I'm still doing the usual Tuesday Twist but today I've decided to embrace the Fun in the Sun vibe and enjoy some fun summer reads!
First Sentences
1. I was squeaky clean and my hair conditioned for at least two of the suggested three minutes when the water went cold.
2. I say, "I can't believe you're really here."
3. Charlotte had already picked the lettuces and set them, along with bunches of asparagus tied with twine and the mason jars of fresh-faced pansies, out on the table in a shaded spot at the end of the drive.
Secret Titles
1. Title Revealed
2. Title Revealed
3. Title Revealed
So what would you read? My favorite of the day was #3!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
See Jane Write
Ever since I started the querying process I've become addicted to learning about the entire writing process.
After receiving feedback from a few friends and publishing houses I thought it would be nice to start reading up on things I could use to improve my writing.
There is nothing wrong with the way I write. I love my stories, my ideas, my gift. There is also nothing wrong with perfecting your craft. Every great writer continues to learn. They have editors to help them throughout the process but they all started at the beginning. Right where a lot of us are.
On Writing by Stephen King was the first dose of awesome I received in the writing world. If anyone is new to writing and has yet to read it get your hands on it now. It's that good!
I hear others talk about their favorite writing books and I always make a note to write them down for later. I'm sure glad I did as well, it really pays off when I'm in a learning mood.
See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs was the last one I devoured. Designed for those who love to read and write Chick Lit. Though I've written a chick lit novel already I knew it wouldn't hurt to learn a little bit more. After all they say to learn something new every day... this book definitely offered that!
For me I'm not proud to announce that I can consider myself a plotter. I've spent the last few weeks just getting to know my characters and everything I'm about to put them through. I have to admit it gets me very excited and I already know it'll help with revisions. I'm not as scared as I used to be plotting, I no longer have the fear of writers block. See Jane Write really taught me a lot.
So what are your favorite writing novels? What one's have helped you?
Next on my list -The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.
After receiving feedback from a few friends and publishing houses I thought it would be nice to start reading up on things I could use to improve my writing.
There is nothing wrong with the way I write. I love my stories, my ideas, my gift. There is also nothing wrong with perfecting your craft. Every great writer continues to learn. They have editors to help them throughout the process but they all started at the beginning. Right where a lot of us are.
On Writing by Stephen King was the first dose of awesome I received in the writing world. If anyone is new to writing and has yet to read it get your hands on it now. It's that good!
I hear others talk about their favorite writing books and I always make a note to write them down for later. I'm sure glad I did as well, it really pays off when I'm in a learning mood.
See Jane Write by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs was the last one I devoured. Designed for those who love to read and write Chick Lit. Though I've written a chick lit novel already I knew it wouldn't hurt to learn a little bit more. After all they say to learn something new every day... this book definitely offered that!
For me I'm not proud to announce that I can consider myself a plotter. I've spent the last few weeks just getting to know my characters and everything I'm about to put them through. I have to admit it gets me very excited and I already know it'll help with revisions. I'm not as scared as I used to be plotting, I no longer have the fear of writers block. See Jane Write really taught me a lot.
So what are your favorite writing novels? What one's have helped you?
Next on my list -The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Did it start at Childhood?
Before I start reading a good book, I love to turn to the author’s bio and acknowledgements. It allows me to see what drove them to write a fabulous book and who all they thanked – which is never easy since we all know how much help we use along the way.
Some people find their passion at an early age, their imaginations carrying them to bring a notepad and write everything down.
Others soak up the information for years. Never knowing that’s where they’ll end up but when asked the inevitable question ‘When did you start writing’ they’ll reply with ‘a year’ but secretly they’ll know it was since childhood.
We are also driven to write different things. Some of travel, life, animals, others simply make believe. Some also write just because they ran out of books to read.
So what category do you fall under? Why did you start writing?
Some people find their passion at an early age, their imaginations carrying them to bring a notepad and write everything down.
Others soak up the information for years. Never knowing that’s where they’ll end up but when asked the inevitable question ‘When did you start writing’ they’ll reply with ‘a year’ but secretly they’ll know it was since childhood.
We are also driven to write different things. Some of travel, life, animals, others simply make believe. Some also write just because they ran out of books to read.
So what category do you fall under? Why did you start writing?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Truth Thursdays
I hope you guys enjoy these? Sometimes I really struggle with coming up with truths. I really need to keep a truth notebook around my house for random days so that days when it escapes me I have back-ups. Alas we shall move forward where I embarrass myself (or not) in sharing my truths.
1. I've never flown by myself. This weekend I will. I'm terrified.
2. I love small cereal boxes for breakfast. I can't eat as soon as I get up so they're portable and that makes me happy.
3. I want to purchase a fake window to put on my desk. You know the one's that blow up and have a picture window with grass and a tree. It'll be better than the white walls.
4. All co-workers are strange. One who takes excessive smoke breaks, one who re-wears his newly purchased shirt every day (not sure if it's washed), one that calls you 'money' even though you don't have any idea what it means. Yeah, we all have them.
5. I like listening to random radio stations. I'll google a different city and pretend I'm there while listening from 6-10am. Thank you Chicago, North Carolina, and New York for your radio hosts. They keep me smiling.
What are your truths?
1. I've never flown by myself. This weekend I will. I'm terrified.
2. I love small cereal boxes for breakfast. I can't eat as soon as I get up so they're portable and that makes me happy.
3. I want to purchase a fake window to put on my desk. You know the one's that blow up and have a picture window with grass and a tree. It'll be better than the white walls.
4. All co-workers are strange. One who takes excessive smoke breaks, one who re-wears his newly purchased shirt every day (not sure if it's washed), one that calls you 'money' even though you don't have any idea what it means. Yeah, we all have them.
5. I like listening to random radio stations. I'll google a different city and pretend I'm there while listening from 6-10am. Thank you Chicago, North Carolina, and New York for your radio hosts. They keep me smiling.
What are your truths?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
To catch a reader
What makes someone pick up a book and keep reading it?
Yes cover art is important, after all, our eyes can't get past the dislike of something. EVEN if it's being talked about a lot. That is the first thing that catches our eye.
Then there's the first few pages, the key point in which you need to grab the reader. Engage them. Captivate them.
How easy is that?
When I first started writing I had no idea what to do. I started this blog and thought that it would push me to write a book. It worked. It also allowed me to realize how out of reality I was. Ideas are great but it's what you do with them is most important.
Voice is key. How do you obtain it?
Reading.
I found the easiest thing for me was to read A LOT. I started with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and if you've blogged with me from the get go you'll know she is my favorite romance author ever!
I mimicked her writing style, I just wanted to get words out on paper. It took me weeks to write something solid and even then it still didn't feel like my own. Page by page I continued to write and slowly I started using my own voice, Susan Elizabeth Phillips soon disappeared and it was just me and what I wanted. I felt the words, the characters, the life I'd created.
If you're engaged in the story, chances are that your readers will be too.
How did you gain your voice?
Yes cover art is important, after all, our eyes can't get past the dislike of something. EVEN if it's being talked about a lot. That is the first thing that catches our eye.
Then there's the first few pages, the key point in which you need to grab the reader. Engage them. Captivate them.
How easy is that?
When I first started writing I had no idea what to do. I started this blog and thought that it would push me to write a book. It worked. It also allowed me to realize how out of reality I was. Ideas are great but it's what you do with them is most important.
Voice is key. How do you obtain it?
Reading.
I found the easiest thing for me was to read A LOT. I started with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and if you've blogged with me from the get go you'll know she is my favorite romance author ever!
I mimicked her writing style, I just wanted to get words out on paper. It took me weeks to write something solid and even then it still didn't feel like my own. Page by page I continued to write and slowly I started using my own voice, Susan Elizabeth Phillips soon disappeared and it was just me and what I wanted. I felt the words, the characters, the life I'd created.
If you're engaged in the story, chances are that your readers will be too.
How did you gain your voice?
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