Don Foxe's Blog: sci-fi/fantasy imagination

The last post counted 56 'then'. Down to 20. I had 27 'very' ; now 5. 12 'really' = 5.

As I keep harping, the opportunity to craft a better book is waiting for anyone willing to FIND the easy writing tools and make the effort to replace easy with more descriptive, exciting, and engaging sentences.

Today I begin the most difficult task in finding and replacing -- is am are was were. Words we must use, but often overuse. The less passive I can make my story, the more actively engaged the reader becomes.

I'm not giving you counts -- only it will be in the HUNDREDS! But this is close to the final rewrite before sending the draft to edit.

I still hope to have the SPACE FLEET SAGAS Collection of Adventures published in the first week of June. But I learned my lessons from my first novel -- I will not rush the final product.

Last blog I told you I found 175 uses of 'THAT' in a collection of short stories. After checking each one, I reduced the number to 64. A lot of rewriting, but I really believe it makes each story stronger.

Now I'm going after 'THEN.' Another filler word I use too often, especially if used to imply a time just discussed.

EDIT - FIND - 'then' = 56!

Because that is not as many as I feared, I'll go ahead today and look for 'very' and 'really.' These two descriptives never create an image, and they certainly do not evoke the reader's senses.

As I have become more aware of wasted words, I find I use them less as I write more. I only need to check out 27 uses of 'very' and only 12 of 'really.'

Since rewrites are necessary, use the FIND in your EDIT to assist. Discovering new ways, more descriptive ways of reaching your reader makes a better novel, and makes you a better writer.

There are as many approaches to writing as writers. Reading "How to Write Fiction" books, articles, and guides stopped me from writing for years!

I simply write. The story is in my head, and I use stream-of-conscious. This is why it takes months to complete rewrites.

Discovering how "weak" my prose poured forth was a revelation, but thanks to modern technology, the "finding" is easy and the correcting creates a more well-crafted final product.

Example: THAT.

I'm correcting poor writing in SPACE FLEET SAGAS, my collection of related short stories, before sending it to editing. I give myself April for this one process. Under EDIT I click on FIND, and type in 'that.' 175 times in a work just over 220 pages!

Sometimes, especially in character dialogue, 'that' is fine. Sometimes it should be 'which.'

Every time I follow a term with a descriptive phrase beginning with 'that,' I rewrite, placing the descriptive before the term. 'That' is often an indicator of laziness -- here is an opportunity to build a better description for the reader.

Half the time I will delete 'that.' It is just a word in my head, and can be eliminated, allowing the prose to flow.

Do you know the words you abuse?

Over the next few blogs I will share my "nasty" language, and fixes. Perhaps we share a few.

I once believed writing a novel was a difficult undertaking.

Then I read several samples of 'published' novels by emerging writers. Seems like anyone can write a novel . . . that no one would ever enjoy reading it never entered the equation.

I wrote my first story, and it reached me. The characters, the settings, and the situations kept me entertained to the point I completed three "books" and several character studies long before I thought about publishing.

When I decided to look into publishing, I went directly to self-publishing. I don't have the patience for "being discovered." I made a monumental mistake by believing the hype of a self-publishing publishing house. Since they were connected to a "real" publisher, I thought they would be legit.

But the one good thing I found was the desire to create, to craft a polished final work before presenting it to the public. The "we're here to help you" team proved to be a Ford-Assembly Line Up-Sale. They had no intention of helping -- they wanted me to Buy, Buy, Buy all the work needed before publishing. Instead, I did all the work myself. I wanted to learn.

I'm still learning. So don't make the mistake of paying for publishing services until you have EXHAUSTED checking them out. While you're looking, maybe you can learn to accomplish all the writing requirements necessary for a novel to be truly reader-ready.

You might discover, as I have, there is craftsmanship in the process -- the entire process -- and there is no better craftsman than the one who cares the most.

So, of course, the nice gentleman who asked an opinion was quite upset at me for returning an "honest" answer.

Could I have been more diplomatic? Yep. Could I have ignored the request, knowing how I would answer after reading his synopsis? Yep. Do I care that I hurt someone's pride? Nope. It isn't what I set out to do, so feeling "harmed" is a them-problem.

What will I do in the future?

Locally when a writer (of anything from novels to school papers) ask me to read something and claims to want an opinion, I warn them up front of my belief in straight replies. I cannot help someone if I have to spend half my time trying to decide the "least offensive" way of responding. Time is something I do not waste.

So, other than when the response is positive, or simply providing an answer, without coloring, I think I will provide a request --

Do you REALLY want an honest opinion, or are you seeking affirmation?

A fellow writer sent out a facebook post asking about a synopsis of his book -- do you prefer #1 or #2.

I answered, neither. I also said, as a reader, the synopsis (either one) made the book seem (paraphrase) drab - cliche - done once too many times . . . pick your description.

Honest? Yep. Should I have posted the comment, or just ignored it? I hope posting it was the proper path, because I hope the writer wanted honest feedback.

At university (many years ago) a professor told me, "Never fall in love with anything that cannot love you back." Don't become enamored with your writing, or you will never hear the criticisms necessary for you to improve.

Learning to listen to honest appraisals and opinions, without trying to defend your work, is DIFFICULT. But I try, and I fully intend to be honest with others.

People in my circle know this: don't ask Don if you aren't ready for the truth (as he sees it).

Good or bad quality -- not sure, and don't care. It keeps my life and relationships simple.

Today is the positive side of dealing with others in the writing-publishing world.

For the last 11 years the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has sponsored the Decatur Book Festival. I was approached by phone call by someone wanting to "invite" me to the festival. Turns out it was a writer-promotion company and for the cost of $699 I could join them at the AJC DBF. I would have someone there to sell my books when not there myself, a chance to speak to the audience, and a video-promo made.

I am not a fan of phone-sales, and it all sounded a bit "gitchy." I sent an email to Cindy, the person in charge of the Emerging Writers activities for the festival.

I had a return email within 24-hours, and a follow-up email from Mike, the Festival Manager soon thereafter.

The group did have a tent at the festival, and they could "sell" services to people like you and me, but it was (my words here, not theirs) a "rip."

For $125 I could have a spot in the Emerging Writers tent, speak to the audience, and the tent staff would handle my books if I was not on site.

For $675 I could have my very own tent and all the ritz and glitz that goes with being someone with their very own tent. I could even charge other writers to use some of my tent -- anyone want to pay me $699? I have a video camera, so if you want me to interview you and airdrop the video to your phone, I'll include that in the cost.

This is an example of how there are people in our world willing to communicate, and do it quickly, cleanly, and honestly.

Ask the professionals -- the real professionals will act that way, and pretty soon you will have a list of "go to" sites you can trust.

Yes -- I will be in Decatur on Labor Day Weekend. No, not with that "group."

https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/

I find it both amusing and disheartening the lack of communication that occurs between people trying to become published writers, and all the sites that profess to "help" the cause.

The biggest issue I have is the lack of concise, informative speak. Since I'm on Goodreads, I'll take them to task as an example.

On my Author's Site I have CONFRONTATION listed three times. I have no idea how that happened, but I am sure it was my own clumsiness. So I send a SUPPORT TICKET, because Goodreads cannot make themselves offer simple communication lines for help requests.

That was a month ago, and the site still shows three of the same book. There is a nice "add a book" link, but, of course, no easy (that I can find) way to delete a mistake.

This is not just a Goodread's issue -- it happens far too much across a number of writer-support sites. And I dearly love the "Go to FAQ's" before you bother us. FAQ's written months before the site went online by people on the inside -- not us.

My wish is that "writer-friendly" sites might write more friendly.

When I read a sample for a writer of sci-fi and/or fantasy I am unfamiliar with, I decide if I will try the book based on a simple feeling . . . can I buy the premise?

Perhaps it should be called PRE - MISS . . . if the writer misses me now, I doubt I'll look at other works later.

A writer's imagination fuels their story, but their imagination alone cannot create an experience for me as a reader. I need my imagination engaged. To do this I have to "believe" in the fantasy.

The book description helps. The first couple of chapters, often the SAMPLE made available, must complete the process.