Wade Kelly's Blog - Posts Tagged "learning"
learning grammar
Before I sit down with my daunting task of editing I decided to type a quick blog on some thoughts in my head. (It's always the thoughts in my head that I blog about.) I want to speak to all those out there who want to write and want to get published....
Learn grammar!
I was not a great English student in high school. I was better at math and science. English, not so much. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, conjugation, vocabulary, etc.... Everything was difficult. My advice to those who aspire to be authors, learn while you can! Learn in high school! Learning AFTER you graduate is so much harder. I really should take a class but I am too lazy. Also I lack the time. Another point to consider for those who are younger than me and considering a career in writing--when you graduate from HS, it is difficult to MAKE time to learn the skills of writing. When you are in a class (and yes, you can take a class in college if you have the time and money around a work schedule.) you are forced to learn what the teacher is teaching. Classes have structure. Classes have someone to TELL you what you are doing wrong. AND/OR explain what it is you are doing correct that could stand improvement.
I am learning on the fly. Not easy! I go by the Chicago Manual of Style. 16th edition. Dreamspinner recommends the CMS because they follow that so I thought to get on board with the same "rule book" but it is hard to learn new tricks. For one, I don't always understand what the book is talking about. They have examples, but sometimes my sentence is different and I can't find where the "rule" IS, and therefore I have no idea if I am doing it correctly. THIS is why editing takes so long. WLINE was rejected over grammatical (and plot-wise) errors. I had a hard time fixing things because as we have all heard, I am not so good with the grammar! I am very determined to have a clean MS (or as close as I can get) for this next submission.
As I go, I find lots of errors. I THOUGHT it was done, but find I am so wrong. What I am doing now is making and outline (of sorts) by chapter and writing down details of events in each chapter. AND highlighting where I need to check a "rule" in the CMS so I can see if the sentence needs fixing. In this, I can see where I have redundancies in the plot, and where references occur, and if I need to add any tidbits to tie in an event that happens somewhere else in the book. No one likes surprises that scream WHAT?!? Hints are always best, even if very subtle.
Just yesterday I found inconsistencies! Not good! This is a sequel after all. I noticed that in WLINE I named a few characters in the fire department. Well, Matt hangs out there and yet I had different names in this one. So I fixed that. Plus, I totally forgot what Jason's last name was! (duh!) Jason is Matt's friend and I can't have his character inconsistent.
Taking notes is the way to go.
A short while back, before DSP picked up WLINE for publication, I hired a professional editor. She was working with me on another novel I wrote. As we sat down to discuss how she could help me, she pulled out some notes she had taken to talk about where my troubles lie. Then she asked about some specifics in the novel and I pulled out my notebook. (Complete with charts, character outlines, scene references, ages, dates, etc.) When she looked at the extent of what I had before her she said--and this is BEFORE I was published--she said, "You are not a writer. You are an author!" I will never forget that. Her point was that I don't simply "write" a story, I am IN the story. I have detailed the characters and shaped them so much so that items are documented for future reference. I have created something complex and not so easily sketched if I don't have my ducks in a row and refer back to the dates and details. (does that make sense?)
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am the BEST author in the world. I have a long way to go to learn the rules of grammar and how to shape a story without inconsistencies and errors. I KNOW I need improvement. But what was encouraging to me was that editor's distinction between simply "writing" and being an author. I think authors feel it in their bones. The characters become real. The characters are alive in my mind and on my heart. To me they are almost tangible.
>Side note: the other "novel" I wrote is on the back-burner. I know some of you would be asking me what is it about? Are you going to publish it? etc... It is a complicated plot and needs major edits to become publishable. (hence the "back-burner") What I DID learn from that one was my tendency toward passive voice. One of my struggles!
so, with that all said, be patient with me. I am learning. I WISH I had learned the first time around when I was in school and had the time. Being an adult is over-rated. Having to WORK to pay for a car, and insurance, and food, and a place to live, tends to get in the way of all the things in life you WANT to do. I WANT to write full-time! Yeah, that is not happening yet! fingers crossed I'll get there :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Wade
xoxx
and go vote: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/55...
Learn grammar!
I was not a great English student in high school. I was better at math and science. English, not so much. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, conjugation, vocabulary, etc.... Everything was difficult. My advice to those who aspire to be authors, learn while you can! Learn in high school! Learning AFTER you graduate is so much harder. I really should take a class but I am too lazy. Also I lack the time. Another point to consider for those who are younger than me and considering a career in writing--when you graduate from HS, it is difficult to MAKE time to learn the skills of writing. When you are in a class (and yes, you can take a class in college if you have the time and money around a work schedule.) you are forced to learn what the teacher is teaching. Classes have structure. Classes have someone to TELL you what you are doing wrong. AND/OR explain what it is you are doing correct that could stand improvement.
I am learning on the fly. Not easy! I go by the Chicago Manual of Style. 16th edition. Dreamspinner recommends the CMS because they follow that so I thought to get on board with the same "rule book" but it is hard to learn new tricks. For one, I don't always understand what the book is talking about. They have examples, but sometimes my sentence is different and I can't find where the "rule" IS, and therefore I have no idea if I am doing it correctly. THIS is why editing takes so long. WLINE was rejected over grammatical (and plot-wise) errors. I had a hard time fixing things because as we have all heard, I am not so good with the grammar! I am very determined to have a clean MS (or as close as I can get) for this next submission.
As I go, I find lots of errors. I THOUGHT it was done, but find I am so wrong. What I am doing now is making and outline (of sorts) by chapter and writing down details of events in each chapter. AND highlighting where I need to check a "rule" in the CMS so I can see if the sentence needs fixing. In this, I can see where I have redundancies in the plot, and where references occur, and if I need to add any tidbits to tie in an event that happens somewhere else in the book. No one likes surprises that scream WHAT?!? Hints are always best, even if very subtle.
Just yesterday I found inconsistencies! Not good! This is a sequel after all. I noticed that in WLINE I named a few characters in the fire department. Well, Matt hangs out there and yet I had different names in this one. So I fixed that. Plus, I totally forgot what Jason's last name was! (duh!) Jason is Matt's friend and I can't have his character inconsistent.
Taking notes is the way to go.
A short while back, before DSP picked up WLINE for publication, I hired a professional editor. She was working with me on another novel I wrote. As we sat down to discuss how she could help me, she pulled out some notes she had taken to talk about where my troubles lie. Then she asked about some specifics in the novel and I pulled out my notebook. (Complete with charts, character outlines, scene references, ages, dates, etc.) When she looked at the extent of what I had before her she said--and this is BEFORE I was published--she said, "You are not a writer. You are an author!" I will never forget that. Her point was that I don't simply "write" a story, I am IN the story. I have detailed the characters and shaped them so much so that items are documented for future reference. I have created something complex and not so easily sketched if I don't have my ducks in a row and refer back to the dates and details. (does that make sense?)
Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am the BEST author in the world. I have a long way to go to learn the rules of grammar and how to shape a story without inconsistencies and errors. I KNOW I need improvement. But what was encouraging to me was that editor's distinction between simply "writing" and being an author. I think authors feel it in their bones. The characters become real. The characters are alive in my mind and on my heart. To me they are almost tangible.
>Side note: the other "novel" I wrote is on the back-burner. I know some of you would be asking me what is it about? Are you going to publish it? etc... It is a complicated plot and needs major edits to become publishable. (hence the "back-burner") What I DID learn from that one was my tendency toward passive voice. One of my struggles!
so, with that all said, be patient with me. I am learning. I WISH I had learned the first time around when I was in school and had the time. Being an adult is over-rated. Having to WORK to pay for a car, and insurance, and food, and a place to live, tends to get in the way of all the things in life you WANT to do. I WANT to write full-time! Yeah, that is not happening yet! fingers crossed I'll get there :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Wade
xoxx
and go vote: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/55...
Editing and Writing Go Hand-in-Hand
Hi,
I don't have a whole heck of a lot to say. I've been writing. I would skip a blog all together but then people start to worry about me and post comments like "How ya doin' Wade?" and "Hope everything is okay with you." Not that comments are bad. I'm not saying that. I just don't want people to worry.
I'm fine.
I've been writing and editing. I normally edit as I go unless inspired to write long passages. Writers are often asked how they edit? A lot of the time I write, and then the next day I reread and change things. If I haven't written anything for a long spell on a particular project then I will read it, typically from the beginning, to get in the zone. I often read several chapters ahead of where my characters are so when I get to the end of the passage I am able to think of the next scene. Sometimes, if I am not at my computer, I will think about different parts I read recently and think of details to add. Even if it is one or two sentences it can add a lot to the understanding of how a character thinks and what they are doing.
In "My Roommate's A Jock? Well Crap!" (MRJWC) I have loads of characters that I have truly come to love. I developed a side character that I think is my favorite. Rob McAvoy. He is funny. (I think.) I used to go around and think of a line or something and say to myself, "Darian would totally say that!" Now I think, "Rob would say that!" or "This is Cole!" or "Oh my gosh, this scenario is Ellis and Rob!"
I think of my characters all the time. I believe any good writer does. How can they not? They are a part of me. They feel tangible at times.
Anyway. MRJWC is at 73k+. I have two chapters to write. I know I said that a while ago but I added a chapter in the middle somewhere. It just fit. I rearranged some paragraphs and stuck them in other chapters. I added support details. Lots of them. I thought about "back story" and filled in details to support the personality of the characters. I've been doing a lot!
I also strive to create realistic people. I know that I've read comment here and there that said WLINE wasn't realistic, but I am trying not to fixate on those. To me it was real. Writing it was real. The pain was real. (And I am not implying I lived through everything in When Love Is Not Enough, I'm just saying I tried desperately to bring realism to the pages in that book.) In MRJWC I am trying hard to do the same. Realism. I WANT my characters to feel like you could meet them down the street. I want them to be people you can relate to or have a coffee with. I WANT them to be comfortable together and give the reader a sense of knowing them.
If I don't achieve these things, CALL ME OUT ON IT! I need to improve if I don't meet my personal goals. Help me to see my flaws. I welcome criticism. (Not saying I enjoy negative crit. but without it I can't grow as a writer.) Tell me what you don't get! If you do, then chances are I will make your next read that much more enjoyable because hopefully I will learn from my mistakes.
Things to keep in mind: I am writing m/m romance. Typically, this genre has some expectations from readers. Not that I always follow the rules (if there are such things) but... There is going to be sex between men. Sometimes it fits in perfectly. Sometimes it may seem like too much for some readers and others may want more. I write what comes out. I go with the flow and if it seems right for the two of them to "be intimate" in the setting, I go for it. I am against gratuitous sex in a book just to fill the pages. (Although, I have to say TCOL has a lot of sex. I may have to edit some out.)
Another thing is that I like to add people that I could possibly write more about. (Side characters, siblings, etc...) In doing that, it may seem like everyone in the town is gay. That is not my intent. I know that seems unlikely that all the characters end up gay, but part of that is me just trying to write more books. So if there is going to be an "unbelievable" factor, maybe that is it. Sorry. It is about writing more!
Sometimes I purposely leave out details. Like specific city names or the state. Several people have asked where WLINE is set? The answer is Maryland. Authors are supposed to write what they know because it helps create realism. (You know I like that!) I lived in Baltimore for a while. That is all I wish to say about that. I do not like sharing personal details, but I will say if you read my books all my personal details are in the pages. The characters are ME. They each have different facets of my personality. They each have details of specific things that happened to me. They each have something in them that is ME! If you want to know me, read. Even the disturbing characters get their deranged behavior from my corrupt mind. (Although I have NEVER hit anyone with a candle stick. I'm just sayin'...) And, fyi, MRJWC is set in Pennsylvania. :p
Boy, for not having anything to say I said a lot!
So... I guess that's all. I plan on writing today for a few hours. I sent a huge chunk of MRJWC to my "beta" reader. I hope she likes it. It is WAY different than WLINE! I guess it's like Leonardo DiCaprio going from Titanic to Shutter Island. I have to show my diversity as an author. Right? lol
Later,
Wade
xoxo
I don't have a whole heck of a lot to say. I've been writing. I would skip a blog all together but then people start to worry about me and post comments like "How ya doin' Wade?" and "Hope everything is okay with you." Not that comments are bad. I'm not saying that. I just don't want people to worry.
I'm fine.
I've been writing and editing. I normally edit as I go unless inspired to write long passages. Writers are often asked how they edit? A lot of the time I write, and then the next day I reread and change things. If I haven't written anything for a long spell on a particular project then I will read it, typically from the beginning, to get in the zone. I often read several chapters ahead of where my characters are so when I get to the end of the passage I am able to think of the next scene. Sometimes, if I am not at my computer, I will think about different parts I read recently and think of details to add. Even if it is one or two sentences it can add a lot to the understanding of how a character thinks and what they are doing.
In "My Roommate's A Jock? Well Crap!" (MRJWC) I have loads of characters that I have truly come to love. I developed a side character that I think is my favorite. Rob McAvoy. He is funny. (I think.) I used to go around and think of a line or something and say to myself, "Darian would totally say that!" Now I think, "Rob would say that!" or "This is Cole!" or "Oh my gosh, this scenario is Ellis and Rob!"
I think of my characters all the time. I believe any good writer does. How can they not? They are a part of me. They feel tangible at times.
Anyway. MRJWC is at 73k+. I have two chapters to write. I know I said that a while ago but I added a chapter in the middle somewhere. It just fit. I rearranged some paragraphs and stuck them in other chapters. I added support details. Lots of them. I thought about "back story" and filled in details to support the personality of the characters. I've been doing a lot!
I also strive to create realistic people. I know that I've read comment here and there that said WLINE wasn't realistic, but I am trying not to fixate on those. To me it was real. Writing it was real. The pain was real. (And I am not implying I lived through everything in When Love Is Not Enough, I'm just saying I tried desperately to bring realism to the pages in that book.) In MRJWC I am trying hard to do the same. Realism. I WANT my characters to feel like you could meet them down the street. I want them to be people you can relate to or have a coffee with. I WANT them to be comfortable together and give the reader a sense of knowing them.
If I don't achieve these things, CALL ME OUT ON IT! I need to improve if I don't meet my personal goals. Help me to see my flaws. I welcome criticism. (Not saying I enjoy negative crit. but without it I can't grow as a writer.) Tell me what you don't get! If you do, then chances are I will make your next read that much more enjoyable because hopefully I will learn from my mistakes.
Things to keep in mind: I am writing m/m romance. Typically, this genre has some expectations from readers. Not that I always follow the rules (if there are such things) but... There is going to be sex between men. Sometimes it fits in perfectly. Sometimes it may seem like too much for some readers and others may want more. I write what comes out. I go with the flow and if it seems right for the two of them to "be intimate" in the setting, I go for it. I am against gratuitous sex in a book just to fill the pages. (Although, I have to say TCOL has a lot of sex. I may have to edit some out.)
Another thing is that I like to add people that I could possibly write more about. (Side characters, siblings, etc...) In doing that, it may seem like everyone in the town is gay. That is not my intent. I know that seems unlikely that all the characters end up gay, but part of that is me just trying to write more books. So if there is going to be an "unbelievable" factor, maybe that is it. Sorry. It is about writing more!
Sometimes I purposely leave out details. Like specific city names or the state. Several people have asked where WLINE is set? The answer is Maryland. Authors are supposed to write what they know because it helps create realism. (You know I like that!) I lived in Baltimore for a while. That is all I wish to say about that. I do not like sharing personal details, but I will say if you read my books all my personal details are in the pages. The characters are ME. They each have different facets of my personality. They each have details of specific things that happened to me. They each have something in them that is ME! If you want to know me, read. Even the disturbing characters get their deranged behavior from my corrupt mind. (Although I have NEVER hit anyone with a candle stick. I'm just sayin'...) And, fyi, MRJWC is set in Pennsylvania. :p
Boy, for not having anything to say I said a lot!
So... I guess that's all. I plan on writing today for a few hours. I sent a huge chunk of MRJWC to my "beta" reader. I hope she likes it. It is WAY different than WLINE! I guess it's like Leonardo DiCaprio going from Titanic to Shutter Island. I have to show my diversity as an author. Right? lol
Later,
Wade
xoxo
