Vlogger's Choice with K.N. Lee- Author Platform

Vlogger's Choice with K.N. Lee

- Author Platform

This week I share with you how to create or strengthen an author platform, I hope my tips help. If you have any other ideas or comments, please comment below!

Subscribe!

Writing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome- Author, K.N. Lee

Today I talk about writing with carpal tunnel syndrome, how you can prevent it, and what I am doing to correct my horrible habits, as well as trying out dictation software

The Wizard's Writing Tip: Let Your Manuscript Rest

The power of letting a manuscript rest gives you the ability to cut and scrap large chunks of what you once thought were necessary. 

I learned this in Stephen King's book, On Writing, and from personal experience with various manuscripts. When you're working on a novel, you're so close and attached to it, that the thought of parting with any sentence is out of the question. 

 

You simply cannot keep everything. 

You must tighten, revise, and polish your work. Putting your manuscript in a drawer, or taking a time out to work on something new lets you separate yourself and revisit it with fresh eyes. 

So, give it a try, take out that red pen, and get to work! 

Find more writing tips here.

5 Ways to Not Lose Your Mind When Writing a Novel

Writing a novel can be a daunting task. One can begin the journey with vigor and enthusiasm and still end up incredibly overwhelmed. Whenever I sit before my computer to begin a novel, I am filled with joy and excitement.

 Just imagining the characters that I will create, and the worlds that they will inhabit makes me giddy. Pages get filled with wondrous prose and complex plots. Chapters are produced and the novel starts to take shape. 

Then...the nerves set in. I start to fear opening the document and pressing forward. One might begin to doubt whether all of those pages are utter dribble. I know that for me I get to a point in the story where I feel such anxiety that I will start a new story...just to reclaim that initial enthusiasm and hope.

What if no one else thinks the story is as clever as you believe? What if your imagination runs dry before you actually finish the story? These thoughts plague many of my fellow writers, but one must push forward. No matter what. 

Here are ten ways to not lose your mind when writing a novel. 

I hope this helps.

1. Read what you've already written. Sometimes this can help you reclaim that vigor and excitement. You've worked hard to put those words on the page. Don't let them go to waste. Just try not to start editing just yet. Wait until the story is complete.
2. Take a walk and sort through your thoughts. Imagine your characters and let them take the reigns of your thoughts. Sometimes it can play out like a movie inside your mind, and the characters inevitably take over. I bet you'll be running back home to write out what you've imagined. There's something about fresh air and nature that always clears the mind.
   
   
3. Create a jot list. A jot list is a form of graphic organizer where an individual writes down a list of information that will help them write an essay, article, story, etc. This will help you sort out your thoughts and remind your mind of what parts of the story excite you, prompting you to press forward.
   
4. Download the software Y Writer 5. You won't believe how helpful this software is. It is a word processor that breaks your novel into chapters and scenes, helping you keep track of your work while leaving your mind free to create. Trust me, being organized is a life saver when you are writing a novel.
5.  Listen to soft music in the background, light candles or incense, or anything that relaxes you during your writing session. Sometimes this can transport your mind and open it up to more creativity. I also like to get a massage here and there to help with the stress and the inevitable strain on my wrists from typing so much and sitting at a desk all day. It's not for everyone, but it definitely helps me out.
   
    

Video Tutorial on Writer's Block

Today author, K.N. Lee goes over her favorite tips on getting rid of the dreaded writer's block! Take a look!

For the article, Defeating Writer's Block by, K.N. Lee, click the link!

Enjoy the Ride!

Vroooommmmm....Are you ready for an adventure?


Every time I sit down in my writing den I am reminded that no matter how much planning I did beforehand, my characters will always surprise me with their own ideas and actions. 

As I work tirelessly to complete Dark Prophet, The Chronicles of Koa Book Two, Koa and "the crew" continue to take over. I suppose it's a good thing. I mean...she a my heroine, and pretty headstrong. I guess I couldn't expect her to just sit idle while I controlled the outcome of her story. 

So, I suppose there is only one thing to do, use that old outline as a guide, but enjoy the ride as my characters lead the way to the finish line! 

Warning: this might cause unexpected deaths to key characters...or romantic interests you didn't quite anticipate.

Good luck out there, writerly folk!

Pitching to Literary Agents

This last Saturday I journeyed all the way to Brighton, England to meet authors, agents, and publishers. The World Fantasy Convention was remarkable and changed my life.

Imagine my surprise when I met the owner of the Jaberwocky Literary Agent within the first hour. Now, imagine me approaching him and pitching my fantasy trilogy.

Yes. Frightening stuff.

Surprisingly he was quite receptive and told me to email him. Wow. That's pretty incredible. Maybe not for seasoned authors, but I've always been quite apprehensive about delivering a pitch. I practiced my pitch with my editor, friends, and a couple of girls that I met at the convention. 

I suppose practice does make perfect. It at least helps you get over those annoying butterflies...the stuttering...and the "ums" that threaten to ruin your delivery. 

I quickly realized that perhaps my pitch wasn't as horrible as I had been imagining it to be. 

I'd pictured people laughing at it and telling me that my story sounded dumb. It was quite the opposite. I found myself giving other authors at the convention pointers and advice. But who am I to give advice. I  don't even have an agent...yet.

What I have is a few email from agents that I'd queried, and their professional feedback. I've gathered a few important pointers. I hope they help!

Here is what I've gathered that agents want to hear in your pitch:

•The Protagonist

•A Clear Idea of the World

•The Conflict

•What Causes the Protagonist to Step Through That First Door (the door that takes them from their previous life)

Agents, authors with agents, or publishers, please comment with your opinions, advice, and tips. 

Thank you!

Writing a Book is an Adventure!

Writing a book is an adventure. 

The excitement builds within your stomach as you etch your first word onto a blank page. Your mind unlocks as hundreds of I walked paths expose themselves to you.

It is time to create your own world, fill it with unique characters, and ultimately tell a story. 

I began my journey to the Netherworld last November. It all began as an experiment. I was inspired by my friend, Melinda Metz, the author of the Roswell series and many other amazing books. 

Each week I would write a chapter and before I knew it, people all over the world were reading and telling me how much they enjoyed Koa, Halston, and their team of supernatural agents. Before I knew it, I had a book. Well...two actually.

I had the skeleton of The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld, and the sequel, Dark Prophet. 

Writing a book is fun...but it is not always easy. Netherworld seemed to write itself. Dark Prophet...not so much. I find myself at a crossroads. There are so many characters that I want to give the spotlight and so little time. I'm a perfectionist, but sometimes that can work to my disadvantage. 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I've changed the plot to Dark Prophet at least three times! Whew! It's true. Once you change a book's plot so many times, you can being confused or...lost. Thankfully, I found my way once again by:

1st- Letting the manuscript rest

2nd- Listening to my dreams

By taking a step away from the manuscript, it somehow (through the power and magic of the fairy muses) worked itself out. 

And now, I am energized and ready to share this incredible tale of revenge, the bond between a mother and her daughter, love, betrayal, and as always...one bad-ass half-blood with an enchanted sword. ;) Stay tuned, Dark Prophet will be released March 2014!

Update:
Dark Prophet is now an Amazon best seller and available now!

Writing session prep!

How do you prepare for a writing session? I don't know about you, but I have a very specific ritual. Whenever I sit down and prepare for some serious writing, here is a list of what I do:

• Relax- Writing for me is all about having fun. I know that in a moment I will be transported to another world...a world that I have created, where anything is possible. Whatever stress or worries I have quickly fade. After all, writing is therapy for the soul. Well, at least to me it is.

• Turn up the music- When it comes to writing, Pandora is my best friend. As a fantasy writer with a heavy focus on action scenes, I particularly enjoy movie soundtracks such as Inception, The Dark Knight, Braveheart, etc. Also, Enya. I love her! Her unearthly, ethereal voice sends hordes of imaginative images to my eager brain.

• Light a candle- Whenever I am writing a scene or chapter that takes place in a foreign land, I light incense. I really love the incense that they sell at World Market, and it actually helped me take my mind to another land when I wrote Lilae from Rise of the Flame's scenes in the exotic Nimvissian Empire! Even if you aren't writing a scene that takes place in a foreign land, something as simple as lighting a candle can work wonders on your imagination. There is something about scent that just works for me. 

This may be a short list, but give it a try. Simple things like this can make a huge impact on the quality of your writing session. Let me know if any of my tips work for you, or even better, share some of your own in the comments section!

Mood Music

Working on a high fantasy novel or anything that requires that particular ethereal mood? Here is my top ten picks. Clannad Enya Loreena McKennitt Hayley Westenra Qntal Secret Garden Vangelis Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones) Bear McCreary Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings) Turn on the tunes, escape to a new world, and write on!

OP vs. NOP

If you are like me, then you can quite possibly be a little of both. Some writers like to follow strict guidelines. They will map out their entire novel with a structured outline, sometimes ending up with outlines a hundred pages long. This works very well... if you're that type of person, if you like to know what's going to happen before it actually does. 

A completely fictitious example of an outline that I just free-styled for your entertainment and educational purposes:

I. Amelia is born in a small village where the people all have blue hair.

• A. Amelia is born with pink hair
• B. Amelia can make flowers grow with her singing voice and the other village girls are jealous
• C. Amelia is kidnapped by a group of girls as a joke, and locked in a hidden cage.

II. Amelia is rescued by a foreign magician who happens to walk by and hear her singing

• A. The magician wins Amelia over with his excellent dancing skills
• B.The magician let's Amelia work for him and showcase her magical skills
• C. The magician falls in love with her
• D. They get married and find that with the combination of their powers, they can create the greatest, most magical singer/danger the villages had ever seen.
• d. Amelia gives birth to their little treasure, Gaga.

III. Gaga changes the world

Hmmm...interesting.

That was just a brief showcase of what you can do with an outline. It can feel a bit restrictive for some, while it can relieve some of the pressure for others.

I enjoy the surprises you find when you refrain from using an outline. Although sometimes, I use a mixture of both methods. I usually start at the beginning and let the characters guide the story. Whenever I feel as though the writing has become a little lack luster, or feels forced, then I may do a brainstorm, jot list, or a simple outline to keep me focused. However, I find that whenever I try to follow an outline, the plot always takes an unexpected turn. Of course I don't want to stifle that creativity by forcing it to follow a predetermined path. Sometimes, you just have to let the words flow. 

Remember, there is no wrong way or right way. This is purely a question of preference, and I believe you must try both methods and see what gold it yields for you.

Write on!

World Building

As I work on completing The Chronicles of Koa, and wait for Rise of the Flame to be edited, I reflect on what I love most about creating stories. World building is one of my favorites aspects of the writing process. How else can you create an entirely new world? What can be more fun and exciting? 

 In Rise of the Flame, I have created an entirely new world that is sectioned into realms where each race is separated. Along with the creation of unique races and enhancements of mythological creatures, I have also drawn maps and geography for my world. Each detail adds truth to this land that you've created. Rules and consistency with use of power and physics can give your story that extra edge.

 In the Chronicles of Koa, I have made a sub-world, parallel to ours. The Netherworld is an interesting place. There is a back story that combines history, mythology, and even religion. Such aspects make the world a bit more tangible, where the reader can immerse themselves and visualize this new world.  So far, each chapter presents new surprises and special little details that I never even expected! These are the things that make me rush home to my lap top or pen and pad.