Welcome

[Alison]

Hello everyone and welcome to the group.

I shall be answering questions you might have, to do with Writing, Characters, Publishing, Editing and Plot; or even something else in Whispers on the Wind.

I thought it would be nice if you introduce yourself on the thread and let me know if you're a reader, a writer, reviewer or if you do all three!

I am looking forward to your questions!

[Laura]

Hi Alison.
Thanks for the invite.

I just came back from reading about Ari's story.
The description is intriguing.

I am a reader and reviewer and I am always looking for something new to read.

I like the idea of an ancient family curse. I always hope for the best and I like a happy ending. Doesn't mean I always get one, but that is what keeps me reading and hoping.

I have not read your novel yet, but it is now on my TBR and I hope to get to it soon.

[Alison]

Laura wrote: "Hi Alison.
Thanks for the invite.

I just came back from reading about Ari's story.
The description is intriguing.

I am a reader and reviewer and I am always looking for something new to read.

I..."

Hi Laura.
I'm so glad that you found the description intriguing. I try to write it as a reader, if that makes sense, because I want to feel like even I am drawn in by the blurb. It's so important to hook people with the description, but of course only if what is inside lives up to it!
I hope for happy endings too, I always want one, but sometimes I'm really happy when I don't get it because it makes the story that much more powerful -the novel I'm working on at the moment is swaying between two endings!
I really hope you enjoy my novel! I hope you'll pop back with any questions or just to let me know what you thought.

[Andrea]

Hey Ali,
I was wondering where you went to find your editor? I'm thinking about using lulu.com's editing services when I finish my rough draft. Wasn't sure if that's what you used too.

[Alison]

Hi Andrea,
Well what I did was first pass edit myself, that way I caught any confused meanings and typos I could see. Then I passed it to a friend, who has various English degrees/experience with editing, she beta read it to pick up various errors or lost meanings.
Then my editor was one of my old friends who had moved abroad to teach English in Germany for part of her degree and came back over for summer. So I got to reconnect with an old friend and we had so much fun editing. Then after editing it went through two more passes with both of us, then one more with me.
I think I was just lucky I knew the right people.
Although I think Tracy does some editing stuff. I may be wrong but I think I heard her say that before.
So I would recommend asking people you know first who have some experience and then perhaps sending it off to an editing service, because it will save you a lot of money that way.
Sorry if that wasn't helpful.

[Andrea]

Alison wrote: "Hi Andrea,
Well what I did was first pass edit myself, that way I caught any confused meanings and typos I could see. Then I passed it to a friend, who has various English degrees/experience with ..."

That's really awesome that your friend could help you out and that the two of you could spend time together!
I'm hoping to have the rough draft finished during November. It's looking like this story might be around 65K (I've never written that large of a story before!). It might even be a bit longer, not sure yet. But after November I think I'll go through it myself and then find people I know to read over it and then go from there. It will be pretty expensive to use an editing service but I think it might be worth it in the long run.
Thanks for replying Ali! It was helpful :)

[Ruth]

Hi Alison.
Thanks for the invite.
I'm a reader and I participated in the cover reveal for WHispers on the Wind!
I hope to get the chance to read your book ASAP.
Ruty

[Alison]

Hi Ruty,
Thanks so much for taking part in the cover reveal for Whispers on the Wind: Ari's Story, it was a great help.
Me too, I'll be excited to hear what you think!
Hope you enjoy it!

[Mark]

Hey Alison.