So This Is Happening. . . .

After five (LONG) years . . . there is a book. And it's available for pre-order NOW.

Fallon Oakley, the best violinist her inner-city high school has ever seen, has a shot at earning a coveted spot in a local university's symphony and music program—a full scholarship.

Nick Trevino wants to shed his slacker skin in order to prove himself worthy of Fallon, but first he has to convince her that he can be trusted, even in her darkest hour.

It starts with a kiss—one kiss with a ripple effect so powerful it will change the trajectory of Nick and Fallon's lives forever, but not before bringing both of their worlds crashing down around them.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

iTunes

Kobo

A print version is also on the way. 

Also, congrats to Jennifer, Sonia, Stephanie, Samantha, and Gino, winners in my random eARC giveaway based on my most active newsletter subscribers. Copies were emailed over the weekend. I hope you enjoy your early look! 

This novel has been a long time coming, that's for sure, but I am thankful for YOU (dear reader) and your patience and continued support of my little corner of the world.

My hope is that you love Fallon and Nick as much as you love Livy and Jonathan, Seth and Genesis, and, yes, possibly even Parker and Jaden. :P

Nick is my newest bad guy with a heart of gold, and Fallon? She's a fighter. More than anything else, I hope I've done their story justice. 

~Katie~

Middles -- Writing Tip

The messy middle.

They call it this for a reason, because between the initial action (or inciting incident) and the climax (yet to come) there is a massive chunk of your book that can easily become the hardest part to write, as you're required to fill this space with enough drama and insight to keep your reader hooked.

Throughout the middle, your job is to keep your promise to the reader. That means you're going to follow through with whatever you've set up within the beginning scene(s). The action should be building and conflicts deepening, with everything moving toward a massive collision (and ultimate resolution).

To do this, it's important to keep your "throughline" at the forefront.

Your throughline is your basic plotline, as in: what happens to the main character? How will they be different at the end than they were at the beginning of this story? What will have changed for them?

Any scenes that don't contribute to the throughline should be eliminated. This is the fastest way to tighten your narrative and keep the reader satisfied. 

And this will take you from one end of the messy middle to the other.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

The Landing

You cannot predict the landing.

I didn't say this. Brene Brown did. Other people have said it too, in a variety of ways. 

We have no control over who is interested in our work, how it's received, etc.

The only thing we can control is the work itself, and our attitude toward it, and everything it takes to bring it to fruition.

You can't predict the landing.

Maybe you'll nail it the very first time. Maybe you won't. Maybe it will take a hundred rejections a year for eighteen years before you "nail it."

Courage (to act) comes before confidence.

I believe in you. You should, too.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

Flashbacks -- Writing Tip

Like backfill, flashbacks pull your reader away from the action. But this doesn't mean you have to avoid them at all costs. Too many flashbacks and you might be telling the wrong story, but flashbacks do serve a purpose: they offer additional insight into a character and can bring the reader up to speed. 

Still, we have to know about the character's present situation if we're going to care at all about their past, so maybe beginning a story with a flashback isn't the best idea.

But if you need to write a flashback into one of your scenes, know that it has to be strong enough to keep us interested. This means it should offer value to the story and add relevant depth to the character or storyline.

Be clear: we should know that it's a flashback and approximately when it took place in relation to the character and their current situation. 

No flashbacks for the sake of filling space.

And make sure that appropriate "kick" (our swimming pool theory) is there to help us navigate to the other side.

Flashbacks, when done right, can offer the reader some much-needed breathing room to help process what's taking place.

Again, balance is key.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

On Staying in Motion

You know, I think a lot of people shy away from creative work because the task seems too daunting.

An entire novel? Seventy-five thousand words (or more) on the page? Words that have to make sense and be entertaining??

A whole series of paintings? Each canvas five feet by nine feet? All speaking to a single theme?

An entire chapbook? Fifty to a hundred (or more) solid poems--words and phrases that move people?

You're kidding. Right?

Well, no. Because there's that old adage: Rome wasn't built in a day.

A novel isn't written in a weekend (despite what some "coaches" will tell you). Books of poetry don't fall from the sky fully formed. Maybe you can paint a canvas in a day. But maybe it takes weeks. And maybe--just maybe--you have to throw out six canvases before you find that magic piece.

But here's the thing: tomorrow is going to come. In 365 days you will be another year older. Why not have something to show for it?

Because if you can stay in motion--do one small task toward your creative work today, and another tomorrow, and another the next day--you're going to eventually get to where you need to be.

No, you can't write a book in a weekend, but if you can write a thousand words a day every day, you can have the first draft completed in about three months. 

Even if the steps are tiny--these minuscule little efforts that don't even seem worth mentioning--they will add up. 

Stay in motion. 

That is all.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

Backfill -- Writing Tip

If your story moves at 100% the entire time--endless drama and action--the reader will likely wear out. It's also unlikely they will be able to keep pace without backstory, or exposition, that explains who these characters are, why they matter, and how they stumbled into the problems they're currently facing.

Exposition, however, does slow down your narrative.

This can be a good thing (it gives us a break from the action) or a bad thing (it can make us put down the book).

Nancy Kress (Beginnings, Middles & Ends) has a Swimming Pool Theory that helps with this:

"The stronger and more forceful your initial kick, the longer you can glide through the water. The stronger and more forceful your opening scene, the less your reader will mind a 'glide' through nondramatized backfill."

The key is balance. 

Give us that kick of action, then let us glide. Give another kick, then glide. . . .

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~ 

On the Things That Hold Us Back

You know what? 

Those things in your life that you defend yourself against are most likely exactly what you need to get rid of to grow.

Case in point: after college, I was afraid to move away from my hometown for a long time. I loved it because it was comfortable and familiar. My friends and family were there. I knew the roads and traffic patterns and where to eat (and where not to eat). It was so safe, and we (as humans) all crave a certain degree of safety. What would happen if I let all of that go? I'd have to start over somewhere new. I would be in unfamiliar territory. My routines would change. My whole LIFE would change.

The truth? My life didn't change a whole lot when we moved to the city. I still had my routines. It didn't take long to learn the area. And the changes that DID occur were mostly positive. Turns out, I refused to move for all those years, but I needed that move to break free and grow as a person. A new city has given me the courage to branch out and try new things and learn more about who I am.

I'm not saying you should pack your bags and move (though maybe you should!) but that there are things in our lives that we are resistant to--dead-set against--and that these things could very well be holding us back in certain areas of our lives.

Recognize them, and try to remove them.

It could be scary . . .

but it could also be worth it.  

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

Just a Hint. . . .

I'm just going to drop this right here for your listening pleasure. 

Does it mean something, you ask? 

Why, yes. Yes, it does. . . . 

"Rise"

I used to be afraid of giving up

The road was just too tough

Out here on my own

My path was so alone

But now I see clearly

Everything within me

Is reaching up to the sky

I can see the world with open eyes

You can't let it pass you

Just take hold and grasp it

Now's the time to take a chance

With the strength of a thousand men

Climbing to my feet again

Dry those tears from your eyes

And everything will be alright

You know the rainbow's just in sight

Dust your wings off as you rise

If your heart feels overwhelmed

Just know you're never by yourself

Put your hand in mine, hold your head up high

And together we'll rise

Never lift your head up to the sky

And find yourself asking, "Why?"

Never see them eye to eye

With the hardships of life

But faith is where my heart is

Let energy replace my doubts

Won't let my trials get the best of me

I'm marching forth towards my destiny

You can't let it pass you

Just take hold and grasp it

Now's the time to take a chance

With the strength of a thousand men

Climbing to my feet again

Dry those tears from your eyes

And everything will be alright

You know the rainbow's just in sight

Dust your wings off as you rise

If your heart feels overwhelmed

Just know you're never by yourself

Put your hand in mine, hold your head up high

And together we'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise

We can make it through anything

We'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise, we'll rise, we'll rise

You can try to hurt me

Doubt me and desert me

I'll feel the will of kings

With my mind I'll plant a seed

And you know a tree will grow

And take me in

To safety's arms

I will ascend

Dry those tears from your eyes

And everything will be alright

You know the rainbow's just in sight

Dust your wings off as you rise

If your heart feels overwhelmed

Just know you're never by yourself

Put your hand in mine, hold your head up high

And together we'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise

We can make it through anything

We'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise, we'll rise, we'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise

We can make it through anything

We'll rise

Together we can do anything

We'll rise, we'll rise, we'll rise

Oh ohh ohh

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