Danah AL.

They buried the truth in 1998. Ten years later, somebody is ready to dig it up. BEFORE THE FIREWORKS is a multi-POV domestic suspense novel set over one Fourth of July night, where anonymous messages force a group of former friends to confront the secret they thought would stay buried forever. #WIPPIT #WIP #A #T #S

Happy balloon day to meee ✨️✨️

@BWoostersauce Thank you! Distinct voices are definitely what I’m spending the most time worrying about 😅

Multiple POV is a miserable mess at times. The key is distinctive voice with flow. I used this in my debut novel. Except for when romantic entanglement was in play and inner voicing was “required”, I kept the POV in each chapter in one head as much as possible. So the plot unfolds through the eyes of several characters without massive head-hopping. The sequels move to first person which I enjoyed writing so much more.

Writing a multiple POV novel is making me question every life decision I’ve ever made 🤦🏻‍♀️ Keeping each voice distinct is one thing. Making sure every POV actually earns its place in the story is another. For writers who’ve tackled multiple POVs before: What’s the biggest lesson you learned the hard way? #writingcommunity #amquerying

@NanamiNoor That’s so kind of you, thank you! I’d love to take a look if you don’t mind! 👀🖤

@DanahAALLL Getting it set up MIGHT be annoying but once you find the set up that works for you, it's smooth sailing from there. I don't mind sharing mine if you want to get a feel for it

@NanamiNoor Thank you! A spreadsheet is starting to sound less like an option and more like a necessity 😅

@DanahAALLL I kept a Google sheet with all the different characters, driving force and what they're going through. As long as everyone was doing their job it stayed more or less organized

@mkallen7 Thank you! I think I need to spend more time mapping out each character’s journey separately 🤔

@DanahAALLL I map out the two stories separately and then combine them. That way I know each character has a journey to follow.

@ToraBrinn Now I’m 👀 what’s the highest number of POVs you’ve ever successfully managed in one novel?

@DanahAALLL I think if they came alive like that and they move the story forward, they earned their place in the lineup. I struggle to differentiate sometimes between my MCs and SCs. I think that’s how I ended up with so many novels. They kept getting their own book. 😅

@ToraBrinn This is the advice I keep hearing and the advice I keep trying to ignore. Every POV has convinced me they’re the main character!! 😅

@DanahAALLL It’s okay to delete characters/POVs that aren’t working for the story, and it isn’t difficult filling the space with something else.

Want some help with your novel, especially the first 20-30 pages, plus help figuring out the structure? Want to visit West Virginia and write by the river? Sign now before we fill up!

A question I often find myself asking when reading queries is "Why?" Why these characters, why that disaster, why that journey. Please make sure you answer the why's in the queries to me thank you so much! Which means... I'll be opening June 1st!

@starlettskyy @KaylynAldridge @MetamorphLitAg OMG GIRL!!! CONGRATS!!🍾🎊

I am so insanely excited to announce that I am officially represented by @KaylynAldridge at @MetamorphLitAg !! Her visions and support for Drift are beyond what i ever could’ve imagined and I’m so happy to be working with her 🥹🤍 #agented #writingcommunity #amagented

@nicholewinterss I’d say Friday rejections hurt more

Why do Sunday rejections hurt the worst? 😭

@DanahAALLL Us? Control? Bookstore? Is that possible?

Setting at the airport actively resisting the urge to go into the bookstore because buying another book while my unread stack at home watches in silence feels genuinely criminal. #writingcommunity #amquerying

@DanahAALLL Hehe the way that pretty much sums it up! Equal parts 🥹 and 🥺

Agent's guide ✨ Burnt out teacher Cal accepts a 6-month special education contract 400km away from the pressures of her old life after almost killing a man with her telekinesis. There, she finds friendship, heartbreak, love, and hope. #amquerying #agentguide #agentsguide

They buried the truth in 1998. Ten years later, somebody is ready to dig it up. BEFORE THE FIREWORKS is a multi-POV domestic suspense novel set over one Fourth of July night, where anonymous messages force a group of former friends to confront the secret they thought would stay buried forever. #WIPPIT #WIP #A #T #S

@PilotingSR @authorBBLorik

@DanahAALLL @authorBBLorik Doh i love you thank you 😭💙

My new #agentsguide for #literaryagents seeking: A high stakes tournament in the underworld among the living & the dead featuring: Mythological gods & heroes colliding The arena disguising a grander scheme No greater curse than her promise & love triumphs above all #amquerying

there are people who believe editing is the best part of the writing process and there are people who are wrong