Isaac’s Comments (group member since Apr 09, 2017)

Isaac’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Same. The second one feels a little campy.

I am ashamedly bad at having a complete picture of my characters' physical appearances. Even in my mind's eye, they are fragmented or vague shapes. Key or differentiating features, such as age, stature, big nose, bushy mustache, etc. are there, but I couldn't tell you every single aspect of what they look like. And those important pieces, the bits that lend themselves to the character's mannerisms or behavior, I share with the reader.

As for names, it depends how you like to do names. There are countless "random name generators" on the internet, some with genre preferences, that you can pick and choose from. If you want your names to have meaning, try a baby names website or, my personal favorite, Behind the Name. You can always use a name placeholder until you come up with a better name, but some authors (myself included) find it difficult to really dig into a character without a name.

I deeply relate to this problem. While my books would all generally fall under "historical mystery," there is quite a bit of cross-genre stuff going on. It can be a bit confusing. On top of all that, my books take place in an alternate history, so I feel like calling it "historical" can be a bit deceptive.
Genre's are incredibly helpful for categorizing books or explaining interests, but as an author, choosing one genre is almost as bad as having to write a synopsis!

All I can say is thank goodness MS word doesn't have autocorrect to the same degree as our phones. I feel like so many incoherent sentences would just slip by.

Carole wrote: "Really you bring a powerful part of yourself when you don't update yourself- it's so real and wonderful when people read about someone they can identify with themselves- it's such a nice feeling. O..."

What a beautiful perspective!
I have to admit, I started a blog with the intention of using it as an advertising medium. However, within a week I have already begun to feel the effects of having a place to openly discuss (even if only to a handful of people) who I am as an author. It is very liberating to spend a few hours each week just describing my thoughts and feelings about writing, giving the world so much more than a 5-sentence bio could, and with so much more context. I definitely recommend it!

I'm not great with technology either, but I've managed to update it so non-wordpress users can follow via email notifications. It should work..... I hope.

Ellis wrote: "I don't have a time of day. What I do know, and it sounds like others here are saying the same thing, is that interruptions kill creativity. It doesn't matter whether the interruption comes from ou..."

Also yes. Sometimes you just have to make a little writing cave where nobody and nothing can bother you. Then you emerge several hours later, pale-skinned and hunched over, displaying a stack of manuscript pages while hissing, "I made this!"

Thanks R.! I gave you a follow back!

My day job takes up a lot of time, so really I can only write during the evenings. Which is fine by me! The dark suits me (plus it's easier to go a couple of hours without distraction).

But my ideas come to me all throughout the day. Which can be... frustrating. Like when I'm at work, exercising, out with friends, sleeping, etc. I'm sure most of you can relate.

I'm hoping it's worth all the effort! My brain is not used to writing little articles/posts, but all I have to do is a little reprogramming and imagine I'm ranting to my friends.

Thanks Carole! I'm not the most tech-savvy, but Wordpress is fairly user-friendly and I think I'm getting what I need out of it.

Hey all,
This is my new blog, fresh off the (word)press! I'm trying to grow my following in anticipation of publishing my first novel *hopefully* soon, so stop by and I'll be happy to check out yours! If you have any comments on the blog itself, I'd appreciate those as well.

https://isaacalder.wordpress.com/

I think the only thing that could possibly be an issue is if you happen to share a title AND a similar story. Maybe see what those other books with the same title are about, just to be safe?

Your story is unique, and that's what blurbs/covers are for. Titles are hard; sometimes harder than actually writing the book. And as most everyone here has pointed out, there are really only so many titles in the world. Between books, movies, TV shows, music, etc. etc. the odds are not in our favor. But every book is an individual, and as L.E. has proven, a determined reader will find you no matter what!

It never even occurred to me it sounded like it was outer space! It kinda does though. So far my novels all span various points roughly between 1870-1920, so more or less historical fiction (just not our history).
A location-based name is feasible, although the war pretty much consumes all of Europe. Hence why "The Great War" was a solid choice, except real life already stole that from me. Another thread suggested something like "Pan-Europa War."
Thanks for all the help everyone! I really appreciate it!

Ah, it also may help to know about the logic behind each name. They aren't just made up for giggles.
Triskele/Triskelion = Two different names for the same symbol motif. Greek roots meaning "three-legged." The symbol is three spirals or other "appendages" rotating into a middle meeting point.
Triperium = Latin roots meaning "three-empires." No known historical context/made up by yours truly.
Triperion = Alternative spelling/adaptation of Triperium. Also made up by me.
Triquetra = Latin roots meaning "three-cornered." Symbol is three leaf shapes overlapping, often interwoven, to form a triangle. Adding a circle makes the familiar Celtic Knot. Symbol is common in multiple religions.
Don't know if that helps your decision, just letting y'all know!

Hey all!
So, I have a fun little dilemma on my hands here. I can't think of a name for a war. I'm sure we've all had trouble with names at least once before, so please take pity on me and share some of your wonderful opinions!

A little background: All of my novels take place in an alternate history of our world, where the main divergence is that the Holy Roman Empire thrived for far longer and managed to unify most of Western Europe. Then, it collapsed. Three of the major states who rose from the ashes (for simplicity's sake think of them as Spain, Italy, and Germany) developed some territory issues and eventually wage a massive war on each other. Anyway, this war is a huge historical event that impacts most of my novels. But I can't decide on a name! I called it "The Great War," but I have had overwhelming feedback saying this confuses the "fake-ness" of the history, and only makes the reader unsure of the setting (it conjures up ideas of WWI, which is not too far off in terms of scale and timing). I've come up with a list of alternatives.
Triskele War
Triskelion War
Triperion War
Triperium War
Triquetra War
Any feedback or opinions would be much appreciated! Thank you all in advance!!!!

Hailing from California! I write gothic historical fiction, and my drink of choice is usually bourbon on the rocks.

The second blurb is much much better. In fact, I'd say you've got your blurb right there! The only adjustment I would consider is maybe connecting some of those truncated sentences. However, that's a personal preference call; so long as the blurb is in "your style," it's right.

A fantastic adjustment Theodore, thank you very much!
My genre is more of a dark fiction/modern gothic. Although I wouldn't say it is or isn't YA (because honestly I have no idea where the lines for that genre are...).

It is a little tacked on, C.L., but I'm not sure how to avoid that. Not only is it a prominent aspect of the novel, but I feel like the killer provides one of the bigger "hooks" of the blurb.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this, but I was hoping for some feedback on the blurb for my (first!) novel, Tragedy of a Setting Sun. Thanks everybody in advance, I really appreciate it!

The only life Sebastian has ever known is within the confines of “The World of the Grotesque,” a travelling carnival and freak show. The motley cast and his single mother are the only family he has ever known, and for eleven years he has been quite content. That is, until a beautiful young girl lures him away from the carnival. Through her, Sebastian enters under the tutelage of an eccentric chemist who may hold secrets about the father he never knew. When the untimely arrival of a determined inspector drives the three friends back to the carnival, Sebastian must choose between his new friends and his old family, all while a mysterious and brutal killer begins targeting members of the carnival.

Isaac here, happy to join the group! Looking forward to some awesome give-and-take with other indie authors