Scott Moon's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
Book feedback and the craft of writing
When I published Dragon Badge on Kindle Direct and CreateSpace, it was because I loved the story and desperately wanted to share it with people. Every writer knows what it is like to build a scene and work out a bit of dialogue that has your ego busting at the seams. You say, “Wow, this is really good. I can’t wait to share it with everyone I know.” I shared a separate work-in-progress novel with several non-writers who love to read. These beta readers are work colleagues who were probably surprised when I actually dropped a 600 page manuscript on each of their desks and said, “tell me what you think.” That work-in-progress is similar in some ways to Dragon Badge, in that it contains cop characters, but the main characters were bikers, runaways, priests, and vampires. These beta readers loved it. I pitched the book at a writing conference (OWFI 2012) and was two for two on sample requests. During the conference I almost pitched a different book, because every agent, editor, and writer that did presentations said they were not interested in vampire books. I felt good that my vampire tale was original enough to hook them.
Thus far I am very happy with my self-publishing experience. I have learned about eBook and CreateSpace formatting, found a great place to buy book covers, read many books on writing, editing, and marketing. But the key element that will help me improve my craft are book reviews. A lot of people love Dragon Badge. Scores of people I know personally have approached me and complemented the book, while asking if there will be another (there will, I am working on it now). The real test has been the impartial reviewers. My first three star review was like a punch in the gut, even though I have thick skin, tons of confidence, and understand not everyone will like it. Yet, I pay attention to the reviews and have done some serious soul searching on what I need to do to improve the next book.
In high school I had a choir director who always said it was important to sing loud, put yourself out there, and hear your mistakes. Publishing a book has the same result. While I understand it is foolish to write to the critics, this does not mean their comments are not valuable. In fact, they are probably the most valuable part of this entire adventure. All I want to do is write the best book I can. I love writing and most of the time it loves me back.
Thus far I am very happy with my self-publishing experience. I have learned about eBook and CreateSpace formatting, found a great place to buy book covers, read many books on writing, editing, and marketing. But the key element that will help me improve my craft are book reviews. A lot of people love Dragon Badge. Scores of people I know personally have approached me and complemented the book, while asking if there will be another (there will, I am working on it now). The real test has been the impartial reviewers. My first three star review was like a punch in the gut, even though I have thick skin, tons of confidence, and understand not everyone will like it. Yet, I pay attention to the reviews and have done some serious soul searching on what I need to do to improve the next book.
In high school I had a choir director who always said it was important to sing loud, put yourself out there, and hear your mistakes. Publishing a book has the same result. While I understand it is foolish to write to the critics, this does not mean their comments are not valuable. In fact, they are probably the most valuable part of this entire adventure. All I want to do is write the best book I can. I love writing and most of the time it loves me back.
Writing Love
How many writers have looked up from the keyboard and thought, "This is good. This is really good. Look out world, I am on fire!"
That feeling is something I live for. Success as a fiction writer, published or not, is a matter of finding this zone more often than wandering in the land of self doubt, self criticism, and "practical reasoning." These latter emotions can come at any time, day or night, and must be endured. By contrast, inspiration is best when there is an opportunity to do something with it. Odds are stacked against fiction writers. Fortunately, what the moments of inspiration lack in duration and convenience, they make up for with intensity and day dreams.
My favorite exclamations on twitter ( https://twitter.com/Scottmoonwriter ) are variations of "I love writing!" I tweet with friends. There are a lot of great people on Twitter. I promote my book and the books of other people. I make jokes. But being able to exclaim your passion is priceless. People even answer back! Of course, in my Twitterverse, the writer population is dense.
"Morning writer. How's your free day?"
"Great. Yours?"
"Did one last month. Top ten in free contemporary fantasy. Hey, hey."
"Yeah! You should do a blog tour."
"Wish I had the time, patience, and know-how. What is up with Stumbleupon? Do you know how to use it?"
"No idea."
"I love writing!"
"Me too!"
High five.
There are many tools available to the writer. Five months ago I attended the OWFI Writer's Conference. Each presenter spent at least some time addressing "platform" and “social media,” which are not actually synonymous. So I went home and opened a twitter account. Everything was about Twitter was strange and non-intuitive. My confidence in my computer / internet skills suffered a mental groin shot, but people answered my tweet questions and I now enjoy the community.
Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) is helpful because it allows me to take projects with me wherever I go, so that when life really comes down on the writer in me, I can at least stay in touch with my work in progress. I tried several iPhone word processing apps, this works best for me.
I now use Serenity Software Editor as part of my review and revision process. This program has limitations but is a big help. The program does not like jargon or slang. There is a free trial. The full version with in-document editing is easier and uses less paper, because the free trial and cheaper version require you to print out the suggestions and enter them by hand. http://www.serenity-software.com/
I have also experimented with Liquid Story Binder, which is really cool, but I have not fully bought into using it, primarily because I don’t have time to learn to use another complex system. For my current projects I am using an Excel spreadsheet to plot using scene lists, character charts, and chapter outlines. I would recommend the free trial for LSB http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/ for world building in particular.
But I digress. I love stories. When I manage to write something exciting, it is a really good day. Just wanted to share.
That feeling is something I live for. Success as a fiction writer, published or not, is a matter of finding this zone more often than wandering in the land of self doubt, self criticism, and "practical reasoning." These latter emotions can come at any time, day or night, and must be endured. By contrast, inspiration is best when there is an opportunity to do something with it. Odds are stacked against fiction writers. Fortunately, what the moments of inspiration lack in duration and convenience, they make up for with intensity and day dreams.
My favorite exclamations on twitter ( https://twitter.com/Scottmoonwriter ) are variations of "I love writing!" I tweet with friends. There are a lot of great people on Twitter. I promote my book and the books of other people. I make jokes. But being able to exclaim your passion is priceless. People even answer back! Of course, in my Twitterverse, the writer population is dense.
"Morning writer. How's your free day?"
"Great. Yours?"
"Did one last month. Top ten in free contemporary fantasy. Hey, hey."
"Yeah! You should do a blog tour."
"Wish I had the time, patience, and know-how. What is up with Stumbleupon? Do you know how to use it?"
"No idea."
"I love writing!"
"Me too!"
High five.
There are many tools available to the writer. Five months ago I attended the OWFI Writer's Conference. Each presenter spent at least some time addressing "platform" and “social media,” which are not actually synonymous. So I went home and opened a twitter account. Everything was about Twitter was strange and non-intuitive. My confidence in my computer / internet skills suffered a mental groin shot, but people answered my tweet questions and I now enjoy the community.
Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) is helpful because it allows me to take projects with me wherever I go, so that when life really comes down on the writer in me, I can at least stay in touch with my work in progress. I tried several iPhone word processing apps, this works best for me.
I now use Serenity Software Editor as part of my review and revision process. This program has limitations but is a big help. The program does not like jargon or slang. There is a free trial. The full version with in-document editing is easier and uses less paper, because the free trial and cheaper version require you to print out the suggestions and enter them by hand. http://www.serenity-software.com/
I have also experimented with Liquid Story Binder, which is really cool, but I have not fully bought into using it, primarily because I don’t have time to learn to use another complex system. For my current projects I am using an Excel spreadsheet to plot using scene lists, character charts, and chapter outlines. I would recommend the free trial for LSB http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/ for world building in particular.
But I digress. I love stories. When I manage to write something exciting, it is a really good day. Just wanted to share.
Scott Talk
I have not been a very good patron of Goodreads. Sometimes, when I finish a book I add it to my list and post a review, but I feel I have missed out on the community here.
Recently, a writer I met on Twitter, Shannon Mayer, announced that she was quitting her regular job to write full time. I have read two of her books and enjoyed them, but have followed the progress of her other books series with interest. It is great to see someone's career take off.
This is not a promotion for her book, I am merely writing about living vicariously. Many people I meet on Twitter, Goodreads, and all the other social media sites are writers. I wish everyone the best.
This May I am going to the OWFI writer's conference again. Last year was the first conference I attended and I was on cloud nine. A few of my off line friends are writers, but none of them are as fanatic about it as I am. OWFI was better than Disney Land for me. Everything was exciting. Just being there made me feel I was living the dream.
I have friends at work that discuss books with great enthusiasm, and that's great too, though most of my friends and acquaintances want to talk about sports and hunting. I don't have time for either, so I usually feel like the odd man out.
I am reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni and Browne for the second time, because I am in the midst of editing a book I just got back from a professional editor. First time for me. Wish me luck.
I hope to see more of everyone on Goodreads. I could promote my book, but I would rather get the feeling I had at the writer's conference.
Recently, a writer I met on Twitter, Shannon Mayer, announced that she was quitting her regular job to write full time. I have read two of her books and enjoyed them, but have followed the progress of her other books series with interest. It is great to see someone's career take off.
This is not a promotion for her book, I am merely writing about living vicariously. Many people I meet on Twitter, Goodreads, and all the other social media sites are writers. I wish everyone the best.
This May I am going to the OWFI writer's conference again. Last year was the first conference I attended and I was on cloud nine. A few of my off line friends are writers, but none of them are as fanatic about it as I am. OWFI was better than Disney Land for me. Everything was exciting. Just being there made me feel I was living the dream.
I have friends at work that discuss books with great enthusiasm, and that's great too, though most of my friends and acquaintances want to talk about sports and hunting. I don't have time for either, so I usually feel like the odd man out.
I am reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni and Browne for the second time, because I am in the midst of editing a book I just got back from a professional editor. First time for me. Wish me luck.
I hope to see more of everyone on Goodreads. I could promote my book, but I would rather get the feeling I had at the writer's conference.
