Why networking is important

I read alot of other author's blogs. I don't often comment--sometimes because I have nothing to say but "Great post!" and others because there's no reason to comment. Such as a review. (Unless it's mine in which case I'll thank the reviewer.) But with reviews on other's works, I've read the blogger's words and either liked them (and the book) enough to put it on a To Buy list or didn't and will skip it.

But there's so much else out there! News on the publishing world, on what other authors are doing, on who signed with whom or who didn't sign with anyone to self-publish a novel.

That is the main reason I follow so many blogs and spend so much time reading posts on Twitter. Becasue it's important to keep up with the industry I work for. You might say writers work for themselves, but if the publishing industry isn't an industry, then what is it? A mish-mash of hapless people struggling to make a buck? Hardly.

It's a career just as any other. As a librarian I keep up with the latest books, movies, magazines, as well as budget news, state-wide happenings, and county-wide information. If I was a doctor I'd keep up with the latest research in my chosen field. So why not as a writer?

And that's why it's important to network. Even if all you do is 'Like' someone's Facebook post or retweet someone's Twitter posting. Gets your name out, their name out, and maybe it helps another author learn the latest bit of news.

(Picture taken on a Google Image search, from the site Rahmatan lil 'Alamin (Blessing for All Creation) Global Counter-Extremism Network because I liked it best.)

From the Grammar Divas

I subscribe to their email newsletter and in this is their latest. Thought I'd spread the good-will grammar. And I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter.

Misplaced Modifiers: How Not To Lose Your Reader

A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is not placed close enough to the word it describes to be clear.

Confusing: The waitress served ice cream to everyone in bowls.

Wow! Everyone had to get in bowls in order to get their ice cream?

To fix, place the modifier as close to the words it modifies as possible.

Better: The waitress served ice cream in bowls to everyone.

Sentences like this are common in conversation. But they are imprecise. So they have no place in your fiction.

Note: misplaced modifiers can be hard to find in revision. Why? Because you, the writer, already know what you’re trying to say. Your mind “sees” what you intend to say. The reader, however, does not want to do your job.

What was then

I can't believe how much I've learned writing-wise in 3 years. (In other things, too, but let's stick with writing.)

Just recently I read over In the Shadows, my Civil War novella. Coming in at 10,838 words it's one of the shorter stories I've done. It's also one of the weakest. I know what happened, it fell into the category of the write until the end and be done with it.

Since then, I've learned 2 very valuable things: Plot out your stories to the finest scene. (If that isn't your way #2 is even more important). Know your characters.

The end of In the Shadows is much stronger than the beginning. Why? I know who Jack & Marion were by the end. In the beginning, not so much and it reflects my lack of knowledge.

I'll be spending the next 2 weeks adding to this story, both in content and character development. When it's finished, I know it'll read so much better!

Things I learn from Twitter

I'm pretty up on the news from world headlines to local nonesense. But I rely on twitter for book-world stuff. Like the person using a real agent's name to contract books (so not cool) or even literary deaths.

But here's acouple things from yesterday afternoon:

douglassonders Douglas Sonders: Calling All Beards! Casting For New Facial Hair Personal Portrait Series http://t.co/GeYEHMX

VAStateParks Virginia State Parks: On 08/04/2011 At Hungry Mother - Snake Rattle and Whoa! http://dlvr.it/cXXmy

Dhympna Dhympna du Maurier: I tested my vocab and know 39,400 words -- how about you? #testyourvocab http://t.co/ZKpmyBJ

Georg_Grey Georg Grey: A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

CarinaPress Carina Press:Did you add your opinion? You tell us: what should a digital book be priced? http://bit.ly/oScuzU

 

For that last one you really should!!

On taking things in stride

I am not a laid back person by any means. I enjoy relaxing and there are days when it's better to flop on the couch than to anything. But when it comes to my writing, I'm very much the push-push-push type of gal.

Writing is not an industry where push actually works. It takes a long time for things to manifest. You write the book. Finished! But THE END is only the beginning in this long trip.

By taking things in stride, by not trying to change the unchangeable, it makes for a healthier, happier, and more productive work strategy. And life. Because let's face it, somethings (and people) can't be changed.

So as you're working on your next book while you wait for word on that one you just finished, remember: Sure, it's better to have another offering to agents/publishers/readers but it's better to step back, take a deep breath, and remember you're only in control of so much.

Guest: David Brown

Today my guest is David Brown with his first novel, Fezariu's Epiphany, thoughts on writing full-time, and 6 cats. Well, maybe not the cats. They could be keeping watch from the windowsill or standing guard around his computer. They might chime in, but that's for David and his feline friends to decide. I'm open to the possibility.

Writing full-time is my ultimate dream and with the release of my debut novel, Fezariu’s Epiphany, in May I am hoping I’ll be making the first steps towards fulfilling that dream. I’m not a greedy person, you
understand. In fact I’d gladly earn just enough to cover the bills through writing and that would be perfect for me.

In those moments when I get ahead of myself with daydreams I imagine being a full-time writer and having a small house in the country but one with plenty of land. My wife, Donna, and I have six cats and only one likes to go out at the moment but it would be nice to leave the door open for all of them and not have to worry about busy main roads.

I think my daily routine would comprise of waking up mid-morning and after a hearty breakfast taking a walk in the local area, maybe to some nearby woodland, to clear my head and exercise the dogs which I hope we would have at that point. After a long walk it would be back to the house for lunch and then the afternoon would be devoted to writing, whether it was short stories, the latest novel or a handful of blogs.

In the evening I’d take things a little easier. A glass of whisky and coke would suffice, the television would be on (probably repeats of Only Fools and Horses which always amuse) and I’d be on the laptop
doing a spot of Internet browsing for the latest news, using Twitter and Facebook and if it’s a Saturday cursing because Barnsley FC have just lost again.

That’s my dream at present and as things stand it’s a long way away at the moment. That won’t stop me from continuing to pursue my writing dream and whether I make it to that country house or not we’ll have to see. I’d gladly sacrifice that rural retreat for the guarantee of being able to write full-time. There’s nothing I’d rather do than write for a living and, believe me, I’ve tried many other jobs to convince me of that!

Book Blurb:

"The White Oak, Clarendon’s oldest brothel, lured and destroyed men by the thousands. Fezariu was different. He had never been drawn by the White Oak’s vices but the brothel had still ruined him when he was just a boy. 

Salvation came in the form of the Merelax Mercenaries – Elenchera’s most prestigious hired hands. They gave Fezariu the chance to escape from his past. Immersed in the world of dangerous assignments in the colonies Fezariu longed to forget everything about his childhood but only in facing the past would he ever be free of it."

Book trailer

Podcasts Purchase links: Kindle...Paperback...Kindle

Author bio: 

David Brown was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and first conceived the idea of the Elencheran Chronicles at college in 1999. He spent ten years compiling the history of Elenchera, resulting in 47,000+ years of events, 500+ maps, 2000+ pages, several short stories and many much-needed acquaintances with Jack Daniels.

David also has a blog, The World According to Dave, which features reviews, stories and dramatic tales of the horrors of owning cats.

David now lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, with his wife, Donna, and their six cats.

Fezariu's Epiphany is his first novel.

David's Twitter profile
GoodreadsBook trailerWebsite

4 Things Never to Think About Your Book

This was originally going to be FIVE things, but then I realized I could combine so it ended up being FOUR. Less of a round number but alas.


Over the last few weeks, I've re-read 2 of my short stories. Shorter stories I guess you'd call them. Shadow State and In the Shadows, the stories I recently received the rights back to. I've learned several things in those read-thrus

1. Editing is super important. That 3rd reading you really don't want to do? Do it. I can't believe I missed a couple mistakes! Misspelled words, missing quotations, weird spacing.

2. Give yourself time between readings. I once finished a story and started the read thru that evening. Wow, what a mistake! Not only was my brain fried, but it was stuck on the ending when I needed to read the beginning.

3. No word you've written is that great. No matter how cool it is, how literary, how well it fits with the theme or style of the book, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. If people are stumbling over just to pronounce it, if you can't spell it on your own, it does not belong!

4. Going off, no word you've written is that great, edit yourself. Just because you wrote it doesn't mean it's the best thing since Shakespeare. I'm all for choosing every word that fits, carefully crafting the sentence/paragraph/scene/chapter...but if it needs cutting do it.