Imran Siddiq's Blog, page 13

New Release – My Plan: Weekly Organiser

Available now on Amazon.

Amazon.com = $5.99    —    Amazon.co.uk = £4.99

 

MY PLAN
Weekly Organiser

 

Whether you’re a student, a writer, a creative genius, an employee, or a manager – it’s easy to overlook important tasks or struggle to manage your workload.

Use the ‘My Plan‘ Weekly Organiser to jot down your key tasks, and then organise them for each day of the week.

‘My Plan‘ provides an initial section to store notes and telephone numbers.

Use the ‘To Do‘ section to list items for the week that require your attention.

Use the ‘Appointments‘ section to keep track of your meetings/occasions.

Use the ‘Brainstorm‘ section to let rip with scribbles, notes, and anything else that comes to mind. The perfect place to brings visual stimulus to your ideas.

The ‘Week‘ page allows you to jot down tasks per day, and gives space to plan your day from 8am to 8pm. Also on that page is a project planning section for the week; list key tasks and which days of the week you’ll be planning them. There’s enough pages to cover 60 weeks.

—

Be in control of your tasks.
Be in control of your day.
Be in control.
This is your plan.

 —

Available now on Amazon.

Amazon.com = $5.99    —    Amazon.co.uk = £4.99

Personal Writing Critique – @purplequeennl

 

Every now and again I like to promote fellow writers, or person that offer something back to the community. If you’re serious about publishing or submitting to agents, then you must consider using an editor, or at least getting your work critiqued.

Let me introduce you to a great editor with a cunning eye for bringing out the things you’d easily miss.

Miranda Kate Boers.

She’s incredibly approachable and a fantastic person to link in with.

http://personalwritingcritique.weebly.com

 

 

Why my writing has been stuttering.

 

 

Let me let it out now.

*Moan*

[Clears throat] – Right, let’s begin again. 

Normally I exceed what is humanly possible with the little spare time that I have. My full-time career doesn’t end when I leave the office; it follows me. However, I always carved out a hour or two out of the space-time continuum to get some words down. On average I was doing 1.5k per hour. For my standards that was pretty decent.

And then things took a downward spiral.

I’ve been troubled by indigestion (extreme heart burn) for the last 2 years and ten months. Since April 2014 it went apocalyptic – and I was in agony for most of the day. Yet still I worked hard on my writing. Or I tried to. Since September I’m down to 2-3k words per week.

It makes me weep.

Mid-November I had my gall-bladder removed – the cause of the pain – and although I’m on the road to recovery, I now have an annoying sore throat that is paining me.

No fret.

I must build up my mojo and get back to writing with joy.

I’m working on Novel 10 – and in an unbiased way – my most exciting and simple plot ever. I should have had the first draft done by now. Instead I am a little under 30% done. Not good enough. I must hit completion of the first draft by the end of January.

I must.

And then spend 3 months tuning it to the kind of perfection that drools pleasure.

If I’m going to stampede into the agents’ diary, then I need belief.

At the time of writing – I’m one week away from rattling that keyboard again.

Stand back. I’m on a mission.

Time to Write

 

How often have you heard that writers have all the time in the world?

All the time.

Do you recall the last novel that you read? Did you imagine that you had been transported to a strange, new world? Did you feel emotions pour out of a page, and characters move around you, sometimes giving you a shock when they snuck up behind you?

If so, then that’s when a writer captured your attention.

Writers don’t have lots of free time to drink coffee, and look out onto an eerie lake with a forest as a backdrop. They have jobs, careers, and aspirations; some are students. Some have families and other responsibilities. They all make their time count.

Becoming a writer doesn’t require a qualification. As long as you can open your mind to the possibility of a situation taking place at this very moment in another place, and you can put words down to describe it, then you are a writer.

How many words could you write in a year?

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100 Every other day 18,250

100 Everyday 36,500

250 Everyday 91,250

500 Everyday 182,500

750 Everyday 273,750

1,000 Everyday 365,000

1,500 Everyday 547,500

2,000 Everyday 730,000

What if the chores of life are too hectic giving you not a moment to yourself? Can you still write? To pick it up and drop it as and when you want is the slippery slope to losing the urge. The harsh truth is that some juggling is required. You have to rearrange your time.

You must.

Don’t let writing become a dream that you put off until it’s too late to begin. Sacrifice time from elsewhere. Make it happen.

Treat writing like a job that you’re doing because you want to. They’re your words.

Are you a morning or an evening writer?

Writing takes commitment. Find the best place to write. A desk, a quite room, the bed, or a coffee-shop. Deactivate social media, put on your favourite music, clear your mind of stress, and forget about work.

Write what you can in the time that you have. No matter how small, it’ll all count in the end.

Even when I have a day off from writing, I’m plotting or researching.

Use your time wisely. Write.

Make a promise to yourself

 

You will write
You will find time in your day to bring yourself to the page.

Letters give words. Words give names. Sentences give actions. Paragraphs give moments. Chapters bring life.

Stories create worlds.

Editorial Services by a Children’s Literary Agent

 

Just wanted to share editorial services provided by Stephanie Roundsmith – Children’s Literary Agent.

http://www.stephroundsmith.co.uk/Editorial-Services.html

Your knowledge and use of English may be very good, but editing your own work is always a gamble. Being too close to the text you inevitably begin to miss the odd spelling mstake, overlook the odd repeated repeated word, and may not even realise that your main character was Philip on page two, Phillip on page seventy and Phillippe on page ninety-two!

My aim is to improve the quality of your work without changing your style, maintain all the elements of your writing that are precious to you and spot errors (as above) that you are unlikely to spot yourself. You can then approach a publisher (or self-publish your own work) with confidence.

The services I provide are as follows:


Proofreading
Copy-editing
General Editorial Report
In-Depth Editorial Report


The General Editorial Report provides an overview of a manuscript for new authors concentrating on areas such as plot, pace, characterisation and marketability without the major structural edits of an In-Depth report. This report is ideal for the first time writer seeking a professional opinion of their work whilst also developing their self-editing skills.

The In-Depth Editorial Report provides a comprehensive assessment of the manuscript with in-depth structural edits and suggestions. Professional writing terms and concepts are clearly explained, and writers are shown how these concepts apply to their own work. This report is ideal for writers looking for a comprehensive report before submitting to agents and publishers.

Fees




 Service
 Wordcount
 Price


 Proofreading
 per 1000 words
 £3.50


 Copy-editing
 per 1000 words
 £4.50


 General Editorial  Report
 up to 30,000 words
 £125


 General Editorial  Report
 up to 50,000 words
 £175


 General Editorial  Report
 up to 80,000 words
 £225


 In-Depth Editorial  Report
 up to 30,000 words
 £200


 In-Depth Editorial  Report
 up to 50,000 words
 £250


 In-Depth Editorial  Report
 up to 80,000 words
 £300





For manuscripts that are over 80,000 words, or for picture book manuscripts, please email me for an individual price.

Some editors work on screen, but I prefer to work with hard copies. You can either send me your manuscript or I can print it off for a small charge.

Both cheques and Paypal payments are most welcome.

To submit your work, or if you have any questions on any of the above services, please contact me at editing@stephroundsmith.co.uk

Meet a New Children’s Literary Agent

 

So proud to have a new Children’s Literary Agent and ‘fellow’ Nomad Friend post below. Stephanie Roundsmith is a great workaholic with a drive to succeed. If you’re a children’s writer, I strongly insist that you prepare a submission to her. (Oh and she provides an editing services too!)

What made you decide to become a children’s literary agent?

I’ve always loved children’s literature but it wasn’t until I launched my reading and writing scheme for children (www.kidsreadwritereview.co.uk) that I began to think of agency work. The scheme has given me a huge amount of first-hand knowledge as to what children read and what they are looking for next so I started to think how I could use this knowledge for the benefit of the children. Editing and proofreading is also a passion of mine and I have supported many children’s authors over the past few years, so an agency role seemed to tick all the boxes for my dream job. Working with authors, improving manuscripts and getting great books into the hands of children: the perfect job!

 

What books do you enjoy reading?

I have a very eclectic taste and read anything that’s well written. In terms of children’s books I grew up with the classics: Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl but I also love many of our modern authors such as Jonathan Stroud, Anthony Horowitz, Guy Bass, Michelle Harrison, Cat Weatherill, Steve Cole, Jeremy Strong and Matt Haig, to name but a few.

How much of a writer’s three chapters do you read before deciding if you want to see more?

I’ll always give the first three chapters a chance, but if you haven’t grabbed me by then I’m afraid I won’t be requesting the full manuscript.

 

Are you currently looking for clients?

Absolutely! I’m building my client list and welcome as many submissions as I can read.

 

What are you looking for at the moment?

Humour always does very well with children of all ages so if you’re writing the next Jeremy Strong novel I’ll gladly take a look! I’m looking for originality and style. Something that’s fresh and exciting that can fit in either the fiction, non-fiction or fantasy market. Whether it’s about flying underpants, a dragon university or a cat detective – I really don’t mind – so long as it’s well written. I’ll consider picture books but my main area of expertise is the market for 5 to 12 year olds. I’m very keen to work with new, unpublished writers but I also welcome published authors too.

 

Where can writers meet you?

I’m all done for 2014 but in 2015 I’ll be attending the Hay Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, Getting Published event and Festival of Writing (both organized by the Writers’ Workshop) and Frankfurt Book Fair.

 

Do you have any tips for writers looking to submit to you?

Firstly, don’t panic! I’m very approachable and although I expect writers to send in work that is well proofed and well presented I won’t be rejecting work for things like typos. It’s not a job interview so I’m happy for you to send in a punchy, personal email. I don’t request a covering letter for the very reason that I like to keep things informal. However, please don’t send in your work unless it’s finished. I do get a lot of requests to ‘please read and then give me your opinion on whether I should continue’. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to do this.

 

How can writers submit to you?

Please send a synopsis, one or two paragraphs about yourself and your first three chapters to submissions@stephroundsmith.co.uk. Please note that I only accept email submissions. If you’d like more information about me and my work then you can visit my website: www.stephroundsmith.co.uk

 

 

Festival of Writing #FOW14 Review

 

The Festival of Writing 2014 (my fourth in a row) was the best one yet. Although I didn’t come away with a literary agent chained to my ankle, I did meet some wonderful new people, and got to embrace many old.

The festival, organised by the wonderful Writers Workshop - http://www.writersworkshop.co.uk/events.html - always brings the joy of writing to the masses. Where else would you find an event that introduces you to literary agents, editors, and writers galore from as far as Australia. Believe me there were people from Norway, Sweden, USA, and other countries. All shared the same passion: writing.

Over 3 days (where food and board is included in the price), I got to mingle, tingle, and wriggle with people that understand block, prepositions, showing not telling, editing, genres, dialogue, POV, voice, and much, much more.

Year on year when I think I know it all – another new fact or step to my learning curve arrives.

I strongly recommend that if you are serious about writing – you must attend. Regardless of if you are an agent hunter, an agent hater, an indie promoter, or a self publisher walking on the edge, this festival will help you.

Come learn with others.

Come learn the basics.

Come learn the rules.

Then learn how to break them.

There were workshops for all sorts. Self publishing. Showing no telling. Accidental Humour. Pacing. Plotting. Horror. Editing. Psychic Distance. Dialogue. Arcs. Characters. Art of Storytelling with Pixar. More and more and more.

Being at an event makes you appreciate the hard work and how human agents are. They are great people and I consider many to be friends. They are real, and if you deliver the goods, they will support you.

Are you a writer?

Then stand tall and walk amongst the literature proud.

We are writers.

We await your presence.

Festival of Writing 2014 is around the corner

 

Can’t wait to see old friends, and meet many new faces at the Writers’ Workshop’s Festival of Writing 2014 – York – Sept 12-14.

This will be my 4th event, and it never – ever- gets boring.

Much to learn!

I’m hoping that my latest novel has better edge to tantalise an agent, and if not, then I won;t lose hope. Gaining knowledge from agents, editors, and writers will be ever useful to my little grey brain cells.

Below is a reminder of a post I put up last year about the 2013 event.

>>

The last three days have been nothing short of epic. In case you didn’t know, I’ve been at theFestival of Writing 2013 in York – organised by the Writers Workshop. I can proudly say that it was my 3rd and in terms of outcomes, my best (to date). The FoW is an opportunity to engage with like minded writers and authors of a wide range of genres, let alone backgrounds. We can learn, engage and share out writing journeys. Seeing so many from the Cloud is like a family gathering with old and new faces.

Further below is a collection of my tweets with tips from the event.

Make sure you write everyday. I do.
Don’t give up when you get rejections. Keep writing.
Tragedy can cause hazy moments. In this dark times you can find a reason to escape and write.
Adele Parks writes 3hrs weekday and 5hrs weekend – much like me.
Deadlines are massively important – Adele Parks.
Agents are human beings.
When you submit to an agent don’t sit there waiting- write your next book. Get your next idea down.
Can you tell is about your book in 10 words or a short sentence?
Focus on the pitch.
If you haven’t finished your novel – or it still needs redrafting – be honest about it.
Submit to agents that you meet. You’ve started a relationship.
Critiques and BETAs are subjective but they can offer a steer on what works and what doesn’t.
If you don’t hear from agents maybe you need to change what you’re sending. Maybe the letter, synopsis or the MS.
Change.
Writing = Perseverance
Research your literary agents before submitting. Research. Understood? Research.
Don’t take too long to write or you might miss out on a genre
It’s not abnormal to sacrifice social time to write.
Gender of YA protag – make then what is right for the character – don’t make them all female
Easier sell to publishers is for debut authors to ensure that their first 2 books are in the same genre. YA less restrictive
Before submitting – always check the submission guidance on their sites. Do not overlook.
Nothing happens without effort. Write
Catching imagination is key to drawing the reader in with digital tech to tell a story
No hidden plots in Pixar movies. They’re accessible, simple and stripped down.
Plot structure = structure of emotional arc
Add the backstory in a natural way as part of the forward action.
Motifs can be used to project a driver for the plot. Wall-e = video of linking hands = companionship.
Subplots should be thematically related to the main plot. Should move the main plot forwards.
Subplots offer insight into character development
Prologues should be the last thing you write. And many aren’t needed.
Body language should carry onto the line of dialogue.
Every conversation has to develop the story
Make the speech convincing for the character
Watch put for verbal ticks like starting dialogue be well, oh, urm …. Not too many please
Dialogue tags: Said is sufficient 99% of the time
Description about the character’s behaviour during dialogue can reveal a lot
Watch out for long paragraphs of dialogue when more than 1 character is involved
Dialogue allows you to impart information
Every bit of dialogue must earn its place
People – if you are unsure of how to use dialogue – read a novel to understand syntax
Don’t overuse …
Don’t put a ; in dialogue
Read. See how other authors write to understand their prose.
Read out loud to know if dialogue works

 

Apologies for any typos in the tweets…

Kindle Kids Book Creator just went Live

 

Children book authors have been given a lifeline by Kindle.

https://kdp.amazon.com/kids

The Kindle Direct Publishing Kids program is a derivative of the KDP programme that has helped writers to self publish. 

“Amazon also announced the Kindle Kids’ Book Creator alongside the new platform. As the name suggests, it’s designed to make it possible for children’s book authors to produce their own digital picture books for kids to read. The software will make it easy for authors to take advantage of Kindle features like text pop-ups. Users can import their books from a variety of file formats including PDFs, JPEGs and TIFFs.”

Press release from Kindle:

“Starting today, you can use Kindle Kids’ Book Creator to create illustrated children’s books for Kindle, taking advantage of features like text pop-ups. Here’s how to get started:

Download the tool, and you can convert individual illustrations into interactive books for both Kindle devices and free reading apps.
Once your book is ready, export the file and upload it to KDP.
Set the book category, age range, and grade range to help customers find the right books for their kids.”

 

One criticism I had of the Kindle programme was how many children authors struggled – or had to pay lots – to get their illustrated books created into the Kindle format. Now that road may be a little easier.

But just because it exists – it shouldn’t be abused.

Always put in the effort and work before releasing any novel into the public domain.

 

Finding my voice in the Redraft.

 

In much anticipation of the Festival of Writing – York – Sept 12 to 14 – I spent much of the week before leading up to Aug 20th to better Chapter 1.

To explain the result in a synopsis: it went from ‘This is great’ to ‘This is rubbish.’

Against the ‘put it down and leave for a few days’ advice, I redrafted, printed, read, scribbled, and re-redrafted 5 times in the space of 6 days.

Overkill?

Maybe…

But it taught me a valuable lesson about how the protagonist’s voice and behaviours had to change. I know the ending, because I wrote it, and I have a pretty solid arc, however the protagonist in Chapter 1 lacked the gusto for you to give a rat’s-behind about his goals. I had to take a step back and improvise some of the scenes in a mirror to understand how my voice should come across. Writing in 1st Person POV is a new experience for me – and although I didn’t want to drag humour into it, it seemed to work for the character.

Chapter 1 can’t be done any better (I say now – though it’ll change later) for what I submitted to #FOW14, and I hope that I haven’t bodged up. It’s not for me to worry about until Sept 12th arrives, but I’m really enjoying redrafting the rest of the novel.

The improvements I made in Chapter 1 are flowing through the rest of the pages. The last thing I want is if a submission is requested by an agent – and then I get slammed for going into flat-uninspiring-prose for the rest of it.

So far on target to complete redrafting by Sept 8th.

And then I’ll redraft again.