Monthly Archives: April 2014

Apr 30 2014

Weigh in day.

Well I kinda knew this one was coming, but oh well, we had a fantastic birthday and anniversary weekend, plus I drank far too much and couldn’t go the gym, but having said that. I only put on 1lb and put muscle on too, lost a little water weight, but it’s hot here and I keep forgetting to drink more. I had my measurements done and lost 8” in total there. Which is amazing. I’m still totally thrilled with the loss so far and the gym is brill. Just need to get back into it after a week off. Not so easy! 

Been a busy, busy week again. With s few issues with the pond, and sorting out things at home with new phones. Nothing ever goes right does it…. bonkers busy my life at the moment, but it’s all good. 🙂 promise. 

Catch you soon. 

x x 

Apr 28 2014

My writing process blog tour – me

This week it’s my turn to host the popular Writing Process Blog Tour that many of my scribe friends have been taking part in. I was nominated by a great writer whose blog I follow regularly. Cat Lumb over at http://catlumb.com Please go check out her blog it’s awesome.

What I am currently working on?

Well as some of you know my current writing project is The Secret King – Book 1 – Lethao.  For those that don’t know about it, here is the short blurb.

With their sun dying faster than they had expected and Kendro’s energy reserves faltering. The King has no other choice but to order their evacuation early.

As pandemonium ensues and thousands of Aonise flee their planet, Kendro is visited by the Royal Seer, Wez. He informs the king that the Zefron, their ancient enemy, will continue to hunt them down. Destroying three of their four ships and leaving them floating in space, never to reach a new home.

Determined to thwart this possible future, Kendro battles with every decision he makes. Leading his species broken but triumphant to the edge of Earth’s solar system.

How does my work differ from others of it’s genre?

I’ve been told that because of my screenwriting background that I handle multiple pov and characters very well. I’d like to think this is true, but its complicated and sometimes hard to keep track of everyone. Without the use of Scrivener, I doubt I would be as far along in the process as I am. Just getting out of a beta read was inspirational and I owe a huge thanks to those in the Ubergroup over on http://www.scribophile.com

Scribophile is a writing critique site where we all help each other to be the best writers we can. I was very lucky and while reading blogs on here last year. I came across a promotional posting where the author gifted the first two people to reply a membership to Scribophile. I never thought 12 mths on I would be almost polished to perfection and ready to start querying! It’s been the best 12 mths ever and I’ve made some life long friends there.

Why do I write what I do?

I write what I do, because I love the characters. TSK started out in my head as a dream, back in 2007. It began as a feature film, turned into a 13 episode TV series, which I co wrote some of the episodes with a fantastic guy, Stephen Kogan. It wasn’t till 2010 when I got my first ‘consider’ on it that I started to get it out there more and those characters weren’t happy just being in a TV series, they wanted to branch to stories too, so I wrote my first book (which happens to be book 4)

Yes, I know, I’ve probably spent too long on the one project, but life got in the way (eating disorders do that) so as a TV series, and now looking at a trilogy. I’m very happy with the work I’ve done on it, and other projects, paid projects count too. 🙂 I’ve had some fantastic opportunities in the last two years.

With Best Friends our web series, https://www.facebook.com/bestfriendstvseries?fref=ts And working with Dante D’Anthony on The Pandoran Chronicles Franchise. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pandoran-Age-Chronicles/331690376852755?fref=ts

How does my writing process work?

I can write quick, the first draft of Lethao started in Nov, for Nanowrimo, and completed in Dec 2012, just in time for my birthday.

The second drafts take me longer because essentially I’m a script writer, so I’ve got into the ‘bare’ minimum side to writing. Novels, need a lot more so I found EJ. Runyon over at http://www.bridgetostory.com/blog/?url=/blog and she’s been coaching me on a weekly basis to get the best out of TSK that I can. She’s a wonderful woman to work with, passionate about her job and her clients writing. I will be keeping hold of her tightly as good people to work with are hard to find.

Write quick, edit, edit, edit, workshop it. Edit and then beta it 🙂

There you go, me in a nutshell. I’d like to say I’ve had lots of time this week to approach the people I’d like to nominate, but I really haven’t. Work’s been very busy and so has life after it. It’s been our Wedding Anniversary (16 years married) and my husbands 54th birthday.

So here, are those I’d like to nominate, I hope you go check them out and that the 5th May, they’ll have some lovely answers to the questions posed above.

 

EJ Runyon over at Bridge to Story, she’s a talented writer as well as a coach – http://www.bridgetostory.com

Maegan Provan at – http://authormaeganprovan.com

Candace Johnson – Change it up editing at – http://changeitupediting.com

 

Thanks for stopping by, happy writing.

 

Apr 27 2014

The beta reading results

I wanted to chat a bit more today about this last few months. Those that know and follow me, know TSK has been in a beta read. This was really enlightening, but also hard work.

These are some of the comments coming through, I thought I’d share some, and then let you in on how I’m looking at the editing process, especially in regards to some of the bigger issues pointed out.

Wow! you start right in the action. I am really invested in the storyline and the you’ve done a great job with the characters of Kendro and Mika. I’m having a hard time seeing them because you don’t really have much physical description of anyone. They are clearly not human, but are they supposed to be roughly human?

This was a comment that a couple out of my readers flagged. I wasn’t including enough ‘physical’ description. So, to combat this I spent a day working through each characters introduction and how they look as well as their specific birthmarks and colours.

Name confusion, I think you need to stick with DOCTOR BRIE or DOCTOR KATYA and never call her the other except maybe in intimate or angry moments with their significant others. When you have whole sections where they’re called one thing, and then break to another name, it can make the reader stop reading for a moment, trying to figure out what’s going on. The same thing applies to Octav, Hadi, and many other characters.

 

This one is a little more difficult. But with the help of S & R  I can use highlight to help point out discrepancies, and go chapter by chapter. It’s just time consuming, but so I don’t confuse anyone, it’s very important.

 

I think the story has a lot of loose ends by its completion. What happened to Dalamaar? What happened to the Lady? What happened to the pendant Emmi had?(I think that was her name) What happened with Doctor Brie’s second chance at having a baby.

I’m guessing that these questions are all answered in a Book 2 of this story. If so, I still think each of the loose ends must somehow be mentioned in the last chapter. That way we know to hold on and come back for more.

 

 

Already been working on this one and it’s added an extra dimension to the ending. 🙂 I kind of think I’ve outdone myself with this, but that’s bragging. I don’t usually do that at all.

One of the biggest things I did learn was to stick to my gut with my characters. Although I’ve got some work still left to do, it was comments like this which made me smile and know I’m onto a winner.

UGH. The End are two of my least favourite words when I’m reading a book I’m enjoying. And rest assured, I ENJOYED TSK. Fucking nicely done. I have total plot prowess envy.

I have some wrap-up comments but I’m going to take the night to sleep on them and will return with my last post in the morning with (hopefully) a nice, hot cup of coffee.

 

And…

OMG!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE ITS OVER! Can you please write the second one now? I want to know what happens! Gaaaaaah!

Alrighty, let’s go through it. I won’t comment on dialogue as I never really felt anything was out of place in the way they spoke.

 

So, I’m continuing onwards. Polishing, tweaking and editing. I just wanted to share some of the great comments that you can get when on a beta read. And some of the things people can pick up. Overall, I’m very happy with it, and would do it again. Although I wouldn’t ask the readers to re-read after the edits, that’s up to me to fix everything I think needs working on. Big decisions ahead, and some work. It’s all worth it though.

🙂

Apr 18 2014

been so quiet.

I can’t believe it’s been near a month since I posted. The time goes so, so fast. I’ve been so busy with the beta reads, which I do seriously want to post about. What I learned, what I’m moving forward with, but I’m too snowed under with everything else in life to pause. 

It is not a bad thing. 

I reached my first goal with my weight loss. 🙂 So I need to keep focussed on that, eat well and exercise. 

I’ve had some sick fish to look after, a pond with some water issues. And a head full of characters screaming at me to carry on with their story. 

Life of a writer huh! 

 

Brilliant. 🙂