Shelby K. Morrison's Blog, page 5
December 2, 2014
Advanced Review Copies for From the Ashes
It’s that time already! From the Ashes is being edited and will be ready for its first readers next month!! I’m taking names for people willing to review From the Ashes when it is released. You will receive the book (in desired format) most likely at the end of next month and will have 3 months to read the book before posting an *honest* review on the date of release, at any review site (Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Blog, iTunes, etc). It’s your chance to try a new fantasy series for FREE! Can’t beat that! Have friends that love to read? Tell them about it! This is a four-book series in the making. If you’ve been waiting for From the Ashes, and don’t mind leaving a review, let me know! Leave a comment, hit the contact me button or email me at shelby@shelbykmorrison.com and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
Back Copy:
For eighteen years, Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But underneath, she’s struggled to keep her dangerous gift a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions to those closest to her, Aia’s facade shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of the Tharien. To do anything would require accepting what she is. Can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded in order to save those she loves?
Advanced Review Copies for From the Ashes
It's that time already! From the Ashes is being edited and will be ready for its first readers next month!! I'm taking names for people willing to review From the Ashes when it is released. You will receive the book (in desired format) most likely at the end of next month and will have 3 months to read the book before posting an *honest* review on the date of release, at any review site (Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Blog, iTunes, etc). It's your chance to try a new fantasy series for FREE! Can't beat that! Have friends that love to read? Tell them about it! This is a four-book series in the making. If you've been waiting for From the Ashes, and don't mind leaving a review, let me know! Leave a comment, hit the contact me button or email me at shelby@shelbykmorrison.com and I'll be sure to get back to you! Back Copy:
For eighteen years, Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But underneath, she’s struggled to keep her dangerous gift a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions to those closest to her, Aia’s facade shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of the Tharien. To do anything would require accepting what she is. Can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded in order to save those she loves?
November 5, 2014
From the Ashes Gone to Editor
The day is finally here! I've sent From the Ashes to my editor, with a peck on its cheek and a packed lunch in its hand. It will do much maturing whilst away from me. Yep...you can tell I've watched too much Reign as I'm sick in bed this week. Lovely. I suppose it could have been my body telling me it's time for a break after charging full steam ahead. Read ya loud n' clear body. Taking a break. Sort of...
Anyhow, Among the Flames is now being reworked to include changes I've made in From the Ashes. I am battling with what POVs and Subplots I want in Among the Flames. I hadn't intended for one of my protagonists to keep his POV in book 2 and beyond. Mainly because his goal was over, his conflict solved, his fears realized, etc. There was no real point. Until I remembered that not all POV's are subplots necessarily. So he may get his day in Among the Flames yet, I haven't decided. I may see anger from my readers if they suddenly lose him.
The goal this month is to get most of Among the Flames first draft written. That would be easier if I wouldn't keep adding and twisting and finagling the outline. By the way, what is with it already being November?? I can't even think about it. Off to celebrate by milestone with a sinus infection and tearing my hair out as I plan Among the Flames. Yippee!
Anyhow, Among the Flames is now being reworked to include changes I've made in From the Ashes. I am battling with what POVs and Subplots I want in Among the Flames. I hadn't intended for one of my protagonists to keep his POV in book 2 and beyond. Mainly because his goal was over, his conflict solved, his fears realized, etc. There was no real point. Until I remembered that not all POV's are subplots necessarily. So he may get his day in Among the Flames yet, I haven't decided. I may see anger from my readers if they suddenly lose him.
The goal this month is to get most of Among the Flames first draft written. That would be easier if I wouldn't keep adding and twisting and finagling the outline. By the way, what is with it already being November?? I can't even think about it. Off to celebrate by milestone with a sinus infection and tearing my hair out as I plan Among the Flames. Yippee!
From the Ashes Gone to Editor
The day is finally here! I’ve sent From the Ashes to my editor, with a peck on its cheek and a packed lunch in its hand. It will do much maturing whilst away from me. Yep…you can tell I’ve watched too much Reign as I’m sick in bed this week. Lovely. I suppose it could have been my body telling me it’s time for a break after charging full steam ahead. Read ya loud n’ clear body. Taking a break. Sort of…
Anyhow, Among the Flames is now being reworked to include changes I’ve made in From the Ashes. I am battling with what POVs and Subplots I want in Among the Flames. I hadn’t intended for one of my protagonists to keep his POV in book 2 and beyond. Mainly because his goal was over, his conflict solved, his fears realized, etc. There was no real point. Until I remembered that not all POV’s are subplots necessarily. So he may get his day in Among the Flames yet, I haven’t decided. I may see anger from my readers if they suddenly lose him.
The goal this month is to get most of Among the Flames first draft written. That would be easier if I wouldn’t keep adding and twisting and finagling the outline. By the way, what is with it already being November?? I can’t even think about it. Off to celebrate by milestone with a sinus infection and tearing my hair out as I plan Among the Flames. Yippee!
October 23, 2014
3 Reasons to Set A Novel Deadline
So you went the indie route. Great! Among other things, it means no agent breathing down your neck to finish by your publishing deadline. Fantastic, right? WRONG!
How do traditional published authors pump out so many books so quickly? They have strict deadlines. But they also have someone on their back making sure that deadline stays put. As indies, we don't have that. Unless you have a writing partner and you whip each other into shape. But writers are generally solitary creatures. And unless you are co-authoring a book, then you write alone. So, who is there to get on your back?
You know the answer. YOU! *dang it!*
Along with being writer, publisher, cover-designer, editor, public relations and marketing (with the help of a select few: namely cover designer and editor), you are now your own lit agent. Which means you have to set hard deadlines for yourself.
"But is it really necessary?" you may ask? No. It isn't. Unless you want to publish your book, or multiple books.
Take it from me, no deadline=no book. It was only when I said "Alright, Shelby. This first draft will be finished by the end of this month" did I actually push myself. And guess what? That draft was finished by the deadline. But if I didn't set that deadline, it wouldn't have happened. It would have come after dishes, after working out, after painting my nails, after grocery shopping, etc. It would never have been a priority. But with a deadline, I treated it like homework. It was worked every day, more if I skipped a previous day or anticipated being busy the next day.
Here are my Top 3 Reasons to Set a Writing Deadline:
1. Ensures consistent writing . Without a deadline, I would go days, weeks, months without writing. It would be pushed to the back burner, fall off the to-do list and plain forgotten. It wasn't valued. By setting a deadline, especially if it's a challenging one, I was forced to make time to write. Every day. Resulting in more consistent writing. I don't know about you, but my writing style changes from year to year, and if it doesn't change gradually, your novel is going to look like it's been written by two different people. You can't let a massive amount of time pass between starting and finishing. Get it done and be consistent.
2. Pushes yourself . Write an entire draft in 1 month. Sound impossible? How do you know until you try? Maybe you only think writing a novel takes years and years. Newsflash: most books are written in a year. Some in even less time! My first book was done over 3 years! 3 years! That's insane! My writing was inconsistent, I kept forgetting about it, and I became discouraged that it was taking so long. If you don't push yourself, it WILL take forever. Setting a deadline requires you to test your limits, push yourself and see what you truly are capable of. It's like working out (or so I've heard). If you're like me and only do a few situps a month, odds are you'll feel that getting in shape is impossible! But if you do five a day one week, then push yourself to ten a day the next week, and so on and so forth, guess what? You're going to learn you are quite capable of getting in shape and in less time. So set a deadline you may think is impossible. Then try? Who knows? I myself discovered I can write a new draft in two to three weeks. So my 3 year timeline for book one is down to about 1 now. Because I pushed myself.
3. Results . You want to see your book published right? You want to get on to the next story in your head? You want to shove the book at all your relatives who smiled politely when you told them you were a writer with no books published? Then you have to buckle down. Deadlines produce results. Period.
I know it sucks. I know it's going to be hard. But it doesn't have to be insane. Everyone is busy. Everyone. Set a deadline like...you'll finish writing this chapter by the end of the week. Perhaps that would have happened even without the deadline. But guess what? With the deadline, it ensures it will. And you can be proud of yourself for meeting your goal. Any deadline is better than no deadline at all. Push yourself. You might be surprised.
What deadlines do you set for yourself? What deadlines are you going to set? Let me know!
How do traditional published authors pump out so many books so quickly? They have strict deadlines. But they also have someone on their back making sure that deadline stays put. As indies, we don't have that. Unless you have a writing partner and you whip each other into shape. But writers are generally solitary creatures. And unless you are co-authoring a book, then you write alone. So, who is there to get on your back?
You know the answer. YOU! *dang it!*
Along with being writer, publisher, cover-designer, editor, public relations and marketing (with the help of a select few: namely cover designer and editor), you are now your own lit agent. Which means you have to set hard deadlines for yourself.
"But is it really necessary?" you may ask? No. It isn't. Unless you want to publish your book, or multiple books.
Take it from me, no deadline=no book. It was only when I said "Alright, Shelby. This first draft will be finished by the end of this month" did I actually push myself. And guess what? That draft was finished by the deadline. But if I didn't set that deadline, it wouldn't have happened. It would have come after dishes, after working out, after painting my nails, after grocery shopping, etc. It would never have been a priority. But with a deadline, I treated it like homework. It was worked every day, more if I skipped a previous day or anticipated being busy the next day.
Here are my Top 3 Reasons to Set a Writing Deadline:
1. Ensures consistent writing . Without a deadline, I would go days, weeks, months without writing. It would be pushed to the back burner, fall off the to-do list and plain forgotten. It wasn't valued. By setting a deadline, especially if it's a challenging one, I was forced to make time to write. Every day. Resulting in more consistent writing. I don't know about you, but my writing style changes from year to year, and if it doesn't change gradually, your novel is going to look like it's been written by two different people. You can't let a massive amount of time pass between starting and finishing. Get it done and be consistent.
2. Pushes yourself . Write an entire draft in 1 month. Sound impossible? How do you know until you try? Maybe you only think writing a novel takes years and years. Newsflash: most books are written in a year. Some in even less time! My first book was done over 3 years! 3 years! That's insane! My writing was inconsistent, I kept forgetting about it, and I became discouraged that it was taking so long. If you don't push yourself, it WILL take forever. Setting a deadline requires you to test your limits, push yourself and see what you truly are capable of. It's like working out (or so I've heard). If you're like me and only do a few situps a month, odds are you'll feel that getting in shape is impossible! But if you do five a day one week, then push yourself to ten a day the next week, and so on and so forth, guess what? You're going to learn you are quite capable of getting in shape and in less time. So set a deadline you may think is impossible. Then try? Who knows? I myself discovered I can write a new draft in two to three weeks. So my 3 year timeline for book one is down to about 1 now. Because I pushed myself.
3. Results . You want to see your book published right? You want to get on to the next story in your head? You want to shove the book at all your relatives who smiled politely when you told them you were a writer with no books published? Then you have to buckle down. Deadlines produce results. Period.
I know it sucks. I know it's going to be hard. But it doesn't have to be insane. Everyone is busy. Everyone. Set a deadline like...you'll finish writing this chapter by the end of the week. Perhaps that would have happened even without the deadline. But guess what? With the deadline, it ensures it will. And you can be proud of yourself for meeting your goal. Any deadline is better than no deadline at all. Push yourself. You might be surprised.
What deadlines do you set for yourself? What deadlines are you going to set? Let me know!
October 13, 2014
7 Thing to Look For In Your Fiction Editor
So your book is finished. Maybe it's your first, maybe it's your fifth. Now you need an editor for your novel. If you haven't been fortunate enough to use the same editor from book one and on, you need a new one. If you've never had one, you need to find the perfect one for you and your book.
What do you look for? Here are my top 7 requirements:
Testimonials: This is perhaps the biggest factor. These are other authors praising the editor you're searching for. If you see one or two, this could be disturbing. Because it means either A) the editor doesn't have much experience or B) they don't have very good testimonials. So unless they are charging you very, very little, make sure they have a good lineup of previous work and some solid testimonials. Second Pass/Stages: I've looked. Not many editors offer a second read-through or do their edits in stages. If you can, you should really try to find one that does at least one of these. This is even more important if you are having them do developmental edits, content edits, and line edits. Those are all different levels of editing. Logically, they shouldn't all be on the same draft. How can you "Tighten this scene" or "Develop the romance more" at the same time as fixing that dangling modifier? If you change something large, what you add will need to be edited, right? Likewise, if you have a ton of line edits on a page, it's quite possible you may miss some or add in additional errors while correcting them. A second read through to ensure you fixed everything, as well as to make sure your editor didn't miss anything, is beyond valuable. Pricing: This is all very opinionated. Ask anyone. Editors charge a very wide range of prices. First, find out what you can afford. And be generous. If you're hoping to edit your 100k book for $300, think again. For the most part, you get what you pay for. For the most part. So if you do find an editor willing to do it for that little, odds are they don't have much experience or education. That's just the way it is. The price can vary widely, but stick to $0.006-$0.05, as those are the most common prices I've seen and they aren't too low or insanely high. Personally, until I find an editor I want to stick with forever, I'm sticking to $0.01 or under for copy/line edits. Some charge more for developmental, some charge more for line edits. But no matter what, you should always feel comfortable with what you'll be paying your editor. If you are uneasy, STOP! And remember, just because one charges $0.04 and one charges $0.008, it doesn't mean the cheaper one does poor work. It could be because they want to help us poor indies. It could be becuase they love what they do. And the one charging more doesn't mean they are better. It just means they charge more. So if you're stuck between the two, obviously use this list as a guide, but let #4 show you who is really better. Sample edit: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a sample edit! Most editors offer a 2-10 page sample edit. If they offer less than 2 pages, I'd be wary. If they don't offer one at all, I'd be even more wary. They should want to prove themselves and display how they operate. This will also put your mind at ease and you can compare sample edits to see who you feel can help you the most. Genre/Interest: Does your editor have experience in your genre? Or are they at least interested in your book? If they primarily do paranormal YA romance and you're wanting them to edit a serial killer suspense book, do you think you'll get the best help with your book? Or if they primarily edit fantasy and you give them a non-fiction book, do you think they'll be interested at all in your work and give it the most time/thought? If they don't do the genre, don't fret. Find out if they rae at least interested. Perhaps they've never had the opportunity to edit that genre, but perhaps they read it all the time? The most important thing is that they WANT to work on your project. Teaching: Your editor should also be your teacher. They shouldn't just fix your writing, they should point out problem areas and give you guidance on how to fix them. Your next book should be better, the book after that, even better. You shouldn't be repeateing the same mistakes every time. If so, your editor is doing you a disservice and just wants to charge you more. A good editor wants to make you a better writer. It's like a school teacher. They want to help you succeed because it reflects well on them and you'll keep coming back. They don't want to not teach you in hopes you'll be held back and provide them with job security. So if you've been with the same editor for a while and you haven't learned how to fix your big problem areas, consider his/her true value. Communication: Your editor is your partner in writing your book. Ask any bestselling author and they'll tell you they'd be lost without their editor. In order to secure that strong bond, you need to feel like you can communicate with your editor. Do you feel your emails are an annoyance or a welcome teaching opportunity? Do you feel they are too formal or like you're talking to a friend? Do your emails go days without a response or do you get it the same day? I personally HAVE to have an editor who is like a friend. I ask a LOT of questions. So I need to feel like I'm no an annoyance.
8. Humble: If your editor thinks they are the sh** and you don't need any other sets of eyes to look over your manuscript a final time (ie Proofreader) then you should pause. Most editors should end up reading your work at least twice. By then they are too close to your work for the final proofread. If they include the proofread with all the other edits, stay far away! If they offer to do the final proofread at the end, pause. I learned this the hard way. Go for a seperate proofreader who hasn't read your work yet. If your editor thinks they are the best and don't encourage you to seek other eyes, you should wonder.
So...you may be wondering if I've found such an editor? Well I have just secured a relationship with one but she, for the time, shall remain nameless until our first edit, but I will add her name once I've confirmed every step. But let's just say, so far, with only the sample, she has met EVERY one of these requirements. Stay tuned to find out who she is and if she continues to live up to my expectations! I'll also be working with a new proofreader, so stay tuned for that name too! They'll both be added to my Team page.
What about you? Do you have an editor you love? Recommend her/him below! If they're awesome, get them some more work! What do you look for in your editor?
What do you look for? Here are my top 7 requirements:
Testimonials: This is perhaps the biggest factor. These are other authors praising the editor you're searching for. If you see one or two, this could be disturbing. Because it means either A) the editor doesn't have much experience or B) they don't have very good testimonials. So unless they are charging you very, very little, make sure they have a good lineup of previous work and some solid testimonials. Second Pass/Stages: I've looked. Not many editors offer a second read-through or do their edits in stages. If you can, you should really try to find one that does at least one of these. This is even more important if you are having them do developmental edits, content edits, and line edits. Those are all different levels of editing. Logically, they shouldn't all be on the same draft. How can you "Tighten this scene" or "Develop the romance more" at the same time as fixing that dangling modifier? If you change something large, what you add will need to be edited, right? Likewise, if you have a ton of line edits on a page, it's quite possible you may miss some or add in additional errors while correcting them. A second read through to ensure you fixed everything, as well as to make sure your editor didn't miss anything, is beyond valuable. Pricing: This is all very opinionated. Ask anyone. Editors charge a very wide range of prices. First, find out what you can afford. And be generous. If you're hoping to edit your 100k book for $300, think again. For the most part, you get what you pay for. For the most part. So if you do find an editor willing to do it for that little, odds are they don't have much experience or education. That's just the way it is. The price can vary widely, but stick to $0.006-$0.05, as those are the most common prices I've seen and they aren't too low or insanely high. Personally, until I find an editor I want to stick with forever, I'm sticking to $0.01 or under for copy/line edits. Some charge more for developmental, some charge more for line edits. But no matter what, you should always feel comfortable with what you'll be paying your editor. If you are uneasy, STOP! And remember, just because one charges $0.04 and one charges $0.008, it doesn't mean the cheaper one does poor work. It could be because they want to help us poor indies. It could be becuase they love what they do. And the one charging more doesn't mean they are better. It just means they charge more. So if you're stuck between the two, obviously use this list as a guide, but let #4 show you who is really better. Sample edit: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get a sample edit! Most editors offer a 2-10 page sample edit. If they offer less than 2 pages, I'd be wary. If they don't offer one at all, I'd be even more wary. They should want to prove themselves and display how they operate. This will also put your mind at ease and you can compare sample edits to see who you feel can help you the most. Genre/Interest: Does your editor have experience in your genre? Or are they at least interested in your book? If they primarily do paranormal YA romance and you're wanting them to edit a serial killer suspense book, do you think you'll get the best help with your book? Or if they primarily edit fantasy and you give them a non-fiction book, do you think they'll be interested at all in your work and give it the most time/thought? If they don't do the genre, don't fret. Find out if they rae at least interested. Perhaps they've never had the opportunity to edit that genre, but perhaps they read it all the time? The most important thing is that they WANT to work on your project. Teaching: Your editor should also be your teacher. They shouldn't just fix your writing, they should point out problem areas and give you guidance on how to fix them. Your next book should be better, the book after that, even better. You shouldn't be repeateing the same mistakes every time. If so, your editor is doing you a disservice and just wants to charge you more. A good editor wants to make you a better writer. It's like a school teacher. They want to help you succeed because it reflects well on them and you'll keep coming back. They don't want to not teach you in hopes you'll be held back and provide them with job security. So if you've been with the same editor for a while and you haven't learned how to fix your big problem areas, consider his/her true value. Communication: Your editor is your partner in writing your book. Ask any bestselling author and they'll tell you they'd be lost without their editor. In order to secure that strong bond, you need to feel like you can communicate with your editor. Do you feel your emails are an annoyance or a welcome teaching opportunity? Do you feel they are too formal or like you're talking to a friend? Do your emails go days without a response or do you get it the same day? I personally HAVE to have an editor who is like a friend. I ask a LOT of questions. So I need to feel like I'm no an annoyance.
8. Humble: If your editor thinks they are the sh** and you don't need any other sets of eyes to look over your manuscript a final time (ie Proofreader) then you should pause. Most editors should end up reading your work at least twice. By then they are too close to your work for the final proofread. If they include the proofread with all the other edits, stay far away! If they offer to do the final proofread at the end, pause. I learned this the hard way. Go for a seperate proofreader who hasn't read your work yet. If your editor thinks they are the best and don't encourage you to seek other eyes, you should wonder.
So...you may be wondering if I've found such an editor? Well I have just secured a relationship with one but she, for the time, shall remain nameless until our first edit, but I will add her name once I've confirmed every step. But let's just say, so far, with only the sample, she has met EVERY one of these requirements. Stay tuned to find out who she is and if she continues to live up to my expectations! I'll also be working with a new proofreader, so stay tuned for that name too! They'll both be added to my Team page.
What about you? Do you have an editor you love? Recommend her/him below! If they're awesome, get them some more work! What do you look for in your editor?
October 8, 2014
From the Ashes in Final Draft
I'm going to die.
Not really. But I want to.
Okay not really. But I feel like I am. I am working on the final draft of From the Ashes before it goes to my editor at the beginning of Nov. So not quite the final, final draft, but the last one I can fix myself.
And I just got back beta feedback. Oy. I have a HUGE problem with my main character. So she is in need of a total makeover so she isn't quite so...realistic. :) So, unlike Shattered, where I only had a few minor tweaks to my book and could squeeze in the final edit, all in a month, this book is going to kill me. I only have a month. To do a laundry list of changes. Which is my fault. I did have quite a few betas. But that's good. Lots of eyes means lots of feedback which means lots of improvements!
Lemme just say how I love my beta readers and would be utterly lost without them. They take their precious time to read my atrocious draft of a novel and are kind enough to slog through and tell me what a mess it is. That is pure selflessness. This feedback is hard to get and some of it is a treasure to get. And I have a problem. Many authors will tell you that you only need pay attention to the things they really had in common or you agree with. I'm a little different. Why? Because I'm of the mind that improvement is improvement. And even if something only bugged/stood out to one reader out of ten, it means it stands to bug 100 out of 1000. So I take into consideration every little thing my betas bring to my attention. Their feedback is anything but undervalued.
Yes, I could just do a few tweaks to my character to solve the issues. I could ignore the remarks from only one beta. I could. But in reality, I can't. I wouldn't be satisfied. So now what I anticipated was a week of small tweaks has become a few huge changes and lots and lots of little ones.
So that is where I am. Taking a few minutes to lament this career choice. I actually had to take time off my day job so I could squeeze in two full days of writing/editing this month. Lame.
But! On a positive note, I've got my new editor chosen! And I'm super close to picking my proofreader. And also, my cover is being designed by an up-and-coming cover designer and I can't wait to brag about her and be her first book cover! So at least I've got a good balance of stress and relief. :)
Also, Among the Flames, book 2, has a solid outline/rough draft prepared. Each scene is planned and it is waiting to be written. Which *gulp* will be next month, when From the Ashes is being edited. Yep. Writing two books at the same time. I'm crazy.
Till next update! Hang in there with me!
Not really. But I want to.
Okay not really. But I feel like I am. I am working on the final draft of From the Ashes before it goes to my editor at the beginning of Nov. So not quite the final, final draft, but the last one I can fix myself.
And I just got back beta feedback. Oy. I have a HUGE problem with my main character. So she is in need of a total makeover so she isn't quite so...realistic. :) So, unlike Shattered, where I only had a few minor tweaks to my book and could squeeze in the final edit, all in a month, this book is going to kill me. I only have a month. To do a laundry list of changes. Which is my fault. I did have quite a few betas. But that's good. Lots of eyes means lots of feedback which means lots of improvements!
Lemme just say how I love my beta readers and would be utterly lost without them. They take their precious time to read my atrocious draft of a novel and are kind enough to slog through and tell me what a mess it is. That is pure selflessness. This feedback is hard to get and some of it is a treasure to get. And I have a problem. Many authors will tell you that you only need pay attention to the things they really had in common or you agree with. I'm a little different. Why? Because I'm of the mind that improvement is improvement. And even if something only bugged/stood out to one reader out of ten, it means it stands to bug 100 out of 1000. So I take into consideration every little thing my betas bring to my attention. Their feedback is anything but undervalued.
Yes, I could just do a few tweaks to my character to solve the issues. I could ignore the remarks from only one beta. I could. But in reality, I can't. I wouldn't be satisfied. So now what I anticipated was a week of small tweaks has become a few huge changes and lots and lots of little ones.
So that is where I am. Taking a few minutes to lament this career choice. I actually had to take time off my day job so I could squeeze in two full days of writing/editing this month. Lame.
But! On a positive note, I've got my new editor chosen! And I'm super close to picking my proofreader. And also, my cover is being designed by an up-and-coming cover designer and I can't wait to brag about her and be her first book cover! So at least I've got a good balance of stress and relief. :)
Also, Among the Flames, book 2, has a solid outline/rough draft prepared. Each scene is planned and it is waiting to be written. Which *gulp* will be next month, when From the Ashes is being edited. Yep. Writing two books at the same time. I'm crazy.
Till next update! Hang in there with me!
September 19, 2014
Maps for World-Building Fantasy Novels
Fantasy novels take a lot of world-building. Part of that is the map. If you're creating your own world, you need (as well as your reader, possibly) a map to keep confusion at bay. What if you wrote a book about traveling America but didn't know the size, shape or organization of America? It would be confusing for most. To avoid confusion or just help immerse readers in your world, a map is a no-brainer and can be a great boon.But how? Who creates a map? How do you create a map?
I did quite a bit of research into this. I was tempted to have someone on Fivver create a map for me. This is still a fantastic option and one in which I may do in the future. But if you need to constantly change your map based on writing your book, you need something you can edit yourself.
Enter Campaign Cartographer 3.
This fancy little program allows you to create a great looking map with relative ease. It isn't a huge investment and if you write fantasy, it will more than pay for itself. And trust me when I say I explored LOTS of different options before settling with CC3. This one looked like the best.
But it's so confusing! I don't know how to use a program like this!
Fear not. I was in the same boat. In fact, I'm STILL learning. But I found some FANTASTIC tutorials on Youtube by Joe Sweeney. The gentleman has a multi-part youtube video that takes you through creating a basic map. He also offers his email for additional help. This man got me through my first map for From the Ashes, my in-progress fantasy series.
So what can you expect to create after these simple, easy-to-follow tutorials? I'm no expert, but the map above is the one I created for my From the Ashes series. I'll expound on it for each book with pertinent information, but it has all the necessary info for the first book. The videos take a little time and then a couple days (totaling a couple hours) to finish the map. Don't consider it time away from writing. Because it's not. It's just not writing words. But it is working on your novel. It's world-building and worth the time to create it.
If you've been wondering if you should have a map in your book, or even if a map would help you organize, the answer is yes. Sometimes even as authors, we get confused about where we placed the Forbidden Swamp....was it northeast of the cotton fields or southeast? If you had a map, you'd remember!
What are some tools that have helped you stay organized when writing? Do you have another map maker you like?
September 6, 2014
From the Ashes Back Copy Reveal
After much head-banging (not the fun kind), sweat and tears, I finally settled on my back copy for From the Ashes. Enjoy!
For eighteen years, Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But underneath, she’s struggled to keep her fearsome gift a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions to those closest to her, Aia’s facade shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To do anything would require accepting what she is. Can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded in order to save those she loves?
For eighteen years, Aia Wynnald has lived a lie. Raised a highborn in the Kingdom of Tharien, she’s filled her days with tutors and archery lessons. But underneath, she’s struggled to keep her fearsome gift a secret. Aia is a Bender. And in Tharien, Benders are feared and hunted.
When her unruly power breaks free with dire repercussions to those closest to her, Aia’s facade shatters. As she scrambles to piece her life back together while evading capture, she disturbs a vengeful force intent on destroying the kingdom.
Now, with the help of an unlikely ally, Aia will decide the fate of Tharien. To do anything would require accepting what she is. Can she risk becoming the monster she’s dreaded in order to save those she loves?
