Perspective Power

A quick note on Perspective.

First, I'm a fan.  Which is why having a critique partner (yes, this again) has been so useful for me.  I like to frequently comment on this particular topic because in the past I never truly utilized them.  My first was something of a success, a great friendship ensued and a WIP became a second draft.  Yes, that's where it ends; but, I'm still kicking my draft out into the wild...with a little less hesitation now.

As always I love to share what I learn while trolling.  In this case, I was on the Ladies Who Critique site and one of the members had a Scribophile account.  Never one to miss an opportunity to explore a new site I signed up and I think I can safely say I spent the first 24 hours glued to the site.  The members are fantastic and even more it is nice to be amongst one's peers, sharing and "geeking out" with fellow writers.  Its partly why I began writing again.

Secondly, perspective helps builds a thick skin which is much needed when critiquing.  I try to put myself on the receiving end of the critique.

My Top 5 Techniques to a Critique:

1. Reading aloud the document being critiqued.  Reading aloud allows for placement of grammar markings to be more appropriately noted (or not in the case of a lack of some).  Rather than accounting for "ghost markings".

2. Conveying the emotions felt as I read a particular passage (Did I laugh out lough?  Cry?)  As a reader I love it when the author makes me feel.  That's why we read, right?  So why not tell the author if their doing it right.  Or maybe they are conveying an emotion they didn't mean to... oh wait that wasn't suppose to be funny?

3. Printing a hard copy of the document so that I can make old school pen and ink changes sans a computer.  Yes, I'm old school.  Sitting in bed, pen in one hand and paper in another reading, reading, reading.

4. Researching links that might prove useful for my partner in helping them to not repeat the same mistakes. This particular bit helps reduce some of the harshness of some of the rougher critiques.  "Hey I saw this problem, but here's a reliable source to help you in the future." sort of deal.  Honesty is important, but consider your partner.

5. Above all be positive and respectful, but honest.  A WIP is someone's child, don't beat it ;)

Happy Writing Folks!

25+ hours a Day

Doing Your Homework - I remember, at least I think, I remember from writing class in high school that research was a huge portion to developing any new story line. As usually, teacher knows best, I nodded and proceeded to complete my assignments (most of the time). Years later, the light bulb has come on. Yep, research that ever so key to bringing a story to life with those pesky little things called details. 

Yes teacher, I'm now learning my lessons appropriately...

The value of Social Media - Like research mentioned earlier, you hear on: the news, radio, and TV.. Twitter.. FB.. Linkdin..!! Trolling through the posts I'm following on Twitter I noticed something... retweet or #hashtag-ing things may lead to followers. Note to self... must explore this more... :)

The Art of Trolling - I am a Troll, mostly in a good way. I have a habit of randomly stopping blogs and sites which peak my interest and posting a comment... any comment really or tweeting something form the page. I noticed on the Writability blog by Ava Jea that she creates a nice little 140 characters or less tweet summary of her blog, interesting and obviously highly useful.

Home improvement - Its not just a facelift for this blog that I am in the middle of, its getting my office in order. I keep thinking of the "soulpaint" commercial seeking to find that just right color.

Stay tuned lots of changes coming.. comments and suggestions for improvements are always welcomed.

Best CPing Tool: Scrivener vs MS Word

Scrivener vs MS Word

Well, the trial period finally ran out on my free 60 day download of Scrivener—three months later mind you.  The countdown on the program only works so long as the program is open.  This little bit of trickery is actually one that benefits the user.  Combine that will being able to be purchased through Amazon and I was sold.  But why..

Previously when I have exchanged manuscripts I did so utilizing good ‘ol MS track changes.  It works fairly well and doesn’t require reading the manual, so why change.  Well, I discovered corkboarding and some of the other—nothing short of AMAZING features of the program and saw my substandard writing inch toward what might be called mediocre. 

I’m going to go ahead and call that a win.

Perhaps more than the corkboarding is Scrivener’s ability to help me keep my scene sketches, character sketches, and research sources together.  I have not even attempted to do any of these items previously.  As a novice writer, I frequently and simply, put pen to paper or fingers to keys and began to try and translate what was in my head into a format I could share, that’s writing after all right?

Eh, in its most simple form—yes.  However, as I am seeing I was missing huge opportunities to make a good story better in the process.

Questions:

Do you use a critique partner? 

Where did you meet and how do you exchange works for critiquing?  

August Book of the Month Poll

August Book of the Month Poll

Pride of a Lion by N.J. Walters, please vote!

Dressing a story appropriately

You're wandering around the book story or browsing online looking for that next great read.  I think we'd be lying to ourselves if there is not a measure of acknowledgement for the covers of books.  One of the great joys of my Kindle/iPad is that I am not always showing the world what I am reading.  I enjoy two genres which usually come bearing strange covers: Horror and Erotica. 

As enjoyable as the men are to look at on the covers of many romance novels, there is still a measure of judgment I am sure taking place from those in the airport as I grin, snicker, and nearly moan over some portions of romance novels.

The bottom line is does a cover entice or scare you away from a book? 

Discovering new characters, meeting new imaginary friends

So work continues on another new story.  I'm only posting the beginnings in hopes of enticing those who might be interested as beta readers to contact me for the rest of the story. 

I'm having fun "meeting" the characters from my newest story. Brax, Anya, and Reece.  Brax and his twin sister Anya posses unique abilities, during a fight with humans trying to capture the last of the sibling's kind Brax is himself kidnapped and held with Reece who one of a few test subjects the humans have created by combining human and animal DNA.  The first chapter will be up soon, hit me up if your interested in providing feedback, can't wait to hear from you :)

NaNoWriMo leads to new project

New project this month thanks to showing up late to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) contest.  High hopes that the rigorous deadline will help me finishing this small project in a timely manner.  Adding to the challenge, getting out of the romance genre and into the digital thriller genre, although I don’t believe I can be held accountable if I slip in a couple of sexually tense scenes just to keep it interesting.  

Well the deadline, lots of time of work thanks to the holidays and multiple bottles of good wine should help me finish.