Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Moving On
If you've followed this blog since the beginning, you know in 2010 I wrote a paranormal romance, Phantom Fires, that I really believed would be the next Twilight. It wasn't. It remains unpublished. After 105 rejections, I considered self publishing and eventually made the decision to shelve it. I always planned on rewriting it. Even after I got an agent, I still planned on rewriting it. But as I work though my WIP something happened without being planned. Most of the words--all of the important words--from my favorite line in Phantom Fires, made it into the WIP. So I think I'm okay with not rewriting PF, and that's good because I have new things to write
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Distinguishing NA from YA
There seems to be some overlap between the NA and YA genres, some of it is organic as there is bound to be some overlap in books about college kids and books about high school kids. And honestly some of the confusion comes from writers manipulating the categories for marketing purposes. My friend Faith Sullivan, author of Heartbeat is here today, to tell us what makes something NA. So here's Faith!
The New Adult genre is relatively new, hitting the scene less than two years ago. It's in its infancy stages, so there's bound to be some confusion surrounding it, until it becomes more mainstream.
Unlike Young Adult stories, the characters are not in high school. They are somewhere between 18 and 25. They're either in college or at a point where they're just starting out in their adult lives. For the most part, they don't live with their parents, they're on their own for the first time.
What is the main difference between New Adult and Young Adult? New Adult doesn't have to be as censored or as monitored as Young Adult. Boundaries can be crossed, rules can be broken. Most authors feel there is still some sort of morality element attached to Young Adult where an author would not want to promote certain types of behavior or address certain issues that are deemed as too adult for a reading audience between the ages of 13 and 17.
Many New Adult stories, not all, feature graphic sexual passages that can be labeled erotic. Passages you would never find in a Young Adult novel. But a New Adult can have a clean story, too. It doesn't have to revolve around sex. In fact, New Adult isn't only about contemporary romance. It segments into as many sub-categories as Young Adult - paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, etc.
There's a hefty decision making process behind why authors designate their books either New Adult or Young Adult. It's up to their individual preference and the audience they feel their story is best suited for in terms of promotion. Also, a lot of bookstores currently don't have a New Adult shelf, so an author may label a book Young Adult, even though it's a more natural fit for the New Adult market. But thanks to a growing awareness of the trend, hopefully the momentum will carry over from the ebook craze into the brick and mortar retail world.
For more information, I heartily recommend two great reference sites that are the online authorities of the New Adult genre.
NA Alley - http://naalley.blogspot.com/
New Adult Book Club - http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/85934-new-adult-book-club
The New Adult genre is relatively new, hitting the scene less than two years ago. It's in its infancy stages, so there's bound to be some confusion surrounding it, until it becomes more mainstream.
Unlike Young Adult stories, the characters are not in high school. They are somewhere between 18 and 25. They're either in college or at a point where they're just starting out in their adult lives. For the most part, they don't live with their parents, they're on their own for the first time.
What is the main difference between New Adult and Young Adult? New Adult doesn't have to be as censored or as monitored as Young Adult. Boundaries can be crossed, rules can be broken. Most authors feel there is still some sort of morality element attached to Young Adult where an author would not want to promote certain types of behavior or address certain issues that are deemed as too adult for a reading audience between the ages of 13 and 17.
Many New Adult stories, not all, feature graphic sexual passages that can be labeled erotic. Passages you would never find in a Young Adult novel. But a New Adult can have a clean story, too. It doesn't have to revolve around sex. In fact, New Adult isn't only about contemporary romance. It segments into as many sub-categories as Young Adult - paranormal, fantasy, science fiction, etc.
There's a hefty decision making process behind why authors designate their books either New Adult or Young Adult. It's up to their individual preference and the audience they feel their story is best suited for in terms of promotion. Also, a lot of bookstores currently don't have a New Adult shelf, so an author may label a book Young Adult, even though it's a more natural fit for the New Adult market. But thanks to a growing awareness of the trend, hopefully the momentum will carry over from the ebook craze into the brick and mortar retail world.
For more information, I heartily recommend two great reference sites that are the online authorities of the New Adult genre.
NA Alley - http://naalley.blogspot.com/
New Adult Book Club - http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/85934-new-adult-book-club
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
IWSG: Sweets Blogfest
Well, today is the day of The Sweets Blogfest. It's the first blogfest I've hosted in two years, so I'm nervous to see how it goes over. And it's to promote my novella The Other Marlowe Girl and my friend's novella Advantage Heartbreak, so that makes it even more nerve wracking! We need this to go over well!
Also, it's been all over the internet by now, so you probably already know, but I recently signed an agency agreement with the very awesome Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. So I have that fear that I think every newly signed author has...what if the next book isn't as good. Although at the risk of bragging, I have to say I think it's coming along quite well! ;)
If you have time, please check out our Sweets Blogfest.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Sweets Blogfest
The rules are to post the image, link back to us, and tell us about your favorite sweet of any kind. My doctor has put me on a no sugar diet, so I'm going to have to talk about sweet romance, which is fine because I love it anyhow! So my favorite sweet couple is Anna & Entiene, but I have to say Hernandez guys and Marlowe girls make a really "sweet" combination.
When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite bar. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he's her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.
Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband's drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.
Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves?
Seventeen-year-old Meg Flannigan thought she’d made up her mind about love. But with two guys still vying for her attention, she wonders if she made the right decision. Ash is everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend: loyal, loving, and totally hot. But then there’s Noah: fun, sexy, and the more he sticks around, the more Meg wants him there.
What’s a girl to do?
Make up her mind, before it’s too late! Gorgeous freshman Liz has set her sights on Ash, and Noah is beginning to remind Meg of her last boyfriend—the one who broke her heart. Can she figure things out before she ruins not one, but two relationships? Or is she doomed to serve up heartbreak?
Elizabeth Arroyo On Revision
Revisions
Thanks for hosting me today! I’m excited to be here.
Let’s talk about revisions. For me, the first draft is the fun part. It’s the part where anything and everything is possible. As a firm believer of sucky first drafts, they are for my eyes only.
The real work begins with revisions.
I try to let the manuscript sit for at least two weeks before I go back to read it. During revisions, I concentrate on larger issues such as:
Plot- Am I connecting the dots? Do things fall in place and make sense? Is there enough risk?
Character Development- What was the image of my MC in the beginning, middle, and now at the end? Has there been a significant change? Was this change fluid? Or is it forced? Are all characters relevant? Are they likeable? Real?
Scenes- Are all scenes showing what I want them to show? Is the transition narrative from scene to scene written well? Am I developing characters in scenes? Are the scenes moving the plot forward?
Dialogue- No talking heads. Is there a balance between movement and speech in dialogue? Is the pacing right?
Everything research related has to be complete at this point.
It helps to change mediums for revisions.
I make changes on a hard copy of the manuscript. Once I’m done, I format a pdf version and read it on my kindle.
What does your process look like?
About the author
Elizabeth has worked in the community for the bulk of her professional career. She enjoys quiet moments, action flicks, and dancing with her four-year-old. THE SECOND SIGN is her debut novel. You can find more information about Elizabeth at www.elizabetharroyo.com.
THE SECOND SIGN
Dark YA Paranormal Romance
By Sapphire Star Publishing
When a demon guardian comes to collect seventeen-year-old Gabby’s soul, she refuses to give it up. She’s not demon. She can’t be. Her father and twin brother are angels. The demon gives Gabby twenty-four hours to decide her allegiance, and then starts killing her short list of friends, leaving a message behind: She is the Second Sign.
As Gabby and Jake—her almost boyfriend—begin to unravel the mystery behind the Second Sign, she learns Jake may be the key to saving her soul. But it means a sacrifice has to be made that will change their lives forever.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Where I've Been...
So last week got busy. You may have already heard from facebook, twitter, or YALitChat, but I'm now represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. I also wrote sixty pages in five days last week! woo-hoo! I'll post more about this later, but for today I just wanted to say I haven't forgot about the blog. My lack of posts last week came from an abundance of writing.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Back To The Future Blogfest
The Back to the Future Blogfest is being hosted by M. Pax, Suze, and Nickie.
So on Saturday morning before you've had your coffee, or in my case hot tea, you get a package from yourself dated ten years in the future. What does it contain?
Well, as I open this package I find the ELF's baby book. She has pictures with teeth, and then pictures with no teeth again and finally pictures with real teeth. She a beauty at 10 years old. She wins spelling bees and science fairs and rewrites fairy tales. And on the very last page of her book there is a note that says "See Beth? Your lack of parenting skills didn't screw her up at all. You do have a lack of parenting skills, but she's resilient!"
And under the book one more thing sits in the box. It's a page from the New York Times, and my name is on it. My hand writing scrolls across the bottom the page. "Keep writing. You'll get there."
Well, as I open this package I find the ELF's baby book. She has pictures with teeth, and then pictures with no teeth again and finally pictures with real teeth. She a beauty at 10 years old. She wins spelling bees and science fairs and rewrites fairy tales. And on the very last page of her book there is a note that says "See Beth? Your lack of parenting skills didn't screw her up at all. You do have a lack of parenting skills, but she's resilient!"
And under the book one more thing sits in the box. It's a page from the New York Times, and my name is on it. My hand writing scrolls across the bottom the page. "Keep writing. You'll get there."
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