I can’t believe I received a blog award! I am so honored!
When I began this blog two years ago, it was a way to practice writing. I wrote about random stuff, funny events that happened in my life. After a while, I ran out of things to say. When I decided to take my writing career seriously, I delved back into blogging. I realized, not every aspiring author has family, friends, or access to other writers to help keep their dream afloat. Not everyone is able to participate in the big writers conferences, or find a local writers or critique group to guide us in the right direction. Since then, I have made it my goal to blog about my experiences. I hope to help others learn something new, give helpful tips, and offer support to those in need.
For that it seems, I have been given this award.
To Ashley Barron, aka, @dcPriya, the lovely woman who has given me this award, I say, THANK YOU! You say that I “move so fast you have to fasten your seat belt,” lol, I guess it does seem that way, huh? When my characters are in my head, demanding to have their story put on paper, it’s nearly impossible for me to focus on even the minor details of my life. Which of course means the moment my family is out of the house, my laptop is on, and my fingers are burning up the keys! You have no idea how encouraging it is to have someone like you constantly RT my tweets and reply to my FB comments. Thank you so much for your support! I hope to continue to be an encouragement to you and anyone else I am blessed to cross paths with. Everyone, please visit her blog, thepriyas.com, and show her some love and support!
Now, there are two requirements in accepting this award. First, I am to share ten things about myself that you, the reader, do not know. Hmm… So let’s see:
10. As a child, I never took the time to sit down and write a story of any kind, not even a diary. Reading was my favorite thing to do.
9. My two biggest followers are my Pit Bulls, Vader and Ivy. No matter where I go, they are there. In fact, I can’t even leave the room without them jumping up to stand in front of me, waiting to discover where we’re about to go. It’s impossible to do though since they are blocking the way!
8. My first writing attempt was in 2005, a Fanfic of the television show, Lost. It was based on a character created to take part in the popular show. That character has since evolved, experienced two name changes, and become the main character of my first novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken, the book I am currently submitting for query.
7. I have read over 50 books in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Yep, I’m a Star Wars nerd. Since diving into my writing career, I haven’t had time to follow the new books in the series.
6. Before writing, I spent a lot of time playing Xbox games with my oldest son. I was known as the ‘coolest mom’, by his friends. Together, we spent two days beating The Return of the King video game.
5. Speaking of games, I am a Sims addict! I have more fun constructing and decorating the houses than playing with the characters. My hubby banned me from that game because it took up time…such as making sure my house was clean. LOL!
4. I am an excellent chair dancer! Put on the right song and I rock! Ask me to stand up and dance, and well, let’s just say I can do the Cha Cha Slide pretty darn well!
3. I dance in my car with the music blasting and my kids providing back up.
2. My father, Warren Kelly, was the first African-American Fire Chief in the state of Georgia. He held that position for nearly three years before his death in 1985.
1. In 2006, I experienced a stroke and spent two weeks in ICU, and nearly died. My right side was paralyzed for nearly a week. I regained control of my body before leaving the hospital and have made a 90% recovery. My life and family to be a blessing, and I do my best to get better at my craft and make them proud. Writing has become a way for me to continue to heal in many ways. My ability to use my imagination to tell stories has fueled my desire to become an author. My experience has also helped me add an extra layer of heart and emotion into the stories I tell.
So, that’s all there is to know! Now for the next part: nominating six talented people who have encouraged me and I hope will do so for you as well.
@Carmen DeSousa - carmendesousa.com - Romantic Suspense- She has recently published her first book and has been a constant source of encouragement to me in pursuing my publishing dream.
@Minnie Balaguer - Lahongrais.blogspot.com - Romantic Suspense - A comment she made about negative feedback from friends about her writing is what got my attention. Since then, I have enjoyed every opportunity to talk to her. She is proof that despite what negativity you face, if you continue to travel your path, you will find success. She did!
@Abigail Tuniviel - worldsbeforethedoor.wordpress.com -Aspiring Author, Urban fantasy - A great source of fun on Twitter in the morning. She and I have connected as aspiring authors and coffee lovers. She has an ongoing story posted on her blog. I wish my 'coffee sister' much success!
@Zee Monodee - zeemonodee.blogspot.com - Romantic Suspense - One of my critique partners. Zee has always had an encouraging word. I love the fact that she can't wait to read my second book! Her blog is a constant source of character information at just the right time.
@Chicki Brown - sisterscribbler.blogspot.com - Contemporary Women's Fiction - One of my critique partners. After connecting with her at a local writer's conference nearly two years ago, Chicki has offered me great advice and encouragement to keep me going. Visit her blog for wonderful advice of an self-published author.
@Manuscript Proofing - manuscriptproofing.com - Proof reading services - The name says it all! Always a constant source of encouragement and wonderful services. This is who I use to proof my manuscripts.
Enough said! Congrats to all my nominees! I wish you all continued success!
MJ
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
To Hire an Editor or Not to Hire an Editor…That is the Question!
Editors. In the world of writing, we all need one. The question is when.During my writing journey, I’ve heard various tales, feedback, and opinions.
No, don’t hire an editor to read your work before submitting. You’ll be wasting money. Let the publisher pay for it.
Yes, hire an editor; it could increase your quality of your product and give you an opportunity to actually find and agent and/or publisher.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
When it all comes down to it, the true question is: how much money do I want to invest?
Two years ago, the thought of an editor reviewing my work scared me. The idea of someone taking my work, ripping it to shreds, and spitting it back at me, demanding that it be re-written because it wasn’t good enough had me cursing the profession. I pushed that thought aside and focused on writing a story that I wanted to tell. Next, I focused on learning as much as I could about sentence structure, setting up the paragraphs, scene breaks, chapter breaks, and POV changes. Then, I built the infamous repeated/passive word list to tighten up my prose. I’ve gone over my list so many times while doing my own edits, I rarely have to pull it up to know what words to avoid. In fact, when I write a scene, I now catch those words and change them before they hit the screen.
However, that doesn’t cover everything. There are still the annoying details of correct grammar usage, using the right word tense, and spelling. Unless you were a serious English major in high school, college, or took a class specifically for this type of detail, there’s no possible way you’ll ever be able to catch every detail. To be honest, no one ever will, even if that’s what he or she does for a living. Why? Because we are all human. And humans make mistakes, whether we want to believe it or not.
A perfect example: how many times have we as readers picked up a novel by one of our favorite big-name publishing houses or New York Times Bestselling authors, only to discover a major editing error? Come on, we’ve all done that. Why? Human imperfection. No matter how many times a manuscript is read, no matter how many attempts are made to dot all the ‘Is’ and cross all the ‘Ts’, humans make errors, especially if it is your own writing.
So, what does that mean for the newbie like me, who is unpublished, or for an author who is self- published?
It means you have a decision to make. How much do you want to invest in yourself?
The investment is not only about money; it’s also about time.
If you decide to use an editor, how do you know you’ve found an editor you can work with? Of course, the first thing everyone looks for is reputation. Word of mouth from other authors in your writing network is great too. Nevertheless, in the end, it comes down to one-on-one communication. Does the editor understand your type of writing ? Do they edit a lot of work in your genre? Will they be able to understand the rules of the genre you’re writing? What timeframe are you looking for? Will it take a few days or a few weeks before they return your work? What type of editing are you paying for?
Type of editing? If this is new to you, then it’s something you must know. There are several types of editing available. What’s the differences?
Copywriter or Copy-Editing:
Their job is to be sure your story is written well and logically structured. Correct grammar and spelling is checked, as well as ensuring the ms fits the publishers ‘style’. They ask questions of the author and check story facts.
Content Editor:
Their job is to ensure your work meets the standards for accuracy and style. They check for spelling, grammar, coherence, consistent style. They also proofread to be sure copy-editing work has been completed.
Proofreader:
In the publishing world, a proofreader is generally the last person to see your ms after it’s been through other editors’ hands and before it goes to print. Their job is to do a final read through to catch any mistakes the first editors may have missed. This is generally the most affordable.
If you are not shopping your manuscript around and have decided to self-publish, you should seriously consider having at least one of these editors review your work. Depending on what phase of your writing career you are in, it may not be in your budget. If you go the proofreading route, then know, you MUST review your work again after the editor returns it. If you don’t and there are issues the editor pointed out and you don’t review them, it is on you, not the editor.
So, what route will you choose?
Here’s what I’ve learned. Agents are meticulous. Not only does your story have to engage them and keep them interested for at least the first three chapters, the quality of your writing has to as well. Sending them an unedited copy - and by that I mean, work you haven’t spent time searching for errors yourself - makes a difference. The cleaner the read, the more focused on the story they will be, not the plethora of errors littering the pages. Taking that amount of time, or money, also lets them know that you, the author, are willing to put in the work it takes to make a better product. With the current economy, every business is looking for ways to cut down their expenses. If you walk in the door offering a product they can spend less money on before making it available for sale, you increase your chances of them choosing your manuscript.
Sell yourself.
Here’s another fact you must remember: if you decided to use an editor…don’t just pay them and expect what they send to you in return doesn’t need to be reviewed. Any editor, especially a professional, will tell you that after they do their magic, it’s up to you, the author, to review your manuscript. Just because they make changes or suggestions does not mean you have to accept it. It’s up to your discretion. But, you still have to re-read your work from beginning to end. It’s up to you to put that stamp of approval on it before sending it out into the world . That requires more work on your part. If you don’t do the work, then you will have to deal with the consequences of any un-corrected errors. The editor’s job is to work with you, which means you in turn must work with them.
I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a proofreader many of you may have seen on Facebook or Twitter, @TJProofs. She shared some helpful information on how to determine what type of editor you need, depending on the amount of work you’ve put into cleaning up your manuscript.
“A proofreader, which is my specialty, is generally the last person you see. They focus on clean manuscripts, after they’ve run their gamut (through a publisher), but many people try to skip the steps. The fact of the matter is, if you are horrible at punctuation, you choose a copy-editor. If you feel you’ve got punctuation licked, but your story needs a scouring for consistency, you may choose a content editor. If you have a great idea, but need someone to go through your MS with a fine-toothed-comb - rewriting sentences for clarity, passive statements, content, and punctuation – then you need a full-scale editor.”
To learn more about TJ and the services she offers, visit her at www.ManuscriptProofing.com. Other places where she can be found are:
Facebook, Twitter
Blog: manuscriptproofing.blogspot.com
Email: TJProofs@gmail.com or TJ@ManuscriptProofing.com
I hope this information has been informative. Whether or not you choose to use the services of any of the above editors, I wish you the best on your writing journey!
MJ
Friday, December 16, 2011
My Straight Jacket is Purple…How About Yours?
I know, it’s a crazy statement, but as an author we all have
an element of crazy in us somewhere. How can we not? We have to balance our
lives, family, and day to day responsibilities with the art of storytelling.
We create lives, personalities, likes and dislikes. It’s like giving birth
without the added weight gain and late night bottle feedings.
Or is it?
 |
| If they all came like this, I'd want one! |
If we don’t watch it, we drink coffee, eat snacks, and are
glued to our computer screens for hours on end. Thus the weight gain. Late
night bottle feedings come in the form of waking up in the wee hours of the
night, turning on the bedside light or computer to jot down notes or write a scene
that’s been plaguing us all day.
How do we stay sane? Where do these fictional people come
from? Why are we not wearing straight jackets?????
My best guess is because we’ve learned to blend in with the
rest of society. Thankfully people are intrigued by our stories and want to be entertained.
Thus the reason why the straight jackets stay tucked in the corner and the
psychiatrist keeps the crazy pills at bay.
But, all jokes aside, it is my opinion that writing is the
truest form of self-expression, of healing, and finding a way to cope with
whatever ails you. Whether you write in a diary, a memoir, take the
experiences of your life, or pull from those around you. No matter what avenue
you decide to take, writing can help you make it through.
How well you write
is another story.
I love to create the characters in my stories. As an only
child I spent a lot of time playing with my baby dolls, stuffed
animals, and Barbie’s. Each had a name and a voice of its own. I spent hour
after hour making up stories and creating adventures to entertain myself. Each story
had a Happily Ever After. From time to time I would get the tape recorder
(remember that ancient form of electronics?) and make cassette tapes of these
little adventures to share with my parents. They of course thought they were
funny. Little did I know that form of storytelling would eventually lead to me
putting stories down on paper.
I still use a recorder – digital that is – and the stories
are the ones from my books. No dolls allowed; I leave that to my daughter. Now
the stories are not about princess riding horses and marrying the prince. Now
it’s stories dealing with real life experiences. Not all are my own, but they
are real, they do happen, and there is heartbreak and pain. But through it all
there is happiness and love.
As I create the heroines in my stories, I’ve come to realize
something. In each character - as different as they are - there is an element
of me. The woman I once was, the woman I am, the woman I secretly wish I could
be, and the woman I aspire to become. Multiple Personality Disorder at its
best. By telling these women’s stories I’ve found a way to work through the pain in my
past and find happiness in my family and the ones I hold dear.
Along the way I've made friends I never would have known, and
gained knowledge I never would have attained. In short, I’ve not only learned
how to become a better writer, I’ve learned more about me. Writing has allowed
me to make a mark of my own outside of being a wife and a mother. After
thirty-six years I have finally discovered something I love, something I’m
good at, and something that unless I actually lose my mind, no one can ever
take away from me.
There’s not a morning I don’t get up with an idea in my head
and am anxious to get down on paper. Seeing my first story, A Heart Not Easily Broken, go through various stages of evolution over the past two years has taught me so
much. I can already tell the difference in my writing of the second book. I’ve reached
the end of Act 2 and my characters are alive inside of me, and their story is as
close to my heart as Ebony and Brian’s. Once the first draft of the story is completed,
I will still have a ways to go. Adding too, taking away, fine tuning, and
finessing…it’s all the part of telling a story the way it should be told. With
heart, care, and attention to detail.
 |
| Can't believe I found purple shoes to match! LOL! |
To all of you who are on various stages of your writing
path, I wish you the best journey. Write your heart, write what you feel, let
those characters out and onto paper. Just do me a favor, watch your back. If
you don’t tell the story right, the men with those special white coats just
might change their mind and take you for a ride!
By the way, my straight jacket also has butterflies!
To learn more about the main characters of A Heart Not Easily Broken, read the Chapter One excerpt.
Until Next Time, Write On!
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