Saturday, July 15, 2017

Starting a New Book

   Starting a new book can be intimidating.

 But don't let your own creation get you down.

 Last week, I finished the 3rd and final book in a trilogy I've been working on since the end of 2015. I didn't even want to finish the series, but I did, and I'm happy that I finished it. But the whole time I was working on it, another book idea was playing around in my head the whole time.

 So, I started planning out the book I would write once I finished Enchanted #3. I wrote down every idea I could think of, every idea that could potentially become a scene, and even wrote out character descriptions. (I'm using Scrivener now. Feeling super professional over here.) While I sped through writing Enchanted #3, I was planning and having fun with the ideas for my next book.

 And then, I finished Enchanted #3.
 And then, I panicked.

 I panicked because that meant that I could start something new. New is scary. New is intimidating. It didn't matter that I had been writing out my plans for nearly a month. My next book was going to be brand new. Not part of a series with the same characters I've been playing around with for almost 2 years.

 I was creating a new world. With new characters. A new writing style. A new feel. New. Everything was going to be new.

 Which meant that I could totally screw something up.
 Which led to me walking around with a ball of nerves for several days while I took a break before jumping into this brand new, terrifying book that I was about to start writing.

 What if I can't write it the way I want to? What if the writing is boring because I decided to change things up? What if the plot isn't unique enough? What if I can't show off my characters' personalities the way I want to? What if the fight scenes aren't exciting enough? What if the dialogue is stupid and not at all what I want?

 Sure, there's always the revision process. I know this book can't be perfect, but telling myself didn't make me feel any better.

 Change is scary. And I'm changing up my writing for this book to make things more exciting, or try to anyway. New is also scary. I'll be learning about my own characters and world as I write. I'll be throwing in a dash of badass scenes and a pinch of awesomeness.

 Needless to say, it was a few days before I could actually sit down and start this new book. I only started yesterday, and it took me half a day to convince myself to sit my ass down and start writing it, but with every word I put down, I feel a jolt of excitement and nervousness.

 But hey, I started it. I'm adding words. I'm going to slowly mold this book into what I want. And it's going to be my top-secret project until I'm ready to share it. I might share some character photos and scenery pictures, but the book is mine. All mine. And I'm going to work hard at this book until it's the book I want it to be.

 Yes, starting something new is intimidating, but once you sit down and actually start it, it doesn't seem so big and scary anymore.

 So go sit down at your desk and get started.

Good luck! <3
www.ashleyearley.com
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Sunday, July 2, 2017

How to Write a Synopsis for Your Book

   I wrote a 1-2 page synopsis for the first time last month. I did a lot of research and ended up writing a synopsis for 2 of my books. I'd like to share some of what I found with you guys for those of you who are struggling to write a synopsis for your own book.

 Writing a synopsis is a challenge. It can be kind of frustrating but also kind of fun jotting down all of the main parts of your books.

 You should start by outlining your synopsis. What are the main things that happen in your book? Write down the main plot points. If you need a clear idea of everything that happened in your book, go through your book and write down what happens chapter-by-chapter. Then you can take what you have when you're finished and condense it to 1-2 pages.


Here are some links of examples and step-by-step instructions:








 After you have your outline, put it all together. Make it sound exciting/gripping. It will take a lot of work to get it down to 1-2 pages, but you can do it! I swear. It sucks, but you got this! You're shortening your book to 2 pages or less, but hey, it's longer than a query letter.

 The most important part is to tell everything that happens. Don't try to use some fancy words to keep the reader/agent guessing. Literary agents want to know everything. Yes, even the ending. The beginning, middle, climax, and ending all need to be included. Reveal it all in the synopsis!

 The last part you should do is edit. Edit, edit, edit. Your synopsis is not perfect after your first try. You need to revise it a few times. After writing it, you should edit it, and then step back from it for a few days before coming back to edit it again.


Sorry for not posting for a while, but good luck with your synopsis!
www.ashleyearley.com
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Saturday, April 8, 2017

Tour Schedule: Alone in Paris by Ashley Earley

Alone in Paris

Publisher: CreatSpace
Release Date: April 1, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg

Synopsis:

Breathe, Taylor. 

 Taylor Clay's family isn't exactly perfect. They may look the part with the nice, big house and her dad's fancy job, but that's what's tearing them apart. That, and her dad's sudden recurring drinking problem. Though her family is close to falling apart, she never wished for something like this to happen. She never wished for her father to drive off a bridge. Especially not while they were on vacation; especially not when her and her mom were in the car with him at the time.

Breathe. 

 She's devastated after the fact. And it isn't helping that the papers are gossiping about how the pristine lawyer could have driven off the bridge on purpose. And just when she thinks nothing could possibly make things worse, she realizes she's left alone with no relatives to care for her. So she's alone. Her parents are dead. And she's stuck in the country her family was visiting for their vacation. She's alone in Paris.

Just breathe. 

 Then Nathan walks into the picture. Funny, snarky, persistent, and sometimes, just flat out rude, he annoys Taylor to no end. He won't leave her alone, but Taylor doesn't know whether or not she should push him away.

     


Ashley Earley is a 20-year-old author that is working toward her B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. When she’s not writing, she’s posting on her blog, reading, obsessing over a book character, or spending time with friends. Her obsession with books started at the age of twelve, before developing into a love for writing at the age of fourteen, when she wrote her first novel.

Her Thriller/Suspense short story, Chasing Hair of Gold, won first place in the 2016 Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards.

You can visit her at www.ashleyearley.com.

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

The Bookworm Central- Review + Favorite Quotes

April 18

LadyTechie's Book Musings- Review + Favorite Quotes

April 19



 Here is a link to the wonderful blog that started this blog tour for me - be sure to check them out! http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2017/04/tour-schedule-alone-in-paris-by-ashley-earley.html

A huge thank you to The Fantastic Flying Book Club for this wonderful opportunity and thank you for checking it out!

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Alone in Paris Release Day! - Release Day Party

   GUESS WHAT TODAY IS!!!

 That's right, it's Alone in Paris release day! That's right, you can order your own copy right now. Go to Kindle & download it, or go to Amazon and order a paperback copy & have it in your hands in only a few days!


 I am beyond excited about sharing this book with you guys! It took 4 drafts, a lot of reformatting and rewriting to make this book as perfect as I could make it. So, I hope you guys really enjoy it.

 I had my eyes set on this book cover halfway through writing it and by the time I was ready to publish, it was still there waiting for me so I would like to thank the artist, Melody Pond, for this gorgeous cover that represents my story so well.

 But anyway, regarding today (the release day), I have several plans! If you're not following me on Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr yet, you need to be! Why? You may ask. BECAUSE I'M DOING A BUNCH OF COOL STUFF FOR ALONE IN PARIS' BIRTHDAY--THAT'S WHY!

Instagram (@ashley_earley): https://www.instagram.com/ashley_earley
Twitter (@ashleyc_earley): https://twitter.com/ashleyc_earley

 Most of the fun will be happening on my Instagram, but my Tumblr and Twitter are attached to my Instagram, so anything that goes up on Instagram goes up on those other social media networks as well. But I would recommend starting at my Instagram page.

 Now, I'm not going to reveal what all I will be doing for the release day. If you already follow me on Instagram, then you know that I've been trying to plan a lot of things but I'm also still deciding what I'm actually going to do. I mentioned possibly doing a giveaway for Alone in Paris bookmarks, a giveaway for a signed copy of Alone in Paris, and a Q&A with me where you can ask me anything (writing questions, questions about my book, and questions you want to know about me personally)! Point is, there is going to be a lot of activity on my pages today. You won't want to miss it, so head over to my page right now because this will be going on all day!

 If you want to know more about Alone in Paris, like in great detail, click here.


Hope you join me to celebrate my book's release! Have a great weekend!
www.ashleyearley.com
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Saturday, March 25, 2017

How Long Should My Query Synopsis Be?

   Since I'm writing summaries for the books I've been revising, I decided to share some more query letter secrets with you. If you guys like this post, I will share a few more query letter structure secrets! So leave a comment to let me know!

 How long should my query synopsis be? When I first started sending my books out to agents, I found myself asking this too often. I felt like my synopsis was too long, or too short. It never seemed good enough. It never sounded professional enough. It didn't seem to bring forth my story--convey my book well.

 Well, hopefully this will help you as it had helped me. Let's break this down.

 A query synopsis should only be about 150-200 words in length. This is only a few paragraphs. I know that this seems pretty short, but it's actually the perfect length. Not too long, but also not too short. As Goldilocks would say, "It's juuuuust right."

 This word-count will force you to pick 1-2 main points in your synopsis. You don't want to give too much away in your synopsis. You can't reveal every plot point. This won't hook your readers. Only drive 1-2 points and you're good to go!

 If you're unsure about how to go about this, you can go to your bookshelf, or Goodreads.com, and read the synopsis of books that are similar to yours in genre. Then go on to write your own synopsis!

Good luck writing your synopsis!
www.ashleyearley.com
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Friday, March 24, 2017

25 Facts About Me | First YouTube Video!

   25 Facts About Me | First YouTube Video!



I'm trying out the whole YouTube channel thing even though I'm super awkward. FOLLOW ME LOL


I will be posting BookTube things, and show and tell you guys about my life.

www.ashleyearley.com
www.ashleyearleybooks.tumblr.com


Saturday, March 18, 2017

ABOUT ALONE IN PARIS

 So I'm going to give some details about Alone in Paris today!

Alone in Paris
About first loves and a betrayal that can be forgiven.
About first loves and a betrayal that saves a young girl from herself.

Where the Idea for Alone in Paris Came From

I got the idea for the book Alone in Paris from a picture. The picture was of a girl sitting next to a small pond. She was wearing a white dress, and more importantly, she was alone. And I just imagined there being the Eiffel Tower in the reflection of the pond.



The Idea For Alone in Paris

Since I pictured the girl in the photograph alone, when I started writing Alone in Paris, I had to figure out how she came to be alone.

I wondered how she came to be alone and thought about it for a while until I came up with the idea about how she came to be by herself and why. However, the story and where it would take me wasn't obvious. I wasn't sure who my character was and where the story would go, and if I could write a contemporary since I was used to writing fantasy. I was struggling to figure out what kind of book Alone in Paris would be.

I wrote the first five chapters for Alone in Paris. But I had been working on another book project at the time, and quickly came to the conclusion that I couldn't write 2 books at once. So, I put it away, only to pick it up again 4 years later. I somehow finished it, and writing it wasn't so bad, even though it lacked battle scenes and scary creatures lol. I've actually written another contemporary book since finishing Alone in Paris.

 The Characters

I really enjoyed bringing Taylor and Nathan to life. I find them to be wonderful characters that are lost in their own way. Their empty lives bring them together, causing them to blossom. Though, Taylor might have gotten lost a few times during the blooming of their relationship.

Finding each other led to them having fuller lives. Even when they separated, they still had a very strong bond that 2 years of separation couldn't break.

Nathan's parents are alive, but he fails to have a connection with them.
Taylor's parents are dead but she had a connection with them that she was trying to keep intact.

 Favorite Character to Write

My favorite character to write was the main character, Taylor. It’s actually funny, sometimes it was miserable to write through Taylor’s eyes because she is a very broken character that doesn’t know how to move forward with her life. Her sadness consumed me at times. But she managed to pull through and find a way to move forward because of Nathan. Taylor was my favorite character to write because she could pull me into her world and her feelings projected onto me.

Most Difficult Character to Write

The most difficult was actually Nathan, because I did not want it to seem like that he was only there to make Taylor feel better. I didn’t want it to seem like that Nathan was Taylor’s only reason to move on. Taylor is stronger than that. She didn’t need a guy to help her through her struggles; she only needed someone to show her that it was possible to overcome those struggles. I wanted my readers to understand that Nathan was someone that Taylor could count on.

Character Names

Taylor Catherine Clay's name didn't come to me right away. If you notice the first chapter--in the beginning, I don't mention her name and weave around having to name her. It is because, when I first started writing Alone in Paris, I couldn't think of the perfect name for the girl that was stuck alone in Paris.

I had the same trouble with Nathan, too. I wanted his name to be "Nathan," but I wasn't entirely sure if the name fit him or if it was a good, memorable name that would make my readers swoon.

I did not want to mention Nathan's parents too much because I was worried that the book would teeter from the story of Taylor and her parents. I mentioned Nathan's parents when it was needed and made it relatively clear what type of relationship Nathan had with both of his parents. His father: a distant man that wants his son to succeed. His mother: a loving figure that keeps herself between Nathan and his father.

In the book, I switch to past events that happened that led up to Taylor ending up alone. I wanted to show Taylor's relationship with her parents and show how she was dealing with what was happening with her father. I wanted to show her feelings and how everything led up to Paris.

About The Main Character (Taylor Catherine Clay)

At first, I wasn't sure who I wanted my main character to be. I wasn't sure what her personality was going to be or how exactly I wanted her to react to the accident.

I didn't want to show Taylor's sadness in the very beginning, I wanted to slowly bring it to the surface. I was afraid the book would seem rushed if I just jumped to the point, so I spaced it out and, instead, showed what a typical day looked like for her. I showed the mask she puts on when she's able to get out of bed and act like a normal person, while at the same time, showing that she is anything but what she puts off when she leaves her gloomy apartment.

From the beginning, I knew that I wanted her to be wary of Nathan. I wanted her to be reluctant to be around him, or talk to him. I didn't want her to like him right away.

Location and Culture

I did quite a bit of research for Alone in Paris. I planned the distance from the Eiffel Tower from the hotel that Taylor and her family were staying at. I also looked at a lot of Paris streets so that I could describe everything around Taylor. I added my own twists on some of the destinations, like the coffee house that Taylor and Nathan frequently visit. As well as the secret pond that Taylor loves, which was inspired by the picture that inspired the creation of the book.


 The pond that is in the book is hidden behind hedges that only locals know about, but it is frequently forgotten despite the beauty it holds. Taylor loves the hidden spot and goes there often, introducing it to Nathan once she trusts him enough to think that he would take equal joy in it.

The abandoned apartment building was inspired by an apartment that I once stayed in (not abandoned, of course) with my family when we visited another country. We stayed in a rundown apartment building for a month, and I never trusted the elevator. It made sketchy sounds and was really small. I always raced my brother up the stairs.
The building in the book, however, I pictured to be a grander rundown building.


The Ending

 I hardly plan for how my books will end. I don't usually think of the ending until I'm about halfway through a book. However, as the pages for Alone in Paris stacked up, I knew that I was coming to the end. But I wasn't sure how I was going to end it. I didn't come up for the ending until I was 2 chapters away.

I wanted the ending to be smooth and leave my readers satisfied with how Taylor and Nathan's story came to a close. I also wanted to leave my readers guessing with how things continued between them. I wanted to make it clear that just because the book ended, it didn't mean that Taylor and Nathan's story was over. Their lives continued on beyond Alone in Paris. While there will not be a sequel for Alone in Paris, I wanted to show my readers that my characters' story wasn't over.

 I hope that the ending will be viewed by my readers as I intended it, and more importantly, I hope that readers like it.


Alone in Paris is coming April 1st! 


Stay tuned for Alone in Paris!!
www.ashleyearley.com
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