It’s Monday…at least in Colorado. On Saturday my strep throat returned. This time I got on medication immediately and I’m better already. For my right shoulder injury the Doctor put me on muscle relaxants. While visiting a few blogs, my eyes got crossed and I couldn’t comprehend what I was reading. So, long story…I couldn’t continue. Sorry.
Since that is the case, I am proud to announce that I’ve completed chapters 2 - 6. I’m still waiting on my updated Chapter 1 from my editor. I would have gotten another 6 to 10 chapters done if it weren’t for my medications. Oh well.
I can’t remember a more miserable fall health wise. It’s not my normal condition. I look forward to visiting all of you this week and I’m going to get started on my blogfest submissions. Take a peak at my side bar if you want to join the fun.
Showing posts with label Work in Progress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work in Progress. Show all posts
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Mondays Theme: Writing, Edits and Answers.
Update on my edits in progress. I have finished the ‘ing’ and ‘ly’ search and yesterday I added a little over two pages to chapter one. I introduced Rama Muhammad as my heroine’s best friend and gifted pianist. Most of the exchange was dialogue between Rama and Missie to emphasize their friendship and mutual interest in music as well as to discuss a disturbing incident that Missie had with her Professor earlier in the chapter. Rama has the same Professor. I think I nailed it. The next step is to resubmit to my editor and also to my online critique group to see if this addition defines, in a positive light, more of Missie’s personality. If all goes well you may be lucky enough to see chapter one posted here over several days. I’m a big chicken, so that will be extra hard for me.
I want to thank Mohamed Mughal for submitting Rama’s name in my contest last week. She makes a great addition.
Questions and Answers:
Kay Theodoratus and Dominic asked questions last week and I thought I would answer them.
DominicSFF said...
What criteria do you use to determine which –ing and –ly words are acceptable and which need to be changed?
To know which ‘ing’ and ‘ly’ words to change is a gut feeling. First there are some words that don’t have an alternative like the word, nothing. It would take to many words, more than likely an entire sentence to replace this one word. If nothing is gained why change it.
Second and more important; when you look at the entire sentence you can determine if changing either or both adverbs that end in ‘ing’ or ‘ly’ will strengthen the sentence, mood, description etc. Most of the time the sentence will improve. Sometimes the sentence will only change. (The word ‘only’is another word that is hard to change).
Here is an example:
Rippling biceps belying his undyingly brave courage began to subside into fear and knowingly he became angry toward the massing people.
He lifted the 200 lb. weight. His biceps rippled. A crowd gathered to gawk and his fear of rejection turned to anger. Yet beneath the surface he remained brave.
Okay, I invented that terrible sentence to make a point and I know the two don’t jive exactly…but I think it is clear which is the better group of sentences.
You may not write so many adverbs strewn together; in fact I hope you don’t. But even two in one sentence or multiple of these adverbs on one manuscript page will label you as an amateur in today’s market. Don’t let this create a stumbling block in your first draft. Write that first draft and edit later.
As my editor said to me. Think of these words like a strong spice. I added. Too much will spoil the dish and not enough will leave it bland. You want two per page. Sometimes more is acceptable.
Kay Theodoratus said...
Have you thought of a blog that gives the reasons you chose Kindle over the other formats?
Kindle is just a first step. I chose it because Amazon is number one and I’d like to get recognition, sales, etc. But I am not limiting myself to Kindle. I hope to have my story available through other e-formats as well as a paper copy through CreateSpace.
Do you have any other questions for me? Let it rip.
I want to thank Mohamed Mughal for submitting Rama’s name in my contest last week. She makes a great addition.
Questions and Answers:
Kay Theodoratus and Dominic asked questions last week and I thought I would answer them.
DominicSFF said...
What criteria do you use to determine which –ing and –ly words are acceptable and which need to be changed?
To know which ‘ing’ and ‘ly’ words to change is a gut feeling. First there are some words that don’t have an alternative like the word, nothing. It would take to many words, more than likely an entire sentence to replace this one word. If nothing is gained why change it.
Second and more important; when you look at the entire sentence you can determine if changing either or both adverbs that end in ‘ing’ or ‘ly’ will strengthen the sentence, mood, description etc. Most of the time the sentence will improve. Sometimes the sentence will only change. (The word ‘only’is another word that is hard to change).
Here is an example:
Rippling biceps belying his undyingly brave courage began to subside into fear and knowingly he became angry toward the massing people.
He lifted the 200 lb. weight. His biceps rippled. A crowd gathered to gawk and his fear of rejection turned to anger. Yet beneath the surface he remained brave.
Okay, I invented that terrible sentence to make a point and I know the two don’t jive exactly…but I think it is clear which is the better group of sentences.
You may not write so many adverbs strewn together; in fact I hope you don’t. But even two in one sentence or multiple of these adverbs on one manuscript page will label you as an amateur in today’s market. Don’t let this create a stumbling block in your first draft. Write that first draft and edit later.
As my editor said to me. Think of these words like a strong spice. I added. Too much will spoil the dish and not enough will leave it bland. You want two per page. Sometimes more is acceptable.
Kay Theodoratus said...
Have you thought of a blog that gives the reasons you chose Kindle over the other formats?
Kindle is just a first step. I chose it because Amazon is number one and I’d like to get recognition, sales, etc. But I am not limiting myself to Kindle. I hope to have my story available through other e-formats as well as a paper copy through CreateSpace.
Do you have any other questions for me? Let it rip.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Mondays Theme: Writing
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
I did it! I made my goal for the week and have finished searching my ms. for ‘ly’ and ‘ing’ words. I sent the last 6 chapters to my editor last night. Now I will start with chapter one and implement her suggestions. I don’t have the completed manuscript from her yet, obviously, since I just sent her the last of it last night. But I am giving myself the remainder of this month and the first week of next month to finish. I am so excited.
Don’t forget my contest. Take a moment to give me your suggestions if you haven’t done so already. I will announce the winner tomorrow and keep you abreast of my continued edits.
My contest: I am adding two to three paragraphs to chapter one of my high fantasy to have a character interact with my heroine so that the reader will have a better sense of who she is. This character will only live in chapter one and can be any nationality or sex. Is a gifted pianist. Name the character, your name or a name you invent. Both first and last. Leave it in the comments through Monday Nov. 8, 2010. Prize: You will receive credit on my credit page and a voucher for a free e-book when it's published in December.
I almost forgot. I promised to answer a question last week.
Joan asked: Sounds like you've got a great plan going on. After these November revisions, will you be querying the project?
No. I have queried in the past. I have also pitched this manuscript to numerous editors and agents in person. I have had the manuscript requested and in every instance I have been told that “we love it, but it won’t fit.” The last time I had it requested I was very hopeful since I knew numerous writers in Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers had been published through this publisher. Imagine my distress when after two months I learned that they were no longer representing fantasy.
The fact is, that in today’s terrible economy, publishers are very limited in their funds. They are taking on less and less new writers. Unless you are writing a ‘hot’ topic like vampires, your chances are slim. So, encouraged by the success of numerous author friends, I am self publishing on kindle. I have read some blogs where established authors are no longer going through main stream publishers. They can control their work and make more money online. The publishing industry is changing my friends. I think this is good news for those of us who write. Still, we must maintain a professional quality. That is why I’ve hired an editor and why I paid for a professional book cover.
Thank you for your support.
Don’t forget to give your suggestions. Can you think of a name?
I did it! I made my goal for the week and have finished searching my ms. for ‘ly’ and ‘ing’ words. I sent the last 6 chapters to my editor last night. Now I will start with chapter one and implement her suggestions. I don’t have the completed manuscript from her yet, obviously, since I just sent her the last of it last night. But I am giving myself the remainder of this month and the first week of next month to finish. I am so excited.
Don’t forget my contest. Take a moment to give me your suggestions if you haven’t done so already. I will announce the winner tomorrow and keep you abreast of my continued edits.
My contest: I am adding two to three paragraphs to chapter one of my high fantasy to have a character interact with my heroine so that the reader will have a better sense of who she is. This character will only live in chapter one and can be any nationality or sex. Is a gifted pianist. Name the character, your name or a name you invent. Both first and last. Leave it in the comments through Monday Nov. 8, 2010. Prize: You will receive credit on my credit page and a voucher for a free e-book when it's published in December.
I almost forgot. I promised to answer a question last week.
Joan asked: Sounds like you've got a great plan going on. After these November revisions, will you be querying the project?
No. I have queried in the past. I have also pitched this manuscript to numerous editors and agents in person. I have had the manuscript requested and in every instance I have been told that “we love it, but it won’t fit.” The last time I had it requested I was very hopeful since I knew numerous writers in Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers had been published through this publisher. Imagine my distress when after two months I learned that they were no longer representing fantasy.
The fact is, that in today’s terrible economy, publishers are very limited in their funds. They are taking on less and less new writers. Unless you are writing a ‘hot’ topic like vampires, your chances are slim. So, encouraged by the success of numerous author friends, I am self publishing on kindle. I have read some blogs where established authors are no longer going through main stream publishers. They can control their work and make more money online. The publishing industry is changing my friends. I think this is good news for those of us who write. Still, we must maintain a professional quality. That is why I’ve hired an editor and why I paid for a professional book cover.
Thank you for your support.
Don’t forget to give your suggestions. Can you think of a name?
Monday, November 1, 2010
Mondays Theme: Writing
On Monday I talk about the writing craft. Some aspect that I am struggling with myself or something new I have learned or something I think would be a benefit to all my writer friends out there. I think learning about the craft of writing is beneficial to everyone regardless of their profession. Writing and writing well is a valued commodity. It is part of the way we communicate with one another.
If you have never heard of NaNoWrMo, then I am surprised. I think 90% of the bloggers I visit our participating. I am not. I am buried in edits. However, I am going to take advantage of the same type of goal setting as NaNoWrMo produces in our friends who are participating. My forum will be, GetThatEditDone Month.
True confession: In October I was very sick. First a sinus infection and before I was well I got strep throat. I still have a soar tongue, if you can believe that. I was literally in the fog mentally for three weeks. That meant, for three weeks I didn’t get any editing done. So starting today, I am focusing on my edits big time. I need to get this book done.
My editing is taking a two part course. Part one; scour my manuscript for ‘ly’ and ‘ing’ words and fix them if at all possible. I have currently completed 24 chapters. Part two; implement the suggestions that I receive back from my editor.
You will be able to see my progress on the side bar and I hope you will cheer me on.
Goal: My goal is to finish my edits in part 1 and then to finish the suggested edits in part 2 by the end of November 2010. So on Mondays in November, I will share the progress that I have completed and I will update the side bar as often as need be during the week. I have no idea if any of you will find this interesting, so to keep it less of an; I did this today blog post, I will ask you to tell me what you want to know about my WIP. (Work in progress). You may ask anything, I will answer it if I can.
It is a high fantasy.
So folks, what would you like to know?
If you have never heard of NaNoWrMo, then I am surprised. I think 90% of the bloggers I visit our participating. I am not. I am buried in edits. However, I am going to take advantage of the same type of goal setting as NaNoWrMo produces in our friends who are participating. My forum will be, GetThatEditDone Month.
True confession: In October I was very sick. First a sinus infection and before I was well I got strep throat. I still have a soar tongue, if you can believe that. I was literally in the fog mentally for three weeks. That meant, for three weeks I didn’t get any editing done. So starting today, I am focusing on my edits big time. I need to get this book done.
My editing is taking a two part course. Part one; scour my manuscript for ‘ly’ and ‘ing’ words and fix them if at all possible. I have currently completed 24 chapters. Part two; implement the suggestions that I receive back from my editor.
You will be able to see my progress on the side bar and I hope you will cheer me on.
Goal: My goal is to finish my edits in part 1 and then to finish the suggested edits in part 2 by the end of November 2010. So on Mondays in November, I will share the progress that I have completed and I will update the side bar as often as need be during the week. I have no idea if any of you will find this interesting, so to keep it less of an; I did this today blog post, I will ask you to tell me what you want to know about my WIP. (Work in progress). You may ask anything, I will answer it if I can.
It is a high fantasy.
So folks, what would you like to know?
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