Ask the Author: Elly Blake
Answered Questions (37)
Elly Blake
I'm so sorry it took me forever to reply to this. Unfortunately, the plans for the novellas have changed. (One reason was that I took a lot longer to write Fireblood and Nightblood than intended, so I kind of ran out of time.) I would still like to write at least one novella to expand on a particular fiery character's future (I hope you can guess who), but I'm not sure when that might happen. Sorry to keep you waiting! I wish I had something to share. Thank you for asking!
Elly Blake
I do! And thank you so much for saying that! It means so much, truly. <3
I'm working on a new project, but so much of it is still up in the air, so I don't have too much to report yet. But here is a little update in case you're interested. :)
I've been writing almost every day for the past couple of months. I'm trying to write at least 1000 words/day, but some days I'm only able to get a few hundred words down, and some days I haven't been able to write at all. It has really helped to write at coffee shops with a couple of writing buddies (or my husband sometimes brings his school work because he's a teacher, and he sits with me while I write).
As I write the first (very messy, nonsensical) draft, I'm figuring things out along the way.
I tried to write an outline for this thing. I really did. Ideally, I would like to be able to create an outline that details the world, characters, conflict, stakes, etc. BEFORE I start writing. But unfortunately (or maybe it's ok?) my brain refuses to figure out things like world building and stakes until I know more about the characters. So I'm letting it flow and be a mess and hoping that I can figure out what the story is even about (please universe!). I'm trying to let myself have fun and not be too critical, something that I had kind of forgotten because I was putting so much pressure on myself.
So hopefully I will get this long messy draft done so I can step back and try to make sense out of it. Then I'll probably use my white board and Post Its to figure out what the structure *should* be, and what's missing. When the stakes, world, and conflict are clearer, I might have something to share with you, but for now I'm just figuring it out.
Thanks for your question, and for your patience as I stumble around here! xoxoxo
I'm working on a new project, but so much of it is still up in the air, so I don't have too much to report yet. But here is a little update in case you're interested. :)
I've been writing almost every day for the past couple of months. I'm trying to write at least 1000 words/day, but some days I'm only able to get a few hundred words down, and some days I haven't been able to write at all. It has really helped to write at coffee shops with a couple of writing buddies (or my husband sometimes brings his school work because he's a teacher, and he sits with me while I write).
As I write the first (very messy, nonsensical) draft, I'm figuring things out along the way.
I tried to write an outline for this thing. I really did. Ideally, I would like to be able to create an outline that details the world, characters, conflict, stakes, etc. BEFORE I start writing. But unfortunately (or maybe it's ok?) my brain refuses to figure out things like world building and stakes until I know more about the characters. So I'm letting it flow and be a mess and hoping that I can figure out what the story is even about (please universe!). I'm trying to let myself have fun and not be too critical, something that I had kind of forgotten because I was putting so much pressure on myself.
So hopefully I will get this long messy draft done so I can step back and try to make sense out of it. Then I'll probably use my white board and Post Its to figure out what the structure *should* be, and what's missing. When the stakes, world, and conflict are clearer, I might have something to share with you, but for now I'm just figuring it out.
Thanks for your question, and for your patience as I stumble around here! xoxoxo
Elly Blake
Thank you so much!!! I'm so happy you enjoyed the series!
Well, to be honest, my naming inspiration is kind of all over the place. :) When writing Frostblood, I started with a list of weather words (Arcus is a type of storm system), but I ended up borrowing names from Latin, Old Norse, and a few other cultures, plus from a person or two I'd met, and a couple of names I just made up. :)
Sometimes I name instinctively by sound and how the name feels, meaning the personality that I think would feel right with that name. Other times, I've looked up names and chosen them based on meaning. (Kai was chosen based on the meaning of the name: it means "fire" in Scottish and "sea" in Hawaiian, so it seemed perfect for him.)
I find the website BehindtheName.com to be quite helpful in finding names.
Good luck on your writing journey!
Well, to be honest, my naming inspiration is kind of all over the place. :) When writing Frostblood, I started with a list of weather words (Arcus is a type of storm system), but I ended up borrowing names from Latin, Old Norse, and a few other cultures, plus from a person or two I'd met, and a couple of names I just made up. :)
Sometimes I name instinctively by sound and how the name feels, meaning the personality that I think would feel right with that name. Other times, I've looked up names and chosen them based on meaning. (Kai was chosen based on the meaning of the name: it means "fire" in Scottish and "sea" in Hawaiian, so it seemed perfect for him.)
I find the website BehindtheName.com to be quite helpful in finding names.
Good luck on your writing journey!
Elly Blake
Oh, I'm sorry! I should have modified my previous answer where I mentioned the novellas. So the thing with this series is that the books were scheduled to come out 9 months apart. Unfortunately, I had to do quite a bit of rewriting on books 2 and 3, and I simply ran out of time to write the novellas in the time frame that was budgeted. I'm sorry about that! My hope is that I get to revisit this world again in the future, but for now, the series is complete as a trilogy. Thank you SO much for telling me you loved the series and for asking for more! It means everything to hear from readers who connected with the books! xoxo
Elly Blake
Thank you for your kind words about Fireblood. <3
Yay for writing a book! That takes dedication and courage!
It's totally natural to be nervous about publishing. My advice there is to try to let your desire to be published outweigh your fear, and keep pushing forward! Take breaks when needed. This isn't an easy road. Be kind to yourself.
As for advice on forgetting what people think of the book, I'm going to be honest: it's really hard to forget harsh things you see in a review or blog post. Unfortunately, negative stuff tends to stick in our heads. However, there is good news! You really do get used to the bad reviews. Opinions vary widely and everyone's reaction will be different, from complete adoration of your characters and world to the other extreme of really, really not liking your story and being mad they paid money to read it. Of course the negative reviews still sting, but they hurt less as you get used to the whole having-your-words-out-in-the-world thing. It's a really vulnerable feeling, but it does get easier with practice.
FYI, many authors don't look at reviews at all, and it's ok to protect yourself this way. Read as much or as little as works for you.
If you mean that you'd like to stop wondering what people will think of the story while you're writing it, I struggle with that one, too! But I will tell you that it helps if you shut out anyone's opinion but your own. Try to draft without judgement and just let yourself be free and put down whatever comes into your head. You can be analytical and decide what works and what doesn't later. For now, just play! (Easier said than done, I know. I'm struggling with this right now as I try to plan/write a new book.)
If you're talking about critique partners and criticism that hurts, maybe take a moment to ask yourself whether the feedback you're getting is constructive. It should be more like "consider this" instead of "you messed this up." The tone should be supportive, in the vein of helping you see where and how you can strengthen the book. Not tearing you down. If the tone is supportive but the notes just hurt because getting feedback on your words feels so personal, just know you are in good company. Every author I know feels pretty fragile when we're getting honest feedback from a CP. I hope it helps to know you're not alone! Once you take time to digest the feedback, you'll find yourself bouncing back and finding ways to address the problems your critique partner pointed out. Best of luck!
Disclaimer: When it comes to writing advice, please take what is useful, if anything, and leave the rest. The only valuable advice is whatever works for YOU.
Yay for writing a book! That takes dedication and courage!
It's totally natural to be nervous about publishing. My advice there is to try to let your desire to be published outweigh your fear, and keep pushing forward! Take breaks when needed. This isn't an easy road. Be kind to yourself.
As for advice on forgetting what people think of the book, I'm going to be honest: it's really hard to forget harsh things you see in a review or blog post. Unfortunately, negative stuff tends to stick in our heads. However, there is good news! You really do get used to the bad reviews. Opinions vary widely and everyone's reaction will be different, from complete adoration of your characters and world to the other extreme of really, really not liking your story and being mad they paid money to read it. Of course the negative reviews still sting, but they hurt less as you get used to the whole having-your-words-out-in-the-world thing. It's a really vulnerable feeling, but it does get easier with practice.
FYI, many authors don't look at reviews at all, and it's ok to protect yourself this way. Read as much or as little as works for you.
If you mean that you'd like to stop wondering what people will think of the story while you're writing it, I struggle with that one, too! But I will tell you that it helps if you shut out anyone's opinion but your own. Try to draft without judgement and just let yourself be free and put down whatever comes into your head. You can be analytical and decide what works and what doesn't later. For now, just play! (Easier said than done, I know. I'm struggling with this right now as I try to plan/write a new book.)
If you're talking about critique partners and criticism that hurts, maybe take a moment to ask yourself whether the feedback you're getting is constructive. It should be more like "consider this" instead of "you messed this up." The tone should be supportive, in the vein of helping you see where and how you can strengthen the book. Not tearing you down. If the tone is supportive but the notes just hurt because getting feedback on your words feels so personal, just know you are in good company. Every author I know feels pretty fragile when we're getting honest feedback from a CP. I hope it helps to know you're not alone! Once you take time to digest the feedback, you'll find yourself bouncing back and finding ways to address the problems your critique partner pointed out. Best of luck!
Disclaimer: When it comes to writing advice, please take what is useful, if anything, and leave the rest. The only valuable advice is whatever works for YOU.
Elly Blake
Definitely! I'm in the early planning stages of a new YA fantasy idea now, but I still have a lot to figure out. I don't have anything to announce at this point. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future I'll be able to share more! xoxo
Elly Blake
At one point, I had planned that her birthday was December 21, but I have some vague feeling that I might have decided this didn't work in my calendar for Nightblood. However, I never did change the bday so even if it doesn't totally fit, this is what's stuck in my head. (Sorry to take so long to reply!) xoxo
Elly Blake
Hi Nancy! This is a great question! When I was still writing Fireblood, I could have gone in all sorts of directions on this one. I really hadn't decided the outcomes or all of the characters' futures. But now, I think the easiest thing is just to say that this is all answered in NIGHTBLOOD. I hope that's ok!! (Message me on Instagram or Facebook if you still have questions.) xoxo
Elly Blake
Ok, I'm just going to confess that I don't know what this means. This is probably a generation gap showing (meaning I'm too old to get this one.) haha. Can you elaborate on your question, please? :) xo
Elly Blake
Funny, I never thought about this, but that makes total sense to me! I'm not sure if my unconscious mind put that together or if I missed an opportunity there, but you saw something I hadn't even considered. I love this idea! She is, indeed, fierce and determined and graceful (when she's fighting, anyway) like those fire birds. Thank you for this question! xo
Elly Blake
Aw, thank you so much! That means a lot! <3
That question is so hard to answer because my favourite changes to whatever I'm currently in love with/addicted to. As a teen, I loved the Jane Austen novels, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and anything by Robin McKinley (especially The Hero & the Crown). I also loved Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters (gothic/mystery). Lately I've been reading more historical romance than YA because I find it hard to read the same genre I'm writing. When I'm finished writing this series, I plan to take a little break and catch up on YA fantasy! I have so many on my TBR, it's ridiculous. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. :)
That question is so hard to answer because my favourite changes to whatever I'm currently in love with/addicted to. As a teen, I loved the Jane Austen novels, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and anything by Robin McKinley (especially The Hero & the Crown). I also loved Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters (gothic/mystery). Lately I've been reading more historical romance than YA because I find it hard to read the same genre I'm writing. When I'm finished writing this series, I plan to take a little break and catch up on YA fantasy! I have so many on my TBR, it's ridiculous. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. :)
Elly Blake
I'll just say that this is answered in Nightblood. I hope you like it! <3
Elly Blake
Thank you so much! That means so much to me to hear your enthusiasm. (And I'm not very patient when it comes to release dates for books I'm waiting for either.) I don't have an answer regarding the novellas yet, but I can assure you that your shipper heart will get more of what you're waiting for in Nightblood. <3
Elly Blake
Aw, thank you so much! I'm very glad you enjoy the series. Thank you for recommending it to friends. :D Yes, I would consider writing another book in the series if there was demand for it. Your kind words mean a lot. Thank you!
Elly Blake
I hope so! But I don't have plans in place yet because I've been so focused on writing this series. Thank you for asking! :)
Elly Blake
It's extremely hard to keep the faith as an aspiring author. The obstacles are big. It's not easy for anyone to get published, and the challenges don't go away even after you have a book deal. But, here are some random tips that popped into my head. :)
1. Because it's so hard to keep going: If you can, try to find writer friends who are at your stage so you can commiserate and support each other. This is the best part of being a writer: the friends you find along the way. It's not always easy to connect, but when you do, it's a lifeline!
2. Remind yourself that even though tons of people want to be published, only a small percentage of people actually finish writing a book, a smaller percentage actually query, a smaller percentage follow the query directions correctly, a smaller percentage actually spend time revising instead of just sending off a first draft, etc. etc. Every bit of time and effort you put into your work puts you past others who did not put in that effort, or who stopped writing. (Not that there is anything wrong with stopping, or deciding not to pursue publication. It's a tough thing and it's not for everyone.)
3. Even if a blurb or deal announcement looks very similar to your own book, that doesn't mean the book is similar. Your book is probably very different, but you see the similarities that sit on the surface. Your voice and your take on the subject matter will make the story entirely different.
4. Re ideas: It made me feel better when I read Gail Carson Levine's book about writing fantasy. (I think she was the one who said this, but I could be remembering wrong.) She said she doesn't have a ton of ideas like some writers do. So, that's ok. You might go through a period of time when your creativity gets rolling and you have more. These things can go in stages sometimes depending on what else is going on in life.
5. Re ideas: You might actually be getting ideas but dismissing them as not good enough before they fully form. (This may totally not be the case for you, and if so, ignore this one. But for me, I tend to dismiss things too quickly. Sometimes lowering my expectations actually helps me write/dream/create better than when I'm being perfectionistic.)
Disclaimer: When it comes to advice, especially writing advice, please take what is useful, if anything, and leave the rest. The only valuable advice is whatever works for YOU.
Good luck! :)
1. Because it's so hard to keep going: If you can, try to find writer friends who are at your stage so you can commiserate and support each other. This is the best part of being a writer: the friends you find along the way. It's not always easy to connect, but when you do, it's a lifeline!
2. Remind yourself that even though tons of people want to be published, only a small percentage of people actually finish writing a book, a smaller percentage actually query, a smaller percentage follow the query directions correctly, a smaller percentage actually spend time revising instead of just sending off a first draft, etc. etc. Every bit of time and effort you put into your work puts you past others who did not put in that effort, or who stopped writing. (Not that there is anything wrong with stopping, or deciding not to pursue publication. It's a tough thing and it's not for everyone.)
3. Even if a blurb or deal announcement looks very similar to your own book, that doesn't mean the book is similar. Your book is probably very different, but you see the similarities that sit on the surface. Your voice and your take on the subject matter will make the story entirely different.
4. Re ideas: It made me feel better when I read Gail Carson Levine's book about writing fantasy. (I think she was the one who said this, but I could be remembering wrong.) She said she doesn't have a ton of ideas like some writers do. So, that's ok. You might go through a period of time when your creativity gets rolling and you have more. These things can go in stages sometimes depending on what else is going on in life.
5. Re ideas: You might actually be getting ideas but dismissing them as not good enough before they fully form. (This may totally not be the case for you, and if so, ignore this one. But for me, I tend to dismiss things too quickly. Sometimes lowering my expectations actually helps me write/dream/create better than when I'm being perfectionistic.)
Disclaimer: When it comes to advice, especially writing advice, please take what is useful, if anything, and leave the rest. The only valuable advice is whatever works for YOU.
Good luck! :)
Elly Blake
Oh, that would be a dream come true! There are no current plans, but that would be awesome. :)
And thank you!!!
And thank you!!!
Elly Blake
I had a dream about a girl with the power over fire, and a king with an icy heart. BUT, and probably more importantly, I'd watched Avatar: The Last Airbender (the animated series) a few months before that. :)
Elly Blake
I don't know if I have one favourite character. Hmm. Of course I love Ruby, but Arcus has a special place in my heart. I'm very fond of Brother Thistle, and I love writing Marella (and her snark) and trying to figure her out. Kai is always lively and so full of surprises. I enjoy each one for different reasons!
Elly Blake
There are many tips depending on what stage you're at, but my basic advice would be to read the genre you want to write in (but also read other stuff, and remember to read for fun as much as possible), write as much as you can (but don't be hard on yourself--everyone's early efforts are very rough), and try to learn as much as you can about the craft of writing (without spending out of budget or getting overwhelmed). Basically, be kind to yourself and take breaks when you need to so you can live to write another day! When you get to the point of looking for critique partners, maybe try trading samples before you commit to anything. You have to be sure you really like each other's writing, and there has to be trust with a CP. I hope that helps! Good luck!
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Aug 27, 2019 07:40PM