Let Me Tell You Something...

How to tell a story

So, I'm writing my novel right, but it's still a secret to most of the people I know. Why you ask. Truth is I don't feel I'm qualified to say I'm a writer. Am I?

What make a writer a writer?
When can you call yourself an author?

Why I decided to write my first novel?

I believe we all have it in us, our first novel that is. How many times have you heard..." you did what/what happened to you girl you should write a book."
Then suddenly you think your life is interesting enough to put it down on paper. At first you are not really sure if you will share it with the world, but you know you want to tell people about all your family drama and failed relationships.

If you are like me after having the first epiphany, suddenly I realize I didn't want people to know  every intimate detail about my life, so I create a story based loosely on my life. And sure before I get to chapter two the entire story line had changed and soon the entire bookwas abandoned.

the idea of writing my first novel was and still is top of my list of things to do before I die. I have been serious about doing it a couple times. Only to abandon my project a few months in. I let life happen and always say I will come back to it later.

I always do, come back that is. however many life changing events later I have a much different story. This time however has been different.

Are you a good story teller?

This time I thought about why I wanted to write these stories I had been trying to write for twelve years (at this point), I found that these things didn't really interest me. Nor did they show what I was really passionate about. I started to focus on things I like such as books and movies, even television shows. most people who know me, know that I am attracted to vampires, werewolves, witches and magic definitely magic.

I could come up with a story about fairies and magic in my head easily and enjoy it. This is how/when I found apart of my genre. throughout my research( which I hadn't done before. I just decided I wanted to write and I went for it) I found that not only did I need a genre, but a target market of that genre.
I thought about who I liked to read about and young adults was where I fit in(I was surprise to find out that some say YA was as young as 12).

Once I learned where I fit in as a writer who I was as a writer became clearer to me. I could see my strengths and my weakness better. This help me to grow and become better. I became more serious about starting and finishing my first novel.

Then the question came, can I tell a story. Most people think you have an idea in your head and then you put it to paper. truth is constructing a story from beginning to middle to end is truly an art form not many master well or at all. Most may consider finishing a novel a feat in itself and wouldn't worry about it ever being publish. Completion of a novel is a reward alone( I have learned this lately).

This entry has become longer then I expected so I won't bore you much longer and save the rest for a later entry. Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment answer some of the questiions in this entry I would love to hear about it

Where Have you been?

Well hello everyone out there in blog-a-sphere land ..Hi Angie. I really need to promote this blog...right.

So, where have I been, first I was on a real hiatus running a business and uninspired to write. I know you hate to hear that, trust I hate to say it, but it's true. I was losing that 'loving feeling' for my YA fantasy.
Since I'm no quitter I threw out almost everything I had and started over. Same concept same characters, but I started fresh. I did what I call getting back to the basics, return to your passion, you know the reason why you first decided to put pen to paper..no pun intended, sike yes there is..hehehe.

I had been absorbing everything I learned like a giant sponge, I mean, I didn't throw away anything. That's good right? not so good when you try to implement it all in one story..it's a bit extreme. So, yes I restarted my wip, and I must say it was the best thing I've ever done. The story has come alive in my head and lives in my heart. I have a new found love for my MC, mostly because now I know who she is and her voice is loud and clear.
Lately all the characters have come alive, I found myself meeting people or seeing strangers and thinking they could be related or simply remind me of the people in my book...strange right? I know, but I love it.

I also took a different approach to rough draft, what I'm doing this time instead of writing a chapter or two and revising it before moving on, I decided what works best for me is to just keep writing. In the beginning I would write those chapters go back revise, and never move on. I mean sometimes I could add another chapter, but most of the time I would just revise,revise...I know, what's the definition of crazy again okay.

Although now I do run into the problem of repeat information, I think this way is still better for me, so this is just my rough rough draft. It has really helped me to move my story along, there is a rhythm now that, just makes putting the story together effortless. I mean before I'm done with one scene, the other has already grown inside of me.

I am literally full as if I have eaten a huge meal, on this story. All the information, and plots just seem to grow on their own and are bubbling over to come out of me. So, that's where I've been trying to complete the rough, rough draft of my wip.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope to be sharing more soon.

The Incomparable Whitney Elizabeth Houston

As I sit here thinking of the impact Ms.Houston had on my life, it makes it even more difficult to believe she is no longer with us. We were together when I got my first boyfriend (The Greatest Love of All) and we were together when he broke my heart ( Where do Broken Hearts go).  More boyfriends came and went, but we remained together.

My first love the one I was (Saving All My Love)for, came I thought  and told him repeatedly I would (Always Love You), He too would join the ranks of boyfriends past. Our friendship remained intact, when you met the man you would call the Greatest Love of All, I didn't understand, but I supported your decision. I felt in my soul he was not right for you. Who am I to say that, so I stood in the gap for you my sister my friend. Prayers and belief that you would be fine, and this too would pass.

As I watched the world around me crumble from drugs, life as I knew it changed love ones lost and my childhood stolen. I understood completely your fight , your battle, your resilience. When you said you were fine, and no one really knew you. I knew all to well what that meant. I prayed for you as I prayed for my loved one and myself. I hope that for you as I hoped for her, that you both would get up dust your knees off and prove to be the strong women I knew you to be.

The day I heard of your comeback, I believed and I prayed that the time had come, for you to reclaim your place in this universe. Not only as the voice, but as the child of God you had shown us you were many times before. It was difficult peering threw the mess showing up knowing all to well that the battle was not over. You put on a good face, as you had done many time before and stepped into the limelight. No matter what you sang, how you sang, I saw the triumph you had made, I saw through what you showed the world. I knew it very well, because I saw it many times on her.

I asked God to hold you both, cradle you in his arms protect and keep you. God Bless you Whitney, you are safe free and home.

No two journeys are alike, many can say what they would do different and what they wouldn't allow to happen to them. In my life I have seem many things fought many battles. The one thing I know to be true, God is God alone. In my own power I am nothing, through Christ Jesus I have my being. I wont judge your journey, so don't judge mine.

If we take a moment and look inward, heal our own hearts be true to self, the healing for those around us would come without effort. If you happen to stop by this blog, be it a fan of Whitney's or not. If you are someone that has been touched by adversity, I am sure you will understand. I pray you strength in our Lord Jesus, I stand in agreement that you are strong, you are the head not the tail above not beneath. You are more then a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves you.

God Bless. Never stop believing in you!!

I can't Find the words!

I don't know what happened, but I can't find the words, the strength, or my inspiration to put words on the page. Since I have immersed myself in my writing, and learned that a true writer not only writes when she/he is inspired, but when they are serious about their craft. With that said I have come to be mindful of stating I am not inspired to write.

AHG!! I am not inspired! After my first chapter critique I was excited, but became overwhelmed by the small amount of editing. I now understand why you shouldn't get a critique before you are finished with your novel. Because you would never finish:). I loved all the suggestion my critique partner made, and was eager to make them. However all that I learned was so great, and helped me to grow as a writer. It made me look at how to write differently, which of course in essence changes how I view my narrative.

I sat down to make the changes and before I could control it I wanted to change the entire book. Of course this frustrated me, because it would be like the 5th time I have changed this story. The thought of starting over is to much for me to process, considering I do have another job, family and other things I enjoy doing.

I guess I am at the point of "what am I doing", and I have no answers.I have decided to put the book down for a couple of months, sort through some personal issues, and maybe return with a clear head. I love the story I envision, but the task of getting it out of my head and onto the paper has proven to be daunting. The Lesson here is, finish the book before getting it critiqued, proof reading or editing. I think you should just put the entire idea down on paper, before you  proof it, and second guess yourself. 5th guess, in my case.

I think I need to take my critique partners advice and come back with fresh eyes. Am I preaching to the choir? Has this happened to you? I would love to hear your views and/or experiences. Even if you are just passing by today comments are free, as well as clicking on the Join this blog link

What to do??? Me venting

I started my MS about a year ago maybe 1 1/2 years. I got really serious about 6 months ago, and was half way completed with it when I decided to revise and I am now back at square one. I had my first chapter critiqued and I was very excited about it, and thought it gave me the push I needed to complete my last chapters.

I was wrong, now I am revising again. My problem is each time I learn something new I revise and so now I am stuck with only the 10 chapters I had originally ( with revisions) I have about 400 pages of ..wtfrock!!! I feel like I am going in circles and I am no where close to finishing. I know my MC but I am not attached to anyone in the MS, because they keep changing.

Today's post was just me venting, I am going to push through this madness and finish my last chapters so that I can move on to editing.

Sign
Hopeless in Florida

MS,YA,MG.....OMG!

There is so much I have to learn about writers lingo (is this spelled right?:)). I thought I was ready for my first critique, boy was I wrong. When I got Angie's email about the changes I needed to make I was ecstatic finally the POV of a fellow YA Fantasy author. Everything she said was right on the money and charged me up with new ideas.
Then, I opened the file of the original documents with all her corrections...wonk, wonk, wonk I was so embarrassed and  LOL at myself. I clearly thought write the book then get it critique (the story not the grammer. how can you have one without the other...IDK :O), I never polished the MS as Angie's puts it. What was I thinking you ask, IDK,I was so anxious to get someone's perspective as I had exhausted all of my families POV, and no one understood how my MC could do the things I had written about. That's because they don't read or particularly like YA fantasy. This is why it's a good idea to have a critique partner in your genre.

Lesson here, edit until it almost shine, before you send it off for critique.Learn lingo. Like I said if your are looking for expertise in writing your first novel, you won't find it here. If you want to follow the journey of a beginner and her pitfalls...Welcome my friend:)  

The Day Sapphire was Born!!

Sitting with my laptop on the bed thinking how will she tell them about her gifts who can she turn to. hours passed words turned to sentences, turned to paragraphs. Still I didn't know what her problem was and who was the cause of it. I talked to others close to her, trying to imagine how they would help her, or give her support. I can feel she is scared lonely, but brave and strong at the same time, but I don't know her.

Still a stranger to me, although I have guided her for a year now, and suddenly it was clear, Sapphire introduced herself to me, and I finally knew where we were going together , how I could help her solve her problems. How together we could get rid of the one who was causing so much pain.

This is when Sapphire was born, and her voice became louder in my head telling me her thoughts and feelings. I soon hope to share her with the world.

I am hoping soon to add excerpts from my book on the blog, but I am a long way from that. I had my first critique of the first chapter done by the fabulous Angie Sandro. I was nervous, excited, and surprised it wasn't as bad as I thought.
I know I don't have many followers, but maybe there are some passer bys, so stop over and check out Angie's blog here she is awesome.