Writing Down the Bones: Ten Things You Should Know about Editors Part 2 @barbbradley

Here's the second installment of Ten Things You Need to Know about Editors (Whether You're Published or Not) Written by Paula Ekyelhof. I know, I know, I should have posed this a while ago. Sorry it took so long.
 As usual I'm going to try to put them in my own words.

6.) Editors care about their authors and there books. Now this is written for the brick and mortar houses where the editor can push your book for you. In the electronic world your book is edited by your editor from their home. There is no fighting for shelf space so each book is treated equally.

7.) This is your book not the editors and we want to keep it that way. It's not our job to rewrite your book the way we would do it but the way we think you should do it.

8.) We want your book to sell as much as you do. Understand that your editor, cover artist, anyone involved in your book gets royalties just like you do. If it doesn't sell we don't get paid.

9.) We can each you a lot. A good editor can help you sharpen your writing. We catch those things that you can't see notice patterns you might not.No matter how seasoned you are always eep an open mind and be willing to learn.

10.) As an editor I'm always hoping your book is the next great book. The one that takes readers by storm. The one that you can't put down. The one that makes me forget to edit because I'm so caught up in the story I forget to do it.

Publishing is hard of the author as well as the editor. It can be harsh, and a bit cruel but we're all an optimistic bunch.

To Series or Not to Series - that is a question! @barbbradley

I'm Back!

Sorry about Saturday, there was a small snafu - but don't worry the guest I had scheduled will be here in a few weeks. And I know, I promised the second half of the hand out I've been working on - 10 Things You Should Know About Editors (published or not) but I read something a couple weeks ago that has me thinking. Right, that's dangerous at times.

But...

I belong to lots of on line groups and will read a blog that catches my attention. I read several telling us (writers) to write our books in a series. That's what readers want. I've known lots of authors who have done well with series. They've built up a great following because of those books.

Then I read a blog a couple of weeks ago that said the word 'series' turns off readers. What? I did a little research and did notice several books that are part of a series had a little reminder that this was a book in blank, but they aren't tagged as part of a series. Does that make sense? Like with my series I'd say a book in the Vespian Way.

So which is it? I'll be honest the second one does sound a little more professional and I think it makes the book look like a stand alone even though it is part of a series, but I'm one of those readers who gets excited when I see a book in a series I've been reading.

I don't ave a problem with the word series, maybe because I know that it doesn't mean serials and I know some series are like serials where you have to read the books in order to understand what is going on.

I'd love to know what you think...

Barb:)

Writing Down the Bones: Ten things You need to Know About Editors (Whether You're Published or Not) part 1

Now we're going to work on the 10 Things You Should Know About Editors (Whether You're Published or Not) written by Paula Eykelhof (editor)

I'm one of those rarely spotted editors so this is going to be fun...I think. Also remember that this is from the 80's so this was before e-pubs became the norm. It was written for the brick and mortar and works for both.

1.) Please be professional. This goes without saying. That first impression via e-mail or in person is very important. This includes being reliable and courteous. When you submit make sure your manuscript is as clean as possible, use standard font like times new roman. Understand that your editor is there to help you. Don't take criticism personally. That's their job.

2.) Editors want to be treated professionally. Paula says that their not your career councilor, psychologist or parent.

3.)  Editors are extremely busy, normally doing lots of books simultaneously. Please respect their time. Understand that they will respond as quickly as they can.

4.) The next one shows its age to me. I conduct all my business as an editor and an author via e-mail. Anyway, everyone likes to be appreciated. If you get a personal letter of encouragement or one with constructive criticism and you want to thank them please do so. You can send a thank you note either through the mail or e-mail. I'd sent it via same way you had corresponded when you submitted.

5.) Editors should be treated with respect. You shouldn't gossip or say any negative things about any editor. Especially if you've never worked with them.

I hope to post the second half next week.

Writing Down the Bones: Ten Things You Need to Know about Writers #writingtips

Ten things you need to know about writers (whether published or not) continued.

This is the next installment of the handout by Debbie Macomber. Once again I have put it into my own words. Enjoy!

6.) Writers are readers. We are our own audience.

7.) Writer's would rather have their books already written than to have to write them. They joy felt when the book is done is something that can't be explained.

8.) Our publishers (editors and cover artists as well) want our books to sell.

9.) Writers are always learning. Everything fascinates us. Research happens everyday and everywhere.

10.) When we're not being neurotic we're depressed. But don't worry we're always looking for optimism in every corner.

Writing Down the Bones - 10 Things you should know about Writers @barbbradley

I found another great handout in my cleaning. There is no name on it (wait I found it as I went through this - Debbie Macomber wrote this gem) and it says that it would be published in a future issue of Writer's Digest. Since the handout is from one of my binders I'm assuming this has already been published.

We're dealing with the 10 things you need to know about writers (Whether published or not).

I'm going to do 5 this week and 5 next week then in two weeks I'll do the other half of the hand out - 10 things you need to know about editors and since I'm both this should be fun.

As usual I'm going to try to put this into my own words. I love each of these by the way.

1.) We writers are neurotic and don't think it's unreasonable to look for hourly updates on the status of our babies (manuscripts).  I'm just as bad as my authors - when I'm on the author side I figure out how long it should take them to edit and start haunting my e-mail to see if it's there yet...

2.) We need a source of comfort while waiting to hear on those babies. Whether it is our mom holding our hand or our favorite bottle of alcohol doesn't really matter. Both will do in a pinch.

3.) We are experts at looking busy. When my husband asks I tell him I'm writing...he doesn't need to know it could be on twitter or FB. Hmm, I got a minute to check out Pinterest.

4.) We love it when you show the love - fan mail, happy b-day wishes on FB, a free meal...

5.) Here Debbie talks about gossip and how our creative minds can fill in the blanks - and I want to add this little bit - ANYTHING you tell a writer whether it is gossip or not can and probably will end up in a book. Especially if it's funny. 

Updates and Ideas @barbbradley #amwriting

Okay, I know I have really sucked at posting every Tuesday but 2015 has been a rough one. For those of you who haven't seen my post at the MFRW website I'm putting the link here so you can see what I've been though.

http://mfrw.blogspot.com/2015/10/writing-through-adversity-barbbradley.html

Writing that was very cathartic and has helped me moved past the issues, but it has made me realize that maybe I should blog about how I write. Over the years people have always asked me how I find the time to write. I never thought I was a very busy person until the end of October. I always felt it just sounded like it.

I mean I worked, had a small child to raise, and wrote. What aspiring author didn't have a schedule like mine? I became the president of my local RWA chapter during that time as well so was very active in the chapter. I also belonged to a critique group.

I always make time for my writing. If I don't my characters will beat me up.It;s also an escape for me. With everything going on I need that. I think it's one of the reasons I've been focusing on my writing instead of trying to promote my work.

So what I hope to do is add - I know - I can't keep up with what I already try to do with this blog...
But I thought I should give a little insight into my life as well as my writing.

On a good week you'll get a blog on the handouts I have, a blog on what I'm working on that week, and my interviews. I'm hoping this will help me post more often or at least twice a week which is my basic goal right now. We'll see how it goes...

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation Pt 15 Sensual and General #editing

Sorry I didn't post this last week - I even had it written up but totally spaced when Tuesday rolled around, This is the last part of this particular handout. I'm going to combine the last two together because there is only a few question in each category. Enjoy.

First we're going to cover the sensual aspect of your book:

1.) Have you used all six senses?

2.) Have you described color, taste, smells, sounds, spatial relationships, mood, humor, deja vu, and tension?

Now we're going to look at the general things you should make sure are there:

1.) Have you shown instead of told?

2.) Have you removed any unnecessary words or phrases?

3.) Have you switched your view points as little as possible?


That's it for this handout. I hope what I posted has helped you.

New handout next week.

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation Pt 14 Word Choice #editing

Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year is good for all of us.

So let's get back to the handout I've been working from. Janice Bennett's Writing the Popular Novel - Story construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel. This week we're looking at word choices. As usual I tried to write it in my own words.

1.) Have you used active verbs instead of the passive verb? Instead saying was walking have you changed ti to walked?

2.) Can you replace adverbs with vivid verbs?

3.) Can you replace adjectives with vivid nouns?

4.) Have you checked to make sure you're not using the same words over and over?

5.) Have you used the best or strongest word to convey what you want?

6.) Are your words specific or concrete and not vague or generalized? The example Janice uses is what kind of tree?

7.) Have you removed the qualifiers like very, rather, quite and really and replaced them with metaphors or similes.

8.) Are there any redundancies that need to removed? Janice uses and example for this too - the background behind him.

9.) Have you avoided multiple adverbs and adjectives.

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation the Romance Novel - Part 12 Dialog

Okay now you've gone through your manuscript and it's time to polish that baby of yours. So first we're going to look at dialog again.

Now as you look at it you need to ask yourself these questions:

1.) Does your dialog represent your character properly? Are these words what your character would truly say? Are you using the unique thinking or figure of speech of your character?

2.) Does it help the conflict?

3.) Is it fun? Is the banter quick/clever? Or is it kind of boring?

4.) Does it move the plot along? Does it give necessary information without being a data dump?

5.) Is it filled with emotion from your character? Does it show their state of mind?

6.) Does your action tags/tags stay in your characters POV?

I hope everyone in the USA has a Happy Thanksgiving - those in Canada a belated Happy Thanksgiving and to the rest of the world peace in your life,

Writing down the Bones: Story Constructiom and Evaluation The Romance Novel Part 11 The Resolution #writingtips

I know I know it's about time I posted on this handout again. I plan on explaining what has caused me to be so bad at posting in a day or two.

I'm working off the handout written by Janice Bennett titled Writing the Popular Novel. Now we're going to talk about how to look at your resolution during the editing process.

1.) Have you concluded all of your conflicts?

2.) Have you made your climax satisfying? Have you pulled on your reader's emotions?

3.) This one I just copied because I feel she worded this one perfectly. Have you taken advantage of any poetic justice?

4.) Are there any loose ends you missed before the romance between your hero ad heroine is resolved?

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation - The Romance Novel Pt 10 Editing Chapters

I know I'm a day late but at least I didn't forget like I did last week...

Okay so we've been working off of a handout by Janice Bennett on Writing the Popular Novel and are now working on the editing phase of your manuscript. This week we're dealing with Chapters.

1.) Do you have your scenes arranged properly? Do they grow action, tension and emotion?

2.) Have you started each chapter with something powerful to draw the reader in? This can be an emotion or action. Have you ended you chapter with a strong hook or question that makes your reader want to continue to the next chapter?

3.) Does each chapter move both the plot and the premise?

4.) Did you stick in anything not really needed like descriptive elements like flashbacks or long boring and unnecessary narrative or introspection? (this is almost verbatim)

Next week - resolution....

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The romance Novel - Pt 9 Editing those scenes

Sorry, I didn't post anything last week. I went out of town to visit family and came back to a lot to do so I kind of missed it, but I'm back and ready to share the next section 

Ready for the next segment of the hand out by Janice Bennett on writing the popular novel. Now we're editing our manuscript and going back to look at the same things we needed to pay attention when we were writing it.

So now we're going to go back and look at our scenes:

1.) Does your manuscript start with a dramatic, action-packed scene that is important to the story?

2.)  Do you have the story's conflict, tension, action and emotion continue to gradually rise instead of dip and rise and not keep your readers attention?

3.) Do the scenes develop naturally out of each other? Out of each character?

4.) Is each scene important to the plot, premise and/or story development?

5.) Do you vary the pace of your scenes and incidents or all they all the same?

6.) Have you pushed yourself to show all the important scenes needed and not avoided some of your conflict? And have you used all the forms of conflict - internal, external and interpersonal?

7.) Have you shown and not told?

8.) Is each scene as exciting as possible?

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel Pt 8 After writing the first Draft Premise and Characters

Hi All!

Just a reminder that I won't be posting an interview this weekend - I'm going out of town to visit my sister but I can tell you who my next guess will be - G. E. Taylor, contemporary romance author. 

We're going to continue on with the handout I've been working on by Janice Bennett. The last seven posts have dealt with what to do before you write. So now that you've written that rough draft... You're happy that it's finally done, but now the real work begins. You have to edit it. Like a lot.

Janice spoke about premise then asked questions about your characters again so I'm combining them into one blog.

As far as your premise goes: did you follow it through and not get lost in sub plots along the way?

Now how about your Characters?

1.) Now you should review your characters. Make sure you've highlighted all their facets, explored their emotional states and made full use of their personalities.

2.) Check and see if they always behave in a manner that is logical and makes sense for their personality.

3.) Make sure your reader can identify with them.

4.) Look at the conflict between your hero and heroine. Is it strong enough between them and the characters that interact with them through out your book?

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel Pt 7 Resolution

Just a quick note before I get back to the handout. I won't be having any guests for the next two weeks. One is because of the holiday. Next weekend I plan on being out of town visiting family and knew it would be difficult getting anything uploaded.

Now, the section of Janice Bennett's handout is dealing with resolution.

As always I try to write everything in my own words but still keep the information given as close to the original as possible,

1.) Do you have your most dramatic moment as the resolution of the story?

2.) Does it support the premise?

3.) Does your resolution surprise your reader or can they predict it,

4.) Does it have a satisfying ending? Is it full of emotion? Any poetic justice?

5.) Did you tie up all those loose ends? If not did you give a satisfying reason for not doing it Like hinting at a sequel or series?

7.) * number six was a repeat of number four in my opinion so I skipped it. Did you build the tension up so it is as high as it can be at the end of your story?

8.) * eight is a lot like 5 but Janice does ask if you have the plot threads tied up before the romance is settled?

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation of the Romance Novel

I'm so sorry I didn't post last Tuesday. I had the craziest thing happen and couldn't get on line, but I'm back and ready to bring you the next installment of the handout I've been working on.

As a reminder this comes from a handout by Janice Bennett on writing the popular novel. This section is on chapters. I might have changed a few words here and there but overall these are Janice's words.

1.) Do the scenes (approximately three scenes per chapter*) fit together as a unit?

* this isn't something that authors stick too but if you're a new author learning the art of writing this is a very good place to start with then as you grow as a writer you will find the right rhythm for your stories and the amount of scenes you want in each chapter.

2.) Does the chapter end on a strong dramatic moment? If possible, is it a page turning hook?

3.) Does the tension rise gradually throughout the chapter?  Do your scenes in the chapter build in importance and emotional impact?

Next week I'll be doing the section on resolution.

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel Pt 5 - Scenes

Hi All!

I'm back with another segment of the wonderful handout that I've been working off of. This section on scenes is definitely for the romance genre. I hope you can still glean some good information even if you don't write romance.

This is part of Section II.

Scenes:

1.) Are the hero and heroine together whenever possible? If not can your scene be rewritten so make sure they are?*

"In romances the hero and heroine should meet rather quickly - I remember when I was learning my craft I was told within the first five pages and I have tried to stick to that as much as possible.

2.) Is there enough conflict to carry your scene? If not can you cut it down and put it in a line or two of dialogue?

3.) Does the scene build in tension?

4.) Are you using one point of view throughout the scene? Whose point of view will tell it best? Your Hero's or your heroine's? Which will give your reader the best emotional response?

and here is a few of my own...

5.) Does the scene move the overall plot of your story along? Does it move the relationship of your hero and heroine along? Is this the right time for this scene or would it work better later or earlier in your manuscript?

6.) Does your scene paint a picture that draws your reader in or is a data dump? Can you make it more three dimensional and add movement to the scene to still relay what needs to be given without it coming across as a data dump?

Well, that's it for this week. Next week we'll be talking about chapters...

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel pt 4 Story structure

So I'm back to the flyer - I know you're mentally saying finally. Since it has been a while I want to remind everyone that this came from a hand out written by Janice Bennett. The writing the popular novel handout is from the mid eighties to early nineties.

This section is about Story Structure...

1.) Does your story possess at least three separate plot threads? One for your your heroine's goal, one for your hero's and one for the romance?

2.) Is each of the plot threads believable? Does the order of the incidents follow logically? Is there a cause and effect?

3.) Is the resolution emotionally satisfying?

4.) Is the Story worth telling?

This one is almost word per word - Janice said it right and I couldn't see how my updating it could make it any better.

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel Pt 3 - Supportive Characters

A day late again but it's that time for me to work on the next section of the hand out created by Janice Bennett. This session we're dealing with those wonderful supporting characters.

So...

1.)What secondary character(s) do you think you need to create for your manuscript to help your hero and heroine with their overall goal? What character(s) do you need to make that goal harder to reach?

2.) You must ask yourself if the secondary characters and their sub-plot necessary for the book? Is it strong enough to last the length of the book and not overpower your main plot? Does this subplot work well with your main plot?

3.) Are your secondary characters developed and believable? Will your readers remember them? Can you control them so they don't take over?

4.) Are these characters unique? Do they help move the plot along? Do they compliment or contrast each other and the main characters to make the story strong?

next week will be on story structure....

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation: The Romance Novel - Part 2

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday. Time got away from me...

And we're back for another section of the handout I'm working off of. Once again this came from a handout created by Janice Bennett and I will be updating and putting my own spin on it.

Now we're going to the next section she labeled as the Hero and Heroine Profiles:

You want three dimensional characters. The more of their background you know the stronger your character will be. When stuck ask the next five questions.

1.) Is there a goal for your hero and heroine that can cause them to struggle or make a major sacrifice to reach that goal?

2.) Have you created internal conflicts that would tear your charcaters apart when a major decision must be made?

3.) Does both of your characters have that 'fatal flaw' that can make the opportunity to reach their goal difficult? Is it enough to to build suspense and make your reader doubt they will be successful? And make them happy when your hero and heroine are?

4.) Are your characters matched in their strengths, talents, skills, motives, desires and determination to create a strong conflict?

5.) Can your reader bond with them? Do they draw an emotional response from your reader?

Writing Down the Bones: Story Construction and Evaluation The Romance Novel

Oh! I found another great handout. It's another long one that I'll break into bite-sized blogs for easier digestion. This one is by Janice Bennett for a program she did called Writing the Popular Novel.

Her outline is broken down into a lot of good points. The first one is before you start to write that novel.

A.) The premise:  (remember this is for romances) Does the premise focus on a character trait of your hero or heroine and does it strengthen or weaken as it interacts with the conflict of your story?

I love this question. It is one that can help you get your plot developed when you find the plot weak.

The next section covers the hero and heroine profile - which I will cover next week.