Category: writing

change, Florida, writing

Inspired: My first week in Florida

Christa Avampato
Sandhill Cranes - my new neighbors
Sandhill Cranes – my new neighbors

I’m one week into my Florida residency and I thought I’d share the good, the bad, and the in-between with you:

The good
– I get to see my nieces all the time. We actually share part of the house with our rooms clustered together, and Phin in particular loves all of the attention he gets here.

– My sister and brother-in-law have been gracious hosts for me while I sort out life here. They redid their guest room for me and my closet is almost as big as one of the rooms I rented in my last apartment.

– For most of the day, I have the house all to myself so that time’s been incredibly productive for me. I had a flurry of writing work that I wasn’t expect last week so I felt very grateful to have the space in my life to get it done.

– Cost of living is so much lower here, it’s laughable. I’m still in sticker shock after my many years of New York City prices for everything.

– I’m so close to nature here. The sunrises, sunsets, and wildlife are beautiful. My family lives in a rural area of Central Florida (that is surprisingly close to Orlando) so I have plenty of opportunities to get back to the land.

– It’s been over 10 years since I lived in Central Florida and Orlando in particular has changed a lot. In the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to exploring it.

The bad
– The heat is intense. As someone who loves seasons, particularly the Fall, I knew this would be tough for me. Unfortunately, Florida doesn’t get those gorgeous Fall colors that I love so much. However, Fall weather will eventually arrive here and it lasts longer here since Florida doesn’t really have a winter and Fall in the Northeast ends in the blink of an eye. (And this morning, it was a brisk 57 degrees. I couldn’t be happier about it!)

– I don’t yet have a routine. I love order and organization, of my time and my belongings. Just after a move, everything always feels out of whack for a time and I’m looking forward to getting that sorted out soon.

– I miss my New York friends. While many of my close friends live nowhere near New York, and I do have wonderful friends in Florida, I miss being able to stroll down the street or hop on the subway to hang with them. I’m hoping many of them will come to Florida to visit, and making plans to see my Florida friends should also help ease that sting.

– Because I’ve spent most of my adult life living in New York, I’m used to heading underground, jumping on the subway, and magically emerging exactly where I want to be, or taking my marathon walks all over Manhattan. Here, I have to learn how to get around by car and I have a fairly underdeveloped sense of direction. Thank goodness for GPS!

The in-between
– We drive everywhere. I love public transportation, though once I get my own car, find a neighborhood that has some walkability (where I’m hoping to buy a house or condo of my own for the first time!), and get my patterns down, I think I’ll find a way to make this work for me. I am looking forward to taking my first ride on the Sunrail, the very beginnings of Central Florida’s public transportation system. It’s incredibly limited but I’m hoping in time that it will expand.

– Having never lived with kids before, I’m still getting used to the early school day routine. I have had to shift my schedule as we’re up really early (5:30am). However, this is also a time change I’ve been wanting to make. I like to be up early and in bed early so I’m looking forward to this adjustment in my sleep rhythms.

Change of any kind is always challenging and even welcome change takes some getting used to. I’ll be sure to update you as I navigate through this latest life shift.

story, writer, writing

Inspired: How I’m Preparing for National Novel Writing Month

Christa Avampato
Join National Novel Writing Month in November
Join National Novel Writing Month in November

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) starts November 1st and I can’t wait to bring the story of Emerson Page to life in Where the Light Enters. In 30 days, tens of thousands of writers will band together and make a pledge to each write 50,ooo words in 30 days. I’ve wanted to participate for years, and now that I’ve made the leap to write full-time, I can do this. Here’s how I’m preparing to make the most of those 30 days:

Story Outline
Though I’m a big fan of free writing, when I have a specific goal and deadline, I always use an outline. It helps me to see how the pieces I have hang together and identify the gaps I need to fill. I build a flexible structure with plot points, story arcs, and scene sketches. Though I’m an auditory learner, I’m a sensory writer. I see a picture, hear a line of dialogue, pay attention, and try to get it all down with as much authenticity as possible. My notes are fairly free form, and then I go back and pull from them to build the outline brick by brick. It’s like doing a pencil outline of a painting and then layering the color onto the canvas one stroke at a time.

Research
I love research. It’s one of my favorite parts of writing, and the research often leads me to new options and ideas for the story. Because of research, my final story often changes significantly from the idea seed that I originally planted and that’s as it should be. We make the best decisions we can with the information we have. As we get more information, we naturally adjust to make more informed choices.

Character and relationship development
My stories always begin with an individual. This person has something to say, something to do, and somewhere to go. I just tag along and ask questions. I imagine myself interviewing them. I show them my outline of their story and take their input. I walk around trying to see the world with their eyes. I get to know them. They become family to me, and eventually I find that a part of me is embedded in each of them no matter how different we may seem. I’m also fascinated by the relationships between characters. I like to put them into uncomfortable situations together and let them run wild to see where they’ll take the story. I play the guide on the side and let them steer the ship. I grab a front row seat to record the action.

Editing, marketing, and publication plan
I’m very serious about taking this story through its paces. I’ve spoken to an editor I plan to hire once I have a solid draft. Emerson Page is on social media and engaging with her community, and I hope to have the book’s website up and running by November 1st. I’m doing research on book marketing as well as the agent and publishing company query processes. This is where my business experience comes in handy. This book is a product so I’m able to comfortably wear my product development hat with ease and excitement. This piece is as much fun for me as writing the book!

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? I’d love to hear how you’re preparing for the challenge. Let’s connect!

career, experience, work, writer, writing

Inspired: Writers are explorers

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

While I was in business school at Darden, I had an interview with an executive who took one look at my resume and said, “You’re an explorer.” He didn’t mean this as a compliment, but looking back I certainly see it as one. An explorer, a modern female Indiana Jones, is all I ever really wanted to be and now as a writer, I certainly, unabashedly, am. My only job as a writer is to see and hear things as clearly as I can, to uncover what lies hidden, to ask the hard questions of myself and others, to try on different lives in an effort to understand someone else’s reality. The best way to live in the world is not to fight our nature, but to embrace it with both arms.

adventure, change, creativity, dreams, home, writing

Inspired: Nothing to Lose But Time

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“Now that she had nothing to lose, she was free.” ~Paulo Coelho

Last week I wrapped up my final pieces of consulting work to make the leap to write full-time. Leading up to that moment, I felt a bit of trepidation. I’ve done well as a consultant for 2+ years and I worried about letting go of a good thing. The letting go was difficult but being in this new space isn’t. I don’t have anything left to lose and that is a very good feeling. It’s freeing and empowering. All I see ahead is open space where I can create. Now, everything is a canvas and I’ve got all the colors I need to paint something that matters. I’m home.

action, creativity, decision-making, time, work, writer, writing

Inspired: The 2 ingredients you need to do great work

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.” ~ Leonard Bernstein

This philosophy of time and planning really resonates with me. I’ve always found deadlines and outsized goals to be great motivators. They give me something to aspire to with just enough doubt to make me put my best foot forward. We don’t have forever to maximize and reach the potential within us. We have to act, sooner rather than later, with attention, determination, and energy, and that idea gets my blood pumping. Certainly, the process can feel daunting and scary, though when I look back on my life the things I treasure most are the things that required me to take big chances on big dreams that had an expiration date. That’s as true right now, as I transition to writing full-time, as it’s ever been. The time is now.

art, books, child, childhood, children, creativity, literature, museum, New York City, story, writer, writing

Inspired: Madeline in New York – Ludwig Bemelmans Art Exhibit at New-York Historical Society

Christa Avampato
Exhibit at the New-York Historical Society

“For me Madeline is therapy in the dark hours.” ~ Ludwig Bemelmans

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…” is one of the most famous introductions to one of the most famous characters in children’s literature: Madeline. Ludwig Bemelmans created Madeline after a terrible accident that left him hospitalized at the age of 39. His hospital roommate was a young girl who had her appendix removed. Her stories of her life inspired Bemelmans to create Madeline.

Eventually Bemelmans recovered from his injuries and published his first Madeline book at age 41 after 20+ years of working in hotels in New York. During those two decades, he consistently practiced his art and slowly built up his freelance portfolio. His example has been a great inspiration to me as a writer.

Madeline was Bemelmans’ second act after many years of difficult work in a completely different industry. He never lost his optimism and never gave up. And thank goodness. Not only is Madeline therapy for him, but it’s therapy for all of his readers and admirers, particularly little girls who strive to be strong, brave, and courageous. The New-York Historical Society has mounted a retrospective of Bemelmans’ life and art with Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans.

Bemelmans Bar is one of my favorite bars in New York – tucked away in the Carlyle Hotel on East 76th Street. The walls are covered with his original drawings. It’s a good place to dream, and drink. If you’re in New York, I highly recommend it.

adventure, art, books, creativity, story, writer, writing

Inspired: If we keep writing, the pieces will snap together

Christa Avampato
One of the pictures from my Pinterest board that inspires Emerson Page.
One of the pictures from my Pinterest board that inspires Emerson Page.

“Early on, all our movies suck. Saying that in a softer way fails to convey how bad the first versions really are. Pixar films are not good at first, and our job is to make them so–to go ‘from suck to not-suck’.” ~ Ed Catmull, President of Pixar

I’ve been working through my story plan checklist for my novel, Where the Light Enters. I’ve got lists, notes, index cards, links, and photos that I’m using for inspiration. What seemed like a lot of disparate pieces are now gelling together, and the story barely resembles the original idea. To make this progress, I had to stay open to possibilities, remain aware of new information that could help move the story forward, and begin to share bits and pieces of ideas with others to get their feedback. You can be part of the process and follow Emerson Page, the heroine of Where the Light Enters, on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. She’s loved to talk to you.

 

 

books, writing

Inspired: Online resources to help you plan and write your novel

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month this year when I’ll write the first draft of Where the Light Enters. I’m excited to craft the story of my heroine, Emerson Page. I love a good plan so as I do my preparation research, I hunted around online for resources to help me plan my novel. I’m incredibly surprised (and grateful!) for all of the resources and generous advice on planning. If you’re writing a novel, here is a list of the resources that are helping me during this exciting time. I hope they help you, too!:

  • Your Novel Blue Print – Author Kevin T Johns wrote a free ebook titled 12 Common Mistakes Rookie Authors Make (& How to Avoid Them!) to describe 12 of the lessons he learned the hard way when writing his first books. It’s like a map that shows you all the places not to go when writing a book. And couldn’t we all use that kind of advice?
  • Story Plan Checklist – Writing instructor Karen Wiesner wrote an incredible thorough post for Writer’s Digest that outlines all of the key considerations necessary to craft a cohesive, compelling story. Again, totally free and actionable! This is the plan I’ll be working on for the next two months.   
  • Bill Holland’s HubPage – Author and teacher William D. Holland discusses many of the main points that Karen Wiesner makes though it’s a more condensed version and he throws in a few extra bits of wisdom. For example, all of the agents and publishers he’s worked with over the past several decades have told him you have about 10 seconds to grab their attention when introducing your book. I’ve heard of elevator pitches in the business world, but in the writing world, time is even more precious. 
  • How to Write Killer Fiction – Author Carolyn Wheat wrote this book to describe her four-arc system to outline a novel. The beauty of her system is that you can either use it to plan your novel, or use it to rework your draft into a tighter draft before querying agents and publishers. I also love that she diligently emphasizes the importance of the end of a book. So many authors start from the beginning and then fall apart somewhere in the middle. If we start at the ending, we have a better shot at delivering a work that will stick with readers long after they close the book. Though not free, it’s worth the investment.  

Writing a novel is grueling work, and we could all use a little help. Luckily for us, there’s plenty of it to go around. The writing world is a generous world. 

Did I miss any resources that you’ve found particularly helpful? Please share in the comments below!

change, opportunity, writer, writing

Inspired: What a seed teaches us about risk-taking

Christa Avampato

My friend, Amelia, one of the incredible actors in Sing After Storms, posted this quote last week and I’ve been thinking about it every day since. To grow, we have to leave the security of the shore and delve deep into the unknown. Discovery and growth happen when we encounter new experiences, people, and places, when we take risks, and try something we aren’t quite sure we can accomplish.

I have no idea what my life will look like in a few short week when literally everything changes and I start my full-time writing life. I do know that I need this. I need to give this new, wild, unpredictable adventure my best shot, way out there in the wide open air where I’m free to learn and grow in many different directions. Giving up my current way of life seems like complete madness to some; they’ve told me as much. And that’s okay. I’ve known plenty of destruction, followed swiftly by plenty of growth, and I cherish it all. Where they see only loss, I see pure potential to have exactly the life I want to live. I’ve got a chance, right now, this very brief window of opportunity, and I’m taking it. 

art, books, story, writer, writing

Inspired: Meet Emerson Page—the heroine of my first novel, Where the Light Enters

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I want you to meet someone I’m going to spend a lot of time with this Fall. This is a sketch of Emerson Page, the heroine of my first novel, Where the Light Enters. She’s 15, strong-willed, curious, and battling both personal and external demons. She’s stronger than she thinks she is, more talented than she ever imagined in ways she never knew were possible, and is about to learn some deep secrets about her heritage, the world around her, and the world that exists just below the surface of our awareness. Emerson loves technology, is fascinated by the weather and nature, happily gets lost in stories, and is devoted to animals, especially her therapy dog, Friday. For now, she lives in New York City, but that’s about to change, sort of.

I’ll write the first draft of Where the Light Enters this November as part of National Novel Writing Month. The title is inspired by this quote from Leonard Cohen’s song, Anthem: “Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” And by this quote from Rumi: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

I found this picture while scrolling through Pinterest and pinned it up at my desk. This visual helps me watch the story unfold. I tried to figure out who the artist is, but no luck. If you recognize this sketch, please let me know!