If You Can't Think of Anything to Write, Insert A Dragon

I Did It!

I overcame my fear with a compromise. I started a webpage for my co-author and myself.

hawkandyoung.wordpress.com

I went with the free version for now, to learn how to add pictures, choose a theme, and post blogs. I am paying for hosting. Perhaps I will one day upgrade to a paid domain, but for now I am content.

Hawk and Young have a Facebook page, a Twitter, and a YouTube, but there are only two videos. My goal for the summer is to script some video.

Why the dragon? The book we are currently working on involves a dragon.

Plus, 'if you can't think if anything to write, insert a dragon'. :)

We haven't been stuck without anything to write with this story. Young had an outline planned a year ago. Outlines rock!

This story started out with a dragon and has grown to be so much more. When we work together, we have more ideas. You'd expect that with two brains instead of one. The fun part is listening to them and working them into a cohesive whole.

We've stuck pretty closely to the outline. I expressed an opinion about a female character that we need to do more with, and he agreed, so we'll add that when we get there. I've done some research into Flora and Fauna of the area, as well as fishing practices and old legends. Good writing takes research.

#Didyouknow that the dragonship of the Vikings used to be thought cursed and ships bearing the dragon were not allowed on the coast of Iceland. Now the boats are part of their heritage and embraced.

Synopsis: It's A Good Thing

Yesterday I worked on writing a two page synopsis, or summary, of my novel.

I was searching for agents and came across one who asked for a synopsis, not many do, but some mention that one would be helpful, and I knew I should write one up.

Firstly, in writing one, you may come across plot holes you haven't quite tied up, or in my case, the overuse of the title King. Perhaps one of them is more a General or Dictator? Writing up a summary after you have finalized the story is a great way to step back from it and look at the big picture.

Occasionally, I start with an outline, but often the story twists and turns as I'm writing it and I end up in a different place, or with additional characters.

Also, back to the plot hole thing, there may be a place where I dropped an entire sequence of events in on purpose and never went back to tie things up. I may have a section that needs tightening or even sticks out as unnecessary when I look at it from farther away.

Summaries are good things.

I'm not trying to jump the gun here, I'm still waiting on beta reader's feedback, I just love my book so much, I want to do what I can while I wait.

So I looked for agents and other publishing companies. Publish America skips the agent part, for example. I could submit to them and know in 24 hours whether my MS (manuscript) is good enough for them. But when I delved deeper into their site, I found that much of the marketing and promotion is up to me. Sure, they would give me a small advance that could pay for a website and some flyers to print up for a booksigning, but would it be enough?

Secondly, I have a co-author that lives 700+ miles away. He would have to do his part, his equal share, and we are not ready, i.e. coordinated, enough yet to be on the same page promotional-ly. Sure, after the cover art is done by the company, I could have t-shirts made with the release date, set up a website with pre-release special pricing, and make up flyers for my first signing, but if he's not ready to wear his t-shirt, pass out is own flyers, and do his own book signings, then this is a lopsided deal.

It will take more coordination and planning and time. One day we will be there, but for now, I'll research names, bounce ideas off him for publication, and wait on my beta readers. :)