Hailey Rose's Blog, page 14
July 27, 2016
How I Write a Book FAST(ish)
That’s probably not a title you expected from me. I didn’t either. But I’ve come to realize that I do write fast, even if it seems like it takes an eternity. The Old River Road took eight months from first words to published. So how do I do it?
Let me introduce you to this lovely thing I call Binge Writing.
Binge Writing, otherwise known as a Writing Spree, is something I started doing out of sheer desperation. NaNo of 2015 was my very first attempt at writing 50,000 words in less than a year (in less than 3 years, actually). And I did it. 50,000 in one month.
After November, I was pretty convinced that I would just participate in every single NaNo and camp NaNo available. Great idea, in theory. It just so happens that April, July, and November are pretty much the very worst months for me to buckle down and focus on something.
Also, I have the attention span of a gnat. It’s called ADD. I like instant gratification. And yes, THERE IS A WAY to have it in writing.
I schedule two binge writes a month. 5 days of 2,000 words per day, one week off, then another 5 days of 2,000 words a day.
Why 2,000 words a day?
This will vary from person to person, but I’ve found that 2,000 words is my sweet spot. I know without a doubt that I can write that much and not be stressed.
Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true. I can write that much with minimal stress. :)
That number is flexible, however. Some weeks, if I have a lot of schoolwork to do or I’m working more hours, I might lower it to 1,500. Or 1,000. Or 500. The point is to write some amount of words, consistently, for 5 days.
It adds up overtime, kinda like change in a jar. When the jar is full, you can be surprised at how much money is in there. When the week is over, you can be surprised at how much that word count has come up.
Give it a try. And tell me how it went! :)
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What are your writing habits?
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July 22, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Conclusion
For my first ever book, my first ever blog tour, I am so amazed and blessed at the response! There were 20 bloggers participating in the tour. That’s double the amount I was aiming for. How fantastic is that?!?
Here is the schedule again, to ensure that you didn’t miss any of these amazing posts:
Emily — Review, Spotlight
Jesseca Wheaton — Review, Interview
Olivia K. Fisher — Interview, Spotlight
Faith Blum — Review, Interview, Spotlight
Hannah E. — Review, Interview
Faith Potts – Review
Rebecca Morgan — Review, Interview
Abigayle Ellison — Review, Spotlight
Kenzi Knapp – Review, Interview
Hosanna Emily — Review, Interview
Blessing Counter — Interview
Victoria Minks — Review, Spotlight
Deborah C. — Review, Spotlight
Anna S. Brie
— Review, Interview
Leona G. — Review, Interview
Hope Ann — Review, Interview
Amanda Tero — Review, Interview
Anika Joy – Review, Interview
Kellyn Roth — Review
~Giveaway Winners~
The winner of the USA prize is Olivia K. Fisher!
The winner of the international prize is Bonnie Smithies!
Congrats to both of you girls! I’ll be sending you an email shortly. :)
I hope you all enjoyed the blog tour as much as I did! Thanks again to all of you who helped me get the word out. I appreciate you so much!
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July 20, 2016
The Silent Blade by Jesseca Wheaton Blog Tour
I’m super excited to be helping Jesseca Wheaton with the release of her newest book, The Silent Blade.
The beautiful cover:
Dromiskin, Ireland. 925 A.D.
Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin’s sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.
When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?
As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?
My Review:
The Silent Blade surprised me. It was my first experience with this author, and I must say I’m already looking forward to more. While this book was not perfect, there were so many great things about it.
Plot/Storyline: 4/5
It was a little unrealistic at times, yet I was drawn along. No problems holding my interest.
Characters: 4/5
While likable, there was room for some character development. I loved all the guy characters, by the way. They are awesome. :)
Writing: 4/5
Sometimes it was a little choppy and confusing, but for the most part it was wonderful!
Want-to-read-ability: 4/5
The first page drew me in immediately. That was one of my favorite things…there was no “breaking into the story” chapters!
About the Author
Jesseca is an 18-year old daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano. And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home.
The Giveaway
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July 15, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Day 7
July 14, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Day 6
It’s Thursday, and I’m having a great time at Camp. It’s rather warm here, but I think it is warm at home, too, so… :)
Enjoy the lineup for today!
Thursday, July 14th
Deborah C. — Review, Spotlight
Anna S. Brie
— Review, Interview
Leona G. — Review, Interview
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July 12, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Day 5
Day five, here we come!
Wednesday, July 13th
Blessing Counter — Interview
Victoria Minks — Review, Spotlight
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TORR Blog Tour, Day 4
We’ve got lots of good stuff today, so don’t miss out!
Tuesday, July 12th
Abigayle Ellison — Review, Spotlight
Kenzi Knapp – Review, Interview
Hosanna Emily — Review, Interview
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July 11, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Day 3
Hope you all had a lovely Sunday. We’re back again for day 3 of the blog tour!
Monday, July 11th
Faith Potts – Review
Rebecca Morgan — Review, Interview
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July 9, 2016
TORR Blog Tour, Day 2
It’s day two of the blog tour! Take a peek at the posts on these lovely blogs, and be sure to leave a comment for the gals!
Saturday, July 9th
Olivia K. Fisher — Interview, Spotlight
Faith Blum — Review, Interview, Spotlight
Hannah E. — Review, Interview
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July 8, 2016
The Old River Road Release Day!!!!
It’s here! My very first book is now available for the entire world to read and love and hate. *hides*
1885
When seventeen-year-old Clara Boutwell married her dashing coworker, William McDonald, she was convinced her life was near perfect. The journey before them as newlyweds in the great city of Chicago was promising and exciting. But a frightening disease soon takes William in its grip, forcing them to the clean air of the western frontier in a desperate attempt to save his life. But pioneering doesn’t prove to be easy, with miles between neighbors instead of fences. On the eastern Washington prairies, the McDonalds face hardships and trials in a new world where everything is tested, from physical endurance to emotional strength—down to their relationship and faith in the Lord.
This novel tells the incredible true story of Clara and William, the great-great grandparents of the author, in a sweet narrative full of laughter, tears, and the struggles of an early pioneering family. Prepare yourself to share in their experience as you read this account of a pioneer family in Washington state, and see their lasting legacy that has endured into the fifth generation.
Get it on Amazon
(NOTE: because of some issues with the cover, the paperback version will not be shipped out for a few days yet.)
Nope, this is not nerve wracking at all.
*bites nails and screams*
Also, today is my 18th birthday!
“Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy…”
*coughs and clears throat*
Well then, now that I got all of that out of my system, I’m going to let the blog tour take over. I’m telling you–there are some fantastic posts coming up on some absolutely fantastic blogs, and you definitely don’t want to miss them.
Schedule:
Friday, July 8th (release day!)
Emily — Review, Spotlight
Jesseca Wheaton — Review, Interview
Saturday, July 9th
Olivia K. Fisher — Interview, Spotlight
Faith Blum — Review, Interview, Spotlight
Hannah E. — Review, Interview
Monday, July 11th
Faith Potts – Review
Rebecca Morgan — Review, Interview
Tuesday, July 12th
Abigayle Ellison — Review, Spotlight
Kenzi Knapp – Review, Interview
Hosanna Emily — Review, Interview
Wednesday, July 13th
Blessing Counter — Interview
Victoria Minks — Review, Spotlight
Thursday, July 14th
Deborah C. — Review, Spotlight
Anna S. Brie — Review
Leona G. — Review, Interview
Friday, July 15th
Hope Ann — Review, Interview
Amanda Tero — Review, Interview
Anika Joy – Review, Interview
I’m also doing TWO giveaways: One for folks in the continental US and Canada, and one for international people. How cool is that?
Enjoy the tour, leave lots of comments here there and everywhere, and don’t melt in the heat. I’m off to music camp! :)
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