I had a dream,I know its a cliche, but it's how it happened. It was so vivid, and the characters were so alive , that I had to write it down the minute I woke up, and It just continued from that day on. |
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Back to basics.
When I decided to write a book, I thought that's what you did. Write the
book. It would be perfect and everyone would love it. Ok, I wasn't that
delusional but I did find out, the hard way, that I skipped a few basic, very
important steps. So what I learned during my journey through my first book is that
you should:
1. Research. Learn the basics to writing, from knowing your genre to
grammar and punctuation.
2. Have an outline of your story and make notes on your characters. (I
spent many wasted hours going back to see details on a character that I should
have written down. Duh! That was a no brainer!)
3. Know your way around a computer. (Another no brainer.) I depended on
my daughter to fix my mistakes more than I care to admit. The most important
thing she taught me was...save, save, save. I had to re-type so many chapters
because I did not have auto save on. I would hit a wrong key and have it all
disappear!
4. Have a critique group. I did not have one until I finished my first
book.Once I had one I sent in a few chapters and was horrified by my results.
They actually pointed out my mistakes, and suggested changes, how dare them.
(Just kidding.) When I finished the book it was my baby and you get defensive
when someone says something negative. Well I learned to take criticism because their
suggestions were going to make my story better. Then I
put on my big girl panties and grew a thick skin. They weren't there to hurt
my feelings. They were there to help improve my writing skills.
5. Grammar and punctuation (I know I mentioned this) but it is soooo
important, it needs to be mentioned twice. It has been a LONG time since
I attended an English class, and I can tell you, I obviously did not pay
close enough attention.
When I started this process I wouldn't have made so many mistakes if I
would have gone back to the basics. But now, I'm done with book number one and my
editing is a smoother process, and my critiquing buddies
don't cringe when they see pages from me.
My sister would tell me I was not allowed to send any chapters out
until she read them first. Not that she wanted to help improve on my skills.
She didn't want to be embarrassed that she had a sister who had no idea what to
do with a comma. Well I no longer embarrass my sister, as much, and I have learned from
my mistakes, but comma’s are still as issue,
So going back to basics is a step I took late, but I took it
and I’m becoming a better writer because of
it.
When I decided to write a book, I thought that's what you did. Write the
book. It would be perfect and everyone would love it. Ok, I wasn't that
delusional but I did find out, the hard way, that I skipped a few basic, very
important steps. So what I learned during my journey through my first book is that
you should:
1. Research. Learn the basics to writing, from knowing your genre to
grammar and punctuation.
2. Have an outline of your story and make notes on your characters. (I
spent many wasted hours going back to see details on a character that I should
have written down. Duh! That was a no brainer!)
3. Know your way around a computer. (Another no brainer.) I depended on
my daughter to fix my mistakes more than I care to admit. The most important
thing she taught me was...save, save, save. I had to re-type so many chapters
because I did not have auto save on. I would hit a wrong key and have it all
disappear!
4. Have a critique group. I did not have one until I finished my first
book.Once I had one I sent in a few chapters and was horrified by my results.
They actually pointed out my mistakes, and suggested changes, how dare them.
(Just kidding.) When I finished the book it was my baby and you get defensive
when someone says something negative. Well I learned to take criticism because their
suggestions were going to make my story better. Then I
put on my big girl panties and grew a thick skin. They weren't there to hurt
my feelings. They were there to help improve my writing skills.
5. Grammar and punctuation (I know I mentioned this) but it is soooo
important, it needs to be mentioned twice. It has been a LONG time since
I attended an English class, and I can tell you, I obviously did not pay
close enough attention.
When I started this process I wouldn't have made so many mistakes if I
would have gone back to the basics. But now, I'm done with book number one and my
editing is a smoother process, and my critiquing buddies
don't cringe when they see pages from me.
My sister would tell me I was not allowed to send any chapters out
until she read them first. Not that she wanted to help improve on my skills.
She didn't want to be embarrassed that she had a sister who had no idea what to
do with a comma. Well I no longer embarrass my sister, as much, and I have learned from
my mistakes, but comma’s are still as issue,
So going back to basics is a step I took late, but I took it
and I’m becoming a better writer because of
it.
