Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 85

So excited

I’ve just checked online. The Funeral Birds is now available in paperback form. I can’t believe it still seeing my name on the cover of a book. So exciting for me.

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I’m going into my garden today, to prepare the vegetable plot for planting. I normally plant a few to keep us going through the summer with fresh vegetables to save a few pennies, but this year it’s more important than ever. It will save my husband from going to the shops. We have some soft fruit bushes too and apples trees. It kind of reminds me of the Second World War when Britain was told to dig for victory.

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All at Once

First of all may I wish you all a peaceful, relaxing day. The world has changed beyond all recognition as an unseen enemy travels from country to country. Whatever god you pray to, please offer up a prayer for all as we are but one together as our caregivers fight to save lives. For the first time in my lifetime I know and understand how hopelessness feels as our bright new future has been taken from us. Though I come from a poor background, my parents were uneducated and never owned property, I always felt the future was bright, if you were willing to work. This virus has changed everything. Money doesn’t have the answers and time seems to be in short supply as the bodies keep piling up. No one can give their loved ones a good sending off.

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As we all practice social distancing (here in Britain) our gardens have become our sanctuaries (if we are lucky enough to have one), The internet gives us a window on the world as we watch the struggles of other countries to deal with the same problems. I hope we will learn an important lesson from this terrible situation. Humanity is one race under one sky, we are all the same. This virus doesn’t care whether you’re rich or poor, education or uneducated, what skin colour you have etc. We need to try to save everyone in the world, and crush the virus, because if we don’t it will return.

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Day 6: A Real Eye-opener…

Gosh, I can see so clearly why my first novel wasn’t published. Experience is the key to success. I know I’m self-taught and maybe that is a disadvantage, but I’ve always been willing to learn.

Last night, I read through the report I had done on my novel in 2012. This morning while I continue to work through the first lots of edits to stripping away the dead wood I’m uncovering the heart of the novel and by end it will be half itself size. Years of writing short stories certainly have helped me to learn what is needed and what isn’t when I started work tightening up Seeking the Dark.

I’m so glad I’ve been given this opportunity to rework this novel. Like most parents you’re blinded by unconditional love for your baby, that you don’t see the flaws and where the weaknesses may be. Now I have some experience under my belt, I can step back and truly view my work with a fresh eyes and clear mind. I can see so many problems for myself. To start with, I have far too much telling going on here.

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As I’m working through I’m trying to stay focused on deleting the dead wood ready for the next round of edits. It is so easy to get distracted by other things. This can be said while we are busy writing too. Too easily, we start adding side plots, twists, new unnecessary characters and dialogue because we think it sounds good. In Debz’s report, she points out I repeat details of earlier actions from another character’s point of view in the novel, and other stuff like this that’s not needed. It’s about have faith in your reader. If the scene is written well enough they will remember it without you having to repeating it. Debz also highlighted some characters I may need to lose too. By doing so, I can keep the reader focused on the main plot line, and carry the story forward.

Right, I’m off to stay focused on the pruning out the dead wood, and uncovering the hidden gem in ‘Seeking the Dark’. Stay safe everyone. It’s a tough world outside. Stay in and keep you and your family safe. All my love and much peace

[image error]Things are never quite what they seem in ‘Seeking the Dark’

Day 3: Editing

Seeking the Dark explains the legend of the seekers of the gold soul boxes. The novel takes you on a journey from Albania to Whitby, North Yorkshire. Originally the time line was set between the 1970’s and 2005. Though some of the action does go further back in time. As I was worked on the novel today, I decided to bring it more up to date. This means I will need to be more careful with the changes in today’s technology too.

We’ve made huge progress in how technology has changed our way of living in the last fifteen years. Even though my novel is horror, I need to make it believable to keep the readers onboard with the plot line. As I’m working through the first lots of edits I’m deleting anything that is too wordy, repetitive or too descriptive as well as getting rid of unnecessary filter and filler words. I had a whole paragraph where I was describing the layout of a flat. It served no purpose whatsoever.

[image error]I found my old timeline & a report on my novel Seeking the Dark

When I go through the novel in the next round of edits I will be look closely at the contents, the structure of my novel, does the plot make sense? Are my characters well-developed? Are there places where the narrative seems to drag etc. As it is a horror novel, I need to make sure I have enough action and scary parts.

With The final edit I shall be reading through to pick up any typos, spelling mistakes and check to the best of my ability to pick up any minor errors, but as you know, no matter how many times you read through your piece of work there’s always something you manage to miss somehow. So for now I shall stay focused on the first read through. Once I’ve finished the edits, I shall catch up with you all and let you know how I’m doing. Keep safe, and stay in, if you can. We can only beat Covid-19 by working together

Stage 1: Editing ‘Seeking the Dark’

Seeking the Dark was written quite a few years ago when my editing skills and understanding of what I needed to look for when revising my work was lacking. In 2012, I decided to invest in having my novel looked at by a professional as I hoped it would give me an insight into my strength and weaknesses after having quite few rejections on my novel. So I sent it to Debz who critiqued Seeking the Dark and sent me a detailed report. I read it and followed her advice. Though at that time I didn’t fully understand everything she had explained to me.

This morning I pulled out Debz’s report, and read it again, lo and behold it makes far more sense now. Last year for eight months, I worked one to one with another editor on my crime novel, Stone Angels. Kim lives in New Zealand, but with the wonderful of the internet we were about the email and message each other. If I didn’t understand anything she was able to explain, and give me pointers. Eight months of intense editing on my novel didn’t bring the results we both hoped for, but I learnt a lot about editing.

As I work through Seeking the Dark I’m already find area where I can delete, rewrite, and revise to make the novel stronger. In Debz’ report she asks lots of questions I now see I didn’t resolve. Once I’ve got through the whole novel and cut away anything that not needed, I can start focusing on areas that will give strength and depth to the plot line.

I’m so excited to be working with Dean of Black Hare Press . I want to make sure I can deliver an excellent well-edited novel to him. Of course, Amanita wants me to bring out her finer assets, so the readers understand her darker side so much more clearer and precise.

Holding on to dreams

Never ever give up on your dreams, because a turn of events may deliver your dreams out of the blue. Fifteen years ago, I create a character and told her story. I was just learning to write to be published. I took the short story into work and showed it to my friend, Lisa. I trusted her, and hadn’t shown it to anyone else. Bless Lisa. She managed read my poorly written first effort and liked my character. ‘I want to know more about her.’ She said. That comment sent me off on amazing journey and change my life completely.

So began the creation of my character, but first I need to know how to write a novel. How to set out a page, create cliffhangers, paragraphs etc. To start with there was a thing called grammar and punctuation. So I started ordering books from eBay. I decided if I was going to write to be published, I needed to do it to the best of my ability.

My first novel was a huge learning curve. The character went through many changes, as I began to rewrite. I send the book out many times and, of course, suffered rejections. I realised I needed to learn more. Then one rejection gave me the encouragement I needed. They were kind enough to tell me they felt the story had strength. That I could create atmosphere, but I was too wordy in my storytelling. I had no idea what was meant by wordy. Once again, I went back to the drawing board, knowing I needed to understand more. It was at this point I learnt that I needed to write short stories if I was going to learn my craft.

I had read that most great writers master the craft of short story writing as it teaches you the importance of concise storytelling, if you can only use a certain set amount of words. Also you need to built up a collection of published works. Agents and publishers are more interested in taking your novel on, if you have an history of being published. Once again, I set my first novel aside until I had gained more experience.

Not once did I give up on my dream to see my first character in print. I knew it wasn’t her fault I lacked the ability to tell her story. I didn’t want to fail her, by selling her story short. Amanita was willing to wait. Though I have grown older, and time has marked my face, she’s still stunningly beautiful, and her message is still as strong as ever. Now I have grown more confident , I have the ability to tell her story. Yesterday, I received some amazing news from Dean of Black Hare Press. Amanita has met his approval, so now it her time to shine

Working to a deadline. ✍️

I’m working on a new story which has a deadline on the 15th April. I was busy working on a story for the submission, but it wasn’t really working. I was a thousands words in on a three thousand word count for a horror story.

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Until I get the tone of the story right, I don’t feel the beating heart of it. If I can’t feel the heart then the story doesn’t come alive for me. I had formed a plot line, and I knew the setting and my main characters, but something was missing. The flow of the story wasn’t working. I often know quite quick if something isn’t working. Once I can hear the main character’s voice, I know I’m working in the right direction.

Having given up on the first version, I looked around for some new inspiration and found it in a folk song. I have the opening paragraph, the two main characters and the tone of the piece. I think I have a great new twist too, but only time will tell. Tomorrow, I shall get the first draft down. It all takes time, but I’m sure this version does have a beating heart.

Today, I found another lovely review for The Funeral Birds on Amazon.

[image error]A wonderful review: everyone seems to love my characters. I guess I better write more twisted tales about them

The Great Thing About Reading…

The great thing about reading is you can lose yourself. Books take you on a journey to a different time or place. A story can introduce you to wonderful characters and people without worrying about viruses

Hello Mr V Covid

I know you’re a bit busy at the moment, but I hope you will allow me to congratulate you for giving us here on planet Earth a wake up call. You have done more for your size to show us how vulnerable we are than the destructive force of climate change, pollution, and the threatened extinction of many species of animals and insects from our ignorance could ever have done. We have ignored our scientists warning about the death of the bees

Hello Mr V Covid

I know you’re a bit busy at the moment, but I hope you will allow me to congratulate you for giving us here on planet Earth a wake up call. You have done more for your size to show us how vulnerable we are than the destructive force of climate change, pollution, and the threatened extinction of many species of animals and insects from our ignorance could ever have done. We have ignored our scientists warning about the death of the bees