Nicole MacDonald Author

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The Indie Chronicles

November 14, 2019 by Nicole Leave a Comment

The Basics – Plotting

If you’ve never put a story together before then it is very easy to (literally *snort*) lose the plot. Even though most of us have a basic understanding of “beginning, middle, end” it can be surprisingly difficult to recognise the different parts, and to see if certain parts would be better in different places. You’re creating a puzzle with the end image in mind and trying to cut out the pieces on the way. This can be challenging, frustrating, and frequently exciting.

Pantser vs Plotter

If you haven’t heard the above terms then let me give you the quick low-down. 

Plotter – someone who plans their books out.

Pantser – someone who doesn’t plot, but instead “flies by the seat of their pants” and completely allows the characters to lead them.

In all honesty, writers are usually a bit of both. Very rarely will you have a writer who is such a complete pantser that they don’t have the slightest clue what happens at the end of their tale. As whimsical and fun as declaring yourself a “pantser” might be, it does give rise to ever increasing anxiety if the muses aren’t speaking to you but your deadline is. And the same goes for plotting, while you may have plotted your story out to the point of scene by scene, there’s a fairly good chance at some point along the way your characters will turn the tides on you and change their route.

The method I prefer, having written my first book entirely “pantser”, my second kinda plotted and my third definitely plotted, is to plot. With my book AfterBurn I plotted it so well that when it came to writing the story I blasted the first draft out in just one month. A month for my longest novel, 150k+ words. Not bad at all! (Though I should preface – the plotting took a couple of years, sometimes you just gotta let things percolate).

Below is a screenshot of the excel sheet I use to initially develop my plot.

Copy/rework however you see fit

To use this successfully I suggest the following steps. Now please keep in mind, unless you’re intending to pop out a book a month (more power to you, I personally can’t stand the thought but many, many successful indies are doing this), you will want to plot, then ponder, then revise your plot. 

What do I mean by this?

Get your rough plot notched out using the steps below. Then DON’T START WRITING YET. Take time to think about your plot. Really envision it in your mind as if you’re watching a movie. Discuss it with a trusted someone (someone who isn’t a downer, but ideally has a good feeling for plots. Probably an avid reader and movie watcher – someone you think would be a “great” movie critic). My trusted someone (my other-half) is great to discuss ideas with. He’ll frequently shoot stuff down, or go off on other tangents, but his open thoughts always, always cause exciting breakthroughs for me.

This is also the perfect time to watch documentaries or movies on similar topics to what you’re plotting, or to create Pinterest boards and trawl YouTube for ideas. The beginning plotting stage is the MOST EXCITING stage of writing (until the next most exciting stage *grin* there’s always times to cherish!). Once you’ve done a week/month/year or even more of this (writing should be inspired, if you’re not inspired then take a little more time to find that inspiration) you’ll find your plot will probably change. Sometimes a little, more often a lot! I find that by plotting this way I have less of a first draft/second draft/eighth draft situation, and more of a single draft, with edits. This, when you’ve got a pile of books in your head waiting to be written, helps in the long run.

Steps to consider before using my plotting spreadsheet.

  1. Characters and their relationships – current AND future (giving you space to plan in those future relationships)
  2. Timeline – how old is your character and what age are they by the end of the story?
  3. Both your protagonist and antagonists timelines – I’d suggest using different colours so you know that while your protagonist is off levelling up their training, you know your antagonist is pottering around <insert location> up to <insert evil deeds>. While the reader might never know the particulars, it will allow you as the creator to make sense of those later times where the antagonist appears, allowing for a more in-depth reader experience when your timeline/experiences etc all line up

I could make this list a mile long with extra things to think about, but there are other in-depth plotting books out there – here are a few that come highly recommended on Amazon (these are affiliate links). Personally, I find the only way to really learn plotting, is to do it. Again and again. 

Good luck!

Recommended Books

Fool Proof Outline: A No-Nonsense System for Productive Brainstorming, Outlining, & Drafting Novels (Fool Proof Writer Book 1) 

Rock Your Plot: A Simple System for Plotting Your Novel (Rock Your Writing Book 1)

Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success (Helping Writers Become Authors Book 1)

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Filed Under: The Indie Chronicles, Writing Tip

The Indie Chronicles

August 12, 2019 by Nicole Leave a Comment

So you’ve got a great idea …

So you’ve got an idea for a story (or a partial/full draft).

Congrats! It is a super thrilling sensation to have a developing idea that is so strong in your mind you find yourself driven to put it down in words. Rather like realising a sudden overwhelming desire to compete in a marathon, (*laughs* not that that’s ever occurred to me, but I assume this must be a similar desire given the outcome is a very tedious slog until the delicious sensation of passing the finish line), you are in for a journey. You need to pace yourself and be kind to yourself to complete this journey in a way that won’t leave you swearing off it for life.

When I began writing I didn’t intend on sharing it. It was simply an interesting experience to see if I could write a story. About half-way through said story, I began to think others might enjoy it too.

You may be debating whether or not you should share your tale. And this really is an important question to consider. Once you’ve written and published your work it is then out there for all to see. In a later post I’ll discuss reviews, but right now you just need to think “would I be upset if Joe Blog from next door read my book?”

Keep in mind, that your story is a part of you. And people may read your tale and see you through very different eyes after that. This is not intended to put you off publishing, merely to remind you of the very real PUBLIC reality of book publishing. Sure, maybe only three people will read it. But maybe, just maybe, thousands or even millions will read it. It may not be fame aka Kim Kardashian style, but it still can amount to a massive audience of strangers clinging to words you’ve created.

SO the very first question in this Indie Author journey is: do you want to share your story with the world?

If yes, then watch out for the next article. Below is the list of the posts I will be sharing.

  • The basics – you’ve got an idea (or even a partial/full draft) and you’re thinking of publishing it
  • The basics – plotting
  • The basics – how to plan a trilogy, or serial
  • The basics – editing
  • The basics – covers (ebook & paperback) and all that jazz
  • The basics – copyrights, do you have one/need one/want one?
  • Why self-publishing is preferable (for some) over traditional routes
  • How to format an ebook, including: ISBN’s – what they are and where to find them – Mobi/Epub and Smashwords – future thinking (i.e paperback)
  • Exclusivity – what does that mean for an indie author, and should you do it?
  • Print books – what are your options, and why consider one?
  • How to – formatting for Print, tips, tricks, and great links!
  • Audio – should you? Shouldn’t you? And if you want to, some great tips and links
  • Book Marketing – the basics
  • Book Marketing – 52 sites in 52 weeks, an experiment
  • Book Marketing – the email list
  • Book Marketing – Instagram
  • Book Marketing – Pinstagram
  • Book Marketing – Facebook
  • Book Marketing – Those author “courses” every writer and their dog is selling
  • Book Marketing – reviews: the good, the bad, and the ugly
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Filed Under: The Indie Chronicles, Writing Tip

The Indie Chronicles

August 8, 2019 by Nicole Leave a Comment

The journey to becoming a self-published author – How to and how NOT to

I began my journey as an indie (independent, aka self-published) author in 2008. Having begun a new job that was a definite step back in chaos, I found myself bored. But I refused to be one of “those” front desk girls: looking bored while flipping through a magazine etc.

Instead it occurred to me, given I was already chained to a computer — why not make the most of it? And that is how my foray into self-publishing began.

Over ten years later and there are many things I would do differently now. Aside from the fact that I was ahead of the game (Amazon started accepting self-published ebooks in 2007, with the introduction of its nifty new device, the Kindle) so had it easy in many aspects (not hard to be #1 when the pool of books was minimal…), I didn’t approach anything particularly logically; as you discover once you’ve muddled your way through something new a couple of times.

The Indie Chronicles is going to be a series of blog posts designed for people who:

  • Want to write and self-publish
  • Are writing and ready to self-publish
  • Have self-published but would like to look at their methods
  • Are self-published and are interested in seeing different approaches to it

Each month I’ll be aiming to publish at least one blog piece that will ideally assist any of the above creators in making logical and practical decisions for themselves in this ever evolving indie world.

The key mantra being: Keep it Simple

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Filed Under: The Indie Chronicles, Writing Tip

Life Updates – Finally in PRINT!

July 24, 2019 by Nicole Leave a Comment

Goodness, it has been a WHILE! But, just ‘cause you can’t see me frantically paddling away, doesn’t mean I’m not 😉

Hello fabulous people. Let’s get back in the huddle and have a catch up! Bring tea/coffee/wine or your libation of choice. I’m definitely not opposed to anyone bringing macaroons (I’m fairly certain that any food as light and airy as the perfect macaroon must also be calorie free. Pretty positive on that one). Fruit platters are welcome too (can you tell it’s nearly lunchtime here?).

The first and most important thing on today’s agenda… drumroll please

THE TRILOGY AND AFTERBURN ARE FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY IN PRINT!

Alek might not have the front cover, but I still snuck him in on the spine *grin*

You can buy your own, gorgeous, and bloody weighty copies from any online bookstore, plus any bricks & mortar store that purchases IngramSpark books (ask at the counter J). There are links in my bookstore if you want – click HERE for a nosy.

The other fantastic upside is that I took the opportunity to get all the ebooks reformatted. I’ve just got AfterBurn to go, but after that all the ebooks will look the “same” in their layout as the print books. Something I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time! I came across a fantastic gig on Fiverr (I’ll share in my up-coming Indie blog serial – more on that later) that meant what would have cost upwards of $300USD a book, is now around $100USD a book. Still a cost to be sure, but at least this has allowed me to get one book a month updated.

Next of course is getting Prometheus and Escape Vo’Arum done, but with the others out the way, it finally feels like I’m nearing the end.

Then of course is the Bound by Blood trilogy. It occurred to me a few months ago that I really needed to map out the second book, Courting Hades, before I continue writing the first book, Pandora’s Curse. This is proving challenging and intensive, but a lot of fun. I’m just waiting for a few pieces of inspiration, and then I know I’ll have enough to spread out this tale beautifully. As always with my stories, they have a point where they take on a life of their own, and I just need to sit tight, and wait and see what turns up along the path! But it is exciting (for me) to see the story flesh out so much more.

The Indie Chronicles

In a few weeks (or sooner – life permitting) I’ll begin a series of posts on how to write, publish, and market your books as an indie author. I often get emails asking how to do it all, and this allows me to provide what will hopefully be a valuable resource to many. So if you’ve ever pondered “could I… should I write a book?” then keep your eyes open for this blog series.

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Filed Under: Life Update

Positivity Rocks! Another beautiful FREE printable

November 21, 2018 by Nicole Leave a Comment

As a big believer in the power of positivity I have been listening to some fantastic audio books by Esther, Jerry, and Abraham Hicks. Click HERE if you’d like to check them out (turns out their books are what The Secret was inspired by!). The downright basics of the idea is that, if you feel good and think good, life will be good. I realise that may seem horribly simple to many, but for me, I love it. So to remind myself to keep my head in the right “space” I created this lovely printable. If you can print it in colour then you’ll see the Sacred Geometry design is actually overlaid with a universe design. It’s subtle but beautiful 🙂 Grab this lovely printable HERE at Book Geek Chic, and I hope it helps you to remember all the good things in life, especially the small stuff!

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Filed Under: Book Geek Chic, Printable

Iced Lemon Tea – Singapore Style – FREE Printable!

November 17, 2018 by Nicole Leave a Comment

After posting photos on Instagram of all the beautiful lemons I’ve picked from my nana’s lemon tree (which she’d thought was on its last legs – it must have heard that ’cause it’s gone NUTS this season!) I finally got around to recreating the delicious iced lemon tea we drank daily while on holiday in Singapore this year. It took a few attempts before I got the balance quite right. Just normal “gumboot” tea (as my Kassie refers to it as) is too strong, while I didn’t want to use Earl Grey because I know too much of that can give you a tummy ache. (Earl Grey tea contains the essential oil Bergamot, which is very strong acting while not tasting too overwhelming). After much examining of the tea area at the local supermarket, I spotted Lady Grey tea, which is flavoured with real lemon and orange peel. It sounded ideal, and it really is! The next step was getting the balance of sweetness right. Singaporeans love sweet drinks, and given the steamy heat they live in I honestly believe their drinks act like electrolytes. I know the day I ended up with sunstroke (one of those days where the distance on the map looked easy, the reality – not so much…) the two glasses of Bandung (rose syrup & milk/soy milk) Glenn managed to convince me to drink actually pulled me around quicker than I expected. Which was much appreciated!

Here in NZ, however, we don’t have that steamy heat. We have sharp, vivid (you’ll never see skies as blue as NZ/Aussie skies) heat that BURNS, so excessive sweetness in a drink can be unpleasant (or so I find). I started with a cup of sugar, and we’ve whittled it down to 1/2 cup, although I did think 2/3 cup was that nice level of “treat”. The most important part though? The glorious fresh lemon juice! I can’t get over how delicious it smells, and the gorgeous yellow colour. 1 cup per 2 litre jug makes this iced tea just sing. We did quickly discover that this tea only tastes good cold. So if you are crazy impatient to taste it, fill your glass with ice cubes and pour it over then let it sit for 5 mins. Otherwise do what I do and make it up the night before so the jug has plenty of time to chill.

Grab your own beautiful printable of this recipe HERE at my Book Geek Chic store. Just use the code FREEBIE at the checkout. And please let me know if you try it! Or if you have your own favourite recipe of iced tea do share it!

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Filed Under: Book Geek Chic, Food, Printable

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