Have a question / need help!
I'm editing my book and have found that I use a lot of "be" verbs to help tell the story in past-tense. What else can I use without (egads!) using adverbs?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
How Do You Color Your Scenes?
I've discovered that self-editing and amping is soo slow, especially after a stressful day at the office. The last thing that I really want to do is sit down in front of of my iPad, put my fingertips on the docking station keyboard, and type some more.
Now that I've got that complaint out of the way, it's fun to climb back into my story, and update it with a new perspective. It's fun to look around the environment of the scene and be true to the characters, adding more of what is said, seen, and felt.
What do you do to color your scenes? Do you focus on one small detail, or on the bigger picture?
Now that I've got that complaint out of the way, it's fun to climb back into my story, and update it with a new perspective. It's fun to look around the environment of the scene and be true to the characters, adding more of what is said, seen, and felt.
What do you do to color your scenes? Do you focus on one small detail, or on the bigger picture?
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Is it a Girl book or a Boy book?
30,000 words, woo hoo! It feels like I've written a hard-earned million words on a book that has taken my thoughts and dreams for over two years now.
I'm a very slow writer, with short poems my preferred style. A sci-fi novel is quite a stretch. My re-write is taking 28 chapters and telling a complete story in each. 1 down, 27 to go!
This re-write takes my MC from age 17 down to age 14, aiming for the middle-grade reader.
My son told me that because my MC puts on lip-gloss in chapter 1, it's a girl-book. Oy!
What indicators do you use in Chapter 1 to tell the reader that the book is geared primarily for one type of reader? (e.g. Boys or Girls?)
I'm a very slow writer, with short poems my preferred style. A sci-fi novel is quite a stretch. My re-write is taking 28 chapters and telling a complete story in each. 1 down, 27 to go!
This re-write takes my MC from age 17 down to age 14, aiming for the middle-grade reader.
My son told me that because my MC puts on lip-gloss in chapter 1, it's a girl-book. Oy!
What indicators do you use in Chapter 1 to tell the reader that the book is geared primarily for one type of reader? (e.g. Boys or Girls?)
Monday, April 11, 2011
I ran out of excuses!
Yes, I finally ran out of excuses to not do my edit, so here I am, working on chapter one (of twenty-eight). My stretch-goal is to have the edit done by early June.
If I can walk a 5K race, (Yes, I turtled my way in last-place, but I FINISHED), then I can amp my book up to 50,000 words.
My goal is to have each of the 28 chapters stand on its own as a complete short-story, with the later chapters building to the book's climactic moments.
It's kinda that way now, but lacking some poetry.
If you know me, I'm all about poems. Not just rhyme, but pacing also.
Poetry has a flow to it. Sometimes it walks, sometimes it runs, and sometimes it just skates around the edges.
If I can walk a 5K race, (Yes, I turtled my way in last-place, but I FINISHED), then I can amp my book up to 50,000 words.
My goal is to have each of the 28 chapters stand on its own as a complete short-story, with the later chapters building to the book's climactic moments.
It's kinda that way now, but lacking some poetry.
If you know me, I'm all about poems. Not just rhyme, but pacing also.
Poetry has a flow to it. Sometimes it walks, sometimes it runs, and sometimes it just skates around the edges.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Don't be Shy. Share a Talent!
What do you do when you're not writing stories?
Me, I co-write songs and sing a little at my church.
Here's a sample of a couple of songs that I've co-written.
This one is titled, "I Will Always Reach For You" and is sung by my co-writer, Todd Cunningham.
This one is audio-only, and is titled, "God Bless This Country." Yes, that's me in my first real attempt at a studio recording. Not bad for a first try!
God Bless This Country (on SoundClick.com)
Please share a bit about what you do--links to pictures, video, or audio are great.
PG-rated material (good clean fun) only will be posted.
Thanks y'all!
Me, I co-write songs and sing a little at my church.
Here's a sample of a couple of songs that I've co-written.
This one is titled, "I Will Always Reach For You" and is sung by my co-writer, Todd Cunningham.
This one is audio-only, and is titled, "God Bless This Country." Yes, that's me in my first real attempt at a studio recording. Not bad for a first try!
God Bless This Country (on SoundClick.com)
Please share a bit about what you do--links to pictures, video, or audio are great.
PG-rated material (good clean fun) only will be posted.
Thanks y'all!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I love my new dishwasher
Yes, I do! The dishes are clean and sparkly, and it's so quiet that I can work while it's running.
The moral of the story is that good things definitely come to those who wait!
Maybe, I can apply this to my writing, too? :-)
The moral of the story is that good things definitely come to those who wait!
Maybe, I can apply this to my writing, too? :-)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
2011 Update
2011 Update: Sometimes, I need to just take a break. My WiP has been read in its entirety by a Beta reader, and chapter 1 has been edited by an English-teacher friend. And there it sits. It's starting to call to me.
Yes, my day-job has been overwhelming at times. Yes, I have two teenagers in the house. Yes, I feel like I hardly see my DH. And yes, my new year's resolution diet has already failed.
My QChord spends most of its time in the case....
I did discover that my iPad fits on the book-rack of my exercise bike and I can do all my Internet stuff while pedaling. It is just a bit of a challenge to type and pedal at the same time.
In the meantime, I've had a new dishwasher on order since Feb 18th. Wouldn't you know it, my current dishwasher finally did croak over a week ago. Believe me, I will KISS my new DW when it finally arrives and is installed. (Long story as to why it's not here yet...which will remain untold).
Anyway, the first two months of 2011 have zoomed by, hardly with any notice. Hoping to at least grab hold of the caboose and jump on the train soon. I have a book to edit.
Yes, my day-job has been overwhelming at times. Yes, I have two teenagers in the house. Yes, I feel like I hardly see my DH. And yes, my new year's resolution diet has already failed.
My QChord spends most of its time in the case....
I did discover that my iPad fits on the book-rack of my exercise bike and I can do all my Internet stuff while pedaling. It is just a bit of a challenge to type and pedal at the same time.
In the meantime, I've had a new dishwasher on order since Feb 18th. Wouldn't you know it, my current dishwasher finally did croak over a week ago. Believe me, I will KISS my new DW when it finally arrives and is installed. (Long story as to why it's not here yet...which will remain untold).
Anyway, the first two months of 2011 have zoomed by, hardly with any notice. Hoping to at least grab hold of the caboose and jump on the train soon. I have a book to edit.
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