Simon Rose's Blog, page 62

The Many Benefits of a Writing Coach

A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions and receive constructive feedback. They act as a guide as you build your career as a professional writer. A coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, regain momentum or make a start on a new project.

My program helps you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. I can be your coach for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and expectations.

I’m very flexible regarding your own unique requirements in areas where you feel that you need the most help, but examples of topics that can be covered include character development, dialogue and format, editing and revision, story structure and plot, pacing your story, realistic settings, dramatic beginnings,  and cliffhanger endings. We can also examine submitting work, the publishing world,  and marketing and promotion.

You can also learn more about the writing and publishing process, including where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, the role of editing and revision, marketing and promotion, and more, in The Children’s Writer’s Guide, The Working Writer’s Guide, The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2, and School & Library Visits for Authors & Illustrators.

The writing of time travel stories and historical fiction is covered in The Time Traveler’s Guide, and fantasy and magic in Exploring the Fantasy Realm. The study guides for my novels are featured in Where do Ideas Come From?

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The Obsession of Writing

The Obsession of Writing 

by Mackenzie Reide

Recently, I began revisions on the third book in my middle grade trilogy, The Adventurers: The Mine Caper. I described the process of writing and revising with my editor to someone.

She looked surprised. “Wow. That sounds like a lot of work. Why do you write?”

I was taken aback by the question. I blurted out the answer, “Why do you breathe?”

Writing is not something that I ever really thought about. I just do it. It’s always been there lurking around in the back recesses of my mind. That is, until I published my first children’s book, The Adventurers:The Mystery of Troll Creek.

So why do I write? Is it because I scribble ideas on a napkin? Am I supposed to crank out a novel the size of War and Peace? Is there an age limit like getting a driver’s license? I pondered these questions late at night until my head swam.

Maybe there’s something wrong with me, I thought. An addiction, perhaps?

I remember reading a biography of Sting and how he was asked to describe his music. He realized that he couldn’t call it a hobby because that description was not strong enough, yet he couldn’t call it a business because he was at a job interview. He knew in that moment, music was an obsession. It was such a deep part of him that he couldn’t live without it. Of course, he couldn’t tell that to the interviewer, but it was a revelation on his part.

That struck a deep cord within me. I realized that I have been writing ever since I could pick up a crayon. I wrote short stories all through elementary school and even won a few awards along the way. Everyday I wrote something. Sometimes it was a diary entry or a journal. Other times an idea would just pop into my head and I would write about it.

 

But I was always writing.

When I could get my hands on a book, I searched for characters I could relate to. The very first book that I took out from the public library was The Rescuersby Margery Sharp. I immediately fell in love with Miss Bianca and her sidekick Bernard. This was the beginning of my love of adventure but also stories of friendship and loyalty. These were characters who forged deep friendships and always had each other’s back. I stumbled upon another British author, Enid Blyton, and The Famous Five series. I read my way through all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and the Choose Your Own Adventure stories. I gobbled these books up as I was trying to fill a longing that was buried deep within me.

That longing made me crave finding more stories with smart kids who had to solve their own problems with minimal or no adult support. I was excited to find Meg Murry in A Wrinkle in Time. She was such a relief to read about. She got angry. She braved many challenges and traveled to a world still unique today. I wanted more of that. I desperately wanted to connect with characters like Meg, but I found it very frustrating as there were very few Meg type characters to read about. Most of the books I found in the library had the boy characters doing all the adventure and fun stuff and it felt like the “girls” were not supposed to have thoughts or ideas that would lead them beyond a trip to the mall.

That’s when my writing became an obsession. A full on, Sting-sized, obsession. I wanted to tell stories so other kids like myself could read them and have that feeling of relief and joy like I had in finding Meg in A Wrinkle in Time.

It would take many years, a mechanical engineering degree, and lots of stories later, before Dana, Amy and Jack would fully grow on the page. I scribbled on napkins. I typed on every electronic device I could get my hands on. The stories I wrote when I was between eight and twelve years old became The Adventurers: Mystery of Troll Creek and The Adventurers: The Mask of the Troll. There is no doubt these characters are my obsession. As my editor knows so well. But I believe that it is characters like George and Meg, and Dana, Amy and Jack, who challenge young readers to question, to be angry, to explore, and to create life long friendships. Children’s books are a refuge and an inspiration.

So, to answer her question, why do I write? Because I want to inspire, to be a role model, to entertain and encourage, and heck, because I’m obsessed. But, to me, that’s all in the day of a writer.

———————————-

Mackenzie Reide started out as a girl who loves rock climbing, exploring dark tunnels, riding bikes, and being very good at math. She grew up to be a woman who loves rock climbing, exploring dark tunnels, riding bikes, and has an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering (with a minor in Aerospace). Along the way, she never stopped writing.

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Book three The Adventurers: The Mine Caper will be coming out fall 2018. If you would like to read the first two in the trilogy they are available in print and ebook formats:

The Adventurers: The Mystery of Troll Creek: Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Indigo Chapters

The Adventurers: The Mask of the Troll: Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Indigo Chapters

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When Words Collide Blue Pencil Cafe

Today, I’ll be appearing at the When Words Collide in Calgary literary festival at the Delta South Hotel in Calgary.

When Words Collide brings together the literary community, both readers and writers, for a sharing of information, for learning, and to build a sense of community.

Blue Pencil Cafe Children’s and Middle Grade – August 12 at 3 pm

In this session aspiring writers are invited to bring me the first page or two of their children’s book or young adult manuscript for 1-on-1 feedback.  Manuscripts should be a maximum of 1000 words, typed, and double-spaced.

Blue Pencil Cafe Adults – August 12 at 4 pm

In this session aspiring writers are invited to bring me the first page or two of their adult manuscript for 1-on-1 feedback.  Manuscripts should be a maximum of 1000 words, typed, and double-spaced.

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Writing Historical Fiction at When Words Collide

Today, I’ll be appearing at the When Words Collide in Calgary literary festival at the Delta South Hotel in Calgary, for a presentation, Tyche Books Presents, and the evening autograph session.

Writing Historical Fiction – August 11 at 1 pm

Learn how to write an effective, authentic, and appealing story in this genre and how to fully immerse yourself in your chosen time period. Understand what defines historical fiction and different time periods, how to create believable settings, plausible characters, and the role of research in the creation of your novel.

Tyche Books Presents – August 11 at 4 pm

I’ll be appearing with my fellow authors as Tyche Booksintroduce their new books published in 2016

Autograph Session – August 11 at 8 pm

I’ll be appearing with all the authors and festival guests at the When Words Collide autograph session.

 

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Writing for Children and Young Adults at When Words Collide

Today, I’ll be appearing at the When Words Collide literary festival at the Delta South Hotel in Calgary.

Writing for Children and Young Adults – August 10 at 6 pm

This session explores the art of writing for children and young adults. Explore research, planning, pacing your story, developing characters, connecting with the reader, choosing settings, the role of adults in children’s stories, and more.

 

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Time Travel: Not Just a Thing of The Past at When Words Collide

Today, I’ll be appearing at the When Words Collide in Calgary literary festival at the Delta South Hotel in Calgary.

Time Travel: Not Just a Thing of the Past – August 10 at 2 pm

My young adult novels The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, The Heretic’s Tomb, and Flashback all feature time travel, a genre that continues to be very popular with both authors and readers, as well as with filmmakers.

In this session I’ll be sharing tips and tricks to weave time travel elements into the plot for any age group. Learn how to plan and realize your novel with an alternate reality element that takes the reader on a logical journey, in an illogical world.

 

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When Words Collide – August 10, 11 and 12

This weekend, I’ll be appearing at When Words Collide in Calgary. This exciting annual  literary festival embraces literature of all forms, including genre, and is held at the Delta South Hotel in Calgary.

When Words Collide exists to provide an opportunity for the literary community, from readers to writers to publishers, to gather and share information and inspiration. With the belief that different genres have more in common than they have differences, the festival includes content for all types of literature including mainstream, science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, historical, literary, and non-fiction.

My presentations include Time Travel: Not Just a Thing of the Past and Writing for Children and Young Adults on August 10, and Writing Historical Fiction on August 11.

I’ll also be appearing at the Writers’ and Editors’ Speed Mingle event on August 10, the Tyche Books Presents event on August 11, and am hosting two Blue Pencil sessions on August 12. One is at 3 pm for aspiring authors of children’s or young adult books and the other at 4 pm for those writing for adults.

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Perils of Poor Editing: Part Three

As a writer, you can never undertake too many checks before your work is finally released to the public. Cut out a few steps of the revision process and you could very well live to regret it.

Here are some more newspaper headlines that should have been corrected prior to publication.

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

Let’s hope this isn’t in full view of the zoo’s visitors.

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant

This seems to be a rather drastic course of action.

War Dims Hope for Peace

Now who would have suspected that?

If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile

I think this might be called stating the obvious?

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

Let’s hope they’re using pretty strong tape.

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

This editing mistake could perhaps be described as shocking.

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

It must be something to do with their space diet.

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

So that’s how they’re keeping the numbers down.

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

Now there’s a court case I’d like to see.

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Now who would have expected such a thing in that kind of location?

So the next time you’re tempted to cut corners with the editing process, think again. Unless of course you have a burning desire for your work to be the subject of an online article about the perils of poor editing.

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WordsWorth 2018 – Kamp Kiwanis, Bragg Creek, AB

This week I’ll be working as an instructor at WordsWorth 2018.

WordsWorth is a week-long creative writing residency for young writers who believe in the power of words. Writers will be completely immersed in the creative and diverse world of writing. Guided by established and respected artist-instructors, writers will experience writing through fiction, poetry, spoken word, music, drama, film making, monologue and nonfiction.

But the experiences don’t begin and end with the classes, WordsWorth is a place where young writers come together to celebrate writing through friendship, campfires, concerts, open mic sessions, hikes, haikus and rousing games of Death Polo in the pool.

Learn more about WordsWorth 2018 here on their website.

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Book Signing at Chapters Crowfoot, July 28

This Saturday, I’ll be at Chapters Crowfoot in Calgary from 11.30 am to 5 pm.

I’ll be signing copies of The Alchemist’s Portrait, The Sorcerer’s Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse, The Heretic’s Tomb, The Doomsday Mask, The Time Camera, The Sphere of Septimus, Flashback, Future Imperfect, Twisted Fate, and Parallel Destiny.

Chapters is located at 66 Crowfoot Terrace NW in Calgary. Hope to see you there.

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