Focused on learning the rules of writing and seeing how others use them. I've been busy critiquing other writer's works and comparing my crits to those of other readers. I have over 100 crits and have learned a great deal. I've been invited to join two private queues where a limited number of readers review and crit an entire piece. I feel privileged to be included in both groups. It's like playing baseball with a group that's better than you. You can't help but strive to belong, work harder to meet the standard, learn more to rival their knowledge, and grow along with them. This will make me a better writer in the long run.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
CURRENT PROJECTS
Recently received some great feedback on WIP TRUTH CAME IN A MEMORY - could be the working title of TRUTH CAME IN A PROMISE. The piece is ready for some serious rewrites, and I'm eager to get started. In the process of having this book reviewed, I'm learning some of the more basic writing rules. Rules I've never even heard of, much less know how to apply. Rules are the difficult part of writing. I can recognize good writing when I see it; I have trouble with it flowing from my pen. But then I guess good writing doesn't often just flow from the pen. At least, that's what I'm learning.
JUST SAY GRACE is the working title of a piece started as a NaNoWriMo submission. It's a light mystery dealing with three young women all named Grace Mae who met at a turning point in their lives - the time when they assume their first position in the community. The story is loosely based on a time in my grandmother's life - when she met her first lifelong friend, started her first job teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, and met her future husband. I've added some additional drama, including a crime. I plan for it to be the third volume of my Mysteries of Truth Series.
JUST SAY GRACE is the working title of a piece started as a NaNoWriMo submission. It's a light mystery dealing with three young women all named Grace Mae who met at a turning point in their lives - the time when they assume their first position in the community. The story is loosely based on a time in my grandmother's life - when she met her first lifelong friend, started her first job teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, and met her future husband. I've added some additional drama, including a crime. I plan for it to be the third volume of my Mysteries of Truth Series.
RANT OR RAVE
RANT
Through a series of accidents, I sent a request to Facebook to change the name on my author's page. I tried to change it back but was told I'd have to wait 60 days. Sent in a request to change it back due to an accidental click. They responded and changed the name, but I don't know enough about URLs to know what happened. I was preparing to release a book and had my facebook address included in the author information. I don't even know if it's correct anymore. I plan on seeking the advice of a friend who is better schooled in the art of social media. It just seems to me that changing the name a page would be much easier than going through all that rig-a-mirole. I understand the need for security but this was an accident. Needless to say, the whole thing's left a bad taste in my mouth.
Through a series of accidents, I sent a request to Facebook to change the name on my author's page. I tried to change it back but was told I'd have to wait 60 days. Sent in a request to change it back due to an accidental click. They responded and changed the name, but I don't know enough about URLs to know what happened. I was preparing to release a book and had my facebook address included in the author information. I don't even know if it's correct anymore. I plan on seeking the advice of a friend who is better schooled in the art of social media. It just seems to me that changing the name a page would be much easier than going through all that rig-a-mirole. I understand the need for security but this was an accident. Needless to say, the whole thing's left a bad taste in my mouth.
DIARY
I'm quickly learning that writing is full of rules. Rules I know nothing about. For some unknown reason, I though writing was as simple as putting pen to paper and letting the ideas flow. Not so. There are filler words, weasel words, adverbs, adjectives, split infinitives, the blasted comma, squinting modifiers. I could go on forever. Luckily, I've found a group of folks with varying backgrounds, at different writing levels eager to read all with the same goal in mind -success in writing, for them as well as other. They offer their opinions and on occasion let me in on the secret rules of writing. They're a great group. I found them at CRITIQUE CIRCLE. The button to the group is located on the opposite side of the blog if you're interested. I've also been spending a great deal of my time reading their work and offering up critiques. I'm exposed to different genres of writing, different writing techniques, and after I critique something I have the ability to see what others thought of the same piece. It gives me the unique position to read and critique and compare and see exactly where I stand - whether I'm even in the same territory as other writers. Over the last couple of weeks, I've learned a great deal. It's been time well spent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)