Round Robin Blog Fest April 2022

 

Another month, another blog fest! 

This week's topic is: How much reading do you do, both for pleasure and for a work in progress?

I used to read a great deal in pretty much any genre I could get my hands on. As a kid, summertime was spent riding bikes, mowing lawn, or reading. Even when I had kids, I spent time reading – mostly bedtime stories – but also grown up books when I had the time.

As I got more into writing books, most of my reading time has been spent on writing/reading/editing my own books. Then I rediscovered the joy of a good bedtime story!

My bedtime reading is generally only a chapter or two, depending on the book, but I’ve been able to start pulling books off my TBR pile that have been there for years. I’ve also discovered new finds in the bookstore to enjoy rather than just learn. So far over the past few months I've read about:

· women who became empowered by riding motorcycles

· a book about becoming a full-time author

· the Heroine’s Journey as opposed to the Hero’s Journey

· The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho

· The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith

· And a few other obscure books on various topics!

I've also been able to start reading a friend's new book to give a review. It's always fun to read something totally new that hasn't even hit the shelves yet! 

In general, my reading time for pleasure is usually around 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Social media reading time…that I’ve actually cut back in favor of getting other things done.

Length of time for editing and work in progress reading depends on how close my deadline is or what new book I have on the go! Currently, I have one book I’m writing the first draft of and a second one I need to edit. If I have a slow day at work, I’ll do a little during quiet moments. I also like to get a lot done during Write-In meetings as well. Those two hours can fly by when you’re working hard on a new book!

Join our gaggle of talented authors to find out what they’re reading!

Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/ 

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/ 

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog 

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2yB 

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

https://books2read.com/The-Conned-Lady

Round Robin Blog Fest March 2019

Welcome back for another Round Robin Blog Fest!
I'm so happy to have copies of my two newest books now in hand!


It's been a long month for me after having arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in my knee at the end of February. After two and a half weeks off work, I'm back on my feet and returned to work this week. Tired and recovering from a cold, I'm ready for a good weekend off. But first....

The question posed for this month's Round Robin Blog Fest is:   How do you self-edit your books before submitting or publishing?

The past few years, I've learned a great deal from my agent, my publishers, and my writing group when it comes to editing. I've learned to more or less edit as I go, but usually don't do a solid edit of my own work until I finish at least half a rough draft. From that point, I print a hard copy, edit the first half, then move on to write or fill in the missing pieces of the second half and keep the flow going along smoothly.

Over all, I tend to write in chunks when I get the time and weave those chunks together later. One of the things I have to watch out for is changing tenses. Where some books I write in Third Person, the one I'm currently working on is in First Person.

My biggest quirks I need to watch out for when I edit, aside from the tenses, is to keep my writing active rather than passive, and not to repeat words.

Once I get the whole book together, I give it one last edit and run spellcheck to catch those silly things I may have missed. Then it's off to my agent and/or publisher. Generally, I'll get more edits back from them to tweak the things I missed. Usually, they involve commas because it seems no two editors can agree where the commas should go! Some use the Oxford commas, some despise them.

Be sure to drop by and check out what my fellow authors have to say about their editing styles!

Skye Taylor 

Diane Bator 

Beverley Bateman 

Connie Vines 

Anne Stenhouse  

A.J. Maguire  

Dr. Bob Rich  

Victoria Chatham 

Helena Fairfax 

Judith Copek 

Rhobin L Courtright 

Keeping those New Year's Resolutions

Something magical happens when you tell people about your New Year's Resolutions. Some scoff and roll their eyes, some remind you of how you tried to accomplish the same goals last year and failed miserably, the there are the friends who pitch in an join you. This year I've set three goals to accomplish:
1) earn my blue belt in karate
2) publish 2 books
3) run a 5km race
Nearly a month into my resolutions, I can say I'm making progress!
a) I'm working hard at karate doing 3 classes per week.
b) I'm editing the second book in my Wild Blue Mysteries series and awaiting edits from my agent on the first book of my newest series. (two possible books!!)  I am also doing a read through of the proof of The Bookstore Lady and having copies printed this year. Finally, a book launch will be possible!!
c) I'm getting on the treadmill and power walk or run every second day. A friend and I are seeking a fun 5km to run and I have friends organizing a group 100km run in September!


Wow! What a kick start to 2014!
Stay tuned to see what else is in store!!

Company's Coming...

I am taking a week off to do some hiking and sightseeing with my brother and his wife. They arrive tonight from Alberta. When they arrive, I will be somewhere in a canola field doing a photoshoot.

You read that right. The Headwaters Writers' Guild is finally kicking our anthology production into high gear. Stories have been submitted and are being edited. Our group photographer is going to be busy doing a group photo shoot this afternoon as well as taking headshots on July 11. We'll see what comes back from that!

My biggest problem with the photo shoot is that I don't know what to wear. Something that stands out against bright yellow and something not too light because the breeze is cool today and . . . who knew I'd be having these sorts of issues before my own novels are even published!

After today, the kids are done school for the summer. I hope to get in lots of hiking and a bit of camping between work and editing. No new novels for me this summer. Editing only. Ideas can come and visit, but will be relegated to the file cabinet. Really. Well, unless they are really good ideas and sweep me off my feet and into another world. Then we'll talk.

Have a great summer, I'll be in touch....

Spring Fever

Spring fever hit me hard this year. Not that we've had an awful winter by any means. I've only had to shovel snow a handful of times (so far), but the warmth of the sun, the melting snow, and company coming has forced me to do things I normally put off until April or May. Like washing walls. Climbing walls. That sort of thing.

I even put a summer painting in the library and look forward to bringing my mom to see it on public display over the next couple of days. I'll make sure to post a picture!

March Break starts this week. The kids will be home, we'll be doing some day trips and not doing so much writing or editing. That's what I've been doing this week. Sending out submissions, getting more rejections for my box, and editing. Keep on Swimming. Dory from Finding Nemo is my idol.

I was abducted by a girlfriend this morning. I was going out to take a long walk. She picked me up and we took a long drive instead. Huge cup of coffee, a road trip, and thou. It was much needed for both of us. I loved every second of it. Okay, so the blog for my writing group was later getting online. And I wasn't exactly prepared for a daytrip, but isn't that what life is about?

Sometimes you just have to be a little flexible and go in whatever direction the wind takes you. That's what I'm learning lately. Life is too short. Splash in the puddles. Go camping and not worry about showering until your stench makes the flowers droop. (Okay, that only happened once. Swimming helps.)

Right now I am surrounded by people with cancer. They have all lived long, rich lives.
I am taking a class about Life Story writing and have a couple of questions: When you look back on your life, will you be writing about how successful you were in business or in life? How will your loved ones remember you?

About the Coral Turtle

This painting was created in one of my art courses. The turtle came from Cuba years ago and is one of my favourite pieces. It was a gift from an aunt. My art teacher was skeptical when I showed her what I wanted to paint but I did it anyway. (I'm just a little bit headstrong some days!) It's one of my favourite pieces.

People tell you not to get attached to your work. I guess that makes it easier to sell it and do things that you wouldn't normally do without getting frustrated in trying to be "perfect." That's why I paint and write. The Universe will lead you to create. The work you create can be edited or tinkered with until you've had enough of it. I read a quote somewhere that a writer sent a book to be published to "kill it" - to get it out of their grasp and resist the urge to tinker and play with it anymore. I've reached that point several times and submitted two of my novels repeatedly.

Does that mean my novels are bad? No. I have people read them who love them.
Does that mean I need to give up? No. I need to keep putting them out there and hope to reach the right person.
Does that mean I can't be frustrated? Hell no! I get as frustrated as anyone. But life goes on.
You get a rejection, you keep submitting.
I imagine once I my file box with rejections I might think differently and self-publish.
That seems to be how a lot of writers lately "get published". Not all of them should be. I read a prime example of that the other day.

Let me be clear: Self-publishing is not an evil thing but for heaven's sake people, if you are going to do it yourself EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!!! Get ten other people who know about good writing to read it and tell you if it's a good novel - not just a good story. Any one can tell a good story. Not everyone can make it readable.
That's why God created Editors!

Keep Creating!

When it Rains it Pours...

Today it's raining but that's not what I mean by when it rains it pours.
I've gone through a drought lately of having few shifts at work and lots of time to write. That was when I focused on finishing my novel Padded Walls. This month, I've gotten more shifts and have been busy with my volunteer work to the point that I seriously considered letting something slide. Unfortunately it was my writing. But not editing. My son, aka Junior Editor, is currently reading a new version of Take the Money and Run.

Today was the meeting for the HWG and I had nothing to read. I mean, I have lots to read but nothing I felt like reading to the group. It was like a mental block. My goal for the next meeting is to have something to read to the group. That simple. And to make sure I take lots of notes so I can keep up the blog! I'm getting better at that.

I also had my first meeting with the executive of the OAG. I am the chief liason with the local high schools. My first mission will be to meet the heads of the Fine Arts Departments and offer a scholarship to the two top graduates. As well, we are seeking students to participate in the Really Big Show in October. I also have to get some of my own artwork ready for then. It will be a fun thing to be involved with. A gala evening as well as a weekend art show.

This week though, Junior Editor write exams. He and I will spend some time picking paint for his room, going for lunch, and shopping at the local art shop. We'll also meet friends for breakfast next week when he has a PD Day. Now that he's in high school, time seems to go so fast. It won't be long until he moves on to bigger and better things of his own. I want to enjoy the time with him while I can.

And help him get ready for life as a grown up. Whenever I become one....

Keeping Busy

For me keeping busy never seems to be an issue. I always have a ton of creative or other things to work on. If it's not the housework, laundry, etc, it's the writing, painting or my part-time job. Even come evening when I'm supposed to relax, my hands are busy with crossword puzzles or making notes for the next day.

So how does someone like me relax? According to my massage therapist, I don't. I need to do more things for myself and spend some time doing things that ease the knots in my neck. For example, the other day I went cross country skiing with one of my kids. Sure I felt like I was going to die going up those hills and today I have some achy muscles but it was a good pain. I sweated so much my clothes were soggy when we got home.

My other form of relaxation is reading. I love to read but the more I learn about writing, the more I find I start to critique people like Janet Evanovich, Dean Koontz, and all the others who grace my shelves. I find myself studying their words instead of just enjoying them. Then I rap my knuckles and read on. Enjoyment, not tearing down their work, should be my focus.

I have a good friend who does a lot of editing for me and I edit for her. I have to say she's much better at it than I am so far! I have to start off with a thorough reading before I actually edit and I know she does the same. To see how well it flows for one then to nitpick. It's can be therapeutic to pick other people's work apart. Especially when you know they won't take your criticisms the wrong way.

When I get her edits. I take it with a sense of grace. Punch a punching bag a couple of times and curse under my breath. Then I go on and edit. Suddenly I find I like my novel a whole lot more once the nitpicking things have been pointed out. And I can relax....