First let me wish you a Happy Monday. Good morning everyone! I'm afraid this is going to be a long post so grab a cup of coffee and get comfortable. :-) I got up and found 99 new emails this morning.
I follow a lot of blogs. 99 isn't too bad though as long as I tackle them all today. Last week there were over 2000 unread emails and let's just say I was a little slow at checking my emails.
But...My post today is about me being a writer. I have been reading a lot of author interviews on blogs and usually the first question is;
"When did you know you wanted to be a writer?" And you will usually find answers like;
"When I was 9. I started writing short stories or describing my grandma's sugar cookies or, when I was 5, I wrote everything."
Personally, when I was 5, I was having imaginary tea with Elvis while sitting at my little table and chairs in my bedroom. I wasn't thinking of becoming a writer, but I had a great imagination! My "When I grow up, I want to be..." Was usually a teacher, or a secretary working in an office keeping everything organized for a business.
I, like all of you, have worn many different hats from wife, to mother, or father, to animal lover, and have had different jobs. Some interesting, fun, and exciting, others not so much so, but they all taught me valuable things. I was the cleaning lady for the YWCA, I worked in one of those little photo booths that they used to stick in parking lots where people would drive up and turn in their film and a couple of days later they'd drive back up and pick up their pictures. I even got robbed there during my first 3 weeks! Now that was scary, but I hung in there until the owner closed the place down about a year later.
I worked for the school district off and on for 17 years. I was a noon aid, a food service worker, and even a reader for the blind in those 17 years. During my last year I decided to go to college.
Wow, me starting college at 40. I decided I wanted to change my age group and open a board and care for the elderly. I retired from the school district, rolled over my retirement to a traditional IRA and it was off to school. I lost my mom at the end of my first year to colon cancer and lost my brother at the beginning of my last semester a year and a half later to congestive heart failure, but I went on to graduate and got my A.A. degree. A few months after losing my brother I got a job working for a rental car company and my goal to open a board and care got pushed to the wayside.
A few years later, while still working there, I decided I wanted to be a gift basket designer and was doing well enough at it that a few years later, I even opened a gift shop designing custom gift baskets and party sets. I decided to close my gift shop after 3 years due to the economy and a business partner who was going through a nasty divorce and failed to tell me he hadn't paid the rent in 7 months. My landlord was a great guy and I could have stayed open, but decided it was time to move on. And that was in February 2011. So here I sat wondering what to do. Throughout all these years I have had fantasies running through my head and the one at that time was so strong that in May I decided to sit down and write it out. In fact I was on the third chapter and decided I better google how to write a story. I didn't know what POV or HEA was. Heck I had to google how to write a sex scene! So here I am, not quite into a year and I'm a writer. Who would have thought that all those fantasies and my imagination would lead me to here.
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
I'm a Reader too!
I think this is going to be a continuation about my other posts on "Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing" I was also going to go off on a tangent about the economy but decided against it.
There are a great many self publishers out there, including myself now, but we need to remember that it's not always about the money, but about keeping our readers happy and giving them quality books.
I love to read! And even though I'm a devoted Stephen King fan, I decided last year that I would support new authors by buying their books and reading them. But...
If I am going to spend money on a book,
(which I rarely do,I normally tell everyone, I want this book or that book, for my birthday or Christmas, including the Stephen King ones.)
I want the book to be worth the money I put out!
Since I am new to all the writing, self publishing thing, I have no right to hand out advice, but as a reader, now that's a different story...
I know you wrote the book, I know you want to get it out there and let others read it, but stop for a moment and read it yourself!
I know I am nit picky, but I don't want to spend money on a book and in the first chapter find 6 mistakes. I don't like to have to read a sentence over and over, trying to figure out what the writer is trying to say, because they have a word in there, that shouldn't even be in there.
I make the mistakes also when I write, hear becomes here, and know sometimes ends up as no, and my biggest mistake is HIS which always seems to be HI, I mean I will read back through mine and it will say "Hi green car was really blue" Huh? Yeah I do that all the time, but I am my biggest critic and will read back through what I wrote at least 10 times to make sure it makes sense and sometimes I will have someone else read through it too and that's all I'm asking. Before you upload it and hit publish, read through it and make sure it makes sense. As self publishers we don't have the luxury of agents and editors and proofreaders, so we need to do that ourselves or have a friend or family member do it.
Take pride in your work, make people want to buy more. Be your worst critic and your biggest fan!
You can find my other rants about self publishing vs. traditional publishing here;
http://karensdifferentcorners.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/now-i-know/#comment-37
And here;
http://differentcornersinmylife.blogspot.com/2012/02/am-i-cheating.html
There are a great many self publishers out there, including myself now, but we need to remember that it's not always about the money, but about keeping our readers happy and giving them quality books.
I love to read! And even though I'm a devoted Stephen King fan, I decided last year that I would support new authors by buying their books and reading them. But...
If I am going to spend money on a book,
(which I rarely do,I normally tell everyone, I want this book or that book, for my birthday or Christmas, including the Stephen King ones.)
I want the book to be worth the money I put out!
Since I am new to all the writing, self publishing thing, I have no right to hand out advice, but as a reader, now that's a different story...
I know you wrote the book, I know you want to get it out there and let others read it, but stop for a moment and read it yourself!
I know I am nit picky, but I don't want to spend money on a book and in the first chapter find 6 mistakes. I don't like to have to read a sentence over and over, trying to figure out what the writer is trying to say, because they have a word in there, that shouldn't even be in there.
I make the mistakes also when I write, hear becomes here, and know sometimes ends up as no, and my biggest mistake is HIS which always seems to be HI, I mean I will read back through mine and it will say "Hi green car was really blue" Huh? Yeah I do that all the time, but I am my biggest critic and will read back through what I wrote at least 10 times to make sure it makes sense and sometimes I will have someone else read through it too and that's all I'm asking. Before you upload it and hit publish, read through it and make sure it makes sense. As self publishers we don't have the luxury of agents and editors and proofreaders, so we need to do that ourselves or have a friend or family member do it.
Take pride in your work, make people want to buy more. Be your worst critic and your biggest fan!
You can find my other rants about self publishing vs. traditional publishing here;
http://karensdifferentcorners.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/now-i-know/#comment-37
And here;
http://differentcornersinmylife.blogspot.com/2012/02/am-i-cheating.html
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Details and Descriptions!
I stumbled across a blog the other day and one of his posts was titled "12 1/2 Writing rules." Now when I first read through them the one that got my attention was #9 Always bring a notebook. Always bring a spare pen. And even though I have one of each on the dining room table, the couch, the end table, and the dining room chair, I don't take one with me everywhere I go. I will find I am here or there and will have an entire conversation going through my head and by the time I sit down with my notebook, I have forgotten half of the conversation. I also remember reading somewhere that you should keep one by your bed, just in case you wake up during the idea with a brilliant idea!
http://josepheastwoodxd.blogspot.com/2011/05/12-writing-rules.html
But the next day after reading his blog, rules #2, #5, and #10 have become stuck in my head or at least my interpretation of them. And my interpretation of them is detail, description, and stereotype. Did I tell you I'm a big, BIG fan of Stephan King? I love his work. (Well his written work, not so much his movies.) How he can pull you in and keep you hooked for hours on end, but more importantly how his words and descriptions let you see and feel what he sees and feels. And that's what every writer should want to achieve. Yes you have this fantasy going through your head. If it's an erotic love story you want the reader to be turned on. If it's a horror novel, you want them to be scared, but it's not going to happen if you don't tell them in words and descriptions that you see and feel. The difference between a book and a movie is with the book you need to describe in detail what you want the reader to see, compared to what they notice when they watch a movie.
Here's a couple of examples;
You are lying in bed and a hand reaches up from under the bed and grabs your leg.
Okay that's the basic detail, but now let the reader feel what you feel and see what you see.
"She's lying in bed. The air is hot and stifling in the room, so she has one leg outside the covers. When all of a sudden a thin bony hand reaches up and grabs her leg. It's nails are like talons as they tear into her skin"
I'm not a horror writer but you get the point.
The second example will be a combination of stereotyping and detail;
Let me set the scene. He's a bachelor taking the girl to his apartment the first time.
As they walk in the door he tells her "sorry about the mess. I haven't been home much this past week."
She looks around and yes the place is a disaster area. He clears the papers off the couch so she can sit down.
Okay that's my stereotype, because most people tend to think bachelors are slobs. Sorry guys. But go into detail and you could come up with something like this;
As they walk in the door he tells her "sorry about the mess. I haven't been home much this past week."
Smiling she looks around at the apartment. It's really not that bad. The living room is sparsely furnished with a couch, chair, and a TV on a stand in the corner. There is a empty pizza box and a couple of empty beer bottles on the coffee table and a pair of his shoes under the table. Walking into the kitchen there are just a few dishes in the sink. The trash could go out but it isn't overflowing onto the floor. Overall the place seems to be pretty neat and tidy or could be with just half an hour of work.
Now if you wanted to elaborate you could go into the color of the couch or a blanket tossed across the back of the couch giving her the impression that he's been sleeping on the couch.
These are just a couple of examples. Now how much detail do you want to use and how much do you want to leave to your reader's imagination. We all see things differently. We could all look at the same picture and some might notice the sky, where others are fascinated by the green of the trees, so no matter how much detail you put in, the reader is still going to see and feel it in their own way.
Your job is to get them to see and feel what you do and pull them in and keep them mesmerized until the very last word.
Have fun writing. And check out Joseph's Blog and read all of his 12 1/2 writing rules.
A big, "Thank you" to you Joseph, for letting me see and feel my my own novel.
12 1/2 Writing Rules! Great advice!
http://josepheastwoodxd.blogspot.com/2011/05/12-writing-rules.html
But the next day after reading his blog, rules #2, #5, and #10 have become stuck in my head or at least my interpretation of them. And my interpretation of them is detail, description, and stereotype. Did I tell you I'm a big, BIG fan of Stephan King? I love his work. (Well his written work, not so much his movies.) How he can pull you in and keep you hooked for hours on end, but more importantly how his words and descriptions let you see and feel what he sees and feels. And that's what every writer should want to achieve. Yes you have this fantasy going through your head. If it's an erotic love story you want the reader to be turned on. If it's a horror novel, you want them to be scared, but it's not going to happen if you don't tell them in words and descriptions that you see and feel. The difference between a book and a movie is with the book you need to describe in detail what you want the reader to see, compared to what they notice when they watch a movie.
Here's a couple of examples;
You are lying in bed and a hand reaches up from under the bed and grabs your leg.
Okay that's the basic detail, but now let the reader feel what you feel and see what you see.
"She's lying in bed. The air is hot and stifling in the room, so she has one leg outside the covers. When all of a sudden a thin bony hand reaches up and grabs her leg. It's nails are like talons as they tear into her skin"
I'm not a horror writer but you get the point.
The second example will be a combination of stereotyping and detail;
Let me set the scene. He's a bachelor taking the girl to his apartment the first time.
As they walk in the door he tells her "sorry about the mess. I haven't been home much this past week."
She looks around and yes the place is a disaster area. He clears the papers off the couch so she can sit down.
Okay that's my stereotype, because most people tend to think bachelors are slobs. Sorry guys. But go into detail and you could come up with something like this;
As they walk in the door he tells her "sorry about the mess. I haven't been home much this past week."
Smiling she looks around at the apartment. It's really not that bad. The living room is sparsely furnished with a couch, chair, and a TV on a stand in the corner. There is a empty pizza box and a couple of empty beer bottles on the coffee table and a pair of his shoes under the table. Walking into the kitchen there are just a few dishes in the sink. The trash could go out but it isn't overflowing onto the floor. Overall the place seems to be pretty neat and tidy or could be with just half an hour of work.
Now if you wanted to elaborate you could go into the color of the couch or a blanket tossed across the back of the couch giving her the impression that he's been sleeping on the couch.
These are just a couple of examples. Now how much detail do you want to use and how much do you want to leave to your reader's imagination. We all see things differently. We could all look at the same picture and some might notice the sky, where others are fascinated by the green of the trees, so no matter how much detail you put in, the reader is still going to see and feel it in their own way.
Your job is to get them to see and feel what you do and pull them in and keep them mesmerized until the very last word.
Have fun writing. And check out Joseph's Blog and read all of his 12 1/2 writing rules.
A big, "Thank you" to you Joseph, for letting me see and feel my my own novel.
12 1/2 Writing Rules! Great advice!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
Good morning and happy Thursday! Today I want to talk about inspiration. What inspired you to write that new novel and keeps you writing and plugging along to reach that "Happily ever after" ending? Was it a song or combination of songs that you heard and you had an "Aha" moment? Or maybe an actor or TV character that you adore? Or did it start with just a fantasy and then the other elements came into play to give it a life all it's own?
Monday, August 1, 2011
A New Corner
Well on my last post i was supposed to be telling you a little about me, so here goes. I like to be creative. I took a knitting class with my sister, Joyce, when I was 12 and from there I learned how to crochet from my sister, Linda, Which she couldn't teach me much more than your classic chain stitch because she was left handed and I am right. I moved on from there to my favorite craft which is plastic canvas. I also have a passion for creating custom gift baskets, I have a new passion now though which brings me to a new corner in my life and that is writing. About 8 months ago I had a fantasy going around in my head. This isn't so unusual for me, but after about 5 months I decided I needed to put it down on paper and write a very sensuous, eroctic love story And that is very unusual for me. I never realized how hard it is to write a love story or any book for that matter, but I find it is coming along quite nicely. I was reading a blog about writing and the writer mentioned, finishing up your story, getting to your happy ending and I stressed for two days wondering how was I going to finish off this story. I mean I hadn't even thought about an ending. And then I woke up on the third day and there it was, my happy ending, right there in me head. It was perfect! Now all I have to do is finish the first chapter, haha! I know, How do you move on if you can't even finish the first chapter. Well I have. I have finished writing the second, third, fourth, and fifth chapters and have the sixth chapter started. And the ending written! So I'm not your normal conventional writer, but then again who is. I will keep you updated as I move forward. Oh did I mention that this is actually the third and final book in a series. Yep! There are two books ahead of this one floating around in my head, but I think this one is the more powerful one out of the three. So stay tuned!
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