New Look & News

I promised a post on writing "risky" topics like racism, genocide, substance abuse, etc. via Twitter, and I will not disappoint you, faithful readers. However, I thought it best to explain the new look (and why I haven't been present in the past month).

A new look was promised in October via Twitter, but I did not deliver...so now, I present to you the new and updated INKSPOT. Inkspot is now a fully functional artsy-looking blog with it's own hashtag (#inkspot) and even a fancy new FAQs and EDITING page set up on the top taps bar. I changed up the design of the blog in an attempt to make it look more clean-cut and professional without being too girly (ahem the pink of the last design) or too amateur (ahem the pink of the last design). It took a few hours to finish the look; I even tried downloading fancy blogger templates, but obviously that didn't work out too well. I was forced to design it based on my limited technical abilities and the extremely small gallery of blogger templates/fonts/colors/designs. I'm pretty happy with the result.

With a new look comes a new focus, and that focus is simply re-stating the previously developed purpose of this blog--to provide fun, insightful, unique, and quality informational posts on all things writing. Based on some of the comments I've received over the years, I've learned how to hone the strengths of this blog to create something my readers have referred to as "non-preachy" and "relatable"--which I think are awesome words to describe what I'm trying to do. My purpose is to provide thoughtful help and tips with a fun twist, not to preach to the masses and demand to be respected. We're all in this writing adventure together, and I'm positive I have as much to learn from you as you have to learn from me.

That being said, welcome to Inkspot. Thanks for hanging with me for these three years. I hope you plan to stay a little longer, because there are some fun things up ahead!

Sneak Peek into the Future:

• Post on including risky topics like racism, genocide, addiction, abuse, mental illness, etc. even in your fantasy/sci-fi/non-modern-based novels
• Post on appreciating movies separately from their books
• Writing contests, polls, prompt games, and more
• New editing offer--send your stuff to me to get edited! (see EDITING page)
• New FAQs page
• Posting more of my own writing--including poems and excerpts
• Posting more of YOUR writing--via contests and prompt games

It's gonna be a fun year, ya'll.

Until next time!

~Ana

Beta Reader Application Update

HELLO ALL PEOPLES!!!

About a month ago I put out a post calling ALL THE BETA READERS to help me edit The Cycle of Time: The Journey. I would like to inform at this near-halfway-point, the program is nearly half full! However, there are still open spots in the program, so if you are planning on applying, don't hold out any longer! It's only like four super simple questions you have to answer, and they don't have to be written out formally or anything. You could literally just write all the answers in one sentence and I could figure it out (wether that would be a good shout-out to your writing skills or not is another matter... ;) ).

So, IF YOU WANT A SPOT, GRAB IT NOW!!! THE BETA READER PROGRAM IS FILLING UP PRETTY QUICKLY!!! There is less than a month and a half left in the application period (I'll stop taking applications on April 24) so make that quick email so you can secure your place.



And here is a gif of James McAvoy sassily jumping into a dance between you and your prospective husband.

You're welcome.

Calling All Beta-Readers! Apply now for a chance to beta-read "The Cycle of Time: The Journey"

Hello, my peoples! I am hereby calling ALL THE BETA READERS!

With The Journey (link leads to info on book) finished and edited until my head hurts, I think it's time for some new perspectives. Thus, I am calling on the help of 20 beta readers to properly edit and give feedback on The Cycle of Time: The Journey (link leads to info on book). Participants are looking at an exclusive chance to read The Journey before the general public, as well as some other perks, such as:

• With consent, beta readers will be mentioned (by name or by email/internet name) in the published version of The Journey's "Acknowledgments" page
• A personalized blog to discuss the book with other beta readers
• A little badge of my own creation that will probably completely stink for internet awesomeness purposes
• My eternal love
• Chances to be first-choice to beta read upcoming novels/short stories/etc of mine as I finish them
• If you want, you can receive a print copy of the novel you are editing when the beta reading is over

If you are interested, here are the details:

The Journey Beta-Reading Program

The Cycle of Time: The Journey (Long) Synopsis

Darkness is nearer than the land of Janíza knows. Fire Eye, the ruthless ruler, is weakening the cities, and before the people will be able to react, everything they know will vanish.

Alli and Dirco, two orphans living in the slums of a secluded village, live in this time. Dirco barely makes enough money from his storytelling to feed them both. Just when Alli is beginning to wonder where their next meal will take place, a stranger appears and hires them to travel with him, claiming he is interested in Dirco's stories. Things only become darker and stranger from there, as both Alli and Dirco are thrown into the midst of a ongoing war that seems to revolve around Dan, the stranger.

Now neck-deep in a battle that began far before either of them were born, Alli and Dirco struggle to survive as Dan pulls them from one end of Janíza to the other. Questions arise, but he avoids them and insists they keep close. Alli knows Dan isn't who he says he is, but is too scared to ask herself who he could really be. When she is suddenly forced to question everything she has ever known, will she have the strength to fight or will she hide forever in the small village of Geggon?

The Cycle of Time has just begun. The tests have just started. Before she knows it, Alli will be thrust into a strange new world. If she and Dirco don't accept, all will be lost.

Qualifications:

1. You must be able to read and write fluently in English.
2. You must be at least 13 years of age for reasons.
3. You must have a Google account in order to reach Google Docs, which is where the beta reading will be taking place.
4. Applicants must have consistent access to the internet via laptop/computer.
5. All participants will be required to read and sign some official stuff that says you can't copy my work (because it IS officially copyrighted) and that you won't blab about my storyline to the whole internet. You will be allowed to discuss whatever you want on your given blog, but outside of that I will request you keep silent. You will be allowed to say that you are in the Beta Reader Program and such but no details leaked, please! Doing so will result in instant rejection from the program.
6. You must give consent to publish your name (in whatever form you like) in the published version of The Journey. If you don't want this, that's fine too.
7. Only one applicant per household. Literary agents, editors, or employees of ANY publishing company are not eligible to participate in the program. An false information will result in instant rejection.
8. You must, of course, have at least some history in writing/reading. I will be asking some pretty deep questions for you to answer, so you have to have some knowledge on how storylines and character arcs work in order to properly give good feedback.

The Beta Reader Program:

• The application window opens at the posting of this post (so now) and closes on April 24, 2015 at 11:59am Eastern Time. All those accepted will receive the Beta Reader Program Official Email of Awesomeness.

• Readers will be provided the url to their blog and their Beta Reader Program Packet if they are selected to participate.

• The Beta Reader Program will begin when I post the first installment on Google Docs, which will most likely be in early May. The book is over 22 chapters long, so I will be posting multiple chapters at a time for about 6-8 weeks during the summer.

• Beta readers will be provided several chapters of The Journey every Sunday night between the hours of 9-11:00pm. Reader assessments must be turned in by 11:59pm the following Sunday night. (Of course I'm a busy person too so if you miss this deadline it's cool. As long as you get them in sometime during the next week.) As long as readers continue to comment on the works and turn in their readers assessments, they will continue to be able to post on the blog.

• You will have continued access to the blog after the program is over. I'm not gonna take that away from you, don't worry.

• When I finish any other books, you will have first chance to continue your beta reading.

• While I will never edit content of any posts or comments submitted to your special blog, I will not tolerate hate speech, overtly political messages, or slanderous comments aimed at me, other authors, fans, Beta Readers, or individuals. Any such behavior which intentionally violates the spirit or function of the Beta Reader Program will result in the offender being removed from the Beta Reader Program. And I will also find you. And ruin your Netflix connection while you are trying to watch that one show. Yeah, that's right, I mean business.

Application Details:

Please send all applications to acrossbooks@gmail.com

To apply, please provide the following (star * indicates categories not required, but highly suggested for my own personal research. I promise I won't use any information you send to advertise to you, send to any third parties, or any such cruelties that the rest of the world does. I just like to know who my audience is and how they are responding.):

• Age (must be at least 13)
• Name (at least internet name/username/fake name/nickname. I need something to call you by if you don't want to give me your real name.)
• Whether you want your name mentioned in the acknowledgments in the published version of The Journey or not
• *Gender (male, female, unspecified)
• *Preferred reading genre (fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, medieval, modern, etc. If you don't know, just list some of your favorite books!)
• Writing/editing background: Basically, I'm asking if you have any history in the general framework of understanding how a story works. If you don't, hey, I'm not expecting too many applications so go ahead and apply anyway. If I don't get over 20 applications then I will accept all applications that come in. All you really need is a willingness to be as honest as possible while reading through my novel. :)
• *How did you find out about The Journey Beta-Reading Program (Pinterest, this blog, etc.)
• What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
• On a scale of one to ten, how much do you like Lord of the Rings? (sorry guys, I need to know these things. No optionalness.)

If there are any questions, please comment below or email me at acrossbooks@gmail.com

I like emails.

I won't bite, I promise.

Good luck and may the Force be with you, Luke!

Stuff Happens More on Wattpad (aka A Comprehensive Guide to Ana's Wattpad Page)

As you may or may not know, I joined Wattpad a while back and, as you may know if you stalk me close enough, I post things pretty regularly on there. While my posting is mainly short stories and nothing really substantial, it's still pretty like, for real. It also answers some questions I'm sure you have about many of my characters (that is, if you stalk me on Pinterest close enough to know my characters).

Currently, I have 17 stories published on Wattpad, including (DUN DUN DUN) an ENTIRE FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!!! Have I ever mentioned Rhett Hawke? Well now I have. In his story the humor side of myself comes out, so its nothing serious, though I attempted it to be sometimes. Keep in mind that I wrote it when I was about 13, edited it maybe four times, and left it because I'm not really planning on publishing it or anything anytime soon, so I decided to make it a magical Wattpad series for all the magical Wattpad people of the world. Enjoy :3

Anyway, about my other works... I have 17 published works (I said that already didn't I) and about 75% of them are short stories about my various novels. To give you a peeky peek, I shall make a handy dandy list about my handy dandy titles and what characters and stories they include and/or are related to (feel free to skip, I'm just bored):

UNTITLED (Peter Pan fanfiction-retelling backstory type deal)
What it's about: I have a board on Pinterest about it...and that's literally about all I understand about it. It's a really cool story if I do say so myself, I just have to plan it out some more.
How much posted: A chapter...a short chapter...
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. I don't post much to the pinterest board and haven't written any blog post about it, so it's just me and my brain.
Updated?: Not really. I need to plan it.
Worth reading?: Why not? It's like a peek into my sick mind. >:) (Then again I could say that about everything)


Blue Skyys
What it's about: Sci-fi galactic war between two rivaling galaxies. Includes major brotherly/family feels and awesome characterization (ahem I'm really proud of those charries okay). Also a cliffhanger. And really intense scenes.
How much posted: Three or four chapters, pretty good length.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Eh, if you really really stalk me you'll know a pretty okay bit about it. I've written a blog post on it, and the board on Pinterest for it is a pretty good size.
Updated?: Nope. It's coauthored, and the coauthor doesn't write hardly at all, so no regular updates.
Worth reading?: I've been told the setting is a little hard to explain, but if you like the genre, I think it's worth a skim to see if you want to invest time in actually sitting down to read it.


The Orion: The Deadlands
What it's about: If you stalk me you know. Post-apocalyptic, bad governments, all the rage going on these days in young adult fiction. Awesome characters stuck in lame writing.
How much posted: Two shortish chapters. I am capable of posting more (I have the whole thing written yet unedited), but I'm not sure I want to because I want to publish this one someday.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes. Absolutely. I post about this one all the time.
Updated?: Like I said, I can, but I don't, because I want to publish it and don't want to spoil it...
Worth reading?: Really only if you're curious and want to get a feel of what the book's about. Nothing really happens; the prologue gives a good explanation of what the book is about. Otherwise, just a sneak peek.


Home at Last
What it's about: Short story I wrote for school, so it's pretty complete and like, you know, understandable. Set in King Arthur time. Pretty epic.
How much posted: It's four pages long, but a complete story.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Nope. Little known secret though: I have a secret board on Pinterest with ideas for a King Arthur story. Coming soon to a Wattpad near you.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: If you're into it, sure! One of my better works, probably, because it was for school so it had to be pretty good to get a good grade. :)


Luke's Conversion
What it's about: Short story (excerpt of Orion series 2). It's about Luke Vetti converting to Christianity. Major Luke feels ahead.
How much posted: It's a short story, completed, edited but probably not perfected, four pages long.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Luke Vetti has the largest Character Board on my Pinterest account (about 652 pins, I believe, at time of writing). He's famous amongst my Pinterest followers...though not as famous as Westly Decker.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


Luke & Kyle: The End of the Line
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Luke and Kyle's infamous parting scene. Super painful.
How much posted: Two pages of indescribable pain.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Yes.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth Reading?: Yes.


"Know What You Fear"
What it's about: Short story (related to Orion series 2). Two young assassins from "The Orion series 2" who are dealing with issues related to being pressured young assassins.
How much posted: Two pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Not really. They have a board but that is all.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: For fun, why not.


Rhett Hawke: The Secret of Blackrock Cave
What it's about: FULL LENGTH NOVEL!!! Very humorous and lighthearted tale of pirates and orphans and treasure and Rhett Hawke the Awesome.
How much posted: 31 Wattpad pages, about 100 normal pages, so a novella.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: I'll post the occasional Aiden Turner pic for Rhett Hawke on Pinterest, and I've mentioned Rhett Hawke before, so kinda.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a bit of a commitment, but if you want a laugh (even if it's a slightly random plotted, slightly unedited laugh), this is the book for you. Especially if you're a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.


Me Too
What it's about: I wrote this short story in a writer's meeting one day and thought it was interesting enough to type out and post. It's not terrible, not a piece of art, but it's so short you might as well give it a go.
How much posted: 1 page.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: No.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: I put it up there for kicks.


One Song Won't Hurt
What it's about: Short story (related to Superior Race). Lane and Chloe go to the prom. Lane-ness ensues.
How much posted: 2 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me?): I haven't done anything with this story in a while, but it's pretty well known.
Updated?: Complete.
Worth reading?: It's a fluffy little piece. Nothing epic or severe.


Embers
What it's about: Short story (related to the Cycle of Time). A collection of short stories that only has one short story, but I wrote another and plan to post it.
How much posted: 4 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Recently I've been trying to write The Sentinels, so as long as inspiration holds, I will no doubt have a few short stories waiting around to be written.
Worth reading?: If you like fantasy or are interested, sure.


The Cycle of Time: The Journey
What it's about: About three chapters of my first novel, a fantasy adventure.
How much posted: 6 pages.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: YEAH MAN. I TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
Updated: Nope. THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GETTING, PEOPLE.
Worth reading?: If you're curious...


Westly Decker
What it's about: Short stories revolving around my newest little baby bear, Wes. If you want feels, you're in the right place.
How much posted: 5 pages, two short stories.
Well known (if you stalk me)?: Pretty much. I only pin to his board every other day in massive spurts, that's all.
Updated: About once every month or so I crank out new feelings.
Worth reading?: I feel like the second story in this work is one of the most poignant, well-written works I've ever written, and my best friend Angie Zoe agrees. So yeah, read my awesomeness.



So yeah, exhaustive list of my works and how bad they are. Anyway, as you may have noticed, my blog doesn't get the attention it deserves. I am sorry for that. However, if you are lonely, head over to Wattpad or Pinterest to get some more action (Pinterest mostly). I post to there more often. :)

Yeah that was the whole point of this.

Yeah I don't care that this was incredibly long, it makes me feel better for not posting anything for months.

Yeah I know my blog posts are random, insane, have terrible grammar, and are filled with typos and inconsistencies.

Yeah I don't care.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm writing a personal letter to people.

Yeah it makes me feel like I'm funnier than I am.

Yeah I like the personal feel it gives.

Yeah.

I know.

I'm da bomb.









(Yeah I know I'm selfish and conceited PLS DON'T HATE ME *cries*)

THE ORION Cover Project: Look What I Did!!!!! :D :D :D

So I was bored one day and was like, playing with my PixlrExpress+ app and having a good old time when I decided

"Hey, me, why don't you try and make covers for the Orion series, since you already know what you want them to look like more or less?"

So I did.

And here they are, for all the world to see.

(Note: I do not own any of the photos overlaid in the covers.)

This cover is for The Orion: The Deadlands, the first installment in the first series trilogy. See that girl in the background? Know who she's supposed to be? Lemme give you a hint. JAYD.

Yup. THE UPRISING. DUN DUN DUUUUUN.... This is the second book's cover, which we are currently halfway through with.

This one is scary. No more.

SERIES TWOOOOOOO!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITING I WANT TO WRITE IT NOOOOOW. BUT I CANNOT. BUT SOON KILI....SOOON.........

No words.

Only pain.

*majestically turns, hair swishing in the wind, as tears stream down face*

*ed sheeran i see fire plays in background*

OH MISTY EEEEYE OF THE MOUNTAIN BELOOOOW.............

KEEP CAREFUL WATCH OF MY BROTHER'S SOOOULLL..........

AND IF THE SKKKIIES FILL WITH FIRE AND SMOOOOOKE.................

KEEP WATCHING OVER THE STAUNTON FOOOLLLKKK.............

Write from the Soul

Too many writers in today's market write for just that—the market. When wizards and magic were the hype back in the Harry Potter days, everyone wrote fantasy books. In the dark days of Twilight, it was all werewolves and vampires (I can still go to the YA section of my library and find nothing but werewolf and vampire books. That was a BIG fad.). Now, the new thing is post-apocalypse and dystopian genres, and I can't even count how many movies and books are following suit. (Think Hunger Games, Divergent, Walking Dead, Falling Skies, Godzilla...). And the rumors are true—if you write for the market, your work has a huge chance of getting published.

BUT, your work will be the forced product of something you may have no interest in.

While it's tempting to write for the market to have a better chance at getting published, writing for the market is just not the answer. The market changes; by the time you finish your vampire novel, pop culture could change to pirates. There's no point in it.

Don't write for the market. Write for you. Write what you want to read, and you'll enjoy it so much more than writing for other people. Sure, keep in mind your audience and readers, but you're the writer, not them. You make the ultimate decision. You're writing the book.

If you're not interested in vampires and werewolves, don't try to write a vampire book. If you're not interested in post-apocalyptic or dystopian genres, don't worry. The market will change, so there's no point in freaking out about publishing your book. Just keep trying.

Don't get caught up in the "write for the market, you'll get published" fad. Write from the soul, write what you want, write until you bleed words, write until you find what you want to say. Then, say it.

New Year's Resolutions

Happy new year! What was the first thing you did on January 1st, 12:00 am, 2014? I changed the channel from watching the ball in New York back to Batman and Robin (1997) on the Hub. I know, I do things right.

So, what's your new year's resolution? I haven't quite figured mine out yet. I think I'm deciding to get The Journey re-published and edited again. My brother has graciously agreed to edit it again, and he said his friend "knew people" (whatever that means, hopefully I won't be killed or anything by a mysterious ninja because of my book or something), so I think I'm deciding on that. Me and my agent decided mid-April, around the 15th, would be our deadline for finishing and republishing The Journey—exactly a year since it was originally published. Of course we'll have to re-copyright it and such...but it shouldn't be too hard of a problem.

The new year holds lots of possibilities! I'm always excited this time of year. And this is a BIG year for me; GRADUATION!! High school graduation, that is. I graduate in May and I will be attending college in August. OOH. SCARY. I'm so old and wrinkly and stuff. Frankly I'm a little apprehensive (that was a big word, Ana. Thanks, I've been reading my vocabulary homework.) But I know God has me in His hands (lucky me!).

Anyways, whatever your new year's resolution, I wish you the best of luck this new and surely fantasmical new year!!!

God bless all!!!

The Journey Publishing Update

The Journey is hereby tentatively scheduled to be released on October 27. (No I did not just make that date up.)

The Cycle of Time: The Journey

Health for sickness and life for death,

The Cycle of Time will never rest.

Around it goes without a breath

Will you pass its ceaseless test?

      Darkness is nearer than the land of Janíza knows. Fire Eye, the ruthless ruler, is weakening the cities, and before the people will be able to react, everything they know will vanish.

      Alli and Dirco, two orphans living in the slums of a secluded village, live in this time. Dirco's storytelling business is declining, and just as they begin to consider moving to another city, a stranger appears and hires them to travel with him, claiming he is interested in Dirco's stories.Things only become darker and stranger from there, as both Alli and Dirco are thrust into the midst of an ongoing war revolving around Dan, the hooded man.

      Now neck-deep in a battle that began far before either of them were born, Alli and Dirco struggle to survive as Dan drags them from one end of Janíza to the other. When she is suddenly forced to question everything she has ever known, will Alli have the strength to fight or will she hide forever in the small village of Geggon?

      The Cycle of Time has just begun. The tests have started. Before she knows what is happening, Alli is forced into a strange new world. If she and Dirco don't accept it, all will be lost.

Keep checking back for updates!!!

The Journey "Unpublishing"

Upon inspecting The Cycle of Time: The Journey for the millionth time, I have decided...sniff sniff...to withdraw it from the market.

I am a perfectionist. I know that's good in some cases but sometimes I just really hate myself for it. This is one of those times. I am still not satisfied with the editing quality of my novel, and I will not stop until this book is the best it can be.

No worries, though! Since it is already near-perfect (in my opinion), it shouldn't take long to revise for the FINAL TIME (I swear it's the final time this time). I believe it will be available by the end of the summer.

Bear with me, readers! The Journey will be published by the end of the year, at MOST!

Plus, I just had a book breakdown with my brother, and he gave me some great material for The Sentinels. Thank you, bro! Now I am inspired. And I will go write that book.

Right after I finish this post.

It may possibly be the best of all four of the Cycle of Time series.

~Anastasia Cross