tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68673942750793347962024-03-14T08:48:14.524-04:00The Animated WriterDon't just write...get animated!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-61813665073072885772015-11-26T15:13:00.000-05:002015-11-26T15:13:20.052-05:00New home for a whileI've decided to put a passion project I've had peculating for years into play. So I'm blogging at a new place where you can be a part of the journey from the beginning AND be a part of the progress.<br />
<br />
Join me now at www.writerknapsack.com<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-81940228602654719472014-11-11T15:41:00.003-05:002014-11-11T15:42:35.496-05:00A great opportunity for writers!Something you don't want to miss! From the Trans Canada Romance Writers Blog:<br />
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Maple Seed Awards <br />
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<b>2014-2015 <span style="font-size: medium;">Maple Seed Awards</span></b></div>
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The purpose of the Maple Seed Awards is to inspire and reward writers of romance fiction.<br />
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Eligibility:<br />
• Participation is open to all Romance Writers (published and unpublished).<br />
• All work must be the writer’s original work that has not been contracted for publication.<br />
• Entries are to be the first three chapters.<br />
• Open to all romance categories, including erotic, but not erotica.<br />
• Email entries only.<br />
• Multiple entries are accepted, but each entry must have a separate entry form.<br />
• All entrants must request and complete a Maple Seed Entry Form.<br />
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Entry Fee:<br />
No entry fee required for Trans Canada Romance Writers’ members.<br />
$20.00 for non-TransCRW members.<br />
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Contest Opens: November 01, 2014<br />
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Contact Michelle Carter for a Maple Seed Entry Form: transcanadaromancewriters@gmail.com<br />
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Entry of Chapters:<br />
• Chapters must be professionally presented, double spaced, one inch margins, Times Roman font, and size 12.<br />
• The writer’s name must not appear anywhere on the document.<br />
• Entry title must be included in the header.<br />
• Word Document (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) or PDF file saved as ‘MapleSeedContest.YourName.Title’.<br />
• Email the completed Maple Seed Entry Form and your entry to Michelle Carter at: transcanadaromancewriters@gmail.com with ‘MapleSeedContest.YourName.Title’ as the subject.<br />
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Entry Deadline: January 04, 2015<br />
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Failure to comply with the entry rules will disqualify the entry.<br />
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First Round will be judged and scored by five romance readers. The top three finalists will be chosen and advance to the final round.<br />
First Round Judging Deadline: February 06, 2015.<br />
The top three finalists will be announced and notified by February 09, 2015.<br />
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Second Round will be judged by a publisher. The guest publisher will select a winner from the three finalists.<br />
Second Round Judging Deadline: February 23, 2015<br />
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Maple Seed Awards results announced on all Trans Canada Romance Writers social media sites and winner notified, by February 27, 2015<br />
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<b>Maple Seed Awards </b></div>
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First place winner will receive the Maple Seed Award Medal, Maple Seed Award Certificate, and their three chapters edited by a professional editor.<br />
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Second and Third place winners will receive Maple Seed Award Certificates.<br />
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For questions and to receive a Maple Seed Entry Form contact: Michelle Carter at transcanadaromancewriters@gmail.com<br />
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<b>Plant the ‘seed’ of your story with your first three chapters!</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-82718204948912123622013-06-13T11:46:00.000-04:002013-06-13T12:04:38.269-04:00I have PROOF!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8P_1h64m-t4/UbnoixMM0RI/AAAAAAAAALI/O9f-PtcyrQM/s1600/computer+with+hand+on+mouse.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8P_1h64m-t4/UbnoixMM0RI/AAAAAAAAALI/O9f-PtcyrQM/s200/computer+with+hand+on+mouse.gif" width="200" /></a>Well, actually I don't....and that is often a major problem.<br />
<br />
I can't stress enough how important it is to PROOF your manuscript before you submit. The hard part is that being so close to the work, it is easy to miss the simple errors like turned quotes or two periods or misspelled words that look similar to the original word, ie: 'maent' instead of 'meant' <br />
<br />
Your eyes see what you want them to see because you are focused on the more important things like POV and structure. BUT, the editor's eyes are not. Unfortunately, we pick up on the little things.<br />
<br />
And just to be clear, I'm not talking about the occasional incident; we more than understand this can happen. I'm talking about the multiple proofing misses that keep popping up where at least half should have been noticed if a solid proofing had been done--this is a case of NOT the more the merrier. <br />
<br />
A few tricks of the trade:<br />
<br />
a) Have someone else read the story for you, giving them instructions to watch out for the simple fixes needed;<br />
<br />
b) Change the font--a different font can trick your eyes to seeing things in a different light;<br />
<br />
c) Read the story backwards--this takes the focus off the sequence and makes you look at each word and symbol separately;<br />
<br />
d) Read the story out loud. Yes, the simple action of verbalizing the story can make a huge difference because your sensory perception is to visualize the word as well as pronounce it. This is also good for listening for natural dialogue (when contractions should be used for instance) and flow of sentence structure. If <em>you</em> stumble over words so will the editor, or if the dialogue sounds robotic, it will sound just as metalic to the editor.<br />
<br />
So, give an editor PROOF that you are doing your homework and take a bit of extra time to make sure your best--and the right--words shine!<br />
<br />
<em>Stacy</em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-16556176371363732742013-05-09T13:29:00.000-04:002013-05-09T13:44:10.897-04:00Thursday Q&A: Why am I not getting published?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Today’s
question comes from Natasha B.: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #4c1130;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My
family and friends read my story and loved it, so why does it keep being
rejected by publishers?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You have to love family and friends, especially the truly supportive ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em><strong>Always</strong></em> make sure you appreciate them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">But,
there are two general reasons why it isn’t such a good idea to have them
critique your writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">First, most loved ones only want to encourage you and don’t want
to hurt your feelings by saying anything negative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doesn’t mean they are lying to
you or didn’t like the story, simply that they will usually tell you what you
want or need to hear—even if you ask them to be hard, they won’t, for your
sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admirable and loving, most definitely…but
not helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Second, and most important, most family and
friends don’t know the technical aspects of Goal-Motivation-Conflict, POV,
Pace, Validation/Details, Characterization or Sentence Structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, they may enjoy your story, not knowing the facets that could make it
better, and more important, publishable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Not
that you shouldn’t let family and friends read your work if you so choose, simply that you also
need an impartial third party to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">evaluate</i>
and see what's really going on in your manuscript.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Critique
partners are <strong>INVALUABLE</strong> for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Getting with a group or even just one or two other writers to help
motivate, and especially assist in helping find the areas that aren’t working
in your manuscript is essential for the up and coming writer--well, in truth, any writer whether new or established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Now,
I will say that I equate finding a critique partner to that of dating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may take feeling out a few to find the one
or two that you can work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone
has different personalities and different work ethics, and it is important that
you find those that you are compatible with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>BUT, let me tell you, when you do, the added bonus is often building great and long lasting friendships. </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">If
finding a critique partner isn’t up your alley or too time consuming for you,
then having your manuscript assessed by a freelance editor is another
option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will obviously be fees
associated with this choice, but the knowledge you will gain and the guidance
in the areas that need to be worked on can more than make up for the cost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So, let your family support you, but don't put the pressure on them to evaluate your manuscript. Find a critique partner, writing group or freelance editor to guide you down that path to publication.</span><br />
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For those of you reading this, do you have critique partners? And if so, how did you find them? Feel free to share stories and benefits!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><em>Stacy<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">*****************<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Thank
you again to Natasha for the question today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She will receive a thank you envelope with a pen, bookmarks and other fun
stuff from a number of my authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For
a chance to receive a fun stuffed envelope, simply send me a question about
writing, editing or the publishing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to
ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me:
<a href="mailto:QandA@stacydholmes.com">QandA@stacydholmes.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">And
if I use your question on my blog, I will send you a small thank you envelope,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-88163955616645933602013-04-02T14:31:00.001-04:002013-04-02T14:31:46.316-04:00Did you do your homework?Though it is FINALLY spring LOL, kids are still in school, and I have to make note that this is a good reminder to authors in general...especially newer authors...<br />
<br />
Don't forget to do your homework! This is a good life lesson, and especially in the publishing industry. Study your craft constantly. Learning never stops (even for editors :) )<br />
<br />
But most importantly, do your homework BEFORE you submit. Most publishing houses have their submission guidelines on their websites. FIND THEM, STUDY THEM, ABIDE BY THEM. In reality, this is your first test as an author. Can you follow simple guidelines? Can you do what is asked of you in the general form? <br />
<br />
You may be quirking your brow and saying "What? A test? Seriously?"<br />
<br />
Yes. Maybe not a serious, sit down, use a #2 pencil type one, and maybe not in the terms any publishing house would use, but there <u>are</u> editors on the other end of that submission email who quirk a brow at someone who sent multiple attachments when it was specifically asked that no attachments be sent with a query, or when you use a really weird and fancy font when a simple Times New Roman 12 was asked for. Maybe you aren't physically graded, but not adhering to simple guidelines can start you off on the wrong foot with someone that you really want to impress. They <em>need</em> to know you can follow simple direction so that when it's time for the more indepth directions of edits on your manuscript, they know up front that you are someone they can work with. <br />
<br />
So show them that you are someone they want to work with; show them you are someone they CAN work with; show them you are serious and took the time to research their site, and they will know you are someone who is willing to learn and willing to work for their craft. <br />
<br />
And I'll let you in on a secret, those are the answers to that first test....Submission Etiquette 101. Do your homework and you'll ace it every time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-62955913645398667622013-03-07T10:57:00.000-05:002013-03-07T10:57:00.202-05:00Thursday Q&A<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Today’s
question comes from Sarah H.:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><span style="color: #741b47;">I would like to know why romance is never written
in first person POV with the exceptions of The Outlander series and The
Twilight series.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></i></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">First person
stories are an interesting breed as the interest in them is really about
50-50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some readers enjoy them and
others don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">For those that
do, there are quite a lot out there and I asked a few of my friends and fellow
editors for some titles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">The Wild Rose
Press has a number including<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Reindeer
Games, </i>and<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Forever Freed </i>is said
to be a phenomenal award-winning TWRP book in first person male POV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">On Dublin Street </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bared to
You </i>are apparently on the NYT Bestseller list,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>and here are two links to Amazon and Goodreads that you can check
out:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Books-in-1st-Person/lm/R2I66DE2VD292U"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.amazon.com/Romance-Books-in-1st-Person/lm/R2I66DE2VD292U</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/15671.Romances_written_in_first_person"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/15671.Romances_written_in_first_person</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">Stacy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;">_______________________<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Thank
you again to Sarah for her question today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She will receive a thank you envelope with a pen, bookmark and other fun
stuff from myself and authors I have worked with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For
a chance to receive a fun stuffed envelope, simply send me a question about
writing, editing or the publishing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to
ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me:
QandA@stacydholmes.com. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">And
if I use your question on my blog, I will send you a small thank you envelope,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-59359315381726479182013-02-21T09:29:00.001-05:002013-02-21T09:29:26.910-05:00Thursday Q&A
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Staying with the POV subject of late, today’s question comes from Jackie L.:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><strong>Do
you think it's best to limit most stories to two POV characters?</strong></span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, MOST times it is best to keep stories
to two POVs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes for an easier read and allows the reader time to become invested in the two
main characters and their journey--for instance, in a romance, staying to two
POVs keeps the reader emotionally invested in the HEA for these two characters.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Each time a POV is changed to a new
character, the reader has to adapt to the new rhythm, and if done too much,
this can pull the reader out of the story, or worse, keep them on the top
surface making it easy for them to lay the book down to go do something else if
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By keeping to two strong, deeper
POVs, the reader has a better opportunity to be pulled into the story where
they <em>don't want</em> to put the book down.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, having said all that, I also believe
that there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> times when a third POV
can be introduced aptly--such as a villain in an intrigue story, or a ghost
that is leading the main characters towards the solving of a mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if POV is changed occasionally simply to
find out what the brother, annoying neighbour or best friend are thinking or doing, then my first
suggestion is always to see if you can relay that information to the main
character through dialogue or another event so as to keep to two POVs and the
reader in the moment.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Stacy</em></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">_______________________</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Thank
you again to Jackie L. for her question today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She will receive a thank you envelope with a pen, bookmark and other fun
stuff from myself and authors I have worked with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For
a chance to receive a fun stuffed envelope, simply send me a question about
writing, editing or the publishing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to
ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me:
QandA@stacydholmes.com. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And
if I use your question on my blog, I will send you a small thank you envelope,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-59125039193925688012013-02-19T11:17:00.001-05:002013-02-19T11:17:14.921-05:00The Writing Craft: POVNot too long ago, I did a post about POV: <a href="http://stacydholmes.blogspot.ca/2013/02/swat-that-fly.html"><em>Swat that Fly!</em></a><em> </em>so I thought it only beneficial to share a great craft book...<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ubaw1y2hL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ubaw1y2hL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View</em></strong> <br />
by Jill Elizabeth Nelson<br />
<br />
This is a short and highly valuable reference book for anyone having issues with the POV in their stories, and, to be honest, for authors in general. <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ms. Nelson gives easy to understand
guidance on deepening POV and includes a few worksheet pages for practice, and her multitude of examples point out the various aspects you want
to watch for in your own writing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US">You can find this great reference book at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rivet-Your-Readers-Deep-Point/dp/1470063859/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361290231&sr=1-1&keywords=rivet+your+readers+with+deep+point+of+view">Amazon</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-59528321364796468262013-02-07T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-07T06:00:03.663-05:00Thursday Q&A
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Today's question
comes from Riley M.:</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><em><span style="color: #741b47;">Is there a certain way
to format a manuscript for submission?<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Every publisher has
their preference, so it is very important that you do your homework (yes, one of
my favourite phrases) and read the submission page of the publisher(s) that you
are interested in submitting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">On average,
most publishers don’t like fancy fonts, spaces between paragraphs or big
margins.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">If you cannot find specific instructions from the publisher, best to go with the general industry standard:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>Double spaced<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<strong>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One inch margins<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Times New Roman 12
font<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<strong>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Each chapter beginning
on a new page<o:p></o:p></span></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">and most importantly,
<strong>all in one file</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<em>Stacy</em><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
******************<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Thank you again to Riley for her question today.
Your fun-stuffed envelope is on its way! </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><span style="color: #741b47;">Do you have a question about writing, editing or the
publishing process? No question is too little, too silly or should be too
embarrassing to ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead
and ask me: QandA@stacydholmes.com </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">And if I use your question on my blog, I will
send you a small thank you envelope, too.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-3151148709526191472013-02-05T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-05T06:00:02.673-05:00Swat that fly!<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Okay
everyone, get out your flyswatters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nope, it's not summer, but it is time you let your characters tell the
story.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One
thing I see a lot of is narration coming from the point of view of something
that sees all and knows all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally,
I call this Fly on the Wall narrative—as if a fly is stationed merrily on the
wall above everyone and describing the events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problem is...the fly isn’t a character in the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Don’t
get me wrong, there are a lot of stories done in this type of third person
narrative and some work well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue
that I see often, however, is a story being told from the perspective of the
main character and then the fly dropping in to have it’s say and thus pulling
the reader <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">out</i> of the head of the
main character—and subsequently, the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One
other main issue the fly narration often produces is passive writing in the
form of more telling vs showing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Using
deeper point of view (POV), keeping in the “head” of your main character, gives
the reader a chance to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> them, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">understand</i> them, and most of all, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">relate</i> to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want a reader invested in your characters
and the story so they leave the laundry, housecleaning and any other chore behind
for another time while they are riveted by your character’s journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Deeper
POV means that things are described specifically by the POV character and thus
can only be shown by what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the character</i>
knows, sees, hears, feels etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Let’s
take an example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Her cheeks flared an angry shade
of red as she fisted her hands and aimed her steamy blue gaze toward the bane
of her existence.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Unless
the character can see herself in a mirror, she wouldn’t know the color of her
face or could reference her own blue eyes is such a fashion, therefore the
above is a description from that of a fly on the wall, and because of this, it
is also telling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Let’s
revise <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">showing</i> the anger through the
deeper POV of the character—giving the reader a better sense of the moment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The burning in her cheeks
scorched down her neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fisting sharp
nails into her palms, she fought back a verbal slaying and narrowed her gaze toward the bane of her
existence. </span></i><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></i><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Another
fly example that happens often is referring to the POV character in a group: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">They came to a small
pathway and decided it was better for the other two to go first.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Who
is the POV character in the above sentence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Exactly-?-unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sentence also doesn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">show</i> much about the path or tension of the scene—is it a happy,
yellow brick road or a scary dark corridor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Revised:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Jenny bit her lip as she stopped
behind her friends near the dark pathway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The boys decided to go first, and she blew out a thankful breath, only
to suck it back in when a cold breeze blew across her neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><em>Now</em>
we know exactly whose head we are in AND that there is something about the path
making her nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That “something” is
what makes the reader WANT to continue to read to find out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Remember, for a stronger read,
leave the fly on the wall and let <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your
characters</i> tell the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<em>Stacy</em><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-3655102201749768892013-01-29T07:00:00.000-05:002013-01-29T07:33:40.731-05:00Haircut for your ManuscriptIt is AMAZING what a new haircut can do for your whole being.
<br />
<br />
On a spur of the moment decision last week, I popped into the local hairdresser with the thought that I needed some shape, something maybe shorter and a bit flirtier to lift my mood from the winter blahs. And it worked. I felt so much lighter, so much happier and, most of all, like everything was right with the world again because I felt good about myself. I felt confident and ready to tackle anything.
<br />
<br />
All because of a simple haircut.
<br />
<br />
The same can be said for a manuscript. Shaping is crucial to a story, and cutting lines, paragraphs, scenes that slow down the pace can make your manuscript that much tighter, brighter and engaging.
<br />
<br />
No, I admit, it’s not easy at all. Sort of like having long hair and deciding to cut it short. Not an easy decision, and it usually sits with you for a while as you debate back and forth with yourself if you REALLY want to do that. Similar to scenes that you really like--maybe with clever dialogue or some funny incident. It is a debate back and forth, almost a fight with yourself because you know it would be better for the book, but you feel it is such a good piece of writing, too. But if those scenes stall the pace, you are doing more of an injustice to your story and especially to your reader by giving them a pause, a reason to close the book and go do dishes. You want them to HAVE to keep turning the pages and let the dishes sit for another hour while they finish your book.
<br />
<br />
No, it’s not an easy decision to cut parts that you thought clever and witty, BUT like getting a fresh haircut, your confidence in your story will raise tenfold when you chop off the unnecessary bits and see how much you gain in forward momentum.
<br />
<br />
And like those that cut their hair and donate the lengths to special services for those in need of wigs etc, save those witty, funny scenes or pieces of dialogue in a miscellaneous file. Just because they didn’t fit this manuscript, doesn’t mean they can’t benefit another.
<br />
<br />
<em>Stacy</em>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-64962179596879421152013-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-24T06:00:10.158-05:00Thursday Q&AThis is a question I get a lot:
<br />
<br />
<em>How do I know who to submit to if my story crosses different genres?</em>
<br />
<br />
First, and most important, <strong>do your homework</strong>. Research the publisher(s) you want to submit to in order to confirm they take ALL the genres within your story. This will ensure the best possible chance for your manuscript and may immediately eliminate a few from your query list. For example, your romance story involves a vampire hero and a mystery at a church; there is love scenes and an inspirational message. Chances are Christian publishers probably won’t take vampire stories, and a number don’t accept descriptive love scenes, so that is one off your list.
<br />
<br />
Once you have the list of the publishers accepting your cross genres, see if there are certain editors for specific genres and make note of each.
<br />
<br />
Now, decide which genre is <em>most</em> prominent in your story. Based on the above manuscript, even though the mystery might be strong, I would suggest submitting to the editor in charge of paranormal first, as a vampire hero is a pretty major genre setter.
<br />
<br />
If there is not a specific editor noted on the site to submit to for this genre (as in the publisher has one main submission email) then make sure you note the stronger genre first, mentioning the others within your query. This way, the submissions editor has an easier time making sure it gets to the right department right away.
<br />
<br />
All in all, most publishers are good about passing along manuscripts to the proper editors, but <strong>doing your homework,</strong> as in the above, will give your manuscript the best chance…and that is the main goal.
<br />
<br />
<em>Stacy</em>
<br />
<br />
******************
<br />
<br />
Questions about writing, editing or the publishing process? No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me: <a href="mailto:QandA@stacydholmes.com">QandA@stacydholmes.com</a>.
<br />
<br />
If I use your question on my blog, I will send you a fun-stuffed envelope as a thank you.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-30149107158162535312013-01-22T06:00:00.000-05:002013-01-22T06:00:02.166-05:00The Writing CraftWriting is a learning curve that never ends, and continued study of the craft only makes you that much better. So I thought I would share an occasional reference book here for you.
<br />
<br />
I recently finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Secrets-Bestselling-ebook/dp/B000SEFHGU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358190391&sr=8-2&keywords=How+I+Write+janet+evanovich"><em>How I Write</em> by Janet Evanovich with Ina Yalof</a>.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780312354282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780312354282.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
For fans, you will recognize the author right away. For others, Janet Evanovich has written many books from romance to mystery, one of her most famous to date being the Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series (<em>One for the Money</em> through to <em>Notorious Nineteen.</em>)
<br />
<br />
This book is a bit different than most because, as shown by the title, it is not a HOW TO Write, but rather, Janet Evanovich’s interpretations on various topics through a question and answer type format.
<br />
<br />
I found the book entertaining and inspiring. Because of the format, it was like sitting down to a cup of coffee and a box of donuts with your favourite author and hearing all the ins and outs of how she makes a living. Often funny, occasionally serious and with a few more specifically craft oriented notations from Ina Yalof, the book was an easy read with the simplest of lessons woven through:<strong> Nothing will happen if you don’t just sit down and write.</strong>
<br />
<br />
There were a number of pages I marked for future reference and other areas I may not have totally agreed with her perspective on, but respected her explanations and was still able to take a lot from those areas, too. <br />
<br />
And that is the one thing you want to remember when reading reference material: We are all unique and have different perspective whether through life experiences and/or educational experiences and therefore you may not agree with what you are reading--One craft book can’t tell you exactly how to write a perfect story, but continuing to expand your knowledge base by taking the bits and pieces from each that speak to you, that give you the inspiration and drive to write, and write more, are what makes each book beneficial whether you liked it or not. <br />
<br />
<em>How I Write</em> gave me a lot to think about and, most importantly, inspiration in my chosen careers, so for me, I'm glad I read it and recommend it as one of the more entertaining reference books.<br />
<br />
<em>Stacy</em><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-68764765422418497282013-01-17T10:57:00.001-05:002013-01-17T10:57:31.795-05:00Thursday Q&A: DialogueToday’s question comes from Dawn H.:
<br />
<br />
<em><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47;">My critique partner says my dialogue needs work. How can I make my dialogue better?</span></em>
<br />
<br />
Dialogue is a funny thing. It can work for you, or against you.
<br />
<br />
Dialogue is all about the character. Simply put, rarely would you have a low educated character talk with perfect grammar or an English butler talk in slang. Few people speak grammatically correct, so it is important to have your dialogue <em>not</em> be perfect so to speak LOL. <br />
<br />
"I cannot come over to dine with you this evening because my mother has installed a new restriction on my social activities." <br />
<br />
Okay, obviously that is a little extreme LOL, but that's the point. A teenager would not speak in such a refined manor, but rather in contractions, slang and inflection.<br />
<br />
"I can't come over for supper 'cause my mom grounded me, <em>again</em>."<br />
<br />
Being natural is important. Which brings up another good point, you want to be careful of stereotypical dialogue—TOO much character ie: Cowboys that are <em>darlin’</em> every girl in the story, or a mob guy asking, “You lookin’ at me? <em>You</em> lookin’ at <em>me?</em>” of everyone who may pass him on the sidewalk LOL.<br />
<br />
The best way to research dialogue and natural flow is to observe. Take an afternoon to sit in a coffee shop, open a book (so you don’t look stalkerish LOL) and just listen. Listen to inflection, contractions, tones, emotions (excitement and/or anger.) If you are writing a Young Adult, go where the teens are. If you have doctors and nurses maybe try the lobby or cafeteria of a hospital—listen, observe and assimilate.
<br />
<br />
And remember, not all conversations are all talk. This is important because if you have a page with a lot of dialogue but no actions dotted in here and there to show HOW the characters are speaking, showing HOW the characters are acting/reacting to the conversation, then the scene can become stilted and be pictured by the reader as simply two people standing face to face, arms at their side and speaking monotone. He said this; she said that. Bland.
<br />
<br />
On your observances, I’m sure you’ll find someone raising their hands in frustration or whipping around when offended in order to defend themselves. A subtle smile when they are being coy or tight fists around a coffee cup when they are trying to control their anger. All these observances are part of a conversation—part of the dialogue. Part of the character.
<br />
<br />
As always, most important is picking and choosing your words (or rather <em>their</em> <em>words</em>) carefully and placing the action drop ins only in the most dynamic area for the scene, because the last thing you want to do is overwrite a conversation with too many descriptions. Balance here is the key.
<br />
<br />
Observe. Natural. Balance.
<br />
<br />
LOL, now isn’t that saying it all.
<br />
<br />
<em>Stacy</em>
<br />
<br />
******************
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Thank you again to Dawn H. for her question today. She will receive an envelope with a pen, bookmark and other fun stuff from me and authors I have worked with.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">Questions about writing, editing or the publishing process? No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me: <a href="mailto:QandA@stacydholmes.com">QandA@stacydholmes.com</a>.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">And if I use your question on my blog, I will send you a small thank you envelope, too.</span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-1346041558725421162013-01-15T10:58:00.001-05:002013-01-15T10:58:19.431-05:00Spell Check: Friend or Foe?Today's tip: Spell Check <strong>is not</strong> a proof-reader.
<br />
<br />
Spell Check is a wonderful device. The problem is, too many people trust it to be their proof-reader--if there are no red squiggly lines under the words, then the spelling must be correct, right?
<br />
<br />
Wrong.
<br />
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<strong>the</strong> is the correct spelling....unless you meant <strong>them</strong>
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<strong>accept</strong> is the correct spelling....unless you meant <strong>except</strong>
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<strong>he</strong> is the correct spelling...unless you meant <strong>she</strong>
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And as with the last example, mixing up simple genders might not make the best impression on an editor reading your manuscript LOL.<br />
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Perhaps this is your first submission, perhaps you don’t know all the ins and outs of Point of View or Goal-Motivation-Conflict; that is all part of the learning curve and feedback an editor can give you. But one of the comments you <em>don’t</em> want from an editor is that your manuscript was sloppy with a lot of spelling errors that could have easily been avoided by a good proofing. You don’t want an editor thinking you’re lazy; you want them thinking you are a diamond in the rough that they can’t wait to help shine.
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Proofing your manuscript is one of the <em>simplest</em> things you can do to ensure a good read by an editor. But don't leave it up to the spell checker. One of the best ways to proof is to simply read your story out loud--you will be AMAZED how many things you can discover when reading aloud, everything from spelling to sentence structure to paragraph beats (<em>Paragraph beats? What's that?</em> you say--don't worry <em>*wink*</em> I will be talking about that topic soon. )
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Just to be fair, though, Spell Check <em>can</em> be a good friend to international writers submitting to American publishers for instance--IF you make sure the dictionary on your Word program is set to the proper dictionary (ie: US). It is a good catch for words that you have used your whole life according to the country you live in. Canada for instance: colour vs color, favour vs favor etc. Both are correct--depending which country is publishing the book. <br />
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So, I guess there is another good tip for you...remember to research the location and background of the publishing company you want to submit to <em>along</em> with their submission guidelines.<br />
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<em>Stacy</em>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867394275079334796.post-70804232678208318482013-01-10T11:53:00.001-05:002013-01-10T14:06:27.210-05:00Thursday Q & AThank you to Maddy M. for today's question:
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><em><strong>After editing and revising, I often find I've removed the heart / voice of the manuscript. How do you get the balance right?</strong></em>
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Ah yes, the elusive balance. Isn’t that what we search for in all aspects of our lives? And, as in our lives, balance is unique to each author.
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As a writer, you are often told to revise and rewrite and revise and rewrite until the manuscript is perfect, the best it can be—and you find yourself cross-eyed and finger cramped. What you need to remember is that it is not so much how many times you go over the manuscript as HOW you go over the manuscript.
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You as the author are in charge of that first draft; you have given the characters you created a journey, mission, mystery to follow, added conflict, maybe romance or dire consequences they have to face. A first draft is often a mishmash of all the thoughts and plans and ideas that came up during the initial writing—some of those idea threads might have been followed for pace and plot, but others may still be hanging there, forgotten and never used further in the story. This is where the first major revision comes in of cleaning things up, picking and choosing the threads to keep, filling them in and deleting the threads that don’t affect the story or keep it moving forward in the way you envisioned. Most important, in this step, you’ve made sure the characters have all the key elements to get them through so they come out on the other side to find their Happily Ever After.
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But once that draft is finished and you’ve made your decisions, it is no longer <em>your</em> story. The story now belongs to your characters. Now it is time to really let <em>them</em> tell the story in their own way—through their points of view/perceptions. And this is what you need to keep in mind for the balance of heart and voice in your story.
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Consider revisions/edits not as deleting, but as <em>tightening</em> a story, taking large clumps of description or dialogue and tightening them by picking and choosing very specific words and/or actions that fit the specific characters themselves. When you revise with your character in mind (how would she say this or what would he be doing specifically in that moment) then the story now becomes their story and it will be easier to keep the unique voice flowing.
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As an easy example, let’s take the description of a house the character just drove up to. Maybe this house is important to the story overall or just for this moment in the scene. Either way, you don’t want the description to come from a fly on the wall, you want the description to come from the character. The writer may describe a white house on a slope with a long driveway shaded by an oak tree. Nothing wrong with that; the reader can see exactly what you tell them. (And yes, I use the word “tell” specifically LOL).
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However, revised slightly to choose stronger descriptives from the specific viewpoint of your character keeps the voice of your story intact. Simply ask yourself HOW the POV character sees this house, and describe it through his/her eyes. For instance, the white house might now become a monolith with chipped white paint and crooked, dark-eyed windows staring back at her. Perhaps dried brown leaves crunch under the tires as the drooping branches of the skeletal tree hang above the car. A very different interpretation for the reader, AND seeing the house through the character’s eyes, <em>shows</em> the reader the house, s<em>hows</em> the reader the character’s mood and thus keeps the character’s voice in the scene.
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Take a moment to compare these two examples again side by side and see which one holds a voice, and which doesn’t.
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The white house sat on a slope with a long driveway shaded by an old oak tree.
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Chipped white paint peeled from the monolith hovering atop the slope. Crooked, dark-eyed windows stared down as dried leaves from a skeletal tree crunched under her tires.
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Yes, this is a fairly obvious example, but do you see the difference? If you apply this theory to even the simplest of descriptions--how a character brushes his or her teeth, how a character stares down a suspect, how they talk to their parents vs their boss or a store clerk etc--it will make a big difference.
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This goes for the technical aspects, too. As you proof, keep your character at the forefront of your interpretation. Decide how to make the sentence work for them within the technical boundaries of grammar and sentence structure. For instance, if the scene is an action scene, perhaps building to a tense moment, longer sentences with multiple commas and conjunctions can slow the pace. Use shorter sentences. Choose specific verbs. Keep the momentum quick. Tense. Ready to explode.
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Tightening to keep the action, dialogue and descriptions in the specific POV of the character will definately help the voice hold and heart of the story hold true throughout.
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<em>Stacy</em>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Thank you again to Maddy for her question today. <em><strong>Maddy--I tried to contact you by email but it kept coming back--please contact me for your thank you envelope with a pen, bookmark and other fun stuff from myself and authors I have worked with.</strong></em>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">If you would like a chance to receive a fun stuffed envelope, simply send me a question about writing, editing or the publishing process. No question is too little, too silly or should be too embarrassing to ask--knowledge is the key that opens many doors. So, go ahead and ask me: </span><a href="mailto:QandA@stacydholmes.com"><span style="color: #741b47;">QandA@stacydholmes.com</span></a><span style="color: #741b47;">
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<span style="color: #741b47;">And if I use your question on my blog, I will send you a small thank you envelope, too.</span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671282822872301259noreply@blogger.com15