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Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novels. Show all posts
Monday, October 31, 2011
It's that time of year again...
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Sunday, October 31, 2010
NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal is to start (and finish) a 50,000 word novel by November 30th. This year, I know of several Muslims who will participate. I am personally tempted to join the fun but think I will be too busy with my regular freelance commitments. Nevertheless, I have signed up under the user name precisiontext. What about you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
MG/YA Writer Needed
This Craigslist ad seeks "a motivated writer to write middle grade/young adult short novels. Writing style and voice must be able to cross a multicultural demographic."
Read the ad for more information.
Read the ad for more information.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Writing for Truth
I just recently stumbled upon Sr. Fatima Martin's blog, Writing for Truth. Sr. Fatima is the author of When the Mountains are Scattered as Dust, a novel that won the novel category of the Muslim Writers Awards 2008.
Although Sr. Fatima is a "slow blogger," I assure you that her posts are worth waiting for. This is definitely the blog to visit if you are interested in knowing the thought process behind writing a novel.
Although Sr. Fatima is a "slow blogger," I assure you that her posts are worth waiting for. This is definitely the blog to visit if you are interested in knowing the thought process behind writing a novel.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Soon to be Released: Ripples, by Jamilah Kolocotronis
Ripples will be published by Muslim Writers Publishing and is the fourth book in the Echoes series of novels, by Jamilah Kolocotronis. As the copyeditor of this book, I learned a tremendous amount and was very pleased to work with such a team of outstanding professionals.If you're not familiar with this groundbreaking series of novels, I suggest you read the books, which cover the chronicles of an American family in Chicago whose family members are gradually introduced to Islam. Sister Jamilah does not just write about her characters - she makes them come to life in so many ways.
If you are a convert to Islam, you will almost certainly identify with the trials of the Adams family. In the past, Sister Jamilah has tackled sensitive topics like alcoholism, drug addiction, racism, and abuse. In Ripples, she deals with interfaith relations, cross-cultural marriage, disabilities, and so much more...all from an Islamic perspective. Stay tuned to learn how to order the book (soon to be released), and get a headstart reading the books you may have missed: Echoes, Rebounding, and Turbulence.
Q&A: Writing a Novel to Completion
Question: Could you give me some tips on how to finish a novel? In the middle of writing about 20 pages, I end up thinking this isn't good to be finished, any advice?
~ Aisha
Answer: First of all, congratulations on writing the first twenty pages. This is more than most people will accomplish, even if they are aspiring writers. Writing a novel takes time, dedication, and committment, and it is way too easy to get discouraged, especially if you nit-pick at your own work or seek perfection in your first draft.
I am not a writer of fiction, but I know the feeling of not being able to finish a large writing project. There is a tremendous amount of coordination that must take place in order for all the pieces to come together. If this is true for, say, a non-fiction article of 5,000 words (which is considered long), then think how much truer it must be for a novel, which could be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 words.
In part, that's why events like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) were established. This is an event that, each November, challenges writers to complete an entire novel in just one month. It sounds corny, but many writers have used it as a motivational tool to get a rough draft out on paper - and it works. I know of several writers who have written solid rough drafts during NaNoWriMo, including two Muslims (one of whom is Jamilah Kolocotronis, author of the Echoes series of novels, who participated along with her son).
Sister Jamilah chronicled her progress on her Echoes blog, and she is generally a wonderful source of inspiration. I really like reading her blog even though I don't write fiction.
In any case, the underlying point of NaNoWriMo is to get the draft down on paper with the pressure of a deadline. For some reason, some writers (including myself) need that pressure to produce.
But there is no need to wait until November to start applying pressure. Some people do just fine setting mini-goals, such as writing 1,000 words each day, no matter what. Just think...within 2-3 months you would have 60,000 to 90,000 words down on paper, which is essentially a rough draft.
A friend or writing partner could also provide the motivation, support, and pressure you need to stay committed to your writing goals. If the friend is reading your manuscript as you progress, you will have the additional benefit of regular feedback that may help you determine the direction of your novel.
It's my understanding that many authors end up discarding massive chunks of their first drafts. They may go through several more drafts before they are satisfied with the results. This is completely normal and does not mean that your writing is bad or sub-par. It is just part of the creative process and your growth as a writer. It takes most people time (think 1-2 years) to produce a finished novel - and that is before it is even reviewed by an editor, agent, or publisher, all of whom may require or recommend further changes.
One thing Sr. Jamilah always says is that her characters take her places she did not expect and often dictate the story. So, just let your story flow onto paper (or the computer screen), and do not worry if your story is "good enough." There will be plenty of time to go back and make revisions later on.
I have no idea if your novel will be in the genre of Islamic fiction, but it might also help to think how little there is available in this genre. I noticed from looking at your MySpace profile that you are 18 years old, so you essentially represent the next generation of Muslim writers who will take us into the next phase of culturally relevant and interesting books. If you are like many Muslims in your generation, you probably wished you had Islamic novels to read while growing up instead of what is generally available for today's English-speaking teens. Consider the great responsibilities of today's Muslim writers and the difference you can make in other people's lives by writing novels with Islamic themes.
Finally, ask Allah (SWT) to guide you on all aspects of this magnificent journey, and you will not go wrong.
Please write back and let me know how you are progressing.
Sincerely,
Amel S. Abdullah
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a question you’d like to see answered on this blog? Post it here, or send it to me via e-mail. All questions sent via e-mail will be posted anonymously (unless you request otherwise). Click here for an index of all questions answered on this blog.
~ Aisha
Answer: First of all, congratulations on writing the first twenty pages. This is more than most people will accomplish, even if they are aspiring writers. Writing a novel takes time, dedication, and committment, and it is way too easy to get discouraged, especially if you nit-pick at your own work or seek perfection in your first draft.
I am not a writer of fiction, but I know the feeling of not being able to finish a large writing project. There is a tremendous amount of coordination that must take place in order for all the pieces to come together. If this is true for, say, a non-fiction article of 5,000 words (which is considered long), then think how much truer it must be for a novel, which could be anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 words.
In part, that's why events like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) were established. This is an event that, each November, challenges writers to complete an entire novel in just one month. It sounds corny, but many writers have used it as a motivational tool to get a rough draft out on paper - and it works. I know of several writers who have written solid rough drafts during NaNoWriMo, including two Muslims (one of whom is Jamilah Kolocotronis, author of the Echoes series of novels, who participated along with her son).
Sister Jamilah chronicled her progress on her Echoes blog, and she is generally a wonderful source of inspiration. I really like reading her blog even though I don't write fiction.
In any case, the underlying point of NaNoWriMo is to get the draft down on paper with the pressure of a deadline. For some reason, some writers (including myself) need that pressure to produce.
But there is no need to wait until November to start applying pressure. Some people do just fine setting mini-goals, such as writing 1,000 words each day, no matter what. Just think...within 2-3 months you would have 60,000 to 90,000 words down on paper, which is essentially a rough draft.
A friend or writing partner could also provide the motivation, support, and pressure you need to stay committed to your writing goals. If the friend is reading your manuscript as you progress, you will have the additional benefit of regular feedback that may help you determine the direction of your novel.
It's my understanding that many authors end up discarding massive chunks of their first drafts. They may go through several more drafts before they are satisfied with the results. This is completely normal and does not mean that your writing is bad or sub-par. It is just part of the creative process and your growth as a writer. It takes most people time (think 1-2 years) to produce a finished novel - and that is before it is even reviewed by an editor, agent, or publisher, all of whom may require or recommend further changes.
One thing Sr. Jamilah always says is that her characters take her places she did not expect and often dictate the story. So, just let your story flow onto paper (or the computer screen), and do not worry if your story is "good enough." There will be plenty of time to go back and make revisions later on.
I have no idea if your novel will be in the genre of Islamic fiction, but it might also help to think how little there is available in this genre. I noticed from looking at your MySpace profile that you are 18 years old, so you essentially represent the next generation of Muslim writers who will take us into the next phase of culturally relevant and interesting books. If you are like many Muslims in your generation, you probably wished you had Islamic novels to read while growing up instead of what is generally available for today's English-speaking teens. Consider the great responsibilities of today's Muslim writers and the difference you can make in other people's lives by writing novels with Islamic themes.
Finally, ask Allah (SWT) to guide you on all aspects of this magnificent journey, and you will not go wrong.
Please write back and let me know how you are progressing.
Sincerely,
Amel S. Abdullah
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a question you’d like to see answered on this blog? Post it here, or send it to me via e-mail. All questions sent via e-mail will be posted anonymously (unless you request otherwise). Click here for an index of all questions answered on this blog.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal is to start (and finish) a 50,000 word novel by November 30th. In 2006, more than 79,000 people participated in this global event that places emphasis on quantity versus quality. I know of a few Muslims who will participate this year, including Echoes novelist Jamilah Kolocotronis. I expect she will be blogging about the experience.
Read more about NaNoWriMo here.
Read more about NaNoWriMo here.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Q&A: Finding a Publisher for my Novel
Question: I hope that you can advise me, insha'Allah (God willing). I am working on a novel at the moment and am a bit lost as to how I should find and approach a publisher - and how I can get the book published. Who do you think would be best to contact with completed work? I tried looking on the Internet, but so many places ask for money to just read your work.
~ A sister in Islam
Answer: First of all, thank you for being the first person to ask a question on this blog. I hope more readers will send in questions and make the blog a great source of information for aspiring writers.
Although I have not personally been through the book publishing process, here are a few things I have learned through research and conversations with those more experienced.
1. The first thing to do is finish writing the novel. Agents and publishers generally want to see completed work – not ideas or work in progress, especially from first-time authors. This applies to fiction in particular. Non-fiction books don’t necessarily have to be written first.
2. Once you have finished writing the novel, make sure that it is in tip-top shape before trying to get it published. Revise it as many times as necessary to make sure that it is logical, well-written, and free from grammatical errors and typos. Some authors test their work with beta readers who offer feedback and criticism. Some also hire editors to help clean up the grammar and sentence structure. For some writers, the process of revision can be lengthy, but it should not be rushed. When you submit your work to an agent or publisher, you want to make sure you are putting forth the best that you have. Writing is a competitive business, and your manuscript must stand out among the others. Even if you need help with issues related to grammar, beware of sinking too much money into editorial services. This can get expensive fast. Writing is your craft, so take the time to learn and polish on your own. These days, there are many on-line critique groups that can help point out weaknesses in your writing. Make use of these free services – they are there to help you.
3. You did not provide any information about the type of novel you are working on (historical, romance, horror, science fiction, etc.) and your target audience (women, young people, Muslims, non-Muslims, etc.) – or whether you will seek out a traditional or Muslim publisher. These factors will all influence what you should do next. If you are going the “traditional” route, you must do some research into the agents and publishers that accept your type of work. Sometimes you can query a publisher directly, and sometimes you may need to query an agent. An agent represents your work and shares it with potential publishers in exchange for a percentage of the sale. An agent should not take money to read your work. Also beware of agents and publishers who recommend specific editors and want you to pay for the service of editing. A mantra that is often repeated on-line is: Money flows towards the author, not away from the author.
4. Agents and publishers usually have guidelines on how they want you to approach them. Conventional wisdom says that you should obtain and follow these guidelines carefully.
5. In most cases, you will need to craft a query letter. The query letter is a brief introduction to you and your novel and follows a specific format. Work on this query as carefully as you work on your novel. It should be properly structured and free from grammatical errors. Do not send out your completed manuscript at this stage. The query letter will be enough for agents or publishers to decide if they want to see more. Some authors send out query letters in batches of five, ten, or more. It can take a very long time to receive a response from an agent or publisher. The long wait is normal. So is rejection. Send out a few queries, and see if you get any feedback. Use it to improve your query letter for the next round of agents or publishers on your list.
6. If, on the other hand, you are seeking out a Muslim publisher, the rules are different, a point that Linda (Widad) Delgado stresses in her book, A Muslim’s Guide to Publishing and Marketing. For one thing, Muslim publishing does not use agents, and business practices may vary considerably from one publisher to another.
7. In all cases, do thorough research to make sure that you do not become the victim of a scam or an unscrupulous publisher, agent, or editor. Check on the reputation of the people you deal with. Most importantly, learn about the process of book publishing before jumping into it. There are no shortcuts to this. If your work is accepted for publication, be prepared to write a synopsis and marketing plan. Again, there are many on-line groups that can help answer your questions and help guide you in the right direction.
Here are some links to help you on your quest for information:
Novel Writing Forum (Absolute Write)
Bewares and Background Check (Absolute Write)
Why Agents Shouldn’t Charge Fees (Absolute Write)
Index to Agents and Publishers (Absolute Write)
How Real Publishing Works (Absolute Write)
A Partial List of Muslim Book Publishers
Sincerely,
Amel S. Abdullah
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a question you’d like to see answered on this blog? Post it here, or send it to me via e-mail. All questions sent via e-mail will be posted anonymously (unless you request otherwise). Click here for an index of all questions answered on this blog.
~ A sister in Islam
Answer: First of all, thank you for being the first person to ask a question on this blog. I hope more readers will send in questions and make the blog a great source of information for aspiring writers.
Although I have not personally been through the book publishing process, here are a few things I have learned through research and conversations with those more experienced.
1. The first thing to do is finish writing the novel. Agents and publishers generally want to see completed work – not ideas or work in progress, especially from first-time authors. This applies to fiction in particular. Non-fiction books don’t necessarily have to be written first.
2. Once you have finished writing the novel, make sure that it is in tip-top shape before trying to get it published. Revise it as many times as necessary to make sure that it is logical, well-written, and free from grammatical errors and typos. Some authors test their work with beta readers who offer feedback and criticism. Some also hire editors to help clean up the grammar and sentence structure. For some writers, the process of revision can be lengthy, but it should not be rushed. When you submit your work to an agent or publisher, you want to make sure you are putting forth the best that you have. Writing is a competitive business, and your manuscript must stand out among the others. Even if you need help with issues related to grammar, beware of sinking too much money into editorial services. This can get expensive fast. Writing is your craft, so take the time to learn and polish on your own. These days, there are many on-line critique groups that can help point out weaknesses in your writing. Make use of these free services – they are there to help you.
3. You did not provide any information about the type of novel you are working on (historical, romance, horror, science fiction, etc.) and your target audience (women, young people, Muslims, non-Muslims, etc.) – or whether you will seek out a traditional or Muslim publisher. These factors will all influence what you should do next. If you are going the “traditional” route, you must do some research into the agents and publishers that accept your type of work. Sometimes you can query a publisher directly, and sometimes you may need to query an agent. An agent represents your work and shares it with potential publishers in exchange for a percentage of the sale. An agent should not take money to read your work. Also beware of agents and publishers who recommend specific editors and want you to pay for the service of editing. A mantra that is often repeated on-line is: Money flows towards the author, not away from the author.
4. Agents and publishers usually have guidelines on how they want you to approach them. Conventional wisdom says that you should obtain and follow these guidelines carefully.
5. In most cases, you will need to craft a query letter. The query letter is a brief introduction to you and your novel and follows a specific format. Work on this query as carefully as you work on your novel. It should be properly structured and free from grammatical errors. Do not send out your completed manuscript at this stage. The query letter will be enough for agents or publishers to decide if they want to see more. Some authors send out query letters in batches of five, ten, or more. It can take a very long time to receive a response from an agent or publisher. The long wait is normal. So is rejection. Send out a few queries, and see if you get any feedback. Use it to improve your query letter for the next round of agents or publishers on your list.
6. If, on the other hand, you are seeking out a Muslim publisher, the rules are different, a point that Linda (Widad) Delgado stresses in her book, A Muslim’s Guide to Publishing and Marketing. For one thing, Muslim publishing does not use agents, and business practices may vary considerably from one publisher to another.
7. In all cases, do thorough research to make sure that you do not become the victim of a scam or an unscrupulous publisher, agent, or editor. Check on the reputation of the people you deal with. Most importantly, learn about the process of book publishing before jumping into it. There are no shortcuts to this. If your work is accepted for publication, be prepared to write a synopsis and marketing plan. Again, there are many on-line groups that can help answer your questions and help guide you in the right direction.
Here are some links to help you on your quest for information:
Novel Writing Forum (Absolute Write)
Bewares and Background Check (Absolute Write)
Why Agents Shouldn’t Charge Fees (Absolute Write)
Index to Agents and Publishers (Absolute Write)
How Real Publishing Works (Absolute Write)
A Partial List of Muslim Book Publishers
Sincerely,
Amel S. Abdullah
-------------------------------------------------
Do you have a question you’d like to see answered on this blog? Post it here, or send it to me via e-mail. All questions sent via e-mail will be posted anonymously (unless you request otherwise). Click here for an index of all questions answered on this blog.
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