Clichés

Hi

Dreaded cliches!!!

Ace in the hole
All in a day's work
Are you a man or a mouse
As hot as hell
She'll be right
time stood still


There are many more. You can find a more comprehensive list at: http://www.clichelist.net/

Often when we think we need to emphasise and explain (or use a cliche), we actually don't. If we do, then we are dumbing down the reader. Less is often more.

The horror writer Stephen King emphasises but does it will the skill of a master at his craft.

A good one who eases in serious matters (e.g. radioactive water) without any fan fare is Fay Weldon - The She Devil. She's a master at this.

I for one, am just as guilty of over emphasising too. It's an ongoing battle. Hopefully, we'll get there in the final cut.

What are cliches?

They were once a new way of saying something but with overuse became tired and boring.

Editing your story with text to speech

Hi

I'm doing another edit of a mystery/thriller I wrote years ago. A dear friend of mine, Victoria, has read and made comments on the entire manuscript. Thank you Victoria for being soo nice for not telling me to bury the mss in the garden.

The story is full of adjectives and bad punctuation...but I still believe it's a good story.

I guess when you first start off writing you try so hard to explain everything and describe everything. Why stop at one adjective when two or three will be better, or so you think. I know that we are told to choose one, but what if you can't decide? Well, that comes with time and practice. How many years it takes you, is up to you. Also, you are so close to the story you can't see the flaws.

How do I explain away the bad punctuation...I was never that good at English at school. I was dyslexic and was never diagnosed as in those days no one knew about this problem. Maybe this is a cop out but it's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. I wasn't writing full time for many years. Now I try to sit down and write for about four hours a day. It does make a difference.

There are some free programs on the net which will read your text back to you. They are mechanical voices and may irritate some people but it is helpful as it will pick up the 'and' or 'the' that you failed to see because you mentally insert it every time you read your work. I know that I do.
Here are a few:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Other-Office-Tools/Speakonia.shtml
(You need to copy and past the text into the dialogue box)
There is a free plug in from Microsoft so you can enable text to speech in MS Word. When you load Word it doesn't automatically install the text to speech part. You will have to go to Add remove programs and install it that way. Here is the link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/word-help/using-the-speak-text-to-speech-feature-HA102066711.aspx
http://www.ivona.com/us/ - this one is used online.

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Creating real characters with depth

CREATING REAL CHARACTERS WITH DEPTH

1. Dialogue should reveal more than just what the characters is feeling a given time. It should also give an insight into the background of that character. Sometimes a character will not tell the truth but will respond in such a way that we as a reader will be tipped off and sometimes not. If we are writing about an accomplished liar at some point they will gradually reveal themselves in small ways.There will have to be an 'ah' moment. That moment will have to have some foundation earlier in the story otherwise the reader will feel cheated. Most characters, like real people, lie in small ways and it's up to you as the writer to decide what your people will do. 
2. Actions speak louder than words. Some characters will say one thing and do another. This is very revealing and makes the reader question what is going in inside this character. E.g. 'I'm having a great time. Everything is fine,' she said as she plucked bits of a tissue, like pulling petals of a flower.The floor around her looked like a snow drift. This is overdone but it shows what I mean.She could have slammed the door or something else. It all depends on what you want from the character.
3. Their emotions can be revealed by their facial expressions and how someone else responds to this stimulus  E.g. 'You've gone white. What's upset you?'
4. Even if we are not in that particular character's head, the viewpoint character can think. Oh, she's not herself today because I remember her telling me that she's going to the doctors later. If a character doesn't react to something that would ordinarily upset them, the viewpoint character might think...what's wrong with them? They usually hate...

Open the door and reveal hidden depths of a character. 

http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/door.html

Creating a map for my fantasy story

Hi

I've spent a few days creating a map for my fantasy story 'The Girl In The Mirror.' I needed to get clear in my mind where the location of each place was in my story and I was slowing down and needed something that would get the creative juices flowing again.

I will be posting it when I'm happy with it in a separate blog for the story: 'The Girl In The Mirror.

This map I have created in Microsoft Inspiration. A great little program. Some of it is freeware and the latest versions are not.  http://downloads.phpnuke.org/en/download-item-view-g-g-n-y-l/Inspiration.htm
I guess you could use MS Publisher,
or there is Gimp http://www.gimp.org/ which is freeware and lastly,
Adobe Photoshop.

Olga

The writing process

Hi

I'm still enjoying the process of writing 'The Girl In The Mirror.' I've just realised that I am in my seventh month of writing this story. So much for the six months target I set to finish first draft. At least I can console myself that I'm nearlythere with only about 20 pages to go.

Those of you that think writing is easy and anyone can do it haven't tried to write a novel length story. If you have and you still think it's easy, I want to hear your story.

I love to write and it amazes me after a writing session that I have actually got something down. When I read what I have written, I wonder where all this stuff has come from.

For this current story I haven't tried to make each chapter perfect but rather kept going forward. I know that if I start rereading what I have written, I will get bogged down with polishing it. In the second draft some chapters might be cut or have the focus changed so I know now that I will be probably wasting my time if I do this.

The thing with being a writer is that you learn as you write. Yes, a university course in English will help with grammar, tenses, etc but not with ideas, creating and the stuff that you pluck from thin air as if its channeled from the universe. The more you do it the better you get and the more that little voice tells you that the stuff you have written is rubbish and no one will want to read it. You have to turn off the voice as much as you can and believe in yourself.

I came across a blog that I thought was worth passing on and it's called 'Not for Robots.' http://notforrobots.blogspot.com.au/

Cheers.
Happy writing.

REDRAFTING

Hi

I'm up to page 148 of my fantasy story The Girl In The Mirror. Still loving it. I can't wait to finish it and do the next draft.

I found some great tips in the Writer's News regarding drafts and editing.

Summary of Stewart Ferris's article.

1) First sweep: Look at improving story structure.

2) Next sweep: Focus on characters

3) Focus on dialogue

4) Look at the descriptive language, etc. Ensure your descriptions do not look like large blocks on the page. If you must have the description then filter it in a little at a time.

5) Lastly, do a simple proof read.

I want to add to these and put point 5 last.

6) Look at chapter conflict which is different from the plot conflict. Each chapter must have its own nutshell of conflict (which enhances the plot). This is like the spokes of a wheel. The wheel being the plot.

7) In each scene ensure you have at least 3 of these...colour, dialogue, sounds, smells, conflict. Conflict being the most important one.

8) Look at adjectives. Always use only the best one to describe something. Get rid of the rest.

9) Repeated words on the same page. If it is intentional, then it's okay, but only then.

10) Overuse of descriptions or words.

11) Look for plot holes.

12) Check that main character's voice is consistent.

13)Look at back story as well. Too much and the story stands still.

14) Don't forget to enjoy the process.

Don't forget to make the first chapter as good as possible. A poor first chapter will sink you.

Leave me some comments if you found this useful.

Bye for now.

The Girl In The Mirror

Hi

When I complete my latest fantasy story I will be posting exerts here. Any comments will be welcome.

Olga

Still doing first draft of my fantasy.

Hi I'm up to page 130 of 'The Girl in the Mirror.'

Got any great sites you want to include here? Please send them to me.

Self publishing

Hi I've just come across a blog which gives great info on self publishing. Check it out: http://book-promotion.blogspot.com.au/

olga

Still writing the fantasy

Hi

I'm up to page 122 of my first fantasy story titled "The girl in the mirror".

It's been a joy to write so far.

still going strong with my fantasy "The Girl In The Mirror"

Hi

I'm up to page 85 of my new fantasy story. Yippee. I've been squeezing in some writing between packing up my daughter's home as she is moving. I've set myself a target of 10 pages per week. Xmas got in the way and I'm a little behind.

get the bum glue on the seat

Hi

I've been having trouble logging on but am here now. I've recently started a new fantasy story which is based on a short story I wrote some time ago. I'm having fun writing it. In the interview in Writer's News UK, John Locke tells us that you have to have fun writing whatever you write. I am.

I've got to get my bum glue (to keep me at the computer) organised to get it finished within the 6 month target I set.

Cheers for now.

writing

Hi

It feels good to be finally getting back to writing my chick lit story. I intend to self publish on kindle, smashwords and indie publishing.

see ya

Adding FeedBurner Email to your TypePad or Blogger blog

Adding FeedBurner Email to your TypePad or Blogger blog

Taking a break

Hi

I have started working on my Chick in the City story again. I'm taking a break from the thriller for now.

I hope to self publish it on smashwords and kindle when it's ready.

olga

I hope 2010 will be a great year

Hi I haven't gone much new writing lately. I have a good friend who volunteered to do an edit of my story. I have sent her 10 chapters and another 10 will go next week. I hope 2010 will be a great year for all.

Nominated for an award.

Hi

I've been less active on authonomy. It was taking up toooo much of my valuable writing time. I did get nominated for an award on this web site
http://www.campanella-awards.webs.com/mystery.html
and received runner up. Yippee!!!!
I'm getting my story edited at the moment.

cheers

Talent Killers

this is my response to an email I read (and after I went to the suggested url) on a writer's circle I belong to.

Hi
I can see how she may feel this but after all publishing a book has to make enough profit to pay otherwise why bother? It's not a charity. I'm saddened by the fact that agents and publishing houses do not have the time to edit an author's book any more and it is up to the writer to do that. I think it stinks that there are big advances given to celebs that do not even write their own books. These books do not always sell well either. I think the day is soon coming that the publishing world will open their collective eyes and start worrying that the internet is doing what they didn't have the guts to do. Take a chance on talented unknown writers. The demise of publishing as we've known it is happening as you read this.

cheers

An author named Mary W. Walters wrote an impassioned post on Tuesday titled "The Talent Killers."

You can read it here:

http://tiny.cc/28Kse

I am deliberately not going to say anything about it before you've had a chance to read it.

Regards,

Maya
http://www.mayareyn oldswriter.blogspot. com

Hi

I've been busy at work and authonomy so I haven't had time to post.

I'm looking forward to an Easter break and doing some more writing. I'm still working on my Stephanie story. Does the editing ever end? I must be a slow learner.
From the comments I'm getting on authonomy, I will have to give my first chapter another edit and cut some of the backstory.

I sent 5 pages off to a couple of agents and got a no thanks back.

I'll keep plugging away until an agent or publisher picks it up.

The publishing world is getting harder with all the lay offs and rationalisations and closures happening. I think 2009 will be a much toughter market.

The web is changing so rapidly no one knows what will happen to the publishing world in the coming years. I think the publishers are worried and will be caught out if they don't jump into the frey when they should. This means the bigger players may become dinosaurs as they can't change quickly.

I can't see how downloading an entire book for free is going to bring enough revenue to keep going but that's what some writers are doing? What do you think?

Tell yourself this -
I love myself and therefore I am loved and lovable.

There is too much self critisism in the world today. We are not perfect nor are we meant to be. Do the best you can and be happy.

cheers for now.

Hi

I subscribe to RSS feeds on Nathan Bransford's blog. He has some interesting perspectives on the other side of the fence. Check it out -
http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2008/06/query-points-system-and-rulebreaking.html

I'm happy to say that some authonomy authors have been successful. Three were offered contracts by Harper Collins and another couple had been found by agents lurking on authonomy.


A Sad Case (a crappy poem)

Authonomy Forum sucked me in,
Got square dry eyes,
Lost weight,
Didn't sleep,
Damned Word 2003 was mucking up my chapters when I posted them there,
Couldn't leave the computer just in case...
Then I screamed...
I can't take any more,
I'm drowning in an electronic sea,
I logged off and went outside,
The air was fresher there,
birds chirped, frogs croaked
and the rain smelt sweet.
But something was missing,
I walked from room to room
impatient to find what it was,
then I saw the computer screen blinking at me,
I tried so hard to make myself keep walking but
before I knew it,
Authonomy was talking to me again and I smiled,
home at last.

Cheers