Category Bit of everything

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. 🙂 

Mar 10 2014

Promise

I will get back to regular posting when the beta reading session is over. 3 books in 5 weeks. Is huge for me… Especially trying to get everything else in, in my my life too. 

 

🙂 

Feb 22 2014

Sat – 22/2/14

So, this week was a kick start back into positive thinking. 

I started off taking part in a beta read for a new group I’m in on Scribophile. http://www.scribophile.com/authors/dawn-chapman/ This was what helped me lots. I actually forced myself to concentrate this week on just the three projects. This for me is a ‘huge’ thing. As I am constantly over stretching myself. So yeah, I read the 100k book. I wrote over 10k in critique for it and we’re now discussing plot points and my thoughts in the group setting. 

My second project is that for The Pandoran Age Chronicles, http://pandoranage.com this takes up lots of little bits of time, because I’m learning all about Ibook publishing. I’ve never attempted anything like this before. And Scrivener, is a tool which I’m finding excellent in helping out. It’s just so organised. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pandoran-Age-Chronicles/331690376852755

The tiny issues within in the book itself are all spacing. Trying to keep everything in uniform and perfect against the look of the book. I can’t fault the artwork or the idea behind Dante’s world. And I’m honoured to be part of this project. I am essentially learning as I am going along here. It’s all good though, and hopefully will look good when I get to release it for the team. 

My own project, I worked on through the week with EJ Runyon, https://www.facebook.com/BridgetoStory?fref=ts and I’ve got some time later today to also edit. It’s been a really validating couple of weeks. I’m part of a group left over from nanowrimo which has managed to actually keep to a strict weekly meeting scenario and the guys there read a random chapter for crit last sat, to which I was humbled and happy for the comments to come back. (I annoy the heck out of copy editors though eeek) lesson learned, but the strong part is, the battle scene worked with minor things to add in. 

EJ’s session was also really good, every week working with her is great. I learn something all the time, and it’s really translating to my writing. This is wonderful to hear, because it isn’t just an investment of time and money, its for the future of the whole project/franchise. 

—-

 

Weigh in results this week, also validated everything I’ve been striving for, with the ‘blip week’ on my monthlies out the way, this weeks weight loss was double. Muscle and Bone up, age back down, fat loss really down. I’m much happier in myself. From the start of this year and getting fitter, I’m now back to the weight I was before I broke my elbow and a stone off. Awesome. I just need to keep believing in the plan and let the people at the wellness centre do what is best for me. 

I will admit though that Dave the personal trainer there, put me through my paces this morning. Huge thanks 🙂 

Got to get back to it… 

 

Dawn x x