MEMBER INTERVIEW - Angela Drake

Please welcome Sleuths' member Angela Drake as we find out a little about this talented writer.

 

 

How and when did the writing bug bite you?

The dam broke about seventh grade. I fell in love with English class and loved writing essays. Essays on tests were my saving grace in passing Science.  I started writing teen romance. Pages would be passed around on the bus to rave reviews. I went from being the outcast to classmates wanting to know what came next for my characters.

 

Tell us a little about your writing routine.

I start my day around 6 a.m. From 6-9 a.m. is MY time. I visit art sights/ chat threads and YouTube videos while I enjoy my coffee. Once my 'work day' starts  around 9 a.m., the day is all about my day job as a freelance writer, music promoter and blogger. The fiction kicks in after dinner, usually around 6 p.m. until 9 or 10. That is my sprinting time with my critique partner on Yahoo Instant Message.

 

What is your favorite snack or drink while you write?

Brewed unsweet tea. I'm not a big snack person except during Nano/ Jano challenges. Then I keep a jar of Raisinettes handy. I also like mini peanut butter ritz sandwich cookies for a bit of carb/ protein boost.

 

What genre do you enjoy writing the most?

While I write a little of everything, I am trying to rein in my focus to Contemporary 'second chance at love' themes. Sometimes they involve what I call Astral Travel romance - where the heroine only 'sees' what took place back in time, but doesn't actually time travel. I also enjoy a good ghost as my hero from time to time. 

 

 What one thing would people be surprised to know about you?

The one thing I know will surprise most people  - especially those who know me now - is that I wasn't always outspoken or considered a 'leader'. I was verbally and physically abused by classmates most of my middle school years - until the writing thing kicked in. I never spoke up for fear of giving the 'wrong' answer or being teased. And I hated doing anything where others could see. I was, and for the most part still am, happiest doing my thing over here in my corner. 

 

Thanks for sharing a bit of your life with us Angela. 

 

My  links

Website: http://angeladrake.blogspot.com

Twitter: @AngelaDrakeA

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaDrake.author/

 

Love is sweeter the second time

Somewhere Down the Line available for KINDLE and NOOK

 

 

Kindle  http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Drake/e/B00L701Z9C/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

 

Nook    http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/somewhere-down-line

 

JOIN US FOR JANO 2016

JANO 2016

About JANO

During January, 2010, Sleuths’ Ink held it’s first-ever JANO challenge. Modeled after the popular National Novel Writing Month in November, JANO begins in, you guessed it, January.

Participants are challenged to write a 50,000-word novel during January. Join us and kick off the new year with a novel in progress! 

Two good reasons we picked January: 

1) You get an extra day to write. To complete 50,000 words during January, you only need to write 1,613 words a day.

2) The holidays are over. Winter has set in. What better way to spend a long, dreary month than writing a novel?

Over the past few years, participants from across the nation entered our challenge. Many of them reached their 50,000 goal, with a few actually receiving a contract for their completed JANO project.

JOIN US FOR JANO 2016!

Sleuths' Ink will hold its Seventh Annual JANO beginning January 1, 2016. Please join us and kick off the new year by writing a new novel or adding new words to a work in progress. And it's free! 

Rules: There may be no actual writing on your new JANO novel until January 1. If you are going to  add words to a work in progress, we can only count the words added after January 1. It is up to you to keep those word counts separate. You may plot your novel and create character sketches before January 1, 2016. On that date, write like mad (no editing) the entire month in order to reach the 50,000-word goal.  

To celebrate JANO members’ successes, Sleuths’ Ink will sponsor a party February 5, 2016. Details are forthcoming. As always, during the party, prizes will be awarded to our JANO 2016 participants.  See categories below.  In addition, we're giving away a $100 grand prize to one lucky JANO participant at our annual December holiday party.  The winner of this grand prize must be a Sleuths’ Ink member in good standing as of February 1, 2016 and must have written a minimum of 25,000 words in 2016.

PRIZE CATEGORIES FOR JANO:

1. First to 50,000 words in January
2. Second to 50,000 words in January
3. Third to 50,000 words in January
4. Best Title
5. Best First Paragraph 
6. Most Unique Character Name
7. Best Blurb – 100 words or less　　

KEEP IN MIND: a Blurb is often used in your query letter to sell your story to an editor or what is found on the back of the book to grab your potential reader’s attention.

　Participant MUST have written at least 10,000 words to be eligible for prizes

• Must be on the janowriters yahoo email loop. (see below)
• No acceptances after MIDNIGHT January 31, 2016 deadline. NO exceptions!!!

Attendees of the Wrap-Up Party judge the last four categories on February 5th, 2016 and prizes will be awarded accordingly. You do not have to be in attendance to win, but we encourage everyone within driving distance to come join the FUN!

JANO is sponsored by Sleuths’ Ink, a mystery and suspense writers’ non-profit organization in Springfield, Missouri. JANO 2016 Chairperson: Wanda Fittro

SIGN UP AT:   jano2016-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

JANO 2016

JOIN US FOR JANO 2016

JANO 2016

About JANO

During January, 2010, Sleuths’ Ink held it’s first-ever JANO challenge. Modeled after the popular National Novel Writing Month in November, JANO begins in, you guessed it, January.

Participants are challenged to write a 50,000-word novel during January. Join us and kick off the new year with a novel in progress! 

Two good reasons we picked January: 

1) You get an extra day to write. To complete 50,000 words during January, you only need to write 1,613 words a day.

2) The holidays are over. Winter has set in. What better way to spend a long, dreary month than writing a novel?

Over the past few years, participants from across the nation entered our challenge. Many of them reached their 50,000 goal, with a few actually receiving a contract for their completed JANO project.

JOIN US FOR JANO 2016!

Sleuths' Ink will hold its Seventh Annual JANO beginning January 1, 2016. Please join us and kick off the new year by writing a new novel or adding new words to a work in progress. And it's free! 

Rules: There may be no actual writing on your JANO novel until January 1, but you may plot your novel and create character sketches before January 1, 2016. On that date, write like mad (no editing) the entire month in order to reach the 50,000-word goal.  

To celebrate JANO members’ successes, Sleuths’ Ink will sponsor a party February 5, 2016. Details are forthcoming. As always, during the party, prizes will be awarded to our JANO 2016 participants.  See categories below.  In addition, we're giving away a $100 grand prize to one lucky JANO participant at our annual December holiday party.  The winner of this grand prize must be a Sleuths’ Ink member in good standing as of February 1, 2016 and must have written a minimum of 25,000 words in 2016.

PRIZE CATEGORIES FOR JANO:

 

1. First to 50,000 words in January
2. Second to 50,000 words in January
3. Third to 50,000 words in January
4. Best Title
5. Best First Paragraph 
6. Most Unique Character Name
7. Best Blurb – 100 words or less　　

KEEP IN MIND: a Blurb is often used in your query letter to sell your story to an editor or what is found on the back of the book to grab your potential reader’s attention.

　Participant MUST have written at least 10,000 words to be eligible for prizes

• Must be on the janowriters yahoo email loop. (see below)
• No acceptances after MIDNIGHT January 31, 2016 deadline. NO exceptions!!!

Attendees of the Wrap-Up Party judge the last four categories on February 5th, 2016 and prizes will be awarded accordingly. You do not have to be in attendance to win, but we encourage everyone within driving distance to come join the FUN!

JANO is sponsored by Sleuths’ Ink, a mystery and suspense writers’ non-profit organization in Springfield, Missouri. JANO 2016 Chairperson: Wanda Fittro

SIGN UP AT:   jano2016-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

NANOWRIMO TIPS

Even though Sleuths' Ink has it's own writing competition called JANO - (get more info about that on the JANO 2016 page to the right) - many of our members join hundreds of thousands of other people around the world and also participate in the original challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. If you've been under a rock for the last fifteen years and don't know anything about it, here is a link.

http://nanowrimo.org/

So, in the spirit of NaNo and our own upcoming JANO here are a few tips to get you through November and January.

1. Buy easy to fix food. You've got to eat, but let's face it, there won't be a lot of time to prep and cook. I'm big on frozen pizzas, burritos, and mac & cheese. If you don't have a crock pot - go buy one. Great for soups, chili, and pot roast.
2. You will need plenty of caffeine - whether you prefer coffee, soda,  or tea, make sure you have some. It sure helps with early morning writing before work or late night catch up.
3. You must commit to writing everyday. To meet the challenge, you need 1667 words a day. If you miss just one day, you are behind. And believe me, it is extremely hard to catch up. 
4. If you have a family, clue them in beforehand. They will need to be more independent and do things you usually do for them. Don't surprise them on the first of the month. They'll rebel and you will feel guilty. They'll probably rebel anyway, but at least you get to say "I told you about this."
5. DO NOT EDIT. Lock that inner critic in the attic or basement. Put duct tape over their mouth. You don't have time for them this month. Later you can release them and maybe buy them an ice cream cone. 
6. And because you can fix things next month, here are some easy cheats to increase word count: Do not use contractions. See what I did there? Don't is one word - do not is two. Easily fixed later with find and replace. All your characters have first, middle and last names - maybe even titles that they use every time they are introduced. "Hello. I am Queen Of Everything Victoria Marie Washington." Describe everything in thorough and complete detail. This is when you can use all those metaphors and similes you have been dying to use. Hint - put these in bold italics so they are easy to find when you are ready to edit. 

Most of all have fun. If you get behind - so what - you have more words than you did yesterday and closer to your goal of writing a novel.