Category: Writing

This is a great post for you writers and editors out there. Really made me think, and I know I have to work on this in my own writing! Enjoy and learn!

Today we are going to talk about dialogue. Everyone thinks they are great at it, and many would be wrong. Dialogue really is a lot trickier than it might seem. Great dialogue is one of the most vita…

Source: Are You Botching Your Dialogue?

Attention all writers and editors! This is an excellent post…and I wanted to share it with you. A lot of great pointers to keep in mind…

 

 

 

 

Any of you who have editing experience can back me up when I say that it is a very tiring process, especially when the piece you are reviewing is poorly written. And while the perceived quality of …

Source: What Exactly is Poor Writing?

I’m a creature of habit. Each day, I sit down in front of my computer and I have a list of ‘chores’ I do before  I allow myself the privilege to write. Some days, these ‘chores’ take so long that the writing never materializes. Maybe not a great way to go about my day…but I do have a sense of accomplishment when I have these ‘chores’ done. Throw in a bit of household chores like laundry, dishes, and cleaning…and yes, some days I even cook…and writing starts to take a seat on the back burner.

Every now and again, I have something that I have floating around in my head and I have to get it down on my computer. It drives me crazy until I do…and I love this kind of writing…those kind of days. The words come fast and furious and need very little editing, (in my humble opinion) and it’s usually pretty good. These days usually start fairly early in the morning because I can’t sleep until I get all those thoughts out of my head and through my fingers. If you are a writer, you understand what I’m saying. 

So now what do I do? The last few chapters came to me while I was waiting for my husband and daughter in the local grocery store. I love to sit in the parking lot and people watch. I’ve mentioned this before. So, the ending chapters were there…and my computer was not. For two days now those visions have been running through my mind…and I haven’t had a chance to put them to use. So, this morning I was up at 3:30 am. Do I have my list of ‘chores’ finished? You bet I do! Now it’s just before 7:00 am…those visions are pounding to get out. I think it’s going to be a great day! I pray your’s is as well! Happy Monday!

It’s raining…again! I love the cool breeze and the birds are singing happily…but I miss the sun! Everything is so green and the flowers are lovely, but some sunshine would brighten my soul.

I also need tech help! I actually made a video of my yard, and I took some pictures to share on here. But I guess it was too green for the camera as well. It won’t send the file to my e-mail. It says it’s too big.

Help!

I was able to send it to my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216963165342784/ so I guess you will have to watch it on there if you are interested.

So, I just wanted to say ‘hi’ before I started ‘working’ today. I’m nearing the end of my third book in my Rubyville series. My goal is to finish it next week…early next week to start the editing process. Have a wonderful Friday everyone!

 

Fast and Furious…not to my liking, but we have a couple guys in our family that would disagree. Star Wars…what number?

 

 

 

Bourne...something? These are all movies that just spring to mind as I sit here. Movies that have sequels…and then more sequels…and then more…you get the picture.

Here’s an idea. What about a movie where a little girl and a little boy meet, and they are friends?

Next movie, they date,

 

 

next one they are married,

 

next one have a family,

next one they are empty-nesters, and maybe the last one is life in an assisted living facility?

Does that make six movies? Not interested in seeing those? No, there would not be fast cars in all of them…but there could be in the teenage one. No, there wouldn’t be scary little aliens lurking about and speaking in a low voice and probably no guns. (As you can tell, I have not spent much time watching Star Wars!) Those are all things that sell and make big money. Those are movies people will spend time on and watch again and again. So, there are sequels…and lots of them.

Sometimes, in my humble opinion, it is best to just let a book or movie…go. There is a certain thrill and anticipation in wondering what happened. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Rhett Butler puts on his hat and strides down the sidewalk into the swirling mist. For many, many years, we didn’t think Rhett cared a fiddle stick for what happened to Scarlett O’Hara Butler. In the back of our mind we could wonder, what if?

Then came the sequel…and again, in my humble opinion, it was not good. It would have been a wonderful stand-alone story-line, but it shouldn’t have come after, Gone With the Wind. It somehow took away the wonder of that last scene in the book and the movie.

Should you write a sequel? That is the question.

 

By now you understand that I am a bit behind the times…probably in many areas. I think technology has done wonders in the world today, but there are drawbacks to it as well.

Today I was reading a post about book reviews. We authors covet them and those that are self-published as I am…well they put the bread and butter on the table.

So imagine my shock and disgust when I read a post talking about people paying for 5-star reviews! Seriously? I have always been a very firm believer in hard work, being paid a fair wage for work  done. If I am going to receive a thank-you, clap-on-the-shoulder, thumbs-up…I want to have earned it!

This is the old-fashioned part of book reviewing. I love my reader’s feedback! I want to hear from you. Right now I am small enough to respond to each and every one of you…and I plan to continue that. You are important to me! You are the reason I write the stories I do. If you read my books, the old-fashioned word of mouth works wonderfully. If you like it…please pass it on, share it, recommend it. I would love a review on the sites that carry my book and there are many. But I will never pay for a 5-star review! Thankfully, the reviews I have so far are from people that have actually read my books and enjoyed them. I appreciate that so very much! If you read my books, tell me your honest opinion. That’s what I want to hear!

Conclusion: reviews are extremely important. But the good, old-fashioned, word-of-mouth is still pretty fantastic! I’d love to hear what this guy is going to say!

Everyone has an imagination. Everyone dreams. Writers just imagine and dream a bit outside the box…writing down those thoughts and creating a story.

I really enjoy reading historical novels and biographies. I admire those people that can research all that material, and then weave magic with their words. I am probably not one of those writers.

When I write a story, it has come to me, usually in a dream. Then over a period of time, it builds until I have to get it down into real words. Since I generally write fiction, I make up characters and places. But I also use some actual locations.

So, think of my delight when I was able to walk on the very sidewalks I had imagined in my head!

The second book in the Rubyville series takes place in St. Louis, Missouri for the first half. I did much research online about that city, learning much about it that took place in the late 1800’s. I loved doing that research! But even better, was me being able to walk through Lafayette Square, and see the streets surrounding it, the houses that my characters lived in. That was very special to me and my husband and two youngest daughters were there as well to share in it. It was a day I will always remember. It was also very special to see the train station that Annabella Barton traveled to and from.

So, thank you St. Louis, Missouri. You made this writer very happy on May 2, 2016. And if you are from that area…be sure to read A Place of Refuge

and let me know what you think about the story I weaved around all that history.