On Sunday afternoon, I wrote “The End” on the first draft of my new novel. While my first two novels are young adult fantasy adventure, this one is historical fiction.
In December 1941 four friends graduate from an all-women’s college and seize new career opportunities in a world forever changed by war. I was so happy to sink back into the world of these four friends. The struggles they face are, unfortunately, highly relevant to the times we’re living in today. With themes of empowerment, being on the right side of history, speaking out against injustice, and the love story of female friendship, they’re determination made me more determined, too.
I’m hoping that it will be the first book in a series. The subsequent books will share the very different journeys that each of these women take in a new world order emerging before their eyes and how their friendship will pull them through.
This story began as a screenplay in 2020. It was a quarterfinalist in 3 international screenwriting competitions and received great feedback. Since then, most of my writing has focused on getting my second Emerson Page novel published and writing my master’s dissertation for University of Cambridge. With those projects complete, I returned to my historical fiction screenplay in January of this year.
It turns out that writing a screenplay is akin to having a very detailed outline for a novel:
- All the dialogue is there.
- The scenes and their sequence are set.
- The characters and their relationships are developed.
- The plot is charted.
I wouldn’t say going from a screenplay to a novel is a slam dunk, no-effort-needed project. As someone who dreads a blank page, the screenplay was my map, a guide that helped steer my writing sessions and make them productive.
I’ll take a short break from this story (to finish the first draft of another novel that’s also nearly done!) and let the first draft build up some dust so I can return to it in a few weeks with fresh eyes. Then I’ll dive back in to begin the work of editing and rewriting.
I much prefer to edit and rewrite rather than write a first draft. I no longer have any blank pages. Every time I sit down to write, it will be to refine and improve what I already have. I’ll immerse myself in extra research (something else I absolutely love to do!) and I’ll add much more detail, polishing the story one word at a time. Editing and rewriting is gratifying work because it’s all about making the story shine.
I’m hopeful that this new novel will do well in the query process and that I’ll be able to find a literary agent — a goal I’ve had for many years. For now, I’m celebrating this huge milestone of completing the first draft. It only gets better from here!
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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Christa Avampato 
I studied screenplay writing from Aaron Sorkin. What a great experience, time to use my video studio! Blessings Christa!
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Fantastic!
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