December 30th, 2010
A short post here because I’m working on my own writing resolution (okay, maybe not a resolution more a goal)
Are you wondering what to do for a new year resolution when it comes to writing? Try some of these.
1 I will revise my work – first drafts are exciting but not ready for publication
2 I will try something new – breaking out of a habit can help boost creativity
3 When I submit to a publisher, I will read and follow the submission guidelines – it makes you seem more professional when you take the time to present your work properly.
That’s all. I posted my writing goals on my blog at P.A. Wilson feel free to borrow any that may work for you.
Happy New Year and Happy Writing.
Perry
No Comments | In: Writing Tips | tags: How to Submit, Writing Tips. | #
November 15th, 2010
So I’m feeling good. I’ve exceeded the NaNo minimum count and I’m within reach of my own goal. I know, what a way to jinx it.
I decided I could take a half an hour to look at a bright shiny. Scrivener for Windows is in Beta and I wanted to see what it’s about. No, I didn’t download it. I’m not completely crazy. I did look at the video here. After looking at the video, I went to my calendar for December and made a note to try to get on the beta if it’s still open.
Two reasons I think this will be a great tool.
You can edit on line. Up to now, I’ve printed out my manuscript in scenes and analyzed each scene for revision. I printed it out because Word isn’t that easy to navigate when you are looking at it piece by piece. With Scrivener, I can update the index card with a note on each scene and save a tree.
The other reason, I can plot and research all in one document. Yay.
Finally for all you Apple lovers out there, I’m still not going Mac. Why? Well, with Scrivener I can save in a number of different formats, but not a .doc. Most services that upload and prep books for e-publishing need a .doc format. So, I’ll hang onto my Windows laptop and applications.
One more big tip. If you complete NaNo and verify your win, you get a 50% discount on the purchase price of Scrivener for windows. Here’s the info.
Happy Writing
Perry
No Comments | In: Happening in the Market, Opinions, Writing Tips | tags: editing, NaNoWriMo, Process, Writing Tips. | #
November 12th, 2010
Hi, it’s almost half way through National Novel Writing Month. How are you doing?
Sometimes people get stuck in week 2. The passion meets reality and you realize that it takes a lot of time to write the minimum words. Your story still calls to you but life keeps getting in the way.
Don’t be disheartened. This week ends eventually. Keep dropping words on the page. Even if you can’t manage the whole 1,667 you can make some progress. Take the words you didn’t write and add them to the weekend, or another day where you might be able to find more time.
Good luck.
Perry
No Comments | In: Writing Tips | tags: NaNoWriMo, Writing Tips. | #
October 28th, 2010
It may seem odd that a publisher is giving advice about writing your first draft, but it’s not.
The first draft is the foundation of your story. No matter how much you change it in revision, the first draft is there for you to change. If it’s in your head, it’s impossible to revise.
Right now there are hundreds, if not thousands, of blogs about how to survive NaNo and the advice is helpful, but if you have never experienced getting a first draft on the page from the Once upon a time to they lived happily ever after you may have reservations about the process.
If you think it’s not worthwhile barfing words onto the page just to make the word count, don’t worry. I have barfed out 2 first drafts this way and it was never as bad as I thought when I started revision.
If you think the effort of writing the draft in 30 days is not worth the result – after all, it takes months or years to write a book. I found something surprising when I did my first NaNo, writing everyday was easier. I lived the story; I didn’t have to figure out what just happened before I wrote. I didn’t have to look up what my characters looked like, or what motivated them, because it was only a few hours since I last worked with them.
Mostly though, it’s the community. Writing with other writers is validating. It’s not the lonely experience of the stereotype. It’s fun, noisy and energizing.
Give it try.
Perry
No Comments | In: Writing Help | tags: NaNoWriMo, Writing Tips. | #
August 30th, 2010
I was on my Goodreads group this morning and I found all kinds of posts asking for help. One post was specific to one sentence the author was trying to revise. She got responses right away and three great ones (okay one was mine but it was great, really).
I guess the point is, look for help everywhere. You never know where you’ll find that gem of advice that takes you to the next level.
Happy writing
Perry
No Comments | In: Awesome Links, Writing Tips | tags: revision, writing advice, Writing Tips. | #
August 23rd, 2010
Hi, here are a few links that you might find useful.
For writers who need to know all about forensic science.
Links within links from Charlotte Dillon about character development.
World Builder Projects, all about world building links.
Happy Writing
Perry
No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #
August 2nd, 2010
I have been lucky enough to be able to visit the site of my upcoming book, but I used a number of tools to research and write before going to San Francisco. The trip was to fine tune, not to do the primary research.
The two tools that I find the most useful, and maybe you do too, are Google Street View and just Google search. I know there are tonnes of other tools available both free and paid but these two tools have been my saving grace many a time when I needed to do a quick research and get back to writing – i.e. during National Novel Writing Month.
Using Google Street View let me see that there was a perfect place in front of city hall to dump a body in Closing the Circle. It didn’t show me that there are cameras all around and I needed to make sure I dealt with that when my investigators were unable to identify the killer.
Using Google search has helped me to research my Urban Fantasy – so far I can’t see what it is missing but we’ll see as I write.
Looking for a name for your character? type in your question in Google search bar and you’ll find all kinds of places to match attribute to name.
So, if you are stuck for a location, type in an address or intersection and Google maps will take you there.
Happy writing
Perry
No Comments | In: Awesome Links | tags: Writing Tips. | #
July 30th, 2010
Hi, this is from Ask the Publishing Guru – great advice on writing like a pro.
Five Writing Tips.
Happy writing
Perry
No Comments | In: Awesome Links, Writing Tips | tags: opinion, writing, Writing Tips. | #
July 19th, 2010
Well, experience is always good, sometimes it takes a while to get to that point. When you are going through something difficult, or many things difficult, it can be impossible to remember that you might want to use the experience in a book. That’s what write what you know is all about, isn’t it?.
Right now I’m handling my brother’s estate and it’s not easy. I am running around trying to get information, and taking a half step forward and three steps back most days. I’m sitting here in Starbucks waiting for his apartment to be cleaned – special cleaning required – and trying to keep a positive attitude about this huge task I’ve been handed. Why am I doing it, oldest sister syndrome – it has to be done and no one else will do it.
So rather than grouse about it, I’m thinking about how I’ll use the experience in a new book.
I’m not quite there yet, but I am trying to keep notes on what I’m doing, not only for research, but also for the estate records.
Anyway, the message is everything you do is useful – at some point in your life.
Happy writing,
Perry
For sale and coming soon from PaperBoxBooks.
No Comments | In: Writing Tips | tags: Writing Tips. | #