Struggling with Writing (What I've Been Up To)

   I've been slacking off again. I've had a lot of tests lately and I've been having writing struggles since the beginning of this year. And now finals are just around the corner so I'm going to slack off with blogging some more. I'm sorry. I just can't find the time to get around to blogging. Any free time I have goes into hanging out with my friends or writing.

 So I mentioned that I've been having writing struggles since the beginning of this year. It's been brutal. I started writing a series and pretty much flew through writing the first one, but then I started writing the sequel in January and it was going well...for about the first 15 pages, and then it went south.

 I felt like the plot was too slow and uninteresting and I just wasn't happy with it, but I was forcing myself to write even though I wasn't excited or interested in writing at all. It was pretty agonizing.

 But then my Writing Buddy, Nadia--who I write book reviews with on another blog (we've been slacking over there too)--suggested that I take a step back from that project and take some time off. I had already done that and I wasn't happy about it because I would go weeks without writing and wouldn't feel the urge to write at all during that time.

 So then she suggested that I start on a new project and come back to the sequel later. And that's what I did. I stepped back from the sequel about two weeks ago and started working on a new book idea that I came up with about a month ago. Since then, my writing has improved and I feel excited to write! I make time for it now and I feel the urge to write again! I'm very excited about this new book, but I've probably jinxed myself now by talking about how great it's going lol.

 Summer is going to start soon and I'm only going to be taking one class between working and writing so I'm hoping I'll be able to get back into blogging at least once every two weeks, but we'll see.

Have a good weekend and happy writing! <3

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

Q&A with TheBookishCrypt

STATS:

Name: Ashley Earley

Genre/s you write: Young Adult fiction

Birthday: August 8

Number of books out: 1 so far!

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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

-Do you have any advice for an aspiring author?

Keep writing! Even when it’s too difficult and the words aren’t flowing correctly, you can always fix it later, or you think your book idea is dumb. Just keep writing! 

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-How long does it take for you to write a book?

It depends on how into my project I am. It can take me 2 to 8 months to finish my work in progress.

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-What is a writing quirk of yours?

I sit in the strangest positions while I write…

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-Are there specific steps you take when you write? Ex: Is it planned or spontaneous?

It depends on the project haha. I never have my entire book planned because I change my mind about sub plots a lot, but sometimes I have a lot of things planned or I can go in completely blind.

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FUN FACTS:

-What is your favorite genre to read?

I mostly read young adult books mixed with some action and romance to keep things spicy ;)

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-Who is your main book boyfriend/girlfriend?

Jem Carstairs from The Infernal Devices. I wish he was real!!!

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-What are 3 of your ultimate life necessities?

Pen, paper, and a dictionary to look up synonyms. Everything a writer needs to survive. 

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-What is your favorite place to read/write?

In bed! 

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AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Ashley Earley is a 19-year-old author who lives in Georgia, where she’s working on her next book. When she’s not writing, she’s posting on her blog, reading, spending time with her friends, or obsessing over a book character. Her obsession with books started at the age of twelve, before developing a love for writing at the age of fourteen, when she wrote her first novel.

I am currently working on publishing a young adult contemporary romance novel that’s set in Paris, France. I hope to have it published next year if I can’t get it traditionally published! 

I will be at BookCon this year! Now, I don’t have a booth or anything but I’m going to meet other authors, propose a new book, and just have some fun! I’m very excited! 

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MEDIA LINKS:

[Website] [Twitter] [Facebook]

[Tumblr] [Blogspot]

[Email] [Instagram]

Visit https://thebookishcrypt.wordpress.com/

What I Do While Waiting on Responses From Agents & Publishers

    Every writer reacts differently during the time they send out submissions to agents and publishers. But this is how I react and spend the time while I wait on responses about my book. I have serious mood-swings during this time...

 Right After Sending Submissions: Yes! I finished my novel, revised it, wrote a query letter and now I've sent out my first submissions. This is awesome!

 10 Seconds Later: Okay...Now I'm really nervous. What if no one likes it? What if it sucks? I don't know if I can wait 2-3 weeks for a response...

 A Few Days After Sending Submissions: Why didn't I edit my book one more time? I'm sure there are tons of mistakes. No one is going to want to publish it. The plot is stupid. The characters are weird. The writing is terrible. My writing sucks!

 A Week After Sending Submissions: I'm bored, maybe I should write. Wait, no! I can't start writing a new book yet! I'm too nervous to write another book when my last book is being criticized.

 A Few Days Later: I give in. I can't stand not writing. I don't care if my writing is crappy! I need to write!

 After I Start Writing Again: All of my ideas are stupid. This book is stupid. The book I sent out is stupid no one is going to publish it. I should just stop writing all together.

 A Few Minutes Later: I can't not write. I feel like I'm going crazy, I'll just write. It doesn't matter if it sucks or not, I just can't go without writing.

Happy Easter everyone!! :)
www.ashleyearley.com
www.ashleyearleybooks.tumblr.com

A Writing Playlist

   So, I didn't do what I said I was going to about keeping up with blogging while on spring break, and I did not write any posts for the future. I got wrapped up in writing and spending time with my friends so I'm just going to try to wing it for the next few weeks and blog when I can.

 But, today, I thought I'd talk about writing playlists.

 Studies have shown that listening to music increases brain function. Some disagree because they think that the lyrics in songs replace thoughts. I think it depends on the person. Everyone is different and everyone has different ways of writing. Some need complete silence to write, others listen to music to help with the flow.

 For me, I can't write in total silence but if people around me are being too loud, I need to block them out by listening to music. If it's not too loud around me, then I don't listen to music. It just depends on where I am and what kind of scene I'm writing that day.

 Everyone has different musical tastes and the theme of your book will also tie into the kind of music you listen to while you write. The kind of music you listen to doesn't matter as long as it helps with your writing. To write a sad scene, some people have to listen to sad music to get them in the mood to write a good, believable scene. Listening to different genres of music can easily change your mood.

For the series I'm writing right now, the playlist is really short but this is what I have so far:

Enchanted Series Playlist

Waiting Game - by Banks

My Blood - by Ellie Goulding

Dead in the Water - by Ellie Goulding

I Love You - by Woodkid

Alive - by Sia

Elastic Heart - by Sia

Begging for Thread - by Banks

Howl - by Florence + The Machine

Outside - by Calvin Harris

Hollow - by Tori Kelly

Rumour Mill - by Rudimental 

Tenerife Sea - by Ed Sheeran

Kiss - by Ed Sheeran

Give Me Love - by Ed Sheeran

Everything Has Changed - by Taylor Swift

 Okay, now go make your own playlist!

Happy writing! <3
www.ashleyearley.com
www.ashleyearleybooks.tumblr.com

The Stages of Writing

   Spring break has started and I plan on writing as much as possible before classes start again and tests prevent me from writing. It's been over a month since I've last written, maybe even longer, and it's only been 2 days but I'm finding it hard to get in "the groove." I keep putting my book down, telling myself that the plot is dumb and that the writing is terrible and I need to fix it. Every writer does this at some point while writing. What can you do to stop thinking about this? Well...

 Stage 1:  Just write. Don't reread what you wrote. You have your plot and ideas, now go for it! As a writer, if you read over your work as you write it, you will second guess yourself and end up working on changes instead of doing any actual writing, and that's not good. You need to focus on writing and finishing your book before you start editing.

 Stage 2:  You will overthink your writing/book even if you don't read over your work. You'll think your writing is terrible, the book idea is bad, the plot has too many holes to fix, and maybe you should just give up! No. Don't stop writing. You may think your book idea is bad but there is a reason why you wanted to write it and you should stick with it. And also, just because you think the book might be bad, doesn't mean that your readers won't like it. The most original stories sound terrible. Stick with it, finish your book and then get opinions on it.

 Stage 3:  Edit. Once you're finished writing your book, comes the horrible act of editing it. I highly suggest taking a few weeks off after finishing your book. Mark on your calendar when you plan to start editing and get to it! You're also going to feel like your book is really crappy and you should just stop what you're doing and give up on it. You'll think that it can't be fixed. It can though! It may take some time and several drafts but you can do it as long as you stick with it!

 Final Stage:  Start writing, again. Onward to write another book! The circle of writing!

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

Keep Your Writing Up!

   So, I've been "missing" these last couple of weeks because I've been studying for midterms (which are finally over, thank God) so I haven't blogged, written, or have read much outside of school. In response, I thought it would be fitting to write about keeping up writing despite business.

 Writer's block or the problem of where there aren't enough hours in a day can interfere with writing. Maybe you work or go to school all day and, when you get home, all you feel like doing is going to bed instead of sitting down to write. It's understandable. We all do it at one time or another (more than once or write...or over a dozen times).

 But you need to get those creative juices flowing and sit down and write! Even if it's just for a few minutes. There have been dozens of times when I've sat down, only intending to write a few words, and then end up writing pages because I can't tear myself away from my work.

Write a little bit everyday, even if it's only a few words. You might not have time to immerse yourself in your novel for a few hours or have the ability to write a couple of pages--it's understandable. We all have those days where we just can't find the time. But you should at least write a few words. Set aside a few minutes to get a paragraph in (no, a sentence doesn't count), you will feel better for it.

Setting (weekly and monthly) goals for yourself can help with this. I find this very helpful. Don't make this an absolutely-set sort of thing, otherwise, you will get stressed, and stress and writing don't mix well. Unless if your character is in a tense/stressful situation, then by all means, get yourself hyped. Setting goals can help you get time in to write.

Do something that usually inspires you to write. Listen to music, read a few pages from one of your favorite books; just do something that will get you excited and inspired and cause you to feel that need to write! But don't spend too much time trying to get inspired. You could get distracted and decide that you don't have the time or don't feel like putting down that book that you're reading.

 I haven't been able to keep to these tips so maybe I'm not the best person to hear this from but I am generally pretty good about keeping to my writing schedules. I'm just trying to adjust to going to college while working. I'll have it figured out soon (I hope) and get back to writing and blogging regularly, but that's all for this week! Get writing!

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

I'm Sorry

Sorry I haven't been around in the past few weeks but I just haven't had the time to blog. I haven't written outside of blogging or have read much either so it's not because I'm lazy; it is legitimately because I haven't had time. I've been taking quizzes and exams for multiple classes these last few weeks and have just finished taking mid-terms so--hopefully--I'm back!

I have a few draft blog posts but I'm not sure what kind of blog posts I want to do so I'm open to some ideas! Comment below what you would like me to blog about, or Tweet me @ashleyc_earley

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