New Ideas and Moving Forward

I am still here! I have been working on Lost Lady for some time. It is the novel that I am most motivated to work on so that is where my focus has been. My goal is to get the first draft completed, or at least very close to completion by the end of this month. There were some days off, and some days of hard writing where I knocked it out of the park!! I am extremely happy with my progress. I need to save my draft's more often. I am very familiar with the tragedy of computer errors.

I am using a method I don't usually do for this novel. I made plot cards. Each scene that I had a distinct plan for I put on a blank 3x5 index card and then I put them in order. As I write I move the cards from my to-do pile, to my done pile. I like this a bit better than a traditional outline because I have a brief idea of the scene already in front of me and I don't have to shuffle between word docs which causes me to lose my place and my  train of thought.

I'm also gearing up for NaNoWriMo. Mostly I am trying to get some of The Chronicles of Odde stuff panned out. I know a lot about the first few books, and some things about of the end ones, since I brain-stormed them rather recently, but the middle ones, starting with my next NaNoWriMo project, The Knave and the Rose, is still very vague.  I think I will start with more plot cards. I have a 150 word description that I uploaded to the NaNoWriMo website, but little more than that.

Here is the series blurb if you were interested:

The Chronicles of Odde tell of the Great Convergence. It is a time when the doors to another world are open.

Pulled from their mundane lives, these young woman are called to a new world full of magic and the unknown: The Kingdoms of  Odde. Here they must fend for themselves, and if they are brave enough and clever enough, an extraordinary destiny awaits.

Not too bad, but kind of vague. I still like it.

So on other fronts, my sister is working her way through the FINAL edit of The Beast of the Ruin. I just hope I gave her the most recent edit, and not some earlier edition. I hate to think of her running through all of that for nothing. She has also said that she will update the cover on that novel and my one officially published work, Ties of Fate: The Lost Continent.

Cover design is hard, but my sister makes it look easy with her Photoshop skills. The hardest part right now is trying to come up with an idea that we love, and not settling for something we like. The original cover for Ties of Fate is missing, so she made me a new one, which is in the same vein, but we both agree that it is not as good as the first. Now, we think that the idea of a sailing ship, while relevant to the book, is not exactly where we want to be for a young adult novel. The book is not so much about ships as a young princess's voyage. While very beautifully done, we think that there are some better ideas out there that will appeal more to my audience, and hopefully promote sales.

Question: Do you have an idea of the cover while your write? Do you look at popular novels and get ideas for you own  cover? Are there any tricks you use to choose your cover design?

 

Well, that's all for today, my friends! Write On!

What's on My Mind

If I were a rich  girl, nanananananaah! That's a lyric from a Gwen Stefani song, if you didn't know. It is rather ridiculous, the things that are taking up my time lately. For instance, I was thinking about all the things I would do if I won the lottery, or Publisher's Clearing House. I made a list. I made a list back when I was about 16, and truth be told, it hasn't changed much though I seem to want less stuff. Not that I would want a big party and blow all the money... No. I am rather frugal and practical. I would probably blow a large portion on books and movies. I do love both of those.

I'd like to think I would be very generous with my time and money, and I would probably buy a lot of things for other people, but not so for myself. Sigh. I'd be rather stingy. Anyway...

I have been working on real things as well. I am writing Lost Lady. Some parts I love, some parts are okay, and others didn't turn out quite like I had imagined them. Not that they are bad, only that they need some work. Then again, I am a perfectionist, though I am keenly aware of my own limitations.  I do believe my writing is getting better. I'm not sure if its "good," though some people have enjoyed reading my work. I can't say that they aren't more than a little biased.

I am thinking of a plot for my next NaNoWriMo project, the next book in the Chronicles of Odde Series. It's called The Knave and the Rose. I know that I should probably finish the last one before beginning something new, but I distract myself with new projects and that often helps when I am stuck on something else. If only writing would make money, some of my RL problems would be answered!

The reality now is that I need a job. Not want, or would like, but NEED. We are sinking further in debt, and I don't know how we can get out. Other people have stay at home jobs and are getting stuff done with some side income. How does that work? Where can I sign up? Stuff like that never seems to work for me. Am I looking in the wrong places? Obviously!

Being an adult really sucks some times. More often than not I want to go back to nap time, story time, and went someone else would cut the crusts off my sandwiches. What happened to all the plans and dreams I had? Not just in my childhood, but just out of high school, when the future was full of possibilities.  What happened to the promise of the open road, the blank page? Are they still there? Perhaps it's because I've come to see a lot of things as chores, or things I want but can't do because of arbitrary reasons. Maybe they are all still there, waiting for me to see them again, in the light of possibility. With Hope.

I'm rambling again. This post isn't really what I had planned, but I don't feel like making a new one, so here you go internet. Have at thee!

Good Luck, Good Night, and Write ON!

Long Time No See

Long time no see, readers! Yet again I have fallen off the wagon, broken my promise to myself and let this blog go unwritten day after day, after day. I'd like to say I have some really good excuses. And I do! I'd like to say that RL is so busy right now that I just didn't have the time, and who would know the difference, but in truth, I am lazy.

I've spent a week binging on romantic Korean dramas. I've spent countless hours on Pinterest and Facebook. I've had family come to visit and done a mad dash deep clean of my house to prove that I am a responsible adult, if only for the week that they are here.

I'd like to say that I have been working diligently on my writing, i.e. plotting, outlining, doodling at least, but that would be a lie. Just look at the statements above.

My sister, on the other hand, has obviously been reading the updates from NaNoWriMo and has started to get her notes together, to organize her random pieces of paper and prepare for November. I looked at her and felt a twinge. I am not sure if it is pride, envy, or laughter. Her writing style and methods are so far from my own that I wouldn't know where to begin. She is organized, in depth and well read on the topics she is including in her novel, a paranormal detective series. I am so proud of her, and yes, more than a little jealous. I love her bunches, but she seriously kicks my butt in this category.

My stories come out of my head and require little to no research, while my twin has spent countless hours reading about police procedures, FBI protocols, and medical practices. I would be surprised if she wasn't on some government list after everything that she's been looking up on the internet. She has completed book one and is currently outlining books two and three. I, on the other hand, have been ignoring my to-do lists and sleeping... a lot.

As anyone who reads this blog would know, I am currently taking care of my grandmother who had been ill and bedridden for over a year now. My sister and I take care of her; we are a team... Though unfortunately, not paid for our endeavors, we are living off my grandmothers income.. or should I say mooching. For someone with no job, and an extraordinary amount of free time on their hands, I get very little done; other than making a mess that is.

Depression set in a while ago, and while I am not in fear of my life, I am in fear of the future. I am in debt, tied to my home, with no income of my own except for a few part-time jobs. And writing stories that no one seems to want to read. I fear I am a failure at life. My 31st birthday is quickly approaching and I have very little to show for it. I have to constantly remind myself that there is still more to do, still more to my life. I am a day-dream, always have been and always will be. That skill has helped me imagine the worlds I write about, but I sometimes fear that my secret escape is eating up too much of my life.

Anyway, I seem to be turning this blog into my personal diary, which isn't what I intended it for whoever cathartic I might find the experience.

With this post I am starting something new. I am changing focus, kicking it into gear, and trying to reorganize my life, by organizing my days. Step one is to make goals. Step two, start making changes, step three is building habits, and after that who knows.

Wish me luck, Pray that everything goes well! And I will do the same for whoever is reading this post.

I know things get in the way, that we get side tracked and for one reason or another, getting back on the wagon seems too hard, but it's not impossible. I seem to spent more time trying to get back to my goals then actually working towards them, but I keep trying and that is what really matters. Small steps, little changes, and one more push! That's really all it takes.

To my fellow writers, to my readers, whoever you are, God Bless and Write On!

It isn't what it seems...

A lot has happened recently. Other than myself getting in the way of my own plans, there has also been some exciting developments.

Most of June was spent editing and formatting my novel, Ties of Fate: The Lost Continent. The crunch was due to the fact, as some of you may know, that I had a coupon for two free paperback editions of my book thanks to Createspace and NaNoWriMo. My sister had to make a new cover for the novel since her previous version was m.i.a. As you can guess, I got it done. Not only did I get my books, but my novel is now available in e-book at the Kindle store and in paperback format on amazon.com. Huzzah!

I took a few days off and then finished my full edit of The Beast of the Ruin. (Yes, I'm bragging about it...) It is now in my sister's court for a read through and to update the cover since I changed the title from My Dark Prince. It was her idea so she can't complain! I also started back up on another story, whose working title is Lost Lady. I am very motivated to complete this project, though in all honesty, I should be working on book two of the Chronicles of Odde: The Lost Prince.

I am not really liking the Lost Prince as a title. It is better than its previous incarnation: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not. Melli brought up the fact that some of my titles were a little too modern and didn't really fit with my genre. I agreed and tried to revamp the outlines. I have eight books in this series so far, most have very brief outlines, some plot points and character sheets but little more than a title. The book has sort of taken a different direction than what I had planned. I am not sure who my heroine will end up with. I guess I will have to finish the book to find out.

on another note, the publishing process was more difficult than I expected, but not in the areas I thought I would have trouble. Formatting my novel was a beast. I had to make it a pdf to save my special fonts, but every time I noticed something was off, I had to change it and save if again as a different pdf; I think I ended up with four in all. My map didn't want to fit in the novel after my sister tricked it out for me. My cover was too large in size, for the 40 MB max. We had to rescale it three times. I swear that if there are any errors I don't want to know. Okay, that's a lie. I hate spelling errors, so I'll just have to have someone else read it, mark the errors and then reload it all again.

The process of getting my book out there was remarkably easy (and free), especially with my sister's help with the cover and what not. The hard part, the part that actually costs money, is the marketing. While my book is available, no one is buying it because they don't know it is there. Unfortunately I don't have the funds to market it at the moment. My GoFundMe starter has stalled. My family and friends still haven't purchased the book, which makes me sad.. but I'll get over it!

So my question for today is: How do you come up with your titles? Do you wait until a novel is finished? Do you take it from some part of your book that speaks to you? Are you like me, and you title your work right out of the gate and then change it when needed?

Well, that's it for now. To my fellow writers, don't give up! I know it's long and hard process, and sometimes being a published author isn't exactly what you expected, but it's a huge accomplishment. Don't let anything dim that!! And remember...Write on!!

Thank the Lord! It is Finished!... Okay almost finished!

Thank You LORD!!

I have just completed the process of turning my word doc into a kindle book, which is now ready to be purchased at www.amazon.com. Ties of Fate: The Lost Continent is here! I am so excited!! I feel as if I am smiling like an idiot. Not that this isn't a big accomplishment for me, but seriously, get it together girl!

I am still reviewing the printed version, which I hope to have up for sale in a few days. I ordered a proof so I can double check the formatting. Digital reviews are great, but they aren't the same as holding it in my hands.

The process was a lot harder than I thought. Formatting documents and  files sizes aside, I was surprised at how much goes into royalties, taxes, and the what not. I guess I forgot about all that. For something that is almost free to publish, it takes a lot of time and effort to get it out there.

I am currently on Go Fund Me, under Amelia M. Brown: Publishing My First Book. Technically, Ties of Fate is my very first book, but not the one for my Go fund Me account. Ties of Fate has been sitting on the back burning, getting worked on sporadically for almost 15 years. What I am working on now is something more recent. I am trying to get the start to my series, The Chronicles of Ode published. Book One: The Beast of The Ruin is undergoing some serious editing. I had a proof printed, but I wasn't quite done with my editing, so the formatting of the novel was a little off. I hope, with the help of GO Fund Me, to be able to afford to get The Beast of the Ruin out to bookstores, and have it professionally marketed. I am taking care of my grandmother and not able to leave the house very often. I am hoping that this will also provide us with some much needed income.

Thank the Lord that is done! One thing I can mark off my bucket list!

To My fellow writers, it is a long and slow process, but it is worth it! Write ON!!

Formatting: the Bane of My Existence

     Formatting. It is the bane of my existence! Not just paragraph alignment and page numbers, it's so much more than that. From your body font to the space between your chapter headings to the first line of your first paragraph, formatting is literally cover to cover. Fonts and style have to match from chapter to chapter and it's so very easy to mess stuff up, especially with multiple drafts and converting your work from one size to another. As a artist there are so many options that it boggles the mind to think of them all. The question is, what do I want my novel to look like? It is amazing how generalized my ideas are. I want my book to look "professional," to fit into my genre and to be "trendy," especially where my cover is concerned. None of that tells me what font my title should be in, or how far down my chapter title should be on the page or how big my name should be on the cover. I almost want to pull out my hair or scream. I think I'll settle for an Aleve, or two (liquid gel, extra strength of course).
    I have a draft that I have been working on for years and it never behaves as I change the size of the paper I am working with. Taking my standard 8x11 and trying to refit it to a paperback 4x6 produces problems. Every time! I finally found a way to delete all preexisting formatting, but now I have to start from scratch and I already have a headache.
     The Problem you ask? Several pages had paragraphs that were disappearing in to nothingness as if text wrap had suddenly stopped working on my word doc. I have no idea how that happened, so now I am starting over. The annoying thing is that I am not sure about this book size. The publisher provided a template for the size and I am thinking about going bigger. I seriously hope I will not have to do this again.

There is only one thing I hate more than formatting and that is having to re-type something because the file is lost or corrupted. I have learned my lesson there. Save often and store well. I send drafts to my self, my friends and family in case something happens and my work is lost forever.

Do you have any formatting horror stories? Some problems? Some advice? Please share! I'm always up for learning something new.

To my fellow writers, as ever, WRITE ON!

Word A Day

     My word today was askance (courtesy of Merriam-Webster via my inbox). I like this word, because as soon as I read it I had a mini movie playing in my head. I could clearly see the main male character looking at my heroine out of the corner of his eye. It was a kind of hungry look. The image was very clear and lasted only a moment, but even now I can still see it though it is not as clear as it once was. I thought in that moment, I must use this word in my novel. Today! Right now!
     As a writer we often forget how important words are, mostly because we are wading through them by the hundreds in a day or even an hour. Meaning carries weight with experience. We each bring our own interpretations to the work, even as a writer we are building worlds from our own vast imaginations and limited experience. And sometimes we can become stuck on finding just the right word, searching through dictionaries, thesauruses and coming up short. How many times have I looked for a word that was on the tip of my tongue and only found a pale comparison? Too many. There was a time when words were new, and every one I learned was like a gold star beside my name.
     I remember learning to read in my early teens, that is not to say that I couldn't read at all, I just did it very poorly and I hated it because I was so bad at it. Eight grade was when I found my love for reading and devoured book after book. I started my own dictionary. As I read there were words that I didn't understand, or wasn't sure if I was getting the meaning right with the context and so I would look them up and write down the definitions. After a while I had to write down less and less words until I no longer needed to look something up. I am not a walking dictionary, but in daily life and reading I can say with confidence that I am a very proficient reader and yet some words still strike me.
     I know some one may think it's silly, but I have a few favorite words. Pugnacious which is an adjective and means to show a willingness or desire to fight or argue (definitions thanks to Merriam-Webster Online dictionary, www.m-w.com). My family doesn't swear, like ever, and so my favorite swear word is Fustian. While the definition dose not conjure the meaning I have for the word, I enjoy a Victorian blue-stocking sort of heroine that often utters this phrase under her breath. (I'' leave you to look up the definition for yourself!)
    So what is your favorite word? Is it old-fashioned? Modern slang? Something you read or something you heard? What does it mean to you?

Good Night my fellow writers and WRITE ON!