RaeLynn Fry's Blog: Time to celebrate

I love audiobooks.

With my busy life, it’s the only way I can read right now. And if you have a good narrator, the book comes even more alive. Audiobooks make heavier or more complicated books readable (the Wingfeather Saga for my kiddos, the Wheel of Time series for me, the Dune Series for my hubby, etc.).

The popularity of audiobooks is growing, too. I don’t know the exact stats, but I know that more and more are listening to them. Hey, if my hubby ended up getting an Audible subscript...

Prepare yourselves. For this will be long.

I’ve been MIA for a hot minute and there’s a lot to catch everyone up on.

So, how have you all been? Good! I’ve been busy, too. I’ve also been completely disenchanted and burnt out by social media. And the world in general. Haha. But not really, haha. But that’s not a discussion for this post.

Let’s get down to why you’re here: updates about little ol’ me!

RELAUNCH

As most of you know, I have a YA dystopian series out there in the world, and it’s ...

Every story needs a problem. Well, preferably more than one, but we're here to talk about the two main problems your story needs before you start writing it.

This is the first post in a series of 5 of the The Bones of Your Story Series (and right in time for NaNoWriMo!) We're going to talk about Problems, Wants & Needs, Conflict, Motivations, and Resolutions.

Whether you're a planner, pantser, or somewhere in between, these are the core elements you need to be successful in writing a novel in 3...

It’s been a busy….however long I’ve been gone from social media. I’ve popped in now and again to post reels and stories, but really no posts.

I got to the point where I was feeling hopeless (in the area of Instagram). Reels were being pushed. Everyone’s feed was looking like TikTok (and there’s a reason I’m not on that platform). Things were changing so fast, I was of the mindset, “Why try?”. Which happens when I’m overwhelmed.

So, I took a break. Again.

And you know what? As I do after al...

Outlining. Not all writers do it. Some just write free from the moment an idea hits, not knowing where it is they are going and maybe not even having an idea of where the story will end up (pantsters).

Others write like they’re completing their thesis and their outline is tens of thousands of words.

Then, there are those that are somewhere in the middle.

Whatever you decide to do, however your brain works for writing is A-OK. If it isn’t broke, why fix it?

Right?

Well….

It may not be b...

Writing is all about practice.

The more you write, the more you learn, the better you become. Look back on some of your earliest writing. Now look at your most current. You’re going to notice that it’s better. It may not be where you want it to be, but it is further along than what it was.

Through my years of writing, I have come across many different writing exercises to help you look at your writing from a different angle; most of these I’ve tried but a few I look forward to dabbling in, i...

Plot doesn't drive your novel, character does that.

Try and think of a book where that isn’t the case. Think of a story that really sucked you in that had nothing to do with the characters who were living out that story.

I bet you can’t.

The truth is, it’s the likable or relatable or interesting character that sucks your reader in.

What are they going to do? How are they going to get through this mess? How will they come out on the other side?

These are the questions that readers stick a...

Do you remember, when you were younger, reading those straight-up AMAZING books called, Choose Your Own Adventure?

For those of you who missed out on that experience, they were books that when you got to a decision point in the story, you had to make a choice on how you wanted the story to continue.

If you decide to explore the ledge where the Seeker has come to rest, turn to page 6.

If you decide to cut loose from the Maray and dive with the Seeker into the canyon in the ocean floor, turn to ...

Okay, so, you’ve gone through all the possible places and methods to get a new idea. You’re still running dry. Now what?

Stop.

You read that right. Stop. Don’t write. Take a breath. Take a break. Whatever. Just don’t write.

But, but…

Just stop.

One of the reasons that you probably aren’t coming up with anything is that your brain needs a break. Your body is tired. You’re overstretched, exhausted, worn out, and if you don’t do it now, you may be paying the price, later.

Our bodies give ...

I have a rule. Well, not really. It’s more of a personal guideline.

That guideline is when I tell myself I cannot work on a current project. There are only a few times when I do that and it’s when I’m depressed, or very sad or angry, or really just unmotivated.

I know they say to write every day, no matter what, but I feel that that can be counterproductive, depending on your personality. For me, if I’m in one of those states, above, sitting at a computer forcing myself to write would anger ...