As they do every year, my work hours are going to increase significantly from next week right through Christmas. I plan on posting another entry about Dec. 4 and then I may not get in another until January. The same goes for The Mascot Serial.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, I recorded an interview with Dan Moris of WPRE. It will air, unless bumped, on Tuesday, November 22. It will be heard at 9 am on 94.3 FM and at 10 am on 104.3 FM. I enjoyed it.
One thing that will be mentioned is that I'm having a book signing at the Prairie du Chien library on Dec. 3 from 10 am to 1 pm. All three of my novels, Witchery, Just Lucky: Book 1, and last year's publication Prophecy of Honor will be available for sale. I also sent a press release to the local newspaper, The Courier Press announcing the signing.
The library is very helpful and will publicize the signing as well. I hope I get a better turn out than last year. But the timing is better now; I may get people looking to buy a book for a Christmas gift.
Two other things on the writing front: I added another chapter to Just Lucky: Book 2. I inserted this near the end, but before the two final chapters. When it goes to the publisher, it may come back out; it does not quite fit with the rest of the narrative. I did it for two reasons. The minor reason is that I know the software edit is sure to subtract several thousand words. I tend to over-use certain words and include unnecessary adverbs. Book 2 was already about three thousand words shorter than Book 1, so I added the chapter to help equalize the word count. Totally insufficient if that was the only reason! But the biggest reason was simply that the story told in that chapter had been on my mind for months and I wanted to tell it. It also lays an additional foundation for the activities in the Epilog.
The second thing on the writing front is that I've started the software editing of Book 2. I encourage any writers to use a software editing program to help you out. I am a good natural editor/proofreader, plus I've learned a lot about it over the decades. But the fact that I over-use words like "had", "was" and "that" is not something I catch when proof reading. This program hi-lights them all. This encourages me to improve my writing.
For example, I might write "she was complaining" or "she had complained," when "she complained" is much stronger phrasing. The first and second are passive verbs while the third is an active verb, and therefore stronger writing. I also use unnecessary adverbs and, again, the software shows me all adverbs so I can eliminate the ones that don't belong. Example: "It was a very unique place." That "very" has got to go!
But I also want to emphasize that while you use this, remember, it is the judgement of a computer program! It is a guide, not a set of rules.
The writing is yours. No matter what the program says, the final decision to keep or delete or change a word or phrase must be yours. The program has no idea of the context relating to the rest of the writing, or what your own desires or subtle message might be. You, as a reader, know what sounds good. The program deals with "the eye test" but can't do anything with "the ear test." That is one of the duties of the author you can't relinquish to a machine.
I'll be back in two weeks. Keep reading, writing, plotting, characterizing, and giving your imagination free reign.
Thank you for reading.
On Wednesday, Nov. 16, I recorded an interview with Dan Moris of WPRE. It will air, unless bumped, on Tuesday, November 22. It will be heard at 9 am on 94.3 FM and at 10 am on 104.3 FM. I enjoyed it.
One thing that will be mentioned is that I'm having a book signing at the Prairie du Chien library on Dec. 3 from 10 am to 1 pm. All three of my novels, Witchery, Just Lucky: Book 1, and last year's publication Prophecy of Honor will be available for sale. I also sent a press release to the local newspaper, The Courier Press announcing the signing.
The library is very helpful and will publicize the signing as well. I hope I get a better turn out than last year. But the timing is better now; I may get people looking to buy a book for a Christmas gift.
Two other things on the writing front: I added another chapter to Just Lucky: Book 2. I inserted this near the end, but before the two final chapters. When it goes to the publisher, it may come back out; it does not quite fit with the rest of the narrative. I did it for two reasons. The minor reason is that I know the software edit is sure to subtract several thousand words. I tend to over-use certain words and include unnecessary adverbs. Book 2 was already about three thousand words shorter than Book 1, so I added the chapter to help equalize the word count. Totally insufficient if that was the only reason! But the biggest reason was simply that the story told in that chapter had been on my mind for months and I wanted to tell it. It also lays an additional foundation for the activities in the Epilog.
The second thing on the writing front is that I've started the software editing of Book 2. I encourage any writers to use a software editing program to help you out. I am a good natural editor/proofreader, plus I've learned a lot about it over the decades. But the fact that I over-use words like "had", "was" and "that" is not something I catch when proof reading. This program hi-lights them all. This encourages me to improve my writing.
For example, I might write "she was complaining" or "she had complained," when "she complained" is much stronger phrasing. The first and second are passive verbs while the third is an active verb, and therefore stronger writing. I also use unnecessary adverbs and, again, the software shows me all adverbs so I can eliminate the ones that don't belong. Example: "It was a very unique place." That "very" has got to go!
But I also want to emphasize that while you use this, remember, it is the judgement of a computer program! It is a guide, not a set of rules.
The writing is yours. No matter what the program says, the final decision to keep or delete or change a word or phrase must be yours. The program has no idea of the context relating to the rest of the writing, or what your own desires or subtle message might be. You, as a reader, know what sounds good. The program deals with "the eye test" but can't do anything with "the ear test." That is one of the duties of the author you can't relinquish to a machine.
I'll be back in two weeks. Keep reading, writing, plotting, characterizing, and giving your imagination free reign.
Thank you for reading.
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