Content Editing: Plot, Pace and Clock— Part 2 of 2
When fine-tuning the storyline, in addition to plot, you need to be aware of pace and clock. In the first of this two-part series, guest blogger Lynn Perretta discussed content editing and the importance of plot. In the second part of the series, she discusses two other elements of editing: pace and clock. Last time…
Content Editing: Plot, Pace and Clock— Part 1 of 2
Congratulations to you as you finally write –The End– on the first draft of your manuscript. You have a right to feel proud; it has been a lot of work. But before you hand off the book to beta readers, you need to fine-tune the storyline. This process is called content editing. In the first…
Writer’s block is an excuse for not writing
Last night at my Author’s Connections meeting, a local author spoke about writing and the importance of plot, character development and dialogue. During the Q and A, someone asked him if he ever suffered from writer’s block and if so, what did he do to overcome it. To my disbelief, this writer of six mysteries…
Eight lessons learned while searching for my muse
Do you have a muse, someone who inspires your writing, brings enlightenment, helps you overcome writer’s block, and infuses you with a Can-Do attitude? I have struggled for years trying to find my muse; no one has come forward, though I have found a few lessons. For example, don’t ask your father for help. Trying…
Why Writing and Editing Services Help the Indie Writer
It took me seven months to write my first book. After making corrections suggested by several beta readers and reviewers, I felt that the book was ready. I was anxious to publish, especially since I was going on tour to talk about the Camino de Santiago. I ordered 100 copies, and then sent one to…
Establishing the genre – getting off on the right foot
Have you ever wanted to know if you picked the correct genre for your book? Is there a better way to categorize your book? The following article, reprinted from Arthur Crandon’s Writing Matters may help you in defining your genre. I want to start with the bleedin’ obvious. You MUST consider the genre of your…
Positive influencers in the indie writing community
One of the lessons I learned while hiking the Camino de Santiago was the importance of community and camaraderie. As I walked over 500 miles in northern Spain, many people crossed my path. Through their kindness and generosity, I learned that what is important in life is giving. Returning home, I joined a new community,…
Success revisited
In my previous post, Learning to be successful, I listed 5 steps to feeling successful. When I wrote the article, I actually thought that I could learn to feel successful; then, I listened to Steve Little speak on success. It was a short promo for a program he is marketing, but his approach to defining…
Learning to feel successful
I have been thinking about success. So many of my friends whom I would deem successful don’t see themselves as such? Artist, playwright, authors, entrepreneurs, bloggers—each highly respected by their peers yet still unable not define themselves as successful. Do you fall in that category? For you, is success elusive? If so, have you every…
When it comes to engaging your readers, don’t be like holiday greeting cards
About this time of year, I start to get holiday greeting cards. Since I am an atheist, the only religious cards I get are from my aunts and uncles, too set in their ways to even contemplate why one would send a nonreligious card. It would never cross their minds that I might find it…