Nothing of Value is Free

I realize the adage, "nothing in life is free," is true more often than not. I recently signed up for a free webinar for writers. The purpose of the class was to have a best selling author give some of his/her tips and tricks to write better stories. There was no guarantee that these tips would land you on a best seller list, but just some things that might help you craft your story.

The webinar was 90 minutes long. An hour and a half doesn't sound like a long time to invest in helping yourself write cleaner, better, and maybe quicker. The first 25 minutes consisted of 6 tips. Most of these have been around for a long time and anyone who's been working as a writer for any length of time has heard them before, probably many times before. The remaining 105 minutes was nothing but a sales pitch for the instructor's novel writing package priced at $1,997.00. Really. 

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time I've signed up for a free writing webinar where the content advertised is no where near what actually is presented. I've also attended webinars where the presenter uses the entire allotted time to plug his or her work. Most are just barely disguised "buy my book, buy my book" advertisements.

In the future, I'll think long and hard before I sign up for another free informational writing webinar.

This I know for sure...

I previously posted that I had received some sunflower seeds from a work related promotion. I planted them a while ago and they've started blooming. I wasn't sure if they would bloom as it took forever for them to develop any buds.

Here's a picture of one of the flowers -

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress):  Working hard on getting the revisions/edits completed on next 100 pages of Honor Bound.

Quote of the Week:  "When Fortune empties her chamber pot on your head, smile and say, 'We are going to have a summer shower.'" ~ John A. MacDonald.   I'm trying to be more optimistic, but I don't think I will ever be this optimistic. 😲

What I'm Reading: I'm currently reading Fuel For Fire by Julie Ann Walker. This is the 10th book in the Black Knights Inc. series.

Random Thoughts: I've been nursing along a cucumber plant since late May. It had only one leaf for a long time. It now has about 6 big leaves and finally, finally a flower. Even if the flower doesn't lead to a cucumber, I'm still thrilled that the plant is going to make it after all.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                                            Sibling Love 

Plotting Along

Or should the title of this post be "Plodding Along?" Heaven knows it's taking me forever to do the revisions/edits on Honor Bound. I am still on track to complete all the revisions by the end of July. It's a miracle, I know.

I'll be starting the revisions/edits and rewrites on the second book in the series the first full week of August. No title for that manuscript yet. I just refer to it as Vince's story. I'm terrible at coming up with titles. My goal is to have the revision/editing process on this manuscript completed by the end of October.

I also want to start working on the third book in the series. The opening scene is already written. I've learned I cannot write a draft from beginning to end without doing any revisions as I go along otherwise the editing/revising process takes me waaaaay too long. That being said, I'll be doing revisions to the third book as I write it.

I don't normally use a detailed plotting format when writing a first draft, but I don't really fly by the seat of my pants either. I sort of do a combination of the two. I write out two or three sentences for each chapter to help keep me on track. For the third book, I really want to try using a more detailed outline. I hope to be able to work on the outline a couple of days each week while I'm doing the revisions on Vince's story.

I'm planning on the plot outline being maybe seven to ten pages. Or I might try using index cards. I have a friend who writes out two to three index cards per chapter plus extra cards for major turning points, relationship growth, etc. She then puts the cards in order that she thinks the story will flow. There have been times where she's moved a card from one chapter to another earlier or later in the story. I like the idea of being able to rearrange things without having to cross out or use arrows on a page to indicate something being moved from one point in the manuscript to another.

With school supplies coming on sale soon, this might be a great time to pick up some index cards and give this method a try.

This I know for sure...

I hate having my picture taken and will avoid it all costs. Because of this, I'm very careful about taking someone else's photo, always asking if it's okay first. The funny thing is that I like taking pictures. Usually though the photos are of my cats, the bunny that lives in my neighborhood, the flowers in my garden, and any other strange things I come across.

Here's an example of that. I came across this "creature" in the middle of an aisle at one of our local supermarkets.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress): The revisions/edits of first 150 pages of Honor Bound are complete. 

Quote of the Week: "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." ~ James Michener

What I'm Reading: I'll be starting No One But You by Brenda Novak this evening. My sister just finished it and pressed it on me, telling me I had to read it.

Random Thoughts: I found a new stamp company, SugarPea Designs. I ordered my first order from them and am eagerly waiting for it to be delivered. I'm hoping it will come by the Friday so I can use some of the stamp sets for a couple of birthday cards I'll be making this weekend.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                    Somebody's ready for his close up. 😉

A Lesson Learned

When I was just starting the first draft of Honor Bound, the manuscript I'm currently revising, a fellow author mentioned she writes the first draft from start to finish without doing any editing or revising. She called it her sh*tty, down and dirty first draft. She finds it easier to get her story written this way and she can usually finish the first draft in three months or less.

At her suggestion I wrote the initial draft of Honor Bound this way. I set it aside to rest for a couple of months so I would be able to do any revisions with fresh eyes. During that time, I wrote the second book in the series the same way. After completing the second book, I went back to Honor Bound to start the revising/editing process.

As many of you know, I've been struggling with the process. Revisions have taken much longer than they ever did on the previous two books I've published. While writing those first two books, I revised and did editing as I went along. I would make any changes my critique partner suggested that I agreed with a couple of days after meeting with her. Each day when I sat down to write, I would take the first 20 minutes or so to read the previous day's writing and make any changes I deemed necessary. Working in this manner made the revision process seem easier and much, much quicker because a lot of the editing/rewriting was done during the writing of the book.

Every writer has their own process to get a manuscript to a publishable state.  Having written a book in both ways, I have learned that writing a quick and dirty first draft just doesn't work for me. It takes me four times as long (at least) to get a manuscript to the place where I'm ready to send it out to beta readers.

While I don't regret trying something new when writing a book, I'll stick to works best for me. In the future, I'll be revising and editing the manuscript as I'm writing the story.

This I know for sure...

I don't put a lot of stock in horoscopes, but I do like to read mine in the local newspaper every day. The following is what it said a few days ago:

"The main determinant of today's outcome will be your will. Your ability or inability to accomplish a thing is defined only by your inner determination to do so. If you want it badly enough, you'll do what it takes."

I wrote it down on an index card and keep it next to my writing area as a form of motivation. So far it seems to be helping me stay on track.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work In Progress): I only managed to get a few pages revised/edited last week. I had a relative come into town and stay for the first part of last week thru the 4th of July holiday. It was nice to spend time with her. I'm working hard this week to make up for last week's lack of forward momentum. 

Quote of the Week:  "Castles are built one brick at a time. Build a little the best you can every day and one day, you'll have a beautiful creation." ~ Unknown

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Wild Ride by Julie Ann Walker. It's the 9th book in the Black Knights Inc. series. 

Random Thoughts: I'm currently watching Instinct. It was on Sunday nights and is done for the season, but I read somewhere that it's been renewed for a second season. I DVR'd the episode each week and am a couple of weeks behind. While it's a detective show with a who done it mystery every week, it has a lighter side to it and most of the murders take place off screen so it's not bloody or gory.

Random Photo of the Week:

                            Somebody unsuccessfully trying to hide from his sister.
 

Still Learning Balance

I mentioned in a previous post that I'm working really hard to finish the last of the revisions and edits on my current WIP, Honor Bound by the end of this month. I also have four birthdays and one wedding anniversary coming up from July 25th through August 1st all for close family members that I need to make cards for.

I don't usually do any writing/revisions on the weekends so I can spend time with family. I'm hoping to use a couple of hours on the upcoming Saturdays and/or Sundays to work on the cards. This way I can focus on revisions and edits during the week and still have time to get the cards made before I have to start mailing them out.

I usually focus on one thing to the detriment of other things. With the above plan in place, I should be able to get everything done within the necessary time frame. (Fingers crossed otherwise a someone or two may end up with store bought cards.)

This I know for sure...

It's been in the mid 90's with unbearable humidity putting the heat index for each day over 100 degrees for the last week. We're getting a bit of a break this weekend with temperatures in the 80's, but the forecast for next week is back in the 90's with high humidity.

I try really hard not to complain about the heat for two reasons. The first, but less important reason is that I complain about the winter - not the cold so much as the snow and ice, and treacherous commutes to work and home. Who wants to listen to someone complain about the weather all the time regardless of the season? Also I love the summer. I can go outside barefoot, without a coat, or layers of long underwear, jeans, t-shirts, and sweaters and such. And I love waking up to beautiful sunny mornings.

The more important reason I try not to complain about heat is summed up perfectly in the picture below -

4th of July

                                                         Happy 4th of July!

July Already?

When I was a kid, even in high school, the summer break seemed to last forever. Now it seems like summer, or the nicer weather, is here and gone in a blink of an eye and winter, or the crappy weather, lasts forever.

As I was driving to work last Friday, it dawned on me the first half of 2018 is already over. It's gone by way too fast. I started thinking about the goals I set for 2018 and where I am in relation to meeting those goals. It turned out to be a very depressing commute.

I am well behind where I should be in my writing goals. I should have had the revisions for the book I'm working on completed in April at the latest. Here is it July and I'm still working on it. I'm going to work hard to get it completed by the end of this month. I can then revise the next book in the series. If I can get that finished by October, then I'll be back on track to meet my goals by the end of the year.