March 16-19, 2017, I will be co-hosting a Highlights workshop with the lovely and talented Clara Gillow Clark. We only have a few spots left open, so if you’re interested in registering, you can find out more through the Highlights Foundation.

Hope you enjoy this interview! We’d love to have you join us!

Q. What makes the start of writing a novel so challenging?

CGC: Before I begin to write a novel I go through a spell of what I call “dream time” when a character has caught my attention who has a story that wants to be told. Dream time is sweet, the sweetest part of the writing process for me. I always walk my stories, and that’s when scenes come to life and characters tell me things. What a shivery sort of thrill it is when that happens. The opening pages start to take on shape as I jot down notes. But, still I wait. And I wait some more, waiting for the character to share her secrets with me. And still I wait. Images come. Maybe they’ll turn into a symbol or a metaphor, but it isn’t until I can see where my character will be at the end of the book, that I sit down to write.

Usually, some of the first chapter comes out smoothly and fully formed, but there are always hard places where the writing is a struggle. Likely, it’s that unwieldy back story that begs to be included in the very beginning, because I really MUST put it there. Or I decide a prologue would be nice, which always seems a delightful way to begin and such a great way to slip in all the information readers MUST know. Kill the prologue. Give it up. Then I remind myself of Flannery O’Conner’s words to writers: Don’t worry about what to say; just make pictures and conversation. And that’s what I try to do.

Q. What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?

CGC: Everything changes. Everything. We write and over time we become confident and feel comfortable with our style and our writing voice; and at the beginning of our careers when we’re first published, we think it will always be that way. We do all the right things–study craft, practice craft, and read other authors’ works. One day we realize the industry is changing, and it’s not just a trend. The reality is that both publishing and language is influx and will continue to be so in the future. But know this: It has always been true that we need to be original and unique in our vision for a story that has a thousand faces already. That’s where I am now, reinventing myself and my writing, going deeper, but still always writing from the heart. Embrace change and don’t be afraid. Keep reading and your vision will adjust.

Q. What is a common mistake you see when critiquing new writers?

CGC: Most new writers who are serious about the craft of writing have a pretty good grasp of story, because they’re readers. But often when we read, we zoom in on the action and read on to find out what’s going to happen next. We see the twists and turns, the pitfalls and setbacks, but seem to miss what’s really driving the cart over that cliff, which is emotion. Often aspiring writers skip right over the interior development of their protagonist and often tell instead of show their character’s emotion. Other things that are often problematic for new writers are deep point-of-view, verb tenses – especially if they’re writing in the present tense, and transitions.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about our upcoming Highlights Foundation Workshop, Novel Beginnings?

CGC: Meeting new writers, mentoring, but also experiencing that warm feeling of a kind of homecoming. That’s how I feel when I’m at the Foundation. I’m in a safe and nurturing environment with like-minded people who love to learn, love books, and want to be better writers. I’m looking forward to forging new friendships, but also seeing old friends who work there like Chef Amanda. What could be better than that?

The Power of Video: How Novel Writers Can Utilize YouTube Marketing

In the world of publishing, getting your book out there and noticed can be a daunting task. With thousands of new releases each year, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. However, with the rise of digital marketing, novel writers now have a new tool at their disposal: YouTube.

YouTube is a video-sharing platform with over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the second largest search engine in the world. Utilizing this platform can help you reach a wider audience, engage with readers in a new way, and ultimately boost your book sales. Here are some tips on how novel writers can utilize YouTube marketing:

Create a book trailer: Just like a movie trailer, a book trailer is a short video that showcases your book’s plot and characters. This is a great way to capture potential readers’ attention and give them a taste of what your book is about.

Share your writing process: Many readers are curious about the writing process and enjoy behind-the-scenes glimpses into how their favorite books were created. Consider creating videos that show your writing process, from outlining to editing.

Host Q&A sessions: Interact with your readers by hosting live or pre-recorded Q&A sessions. This allows them to ask you questions about your book, characters, and writing process, and helps build a sense of community.

Collaborate with other YouTubers: Partnering with other YouTubers in the book community can help you reach a wider audience and introduce your book to new readers. Consider collaborating on book reviews, tag videos, or even co-writing a book.

Offer exclusive content: Reward your subscribers by offering exclusive content such as deleted scenes, character interviews, or even giveaways.

In conclusion, YouTube marketing is a powerful tool that can help novel writers reach a wider audience and ultimately boost book sales and Marketing Heaven is the best site to buy YouTube views. By creating engaging and informative content, interacting with readers, and collaborating with other YouTubers, you can create a loyal following and build your brand as an author.

Learn more about our upcoming workshop by clicking on the link: Novel Beginnings: Building Strong Foundations for Your Novel and Your Career 2017

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Editor and writer Kim T. Griswell is leading our Finding Your Voice workshop this fall, along with author K.L. Going. Here Kim gives some suggestions on how to find your voice:

Much of what passes across an editor’s desk has a dull sameness. There may be nothing really “wrong” with the writing. It’s competent, but it falls under the category of NNUTS (Nothing New Under the Sun). Nothing new in the ideas, nothing new in the characters or plot, and nothing new in the writing. Beginning—and sometimes experienced—writers often submit manuscripts that do not have unique voices.

Our greatest writers write from their guts, from their truths. They dig deep until they reach a vein within themselves that is pure gold. They tell stories that only they can tell, as only they can tell them. That, in a nutshell, is voice.

It often takes years for a writer to find his or her authentic voice. Voice is not simply the way a writer says things; voice reflects a writer’s unique way of viewing the world. Every editor is hoping to pick up a manuscript and find an original voice. That’s why finding your voice should be on the top of your writer’s to-do list.

Here are six ways to begin to understand voice and find your own:

1. Get a journal with a key—one of those kid ones. Write things in there that are so honest you have to keep them under lock and key for fear anyone will read them.
2. Write a page a day. Come on—you can do it! If you can’t stop yourself after one page, keep writing.
3. Read, and learn to write, poetry. Even if you don’t consider yourself a poet or have any desire to write poetry, you will develop your voice. (I’m not talking rhyming doggerel here. I’m talking Billy Collins, Rita Dove, and Langston Hughes; Eileen Spinelli, Karla Kushin, and Myra Cohn Livingston.)
4. Use photos from your childhood as writing prompts. Write from the voice of who you were in (or at the time of) the photos.
5. Blog. Much like a vocalist’s morning scales, this kind of “conversational” writing will help to loosen your writing voice.
6. Read the first pages of these books: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch, every Newbery winner you can get your hands on. (I dare you to stop reading after page 1.)

Finding your voice will help your work rise to the top of the same-old-same-old manuscripts piled on editors’ desks. And that’s a goal worth pursuing!

If you’d like a jumpstart on finding your voice or want to expand on these practices, I hope you’ll join K.L. Going and me for Finding Your Voice, October 12-15, 2014.

Learning to drive defensively can reduce your chances of getting in accidents.

Car accidents are dangerous and happen often. In fact, you are bound to pass an accident just while driving down the highway. Statistics show nearly 37,000 people die each year in car accidents.

While car accident injuries are not pleasant to think about, they are preventable in certain situations.

Prevention is the most important step to take to guarantee the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.

But it’s still easy to assume that just because you are a cautious and careful driver, the other drivers around you on the road will be also.

Assuming that the other drivers will stay in their lane, safely react to road hazards, or wait to safely pull out onto a major roadway can often be a dangerous mistake.

Other drivers on the road are often distracted, rushed, or just drive aggressively for no good reason. Looking ahead and keeping your eyes moving can help you anticipate the actions of other drivers and stay safe.

With a focused mind and a little precaution, the following tips can keep you and others safer while driving on the road.

What’s Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving refers to a set of driving skills or a style of driving that allows you to avoid accidents and defend yourself against irresponsible drivers, drunk drivers, bad weather conditions, and the unexpected in general. Get the best results at IMPROV traffic school.

As a defense driver, you assume other drivers might make mistakes.

You are on guard in the event that other drivers make errors and watch ahead for advance warning of any hazards on the road. By watching ahead, you have enough time to avoid potential accidents.

Defensive driving will reduce the chance of you being caught off guard by an unexpected hazard as well as increase your chance of reacting appropriately and avoiding accidents.

However, defensive driving cannot guarantee that you will make it from point A to point B without incidence. It just increases the odds in your favor.

The Department of Motor Vehicles even offers courses on how to be a defensive driver.

No matter how good you are at driving, you can’t control what happens around you. Extreme weather, aggressive drivers, mechanical malfunctions, and roadway obstacles can all jeopardize the safety of you and your passengers.

This is where a defensive driving course comes in. These courses teach you safe driving techniques that help you gain better control over your vehicle in emergency situations.

These courses also teach you tactics for dealing with emotional stress, road rage, and fatigue.

Georgia defensive driving courses can also help you financially by reducing your fine should you receive a traffic violation as well as reducing your auto insurance payments.

Defensive Driving Tips

When you are driving on the road, it is crucial to be observant of your surroundings.

Knowing what’s happening around you and being aware of all drivers and pedestrians on the road nearby is the first step to decreasing your chances of an accident.

In order to become a defensive driver, all of your attention must be focused on driving, which means you need to put away the snacks, don’t try to apply makeup, don’t text, or adjust the radio while you drive.

This allows you to stay alert at all times while behind the wheel.

As a defensive driver, you should also understand the importance of making yourself seen.

Many drivers assume that if they can see another vehicle, that vehicle’s driver can see them as well.

But, that’s not a smart assumption to make.

To make yourself more visible, make sure that you always drive with your lights on while it is raining or dark outside.

You should always use your turning signals when changing lanes so the other drivers on the road will know what you are doing.

Always avoid lingering in another driver’s blind spot for longer than absolutely necessary.

If you do get stuck in a blind spot, you should either speed up or slow down so you can be sure to make yourself visible to the other driver.

Defensive drivers typically assume the worst in other drivers. It’s a hope for the best but expect the worst kind of deal.

That means you should never assume that another driver will remember to use his turning signal, check their blind spot before changing lanes, or stop soon enough at a stoplight.

Assuming the worst in other drivers allows you to be prepared for anything that comes your way.

For instance, let’s say you are approaching a four-way stop at the same time as another vehicle.

Even if you know you have the right-of-way, you should never assume that the izes this.

To avoid an accident in this situation, pause for a moment to make eye contact with the other driver or drivers.

You have to be sure that the other drivers do not plan on going through the intersection first.

Being a defensive driver doesn’t automatically guarantee your safety, but it will help you do a better job of protecting yourself on the road.