Rebecca Graf's Blog, page 7
May 3, 2012
Hillary Peak - Virtual Book Tour
Today, May 4th, Hillary Peak will be stopping on her virtual book tour at my site called A Book Lover's Library (www.abookloverslibrary). You can read a short bio on the author, check out her other tour stops, read my book review on her book Wings of Hope, and read an interview I had with Ms. Peak.
I highly recommend checking out Hillary Peak and her book. Wings of Hope was the best read I've had in a long time. If you choose only one book to read this year, it has to be this book.
I highly recommend checking out Hillary Peak and her book. Wings of Hope was the best read I've had in a long time. If you choose only one book to read this year, it has to be this book.
The Kindle Has Made Me Read More
I have to admit that the kindle has me reading more than ever. I didn't think it was possible. But it's true.
Now, I still prefer my hardcopy books, but.....I can take so many more with me on my kindle. I'm now carrying a few thousand books with me everywhere I go. That is a reader's dream!!!!!
I have 4 books on my kindle that are currently being read. With the tap of a finger I can move from one to another depending on my mood.I have so many choices.
I usually had 2-3 books going on at one time, now I'm doubling that. I take my kindle everywhere. Trust me, everywhere! I never leave home without it. Why? Because it never fails that I'll be stuck somewhere having nothing to do. With my kindle, I can scan a few thousand books and choose whatever I want. I can choose an old classic, a romance, a mystery, or something scary. I love it!
Like I needed anything else to encourage me to read more! Geez! :)
Now, I still prefer my hardcopy books, but.....I can take so many more with me on my kindle. I'm now carrying a few thousand books with me everywhere I go. That is a reader's dream!!!!!
I have 4 books on my kindle that are currently being read. With the tap of a finger I can move from one to another depending on my mood.I have so many choices.
I usually had 2-3 books going on at one time, now I'm doubling that. I take my kindle everywhere. Trust me, everywhere! I never leave home without it. Why? Because it never fails that I'll be stuck somewhere having nothing to do. With my kindle, I can scan a few thousand books and choose whatever I want. I can choose an old classic, a romance, a mystery, or something scary. I love it!
Like I needed anything else to encourage me to read more! Geez! :)
April 26, 2012
Write What Drives You
I don't know about you, but I try to have a structured life. Why? Because in high school and college I realized that I would forget things if I didn't list them out and plan on doing them. I got married to an ADD man and then had 3 ADD children. My need for structure increased dramatically.
Now that I'm writing my organized world is falling apart more than ever. I plan on writing another chapter of Dark Connections today. Yet, my heart isn't in it. Okay, I'll write a chapter of Leigh. Nope. My mind keeps going back to a story I haven't even written yet. It won't let it go.
What do I do? I write about the new story. I get a few chapters out. Only then will my creative side let it go and allow me to go back to other works.
The more I fight writing certain stories, the worse it gets. I'm slowly learning to write on what my muse says to write. Nothing else.
I once heard that you're not a true writer until you wake up only wanting to write. I'd like to add that you also have write whatever want's to flow from you and nothing else.
Now that I'm writing my organized world is falling apart more than ever. I plan on writing another chapter of Dark Connections today. Yet, my heart isn't in it. Okay, I'll write a chapter of Leigh. Nope. My mind keeps going back to a story I haven't even written yet. It won't let it go.
What do I do? I write about the new story. I get a few chapters out. Only then will my creative side let it go and allow me to go back to other works.
The more I fight writing certain stories, the worse it gets. I'm slowly learning to write on what my muse says to write. Nothing else.
I once heard that you're not a true writer until you wake up only wanting to write. I'd like to add that you also have write whatever want's to flow from you and nothing else.
April 25, 2012
Losing Yourself in a Book
Sometimes you just need to lose yourself in a book.
Okay, enough said. That's all. :)
It really could be. If you're on Goodreads, then you love to read. You know what it's like to lose yourself in a book.
Last night I was down in the dumps. Why? For a variety of reasons. The big thing was my self doubt as an author. First of all, you have to understand that I know I'm not going to win a Pulitzer Prize or anything. I know my writing needs work. I don't think it's terrible either. But last night I felt like a failure.
I had read some really good books and mentally kept comparing my writing to theirs. I came up so short. It doesn't help that all my writing is in editing mode. This can be frustrating because I want to see an end result but I look at the editing and I realize how far away the end really is.
We seek perfection. We can't achieve perfection. We have to achieve what the book says is the end. That is so hard. When is the end? When do we say, "Enough editing. This is the final copy."
Haven't found that spot yet. Still looking.
Okay, enough said. That's all. :)
It really could be. If you're on Goodreads, then you love to read. You know what it's like to lose yourself in a book.
Last night I was down in the dumps. Why? For a variety of reasons. The big thing was my self doubt as an author. First of all, you have to understand that I know I'm not going to win a Pulitzer Prize or anything. I know my writing needs work. I don't think it's terrible either. But last night I felt like a failure.
I had read some really good books and mentally kept comparing my writing to theirs. I came up so short. It doesn't help that all my writing is in editing mode. This can be frustrating because I want to see an end result but I look at the editing and I realize how far away the end really is.
We seek perfection. We can't achieve perfection. We have to achieve what the book says is the end. That is so hard. When is the end? When do we say, "Enough editing. This is the final copy."
Haven't found that spot yet. Still looking.
April 23, 2012
You Have to Feel the Character
As you're writing, you cannot communicate to the reader what a character is feeling unless you can feel it. It's that simple.
I was writing a scene last night where a woman suddenly feels a hand covering her mouth. She knows her friend is in the house but not if it is him or not. How do I describe this?
I closed my eyes and envisioned the suddenly darkened room. I waited until I could feel my heart beat faster as I was blind and vulnerable. I noted how all my senses went into overdrive. I could smell things I could smell before. I could hear things that may or may not have been real.
I then imagined the hand suddenly covering my mouth. I felt the panic. I felt the fear. I felt the strong arm and hand.
I had my description for my character.
How do you get the right descriptions for your character?
I was writing a scene last night where a woman suddenly feels a hand covering her mouth. She knows her friend is in the house but not if it is him or not. How do I describe this?
I closed my eyes and envisioned the suddenly darkened room. I waited until I could feel my heart beat faster as I was blind and vulnerable. I noted how all my senses went into overdrive. I could smell things I could smell before. I could hear things that may or may not have been real.
I then imagined the hand suddenly covering my mouth. I felt the panic. I felt the fear. I felt the strong arm and hand.
I had my description for my character.
How do you get the right descriptions for your character?
Post-Writing Blues
I'm not sure if everyone is like this. All I can speak for is myself. But after I have written the first draft or two of a book I begin to get blue because patience is not a virtue I possess.
The process of editing can be so much longer than writing a book. That is not always the case but more the norm than you might think. What happens then? I, as the author, want to just get it done. I want it to be perfect now.
That ain't gonna happen.
Right now, Deep Connections is with my editor. Fingers are crossed or a release date of June. During this time, I have already written the sequel. First draft is done and I'm going through the second draft now. I can't seem to do it.
I'm so anxious about Deep Connections that I can't finish polishing up the sequel. I want it all done now! Oh, well. I can't get every thing I want.
What am I doing instead? I'm writing the first draft of an entirely different story. I'm getting my frustration out on different characters.
The struggle of being a writer :)
The process of editing can be so much longer than writing a book. That is not always the case but more the norm than you might think. What happens then? I, as the author, want to just get it done. I want it to be perfect now.
That ain't gonna happen.
Right now, Deep Connections is with my editor. Fingers are crossed or a release date of June. During this time, I have already written the sequel. First draft is done and I'm going through the second draft now. I can't seem to do it.
I'm so anxious about Deep Connections that I can't finish polishing up the sequel. I want it all done now! Oh, well. I can't get every thing I want.
What am I doing instead? I'm writing the first draft of an entirely different story. I'm getting my frustration out on different characters.
The struggle of being a writer :)
April 22, 2012
Write for the Love
You need to love what you do. Now, there are times when you have to work for money at a job that absolutely sucks. Make sure it is only temporary. You don't want to look back twenty years from now with regret. That gets you nowhere.
Do you want to write? Then do it. Not good? Who cares. You can get better with each word. It does not matter if everyone in the world will like your writing. It's a good thing because not everyone will. Who cares! Write because your heart and soul tell you to.
Write that romance novel that you dream about every night! Write the mystery that you day dream about! Will it make it to the #1 slot of the bestsellers lists? Probably not but is that why you're writing it? Write for the love of writing.
I am in the midst of several books. One in particular is in full edit mode. Will everyone like it? No way! Will it be a bestseller? I wish, but not expecting it. What do I want from it? I want the experience. I want to grow as a writer. I want to hear that someone somewhere enjoyed reading it. That's all.
Do you feel the urge to write? Don't let anything stand in your way including yourself. Shut up and write!
Do you want to write? Then do it. Not good? Who cares. You can get better with each word. It does not matter if everyone in the world will like your writing. It's a good thing because not everyone will. Who cares! Write because your heart and soul tell you to.
Write that romance novel that you dream about every night! Write the mystery that you day dream about! Will it make it to the #1 slot of the bestsellers lists? Probably not but is that why you're writing it? Write for the love of writing.
I am in the midst of several books. One in particular is in full edit mode. Will everyone like it? No way! Will it be a bestseller? I wish, but not expecting it. What do I want from it? I want the experience. I want to grow as a writer. I want to hear that someone somewhere enjoyed reading it. That's all.
Do you feel the urge to write? Don't let anything stand in your way including yourself. Shut up and write!
April 21, 2012
The Highest of Compliments
I received one of the highest compliments I could ever get as a writer. No, it wasn't an award. It wasn't a deal with a publishing company or a movie company. It was a simple request from my daughter.
"Mom, will you write me a chapter book story about a horse."
Wow!
She wants me to write her a story that is her very own. I have never been so honored. What does that tell me? That my 10 year old daughter sees me as a writer. No one else on this earth might see me as such, but she does.
I might not ever win an award. I might not ever hit the bestseller list. But I got a request from my child.
"Mom, will you write me a chapter book story about a horse."
Wow!
She wants me to write her a story that is her very own. I have never been so honored. What does that tell me? That my 10 year old daughter sees me as a writer. No one else on this earth might see me as such, but she does.
I might not ever win an award. I might not ever hit the bestseller list. But I got a request from my child.
April 19, 2012
Writing is Not Always Structured
I'm not really OCD. Trust me, I'm not. But over the years I had to become rigid in my scheduling or I'd forget things. I began making lists to help me. Lists have been life savers. Plus, I'm married to severe ADD. I need to be rigid. Problem is I've tried to apply that same principle to my writing. Don't think so!
I listed out on what day I'll write on what piece. My writing then reminds me that I have no control over any of that. None whatsoever.
For two days, I did not have the desire to write, edit, or read. I know. I know. You're shocked and bewildered. So was I! Toward the end of the second day, my editor began encouraging me and I found myself writing again on another dang new story when I have others that need to be finished! that's what my list says!
But the creative spirit leads. I always fight where my creative part takes me. I go through a depressive battle and come out on the bruised and bloody loosing end. When will I ever learn? So what if a new story got started? The other ones didn't go away. I'm going back to them today. I just needed a small writers tryst. :)
I listed out on what day I'll write on what piece. My writing then reminds me that I have no control over any of that. None whatsoever.
For two days, I did not have the desire to write, edit, or read. I know. I know. You're shocked and bewildered. So was I! Toward the end of the second day, my editor began encouraging me and I found myself writing again on another dang new story when I have others that need to be finished! that's what my list says!
But the creative spirit leads. I always fight where my creative part takes me. I go through a depressive battle and come out on the bruised and bloody loosing end. When will I ever learn? So what if a new story got started? The other ones didn't go away. I'm going back to them today. I just needed a small writers tryst. :)
April 18, 2012
Hearing the Negative
When you create anything, expect negativity. You will encounter it. There are just some people who cannot be supportive or positive if their life depended on it.
I just encountered one that took me deep into depression for one night.
I had someone I knew review a children's book of mine. She wrote about 2 pages of problems with it. Most of the 'problems' were her opinion on how a sentence could be worded better. There was not one single positive thing said in any of it. What did that say to me? That I did nothing right.
Now, that doesn't mean this person really thought that but that is the message that came across. I about threw in the towel when it comes to writing. Thank goodness for a friend who threatened to kick my butt.
If you read over someone's work, try to point out the positives. If you are the one receiving the negative, take it with a grain of salt. There is always something to pull from the list of negatives to help your writings but don't let the negative words stop you from pursuing a dream.
I just encountered one that took me deep into depression for one night.
I had someone I knew review a children's book of mine. She wrote about 2 pages of problems with it. Most of the 'problems' were her opinion on how a sentence could be worded better. There was not one single positive thing said in any of it. What did that say to me? That I did nothing right.
Now, that doesn't mean this person really thought that but that is the message that came across. I about threw in the towel when it comes to writing. Thank goodness for a friend who threatened to kick my butt.
If you read over someone's work, try to point out the positives. If you are the one receiving the negative, take it with a grain of salt. There is always something to pull from the list of negatives to help your writings but don't let the negative words stop you from pursuing a dream.
