Rebecca Graf's Blog, page 8
April 17, 2012
Be Supportive
No matter who you are, you can and should be supportive of those close to you who are attempting to publish their writings. Why? Because you might be all they have standing between them and success.
If you're not a writer, you might not understand how it is to have someone else read your work. For one thing, a writer puts a part of themselves in the work. They are tied in ways to their writing you might not be able to understand. It is scary to have someone read your work. It means a lot to the writer. It means you care.
Of all my family and friends who have read my writings, I can count them on one hand with more fingers down than up. How does that make me feel as a writer? Terrible. But those that do read it have been the best.
Supportive friends encourage a writer to do better. They don't lie to you about how wonderful your work is. They point out the great aspects and then help you improve on the not so great ones. When you're down and feel like throwing in the towel, they kick you in the butt and show you where you do a great job. When you think you don't need advice, they bring you down a notch or two. When you publish a book, article, or just an announcement, they are there promoting it more than you are.
Don't ignore the writers in your life. Support them. Be there for them when they are struggling and not wait for the #1 best seller spot to be achieved. They need you now.
If you're not a writer, you might not understand how it is to have someone else read your work. For one thing, a writer puts a part of themselves in the work. They are tied in ways to their writing you might not be able to understand. It is scary to have someone read your work. It means a lot to the writer. It means you care.
Of all my family and friends who have read my writings, I can count them on one hand with more fingers down than up. How does that make me feel as a writer? Terrible. But those that do read it have been the best.
Supportive friends encourage a writer to do better. They don't lie to you about how wonderful your work is. They point out the great aspects and then help you improve on the not so great ones. When you're down and feel like throwing in the towel, they kick you in the butt and show you where you do a great job. When you think you don't need advice, they bring you down a notch or two. When you publish a book, article, or just an announcement, they are there promoting it more than you are.
Don't ignore the writers in your life. Support them. Be there for them when they are struggling and not wait for the #1 best seller spot to be achieved. They need you now.
April 16, 2012
Becoming a VBT Host
Today I signed up to be a VBT host. You might know what that is, or you could be like me a few hours ago thinking it was a disease. Actually, it is a Virtual Book Tour.
I give time and space in my blog to interview authors, review their books, and maybe give away books. I also promote for them on Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. What do I get out of this? Exposure and books to read. Traffic will come to my site and maybe exposure for my own book. :)
If you have a blog, check out Virtual Book Tour Cafe. If you're an author, check out their tour packages. These are some of the best prices around.
This is going to be fun.
I give time and space in my blog to interview authors, review their books, and maybe give away books. I also promote for them on Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. What do I get out of this? Exposure and books to read. Traffic will come to my site and maybe exposure for my own book. :)
If you have a blog, check out Virtual Book Tour Cafe. If you're an author, check out their tour packages. These are some of the best prices around.
This is going to be fun.
April 13, 2012
The Best Writers are Readers
I had never really thought about it until I was reading about how to improve my writing. If you don't read, why would you write?
As I read, I find myself studying how various authors wrote certain scenes. I need improvement in describing dialogue. So, I pay special attention to that when reading. I've read how descriptive authors are and found such a wide range that I don't know if there really a best way to do that.
The more I read, the more I learn. I'm also reading books where I can notice much easier if a scene or a character is just not explored enough. I can now see where other books lack from a reader's standpoint. What purpose does that serve me? I can write with that in mind since my reader has to understand my work and connect to the characters. If I find something dissatisfying, I'm learning what not to do.
How do you learn to write better? Read better writers to learn what to do. Read worse writers to learn what not to do. It's all about learning.
As I read, I find myself studying how various authors wrote certain scenes. I need improvement in describing dialogue. So, I pay special attention to that when reading. I've read how descriptive authors are and found such a wide range that I don't know if there really a best way to do that.
The more I read, the more I learn. I'm also reading books where I can notice much easier if a scene or a character is just not explored enough. I can now see where other books lack from a reader's standpoint. What purpose does that serve me? I can write with that in mind since my reader has to understand my work and connect to the characters. If I find something dissatisfying, I'm learning what not to do.
How do you learn to write better? Read better writers to learn what to do. Read worse writers to learn what not to do. It's all about learning.
April 10, 2012
Edit and More Edit
Great works of literature don't just get written. They get thought about. They get jotted down. They get pulled together. And then the writing really is begun. The editing is where it comes together as a completely picture.
I'm not talking about the important editing of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. I'm talking about the editing the author does before an editor gets it and even afterwards.
When an author edits, they take the very rough draft that is just the guts of the story and begins to bring it to life. The author writes how the two men fight and one wins. The writes the base for all dialogue and establishes the hint of a mood. When he first edits, he takes that core and gives you a picture.
The author sees where one sentence is really the birth of three paragraphs or maybe that of a whole chapter. When the first draft is written many authors will set it aside and let it ferment. Then they read it again and see where they can expand and maybe where the story is showing the author a new twist or additional plots. In essence, the story writes itself and directs the writer.
These drafts are important and take the piece of coal and creates a spectacular tiara that anyone would be proud to have.
I'm not talking about the important editing of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. I'm talking about the editing the author does before an editor gets it and even afterwards.
When an author edits, they take the very rough draft that is just the guts of the story and begins to bring it to life. The author writes how the two men fight and one wins. The writes the base for all dialogue and establishes the hint of a mood. When he first edits, he takes that core and gives you a picture.
The author sees where one sentence is really the birth of three paragraphs or maybe that of a whole chapter. When the first draft is written many authors will set it aside and let it ferment. Then they read it again and see where they can expand and maybe where the story is showing the author a new twist or additional plots. In essence, the story writes itself and directs the writer.
These drafts are important and take the piece of coal and creates a spectacular tiara that anyone would be proud to have.
April 8, 2012
Writing as Therapy
I have found that writing as a form of therapy. I usually have two to three books going at the same time. One is a serious drama style. Another is a comedy. Then another is more romantic. Which one do I write on? Depends on my mood.
As I write on my book Leigh, I have to be serious as it is a serious topic. It's about a woman who is faced with changes in life and hard decisions.
As I write on The Men's Preservation Society, I have to be almost silly so I can come up with the scenes those women find themselves in.
As I write on the Deep Connections series, I have to be slightly romantic or mysterious.
I have a writing project for every frame of mind. I write book reviews when none of my moods fit those listed above. It's fun.
You can find more about these books in progress at abookloverslibrary.com
As I write on my book Leigh, I have to be serious as it is a serious topic. It's about a woman who is faced with changes in life and hard decisions.
As I write on The Men's Preservation Society, I have to be almost silly so I can come up with the scenes those women find themselves in.
As I write on the Deep Connections series, I have to be slightly romantic or mysterious.
I have a writing project for every frame of mind. I write book reviews when none of my moods fit those listed above. It's fun.
You can find more about these books in progress at abookloverslibrary.com
April 7, 2012
Back to Reading Again
I'm so excited to get back to reading again. I was so long without reading for pleasure. All I did was read for school. Though I learned a lot, something is missing when you can't get a good book and curl up to lose yourself in the pages.
I'm back to reading a book a day. I love it. Okay, maybe not always a book a day, but pretty darn close. I'm gobbling them up again. I love it. I'll be able to continue doing this until September when I begin taking 2 classes again and then add a third on halfway through in October. Then I'm studying all the time until next spring.
This is also the time to get my writing done. I'm writing more and loving. I'll be giving my editor a lot of work :)
I'm back to reading a book a day. I love it. Okay, maybe not always a book a day, but pretty darn close. I'm gobbling them up again. I love it. I'll be able to continue doing this until September when I begin taking 2 classes again and then add a third on halfway through in October. Then I'm studying all the time until next spring.
This is also the time to get my writing done. I'm writing more and loving. I'll be giving my editor a lot of work :)
April 6, 2012
Deep Connections in Edit Mode
I am so excited to say that my romantic/suspense novel, Deep Connections, is in its final edit. After this round, we'll be formatting and editing for publication on the kindle and for print. This is so exciting. While this is happening, I've also written the very first rough draft of the sequel, Dark Connections. From here I'll be editing and expanding on it like crazy before venturing into the third and final book, Deadly Connections.
What's it all about? You can actually read the first few chapters at abookloverslibrary.com along with two other books of mine in the making an a horror story from my friend Lisa Binion. Lisa is also my editor. So if you are looking for an editor, I know one. :)
So far, only the first 5 chapters are available online for you to read, but the next two are coming soon. After that, you have to buy the book which should be out the end of May/first of June.
What's it all about? You can actually read the first few chapters at abookloverslibrary.com along with two other books of mine in the making an a horror story from my friend Lisa Binion. Lisa is also my editor. So if you are looking for an editor, I know one. :)
So far, only the first 5 chapters are available online for you to read, but the next two are coming soon. After that, you have to buy the book which should be out the end of May/first of June.
April 3, 2012
How My Edits are Like a Main Meal
When I write my stories, I find that I do numerous edits. I deliberately start off with the bare bones. By that, I mean I am writing the basic plot and setting and dialogue. There are few descriptions in the dialogue or of the setting. I'm just getting the basics down. Then I go back and work on it some more. A few days later I look again. It takes many passes before I send it to my editor.
I have a dear friend that told me how she saw my writing as she reads the basic first draft all the way up to the final.
"To be honest I like reading the rough drafts a lot because it's like the meat portion of a meal and then I can think about what kind of veggies should go with it and how you should make the potatoes then when I get the next version I can see where our ideas match and where you may need to change the seasoning"
Loved this description. That is how my editing is. I couldn't have said it better myself.
I have a dear friend that told me how she saw my writing as she reads the basic first draft all the way up to the final.
"To be honest I like reading the rough drafts a lot because it's like the meat portion of a meal and then I can think about what kind of veggies should go with it and how you should make the potatoes then when I get the next version I can see where our ideas match and where you may need to change the seasoning"
Loved this description. That is how my editing is. I couldn't have said it better myself.
March 31, 2012
Editing Can Be Fun
I've discovered that editing my book can be fun. Really, it can be. It's like watching a picture appear as you hack away at all the excess debris.
See, I just sit down and write a chapter. The dialogue is just the core. Descriptions that accompany the dialogue is almost non existence. Descriptions of setting is only there if it is vital. I'm just getting down the gist of things and the plot.
I keep going to the next chapter. I only go back if something vital comes up that I need to note and then I go to the first of the chapter and type in (Note - change location to porch instead of living room). I go until I'm done with it all.
Then I go back and just work on one chapter at a time. I make changes on the plot and direction if needed and add descriptions and dialogue where needed.
When I've gone through the chapters, I start all over again. This time I read out loud and pretend to be characters to see if I'm really wording it the way they would talk.
Then I might hand it over to my editor. After she goes through it, I go through it again. She does ones last look and then hopefully, we're done.
I watch it develop from a weak draft to something more substantial and alive. I can't help but smile when someone who has read every draft comments on how much more mature and full it becomes. When they experience the feelings I want to invoke, I jump for joy.
Look at editing your own work as fun and not a chore. You're a creator of something special.
See, I just sit down and write a chapter. The dialogue is just the core. Descriptions that accompany the dialogue is almost non existence. Descriptions of setting is only there if it is vital. I'm just getting down the gist of things and the plot.
I keep going to the next chapter. I only go back if something vital comes up that I need to note and then I go to the first of the chapter and type in (Note - change location to porch instead of living room). I go until I'm done with it all.
Then I go back and just work on one chapter at a time. I make changes on the plot and direction if needed and add descriptions and dialogue where needed.
When I've gone through the chapters, I start all over again. This time I read out loud and pretend to be characters to see if I'm really wording it the way they would talk.
Then I might hand it over to my editor. After she goes through it, I go through it again. She does ones last look and then hopefully, we're done.
I watch it develop from a weak draft to something more substantial and alive. I can't help but smile when someone who has read every draft comments on how much more mature and full it becomes. When they experience the feelings I want to invoke, I jump for joy.
Look at editing your own work as fun and not a chore. You're a creator of something special.
March 26, 2012
Frist Complete Novel
I am so excited because I actually finished my first novel. I already had a children's book published, but this one is geared toward adults.
It's called Deep Connections. Right now it is in the hands of my editor. The goal is to be ready to publish it somewhere around the first of June.
It's the story of a woman who is finding herself falling in love with someone she has viewed as a friend. In the process, she finds herself stalked by someone intent on kidnapping her. Throw in a jealous 'boyfriend' along with strange feelings going on between her and the one she is falling in love with and you have the making of a romantic suspenseful story. So many questions she needs answering. So many answers they can't find.
Already starting work on the sequel. There has to be one. Huge cliffhanger at the end. I would have to go into protective custody if I didn't.
The first few chapters of Deep Connections can be found at www.abookloverslibrary.com under serial books. Chapter 3 will be out this Wednesday.
It's called Deep Connections. Right now it is in the hands of my editor. The goal is to be ready to publish it somewhere around the first of June.
It's the story of a woman who is finding herself falling in love with someone she has viewed as a friend. In the process, she finds herself stalked by someone intent on kidnapping her. Throw in a jealous 'boyfriend' along with strange feelings going on between her and the one she is falling in love with and you have the making of a romantic suspenseful story. So many questions she needs answering. So many answers they can't find.
Already starting work on the sequel. There has to be one. Huge cliffhanger at the end. I would have to go into protective custody if I didn't.
The first few chapters of Deep Connections can be found at www.abookloverslibrary.com under serial books. Chapter 3 will be out this Wednesday.
