Things I've learned as a writer

When writing and we think that we have an amazing piece, short story, novel or poem, we think that nothing should be changed in our work. I learned this in Intro to Creative Writing and it's a big fault we all have.

If someone is reading our work and doesnt understand something, DO NOT brush them off. We are NOT the reader of our work, we are the creator. We know what this person really meant to say, or how we picture the character acting, replying or standing. When a reader reads our work they don't see inside our head. The thing that seems SO obvious to us, does not come so obvious to them.

Think about it. Listen to someone else's opionion. Find someone that will take your work and give you an honest answer. NOT YOUR MOM. Sorry MOm's you just think everything we do is great. *Even when it's not*

Also. When you write and you have a character going to school, going to mars, going to the bathroom! I DONT CARE, make it realistic. Even a fiction novel or piece, make the reader relate to the character.

Example.

She turned and pushed me so hard I fell onto the wooden floor beneath me. I stood up and turned around to leave. Then next day.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!! What person after being pushed down, even if doing the bigger man thing wouldn't be screaming in their head!


She turned and pushed me so hard I flew back into the hard wooden floor. MY face was burning from humilation. It took every ounce of my body to lift myself up and walk the other way. I clenched my first and drug my feet the other direction.

See the difference, we can relate to the second person, because we feel that pain and humilation that person is feeling.



Just some thoughts about writing.


Hugs,
Brittany. <3

Hints, advice, and help with YA Heros.

So, I went to the Dallas Forth Worth Writing Conference, as *cough cough* a junior literary agent. :)

I learned how it actually is and not to be worried or freaked out. :) Especially when you're meetin your boss for the first time in person. :)

Anywho. To the point of this blog. Which I haven't blogged lately, due to a busy school, work and reading schedule.

So, when going to this conference I learned a few things when I wasnt listening to pitches. (Man it's good to say that.) Anywho.

First off, we all know Young Adult Fiction is a good selling genre right now. So, I was going to share some advice I learned and advice from myself to you authors that are having trouble or looking for some ideas.

When writing about a hero in a book, we all think about hero yay, good looking, saves the day. NO! STOP! HALT! When we look at ourselves what do we see? Perfection! No! (Well maybe some of us do, get over yourselves) We see flaws. #1 thing we need to have in a hero is flaws. We all have them and our heros need them. It brings out a sense of realization to our characters. When we go to work or school we have obstacles we have to overcome. #2 Obstacles. Our hero needs them, what would the story be about if not? #3 No one likes a story where on the first attempt the hero wins...what would be after that? THE END. Negative Ghost Writer. We need the Hero to fall down and not make it at first. We need him to struggle and just when we think he has won, something else happens and bam, he loses it.

But! TA DA! He has another chance and wins the crown, goal, girl, position, war whateves is going on in your book.

-Flaws
-Obstacles
-A rough go.
-A ta da I made it ending. :)


We have to have these things in a Hero.


We also want Romance. Let me tell you think from my point of view. I DO NOT READ A BOOK WITHOUT A LOVE INTEREST. I hate to say it but sex sells these days and people want it badly. They want the couple to end up together and skip along happily ever after!

--Those are just some thoughts I had while sitting here reading.

--Hope they helped. :)


Hugs
Brittany

Great News

So, my goal was to become a literary agent. Well, that's what I wanted to be when I graduated from College. So, the agent, Marisa Corvisiero, that is helping me get my book published offered me an incredible opportunity. I am now the Jr. Literary Agent for her! Hold your applause! :) Thank you Marisa, you are amazingly awesome! :)

I've read over two manuscripts and I am looking forward to some queries tonight! This proves several things. Prayers, they really do come true. Even if you lose your storage keys, get in an arugment at work, lose your patience with World Lit test, and get tired of school. Prayers come through just in time! :)Secondly, age is just a number. It doesnt matter if you are 18 or 81, you have a chance for your dreams to come true no matter what. Never let someone think that your accomplishments or your goals aren't as good or  out of reach just because of your age. Also, this proves that if you want it, all you have to do it try for it. Try Try again.

My teacher told me that passion would get you farther in life than talent, but since you have both you are unstoppable! This made my entire week. Hearing Miss. Bloom tell me this, I just knew everything would be good! :)

So the lesson for today is 'Don't Stop Believing,' even if you are a small town girl, living in a lonely world.

Haha. Okay, a little cheesy I know, but I had to say it! :)

Hugs,
Brittany

Shut up and wait! :)

So, I'm suppose to be doing homework right now. But, I feel this is just as important.

This is some words of advice to the clueless. Which, I'm not far from clueless myself. I was just slapped in the face with reality not to long ago. I mean a good hard smack right in the middle of my forehead.

So, first off. I would like to say. When I finished Fighting Destiny I was like 'hey, I better send this into some publishing company and see if they want it.' Wrong. No, I suggest, no advise anyone looking to get anything published find a good agent.

Another problem. When looking for an agent DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Seriously, yes, I know it sounds boring as crap, but it's not. For myself I looked for an agency looking for immortal series, and I fond TA DA "Lori Perkins Agency," yay! So, after sending my query in by email I recieved a email that night from Marisa. Yeah yeah! She's a boss. Which, asked for a synopsis and a partial. Then, wait for it..... the entire manuscript. Okay, so I was thinking what's next presenting it to the company. Snicker Snicker. No silly.


Next step. Perfection. Being who I am, I have SO MANY GRAMMER MISTAKES. And that is the stage I am at now. editing. Letting Marisa read over to see if I need a professional editor. If you're a new writer I will say that you will do a lot of WAITING. But, believe me trust your agent and it will be rewarded. I know this. Well, I'm getting there at least.


So. Another important thing to add. Make a beast of a query letter, which there are steps to that online. I'm not an expert to tell you this, but pull your agent (whoever is reading it) in by making a beautiful and perfect first sentence. You need something that will pull them into your world, and spit them back out when they are finished reading, but they will be thristy for what happens next. HAHA, Thirsty like a vampire.


Anywho. Just some thoughts I had on my mind while I was supposed to be doing my Meterology Homework. Oh, well the weather can wait.



Kisses,

Brittany Boo

My thoughts on how I write!

I've recently been working on my third novel "Fallen," which is the third in the series. But, I thought I might share some things that I've been notcing about myself and my writing. I know what I'm going to write better if I read over what I have, then stop, get out the journal my mother bought me and write down step by step the things I want to happen. And, as I fill it out, I find things that I want to put in there. Also, if you read "Characters and Viewpoint,' you will read about a thing writers call 'the bible,' no it's not the actually bible. But, it's a bible for your book. Basically, you write down everything that happens, things you can't remember, things like hair color, eye color, what color shirt, and things you need to remember. It has helped me SO much with my writing. I know things I need to put in there and things I need to remember.



I'm in a intro to creative writing class, right now, and we are writing poetry, which I can't stand. I LOVE to read the kids around me and their work, and of course the famous work out there, but me NO WAY, am I a poet. Everything I try and write is awfully corny and everything rhymes. But, this boy in my class today read his poem, and it touched my heart. I mean, it was obviously very hard for him to read and write. But, it was emotional, passionate, and full of hate. That's when it dawned on me. When I write my scenes about Molly and Zane fighting, I look deep, deep down into my past and my regrets (don't act like you don't have them) and I search. I search ever inch of my heart, for the anger, romance, hatred or anything I need. I do the same thing as this boy, just in a different way. Instead of expressing myself in a poetic number, I put my emotions into my characters.



Oh, and I secretly watch the people around me. HA. I really do. Like today I watched as my teacher became VERY excited over this boys poem. She truely loves it. Also, another person who gets nervous and crosses his legs and shakes his boot on his knee, and others who watch everyone all the time (maybe he was watching everyone for the same reason as me) but his eyes darted as if he was a theif waiting for a clear break, but, I watch the things around me. I watche the silent people, the loud people, and try to see why they do the things they do. Becareful I'M WATCHING!



The last thing I do when I am having a writers block, which I do this constanly anyways, but especially when I am having trouble writing, I READ. Reading other's work, and seeing how it flows so smoothly, you see what you are lacking, you see the things that transends paragraph to paragraph.







-- Read your work, watch and read.







Brittany

Next Big Thing!

I have completed "Lost," which is the second novel to the Fighting Destiny Series. Now, I am started on "Fallen," which is the third. I've been busy with school and work, and also getting my new apartment settled but I try to work on it when I can. Trough editing Fighting Destiny for now. My agent and I are trying to get the manuscript perfect before representing it to the publishing company! :) Which is exciting. Also, my brother and I have joined forces. We are working on a novel with will be two or three, not determined yet, novels. It will be called Damned and it is about fallen angels, with a big twist! :) So, just going to write up on a update.



Thank you!
Brittany

Editing

Wow, when I started blogging I never realized how hard it would be with school, work and writing to keep up with it. I haven't blogged since May 31. That a pretty good while ago. But, I have been busy. I've recently found an apartment with two other girls, which we are moving into at the end of this month. Im soooo excited! Its two second both from my school and work! yay. But, to the most important thing going on in my life right now, Fighting Destiny. My agent gave me a edited copy of some of my book, showing me what I need to look for. So, there I went. Searching over my writing, for grammer mistakes, spelling mistakes, and things that didnt quite make much since. My Dad then follows after me, correcting. Its so much easier for others to find mistakes in your work. I remember last semester when I had my first Creative Writing class, (nonfiction). I would want to cry when we would come on the days where we had to read over other peoples work then hear what they had to say about mine. There would be marks all up and down my page, even though I came out with an A in there, it hurt. But, I wanted to say Thank You, Miss. Payne. For correcting my stories, and thankful enough I was voted to be part of our College's Magizine "The Foliate Oak." I learned more from my Creative Writing teacher than anyone before in English. THank you again. But, I guess this is off for now. I'm editing, then sending it to my agent for reviews, then off to represent it! Can't wait. :)