Dares for August 2016
When I was walking into Spooky’s (local pizza place) a week or so back with the fam, I was stopped by someone shouting, “Hey, you!” I turned to the sound of the “Hey, you.” (I tend to respond to them …) She, a girl about my age: *makes eye contact* “Do you remember me?” Me: […]
How to Avoid the Nightmares of Editing
If you think I’m about to tell you how NOT to edit, you’re wrong. I’m just going to tell you how to edit without pain. What? you say. That’s impossible! The definition of editing is ‘a painful process by which authors attempt to improve their books.’ That’s not true! Editing doesn’t have to be awful! Of […]
Back from “Hiatus”
I put it in quotation marks because, though I was technically not blogging for these last couple weeks, I published three posts (all reviews) during that time. 🙂 Well, guys, I’m back, well rested-up now. I’ve finished up school for the year, gotten through the terrors of band concert (which is actually not terrible … and a […]
Plot Construction 101: Rising Action
Well, I’ve skipped two weeks because I was nervous about writing this post. I wasn’t sure what to say! I was thinking, “I’ve gotten myself into this … and now I don’t know how to get myself out!” But now I’m just going to write this post, and if you have anything to add – or […]
Plot Construction 101: Exposition
Last week we talked about the basic construction of a plot, The Great Pyramid. This week we’ll be talking about the exposition. To summarize, an exposition is the beginning – the introduction – of a novel. Here is where you hook your readers. Another word for it is “chapter one.” 😉 Note: exposition doesn’t always happen […]
Plot Construction 101: The Great Pyramid
I’m planning to give y’all a course on plot constructing. Today (Day 1), I’ll be introducing you to The Great Pyramid. No, not that Great Pyramid! This Great Pyramid! 😀 As you can see, it’s sort of more of a great triangle. But, as you don’t want a one-dimensional plot (and as “pyramid” sounds better […]
Prologues: The Dos and Don’ts
Prologues are, perhaps, the most greatly debated technique out there. They are greatly overused. Some stories – most stories – are better off without their prologues. They are out of style. Most publishers and readers dislike them. I’ve heard that some even skip them. Though I think that’s kind of stupid. Why bother reading the book if […]
Updates on The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy
You walked slowly down the darkened hall, slinking in the shadows, keeping close to the wall. You come to the door at the end of the corridor. It opens with a slow, annoying creak as you turn the handle. You step in and walk through the file cabinets. You sort through the papers … A, […]
Sleep Deprivation Hillarities
I know. There are a lot of big words in the title. 😉 Essentially, today I will be sharing you some things I wrote in my novel, Ivy Inquisitive, during NaNoWriMo 2015 that aren’t quite … right. ~ A few of my favorite typos ~ Miss Selle greeted him at the girl. Yep. At Miss […]
The Dressmaker’s Secret: Updates
On Friday I got my paperback copy of The Dressmaker’s Secret! 🙂 I know; really exciting! Everyone I know is chastising me for not being more excited than I am. 😛 But I don’t usually get really excited about things. At least, I don’t usually jump up and down and scream when I’m excited. But enough […]
Ivy Inquisitive (updates and an excerpt)
Well, I’ve finally started editing Ivy Inquisitive.I’ve finished the prologue and part of the chapter one (for the first time; there will be many drafts after this one). As you can see, Makenna Pithey has updated my cover. Thanks, Makenna, it looks awesome! 🙂 I think that’s what gave me the drive to start editing … or, you […]
To publish or not to publish?
Recently I’ve been having some doubts about publish The Dressmaker’s Secret this Saturday. Perhaps I should move it to the 16th … or even later. As it is, I’m really stressed out and worried about getting it ready in time. There are no major changes to be made, really. Just fine tune, format, and upload to […]
