Imran Siddiq's Blog, page 18

Editing and Scribbles

 

How many times should you redraft or paper-edit?

Here’s my take:

Cover Reveal: Tyler Nitbone

 

Coming in November 2013 will be my 4th YA Science Fiction novel: Tyler Nitbone.

Memory erased. Confused. Accused by the Alternate Worlds Organisation of leaking the ability to enter worlds to others. They must have the wrong sixteen-year old? Nope – even his friend has evidence against him. And with the APO’s prosecutor hell bent on fury, brushing it off isn’t a choice. Tyler must cross worlds, regain trust, and seek out the true traitor if he is to save the lives of zillions.

 

Below are the concept images, current cover, and the putting together video. More details to follow nearer the time.

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Concept

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Character Art

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Cover

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Cover Video

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TYLER NITBONE – Coming in November 2013

Novel 4: Tyler Nitbone Characters Reveal

 

The 3 main characters for Novel 4: Tyler Nitbone – YA Science Fiction due November 2013 are here.

More details to follow over the coming weeks.

PS: Join the I Write Video

Stories for Homes Promo

 

I was asked to create the promo for a collection of stories about ‘What does Home mean to you?’

The book is a creation of love, emotion, pain and laughter – with all proceeds going to Shelter that work hard to support the UK homeless.

Stories for Homes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbRkOVoIWO8

 

The ‘I Write’ Campaign Promo

 

 

WE ALL PLAY A PART IN CREATING STORIES.

How to participate:

Your message will be 2 words out of the following:

I write / edit / promote / design / format / proof
He writes / edits / promotes / designs / formats / proofs
She writes / edits / promotes / designs / formats / proofs
We write / edit / promote / design / format / proof
They write / edit / promote / design / format / proof

So… you could have a video where you say “I write”, or if you’re an editor you could say “I edit”.

If you write,  edit, format, proof, design covers, and promote, etc, then state your primary role. I don’t want to have multiple entries per person up.

Maybe your children are around you and they state “She writes”.

What about a writing group that announce “We write”.

Or someone pointing to a group with “They edit”.

Be creative, be you, have fun and let the world know about us.

 

How to Submit:

1. You can use a webcam, iMac, iPad, iPhone, Samsung, Nokia, or any other smartphone to record your video.

2. Please try to have your face at least above the 1/3 mark (ie: the red section below). This allows me to add your TwitterID without overlapping your wonderful features.

3. You can be holding a copy of your own book (as additional advertising)

4. Keep it simple in execution without singing, lengthening, or muffling the speech.

5. Each video should be approximately 1 to 1.5 seconds to state the words. Don’t worry about footage before or after the words, I can clip those out.

6. Please shoot the video in a location that isn’t dark.

7. Don’t rush your words.

8. Please don’t paste your name or Twitter ID on the video. I’ll do that.

9. When emailing, make sure that you include your Twitter ID so I can verify that you are associated with writing/aiding writers in some form or other.

CLOSING DATE IS AUGUST 31ST 2013
EMAIL THE VIDEO TO FLICKIMP@GMAIL.COM

An important note: Those that submit, and are successful, please, please, please, do share, Facebook, RT, promote the video once it is released. Exposure is good for all involved – including you.

Please share and join in!

My novels are available here.

Novel 4 Sneak Peek of Cover Art

 

Post-Divided Worlds Trilogy the next novel to be released will be called Tyler Nitbone. It’s a YA Science Fiction aimed at the 13+ audience, but has some subplots and implications that adults will relate to.

Planned month of release = Late November 2013 – with current word count of 72k

Further details will leak out over time…

For now, I’ll give you a sneak peek of the style of cover that I’ll be creating. There will be 3 characters on the cover, all represented by the concept art style. I like the illusion of blurred lines and outlines.

Here is Tyler:

Hmm… I may add some dots/shapes for the eyes?

Or some colour to the t-shirt.

What do you think?

Note: Please do join in with the ‘I Write’ Video – that will be awesome.

ARC of The Sowing

 

ARC = Advance Reading Copy.

K. Makansi is a collaboration of three from a family – Amira, Kristina and Elena. Their Science Fiction Novel: The Sowing has been written in its totality and is being released as nine episodes over Summer 2013.

I strongly recommend that you read it, and I’m not just saying that because I know Amira from Twitter – @akmakansi. I prefer to write reviews based on what I find, and I was qyite blown away from this on many levels.

Let’s cut to the chase – this is a Five Star book.

“The Famine may be over, but the Resistance has just begun. 

When Remy Alexander’s older sister is murdered in a classroom massacre and the Okarian Sector hides the truth behind the attack, her family goes underground to join the clandestine Resistance movement. Now, three years later, Valerian Orlean, the boy Remy once thought she loved, has become the man who is sworn to hunt and destroy the Resistance. As Vale fights to protect his people, he must choose whether to follow in his parents’ footsteps or to blaze his own path – and with Remy’s life in the balance, his choices will change everything.”

In Episode One, we meet former friends Remy and Vale, who shared an admiration for one another long ago. Remy is a resistance fighter against the Order that Vale is a part of. Okay… I know what you’re thinking… you’ve seen all of this before, it’s highly predictable, cliche, and you can predict the ending already.

Wrong.

The Sowing starts off with a prologue that – unlike my preference for prologues – is well deserved and crucial. It sets the tone, the style of narration, the language, and the plight of the world. The future isn’t all fun and littered with gadgets; instead it’s trying to cope with the aftermath of the Famine.

The novel is written in the First Person POV of Remy and Vale, but at no time did I feel confused. The POV is distinct and moves through the novel with almost no overlap, thus allowing the story to move onwards from two varied viewpoints. Up to the 25% mark we are introduced to many characters (Game of Thrones eat your heart out), but all are unique. it’s a stellar cast of likeable characters and some that you wouldn’t want to scrape off the bottom of your shoe. Let me blunt, it’s an imaginative and well described world. I was there with Remy in the underground, and Vale enjoying the highlife of superiority.

After the 25% mark the novel takes turns and twists into escape, intrigue, research, conspiracies, plots, deception and eventually a battle that was always brewing. BUT – do not be fooled into thinking of a Resistance v Order battle that you see in most novels and movies. No – this is richer and different.

I started reading and couldn’t put it down. I feel for all of you that will have to wait until the full book is released, because I’ve read it. Waiting for the next episodes will be like murder upon your conscious.

Dislike towards some character will change and that’s the sign of a well written and well thought out novel.

Amira, Kristina and Elena had done what I’m always trying to do – develop a YA Science Fiction novel that will appeal to both genders and is ‘almost’ believable. Our world could end up going down this road. Heed its warnings.

I’m starting my seventh novel which in an uncanny way, does share some similarities. The Sowing has given me extra oomph to write and can be credited with helping me to write better.

Fans of Hunger Games, Uglies, Inside Out and Across the Universe will absolutely enjoy this.

But let me end with: The Sowing is better than the Hunger Games because the danger, the risk, the world, the characters and the subplots within the plots, not forgetting the code to be broken (which was some of the best I’ve read) is ahead of The Hunger Games. Go on… shoot me down if you dare, but don’t until you’ve read The Sowing.

5 Stars or Five Stars or * * * * * or whatever – take your pick.

Brilliant novel.

Episode One of The Sowing on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1937zMKK. Makansi’s author page: http://amzn.to/12WJsHc
 
Web page for pre-orders of the print book: http://bit.ly/12TjCsd

I Pledge

 

 

Have you noticed how I like to update you on progress with novels?

Well… it’s my way of expressing joy that I’ve hit my weekly milestone – and millstones/goals/targets/dreams – call them what you will – but they are all mega important.

 

So, here’s my shout to all of you. Let’s make some weekly pledges and let’s stick to them.

 

In the comments section below, please, enter:

a) Your Twitter ID or Facebook Page URL

Then list 4 targets with each one relating to the next 4 Sundays (28 July, 4 August, 11 August and 18 August)

The Monday after each of those dates, I will tweet or FB you to check how you did.

Note: The Pledges must be writing, editing, proofing, publishing, etc related and not refer to you having a BBQ.

 

Eg:

@Flickimp

1 – Write up to Chapter 11

2 – Write up to Chapter 15

3 – Write up to Chapter 19

4 –  Write up to Chapter 23

 

It’s that simple.

Make those pledges. We need to pump each other to accomplish and get them done.

And don’t forget to join in with the ‘I Write’ Video

How I Plan my Chapters

Everyone has a method, and some no method at all. How you write your chapters is subjective, but with a little thought, you could save yourself those writer block moments.

Recently I’ve been on a roll with regards to Novel 7 (started last week). SInce starting, I’ve used 21 hours and amassed 22k worth of words, putting me approximately 27% through the first draft of potentially 80k.

I feel good. But how am I getting down those words and not falling back onto my seat trying to ensure that all of the pieces add up?

I plan.

And when I say I plan – I mean – I PLAN.

Below is my method:

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Stage 1 – List the Order of Events per Chapter

Keep it brief. There’s no need to go into details other than what happen in ultra Chapter Snippet mode. Treat it like the scene selector of a Blu Ray/DVD movie.

For the 26 Chapters of Novel 7, I’ve put descriptions like:

Ch 1 = Protagonist doesn’t do XXX because he is afraid and XXX

Ch 2 = Receptionist teases Protagonist about XXX. She isn’t XXX because of XXX. Protagonist’s brother reminds him of XXX

Ch 3 = Protagonist heads home. Reveals thoughts of XXX

Etc… Keep it simple. I do this at least 3 weeks prior to writing the novel. Also the best way to do this is on an Excel Spreadsheet, as you can move a chapter or rearrange to suit you.

>>

Stage 2 – Add 3 Key Elements to each Chapter

For Ch 1 – I will do one sentences for:

a) Who – Who’s in the scene? Who will we be introduced to or converse with?

b) Where – The scene, location, movement within the chapter. Do we start outside and then move to a room in a house?

c) What – Are there implications from the previous chapter that must be considered, and what is the hook/cliffhanger for where we end up? Does it lead onto the next chapter?

This is the point when you’re now acting like the producer of what must be in place. I do this a week before starting the novel.

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Stage 3 – Bullet-point the Chapter

This is the stage that could save you from writer’s block

Stage 1 and 2 have given you a template for what happens to who, why, when, where and what. Now flesh it out with quick bullet points.

ie: Chapter 1 = Protagonist doesn’t do XXX because he is afraid and XXX

Who = Protagonist (Protag) and Sub Character 1 (SC1)

Where = 4 metre by 4 metre room. No windows. Gun metal surroundings.

What = Protag prepares to face shameful consequences of nor performing a task.

…. Now come the bullet points:

Protag can’t do XXX
Feels sick, but doesn’t puke up
Tries again, but his mind considers the changes from the XXX
Panic attack
Drops XXX but doesn’t care
Studies himself in mirror to justify why XXX isn’t needed
Worried that he will have to have XXX in three days because everyone at XXX has to or face XXX
SC1 appears to question his judgement
Protag tells SC1 to leave but is then bombarded by XXX
His fear of XXX heightens when he sees how it changes someone else
Makes his mind up to stand up to XXX and XXX
Leaves room knowing that XXX will be waiting for him outside.

That is my blueprint. I am the director. I just have to fill in the gaps, and by doing the bullets I kind of already have in my mind.

You can make the bullets as detailed as you want – or not. And toy don’t have to stick to it. Sometimes I deviate, but I always try to come back to the final bullet point, because that will lead onto Chapter 2.

Give it a go.

How to use Createspace for your Novel.

I used Createspace for Disconnect and the sequels for the major reasons of ease of use and not having to pay someone to do it for me. Below, I will detail the steps I used, and I hope that you’ll find them useful too.

Further details about the process of getting your book ready before you consider Self-Publishing are here as are marketing.

Create an account with Createspace - and provide your IBAN and BIC codes to ensure you get paid into your bank account. You may need to contact your bank to get hold of these. I won’t be providing a step-by-step for this.

Click Add New Title

Add a Title for the Book, no need to add subheading or Book 1 of this Series.

Select the option for Paperback, and then click on the Get Started option in the Guided

 

Now add more details about you as an author, subheading, release date, etc.

The publication date only allows you to pick a date 7 days in the future, but you can overwrite and add your own date in.

Save yourself the cost of an ISBN and get a Createspace provided one.

Add this ISBN to your novel – that is if you are going to mention it – usually on Page 2

Select your interior. To make the book marketable against traditionally published books, I go for: 5″ x 8″ with B+W Interior on Cream Paper.

Now, pick the Formatted Template option under the part where you select your page size – this will send a template to your computer/download.

 

Adding your novel to the Template. The document is big and contains sections for Title (not the Cover), copyright info, dedication, contents, and the chapters.

There are a several blank pages, but they are needed. Remember, you are creating a book and some pages don’t have text on both sides.

Unless you’re writing a Non-Fiction, I would scrap the Contents page. And make sure you add your ISBN Number in the section provided on Page 2.

If you want to add some funky image for the title page (remember this is not the cover), or some special font, you can do.

Before you add your text to the document remove the example text per chapter, but only do it in the centre of each chapter. Maintain the original starting paragraphs and the closing paragraph of each chapter – see image:

To leave…

 

Now within each Chapter, highlight the bulk of it, except the first few lines and the end lines, and then paste your manuscript’s text. If you paste over all of the text, you will lose the formatting of the page. It might be a good idea to apply the ‘Show all NonPrinting’ option on your word document to show why the final lines are important. The End of Section break is massively important.

Yes – this takes time, but it’s all worth it. ”Patience” – quote Yoda.

Once that is pasted, now delete the opening and closing sentences. You should end up with…

Repeat this for all chapters.

How you format the actual text in terms of font size is up to you, but do compare to other novels in terms of lines per page. I don’t keep the headers at the top of each page that detail the author name and book name.

For Disconnect I applied: Garamond Font at size 11 with:

Yes  - I was meant to leave those all blank.

Double check every page, and when complete with your text, acknowledgements, etc, save as PDF.

If you save as a word document you will lose any special image/font applied to the title page. This is important if you have images in your document.

So – save as PDF.

If you get this message, just click Yes… each time you are asked. Trust me.

Now you can upload to the PDF to Createspace

After you hit Save it will upload and run some checks against the file. This will highlight any issues and lets you see them in an Interior Reviewer.

You can work on your cover in the meantime, but I recommend that you wait.

Launch the Interior Reviewer when the upload is complete.

 

Although I am told there is a size issue – that you will 99% of the time, the pages all look fine to me – so I click the Save and Continue option.

Also, make a note of the number of pages. You will need this for the cover.

 

Now, move onto the Cover option.

Rather than build a cover online – I upload one created earlier with Photoshop. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get a good cover designed.

Click the Submission Requirements link under Upload a Print Ready Cover option – you will be taken to a page that contains a template.

 

Enter your book details, especially the bit about page numbers. You can now download a Cover template.

The template will give you the front cover, spine and back cover (wraparound) layout you must use. A video on how I did mine is here.

Save your cover as a PDF, and then upload.

This could take some time to upload – approx 30mins to 1hour.

Again check that you are happy with the look in the Online Reviewer that you’re happy with it. Spin it around to check the spine looks good.

 

Now, decide on Distribution. I only select Standard Distribution rather than Expanded to a) save on the $25 charge, and b) prevent my prices from being inflated due to the expanded route. It’s up to you what you do here.

 

 

Pricing – Whatever makes you happy. I price mine at the price of traditionally published books. The result is low royalties, but be honest, would you pay £10 for a book that’s 250 pages when other books are £6.99 ? Pricing is important when marketing and getting readers to invest in you.

Now add the full descriptions for your novel in terms of what will be seen on Amazon.

Also select your BISAC Category. You can either make it really niche, or put it in a general grouping. I go for general, because to say that you are the Number 1 book in a list that only contains 3 books isn’t as dramatic as a list with 1,000,000 books.

You are allowed to list 5 key words/phrases about your novel. These will help with how it is found on search engines.

 

Okay – you’re done.

You have the option to Upload to Kindle – but don’t! It’s better to pay someone to format your original word file to the correct Kindle format and then to upload to Kindle. I will do a How to Use Kindle soon…

I hope that you found this useful.

Any questions – corrections, let me know

 

My debut novel Disconnect is available for free, and sequels are due July 29. Please do read and review them.