All posts in Writer Babel

"Where I am now…"

By Kelly On 04/12/2010 In Writer Babel With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Where I am now…"Permalink

The final edits for Criminal Instinct have been turned in! And in a way it makes me nervous and excited. Reading on screen for typos is a little more challenging on the eyes. For my YA books I was sent a print copy of final edits, but Carina Press is completely digital. I hope I caught all typos and any discrepancies. The launch for Carina is set for June 2010!

Getting so close!!

So what am I working on now?

I am working on lining up new promo for my adult debut, I’m slowly writing a new young adult novel and I just made the decision to go forward with a sequel to Criminal Instinct. There is a chance Carina won’t pick it up, but writing is all about taking a chance. I’m 10,000 words in and I hope to write at least 50,000 more in the next few months. *whistle*

I know, wishful thinking, maybe? I calculated if I write 500 words a day, I might pull it off. LOL!

I’ve had home distractions going on for most of the New Year. Nothing bad, just busy with my family and home. It has been tough to focus on writing. Not to mention a tough last year with my career has left me cautious. A little scared. :)

So I’m hoping for the best branching out into Romantic Suspense. I’m a newbie in this digital world as many of us are with Carina. I’m having to make new connections and learn how to promote with a digital book. There won’t be in-store book signings or giving print copies or an advance to help finance promo. It’ll be another learning experience in my career. Definitely.

Wish me cyber luck!

"Hello, Blog World"

By Kelly On 01/22/2010 In Criminal Instinct, My Writer Journey, Writer Babel With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Hello, Blog World"Permalink

Hello Blog World,

In case you haven’t been following the news, California is going through a rough series of storms hitting the coast one after the other, causing havoc of floods, mudslides, fallen trees and power lines, and even tornado warnings. I wish the best to the families affected by these harsh conditions that we really aren’t accustomed to, and safety to the state, PG&E, and city workers during the rest of the winter.

I’ve been back from my Winter Hiatus for a couple of weeks on Twitter, but writing has been like a distant star I’ve been trying to reach since after the New Year. For weeks I’ve been reorganizing my surroundings, my desk, and my plans for 2010. It makes life a lot easier and less stressful.

It was like I was hit with an epiphany at the end of 2009—I had too much stress and a lot of that was caused by disorganization and the goals I felt I couldn’t reach. I was facing hurdles with my writing career (as many writers have last year) that felt like I was riding a roller coaster. I knew it was time for some changes.

With the digital phenomenon of books taking off, I took a risk and submitted my first book—a romantic suspense that had sold to Silhouette Bombshell before it closed its doors–to a new ebook press. And turns out Carina Press felt my novel Criminal Instinct was right for them. *Jersey Shore Fist Pump*

So yes, I’m back to writing adult fiction under the name Kelly Lynn Parra, and with my young adult fiction still writing as Kelly Parra. It’s exciting and scary at the same time!

When I was first submitting to publishers, I wrote both genres, but when Bombshell closed I focused solely on YA. And here I am back again writing both. I’m revamping my website so that I’ll have both genres on one site.

Right now I have several projects in the works. In other words, too many ideas cluttering my brain. By March I hope to have a solid idea on which project will lead the pack.

I’m leaving comments off for a while since I’m not blogging daily, but thank you for reading. I hope to keep my friends updated with writing news soon enough.

Good reading & writing!
Kelly

"Don’t Let the Waiting Turn You To the Dark Side"

By Kelly On 09/24/2009 In Blog Talk, Writer Babel With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Don’t Let the Waiting Turn You To the Dark Side"Permalink

I was reading the comments on my agent’s latest blog entry, “Agent’s Get Rejected Too,” and read a comment that had me shaking my head.  I’ve been reading Pubrants since 2006. Kristin has blogged on this topic before. In fact, she’s received many generous and encouraging comments over the years. Among these comments, she’s also received rude comments, some that are way off the wall, and some that are just plain bitter. But she’s told me everyone’s entitled to his/her opinion so she rarely censors the comments.

Here is the comment by anonymous that recently caught my eye:

I’m guessing, though, that you get the courtesy of a personal, timely response when you’re rejected, and not a faintly xeroxed form letter which takes at least six months to arrive.

Ouch.

This anonymous writer is actually taking his/her frustrations out on an open forum, and not even directing it toward NLA, since they are straight electronic these days.

I’m telling you now, as a writer, rejection is part of the job. And the waiting is a huge part of the job, whether you are waiting on a response on a submission from an agent or an editor . With my first book, a publishing house had my book well over six months. And it took me nearly a year to sell it.  A year of waiting and wondering and hoping. 

And because my agent has a good size client list, we have to wait to receive her feedback on a project since there are all kind of issues that have priority if other writers have deadlines or she’s backed up with deals and contracts.

If you sell a book, it’s a waiting game to get your contract fine-tuned and signed, to hear from your editor regarding edits because they have other books on a schedule before you, to even get paid your first check.

Then your release date can be slotted for 1-2 years from the date of sale.

Lots and lots of waiting.

Tick-tock-tick-tock.

All I’m saying is, I know the waiting is harder than you might have expected, but you have fight to not to let the bitterness get to you. You have to be like Luke Skywalker and suck yourself back from the dark side, because that darkness can fester.  It can block you and get you down.

In this business, you have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. You have to keep your eye on your goal. Even with two books under my belt, I’m still trying to reach goals, and yeah, there are times I have to beat the dark side off with a stick. *wink*  

So come on, guys, if you’re a writer, you’re in it for the long haul.

With all the waiting, and more waiting, and more waiting, and all.

"Book of Ideas"

By Kelly On 09/14/2009 In Writer Babel With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Book of Ideas"Permalink

Book of Ideas

I’ve been working on a new proposal. It’s a potential short connecting series. There are a lot of things to remember and explore with this proposal. So I started a small Book of Ideas.

There are doodles and themes and characteristics and conflicts. Usually I have this information scattered all over the place. On my computer, some on my laptop, some random scrap of paper, post-its, a few pages in a notebook… Very unorganized, me.

Now I have my story thoughts all in one place.

While it is fun starting a new project, it is also a little scary. Because even though you as the writer believe in this story and the characters, others will not. You might have poured such hard work into your story, and still it can get denied.

But I can’t stop myself. This is another story I want to tell. I believe in it. And that’s what you have to do if you want to be a writer.

You have to Believe.

In your writing.

In your story.

In your characters.

You have to Believe In Yourself.

"The Blank Page"

By Kelly On 07/09/2009 In Writer Babel With 3 Comments Permanent Link to "The Blank Page"Permalink

This is what I have to start with…a blank page.

I had two complete book proposals, nearly half of two books, but they didn’t work. They were too dark, not enough feeling. Maybe no light. So now I’m back to a blank page. In a way that could mean nothing.

And in another way it could mean everything.

The blank page could be a story waiting to be written. It could be ready to be filled with dark and light. It could be ready for some feeling. That’s what I want to create this time. I don’t want to worry about the time going by. Or the sales numbers or the things happening that don’t really matter in long run when all you have is a blank page to fill.

I’m ready to write another story that matters.

And I’m starting with a clean slate, characters to get to know.

I’m starting with a blank page.

Wish me luck. :)

"What I’m Doing"

By Kelly On 11/01/2008 In Writer Babel With 4 Comments Permanent Link to "What I’m Doing"Permalink

The Secret Fates Extravaganza is now over. *sigh*

It was a lot of fun and a lot of work! Every author and reader that participated was awesome, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. It’s an event I’ll be remembering for a long time. :)

Feedback is trickling in for Invisible Touch. Not many people I know are reading it. haha. Its been a great surprise to hear from new readers that are picking it up. Invisible Touch is little more mature than Graffiti Girl with a slower pace. It’s a story with romance, mystery and family drama. A story that was emotionally trying to write because of the grief and sadness in the book.

What I’ve learned from writing 2 books is that even though every writer wants to write that book that will catch on like wildfire, I have to write for myself. It sounds a little selfish, but if I worry too much about pleasing other people, my happiness with writing fades and I become blocked.

So what am I doing now?

I’ve been working on a new sci-fi YA. Its been challenging. Along with characterization and plot, there’s been world-building and every question must be answered. There’s a lot more action that I hope will be entertaining. But I have lost perspective a little, soon it will be time for my agent’s thoughts.

I’m also not going to ignore the state of the economy and publishing. It might be tough to sell this book. I really don’t know. I already know I won’t have a book out in 2009. Only time will tell with what happens next. :)

On another note, if you are interested in winning a copy of Invisible Touch, I’m over on Stephanie Kuehnert’s blog for her Women Who Rock Wednesdays. Leave a comment and winner will be chosen next Wednesday.

I see on-line a lot of you are gearing up for Nano. Good luck! You’re a lot braver than me!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

~kelly

"Wip Update"

By Kelly On 09/15/2008 In Writer Babel With 7 Comments Permanent Link to "Wip Update"Permalink

Wip update:

You know what’s really tough? So you are finally in the groove of writing your novel. Sure you edit all the time, layer, and add new stuff, but your voice is FINALLY coming through nice and smooth just the way you like it. But you know that your beginning is off. The voice that you started with, the one you were not sure of yet, doesn’t match your later chapters.

And its a little slow too!

You want that beginning to jump off the page. To grab the readers attention. To match your dang middle.

*sigh*

Then you tweak it, thinking gradually you can get it to match, but deep inside you KNOW you are just going to have to scrap it and rewrite it.

*double sigh*

But really, where is the best place to start it, anyway?

Yes, in action helps. That inciting incident. Yup.

But which is the right scene that makes you feel comfortable? That’ll make sense?

*triple sigh*

So even though I’m plugging along, I’m really still in the beginning… :)

"Writer Instinct"

By Kelly On 09/08/2008 In Writer Babel With 5 Comments Permanent Link to "Writer Instinct"Permalink

When I first started writing, I wasn’t much of a plotter. Writing by the seat of my pants was my thing. But what I’ve noticed was that at times I’d become lost in the story. And not in a good way.

I might not know where to go next. I might start losing that tension. Something might just not feel right.

And the only way for me to move forward was to sit back and think. In other words, plot.

I still won’t plot an entire book from the beginning, but I can plot out scenes that need to happen or that will raise the stakes and hopefully not just grab the reader’s attention but my own! :)

When you’re writing a draft of a book, you have to please yourself first. How else are you going to care for these characters? If you don’t care for them, you can bet the reader will have a hard time too. But once I write the book for me, I still have to sit back and look at it from a reader’s POV. Is the pacing too slow? Or too fast? Is this character interesting or too cookie cutter?

You read enough books, you learn more. You critique with others, take advice from CPs, agent, editors, and the more you write, the more you learn.

I guess in the end, it all comes down to your own writer instinct.

"Blog Post"

By Kelly On 07/25/2008 In Invisible Touch, Writer Babel With 4 Comments Permanent Link to "Blog Post"Permalink

haha, I’m not sure what to title this post!

Unfortunately, it’s been a not so great week for me in my biz writing world. *sigh* But that’s the ups and downs with this career. I won’t go into details at the moment, but that’s why I’ve been a little quiet here. Hopefully later I’ll have better info to share! I was down about the news for a day or so, but I know in this biz you have to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and work harder. This career is NOT easy. But I’m ready for whatever comes next. :)

[Insert sudden change in topic]

I do have some good book news to balance out the bad biz news–hehe–I’ve been receiving positive feedback on Invisible Touch. (What a relief! haha) What’s been really cool is that the feedback has been from YA readers who were drawn into Kara’s story. Here are a few tidbits…

“(The Gold Award of Excellence!) This book shows that when you’re always looking to the future, you often forget to deal with the past. An amazing, touching novel that deals with big issues in an original context.”
— TeensReadToo

“Kara’s voice and situation is so compelling, and the mystery behind the signs will propel any reader through the novel, wanting to figure out how it will end. And the ending is completely riveting, and a total shock– this is a simply fantastic book, and one that everyone should check out.”
— Book Chic

“You know when you’ve just read [a] good book because the author has this way of making you feel every emotion that the character in the felt-frustration, love, anger, confusion-and this was one of those books. With twists and turns at every corner the ending of this book will leave you stunned.”
– Just Blind Reviews

Thank you, Reviewers!

[Insert sudden change in topic #2]

Now it’s time to focus on conference!

First off clothes…I’m not all sure I have enough biz-cas clothes for the trip, but I’ll make do with what I have. I wish I had more money to spend but this conference is very expensive in San Fran, and I have a budget to maintain. :)

The ceremony dress is simple black with a black and slightly glittery sweater shawl. Nothing spectacular! It’ll do. Is there something wrong with me that I didn’t go gaga about finding a dress? Don’t know, but I’m still excited just to be nominated!

I’ll be off on Tuesday to check in, and I’m not sure if I’ll be blogging during the trip. This time with the noms I have a bunch of appointments so I’ll definitely be busy. But remember I’m a RWA conference blogger Thursday 9 am, so check me out. haha.

I’m really excited to be meeting a lot of blogger friends–it’s so great to put faces to people you form friendships with on-line. I’ll be sure to take plenty of pics to share.

Thanks for reading, and see some of you soon!

"Things on My Mind"

By Kelly On 06/24/2008 In Writer Babel With Comments Off Permanent Link to "Things on My Mind"Permalink

I’ve been feeling a little blogless lately…

It seems when I have too many things on mind I’m not focused enough to blog. :) :)

The Things on My Mind List:

–The collaborating and Design of Secret Fates. (Just 4 more authors to go!)

–The redesign of YA Fresh. (I’ve given the blog a fun look that seems to be taken well.)

–RITA “Best First Book” finalists Blog Tour (The Ladies and I are putting together a blog tour with interviews and guest blogs and possibly giveaways. Should be fun! The first interview is up with Helen Brenna @ Jamie Caries’s blog!)

– INVISIBLE TOUCH. (Activity is picking up for Touch. With the finalization of the front and back cover, and all other fine details. And I’m in the midst of designing promotional material and ads.)

–New proposal. (I have a new proposal with my editor, and that is still nerve-wracking waiting to hear back! haha! Because with an imprint some stories can be wrong for a line, and I took a leap so to speak. We’ll see how it goes!)

That’s my list. What’s yours? :)

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