Category Archives: Savvy Authors

December 26, 2012

POV changes and editors

By wickedcoolflight

It’s been awhile since I’ve written an article, sorry about that. I’ve been hard at work on Legacy and another MS that’s completely different. That ones been the screen play.

As you guys probably know I’ve been working with an editor since May and she and I have made a few changes to Legacy. One of those changes was that we went from a first person POV for my main character Alexis and my villain Brenton to a third person limited POV. On my first revision I got Brenton’s voice nailed in this new POV. Alexis however needed a little work, I needed more showing and not telling. Let me just say having a character who’s an empath is not the easiest person to show and not tell. :)

First person worked but it wasn’t great. And like my editor I’m really liking what I can add to Alexis in third person. In first person I was so close to Alexis that I’d miss things readers needed to see. In third person I’ve been able to add those in. Plus I’ve added in more senses, which all characters need. ;)

I hope I’m not making this sound easy, it wasn’t. To make sure we picked the proper POV I had to rewrite the first twenty pages five different ways. That’s right I tried five different POV variations to see which one worked. I started with the second original POV which was first person. I’d originally written Legacy from a third person POV but when I was in my MFA thesis class I changed it to first person, (I really wish my advisor would have been more help, I could be by-passing some changes and working on the characters rather than POV change) and took out a lot.

After making the changes in the first person POV, I tried Alexis as first person and Brenton in third. Next I tried Brenton in first person and Alexis in third. I tried both in third person and then I tried first person with Alexis only, taking Brenton’s part out completely.

My editor and I didn’t like Brenton being gone. He adds something to the story. Sometimes you just want to know what trouble is brewing and Brenton brings that to the table. I think James Patterson for that. I got the idea of having the readers meet the villain from his Murder by Numbers series.

Anyway after working through the five POV’s I was torn over which one was best. I’d actually started thinking that having Alexis in third person and Brenton in first person was my favorite. However my editor really like the third person POV for everything so that’s what we are going with. And with that change I think this last batch of edits, which was the first fifty pages turned into sixty-four when I got finished, and its turning out wickedly awesome.

I’m getting into Alexis and Brenton’s psyche better because I’ve stepped back a little and can see around corners that I hadn’t done in first person. I was to focused in first person and missed great extras that added a richness to the story.

I recently finished the edits and sent them off to my editor and now I get to sit and wait to see what she thinks. This is a little nerve racking and I’ve had to work on more edits since sending out the email. The waiting has been like when you send out query letters and wait for a bite. I’m hoping that if she likes these changes we’ll be moving forward and I’ll get a contract. Yeah right now I’m working with my editor without a contract. She found me from a post I did on Savvy Author. I’d posted my log-line for an agent and this editor really like it. She said it reminded her of her favorite Stephen King novel. Months later we’re still working out the kinks and headed toward a contract and publication, hopefully… fingers crossed

So for those of you working on our MS, working with either an agent or editor listen to their input. Sometimes what you didn’t want to change needs to go so you can create an even better MS.

 

1 comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Articles, Legacy, MFA, Paperback Dolls, Savvy Authors

February 15, 2012

Back to the drawing board

By wickedcoolflight

Not really but I may be working on one of the other stories today. If I do it will seem like I’m at the beginning. Last night since Flyboy had to fly I finished the latest round of edits on Chapter 5. I’ll still need readers to read over it and the previous chapters to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Knowing myself I’m sure I have. It’s hard to catch things when my mine is racing and new thoughts and ideas are popping in to add detail to the story. Plus I’ll be honest grammar and punctuation are not my strong suit. These important parts of the English language were never taught to me properly. Why you might ask… it’s because when I got into first grade (catholic school) I was told I had to read by eyesight. As long as I could sound out the words I could read pretty well but this teacher didn’t let me do that so I got put in a special reading class. From then until I was in fifth grade I got taken out of classes do go into a “slow learning” class. If any of those teacher would have paid attention they would have known what was going on. In fourth grade one teacher suggested that my next teacher watch me because I “might” be dyslexic. I’m glad they figured out what the issue was, but these were the years when you really learn about grammar, spelling and punctuation. And let me be straight my “special reading class” just made me feel stupid. The classes “MTA” that I had to go to after they figured out I was  dyslexic taught me how to rewrite and “spell” which was great, however when you only get three years of them and you’re already behind playing catch up isn’t fun or easy.  The standardized test the schools started giving us didn’t help since I’d already missed out on learning most of the important tools. The one good thing I can catch most if not all of anyone else mistakes, mine I don’t see. Which is why I must have readers go through and read over everything once I think I have a good copy.

So why am I telling you guys this, it’s not to get sympathy, it’s because I can into issues yesterday in one of my workshops. The instructor told me that parts of the first chapter had grammar and punctuation issues. I did find a few when I scanned over it last night, but it made me realize the disservice my first four teachers and also the “special” reading teachers handed me. I’m not sure if they didn’t see or want to see that my issue wasn’t that I was “stupid” or slow. But the fact that they didn’t take the time to figure it out since I had really good grades in everything else set my learning important tools back. Plus every school just saw that I was in a special reading class at the prior school and so they followed suit. Thankfully one teacher realized what was going on and had the nerve to say hey watch her. It just really bites. The other reason I’m discussing this is so those of you that have children  be on the look out, having issues reading doesn’t mean your child is slow or stupid, they could have a real learning disability. Grant not all kids do so you have to be cautious so watch them and have them read to you? I didn’t like reading at all after first grade but I see now that I should have kept it up.

On a bright and happy note… I think I figured out what genre Legacy should fall into thanks to my other workshop instructor. It most likely falls under Paranormal Thriller I just have to make sure the pace is good, so I’ll need to read one, ;) and take out some things that are dragging it down. I think I know where those scenes might be.  I’m so happy that I’m in this Bootcamp workshop over at Savvy Authors, thanks to it know what agents I should look for. My other workshop over there is on POV which is why I got told I had grammar and punctuation issues but my POV’s were good – thankfully.

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2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Agents, Dyslexia, Editing, Legacy, Savvy Authors, Workshops, Writing

February 14, 2012

A Rainy Valentine’s…

By wickedcoolflight

Happy Valentines to all of you!!!

It’s raining here and Flyboy will be flying tonight but we do get to spend sometime together, and I’ll get to write. Sorry I didn’t post yesterday I was out with some old friends from Hawaii. They were having a “Martini Monday”. They had Chocolate Martini’s and while I love chocolate I don’t do martini’s so I had a rum and coke. But it was great catching up with friends and I can’t wait to do it again.

I also started a new workshop over at Savvy Authors so now I’m in two. I’m doing everything I can to help Legacy out and my other writing. I workshops have me doing a lot to make sure I have my POV’s in order and my submission package. My butt really needs to be on the ball from now on, therefore today I’m setting a goal to write at least 45 mins a day (this will include edits) and hopefully I’ll get more done.

This week I’ll add more recipes to the recipe page, some I’ve tried and something I want to try.

I’ll also be creating another sound bit from Legacy, this time it will be from chapter four. All the sound bits are from the house, and their supposed to be weary but my voice isn’t weary. I’ve been told I have a young sounding voice (on the phone) people have thought I was a kid in fact, so bear with me on the sound, if I can find a friend to or Flyboy to make it sound weary I will.

To all you wickedly awesome friends have a wicked ;) Valentine’s Day and I’ll see you tomorrow.

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Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Chocolate, Editing, Flyboy, Friends, Hawaii, Holidays, Legacy, Savvy Authors, Sound, Workshops, Writing

February 8, 2012

Migraines and Chocolate

By wickedcoolflight

Yesterday and today I’ve had a migraine, It went away last name but came back today. While I was resting last night I got into my Food Network Chocolate mag and bookmarked the websites on my ipad. Once I was done I checked them out. I found a handful of websites that I’m in love with. One is the chocolateflowerfarm.com I can’t wait to buy some of the chocolate flowers and other flowers that they sell. Growing chocolate flowers would be so cool. I think adding the flowers into Legacy and One of the Boys will add flavor to them.  I also found a wicked cool recipe for chocolate ice cubes, which I can’t wait to try. I may even add the ice cubes to Calla’s Kitchen for her desserts.

In another mag I found a really cool shirt website, it’s whoohagear.com. There were a few shirts on the site that too. The shirts are made for runners, paddlers, walkers and so forth.

Needless to say since I was checking out websites I didn’t get to work on chapter five, not that I would have with the migraine.  When I finished checking out the websites I decided to read the latest chapter of Kim Harrison‘s A Perfect Blood on HarperCollins.com. By the time the new book comes out I’ll have a good portion of the book read I hope. I so can’t wait. The book is so good, and I don’t know if I can’t wait until the 21st.

Today after a nice long walk and after lunch I got another migraine. I want to work on chapter five and I have a new workshop that I’m in but the pain is too much. I also have blogs to edit on the same site as my workshop. Again the pain in my head is stopping me. I hope I might work on it for a few minutes tonight. Cross your fingers for me.

I still need to create synopsis for four stories, so I can post them for you. This week maybe I’ll get some of them completed.

Oh yeah, PBD has a new review of mine up. They posted it up yesterday but with my headache I wasn’t able to tell you about it.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , | posted in A Perfect Blood, Blood, Book Reviews, Chocolate, Editing, Health, Kim Harrison, Legacy, Little Boy Blue, Migraine, One of the Boy's, Paperback Dolls, Rachel Morgan, Savvy Authors, short stories, synopsis, Workshops, Writing

October 29, 2011

Lasy

By wickedcoolflight

I really haven’t been lazy but it does feel that way this week. Until taking my shot yesterday I’ve had some form of a headache everyday since last Saturday. Making it really difficult work this week so I feel lazy.

I have been working in my workshops, I just finished one called Shh… Your Character has a Secret, it was awesome. I was already using this idea but knowing that I was using it properly made me all warm in side. The workshop I’m still in is call POV: when to know which to use. I’m learning so much in it as well.

So yesterday I worked on edits, yeah.

2 comments | posted in Editing, Legacy, Savvy Authors, Workshops

October 26, 2011

Office computer is finished

By wickedcoolflight

I finally finished the office computer today. It has all my favorite sites loaded, and everything is ready to go. now I just have to do the same for my writing tablet and I can get read of my “pink” laptop. Things are finally coming together. I would have had this done yesterday but Sonic just didn’t agree with me. Don’t you hate when you can have one of your favorite places to eat and then it sucks and makes you sick. Flyboy and I haven’t been able to have Sonic for five years actually if you want to count CA seven, since there was only on there and it was a drive and not a drive that we wanted to make often. so for seven years the only time we got Sonic was when we went home to TX. So yesterday for lunch Flyboy brought some home for lunch and about 4:30 I was sick. I didn’t eat anything else after that so it was the Sonic and that just suck. I can’t eat Taco Hell (Bell) any more and now Sonic. It’s not like I eat that much fast food to begin with so when places I like get taken off the menu it stinks. Moving past my issue with food. I promise, still having headaches so the writing has slowed down which is driving me crazy. I have many thoughts going through my head but this the headaches I really don’t want to look at paper of the screen for too long, at least not to think about what I need to add to my writing.

But the thoughts have been more on edits for Legacy thanks to the workshops I’m in over at SavvyAuthors.com. As I said yesterday I’m taking two and they are making me thing about things I make want to change in the book. Not big things but things that may make it flow a little better. Also one of the things that I’ve been thinking about came to be while I’ve been working on my review of The Help. All of these improvements I think are going to make the book a better read for my audience.

Be on the look out for a few reblogs today, I saw a few post that looked really good that I’m going to post. Okay that’s it for my poor head, I need more meds and maybe I’ll be able to get a little work done later.

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: | posted in Editing, Health, Savvy Authors, Workshops, Writing

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