Parker Sinclair's Blog, page 4
May 4, 2015
“I Know You”
It was a special night for my girlfriends and I, we don’t get to hang-out much without the kiddos or the significant others in our lives so when I got the house to myself for an evening, and we all made delicious food to share, it was inevitable that��an impromptu 90’s Hip Hop dance party would ensue right? ��I have to admit that the Pandora station Hip Hop BBQ radio��totally rocked it that night and each and every one of us bonded on a new level as guards were totally brought down and we were free to dance, laugh, and be ourselves. ��My body laughed and smiled as my soul looked towards the moon and howled with delight at the fun and hilarity of it all.
When my husband came home with my youngest in tow I was delighted to see her and took her up to bed. ��As she lay in my arms I sang and rocked her, holding her little hands against my chest and feeling the ebb and flow of energy off her, into me and back in to her. ��Yes she feels familiar after to me, she is my daughter, she is of my flesh and blood, but an awakening in my mind also recognizes her and something older, someone I have known for my entire life. ��This is the feeling we��get when we connect to those who we have lost. Is it spiritual? chemical? ��Is it the fact that my body sings with recognition due to the make-up of her genes? Chemical make-up? Pieces, building blocks, all parts of us that pass down from generation to generation. ��Is this the true reincarnation?
Tears fill my eyes and I close them��to snuggle against my daughter’s head, breathing her in, putting myself in her shoes and trying to remember what it felt like to be in my mother’s arms just like this. ��And then the strangeness of the feelings overwhelmed me as I was holding tight to pieces of my mother��right now, cradling, cuddling…a full circle of life, cells, genes, spirit, and love and I am happy. ��My world sings around me, the moon shines thru the shades and my soul howls.
Parker
Visit my website for news, books and contact information: http://www.ParkerSinclair.net
Like me on Facebook at:��https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSincla... & follow me on twitter @Parker_Sinclair
"I Know You"
It was a special night for my girlfriends and I. We don't get to hang out much without the kiddos or the significant others in our lives, so when I got the house to myself for an evening, we all made delicious food to share. It was inevitable that an impromptu 90's Hip Hop dance party would ensue right? I have to admit that the Pandora station Hip Hop BBQ radio totally rocked it that night. Each and every one of us bonded on a new level as guards were totally brought down, and we were free to dance, laugh, and be ourselves. My body laughed and smiled as my soul looked towards the moon and howled with delight at the fun and hilarity of it all.
When my husband came home with my youngest in tow, I was delighted to see her and took her up to bed. As she lies in my arms, I sang and rocked her, holding her little hands against my chest and feeling the ebb and flow of energy off her, into me and back into her. Yes, she seems familiar to me. She is my daughter, she is of my flesh and blood, but an awakening in my mind also recognizes her and something older, someone I have known for my entire life. This is the feeling we get when we connect to those who we have lost. Is it spiritual? Chemical? Is it the fact that my body sings with recognition due to the make-up of her genes? Chemical make-up? Pieces, building blocks, all parts of us that pass down from generation to generation. Is this the actual reincarnation?
Tears fill my eyes, and I close them to snuggle against my daughter's head. Breathing her in, I put myself in her shoes and trying to remember what it felt like to be in my mother's arms just like this. And then the strangeness of the feelings overwhelmed me as I was holding tight to pieces of my mother right now, cradling, cuddling...a full circle of life, cells, genes, spirit, and love and I am happy. My world sings around me; the moon shines thru the shades and my soul howls.
Parker
Visit my website for news, books and contact information: www.ParkerSinclair.net
Like me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSincla... & follow me on Twitter @Parker_Sinclair
March 25, 2015
My Mother’s Song
When one decides to write you may want to include quotes from you favorite books, lyrics from songs or pictures and art work. What is quite necessary is to get permission to use such portions of work even if it is only one line or lyric. ��Towards the end of my book an important character to my heroine is lost and I found myself writing about not only her loss but the loss of my mother as well; specifically one of the last things I did while she was in hospice. ��I always remember her singing “You are my Sunshine” by Jimmie Davis and as I held her hand lying on one side of her and my older sister on the other I sang a few lyrics of the song to her.
���You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.�� You make me happy when skies are grey.
You never know dear how much I love you. �� Please don���t take my sunshine away.���
Four short lyrics, something I could have removed from the book and avoided tracking down the copyright holder, contacting the recording company, asking for the use, explaining why, purchasing the freedom to use it…all of that I could have avoided if only I took those lines out- and I did consider doing just that. ��In fact it was down to the wire, the book was in formatting and my formatter on hold for me to add or keep the lyrics out. ��That��night my youngest daughter who was born after my mother’s passing, ��my two year old who didn’t talk very clearly yet, sang those lines to me as clear and beautiful as day, her smile so bright and her soul singing along with her. ��At that moment I knew my mom was a part of��her, in her smile, her beautiful voice and her strength and stubbornness. ��I couldn’t help the tears that came and the decision was solidified in that moment- words now forever within my passages and my words of��love, loss and hope…My Mother’s Song, My Daughter’s Song and Alex’s Song.
Parker Sinclair
https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSinclairbooks?ref=bookmarks
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23697958-trust
My Mother's Song
When one decides to write you may want to include quotes from you favorite books, lyrics from songs or pictures and artwork. What is quite necessary is to get permission to use such portions of work even if it is only one line or lyric. Towards the end of my book, an important character to my heroine is lost, and I found myself writing about not only her loss but the loss of my mother as well. Specifically about one of the last things I did while she was in hospice. I remember her singing "You are my Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis to me. As I held her hand lying on one side of her, and my older sister on the other, I sang a few lyrics of the song to her.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey.
You never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Four short lyrics, something I could have removed from the book and avoided tracking down the copyright holder, contacting the recording company, asking for the use, explaining why, purchasing the freedom to use it...all of that I could have avoided if only I took those lines out- and I did consider doing just that. In fact it was down to the wire, the book was in formatting and my formatter on hold for me to add or keep the lyrics out. One night my youngest daughter, who was born after my mother's passing didn't speak very clearly yet, sang those lines to me as clear and beautiful as day. Her smile so bright and her soul singing along with her. At that moment I knew my mom was a part of her, in her smile, her beautiful voice and her strength and stubbornness. I couldn't help the tears that came, and the decision solidified at that moment- words now forever within my passages and my words of love, loss and hope...My Mother's Song, My Daughter's Song and Alex's Song.
Parker Sinclair
https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSincla...
February 26, 2015
Telling My Story About The Story
I was in the guest room, holed-up while my daughters alternated their little fist-banging���s on the door, crying for me between my husbands urges for them to leave mommy alone. I��could still hear the drama on the other side of the door even though I was engaged and focused, and before long I was also drenched in sweat. ��Snow and ice trapped the winter��ground in perpetual cold outside the window yet I was comfortably warm and cozy when the interview started. However, this being my first interview I was admittedly nervous and soon a sweaty mess. ��I did prepare, for days in fact after the notification. ��It’s the norm when you are asked for an interview to be ready for a quick turn around so even though she hadn���t set the date when she first contacted me I started immediately.
When I first heard my alma-mater wanted to interview me for the school newspaper I was super excited. ��I had sent them an email months��ago about my story of being a self-published author after originally attending The University of Northern Colorado and earning a Bachelor���s degree in Biological Sciences with a Psychology minor. ��When the email came to me last Saturday asking for an interview it was on the tail feathers of getting another email from a book reviewer in San Diego, not a promise of anything yet, but hey I got an email back so I must be doing something right!
After receiving the email request, I reached out to my marketing consultant Cheryl Tan after getting the interview request, I wasn’t sure what would be asked of me, how to prepare correctly and what method should I chose? ��The interviewer, a student journalist in her final��year at the University, offered an email, phone, Skype or in-person interview. ��Being that I lived across the country I was considering the phone option more heavily, ya I chickened out on Skype, but I know next time I will happily do a Skype interview now that I have my feet wet (oh and after some serous scolding from my friends). Cheryl gave me some great insights that helped me prep accordingly.
For days I wrote about the book, about my inspiration, about my life growing up with a book loving, wildly creative, nomadic, hippy-like family. I delved back into what it was like for me at the university both in and out of the classroom, three hour chemistry labs, searching the shelves of the library, attending Sigma Pi parties with some awesome guys who are lifelong friends, great study partners and friends from all walks of life, the process of self-publishing and the future for the Alex Conner Chronicles.
Five pages later I started to whittle��it down and mark main points for the interview. ��When I sat back and looked over everything I knew this process was something I had truly needed to do. ��Even though things have been slow going on getting the word out about Trust I needed to be prepared for the possibility, and dream, that things will pick up for the book and for Alex’s upcoming chronicles (by the way I really hope they do, in case you didn’t already��know I love to write and doing for a living what I love would be the best job in the world!!).
When call came in on Friday and nerves kicked in a little as I worked around her questions, flipping pages to get out what I wanted the readers of the article to know. She liked my story, a first time independently published author who was originally slated to be a veterinarian from a long line of accomplished doctors and educators. I knew some of the readers were also young men and women concerned about where their lives were going after college will they find a job, do they even like the career path they have chosen, are the stuck, will they ever be able to bot only have a solid career but follow their dreams as well? As a high school counselor my students worry about all of the same things at such an early age. I want them all to know things can adapt and change; yes have a goal, have a path but know that it is ok if it changes. After college I did the lab and field biology work and then I moved on to party planning before getting into education and counseling. All of these careers weren���t instantaneous either, there were moments of ���what in the hell am I doing��� speckled with odd jobs as a teachers assistant, runway model, VIP relations, after school theatrical teacher, and lots of others.
I was on a path, maybe not what I thought it would be but it led me to where I was suppose to be and to what I had dreamed of doing in grade school, being an author with a book that others will enjoy, that will inspire and invoke emotion in the reader. All I have done in my years since my first journal and poem have made me a better writer; I have more to offer to Alex as a character and the story line. She is now a strong female for people to root for, she has a troubled past and to have peace from the terrible acts she endured is what the reader hopes for. I feel that everyone who flips through the pages can relate to Alex in some way or at the least empathize with her. Should the reader strongly relate, I hope the book empowers them and helps them find some peace. I have heard many stories from the many people who���s paths I have crossed as well as counseled young people and families who have suffered abuse at the hands of someone and all I wanted to do was alleviate their pain and suffering, I feel that through Alex I am doing just that.
In one of the final questions the reporter asked me how I related to the character, well besides the mind-in-the gutter humor Alex and I share I hope we are also both strong role models. I want to empower the roles of women, that they can and should be allowed to be strong, sexual, funny, leaders, heads of business and to change the idea that standing up for oneself and what they believe in doesn���t make them bitchy, but instead is the power they should have over their own lives to be assertive and to defend and take care of themselves. Both men and women have loved this book and I���m hopeful for its impact as the chronicles continue for Alex.
Having this interview made me realize that not only do I have a great start to the story of Alex’s Chronicles but I also have a good story about what led to the completion of Book One- the story of my life. ��I have included the link to the article below. Thank you as always for following my journey and I hope you are enjoying Trust and know that Truth is continuing to make progress!
Parker
http://www.uncmirror.com/news/view.php/861325/Former-Northern-Colorado-student-now-a-p
Telling My Story About The Story
I was in the guest room, holed-up while my daughters alternated their little fist banging's on the door, crying for me between my husband's urges for them to leave mommy alone. I could still hear the drama on the other side of the door even though I was engaged and focused, and soon I was also drenched in sweat. Snow and ice trapped the winter ground in perpetual cold outside the window yet I was comfortably warm and cozy when the interview started. However, this being my first interview I was admittedly nervous and soon a sweaty mess. I did prepare, for days in fact after the notification. It's the norm when you are asked for an interview to be ready for a quick turn around so even though she hadn’t set the date when she first contacted me I started immediately.
When I first heard my alma-mater wanted to interview me for the school newspaper I was super excited. I had sent them an email months ago about my story of being a self-published author after originally attending The University of Northern Colorado and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a Psychology minor. When the email came to me last Saturday asking for an interview, it was on the tail feathers of getting another email from a book reviewer in San Diego. That email did not promise anything yet, but hey I got an email back so I must be doing something right!
After receiving the email request, I reached out to my marketing consultant Cheryl Tan after getting the interview request. I wasn't sure what would be asked of me, how to prepare correctly and what method should I choose? The interviewer, a student journalist in her final year at the University, offered an email, phone, Skype or in-person interview. Being that I lived across the country, I was considering the phone option more heavily. Ya, I chickened out on Skype, but I know next time I will happily do a Skype interview now that I have my feet wet (Oh and after some serious scolding from my friends). Cheryl gave me some great insights that helped me prep accordingly.
For days, I wrote about the book, about my inspiration, about my life growing up with a book loving, wildly creative, nomadic, hippy-like family. I delved back into what it was like for me at the university both in and out of the classroom. The three-hour chemistry labs, searching the shelves of the library, attending Sigma Pi parties with some awesome guys who are lifelong friends, great study partners and friends from all walks of life, the process of self-publishing and the future for the Alex Conner Chronicles.
Five pages later I started to whittle it down and mark main points for the interview. When I sat back and looked over everything, I knew this process was something I had truly needed to do. Even though things have been slow going on getting the word out about Trust, I needed to be prepared for the possibility, and dream, that things will pick up for the book and Alex's upcoming Chronicles. By the way I hope they do, in case you didn't already know I love to write and doing for a living what I love would be the best job in the world!!).
When the call came in on Friday and nerves kicked in a little as I worked around her questions, flipping pages to get out what I wanted the readers of the article to know. She liked my story; a first time independently published author who was originally slated to be a veterinarian from a long line of accomplished doctors and educators. I knew some of the readers were also young men and women concerned about where their lives were going after college. Will they find a job, do they even like the career path they have chosen? Are the stuck? Will they ever be able to have a stable job, but follow their dreams as well? As a high school counselor, my students worry about all of the same things at such an early age. I want them all to know things can adapt and change; yes have a goal, have a path but know that it is ok if it changes. After college, I did the lab, and field biology work and then I moved on to party planning before getting into education and counseling. All of these careers weren’t instantaneous either. There were moments of “what in the hell am I doing” speckled with odd jobs as a teacher's assistant, runway model, VIP relations, after school theatrical teacher, and lots of others.
I was on a path. Maybe not what I thought it would be but it led me to where I was supposed to be and to what I had dreamed of doing in grade school. Of being an author with a book that others will enjoy, that will inspire and invoke emotion in the reader. All I have done in my years since my first journal and poem have made me a better writer; I have more to offer to Alex as a character and the story line. She is now a strong female for people to root for; she has a troubled past and to have peace from the terrible acts she endured is what the reader hopes for. I feel that everyone who flips through the pages can relate to Alex in some way or at the least empathize with her. Should the reader strongly relate, I hope the book empowers them and helps them find some peace. I have heard many stories from the many people who’s paths I have crossed, as well as counseled youth and families who have suffered abuse at the hands of someone. All I wanted to do was alleviate their pain and suffering, I feel that through Alex I am doing just that.
In one of the final questions the reporter asked me how I related to the character, well besides the mind-in-the gutter humor Alex and I share I hope we are also both strong role models. I want to empower the roles of women, which they can and should be allowed to be strong, sexual, funny, leaders, heads of business and to change the idea that standing up for oneself and what they believe in doesn’t make them bitchy, but instead is the power they should have over their lives to be assertive and to defend and take care of themselves. Both men and women have loved this book, and I’m hopeful for its impact as the chronicles continue for Alex.
Having this interview made me realize that not only do I have a great start to the story of Alex's Chronicles but I also have a real story about what led to the completion of Book One- the story of my life. I have included the link to the article below. Thank you as always for following my journey and I hope you are enjoying Trust and know that Truth is continuing to make progress!
Parker
http://www.uncmirror.com/news/view.ph...
February 11, 2015
The Making of a Muse
Music has always be a source of inspiration for me. ��Those of you who have read my first��book, Trust, and those of you who know me are well aware of my affinity for dancing and addiction to music. ��My range is expansive as my own father was a DJ at one time in his life. ��Numerous albums lined the walls in my parents bedroom as the loud thumps and tones could be heard across the house even thru the closed door of my room. ��Whether it was reggae, primarily by the transcendent Bob Marley but also from the talented Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, and Gregory Isaacs, to the hard-hitting punk rock of the Dead Kennedy’s and new wave Roxy Music; I’ve been raised on it all. ��My family and friends continue to share music everyday, Facebook, Pandora and You Tube being popular ways to find��and watch new videos and listen to songs .
For me it isn’t always all about that bass, though I do love the deep, pulsing tone of it, but the treble is just as important. ��However, the lyrics truly have the ability to transport you into a song, bringing your existence into being that person with the sizzling, desirable vocal cords,��or who is being sang about.
Last week I was needing an inspiration, as I do off and on with the business of life, I hadn’t hit my goal for Book Two and was floundering in Chapter 3 even though I have it fully outlined. Knowing where the book is going to go may be easy but filling that pathway with feelings, emotions, humor, intensity and passion is another story. ��Anyhow, Ed Sheeran has had great success with his latest album X, and after my friend ��from Colorado posted the��video for “Don’t”,��I knew I needed to check out his album. ��I downloaded it for my daughter and I am in one of those rare times I am able to head out solo to do a little shopping and visit a friend I was allotted time to really listen to the entire album. ��The 30 minute drive allowed me ample time to listen to most of it and I knew I was instantly inspired and the chapter��started to lay itself out in my mind.
While listening to “Afire Love”, “Photograph”, “Nina”, “Bloodstream”, “Don’t”, and “The Man”��from Ed’s album are all amazing songs that had my mind drifting into scenes of my characters, had me reliving moments in my own life as his words played a movie in my head. ��Such a great album and as I listened to Ed wondering if so many people use music as a muse. Artists of all types of media from theatre to ceramics, from writers to graphic designers, we all use music to help us shape our visions, to create our masterpieces, so what are the muses for musicians? ��Other musicians are a must as they shape and influence each band, solo artist, song writer and producer, but their own lives may be the biggest muse of all. Their relationships, the love, pain, happiness, sadness and moments of darkness and weakness in themselves and those around them make intense lyrics, realism to their performances and in many cases freedom of the experiences. ��Art truly is life, pieces of it, things we’ve heard, experiences, watched from a foot away to afar, it’s all about how we react, perceive and move thru it all.
From Rihanna’s “Diamond”, Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain”, Pearl Jam’s “Just��Breathe”��and “Sweet Nothing”��by Calvin Harris and Florence Welch, all amazing songs that move me into the musicians��life, allowing me to dance, cry, hope, and persevere. ��Music moves all of us.
What are some of your favorite songs and artists? ��I’d love to hear from all of you and maybe we can find a way to insert some of your favorite songs and lyrics into Alex’s second��book, Truth.
Enjoy the music of life and thank you for joining��me on the adventure!
Parker
Check out my website for information on my first book, a three chapter sample and where to buy: ��www.ParkerSinclair.net
Follow me on Facebook: ��https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSincla...
The Making of a Muse
Music has always been a source of inspiration for me. Those of you who have read my first book, Trust, and those of you who know me are well aware of my affinity for dancing and addiction to music. My range is expansive as my father was a DJ at one time in his life. Numerous albums lined the walls in my parents bedroom as the loud thumps and tones could be heard across the house even thru the closed door of my room. Whether it was reggae, primarily by the transcendent Bob Marley, but also from the talented Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, and Gregory Isaacs, to the hard-hitting punk rock of the Dead Kennedy's and new wave Roxy Music; I've been raised on it all. My family and friends continue to share music every day, Facebook, Pandora and YouTube being favorite ways to find and watch new videos and listen to songs.
For me, it isn't always all about that bass though I do love the deep, pulsing tone of it, but the treble is just as important. However, the lyrics truly have the ability to transport you into a song, bringing your existence into being that person with the sizzling, desirable vocal cords, or who is being sung about.
Last week I needed an inspiration, as I do off and on with the business of life. I hadn't hit my goal for Book Two and was floundering in Chapter 3 even though I have it fully outlined. Knowing where the book is going to go may be easy but filling that pathway with feelings, emotions, humor, intensity and passion is another story. Anyhow, Ed Sheeran has had great success with his latest album X, and after my friend from Colorado posted the video for "Don't", I knew I needed to check out his album. I downloaded it for my daughter, and in one of those rare times when I was able to head out solo to do a little shopping and visit a friend,I was allotted time to really listen to the entire album. The 30 minute drive allowed me ample time to listen to most of it and I knew I was instantly inspired and the chapter started to lay itself out in my mind.
While listening to "Afire Love", "Photograph", "Nina", "Bloodstream", "Don't", and "The Man" from Ed's album are all amazing songs that had my mind drifting into scenes of my characters. They had me reliving moments in my life as his words played a movie in my head. Such a great album and as I listened to Ed wondering if so many people use music as a muse. Artists of all types of media from theatre to ceramics, from writers to graphic designers, we all use music to help us shape our visions, to create our masterpieces. So what are the muses for musicians? Other musicians are a must as they shape and influence each band, solo artist, songwriter and producer, but their own lives may be the biggest muse of all. Their relationships, the love, pain, happiness, sadness and moments of darkness and weakness in themselves and those around them make intense lyrics, realism to their performances and in many cases freedom of the experiences. Art truly is life, pieces of it, things we've heard, experiences, watched from a foot away to afar, it's all about how we react, perceive and move thru it all.
From Rihanna's "Diamond", Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain", Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe" and "Sweet Nothing" by Calvin Harris and Florence Welch, all incredible songs that move me into the musician's life, allowing me to dance, cry, hope, and persevere. Music moves all of us.
What are some of your favorite songs and artists? I'd love to hear from all of you and maybe we can find a way to insert some of your favorite songs and lyrics into Alex's second book, Truth.
Enjoy the music of life and thank you for joining me on the adventure!
Parker
Check out my website for information on my first book, a three chapter sample and where to buy: www.ParkerSinclair.net
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSincla...
January 24, 2015
How Many Editors Does it Take…
A friend of mine and I were talking about the small rut I find myself crammed into as I begin writing Book Two of the Alex Conner Chronicles-Truth. It is that infamous rut where you want to make sure you recap just enough from Book One to move new readers along or help previous readers remember what happened without boring them to tears or have them yelling at my pages, ���so get on with it already!!���
This is completely new frontier for me having only written my first book last year and working on the second, which I am trying to have out this summer. For those who have been with me on this journey all along and those who are already done reading Trust��the anticipation for Truth��is palatable and those readers probably don���t need much of a refresher, but there are those who may just pick up book two in the summer having never read book one and I don���t want to lose them. There are others who wont get to book two for a while after reading book one and will need to recall the characters and events.
So here I am teetering on too much and too little right at the end of chapter two and it���s been 2 weeks since I have moved forward. My shadow reader has read it and my editor has it in her hands as I wait for the go ahead to move on. I have already done some back and forth with both which consists of tedious combing through comments and edits, with agreements, disagreements, cursing-all normal parts of the process which should lead to moving on, but I���m not and I shouldn���t have to wait for their go ahead really, I didn���t before so why am I? I can always back track but for some reason I���m not. I���m not because this is new frontier, this is making book two as good or better than book one, this is what it takes to really become a writer and it���s hard, especially when you also have a full time job, two little ones, and of course time with friends and family. It���s hard to find the time to allow your brain to open up to the creativity when its exhausted, but I did it before, my chapters are mapped out for me���I just need to move forward.
So back to my wise friend; she asked how the blog was going, I know she follows it so I said I have the three up and I haven���t written in a couple of weeks on that either. She suggested I write about the editing and this part of the process, something that other writers may relate to and potential writers need to think about. It took me eight hours to figure out how clever she was in the suggestion. Writing about it was just what I needed to do, but not only for others but for myself. I���ve been stuck and exhausted for over a week now in the doldrums of winter and the best way for me to get out of it was to write about my frustration, lack of momentum and ok a little bit of annoyance at myself, this process and the amount of editing it is taking to get the start of book two ���just right���. I���m my own stinking version of Goldilocks not finding that perfect bed or bowl of porridge and I needed to just get it out of my head, onto the pages of this computer and out into the universe. Journaling has always been therapeutic for me and many counselors see it is an important step in the therapeutic process to lead to positive change. Alex is also quite a journalist herself in The Alex Conner Chronicles and boy does she need it!
So this is the weekend I forge ahead, so get ready my shadow reading buddy and my fabulous editor���I���m ready to kiss this rut good-bye, to Trust my instincts and push on���more chapters are coming your way!
Visit my facebook page, my website and my Goodreads site for news, a three chapter sample and where to buy!
https://www.facebook.com/ParkerSinclairbooks
https://www.goodreads.com/ParkerSinclair
How Many Editors Does it Take...
A friend of mine and I were talking about the small rut I find myself crammed into as I begin writing Book Two of the Alex Conner Chronicles-Truth. It is that infamous rut, where you want to make sure you recap just enough from Book One to move new readers along or help previous readers, remember what happened. You must do this without boring them to tears or have them yelling at my pages, “so get on with it already!!”
This is an entirely new frontier for me having written my first book last year and working on the second, which I am trying to have out this summer. For those who have been with me on this journey all along, and those who are done reading Trust, the anticipation for Truth is palatable. Those readers probably don’t need much of a refresher, but there are those who may just pick up book two in the summer having never read book one and I don’t want to lose them. There are others who won't get to book two for a while after reading book one and will need to recall the characters and events.
So here I am teetering on too much and too little right at the end of chapter two, and it’s been two weeks since I have moved forward. My shadow reader has read it, and my editor has it in her hands as I wait for the go ahead to move on. I have already done some back and forth with both which consists of tediously combing through comments and edits, with agreements, disagreements, cursing-all healthy parts of the process. They should lead to moving on, but I’m not and I shouldn’t have to wait for their go ahead really, I didn’t before so why am I? I can always backtrack but for some reason I’m not. I’m not because this is a new frontier. This is making book two as good or better than book one, this is what it takes to become a writer and it’s hard, especially when you also have a full-time job, two little ones, and of course time with friends and family. It’s hard to find the time to allow your brain to open up to the creativity when its exhausted, but I did it before, my chapters are mapped out for me…I just need to move forward.
So back to my wise friend; she asked how the blog was going, I know she follows it so I said I have the three up, and I haven’t written in a couple of weeks on that either. She suggested I write about the editing and this part of the process, something that other writers may relate to and potential writers need to think about. It took me eight hours to figure out how clever she was in the suggestion. Writing about it was just what I needed to do, but not only for others but for myself. I’ve been stuck and exhausted for over a week now in the doldrums of winter and the best way for me to get out of it was to write about my frustration, lack of momentum and ok a little bit of annoyance at myself. This process and the amount of editing it is taking to get the start of book two “just right”. I’m my own stinking version of Goldilocks not finding that perfect bed or bowl of porridge and I needed just to get it out of my head, onto the pages of this computer and out into the universe. Journaling has always been therapeutic for me, and many counselors see it is a significant step in the therapeutic process to lead to positive change. Alex is also quite a journalist herself in The Alex Conner Chronicles and boy does she need it!
So this is the weekend I forge ahead, so get ready my shadow reading buddy and my fabulous editor…I’m ready to kiss this rut good-bye, to Trust my instincts and push on…more chapters are coming your way!
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