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Tag: #amwritingfantasy
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Writing Ruins Reading
Are you telling me the teenage empath can’t tell how the other teenager feels about her? Um, no. The boy’s entire family blows up and he shows no emotion. The perspective is first person, right? When does this story actually begin? Oh, here’s the beginning…on page 182. I am an avid reader. I taught myself…
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Query Away
My first query letter has been sent. It took me hours to construct as I continuously consulted Query Shark to see if I was making any huge blunders. If you have not visited Query Shark, you must visit. Even if you’re not a writer or plan on self publishing, it is an entertaining site. The…
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Pitching, a First Time
I am no longer a pitch virgin. On Saturday at the Houston Writers Guild April Conference, I had my first experience with a professional agent. And it was good. When I registered for the conference, Amy Boggs was the first agent on the list. As an agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency, I found…
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First Writer’s Retreat…and I think I’m addicted
Last weekend, I attended my first writer’s retreat. Four story tellers gathered at a lake view property in Rancho Viejo, TX. We left friends, with better stories and shared camaraderie. I think I’m addicted. Just outside of South Padre Island put the house five hours from my home in Houston. Too close to fly (or…
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That’s What She Said
As I approach revising my second novel, I’m eager to be efficient as well as thorough. I have high hopes for this story and I want to make sure my writing brings out the world and characters I see in my head. One focus is style. For this post, I want to explore dialogue notation.…
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Writing is a Business
I took Friday off. It was grand. I binge watched Louie CK’s show on Netflix. I highly recommend using your vacation days, even if it’s one day for no reason, except that you need to breathe a little, because it’s become difficult to catch your breath in the world you’ve chosen of responsibilities and obligations…
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First draft of Gabriella and Periwinkle Complete
Drum roll, please! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R5gHF0vzew I made it!!! The first draft of Gabriella and Periwinkle is complete. Not only did I get those five chapters written, I added another chapter earlier to explain how magic works in this world. How did I do this thing I was convinced I couldn’t do? My amazing, awesome, supportive family.…
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Book Reviews: Can you trust them?
I finished a book recently by a woman I met at a local convention. (I will not mention the author or the book, so don’t ask.) She was friendly enough at her booth and the blurb on the back fascinated me. I finally opened the cover a month ago…and hated every minute of it. The book…
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Twitter Fun
I’ve been having so much fun on Twitter. I’ve met fellow writers, interacted with avid readers, read useful blogs and articles, entered contests and shared my personal experiences as a fledgling writer. Through the process, I’ve noticed a few patterns. One, some writers trying to advertise their work forget to keep the “social” in “social…
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Beta Reading Experience for Future Beta Readers
I completed my first turn at beta reading a complete manuscript. I can verify, without a doubt, that I do NOT want to be an editor. (Read more at my previous post I don’t think I want to be an editor.) It’s exceptionally difficult to analyze another person’s work, especially when it’s someone you know. I did not…