Loretta Marchize's Blog, page 9
July 19, 2019
How to Write a Novel
I might end up taking a slightly ironic approach to this, but hopefully someone will gather something from it. If you want me to give more advice on any topic just comment or contact me. If I can’t answer your question, I know people who can! I’ll also be choosing a few of the topics covered here and turning them into more detailed posts. (welcome to suggestions!)
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Step 1: Brainstorm
Brainstorming is my favorite part of writing. I have hordes of ideas just waiting to be written. Often your first idea isn’t your best idea, so try to come up with more than one. Once you have a few ideas expand on them using plot charts and then pick your favorite!
Step 2: Outline
Not all authors outline, and it’s something I struggle with. If you used plot charts to expand on your ideas you can start with that.
create a few sub-plotsdetail what happens in each chapteruse hill/roller coaster diagrammark out number of estimated chaptersword count estemation
Step 3: First draft
This is the hard part- but the most rewarding. Now is when you’ll be happy you outlined. Remember- just push through. It doesn’t matter how awful the first draft is- it’s called a draft for a reason.
Write when you feel inspired- or when you don’tTry to reach daily word-countsTake breaksdon’t edit
Step 4: Editing round One
Round One? Yes, you read that correctly. There’s more than one round of edits. For my round one, I usually run my writing through a grammar checker (I like grammarly) before I print it and make sure the flow is right.
plot holescohesivenessask friend to read
Step 5: Alpha Readers
What are Alpha readers? After step four you need some outside advice and some feedback! This is a really helpful article.
5-25 peoplegive them instructions of what you want
Step 6: Editing Round Two
At last the Alphas have finished! Now is the time to review their feedback. What did they love? What did they hate? Were your characters memorable?
make changes according to Alphasnote their feelings for the bookdon’t get frustrated with their comments
Step 7: Take a Break
For at least a month, take a step back and don’t even think about your novel. Focus on a different project.
no reading itno talking about itno reading outlinesno reading alpha reviews
Step 8: Editing Round Three
Editing varies in round three depending on the book and the author. Maybe you think it’s ready to be send onto Beta readers. Maybe it needs to be reworked. Coming back to your novel and reading the whole thing through once is important.
prepare for betasre-read alpha reviewsread manuscript overrun it through a grammar checker again
Step 9: Betas
Beta readers very slightly from Alphas. They read the novel when it is almost ready to be published, and so they are looking for slightly different things. This is a good article about both the definition and how to find them.
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Now that you’ve got the basics down it’s time to go out into the world and write that novel! Of course, it’s all a lot more complicated and longer than I made it seem. ;P Like I said before if you have questions comment or contact me.
I’ve finally decided on a cover for Evie’s Empire (thank goodness) so I’ll be hosting a mini blog tour and reveal soon, plus opening sign-ups for Beta readers! This is a big step for me, as I’m going to be having both alpha and beta readers. In the past I’ve gone the quick route and skipped one or the other, but I won’t be making that mistake again. So look for the sign ups on here and Goodreads soon!
And of course, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!
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July 10, 2019
Hope Alone
Hope Alone was such a good follow up to Faith Alone, and I really liked the ending! I won’t spoil anything for my readers- but it’s definitely worth a read!
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Blurb:
Grace Neunaber may have everything she’s ever dreamed of, but sometimes it’s too much. With an infinite to-do list and not enough sleep, she can’t even get out of survival mode. Her struggles dim, however, in light of the challenges of her oldest daughter.
Thanks to a supportive family and boyfriend, Faith Williams is managing single motherhood on top of college plans. But when the father of her child re-enters her life, her carefully scheduled world is rocked. She can hardly blame him for wanting to spend time with their son, but making her boyfriend jealous and claiming to be Christian is going a bit far.
Despite Faith’s best intentions to keep everyone happy, disaster after disaster strikes, and school is suddenly the least of her worries. Grace must set aside her own difficulties so she can be there for her daughter. And in order to survive the uncertainties, Faith must loosen her grip on her grudges and cling to the hope that God is the only one in her life who hasn’t changed.
Review
Five Stars
Prose 5/5
Romance 5/5
Plot 5/5
Characters 5/5
Prose: The prose was very good, simple enough to be easily understandable but complex enough to be enjoyable.
Romance: Very good! At first I was totally on one guy’s team, but Mrs. Meyer really did a good job of showing who was the best for Faith and changing everyone’s minds!
Plot: Very entertaining- I stayed up until 11:00 to finish the story! Very engaging as well.
Character: The strongest part of the novel, and a certain character’s redemption story was really good. I loved that part. Everything was wrapped up very nicely.
Contact Links
Website: ruthmeyerbooks.com
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TruthNotes/
Blog: TruthNotes.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18459266.Ruth_Meyer
Purchase Links
Visit HERE for more information and a giveaway! (a $25 Amazon gift card)
*warning- abrupt change of subject*So there’s been a lot of change in my family recently and it all boils down to the fact that my dad is switching jobs and we’re going on a three week vacation out towards California to all the national parks. I’ll be without internet for quite a while, so while I will be editing, I won’t be able to blog. After I get back hopefully I can squeeze in a post before I leave for camp!
And of course, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!
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May 30, 2019
Writing Block and Memes
I’ve hit a lack of inspiration lately, a sort of writing block, and I’m stuck at around 49,700 words. I have a lot more left to go, so I decided to share some inspiration things and tips for breaking writers block today.
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As an author, or writer, whichever you consider yourself (you can find more on that in a great post by Elizabeth here), I’m sure you know the struggle of writers block. You also probably know how relatable writing memes are- although if you don’t you’re about to find out! Writers block isn’t impossible to defeat, and the most important thing is realizing that you can beat it- if you try hard enough.
One of the things I do when I’m faced with writing block is Pinterest. It’s a fine line between using it for inspiration and just wasting time though, so I have to be careful. I have boards for each of my projects, and some for stories I haven’t even written yet. It’s a mine of information, and can help when I’m not feeling very inspired.
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Towards the middle of the book, at about 30,00 words is when I get the most frustrated. This is when writers block really hits me and I have to try everything to get past it. If you have a time like this, keep in mind that once you do round the corner it will be a lot better. Writing at least two paragraphs a day or some other measure is often the best way to beat this type of writers block.
When inspiration does hit and you’re in a situation where you can’t write, or if your problem is that you keep getting distracted by new story ideas, then write them in a notebook (I write them in my planner). This can help keep you organized, but also keep you on track. When I get a new idea, or inspiration while at school, I usually write it in my planner and then look over it/expand on it in study hall or homeroom.
Overall, keep in mind that once you beat writers block it might come back. Don’t let that get you down though- write as much as you can while you are inspired and try to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing. Find out what works for you- don’t be afraid to try new things.
Lastly, I’ll remind you that coming up I’ll have a cover voting plus a cover reveal blog tour. If anyone is interested, comment or email me. It will take place some time over the summer, and I’ll have sign ups in the next month or so (fingers crossed).
And of course, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!
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May 6, 2019
Why Snow In April is Awful
Up in northern Wisconsin, where I somehow made my home (a girl who is forever cold in a land that regularly is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit) we often get late snows. In fact, sometimes we have almost no snow in December but many feet once February hits! So I figured I’d add my perspective on these late snows. So, here is my version of a review.
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One Star
Snow in April is the worst experience. It ships late, arrives just when you decide you don’t need it anymore, and then doesn’t turn out to be a very good product after all! It’s usually wet and mushy, involves icy sleet storms, and clouds the sky.
Often times, the snow blocks travel, increases the feeling of cabin fever, and causes many people to snap. The gray clouds limit visibility and create a downcast feeling among even the brightest spirits. People prone to bouts of depression are advised to steer clear, as the weather does nothing to lift anyone’s spirits.
I figured I’d open light-hearted and try to make you laugh. How was my attempt at humor? Did I fool you? On a more positive note, it’s finally getting warmer here and there isn’t any ice on the lake anymore. It’s finally inspired me to write again, so here I am with a few snippet from my current work. Also, a question, but you’ll have to read to the end to find it!
I’m on chapter ten, at about 44,500 words (give or take a few) so I’ve tried to be decently spoiler-free!
Sorry is such an inadequate word.
When the world is broken and falling apart around you and you know there’s nothing you can do about it, sorry doesn’t mean anything. Sorry is for when you stub your toe, or accidentally trip someone. Sorry doesn’t work when someone’s mother dies.
***
William knew he was out of options, and waved a hand at his guards, a subtle sign to ready their weapons. “Very well,” he said coolly. “It has come to this. All here gathered are my witnesses to this historic event. I have one request. Before I do this- get married.”
Evie’s eyes darted to Jasper, and then back. “What? Married? Right now? None of us are ready for a wedding.”
He raised his eyebrows, spread his hands in a wide gesture. “What can I say? A father wishes to see his daughter married.”
So there’s my few snippets! And yes, someone does get married. Rather abruptly. Onto my question of the day, do you have any blog post requests? I’m willing to do pretty much anything related to writing, and I’m sure some of you out there have some very good ideas, or maybe you just have a question for me that I can turn into a blog post. Either way, please contact me if you have anything!
Looking forward, I’ll be having a cover voting sort of thing after I finish the first draft of my novel. I’m not quite sure what to call it yet, but there will be a few basic covers and I’ll be taking a vote. Shortly after that, I’ll put together a final cover and have a cover reveal. But that will be pretty far in the future.
As always, remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat! Until next time!
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April 28, 2019
Faith Alone- review
Today I have a blog tour post about the book Faith Alone by Ruth Meyer. I didn’t expect the book to be so good, but it was actually one of the best I’ve read in a while! Anyways, here’s the review!
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For all of the information go here– to Kellyn Roth’s blog
Grace Neunaber has finally found happiness. After struggling for years as a single mother of four, she’s thrilled about her newfound faith and her marriage to a strong Christian man. But as David is added to their family of five, her enthusiasm is quickly dampened by her older children’s open hostility and resentment toward their new father.
Faith Alone
For Grace’s daughter, Faith, having a principal for a step-dad is only one of the downsides. Her parents are nosy, restrictive, and most of all embarrassing. But Faith’s issues with her parents are quickly shoved aside when she’s faced with a decision that will change the course of her future.
Each member of the Neunaber family will have to rely on their faith in God if their strained relationships are going to knit them closer together instead of tear their family apart.
Five stars
Prose: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Prose:
Really good- not too basic but not too much description. I really liked it. It drew me in and kept me reading.
Romance:
Cute! Not a whole ton, some between a married couple. Not really over-the top.
Characters:
One of my favorite parts. I found Faith pretty relatable personality-wise (not in some of her situations, however) I also really enjoyed Grace.
Plot:
Pretty much one of my favorite parts. It moved really well and I enjoyed the story immensely and it really moved quickly.
Overall:
I loved this cute little novel! The author had a great way of approaching some very hard topics. It was one of the best I’ve read in a while.
Content:
A teen pregnancy (treated as wrong), some adults were born before their parents were married, mentions of giving birth, some (not detailed) kissing between a married couple- I think one between an unmarried couple.
I highly recommend this novel! It can be found on Goodreads and Amazon. Remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat!
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April 15, 2019
Top Five First-Time-Writer Mistakes
Okay so I know a lot of new writers. And I read a lot of Wattpad stories. I admire all the people on Wattpad who are brave enough to put out a story, but sometimes the stories are just so-so. Here’s the top writing mistakes I usually see, the things that turn me away from an otherwise enjoyable story, and the things you can fix.
(1) Said
It’s either too much, or too little. There has to be a perfect balance with this, and most of the time that can only be achieved through practice.
If you use it too little, work on simplifying. You probably have very few dialogue tags, or the ones you do have use over-the-top descriptions. Said is NOT dead, folks! A good old-fashioned said works just as well (or better(!)) than some of your other options out there.
On the other hand, if you use it too much, work on expanding your vocabulary and remember that sometimes, if it’s clear who the speaker is, you don’t need a dialogue tag. The following example is a back-and-forth conversation between two characters. (Evelyn Cort and Jasper Benoit) It’s easy to tell who is speaking, and I don’t need to add any dialogue tags.
“Why not?”
He hesitated, bit his lip. “I don’t want you getting hurt,” he replied softly. “There’s no telling what they’ll do.”
“I promise.”
(2) Italics
Let’s be clear. Sometimes italics are used very well and provide the proper emphasis when needed. When used properly, they provide a very good effect! However, a lot of people use them too much.
If you suspect that you’re over-using the ctrl-i button, stop and think over something you’ve recently written. Does it read like this or maybe is there one of these going on every few sentences? An easy fix is to read it over afterwords, and take half of it out. Practice makes perfect, and if you put a lot of thought into it it’s not that hard to resist. I’ve found that often italics simply aren’t necessary, and sometimes I’ll go thousands of words without using them.
(3) Thoughts
Most characters think about thinks. Some of them do it a lot. With more inexperienced writers, I often see these thoughts put in quotation marks. So let’s be clear.
Thoughts do not go in quotation marks.
Talk about a faus pas! Quotation marks mean a character is speaking. Out loud. For all the world to hear. Once you know the correct format, this is an easy thing to fix. And again, practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the more it will become a habit!
(4) Tense
Often first-time-writers aren’t sure what tense to use. It’s understandable, and usually writers have to try it all before they find the one. Sometimes it requires a mix of the right tenses, for a story to be just right. Unfortunately, sometimes writers switch tenses back and forth too often and execute it poorly. This screams armature. It takes a lot of practice, but it’s easy to avoid. Here are the three tenses:
present (Allie walks to town.)past (Allie walked to town.)future (Allie will walk to town.)
It’s a little more complicated than that and this is a good article for further understanding. As a general rule of thumb, don’t write each paragraph with mixed tenses, and read what you write out lout.
(5) P.O.V.
There’s pretty much four ways to write your novel. First person, second person, third person, and third person omniscient. Usually when writing fiction, second and third omni aren’t used.
First person- ‘I’ am telling the story. The author is limited to one characters head. (Sometimes there are every other or every few versions of this where they alternate between two characters)Second person- the story is told to the audience- or ‘you’ used in pick-your-own-adventure stories. Not very common in fiction.Third person (limited)- The story is about he or she. Most common with a large cast of characters.Third person (omniscient)- Also about he or she. The narrator can ‘get inside’ all characters heads and is privy to their thoughts. (hard to write)
The problem I see is when authors switch P.O.V.s Once you pick one, you are stuck with it. You can’t switch back and forth. The only time this is even remotely acceptable is if the author chooses to switch back and forth with two people. I could talk forever about this, so I’ll just leave you with a few websites for more help: The Write Practice and Jericho Writers and Novel Writing Help
I think that about wraps it up! If you have any questions, just leave a comment or contact me directly and I’ll be glad to help. Remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat- and have a nice Easter!
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Five Common First-Time-Writer Mistakes
Okay so I know a lot of new writers. And I read a lot of Wattpad stories. I admire all the people on Wattpad who are brave enough to put out a story, but sometimes the stories are just so-so. Here’s the top writing mistakes I usually see, the things that turn me away from an otherwise enjoyable story, and the things you can fix.
(1) Said
It’s either too much, or too little. There has to be a perfect balance with this, and most of the time that can only be achieved through practice.
If you use it too little, work on simplifying. You probably have very few dialogue tags, or the ones you do have use over-the-top descriptions. Said is NOT dead, folks! A good old-fashioned said works just as well (or better(!)) than some of your other options out there.
On the other hand, if you use it too much, work on expanding your vocabulary and remember that sometimes, if it’s clear who the speaker is, you don’t need a dialogue tag. The following example is a back-and-forth conversation between two characters. (Evelyn Cort and Jasper Benoit) It’s easy to tell who is speaking, and I don’t need to add any dialogue tags.
“Why not?”
He hesitated, bit his lip. “I don’t want you getting hurt,” he replied softly. “There’s no telling what they’ll do.”
“I promise.”
(2) Italics
Let’s be clear. Sometimes italics are used very well and provide the proper emphasis when needed. When used properly, they provide a very good effect! However, a lot of people use them too much.
If you suspect that you’re over-using the ctrl-i button, stop and think over something you’ve recently written. Does it read like this or maybe is there one of these going on every few sentences? An easy fix is to read it over afterwords, and take half of it out. Practice makes perfect, and if you put a lot of thought into it it’s not that hard to resist. I’ve found that often italics simply aren’t necessary, and sometimes I’ll go thousands of words without using them.
(3) Thoughts
Most characters think about thinks. Some of them do it a lot. With more inexperienced writers, I often see these thoughts put in quotation marks. So let’s be clear.
Thoughts do not go in quotation marks.
Talk about a faus pas! Quotation marks mean a character is speaking. Out loud. For all the world to hear. Once you know the correct format, this is an easy thing to fix. And again, practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the more it will become a habit!
(4) Tense
Often first-time-writers aren’t sure what tense to use. It’s understandable, and usually writers have to try it all before they find the one. Sometimes it requires a mix of the right tenses, for a story to be just right. Unfortunately, sometimes writers switch tenses back and forth too often and execute it poorly. This screams armature. It takes a lot of practice, but it’s easy to avoid. Here are the three tenses:
present (Allie walks to town.)past (Allie walked to town.)future (Allie will walk to town.)
It’s a little more complicated than that and this is a good article for further understanding. As a general rule of thumb, don’t write each paragraph with mixed tenses, and read what you write out lout.
(5) P.O.V.
There’s pretty much four ways to write your novel. First person, second person, third person, and third person omniscient. Usually when writing fiction, second and third omni aren’t used.
First person- ‘I’ am telling the story. The author is limited to one characters head. (Sometimes there are every other or every few versions of this where they alternate between two characters)Second person- the story is told to the audience- or ‘you’ used in pick-your-own-adventure stories. Not very common in fiction.Third person (limited)- The story is about he or she. Most common with a large cast of characters.Third person (omniscient)- Also about he or she. The narrator can ‘get inside’ all characters heads and is privy to their thoughts. (hard to write)
The problem I see is when authors switch P.O.V.s Once you pick one, you are stuck with it. You can’t switch back and forth. The only time this is even remotely acceptable is if the author chooses to switch back and forth with two people. I could talk forever about this, so I’ll just leave you with a few websites for more help: The Write Practice and Jericho Writers and Novel Writing Help
I think that about wraps it up! If you have any questions, just leave a comment or contact me directly and I’ll be glad to help. Remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat- and have a nice Easter!
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April 8, 2019
Dance With Me (A.M. Heath)
Dance With Me is a brand-new novel that I had the privilege of reviewing recently. I love this little novel and I’m excited to tell you more about it!
Sypnosis: Will a new partnership tear their worlds apart … or will it be the piece they never knew was missing? In 1959, Arleen Thatcher and Neil Fox are fierce competitors on the dance floor, so they’re the least likely pair to enter a televised competition together. But when rivaling studio owners decide to team up, the two find a partnership they never thought possible. Arleen’s reputation around town is reason enough for Neil to keep his distance from his new partner. But as Neil gets to know Arleen, he discovers a side of her few others have seen, one of dark family secrets and carefully-constructed facades. God’s plan for their partnership may involve more than a single dance; it may be the key to the healing Arleen so desperately needs. The Art of Love series is compiled of stand-alone novels where the characters tell their own stories and love means so much more than passion
Five stars
Prose: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Prose:
The story was told through two different characters, and in two different time periods. I enjoyed how Mrs. Heath carried out these sections and thought she did an excellent job.
Romance:
One of my favorite parts! I love how it was a slow falling for character traits rather than a lust sort of relationship.
Characters:
A very good point of the novel. One of Mrs. Heath’s strengths for sure. I fell in love with each of these characters and their individual stories.
Plot:
Mostly centered around the romance, but still very engaging.
Overall:
A very cute novel, inspiring and a good read.
Content:
Mentions of being drunk, and going to far with romantic relationships. All of these things are considered bad and sinful, and are portrayed as wrong.
Author Bio: Besides being an Indie Author, I’m a wife, mother of four, children’s Sunday School teacher, sweet tea drinker, history fanatic, romantic, bubbly, lover of broccoli, and cake decorator who has a soft spot for Christmas trees, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A.M. Heath
What I’m not is a laundress (or at least not one who keeps up very well), a duster, tall, or patient in a doctor’s office.
A.M. has a newsletter if you want to be on top of all of her news: http://eepurl.com/dDbVNz
But she also has a Facebook Goodreads Pinterest Twitter and blog
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You can order any of her novels here: https://www.amazon.com/A.M.-Heath/e/B00MQD5DX8?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1553903822&sr=8-1
And participate in the giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b7851a9014/?
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Thank you for reading! I’ll be posting soon with some more information, so look forward to that. Remember to like, comment, or share, whatever floats your boat!
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March 31, 2019
Red Queen Series (Victoria Aveyard)
I’m going to try and feature more of my current reads. This means more reviews, but I’m hoping for a mix of reviews, blog tours, and other random posts. (still working on that category)
This is a combined review of Red Queen and Glass Sword. I have not yet read the other novels and after I do I might feature all of them. If not you can read my thoughts on Goodreads.
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Four stars
Prose: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Prose:
Miss Aveyard’s style did not change between the two books, and both were wonderfully written. As a writer, I admire her ability to immerse people in the story. The only times I stopped was when I was annoyed at Mare.
Romance:
At first I liked the romance. It was sweet and fairly innocent in Red Queen and I was for Maven all the way. But then things happened and in Glass Sword I found the romance a bit annoying and frustrating because Mare insisted on distancing herself from everyone.
Characters:
Similar to the romance, in Red Queen the characters were great and had pretty good arcs. Once we hit Glass Sword they seemed stuck in ruts until the end where they were a little better. I’m looking foreword to seeing more of Cal’s arc, because he has a lot of potential.
Plot:
There were no dull moments in Red Queen and the end of Glass Sword was similar. The beginning of Glass Sword was slower, almost like a filler, but interesting.
Overall:
Red Queen was a really good read. I’m looking foreword to the rest of the series, but after Glass Sword I don’t really care about the main character, Mare. Which is disappointing. I’m also looking forward to learning more about the silver community and the palace, because I found that very intriguing.
Content:
Magic, kisses (not detailed), mentions of a boy/girl couple sharing a room ‘but going no further’ and mentions of a different boy/girl becoming intimate. Hints at a girl being pregnant. Lots of blood/death. Not for the faint of heart. Quite a few violent deaths.
Looking forward: on the eighth of April I’ll have another post featuring a new story called Dance With Me
You probably also noticed that I’ve changed my design. If you’re reading this on something else like the WordPress Reader, I would suggest paying a visit to check it out and please do tell me if something isn’t working properly. I’m not entirely finished yet.
Thanks for reading and please comment/like/share, whatever floats your boat! I’d love to hear from you in person, you can contact me through my contact page.
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March 30, 2019
Welcome!
Welcome to Just Writing! I hope you will enjoy reading through my posts (even though it’s not always just about writing) Thank you for visiting! Feel free to contact me with any questions, and remember- if you like the post comment/like or share!
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