Ask the Author: Miranda Davis
Answered Questions (15)
Miranda Davis
Smoke signals? I'm so sorry I haven't been on Goodreads for a loooong time. I am neck deep in life stuff at the moment and not writing at all. I will blog here if I get back to it. I apologize but hope to write it someday.
Miranda Davis
Sorry, Marybeth, but I haven't started 4 yet. I'm so glad you liked the first three, thank you for asking.
Miranda Davis
I'll answer with a question, how are you doing?
Miranda Davis
Dear Kate, I enjoy reading Regencies and so gravitate to the conventions naturally. But genre isn't a limitation but a discipline. Resourceful women have lived for centuries (if you like historical romance generally), do live (contemporary romance) and will continue to live in the future. I'm not sure I've answered your question, but a liberal arts education was a great pleasure and privilege to experience.
Miranda Davis
I don't know, Percy's a pretty slippery fellow. And Iphigenia's kind of a mouse. He definitely deserves a comeuppance but it's got to come from left field to catch him off guard.
Miranda Davis
I'm afraid there's no date, haven't begun to think about it and not sure it's needed. Thank you for asking.
Miranda Davis
Christmas Eve, with my apologies. Thanks for asking.
Miranda Davis
Christmas Eve. Finally. With my apologies.
Miranda Davis
Am I consistent? Thank you! As you say, it's hard when I get carried away with myself.
Best advice I ever got: Edit. Edit. Edit.
Edit yourself so your meaning is clear, scene by scene.
Each scene should have a purpose in the story and accomplish it.
In a scene, make clear the context, who is doing or saying what and why; what is happening and what the consequences will/might be. That's for starters. Read Grace Burrowes' The Heir and keep in mind what is the purpose of each scene and each character's introduction. It's textbook clear and wonderful at the same time.
Once the mechanics of the draft are in place, polishing tone and making voices of characters and narrator more consistent is far easier. If it's difficult, that's a sign you're not clear in your own mind what should be happening. Does this make sense?
I edit scenes, conversations, descriptions and the entire draft many, MANY times for different issues: clarity, flow, perspective, conflict, humor, plot points, voice, spelling, phrasing, etc. If you use different character's perspectives and a narrative voice, as I do, it can get crowded, so keep in mind who is meant to be saying what. And why. I also read sections aloud in the final editing stages. When it reads smoothly, it's done.
A few suggestions: When you're long-winded, cut it down. Edit it to the bare-bones point you're trying to make, if need be. Be clear before you try to be clever.
I hope some of this helps but most of all, when you are delighted with something you've written, really look at why and replicate that.
Finally, read Stephen King's autobiographical book 'On Writing.' I've never read his books, too scary, but I love his storytelling in this, and he has much better advice about writing. (Sorry, should've probably put this paragraph first and deleted all the rest...Sigh.)
Best advice I ever got: Edit. Edit. Edit.
Edit yourself so your meaning is clear, scene by scene.
Each scene should have a purpose in the story and accomplish it.
In a scene, make clear the context, who is doing or saying what and why; what is happening and what the consequences will/might be. That's for starters. Read Grace Burrowes' The Heir and keep in mind what is the purpose of each scene and each character's introduction. It's textbook clear and wonderful at the same time.
Once the mechanics of the draft are in place, polishing tone and making voices of characters and narrator more consistent is far easier. If it's difficult, that's a sign you're not clear in your own mind what should be happening. Does this make sense?
I edit scenes, conversations, descriptions and the entire draft many, MANY times for different issues: clarity, flow, perspective, conflict, humor, plot points, voice, spelling, phrasing, etc. If you use different character's perspectives and a narrative voice, as I do, it can get crowded, so keep in mind who is meant to be saying what. And why. I also read sections aloud in the final editing stages. When it reads smoothly, it's done.
A few suggestions: When you're long-winded, cut it down. Edit it to the bare-bones point you're trying to make, if need be. Be clear before you try to be clever.
I hope some of this helps but most of all, when you are delighted with something you've written, really look at why and replicate that.
Finally, read Stephen King's autobiographical book 'On Writing.' I've never read his books, too scary, but I love his storytelling in this, and he has much better advice about writing. (Sorry, should've probably put this paragraph first and deleted all the rest...Sigh.)
Miranda Davis
I've started it. Jane's gotten her misbegotten bear, Seelye's trying to deal with it and all hell is about to break loose. So it's happening. I'd guestimate I have to write 1/3 more and then start the awful, long-winded self-editting process.
(This spring, my mother died. I was her caregiver during her final illness so that broke my funny bone, but it's on the mend.)
If you want me to notify you when I plan to publish, send me an email at mdavish@cybermesa.com and I'll add you to a mailing list. No spam. Promise.
(This spring, my mother died. I was her caregiver during her final illness so that broke my funny bone, but it's on the mend.)
If you want me to notify you when I plan to publish, send me an email at mdavish@cybermesa.com and I'll add you to a mailing list. No spam. Promise.
Miranda Davis
Don't be afraid, try.
Do your best. Edit mercilessly.
(I won't be editing this much, so my apologies if it's too much blab.)
Be humble and always realize it can be better. That makes critical reviews helpful and thought provoking rather than soul crushing. (I'm planning to re-edit #2 after I finish #3. And I keep tweaking #1.)
If you decide to self-publish, you can fix things. I have many times.
Check out Scrivener software. You will love it. LOVE IT. It's $49, too.
And always, always back up your work, even if you just slap the latest into a flash drive.
Another writer told me she likes to surprise herself by creating difficult situations for her characters, really jolt them, and I can see how that keeps her going. (She lost an entire draft, no back-up of her first novel!) I try to understand an uncomfortable situation (I've created) better and better, from each person's perspective. While doing that, I learn all sorts of things about the folks involved and that keeps me going. I'm trying to have more plot in the current story, so it's a challenge. I edit continually, hundreds of drafts, line by line revisions with painstaking pauses for research to make sure what I'm considering is plausible, if not likely. ANd I ask a few trusted beta readers to give it a go.
Do your best. Edit mercilessly.
(I won't be editing this much, so my apologies if it's too much blab.)
Be humble and always realize it can be better. That makes critical reviews helpful and thought provoking rather than soul crushing. (I'm planning to re-edit #2 after I finish #3. And I keep tweaking #1.)
If you decide to self-publish, you can fix things. I have many times.
Check out Scrivener software. You will love it. LOVE IT. It's $49, too.
And always, always back up your work, even if you just slap the latest into a flash drive.
Another writer told me she likes to surprise herself by creating difficult situations for her characters, really jolt them, and I can see how that keeps her going. (She lost an entire draft, no back-up of her first novel!) I try to understand an uncomfortable situation (I've created) better and better, from each person's perspective. While doing that, I learn all sorts of things about the folks involved and that keeps me going. I'm trying to have more plot in the current story, so it's a challenge. I edit continually, hundreds of drafts, line by line revisions with painstaking pauses for research to make sure what I'm considering is plausible, if not likely. ANd I ask a few trusted beta readers to give it a go.
Miranda Davis
I've been drafting Lord Seelye's story, the third book of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series.
Miranda Davis
At first, I wanted to see if I could do it. I was spending so much on ebooks, I thought it'd be more economical to try to write one instead. I haven't spent nearly as much time reading as writing, so as far as that goes, I've succeeded.
Also when readers review one of the books and say they found it funny, I'm very motivated to make them laugh and enjoy themselves again. If I can manage it.
Also when readers review one of the books and say they found it funny, I'm very motivated to make them laugh and enjoy themselves again. If I can manage it.
Miranda Davis
Sorry about the delay, I didn't think anyone would ask me anything. I work first from the premise that the group of four men I've come to know must each meet and suffer through difficulties before earning his true love. So I considered Seelye's most salient characteristics that came out in previous stories, he's a dandy, very witty, willfully annoying and teasing, and discovered that he needed to be reformed. There's more to him than meets the eye and I felt there was a great deal more to the bitchy Lady Jane Babcock, too. She needed some serious reformation as well. Et voila, suffering.
Miranda Davis
I have no idea but am open to suggestions.
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