Ann’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2015)

Ann’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

I want to smoke a fake pipe too!! And I'm pretty sure that is one of the perks of being an author. . .that and getting a crazy hair style and wearing some ridiculous clothes jewelry. . .right? Because that's my plan. . .

V.M. wrote: "My favourite (Cdn - yeah that's how we spell it) part of being an author is that I now have an excuse to smoke a fake pipe and MUAHAHAH at my enem... wait, that's a supervillain... hmm... I think w..."

All right fellow authors,

In an attempt to get to know one another and grow closer as a group, I'd like to hear from everyone on this. What is:

1) Your favorite part about being an author?
2) Your LEAST favorite part about being an author?

Mine? I love escaping reality and creating my own. I hate editing. HATE HATE HATE editing. More than anything.

Your turn!

Oh, I hear that! I have a system in place with two proof readers. One who looks for errors and one who reads for inconsistencies and overall flow. :) I always miss something.

P.D. wrote: "Make sure that you give it a couple of 'rests'. Make your changes, then let it sit for a month or more before going back to re-read it. Then you will be able to read it with fresher eyes, and catch..."

My tone is definitely off. My issue, I think, is that I've switched my layout around. I felt that I gave away too much too soon. But I wrote what is now the first section, with the readers already knowing the "big secret" so to speak. I think that is my main problem. Now that I've switched it around, the reader is completely in the dark until section two.

Matthew wrote: "The snowflake method is good.

Also, when working on tone, in addition to the narrative voice, I would pay close attention to the setting and how that can condition tone.

Best,
Matt"

Thanks so much!! This is really helpful! I will check out the Snowflake Method.

P.D. wrote: "Sometimes you can straighten a story out with just a few changes (add a new scene, tweak some descriptions and conversations, and so on), and sometimes you need to completely rewrite scene by scene..."

It's third.

Feel free to use this to vent frustrations about whatever you're currently working on.

I'll start. I'm currently editing my full length version of Hollow Towns and I just realized that my first section (about 100 pages) is all wrong. I have to completely revise the tone. I'm so frustrated that I've been ignoring it for a week now and have, instead, been working on Dakota's story for Rehab for Superheroes.

Any suggestions??