Some 5 Star Reads of 2013

Of my own personal reading list and reviews, here is a short list of my favorites from 2013.

Mara Dyer - by Hodkin
I am very eagerly awaiting the final book in 2014! I really enjoyed this series.

Everneath series by Brodi Ashton
This series has a great example of the best protagonist I've read in a long time.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
It got me into Sci-fi. I have to like the series just for that.

Under the Never Sky by Rossi
What can I say? I love dystopian YA series.

Chemical Garden by Destephano
Another dystopian YA series. It had a few vague moments and it could have really been pushed to greater heights. I also did not enjoy the hurried wrap up of the ending, but I say that about several novels. It is still a good story though.

This is not a complete list, but it appeals to the greater number of readers. If you haven't given these novels a try, then read their synopsis and see if one grabs your attention.

No Longer Wilting

It is a new year. A perfect excuse and marker to start over, don’t you think?

Yesterday, Other Half and I had a date. We finally went to see Catching Fire. We had exotic meat jerkies such as Kangaroo meat. Interesting. I bought some coffee that is supposed to be very strong. I’m drinking it right now and I have come to the conclusion some people equate strong taste to strong caffeine.

This isn’t strong coffee. I’m very disappointed.

Despite that it has was a nice day out for us.

 

Life got in my way this past month. I also felt very burn out with story writing and I wilted.

Here is how I’ve dealt with holiday stress, family drama on the mega scale, and writing burn out all at once.

First I know my personality type. I withdraw and become practically catatonic when I get pulled in too many directions or if the demand on me is too much.

Find the muse: I read a lot. Mindless reading. Watched movies. Listened to music. This is what fuels my writing.

Enjoy other hobbies: I knit.

I gave myself to withdraw. It is what I do. It is what I am. A hermit to the bone. I didn’t try to fight it.

Then I got out of the house after excessive wallowing in self-pity.

It’s a new year. I’ve started setting goals. It’s time to make them happen and they don’t accomplish themselves.

 

Today I’m spending time cleaning. That always makes me feel productive and I enjoy it.  Then I’ll pass the joy of knitting or then again, maybe not…on to my niece. She is my anchor that keeps me in this world.

We’ll come back here to make baked chicken and a huge mess in the kitchen. Finishing out the night playing uno and watching Disney movies. Then tomorrow we’ll paint and I’ll encourage her passion for books by taking her to a book store. Honestly, I want to go and she is a good excuse because she loves to read as well.

I’ll post my goals later after I’ve fine-tuned them.

 

May your 2014 be better than 2013!

In the rough times

How do you write through some personal drama?

 

For the life of me right now I can’t write on my stories or give a damn about writing in general. Too much of my personal life is interfering. I can’t think, I just stare.

My heart and passion isn’t in it.

It is not my escape…

Oh well.

I’m giving it a try. Writing on a story called Deep Abyss. A bit of supernatural/paranormal romance.

I’m already re-writing the first chapter…not a good sign I suppose.

 

However, I have pledged writing at least 100k in 2014.

I will read at least 52 books. Giving me a book per week. I always over shoot this goal, but I’m trying to write this year, so I didn’t want to make it too overwhelming.

I will also edit this year and I have no real idea how much time that takes me.

I will publish one story.

I will continue to read creative writing books.

First Round of Editing

My first round of editing is always basic. I do not focus on grammar or sentences as I'll certainly be changing 90% of them. My writing is horrible at break neck speeds, which is almost all my writing. I look for big picture stuff.

Here is what I do on my first round.

Read the story front to back no comments or edits. Then go back anywhere in the story and start the notes and changes.

Fix the wibble if it doesn't need to be cut - a wibble is what I call a "Fix it later" moment in my story. A Wrimo gave the word to me. I can search through my document and find the wibbles easily. Fixing wibbles is my job, not any beta readers. Though, if they have suggestions they are always welcome.

 

Line Editing

Look for declarative sentences and descriptions that are backed up w/ nothing. Show the reader or provide proof at least if you're telling them something.

 

I repeat myself a lot. Delete or re-word. I don't bother referencing a thesaurus when I write. I use the same word over and over. I also use the same type of description over and over.

 

Non-Line Editing

Does the story make sense? Do the scenes flow together and have logical progression? Make sure everything moves naturally and in order. This one is pretty important to me. I tend to know the story and forget to explain things to the reader.
 

Reader reaction – How you felt the about the story as the reader, in short did you like, why or why not. What parts did you enjoy the most? Why? Where did it slow? Did you identify with the protagonist? Why or why not?  Any unanswered questions or something left unexplained?
 

Characters – How much depth do they have? Do you like them, do you like to hate them? Does anyone feel flat or fake? Are each of them unique? Do they develop in believable ways?
 

Dialogue – Believability? Does it flow? Does it seem in character? Does each character have a unique voice?
 

Hooks – Are they there? Was your interest kept why or why not? Was the opening strong? Does the middle weaken? How did you feel about the end?
 

Conflict – Is the conflict felt and does it create tension? Are the stakes high? Do you care if it's resolved? Does the tension rise? Is the tension high enough or to high? Are there subplots that are more distractions then additions to the story a whole? Was there a climax?
 

Recommended reading - Either a non-fiction work(blog, book etc) that covers what you considered the weakness, and/or a work that pulls off what the writer is trying to do really well so as to give them an example to be inspired by.
 

 

That is what I like in my first round of editing my extremely rough draft. After this, I start analyzing each paragraph, each page, each chapter. That is where I re-write sentences, cut fluff, and add content.
 

 

More later on the second and third rounds of editing.

 

 

Nano Reflection

I went into Nano Nov 2013 knowing I could do it. I had written 50k in 30 days on my own using a spreadsheet word tracker as my accountability.

It still was a huge rush to reach 50k in 15 days though.

Nano taught me that I need to pre-plan like I'm OCD. I am not a panster. I need a loose outline to get through the writing.

There is a such thing as writer's block for me. It happens when I have vague notions of how one scene connects to another and when I am indecisive. Inspiration doesn't rain down like manna. For me it comes with a lot of day dreaming and planning.

I have to love the story.

I have to enjoy the adventure of writing.

As much as possible, I need to pace myself. I change my mind often and will end up re-writing over 10k of words repeatedly.

My Nano will get cut, edited, and probably shelved. As it is, I would not want it published, but hey, it is still in the rough draft.

Now, the story I'm in love with right now...oh yeah, it is totally publish worthy. Once I get it nailed down in an outline and written that is. =-)

What helped me was having a few people to send notes to and chit chat with during the madness. I bragged, I whined, I shared.

I had a friend who loves my genre read my chapters as fast as I would send them to her.

Did I mention having an outline helped?

Post Nano

It's December.
Nano Nov is over, but not forgotten. I cranked out 77k in words in a frenzy that would leave a tornado speechless.

Before December was upon us, I couldn't take the state of the house any longer. I had to clean. Also, plot bunnies attacked me like rabid dogs the last week. I have more ideas with the consistency of Jell-O than I have time to thicken them.

In a rush of euphoria I jumped on the second book of a series I had in mind. Never mind that I have yet to finish the first book...anyway I got out 8k in words. Then all of a sudden I got an idea of how to start the story in a completely new way which will change a lot of events and characters in both books.

I like my new idea, now I need to outline it all.

I also need to whack my Nano project Exodus into two books. It is going to be much too long for a single book. Then I can fluff, de-fluff, and edit it to death.

In December, I'll also be reading other Wrimo's works. I have two on my plate and plan to give a broad stroke review.

I joined a writing group and hope it will help me. I feel like I'm floundering in plot construction.

I need to read a writing book this month. At least one, so I can hopefully grow as a writer.

I have pledged to write 100k of words for 2014. It is completely do-able at a little over 8k in words each month. I needed the goal to be low so I can find time for editing.

So in short:
whack Exodus in half, edit first half brutally.
Start my critiques
Outline new story idea
Pick my reading back up
Keep the house clean

It's called a rough draft for a reason

Replying to your blog post.

It isn't crap. It's called a Rough Draft.

 You're sculpting a story. The first round is getting the basic shape of your sculpture. Later you will reveal all the details and make it something beautiful.

We both experienced the same thing. I switched POV, character, setting, & stories, in Act II as well. We both are essentially telling two stories and merging them.

I got writer's shock when I switched. Different MC and she explains a lot of things that happen in Act II and a bit of foreshadowing for Act II. It is a lot of writing pressure. Plus, both of our second MCs seem a bit "off" as in they have been through something that makes them think differently. I tried to convey a bit of insanity with mine. It is not perfect. It is not "just right"

You don't get it just right in the rough draft. You get it just written. Get over that right now. Stuff the editor and the critic in a trunk and power through. The fear will follow them.

I re-wrote my ACTII beginning at least three times from scratch. Spinning my wheels and I was not happy with the product or the waste of time in re-writing. So, I stopped.

I wrote the first chapter and made myself move on and I did not even need Jim Beam to get it done.

My fear is not finishing the story at all. I've got a scene to write at this moment that I'm not even sure how to make it happen. I'll stew over it for a while and finally force myself to write something and move on. I know already I have a mountain of editing to do when this is all over. I've accepted that.
It may be that you need to accept that as well. It isn't a shameful thing. It is reality.

Think about it. Most wannabe authors die in the rough draft. It flounders and sinks never getting finished. I can easily edit the story later to make it as perfect as can be. That is IF I can only get the story written in the first place. I can't make it perfect if I don't bring it into existence first. If I try to make it perfect as I bring it to life, I'll never make progress.

There is a reason for Nanowrimo's break neck speed. It sets a deadline and the workload is not unreasonable. The objective is to push you forward and make you get past the less than perfect parts of your writing. The goal is to have a finished story at the end of the month. There is absolutely nothing about Nano that expects it to be publish worth in that amount of time.

Love the process. Love your story. Write the damn thing. December is for getting it just right, for now just get it written. The world does deserve your story, so give it to us. You can't leave me hanging. I need the other chapters.

Now, I have to stop procrastinating and get these two scenes written. They are going to be bad and I don't care right now.