Terry Odell's Blog, page 55

After The End

After The End

I finally finished the manuscript. Endings are tough, because they have to leave readers satisfied, but still wanting more. Not “more” in the sense that you’ve left them hanging—I absolutely despise books that end with cliffhangers—but more in the sense that they like the way you write and want to read more books you’ve written.

Things I had to cover before I could say, “it’s done” included hitting reader expectations for the genre. The action-adventure part needed another scene s...

Audiobook News

Audiobook News

Earlier, I talked about slowing down as I neared the end of Blackthorne #10 in order to make sure the ending wasn’t rushed. Things have stalled again, but for a different reason.

Yesterday, I hit “Publish” for the audiobook format of Deadly Options on Findaway Voices. First, I made sure my narrator had corrected the pickups I sent him, which—of course—he did. Then, I downloaded his files and uploaded them to Findaway.

I must say, it was a pleasure to be able to do it from home now...

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The End

I had planned to announce that the first draft of the yet-to-be-named Blackthorne #10 was finished, and that the editing process would commence shortly.

However, as I planned my wrap up scenes, I heard my editor’s voice in my head saying, “You need to show that op on the page.”

And, of course, she’d be right, so I’ve got a few more scenes to get down before I can officially proclaim I’ve reached “the end.”

Meanwhile, I’m over at The Kill Zone Blog talking about dealing with describing characters...

Writers as Readers

Writers as Readers

I’ve heard it said, and I have to agree, that once you start writing, you’ll never be able to read the same way again.

I recently started reading two books: one from a highly successful romance author, and another from someone I’d never heard of. The former was book 1 in a new series. The latter’s book was part of a multi-author mystery giveaway, and the premise sounded promising. And, both had dogs.

Both of these books have ended up on my DNF shelf.

The first, although it was...

Slowing Things Down

Slowing Things Down

I’ve reached the point in the manuscript where the word count is suitable for a novel-length work. This is always a relief, because usually, around the 30,000 word mark, I’m convinced there’s not enough for a book. This is a side-effect of not plotting in advance, but I remind myself that I’ve faced this dilemma in every book, and I’ve managed to get 25 novels written.

My other ongoing problem is once I get past my mental roadblock, I reach the point where it looks like the ...

Title Help

Title Help

Titles are one of my most dreaded parts of writing a book. Rarely do I have one before I’m finished, or nearly finished. Well, I’m reaching that point with this book, and haven’t had anything click. Here’s your chance to help.

The novel: A Blackthorne, Inc. action/adventure romantic suspense. Book #10, although it’s #4 in the “New Blood at Blackthorne” premise.

Hero: Travis “T-Bone” Bostwick

Heroine: Chelsea Goldman

Chelsea has to learn how to trust people. She’s been stifled by an ol...

Banished Words 2020

Banished Words 2020

A recent post by Elaine Viets listed the words and phrases she was sick and tired of, which reminded me that every year, Lake Superior State University comes out with a list of words it feels should be banished.

LSSU has compiled an annual Banished Words List since 1976 to uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, nonsensical—and otherwise ineffective, bafflin...

Using Senses and Info Dumping

I’m in two blogging places today–three if you count this one.

At The Kill Zone, I’m following up my post on repetition with one on info dumping. As in, you don’t want to do it, and here are some things to avoid.

At Pikes Peak Writers, I’m giving tips for using all five senses in your writing.

Hope you’ll check them out.

 

The post Using Senses and Info Dumping appeared first on Terry Odell.

Point of View Mishaps

Point of View Mishaps

Image by Jean-Louis SERVAIS from Pixabay

Sometimes, I swear, my brain has outages just like our internet. The other day, we had a short power outage. The battery backup is supposed to kick in, but this time it didn’t. I’d started a new chapter, but at the time, I was listening to the audiobook files for Deadly Options, and participating in the podcast for Fresh Starts.

(Aside: Did you catch it? If not, you can find it here. Mark Lefevbre was a great host, and made us look g...

Yikes! I’m on a Podcast!

 

I’ll be a guest of Mark Leslie Lefevbre tomorrow, April 9th, along with Bowen Gillings and Josh Clark, two other authors of Fresh Starts, the Pikes Peak Writers Anthology, to celebrate the official release of the book. Josh also designed the cover.

Scary for me, because I have to see what I really look and sound like.

The podcast will start at 1 PM Mountain time. That’s noon Pacific, 2 Central, and 3 Eastern. It should last about half an hour. And, you can ask questions.

This will be live, bu...