Robin M. Helm's Blog: A Bird's Eye View, page 5
November 29, 2017
Who is Thomas? Read the real story.
Nissa hosted Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, Barbara Cornthwaite, and me last week at Of Pens and Pages.
I told her something I had never told anyone else before - a secret I had kept for over forty years.
I revealed the backstory of my character Thomas in Her Christmas Gift (A Very Austen Christmas). He is based on someone I knew and loved long ago.
We are giving away an ebook. You may enter the giveaway anytime before December 9, and your odds of winning are very good.
Stop by. We'd love to chat with you.
I told her something I had never told anyone else before - a secret I had kept for over forty years.
I revealed the backstory of my character Thomas in Her Christmas Gift (A Very Austen Christmas). He is based on someone I knew and loved long ago.
We are giving away an ebook. You may enter the giveaway anytime before December 9, and your odds of winning are very good.
Stop by. We'd love to chat with you.
November 28, 2017
Another Giveaway!
Be sure to stop by Serena's Savvy Verse and Wit to enter the giveaway of A Very Austen Christmas there.
The giveaway will end December 9.
Give yourself a present.
The giveaway will end December 9.
Give yourself a present.
November 27, 2017
Giveaway of A Very Austen Christmas
The Calico Critic
Visit The Calico Critic to read an excerpt from my novella, Her Christmas Gift, one of the four stories in A Very Austen Christmas. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway of an ebook.
Visit The Calico Critic to read an excerpt from my novella, Her Christmas Gift, one of the four stories in A Very Austen Christmas. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway of an ebook.
November 16, 2017
A Very Austen Christmas Giveaway
Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, Barbara Cornthwaite, and I are thrilled to be guests on Chautona Havig's blog today.
Come read her interviews and her 5 star review.
You may be quite surprised at some of the things you learn about us. In fact, I think some of us were surprised when we read each other's answers.
(whispering) And there's a giveaway. Shhhh!!!!
Come read her interviews and her 5 star review.
You may be quite surprised at some of the things you learn about us. In fact, I think some of us were surprised when we read each other's answers.
(whispering) And there's a giveaway. Shhhh!!!!
November 15, 2017
We Beat the Nekkid Guy!
Did that sound weird?
I was so excited to see this that I immediately took a picture. You see, I'm well aware that our Christmas anthology can be #1 in one hour and #2 in the next. In fact, that's happened several times since we (Laura Hile, Barbara Cornthwaite, Wendi Sotis, and I) hit #1 Best Seller status (in our category) on Amazon.
I wanted to have that picture to live the moment over and over. I even reverted to my cheerleader days, chanting, "We're number one! We're number one!" I nearly tripped over my office and broke another ankle. Ha! It wasn't pretty.
Now, about that nekkid guy - we didn't literally beat a nekkid guy, so you can relax now. We don't plan to take the journey into that particular genre. Ever.
If you go to Amazon, you'll see that third book in the row of top sellers in our category. That's a $.99 nekkid guy cover which promises a certain kind of book. Clean books that cost $3.99 rarely beat such an animal. A book just like that one kept my last solo publication, Understanding Elizabeth, from ever reaching #1. I can't even say the name of that book in polite company. Not in impolite company, either.
The book in the middle is a $.99 anthology. It's rare to outsell anything which is $.99. That's another cause for rejoicing.
The middle book and A Very Austen Christmas switch places every time either one of us sells a book or two. I'm okay with that. It's a mostly clean read with a non-nekkid-guy cover.
At least we're remaining the #1 new release.
This is a book that friendship built. It was a labor of love and support between friends who've never met. I think the four of us should get together soon. What do you think? Should we meet in Oregon (Laura), New York (Wendi), South Carolina (me), or Ireland (Barbara)? Just a hint concerning my vote: my heritage is English/Scots/Irish.
I was so excited to see this that I immediately took a picture. You see, I'm well aware that our Christmas anthology can be #1 in one hour and #2 in the next. In fact, that's happened several times since we (Laura Hile, Barbara Cornthwaite, Wendi Sotis, and I) hit #1 Best Seller status (in our category) on Amazon.
I wanted to have that picture to live the moment over and over. I even reverted to my cheerleader days, chanting, "We're number one! We're number one!" I nearly tripped over my office and broke another ankle. Ha! It wasn't pretty.
Now, about that nekkid guy - we didn't literally beat a nekkid guy, so you can relax now. We don't plan to take the journey into that particular genre. Ever.
If you go to Amazon, you'll see that third book in the row of top sellers in our category. That's a $.99 nekkid guy cover which promises a certain kind of book. Clean books that cost $3.99 rarely beat such an animal. A book just like that one kept my last solo publication, Understanding Elizabeth, from ever reaching #1. I can't even say the name of that book in polite company. Not in impolite company, either.
The book in the middle is a $.99 anthology. It's rare to outsell anything which is $.99. That's another cause for rejoicing.
The middle book and A Very Austen Christmas switch places every time either one of us sells a book or two. I'm okay with that. It's a mostly clean read with a non-nekkid-guy cover.
At least we're remaining the #1 new release.
This is a book that friendship built. It was a labor of love and support between friends who've never met. I think the four of us should get together soon. What do you think? Should we meet in Oregon (Laura), New York (Wendi), South Carolina (me), or Ireland (Barbara)? Just a hint concerning my vote: my heritage is English/Scots/Irish.
June 18, 2012
Thinking Himself Above His Station
Incidents of customer misconduct on airplanes increased for the third year in a row, reaching more than 1300 in 2011, according to the Wall Street Journal. Flight attendants say the refusal to turn off electronic devices, such as Blackberries or iPhones, is the top cause.
In December 2011, Alec Baldwin got into an altercation with American Airlines staff over his refusal to end a game of Words With Friends. I’m not an Alec Baldwin fan, but I can understand his addiction to WWF. However, Baldwin escalated the tension, tweeting about the incident, and in retaliation, American released a statement saying that Baldwin refused to follow FAA regulations, adding “The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language.” (Who, Alec Baldwin, the charmer? No!) Meanwhile, other passengers sat in their seats tweeting away about the altercation, but no one else was asked to leave the plane, prompting his publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, to tweet, “hey @American_AA: How come ok 4 other 1st class passengers 2 tweet while @alecbaldwin asked to leave while using his device? #hypocrisy.” He later issued an apology.
In December 2010, Josh Duhamel was asked three times to turn off his cell phone. When he refused, the pilot turned the plane around and took it back to the gate where the actor was escorted off the plane by two officers. He later said, “I learned that it’s best to always turn them off. Not my favorite moment.” At least he had the grace to be embarrassed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there is a good reason for the ban. The 800 MHz frequency most cell phones and wireless devices use could potentially disrupt onboard instruments. The science of the so-called cell phone ban is, at best, divided; we all know someone who has ignored the repeated calls to turn off our gadgets without causing the flight to fall from the sky.
Carnegie Mellon University conducted a study in 2006 and found cell phone signals used in flight could interfere with GPS systems. Flight crews have reported everything from radio static to false alarms on collision-avoidance systems, but these effects could not be duplicated in controlled lab testing.
Just follow the rules and turn your devices off. The Internet will still be there once you land.
In December 2011, Alec Baldwin got into an altercation with American Airlines staff over his refusal to end a game of Words With Friends. I’m not an Alec Baldwin fan, but I can understand his addiction to WWF. However, Baldwin escalated the tension, tweeting about the incident, and in retaliation, American released a statement saying that Baldwin refused to follow FAA regulations, adding “The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language.” (Who, Alec Baldwin, the charmer? No!) Meanwhile, other passengers sat in their seats tweeting away about the altercation, but no one else was asked to leave the plane, prompting his publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, to tweet, “hey @American_AA: How come ok 4 other 1st class passengers 2 tweet while @alecbaldwin asked to leave while using his device? #hypocrisy.” He later issued an apology.
In December 2010, Josh Duhamel was asked three times to turn off his cell phone. When he refused, the pilot turned the plane around and took it back to the gate where the actor was escorted off the plane by two officers. He later said, “I learned that it’s best to always turn them off. Not my favorite moment.” At least he had the grace to be embarrassed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there is a good reason for the ban. The 800 MHz frequency most cell phones and wireless devices use could potentially disrupt onboard instruments. The science of the so-called cell phone ban is, at best, divided; we all know someone who has ignored the repeated calls to turn off our gadgets without causing the flight to fall from the sky.
Carnegie Mellon University conducted a study in 2006 and found cell phone signals used in flight could interfere with GPS systems. Flight crews have reported everything from radio static to false alarms on collision-avoidance systems, but these effects could not be duplicated in controlled lab testing.
Just follow the rules and turn your devices off. The Internet will still be there once you land.
March 12, 2012
My Musical Muse
From the time I began taking piano lessons when I was eight years old, music has been a ruling passion in my life. I majored in music in college, graduating with a performance degree in piano and organ, and I also sang with groups which traveled. I actually played the processional and recessional for my own college graduation, joining my classmates as we were seated.
Though my background is classical, I love all sorts of music. In fact, I have not yet found a genre to hate in its entirety. Music inspires me, lifts me, comforts me, and soothes me. There is a time for Debussy and Beethoven, but there is also a time for Adele and Bruno Mars. I really enjoy the piano-driven popular music of today.
In writing, I have joined my two loves. I am presently completing the third book in my Guardian trilogy, and the main characters are gifted musicians. The three of them (an angel, a human girl, and the son of Satan) begin as classical artists, and the hero and heroine branch off into contemporary sacred music. All of them are vocalists as well as being proficient in several instruments.
I spent many hours poring over my own music library and listening to different selections on YouTube to choose the pieces used in the books. Many times, I had music playing as I wrote, and a few times I wrote songs myself that were included in the narrative. To me, the words are as important as the melody, and the two must fit seamlessly together.
My husband once told me that one of the first things which attracted him to me was watching me and listening as I played the piano. There is a sort of dance that the artist does with the instrument, gently swaying and responding to the music. A good pianist conveys her emotion with her body language, though I think it can be overdone. There is something slightly sensual in the graceful joining of the artist with the instrument; it is a visual pleasure as well as an auditory delight.
I am a professional musician; I make a living with my music (teaching and performing), and I cannot imagine writing a book without music in it. The musical background of that first kiss is part of the experience. Most of my own memories are associated with whatever music was playing when I was engaging in the activity or watching the scene play out before me.
Most of us have a soundtrack running in the background of our lives. I access that soundtrack when I write.
Though my background is classical, I love all sorts of music. In fact, I have not yet found a genre to hate in its entirety. Music inspires me, lifts me, comforts me, and soothes me. There is a time for Debussy and Beethoven, but there is also a time for Adele and Bruno Mars. I really enjoy the piano-driven popular music of today.
In writing, I have joined my two loves. I am presently completing the third book in my Guardian trilogy, and the main characters are gifted musicians. The three of them (an angel, a human girl, and the son of Satan) begin as classical artists, and the hero and heroine branch off into contemporary sacred music. All of them are vocalists as well as being proficient in several instruments.
I spent many hours poring over my own music library and listening to different selections on YouTube to choose the pieces used in the books. Many times, I had music playing as I wrote, and a few times I wrote songs myself that were included in the narrative. To me, the words are as important as the melody, and the two must fit seamlessly together.
My husband once told me that one of the first things which attracted him to me was watching me and listening as I played the piano. There is a sort of dance that the artist does with the instrument, gently swaying and responding to the music. A good pianist conveys her emotion with her body language, though I think it can be overdone. There is something slightly sensual in the graceful joining of the artist with the instrument; it is a visual pleasure as well as an auditory delight.
I am a professional musician; I make a living with my music (teaching and performing), and I cannot imagine writing a book without music in it. The musical background of that first kiss is part of the experience. Most of my own memories are associated with whatever music was playing when I was engaging in the activity or watching the scene play out before me.
Most of us have a soundtrack running in the background of our lives. I access that soundtrack when I write.
February 3, 2012
My Life as a Pride and Prejudice Nerd
From the time my sister Gayle taught me to read when I was four years old, I have had a book in my hands more often than not. I was the baby in a family of six, and there was always plenty to do in the way of cleaning, cooking, gardening, and yard work. I remember hiding in a closet to read quite often, because if my mother saw me, she would immediately make me put down the book and get to work. I think what originally attracted me to the house we live in now was the walk-in closets. Though I no longer have to hide to read, I have plenty of room to do so should the need ever arise.
Along with reading, I loved to make up stories. My second grade teacher used to put me in front of the class at least once a week and tell me to make up a story for the other children. I loved it, and I would act out the story as I told it. Throughout my school years, I was that kid who read every book which was assigned and more.
Several teachers influenced me tremendously; my tenth grade English teacher worked on my creative writing skills. For one six weeks, we wrote an essay each day, much like a blog today. In eleventh grade English, we wrote poetry, short stories, and plays. My senior English teacher taught me advanced composition, as well as English grammar and literature, and she really spurred my imagination.
When I became a teacher myself, I ended most of my junior and senior English classes with ten to twenty minutes of great literature made into films. Because Austen has long been my most-beloved author and Pride and Prejudice is my hands-down favorite novel, we always watched the BBC miniseries, Pride and Prejudice, along with Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. Most of my former students name Pride and Prejudice as their favorite book. I have loved all things Austen for most of my life, and Darcy was always my fantasy man – tall, dark, handsome, brooding, intelligent, and Byronesque (without the kinky thing for young girls). I like to think that I passed my fascination for him on to my students. Many of them still contact me on Face Book, and when Firth won his Oscar, I was inundated with messages!
My daughters grew up watching these films and other period films based on great literature, but our family favorite is Pride and Prejudice. We watch it every time we are all together again, and we can quote the entire miniseries. My husband randomly says lines from the work, and my daughters and I answer in kind. He accepts the Mr. Darcy addiction of his three ladies with grace and a grin.
My sister Gayle and I discovered the books of Carrie Bebris and several other JAFF authors in a Barnes & Noble while we were at a teacher’s convention. When she found stories online and told me about JAFF forums, I thought we had hit the mother lode.
After twenty-five years of teaching, I left to take three part-time jobs. Because I had more free time than I was used to having, I began to “beta,” or edit for other writers. Gayle had been serving as a beta for several years, and she recommended me to a few writers.
While doing beta work, I began to think that I still had stories to tell. Before that time, the idea of writing a book had been too daunting to me. A year ago, I was intimidated by the idea, but now, I have written and published two books in The Guardian Trilogy, Guardian and SoulFire, and I am nearly a third of the way through writing the third book in the series, Legacy.
The Guardian Trilogy is loosely related to Pride and Prejudice. Xander, the main character, uses the name Darcy when he assumes human form. Elizabeth is his love interest, born to David and Lynne Bennet. Though The Guardian Trilogy does not closely follow Austen’s plot, the characters behave much as their Austen counterparts would in a modern, Christian setting. For instance, Xander/Darcy is a protector, much like Austen’s Darcy protected Lydia, Elizabeth’s sister, as well as Elizabeth, by helping Lydia. He has a higher standing than Elizabeth, because he is an angel and she is human. As an angel, Xander is remote and free from strong emotions. He is distant, like Austen’s Darcy. Elizabeth does reject Darcy at one point, much like the P & P Elizabeth and Darcy have their Hunsford debacle. Austen fans also require a happy ending for the couple, and they will have it.
Though I love all sorts of Jane Austen fan fiction stories, I think I have found my niche in writing Christian Pride and Prejudice variations with paranormal elements. I am developing a book to write after I finish writing and publishing Legacy. My next project will take place in both modern and Regency times, and one angel will be involved. The book is tentatively titled Darcy’s Wish, and I hope to have it published by Thanksgiving of 2012.
I am nearly one-third of the way through writing Legacy, and it should be published around the end of April or the beginning of May. Immediately after that, I will begin writing Darcy’s Wish. I am very excited about the story, and I look forward to letting it out of my head. It has been rattling around in there for about a month, and I find it to be quite distracting. So far, my batting it away has been effective, but soon the story must be released befores it drive me completely crazy. My husband, wit that he is, would say that would not be a drive, but only a short walk.
Along with reading, I loved to make up stories. My second grade teacher used to put me in front of the class at least once a week and tell me to make up a story for the other children. I loved it, and I would act out the story as I told it. Throughout my school years, I was that kid who read every book which was assigned and more.
Several teachers influenced me tremendously; my tenth grade English teacher worked on my creative writing skills. For one six weeks, we wrote an essay each day, much like a blog today. In eleventh grade English, we wrote poetry, short stories, and plays. My senior English teacher taught me advanced composition, as well as English grammar and literature, and she really spurred my imagination.
When I became a teacher myself, I ended most of my junior and senior English classes with ten to twenty minutes of great literature made into films. Because Austen has long been my most-beloved author and Pride and Prejudice is my hands-down favorite novel, we always watched the BBC miniseries, Pride and Prejudice, along with Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. Most of my former students name Pride and Prejudice as their favorite book. I have loved all things Austen for most of my life, and Darcy was always my fantasy man – tall, dark, handsome, brooding, intelligent, and Byronesque (without the kinky thing for young girls). I like to think that I passed my fascination for him on to my students. Many of them still contact me on Face Book, and when Firth won his Oscar, I was inundated with messages!
My daughters grew up watching these films and other period films based on great literature, but our family favorite is Pride and Prejudice. We watch it every time we are all together again, and we can quote the entire miniseries. My husband randomly says lines from the work, and my daughters and I answer in kind. He accepts the Mr. Darcy addiction of his three ladies with grace and a grin.
My sister Gayle and I discovered the books of Carrie Bebris and several other JAFF authors in a Barnes & Noble while we were at a teacher’s convention. When she found stories online and told me about JAFF forums, I thought we had hit the mother lode.
After twenty-five years of teaching, I left to take three part-time jobs. Because I had more free time than I was used to having, I began to “beta,” or edit for other writers. Gayle had been serving as a beta for several years, and she recommended me to a few writers.
While doing beta work, I began to think that I still had stories to tell. Before that time, the idea of writing a book had been too daunting to me. A year ago, I was intimidated by the idea, but now, I have written and published two books in The Guardian Trilogy, Guardian and SoulFire, and I am nearly a third of the way through writing the third book in the series, Legacy.
The Guardian Trilogy is loosely related to Pride and Prejudice. Xander, the main character, uses the name Darcy when he assumes human form. Elizabeth is his love interest, born to David and Lynne Bennet. Though The Guardian Trilogy does not closely follow Austen’s plot, the characters behave much as their Austen counterparts would in a modern, Christian setting. For instance, Xander/Darcy is a protector, much like Austen’s Darcy protected Lydia, Elizabeth’s sister, as well as Elizabeth, by helping Lydia. He has a higher standing than Elizabeth, because he is an angel and she is human. As an angel, Xander is remote and free from strong emotions. He is distant, like Austen’s Darcy. Elizabeth does reject Darcy at one point, much like the P & P Elizabeth and Darcy have their Hunsford debacle. Austen fans also require a happy ending for the couple, and they will have it.
Though I love all sorts of Jane Austen fan fiction stories, I think I have found my niche in writing Christian Pride and Prejudice variations with paranormal elements. I am developing a book to write after I finish writing and publishing Legacy. My next project will take place in both modern and Regency times, and one angel will be involved. The book is tentatively titled Darcy’s Wish, and I hope to have it published by Thanksgiving of 2012.
I am nearly one-third of the way through writing Legacy, and it should be published around the end of April or the beginning of May. Immediately after that, I will begin writing Darcy’s Wish. I am very excited about the story, and I look forward to letting it out of my head. It has been rattling around in there for about a month, and I find it to be quite distracting. So far, my batting it away has been effective, but soon the story must be released befores it drive me completely crazy. My husband, wit that he is, would say that would not be a drive, but only a short walk.
January 29, 2012
Posting on Forums for Dummies
In order to build name recognition as an author, I decided to publish my first and second books, Guardian and SoulFire, as works in progress on four different forums. Each of those forums works a little differently, and I am certainly no technical genius. I learn best by doing something over and over again and seeing for myself what works best.
When I first began to post, putting up a chapter on all four websites took two hours or more. Now that I have found several time-savers, posting takes about half an hour.
I would warn new writers, however, to be aware that in order to keep the readers gained by posting on several forums, it is advisable to post regularly (at least once a week) on the same day(s) of the week. Therefore, it is better to have several chapters completely finished before starting to post. I had eight chapters written, edited, and rewritten before I began to post.
The writer also must take the time to check the forums regularly and reply to all comments which are made on the story. Readers will be offended if the writer does not answer their questions and thank them for their reviews. In addition, part of the reason for posting a work in progress is to get feedback from the readers. Sometimes, their questions and observations will point out weaknesses in the story, or they will suggest plot ideas that are creative. Knowing what readers are thinking before the work is actually published in paperback or e-book form helps a writer to strengthen the story because of having the opportunity to go back and adjust plot problems or character development.
Because of my genre, my forums were fan fiction sites, but there are many others available. On one forum, I have over fifteen hundred readers from more than eighty countries. I was surprised to see many crossover young adult fans from Twilight, Airbender, Harry Potter, and other paranormal stories reading my work, and the realization opened my eyes to an entirely different fan base. Some might feel that posting their work for free will impact their sales later. I think that building a fan base and name recognition will more than compensate for losing a few sales in the beginning. Many of the people who have read my work online have later bought the books because I take the stories down after I publish, leaving only a preview of three chapters on the forums.
On three of the forums I chose, the writer must copy and paste the chapter, and then format it using the available tools. Originally, I formatted separately on each forum because the commands looked different to me. Eventually, I came to realize that I could post the chapter and format on one forum, select “modify,” and copy and paste the formatted version to the other two forums. The commands worked on all the sites. Only the link to the “comments” page has to be changed, because that is different on each website. After setting up the “comments” page on each site, however, the writer can open “modify” on the previous chapter and copy and paste the comments url set up at the bottom of the new chapter. Be sure to “preview” before posting. I always find small errors in my formatting, such as neglecting to space between paragraphs or forgetting to italicize certain words.
When I first started writing, I indented my paragraphs, but as I continued to post I saw that block paragraphing and double-spacing between the paragraphs was a better choice. The block style, justified both right and left, looks better when you format for self-publishing. Some e-book formats automatically indent the paragraphs upon submission.
The fourth forum I use allows the writer to upload documents. There are pros and cons with this option. The good thing is that the writer does not have to format on the site. The down side is that the writer cannot easily correct errors by modifying the document. If an error is found, the writer has to upload a new document and replace the old one. Be very careful. The first time I did this, I simply added the chapter rather than replacing the chapter with the error. I was unable to straighten out the problem without deleting and reposting everything I had previously posted, and I lost all of my reviews. Because some readers look at the number of reviews before reading the story, losing the reviews can adversely affect the sum total of readers viewing the story. Another drawback on this site is that replying to reviews on this site is done through private messaging only. On the other forums, people are able to view the writer’s answers even if they do not comment themselves. Additionally, the document must be formatted properly in order to separate scenes or the entire document will run continuously after it is uploaded. Symbols alone used between scenes will disappear. Symbols mixed with letters, such as ~~oo~~ will not be changed or deleted. Using only letters will also work, but I think that they are distracting. I tried all sorts of combinations before I stumbled across the answer to the question of how to keep my scenes from flowing into each other.
Be cautious to observe the etiquette on each forum. One forum does not allow individual replies to each comment. The writer must wait several days and reply to all reviews in one post. On all of the sites, writers who post a chapter immediately after another writer posts is considered to be rude. If it happens accidentally, apologize to the offended writer.
Never argue with a commenter. Answer the question if there is one, and move on. Sometimes, the commenter is right. I have acknowledged my error in those instances and thanked the reviewer. It gave me the opportunity to correct a problem before I published the work.
Never, never criticize another writer’s work. If there is a legitimate problem with the plot and you are friends with the writer, send a private message with a polite observation. Do not comment on grammatical or mechanical errors in the work. Though I appreciate it when other writers message me to tell me about such errors, most other writers do not.
Support the other writers on the forums by reading and commenting on their work. I make every effort to read and review the stories of the writers who read my stories and comment on them. We also help each other with formatting questions that come up in self-publishing, and we write reviews for each other when our books are published. In this instance, follow your grandmother’s advice: If you cannot say anything good, say nothing at all. I do not leave bad reviews for anyone’s work, whether or not I know them. Though others may disagree, if I cannot in good conscience leave a five-star review, I keep my thoughts to myself.
I follow the rules and play nicely, just as I was taught to do by my first grade teacher. I write because I enjoy it, and I want others to read my work. Obeying the forum rules and being courteous makes posting a more positive experience for everyone involved – both writers and readers. The instant gratification of immediate reader feedback for each chapter makes posting well worth the effort.
When I first began to post, putting up a chapter on all four websites took two hours or more. Now that I have found several time-savers, posting takes about half an hour.
I would warn new writers, however, to be aware that in order to keep the readers gained by posting on several forums, it is advisable to post regularly (at least once a week) on the same day(s) of the week. Therefore, it is better to have several chapters completely finished before starting to post. I had eight chapters written, edited, and rewritten before I began to post.
The writer also must take the time to check the forums regularly and reply to all comments which are made on the story. Readers will be offended if the writer does not answer their questions and thank them for their reviews. In addition, part of the reason for posting a work in progress is to get feedback from the readers. Sometimes, their questions and observations will point out weaknesses in the story, or they will suggest plot ideas that are creative. Knowing what readers are thinking before the work is actually published in paperback or e-book form helps a writer to strengthen the story because of having the opportunity to go back and adjust plot problems or character development.
Because of my genre, my forums were fan fiction sites, but there are many others available. On one forum, I have over fifteen hundred readers from more than eighty countries. I was surprised to see many crossover young adult fans from Twilight, Airbender, Harry Potter, and other paranormal stories reading my work, and the realization opened my eyes to an entirely different fan base. Some might feel that posting their work for free will impact their sales later. I think that building a fan base and name recognition will more than compensate for losing a few sales in the beginning. Many of the people who have read my work online have later bought the books because I take the stories down after I publish, leaving only a preview of three chapters on the forums.
On three of the forums I chose, the writer must copy and paste the chapter, and then format it using the available tools. Originally, I formatted separately on each forum because the commands looked different to me. Eventually, I came to realize that I could post the chapter and format on one forum, select “modify,” and copy and paste the formatted version to the other two forums. The commands worked on all the sites. Only the link to the “comments” page has to be changed, because that is different on each website. After setting up the “comments” page on each site, however, the writer can open “modify” on the previous chapter and copy and paste the comments url set up at the bottom of the new chapter. Be sure to “preview” before posting. I always find small errors in my formatting, such as neglecting to space between paragraphs or forgetting to italicize certain words.
When I first started writing, I indented my paragraphs, but as I continued to post I saw that block paragraphing and double-spacing between the paragraphs was a better choice. The block style, justified both right and left, looks better when you format for self-publishing. Some e-book formats automatically indent the paragraphs upon submission.
The fourth forum I use allows the writer to upload documents. There are pros and cons with this option. The good thing is that the writer does not have to format on the site. The down side is that the writer cannot easily correct errors by modifying the document. If an error is found, the writer has to upload a new document and replace the old one. Be very careful. The first time I did this, I simply added the chapter rather than replacing the chapter with the error. I was unable to straighten out the problem without deleting and reposting everything I had previously posted, and I lost all of my reviews. Because some readers look at the number of reviews before reading the story, losing the reviews can adversely affect the sum total of readers viewing the story. Another drawback on this site is that replying to reviews on this site is done through private messaging only. On the other forums, people are able to view the writer’s answers even if they do not comment themselves. Additionally, the document must be formatted properly in order to separate scenes or the entire document will run continuously after it is uploaded. Symbols alone used between scenes will disappear. Symbols mixed with letters, such as ~~oo~~ will not be changed or deleted. Using only letters will also work, but I think that they are distracting. I tried all sorts of combinations before I stumbled across the answer to the question of how to keep my scenes from flowing into each other.
Be cautious to observe the etiquette on each forum. One forum does not allow individual replies to each comment. The writer must wait several days and reply to all reviews in one post. On all of the sites, writers who post a chapter immediately after another writer posts is considered to be rude. If it happens accidentally, apologize to the offended writer.
Never argue with a commenter. Answer the question if there is one, and move on. Sometimes, the commenter is right. I have acknowledged my error in those instances and thanked the reviewer. It gave me the opportunity to correct a problem before I published the work.
Never, never criticize another writer’s work. If there is a legitimate problem with the plot and you are friends with the writer, send a private message with a polite observation. Do not comment on grammatical or mechanical errors in the work. Though I appreciate it when other writers message me to tell me about such errors, most other writers do not.
Support the other writers on the forums by reading and commenting on their work. I make every effort to read and review the stories of the writers who read my stories and comment on them. We also help each other with formatting questions that come up in self-publishing, and we write reviews for each other when our books are published. In this instance, follow your grandmother’s advice: If you cannot say anything good, say nothing at all. I do not leave bad reviews for anyone’s work, whether or not I know them. Though others may disagree, if I cannot in good conscience leave a five-star review, I keep my thoughts to myself.
I follow the rules and play nicely, just as I was taught to do by my first grade teacher. I write because I enjoy it, and I want others to read my work. Obeying the forum rules and being courteous makes posting a more positive experience for everyone involved – both writers and readers. The instant gratification of immediate reader feedback for each chapter makes posting well worth the effort.
January 26, 2012
My Interview, part 2
Tell us about your inspiration for: Guardian (Volume I) and SoulFire (Volume II), from The Guardian Trilogy. What is the true essence of these books?
I confess to being a TwiMom. As a high school English teacher, I wondered why my students would stay up all night reading the books of The Twilight Saga, but they would not read the classics. I read the books several times, and I tried to analyze their appeal. Edward, the protagonist, was a natural bad guy fighting his own nature to be good. He was willing to sacrifice his own desires for Bella, an average human girl, because he loved her. I decided to write the flip side of that – an angel, a being who is totally good, who must battle against his nature and be willing to take a lesser form to love Elizabeth, a supernaturally gifted human. Xander, my angel, wishes to become human to be with Elizabeth. He makes a tremendous sacrifice and accepts mortality, aging, and death in order to be able to love her without sinning. In addition, he makes this choice not knowing whether or not she will love him in return. He loves her, and she does not know of his existence.
Just as Edward fights his enemies who wish to kill Bella in The Twilight Saga, Xander battles with demonic forces who are intent on destroying Elizabeth in The Guardian Trilogy. Lucifer knows that Xander, the Chief Guardian, would not have been assigned to guard Elizabeth had she not been extremely important in God’s plan, so he sets out to destroy her from the moment of her conception. The Guardian Trilogy delves into spiritual warfare, drawing aside the veil to allow the reader to see parallel dimensions: the physical and the spiritual. Readers are shown what happens around humans all the time without their knowledge as light forces battle dark ones.
On Fanfiction.net I have many crossover teen fans from Twilight, Harry Potter, and Airbender. I have been amazed by that. On that site, I have about two thousand readers from more than eighty countries. Nothing has surprised me as much as the warm reception the books have received from agnostics, atheists, and seekers.
I confess to being a TwiMom. As a high school English teacher, I wondered why my students would stay up all night reading the books of The Twilight Saga, but they would not read the classics. I read the books several times, and I tried to analyze their appeal. Edward, the protagonist, was a natural bad guy fighting his own nature to be good. He was willing to sacrifice his own desires for Bella, an average human girl, because he loved her. I decided to write the flip side of that – an angel, a being who is totally good, who must battle against his nature and be willing to take a lesser form to love Elizabeth, a supernaturally gifted human. Xander, my angel, wishes to become human to be with Elizabeth. He makes a tremendous sacrifice and accepts mortality, aging, and death in order to be able to love her without sinning. In addition, he makes this choice not knowing whether or not she will love him in return. He loves her, and she does not know of his existence.
Just as Edward fights his enemies who wish to kill Bella in The Twilight Saga, Xander battles with demonic forces who are intent on destroying Elizabeth in The Guardian Trilogy. Lucifer knows that Xander, the Chief Guardian, would not have been assigned to guard Elizabeth had she not been extremely important in God’s plan, so he sets out to destroy her from the moment of her conception. The Guardian Trilogy delves into spiritual warfare, drawing aside the veil to allow the reader to see parallel dimensions: the physical and the spiritual. Readers are shown what happens around humans all the time without their knowledge as light forces battle dark ones.
On Fanfiction.net I have many crossover teen fans from Twilight, Harry Potter, and Airbender. I have been amazed by that. On that site, I have about two thousand readers from more than eighty countries. Nothing has surprised me as much as the warm reception the books have received from agnostics, atheists, and seekers.
