A lot can change in a week. In the last seven days: I got a novel to the publisher (toy/reward budget unlocked!), plans with my in-laws changed (three times…), and (at least in my area) School supply season is open! Long time readers know that I’m one of those weird old-school writers who like toContinue reading “Office supplies and NANOWRIMO…”
Tag Archives: success
Don’t give up…
Yep, it’s been a couple weeks. But, I’m still alive. Sometimes you want to work, but life has other plans. Sometimes you just can’t put off that scary step any longer (at least not if you want to finish the project). Sometimes you find someone or something isn’t what you thought, and you have toContinue reading “Don’t give up…”
Use your tools…
There comes a time when the big things are done: you’ve figured out your audience; you’ve finally got your voice down; your themes, concepts, and symbols are there; your plot is running; and your characters are who they need to be. But, sadly, the big things being done doesn’t mean everything is done. This isContinue reading “Use your tools…”
The middle of the pass… And facing the hard stuff…
Two weeks ago I talked about the “one and a half pass” editing pass. And, 345 manuscript pages (73,500 words) later I’ve dug through the reader feedback, made my notes, and found three things that need more than a one word fix or altered point of punctuation. Two of the three are relatively easy. IContinue reading “The middle of the pass… And facing the hard stuff…”
The “one and a half pass” editing pass
The day this post goes live I’m collecting the last of my reader feedback for Unintended Consequences. That means Monday, June 3, 2019, I am starting what will, hopefully, be my last pass on the book before the whole thing gets submitted to the ‘big’ editors for publication. It’s time to give the whole manuscriptContinue reading “The “one and a half pass” editing pass”
Hear what they’re saying
Two weeks ago I said Unintended Consequences was in the hands of some teen readers. Well, we’ve got the first reports back and I have to say I’m happy, and I learned a thing or two. One of my teens is a very avid reader, and claims he can usually guess how the story willContinue reading “Hear what they’re saying”
The in-between…
As I write this, I’m in one of the scariest positions a YA writer can be in, I’ve got young adults reading my unpublished manuscript. It’s scary, but it’s what needs to happen. It also means there’s not a lot of point in working on it too much until I get some feedback. So, whileContinue reading “The in-between…”
Audience expectations
Playing with what our audience expects can be dangerous. Sometimes you can pull it off. Sometimes it really backfires. This week we’re looking two audience expectation failures I’ve found. Email oops… First, early this week, I got an email from a spice monger I buy from. The first couple of lines were what you wouldContinue reading “Audience expectations”
You need to say it…
Last week we talked about entry points and beginnings, about the need to understand your audience and how to bring them into your writing. This week’s topic is related: you might need to modulate how you say what you have to say, but say it. Don’t insult your audience Put consideration into how you sayContinue reading “You need to say it…”
Beginnings and entry points
When I started Johnson Farm (my first published novel) I started with events found in the second half of the story as it reads today. Most my first ideas are in the story’s ending. My entry point into Unintended Consequences (hopefully my second published novel) was, I thought, in the middle of the book. ItContinue reading “Beginnings and entry points”
Forever Mountain Publishing 