so fun I just knew my answers were going to be too long for a bookstagram post.😂 And omg I’m laughing at my own career-origin-story. That’s going to make me famous for sure.
*gives you cake because you are the nicest serial stalker*
Haha, it’s funny that you put cake in all your stories. I read a super-complex fantasy that a friend wrote, and like my favorite part was where the MC sat down and had a brownie, lol. 😛 And I have written like three different banquet scenes, plus scenes with food whenever I can get one in believably. I need cake in my stories! 😀 Btw, is there no Beautiful People this month?
Omg that would be me too. 😂 My favourite scenes in epic fantasies are when they have like a domestic moment, like eating dinner or cleaning or something haha. CAKE BELONGS IN ALL THE STORIES THOUGH!!
(And no! Sorry! We’re taking a BP break. 😭 It’ll be back next month though.)
I’m late! I’m late! But I did the tag anyway. Thanks so much, Cait! You’re a blast. XD
#WritersTag + My Answers
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YAY!! I shall go read yours! 🎉🎉
WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DID YOU HACK CAIT’s BLOG 😡
And… I know you are not Cait because Cait is this super tender hyper riped pineapple 🍍 with a heart so tender, kind and nice that she would NEVER make me feel this jealous and envious and writerish inadequate 😜
Like… 33K a day vs the 2K I gave to painfully agonize to give birth to??? Nope ahe wouldn’t 😩
Oh ten hells I loved this post so much I already forgot I was super jealous 😬❤
And I need to read about those creepylicios glass thingies! I’m in love with the book! [and don’t break my heart saying I haven’t read it because it’s not done yet because I KNOW I did so hurry to publish it so I can reread it !!]
Dragonfly recently posted…Book Review: Cress – 5 Constellations!
SORRY. 😭😭 Definitely not my intent to make anyone feel inadequate….I’m just sharing my writers life.😳 Everyone is different.
(I’m really glad you like the sound of my book though! THANK YOU. Pity it doesn’t even…exist yet hhaha. Someone write it for me omg.)
Don’t cry! [man I made my dear pineapple cry! Bad dragonfly bad dragonfly!] I was joking and complimenting you on how productive you are as a writer! 🙂 [AND I feel an inadequate write no matter ;-)] Loved your post! 🙂
Dragonfly @ Our Familiarium recently posted…Book Review: Cress – 5 Constellations!
I love reading your writing update posts! You have such a great sense of humour and all of your writing ups and downs are super relatable, even though our writing processes are VERY different (I eke out a book every… two years? 33K in one day is insane!). I also just have to say, that last photo with your laptop on the rainbow of books is so gorgeous! Your #bookstagram game is on point 😀
AWw, thank you Sarah!! That makes me so happy!! *gives you cake because you are so kind* Haha, but it’s actually awesome how we can all be writers and yet our processes are so different!! Just shows how marvellously diverse writing is. :’)
I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE THE PHOTOS.
Amazing post Cait! Cannot wait to officially read your book.
Do you think you could do a post on how to write 30k in one day? (and maybe still find time to read). Would LOVE to see this! 🙂
AWW, JESSICA. YOU’RE TOO LOVELY!! 💕💕 And I can definitely do a post about writing 30K in a day! I did one about writing 10K in a day but that was ages ago haha.