Jennifer Lynn Alvarez: The Book You Were Born to Write

  • Jennifer Lynn Alvarez: The Book You Were Born to Write

    Guest Blogger Jennifer Lynn Alvarez writes about The Book You Were Born to Write.

    I recently read The Martian, by Andy Weir. It’s a unique, thrilling, and detailed survival story described as “Apollo 13 meets Cast Away.” I thoroughly enjoyed the book, in spite of all the math equations and the use of the metric system (English Lit. major here). But I’m not writing about Andy Weir to review his wonderful book, I’m writing about him because of something he said in an interview:

    “I love reading up on current space research. At some point I came up with the idea of an astronaut stranded on Mars. The more I worked on it, the more I realized I had accidentally spent my life researching for this story.” Andy Weir (Book Browse online interview)

    You see, Mr. Weir is a self-proclaimed space and science fanatic inspired by the idea of humans someday traveling to Mars. While penning the novel, Mr. Weir wrote his own software program to calculate the constant thrust trajectories of his imagined mission—all based on real-life technology. He crafted the main character’s wisecracking personality after his own, and supplied him with entertainment on Mars in the form of a crewmate’s recorded 70’s shows, which happen to also be the author’s favorites.

    The fact that this book is grounded in the passions and education of Andy Weir is what makes the tale ring true. He used what he knows; space travel, computer science, his own personality, and his childhood interests to imagine a story that is pure science fiction. And The Martian has taken the world by storm. Mr. Weir originally self-published the book, but quickly sold the rights to Crown Publishing. The novel debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. Film director, Ridley Scott, and actor, Matt Damon, will bring this story to life next month in theaters everywhere. (Source: Wikipedia)

    So how does Andy Weir’s success apply to us as writers? It all goes back to his sentiment from the interview: The more I worked on it, the more I realized I had accidentally spent my life researching for this story. While the author didn’t set out to write the story he was born to write, he accomplished it by pursuing his passions and his expertise with his pen.

    We all have a passion for something, right? I hope so. And we all have expertise, whether it’s studied or acquired through life experience. And the intimate knowledge we have about people, places, things, or relationships can be used to bring our books to life for others.

    Readers, literary agents, publishers—they respond to authenticity no matter how outrageous the tale. Personally, I wrote and queried four novels before I sold my first book, The Guardian Herd, to HarperCollins. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense that this fifth book is the one that broke through because it’s the book I was born to write. I’m a lifelong horse-lover, I’m fascinated by politics, and I love reading fantasy. My book series is about five herds of flying horses at war with one another and the special black pegasus foal who will inherit the power to either unite or destroy them. As you can imagine, this upsets the leaders who stand to lose their power. It’s politics, horses, and fantasy all rolled into one.

    But what do I really know about pegasi: Very little. What do I know about horses: A lot. I grew up riding and I own a horse now. I applied my knowledge of stallion behavior to all my pegasi, male and female, making them fierce, protective, and territorial. But I also used my imagination to give them ninety-year lifespans, emotions, speech, and strict rules of power. It’s an imaginary world, but it’s informed by my real experiences with horses, my studies of politics, and my formative years of reading animal fantasy novels.

    This brings me to my last point, which is about genre. I believe that the book we’re born to write is also the book we’re born to read. When you hit the sweet spot of combining your passions with your knowledge and adding that to your favorite book genre, you will write something truly magical. I can’t promise it will become a bestseller, but I do believe it will find a devoted audience of like-minded readers.

    How about you? What are your areas of expertise, your passions? What type of book are you dying to read? Well, don’t wait for someone else to write it, that’s your book.

    Here are some equations to help you get started (in honor of Mr. Weir who loves math):

                                       Knowledge + Passion + Genre = Book You Were Born to Write

                                      Computer Science + Traveling to Mars + Science Fiction = The Martian (Weir)

                                      Horses + Politics + Fantasy = The Guardian Herd Book Series (Alvarez)

    But don’t worry if the book you were born to write doesn’t immediately pop into your head. I loved horses and knew I wanted to write about them long before I tried it. Instead I filled my time writing practice novels, studying the craft of writing, and daydreaming, and so when inspiration struck, I was ready to act! I encourage all writers to set regular hours, don’t judge your first drafts, and to seek feedback. One day, the big idea will come, and when it does, you’ll be ready.

    Note from Marlene:  Figure out your equation and just write! Jennifer will be the Writers Forum presenter in Petaluma on Sept. 17, 2015. Join us, if you can. Jennifer will talk about World Building: How to Create Fiction That Feels Real. The Guardian Herd Series Starfire and Stormbound will be available for purchase.

    Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is the author of The Pet Washer and The Guardian Herd Series: Starfire and Stormbound and the soon to be released, Landfall.

    Jennifer is an active horsewoman and volunteer with U.S. Pony Club. She draws on her love of animals for inspiration when writing her books. Jennifer graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. degree in English Literature. Jennifer lives on a small ranch in Northern California with her husband, three children, and more than her fair share of pets. Please visit her website for more information.

    Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JenniferDiaries
    Visit her Facebook page: Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

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    Marlene C

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  • “Magic happens in rewriting.”

    “Muse still comes in a rewrite. Magic happens in rewriting. As you chip away, themes appear. Start the story on the day the character’s life changes. Use your first draft to explore characters.” — Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of The Pet Washer and Guardian Herd – Starfire

    Jennifer says this about Starfire:

    “It wrote me. I did not come up for air until the first draft was finished. I’d always been warned not to write ‘talking animal’ books — that publishers don’t like them — but as I edited STARFIRE, I realized it was the book I’d always wanted to read as a kid.”

    “In hindsight, I’m grateful STARFIRE is the book that broke through because this book, my fifth, is the book I was born to write. It is the sum of me and my interests—flying horses and underdogs, heroes and bullies, and a special colt watching his herd, wishing he was not an outsider. It’s the story for anyone who’s ever felt left out, or different, or alone, but who believes in their heart they can belong and, perhaps, make a difference. It’s my story, and now—thanks to my agent and HarperCollins—it can be your story too.”

    Note from Marlene: Is there a story you have always wanted to write?   Use any of the prompts on The Write Spot Blog to jumpstart your writing. Just Write!

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    Marlene C

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  • Publishing is a journey, not a destination. — Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

    Publishing is a journey, not a destination. — Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of The Pet Washer and Guardian Herd – Starfire.

    Jennifer was an amazing presenter at Writers Forum in Petaluma, summer of 2014.  If you have an opportunity to hear her speak, or attend her author’s event . . . go for it!  She’s warm, friendly and has a herd of information about publishing . .  .both traditional publishing and self-publishing. She has done both and has stories to tell!  She is welcome back at Writers Forum anytime! She’s a good writer, too!

     

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    Marlene C

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  • Guest Blogger Jennifer Lynn Alvarez talks about the importance of daily writing

    The Importance of Daily Writing, by Guest Blogger Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

    Writing is an exercise that requires practice and training to build the muscle required to become a “finisher.” When I set out to write a novel after a fifteen-year break, I struggled to trap my imagination on paper. I wrote a few days a week, and it was mentally agonizing, similar to how I feel when I begin a new exercise routine for my body. However, I was happy to be writing again, and so I kept at it, but my writing routine was sporadic. I finished a middle-grade book, THE PET WASHER, in about a year, and it’s only 33,000 words.

    In January of 2012, I made a decision to write something—anything—every day. I announced this on my blog, and like any new routine, it was difficult to keep up at first. I didn’t have a book contract at the time, and not all of my friends and family initially accepted that I now had “work” hours. But I stuck to it and carved out several hours a day, often awaking at 5 or 6am, to write blog posts, articles, and journal entries.

    After a few months, I noticed how much easier it was to write. I became adept at quickly organizing my thoughts. Soon I was averaging 2000 words a day in three-hour time periods. I also noticed that the more I wrote, the more ideas I had for new material. And eventually, everyone in my life accepted that they saw a little bit less of me.

    So later—when the big idea came—I was ready! It happened while I was driving home from Petaluma on highway 101. I visualized a herd of winged horses flying above my car. They were migrating and a heavily pregnant mare was struggling to keep up. I knew immediately that her foal was special and that I had to write about him. When I arrived home, I began the first draft of STARFIRE.

    Because I had been writing daily, I had the brain muscle to fuel a quick first draft. I wrote 53,000 words in just 20 days. I finished, revised the book, and sent it to an agent who had previously, but kindly, rejected me. She loved STARFIRE and signed me on as a client. Soon after that, we accepted a four-book contract from Rosemary Brosnan and Karen Chaplin at HarperCollins Children’s Books.

    I attribute my success to the fact that I showed up each day and wrote. It created the endurance I needed to quickly act on my idea, it carved out the time required to write the next three books in the series, and it enabled me to meet my tight publishing deadlines.

    It can be difficult at first to carve out this time, and not everyone in a writer’s life will always understand it, but I encourage all writers who aren’t doing it to try. Don’t judge your progress. Just write!

    I showed up every day at my computer without the foreknowledge that it would ever lead to anything. I treated my hobby as a job even though I had no reason to believe I’d ever be paid for it. I wrote without judgment because my goal was to practice, not to publish. But when the big idea came, I was strong enough to execute it. I went from aspiring author, to debut author with a big five publisher in exactly one year.

    The first book in my new series will be released in hardback around the world on September 23, 2014. Of course, results will vary with every writer, but the point is that daily training will prepare you, whether your published or not, for the next big idea.

    Jennifer Lynn Alvarez is a fantasy fiction author and speaker who writes middle-grade fiction. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. degree in English Literature. Jennifer’s upcoming books include The Guardian Herd middle-grade series. Book one, Starfire, releases on 09/23/14 through HarperCollins Children’s Books. Jennifer’s self-published books include The Pet Washer. This series is for ages 7 and up. Jennifer lives on a small ranch in Northern California with her husband and three children.

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    Marlene C

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