D.L. Hopkins's Blog

Since a lot of us have been writing since we were old enough to hold a pencil, I have to start before that. I had my "stories" in my head from such a young age, it's like the land before time. My mom constantly had to remind me my "pretend friends" weren't real.

I don't have an issue with people, not introverted to a paralyzed point, I like people, so it's odd that I create whole fantasy families, fantasy friends, and fantasy worlds. But I do. I've read a lot of author bios here on Goodreads, and honestly, it's comforting to know I'm not alone.

I think if you're a writer, it's just in the blood, we probably came to this earth with our stories all clamoring to be told.

It's funny how our stories affect people. We all have stories, sometimes they slip into our reality. Have you ever embellished a story, made it sound more fantastic than it was? I have. I'll admit it. For years I escaped into my story world inside my head. In grade school I wrote and fantasized this story about a guy I met on the beach, a surfer dude, really hot. He had buddies, and they liked all my friends and wanted to hang out with us on the beach. This is all in my mind, now. I wrote it down too, one of my first silly stories. I made the mistake of telling it to my friends as if it was real. Seriously. I kept up the fantasy for weeks. In the end, when my best friend found out it wasn't real, it really hurt her feelings and caused a rift in our friendship--- for--- not sure how long now, caz we've been back to normal silly girls for forty years. Oh my gosh did I just say that? Dede, we’ve been friends over 40 years... I'm glad you don't hold that incident against me! Clive was never real. Sigh, shake head. Sometimes fantasy is more entertaining than reality.

When do writer's write?
It's crazy, isn't it? Thinking about having time to write? We all lead the busiest of lives, and sitting down, organizing thoughts and actually putting them to pen (computer pens!) is daunting, to say the least. But everybody has a story. It lurks on the sidelines of life, and often begs to be let out. Some people's stories are so loud inside them they just have to write them down to get them to be quiet. That's me.
I had the stories in my head long before I could read. I remember them, guys, I remember my stories, even the ones I had going at three years old. I bet you do too. Mom called them my pretend friends, (maybe in an effort to keep them from intruding on real life!) And maybe they had some of my favorite cartoon characters in them (nowadays they call that fanfiction). Whatever it is, it's okay. Stories evolve, they become, and they shape our dreams.
Don't be afraid to write your story. Sometimes letting the dreams out can set you on the path to making them your reality. And who doesn't want to have their dreams come true?

(book: The Cleansing)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

(book: The Kindling) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

(book: Melia) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

(book: Draggar's Story) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

ONLY today, August 17th are the digital copies free on AMAZON! Get your copy now!

I'm pleased to announce the Goodreads Giveaway for my Debut Romance Suspense Novel, Melia, A Daughters of Rosewood Romance! Today through August 6th (my youngest daughter's birthday!) Print book already on Amazon!

Industry standards demand that our stories stay within a range, so that they will be easy to print if that time ever comes, and to appeal to audiences who like all resolutions to be had in the same space of time it takes to watch a full-length feature film.
How to get that incredible word count down to a manageable size?
Number one: Be the kind of author who writes in outline form, and then goes back and fills in details.
If that doesn't work, and you have to ditch words-- look for these lovely babies, "had, still, once again, and just or very."
And when you're done, and your story is still above the ideal, think--- what made you read all those amazing books like Gone With The Wind, or Game of Thrones? They were simply amazing, and remember that people don't want to let go of the best stories. Why worry about word count if you've got that going for you?