Secrets and Lies

I opened up my WIP folder and ended up taking a peek at the first story i wrote 5 years ago. I spent a lovely two hours editing and adding to this story.

I realised i have learned a lot about my writing since then, the biggest thing was point of view. In this story there is rampant head hopping :s. So i went through the first 7 seven chapters and fixed that.

I also discovered i describe way too much so it slows down action - i have to do some more extensive editing on this one, but i still love the story, and i'd love to send it off for publication when finished :)

What have learnt about your craft since you first started?

What to do with all my free time!

I have finished my Diploma! And four days later i was handed a contract for my first teaching job!
This was a shock as hubby and i were expecting maybe March or April next year, but this is great!

Now though, i have a lot of time to do stuff i want. Downside? It's the kids last day at school today.
Upside? I get to spend lots of that time with them, since i've missed that the last 7 weeks being on practicum. The other upside - no homework or readings in the evening. I CAN WRITE!!!

So which project do i tackle first? That is the question!

Nearly Done

I have been so absent from the writing scene for the past month and will be for another. I have 4 weeks left of my final practicum and then i will be a provisionally registered early childhood teacher!
Whilst applying for jobs, i intend to be back into my writing, as my characters are all demanding my time and attention which unfortunately is being spent on reflections, assessment and my family.
I have been reading everyone's blog, just not commenting, but that will be back in full operation shortly too.
Keep up your writing people, you are wonderful!!

Editing. There're 3 types?

If, like me you have no idea of all the different types of editing that a book goes through before being published, i found this post from Rachel Gardener.
It has information on Revisions, or Content Edit.
Copy Edit
and Line editing.

Ok, i've heard of all of them just didn't know all the nitty gritty involved. Did you? No?
Go and have a read!

Secrets in a Book

Maisey Yates has a great post here where she talks about character's secrets in a story and how they can either mask weak internal conflict or be the master of the story. Or having no secrets and laying it all out in front and watching how the layers peel back to reveal the core of the character.
She also gives some great advice, in the form of questions, to help you work out if you secret is good or bad for your story.
Go and have a read!

Nicola Marsh's road to Publication

Nicola reveals her way to publication of her Indie book Crazy Love here
It is an awesome and very brave story!

For you Indie- pubbed authors out there, what was your journey like?

New Book!

My Fav contemporary author Nicola Marsh has just released her first Indie Published book, Crazy Love!

Blurb from Nicola's blog:

All's fair in love...and matchmaking!

Sierra Kent doesn’t do love. 
While she embraces the quaintness of her home town Love and delights in matchmaking her clients through her Internet dating agency Love Byte, she doesn’t trust her intuition when it comes to the one emotion that has repeatedly let her down. 

City-slick Marc Fairley, CEO of LA's premier acquisition company, doesn’t have time for Love. 
From the minute he enters the kitschy town he can’t wait to hotfoot back to LA with his deranged mother in tow. 
Instead, he gets roped into the town's Love Fest hoopla, investigates the shady farmer his mom is engaged to, berates his butler for a mad crush on a brash Aussie waitress, and finds himself falling for the brazen red-head who continually baits him.
His life couldn't get any crazier.
Until he discovers in exacting revenge on his father and achieving his lifelong goals, he may lose the one thing he values most...

Can Sierra and Marc create enough sparks to send Love up in flames? 
And prove that winning isn’t everything in the love stakes, it’s how you play the game.

At $2.99 on Amazon kindle it is a bargain. I've just downloaded it and am dying now to read it but have to wait until next weekend when i have no kids, no hubby and just me and group of girlfriends!

Go on, snap it up now!