Time to Write Week 31

Group 1: Edits chapter 11

Group 2: Writing Chapter 31

Group 3: Writing Chapter 11

Rolling onward! I hope you made progress this week. Did you hit a point where you wrote more than a chapter a week? 

Make sure you are not going back and trying to edit. Doing so and trying for perfection now is a waste of time and will totally slow you down. 

Push hard to accomplish more than a chapter where you can. If one chapter is all you can manage then stick with it. 

Reminder of getting in your one hour a day and/or your 500 words a day. It will add up. You are making scenes. You are making chapters. Keep pushing and you will hold a finished rough draft in your hands. 

I hope that this blog had helped you to accomplish your goals. Writing is hard. It can be lonely. It can feel like you will never finish. But you will if you don't give up on yourself and your story. 

For those of you who have reached the finished draft and need further helps let me know what you need help with. I only promised here a finished manuscript but I have author friends and book world people who I can connect you with that might help. 

I can also assist in finding beta readers and critique partners where needed. 

HEY,  come and hang out on my authorkimturner Facebook page so we can chat on things further.

Writer/Author...just finish the book!

Funny I have heard from a couple of people who are joining us to FINISH THE BOOK and they are worried they are not authors.

So if you are not published then technically that may be true but guess what? I tend to use the words for the same thing. Writer/Author. Regardless of PUBLICATION YOU ARE A WRITER or you wouldn't be here!! If you are particiapting and write things, you are a writer. And with that being said you are an author iun your own right! We are all glad you are here. I sure am. 

You are a writer if you are participating here. You are a writer because you have a story to tell. You are a writer because you have wanted to finish a story. You are a writer because the voices inside you keep talking. We are all caught in the bubble together and guess what? We are going to finish a book this year! SO hang on tight!

So how can we all cultivate our writer self and our want to be an author. Our want to write the story of our heart. How do we do it?

I have always heard authors say that to become the best at writing you have to read. But more specifically read stories similar to what you are writing. Read advidly in your genre. 

Read all you can about writing. Study up on where you have struggles. If you are having trouble with head-hopping then I encourage you to study hard in that area. Plenty can be found online for free. Or if like some authors you don't mind making the purchase of a book on the craft you are studying, go for it. 

But don't let the studying and reading take you away from your 500 words a day and that hour with your butt in the chair. 

If you have a favorite author then pay attention to how they say things. How they make it read magically to you. And learn from said author. In fact I think we are all guilty of stealing from our favorite writers and authors. No we do not steal their words, voice or style but we can learn from them and utilize what we learn in our own writing. 

There are no excuses here for not writing but there is also no judgement. YOU only answer to yourself here. The rest of us here are you support and encouragement. You know what, you arew also loved and respected here! That is the very least we can do for each other. 

Before you begin your hour of writing each day speak it out loud and tell yourself:

I AM A WRITER. I AM A WRITER. I AM A WRITER. 

And then go to it. You are a writer and it's TIME TO WRITE.

Time to Write Week 30

Group 1: Edits chapter 10

Group 2: Writing Chapter 30

Group 3: Writing Chapter 10

Thirty weeks...are you kidding me? That is a lot of weeks of writing no matter the chapter you are on or the editing you are doing. 

I am determined to keep up on this blog until we reach week 52. I know I have had typos and errors with these quick reminder posts but I do hope they are helping push, pull or tug you along. 

Writing together has to be better. Don't you think? But the idea is not to have this blog drag you down or slow your writing. 

Mondays are set to help us all keep on track where we can. 

Thursdays are helpful hints and things I have discovered along the way. And monthly we will have a guest author offering helpful hints so there is something new and refreshing to check out. 

Those of you working on chapter 30ish...are you getting close to being done? IF SO...I am reminding you to think about tying up lose ends. Making sure of story and character arc. Push hard for a full impact full ending that will leave readers satisfied and not wanting to leave your story behind. 

And those of you editing are you fluffing dialogue to sound more realistic? Speak it outloud. Listen to it. Are you adding to word count or deleting where you can? That's a loaded question. Description is needed but idle words can go. 

And those of you on chapter 10 of a 1st or second story...go back and read earlier posts from this year for helps. 

And come hang out on my Facebook: authorkimturner where we can talk more about what we are up to and where I will be offering hints and helpful links. 

Go onward this week with a smile at your progress.

Clearing the Clutter

As writers I think we tend to collect papers and things that can pile up. I won't say I am a hoarder but I do tend to keep things and I have a lot of crafting items. And I had...yes had a huge Alabama Collection. Will explain that in a bit.

For a couple of years I have been working on painting one room at a time as I have time. Yes I do the painting because my husband cannot color in the lines. As I paint each room I clean out ever drawer and closet. And I have been looking at each item deciding to keep it, give it to someone, donate it, yard sell it, or throw it out. 

I have made decent progress and I am realizing that holding onto so many things can feel heavy and slow down progress on the things I do wish to spend my time doing. Writing being one of those. 

Ya know not one author or writer here will want to hear what I am about to say. I had collected so many books over the years...so many. Any time I moved it was a darn chore due to books and picture albums and my huge Alabama collection. 

So books. I decided to part with numbers of my books. Honestly once I read a book it is rare I will ever read it again. My theory so many books so little time rings true. So I went through and continue to go through my book collection asking myself will I read this again. If the answer is no then it goes in the donate pile. I just take a picture of the signed page. I print that and put it in my fun like journal. More on that on another chat. But if I say yes I would read the story again then I first look on Audible and see if there is a narrated version. If so and I love the book enough I make the purchase so I have the book and I donate the print book. It is feeing!!! I did keep my Longmire series which is all signed by the author. But I do have all those stories on Audible so it might be one day I let it all go. 

My huge Alabama Collection. Some of it my prize possessions in the 80s. I have stuff you cannot even get anymore but in truth...what are my girls ever gonna do with that stuff when I kick the bucket? A few years ago I gave a bunch of it to my BFF who still has her collection. I feel confident in that one. We are close enough it is still mine in a way. But I do wonder what will happen to it all when we are both gone one day. So of my Alabama Collection I have kept a few sentimental things...all my signed pictures and my photographs with band members. Ticket stubbs and guitar picks. That's about it. Actually I am lying. I have more but I do plan to hand off another batch to my friend soon. 

My crafting stuff. I have slowly been going through my crafting items and have decided a lot is going. Actually already in the yard sell pile for spring. I have narrowed down the hobbies I may do and parted with ones that are not so much fun any longer. I have a huge collection of rubber stamps. I still want them but I did go through them and culled down the like ones and gave a bucket full to my neice who is a teacher. 

Clothes. My weight varies so I have always held onto clothing to big or small thinking I will end up wearing it again. This last year I decided if I have not worn it in a year it's gone. And I have unloaded bags full to friends and donated more. Same thing with shoes. If you aren't wearing it and haven't in a while...let it go. 

And that paper clutter and notebooks I have held onto for years. I recently gave my preacher cousin my notes I have taken over the years in church and at events. I take a lot of notes inside my Bible. And that notebook full of good God learning was just collecting dust. So I let it go. I would probably not look at it ever again. 

Same thing when I have taken so many notes over the years at Writer Conferences. I have never once looked back at any of it. So I one day tossed those. I have been pubbed for years now and it's not that I don't have anything to learn but if I take notes I am not gonna use them. So I just pay attention in classes and jot down a few things on my phone. Easier and not cluttering. 

I went through my movies and dvds...tossed a lot into the yard sale pile. I did keep my Dr. Quinn series.on DVD and Hell on Wheels and Outlander and Longmire. But most everything else I tossed. 

I had a ton of softball trophies from 14 years of girls ball. I don't really need a shrine of that. So I took pictures of them and then donated them to special Olympics. That felt really nice. 

I spent over a month a while back going through my 4 drawer file cabinent and shredding and shredding and shredding some more. I kept one file bin of 7 years worth of tax returns and shredded the rest. I then went through the rest and kept important documents and now have a 2 drawer file cabinent that is more measurable. 

I am nowhere done on decluttering things but it is easier to breathe without things piled up. And without things in piles cluttering my brain I can find time to Write.

Cleaning can be easier if you don't have things piled everywhere. I am learning not to have 13 things on the mantel. It take too long to clean. I have learned not to have stuff sitting around as much. A lampand a picture frame on an end table is plenty. 

And having a paper system helps. A place for bills and other papers. Not shoved in various drawers and clutter a place in the kitchen and the study. One place where things go is an amazing way not to hunt things and lose valuable writing time.

So here are some hints:

Ask when you last used something. Toss it if it has been a while. 

If something isn't in good condition why hold onto it?

Holding onto thing in case you need them isn't good either because the minute I need something I won't be able to find it. 

Maybe ask why you want to keep an item. If you don't have a good answer let it go. 

As you declutter be careful not to bring more into the home. This is a habit you need to work on...or at least I do. 

Maybe put things in a box and store the box with a date. Then when you discover the box some time later...have you needed anything out of it? If not don't even open it but toss or donate it. 

And small chunks in organizing is easier than thinking that you have to work through your entire house all at once. 

Maybe first clear your writing room of clutter. 

Hope some of this helps. I don't have it all done yet...but I continue to work at it. And as things get cleaner so does my writing. I feel better writing if things are clean. 

And seriously do we need all this stuff in our lives? I am learning a bit of minimalism from my youngest daughter. I don't plan on minimalism but it is nice to clear the clutter.

Time to Write Week 29

 

This coming week:

Group 1: Edits chapter 9 Group 2: Writing chapter 29 Group 3: Writing chapter 9 You fine writers should be cranking out chapters. Tell us how far you have gotten. What's hard? What's easy? Onward to edits or writing of chapter 9 or 29 is you are working on a longer story!!! I have told you all before that I fail every time I plan to get up an hour early to write. I just cannot pull that one off even if I whole heartily art my clock and plan for it. It's just not gonna happen. But now and then when I am off on a weekend I go ahead and plan my night for an early rise to write before the day begins. Before my family is up and moving. As I have aged...I do not do that thing where I sleep until some time after 9am. I never was even someone who would sleep until noon on days as a teen. Too afraid of wasting my days off I guess. Heck one day I'll sleep in heaven all I want but for now...it is TIME TO WRITE. So on Friday or Saturday nights when I know the next day we have no early plans I go ahead and set the scene. I clean up my office and clear my writing desk. I don't work well if things are cluttered in there. I toss my seat cushion in my chair. I bring my laptop in and set it to charging. I clear anything else off my list that I can...chores. Dishes. Laundry. Trash. Dishes. Anyway Fix those things that might tend to pull me from writing so when morning comes I am free to write. I also go ahead and set up the coffee maker for the morning. And usually a morning shower person I take a shower the night before and place my Robe across my writing chair. I cannot write cold but I like the house cool and so the Robe keeps me cozy. And this is all a gamble that I wake earlier than my family as I do not set an alarm. Without a doubt I am gonna wake and then I have the decision to make...roll over or get up and write. The struggle can be real. But there are mornings I wake and I know if I get up and write I will not be disturbed for a while and I will accomplish quiet time coffee and writing. I grab my glasses. Brush my teeth and hair and head to the kitchen where I push on for the coffee. And grab the cup and fixings and a Granola bar and sit in my chair. I turn on my small lamp and my salt lamp from Jane Lewis. I turn on the laptop and focus. I enjoy maybe 2 hours at it before anyone stirs. I love that time when I can make myself do it. I usually focus on writing and no editing so I can take advantage of the quiet. I wrap up in my Robe and stick my feet in my already placed house shoes. I do some deep breathing as I write at first figuring to oxygenated my brain for good writing. I try to know the night before where I was in my atorybor what scene was needed next. That way I am utilizing every minute not delayed in thought but just pushing out words. I love it and it makes me always dream about being able to do this daily once I retire one of these days. I cannot even imagine being able to do that. But it sure does make me smile. Maybe all us authors have dreamed about this one. Just thought I would share a bit on how I do a weekend day where I can snag some Time to Write.

Beta Readers, Critique Partners and Your sister...

 I have had to learn a lot of things along this writing path the hard way. Here are some thoughts.

Be careful about jumping in on every writing project out there. At first when I got published I only did my stories but then other things open up and it's exciting when you get invited or included. But I tell ya I have regretted any time I side stepped my stories in one way or another. There are pros and cons. I have turned down several invites based on the purpose. I have turned down others because it didn't interest me. I also know my heart is writing historical and I am not into it when not in the past. So after signing on to do an anthology recently I decided to bail. I hated the story I had worked on and it truly wasn't worth my time to invest more into it. I did detour for two different series from my press. The advantages were new friendships with authors and new readers but the disadvantages were my delaying my McCade stories further. So weigh and balance your options carefully. The right choice for me anymore is to bow out politely and stick to the stories of my heart. Readers/beta readers/and your sister. Too many  readers. Yes it happens. When I first started writing. I completed 3 stories without stopping. This was before I knew all the rules of the writing game. Once I had them done I shared with friends and some family. But honestly they were not written well but readers did love the stories and still ask about them. One day I will redo those as a three book series and release them all close together. I understand when readers can grab all of a series quick the algorithm on Amazon really jumps which mean everything more potential readers see your stories. I never could get my press to allow three books to come out a month apart for that purpose so I gave up on one project promising when I one day self pub these 3 stories yes I will do what I was planning just to see. But back to this topic. Don't hand off your story too fast to too many. I had to learn that the hard way. With my first story that I got published Sawyer's Rose I had a lot of hands in the pot. This one liked this area and another one didn't like that. I redid and fixed any and all things anyone pointed out over about a 2 year period. Well then at some point I realized this was not longer my voice or my story. I shredded what I had. I went back to an earlier version and I redid that story yet again. So just remember I no longer change everything readers and critique partners point out. I change the things I think I need to. And I make changes where more than one person points something out. But here is how I use readers: Reader...just to read fast and see if they enjoy the story. Beta readers....study through the story with a careful view to catch issues. Critique partners...read for critical errors in story and structure. I have had various critique partners over the years. I have often heard authors say to make sure your critique partners write the same genre. But few of my buddies in writing groups write the old west. So sometimes you gotta swap up. English teachers do not make the best critique partners. Uhmmm just saying I have had a few teachers want to read through my stories. But what I have found is they know their grammar and stuff....but I had one that was more interested in correcting my document font and paragraphs and Indentions....which I already had set how my publishing house wants it. And while some English teachers can write story I have found some...can't let me start a sentence with "But". Things In a novel just aren't written with APA format. We break the rules at times to get a story told. And no I am not teacher bashing. I actually adored many of my English teachers and have stayed in touch over the years. It's just an example of some of the things that have cause me more work on a story that was not needed. A lot of my author friends are teachers. So I love them. But not messing with my story unless they are my critique partner. Everyone has an opinion. Make sure it's of value to you and your story. It's OK to thank someone for their hard critique of your story and not Fix some things because that is the way you wanted it to read. I had one partner who wanted to change around 3 paragraphs in my opening of a story. And I just didn't agree and never changed it. Of course she pointed that out and I had to say...I just got a contract on the story this week. Smile. That didn't have to be changed afterall. Weigh and measure what you can do if you want to trade critiques with other authors. And make sure to do you part if you promise. At one point I found I had obligated so many helps out there that my own writing was being neglected. Also find out what critique partners idea of a critique really means....hard editing or a quick run through. Three chapters, 50K words or an entire rough draft. I will confess it does not work for me to allow someone to critique three chapters. I just cannot work like that. I am frustrated easily if in a set couple of chapters so many changes are suggested that the story falls apart before I am done with a first rough draft. Honestly as I have now written over 8 books for publication I find myself writing alone until I have a completed rough draft. And then I edit it alone several run through before I share with a critique partner. I know several authors who no longer bother with critique groups or beta readers. Everyone has their own approach. And everyone knows what their editor will accept or turn down. I myself have also had some lazy submission I knew ro edit better. And I have an editor who calls me out when I haven't done my job...as it should be. I like having a tough editor. It makes for a better story. I have had critique partners who have read my stuff thoroughly and I have had ones I suspected scanned through and offered me little. And a word to the wise. When you take on critiquing a story for someone make sure to clarify what they are looking for. Take the time to spell out what is needed from you. Hard edits or a quick read through. And honestly your sister or mother or cousin isn't the one who you need ro judge your story by. Even a close friend who adores you is gonna adore your book. So sometimes family and friends don't count when editing or reading. So smile and let them read if you wish but that's all you need from them is a read and Mayne a statement on how they liked it. I have changed critique partners over the years..sometimes it's necessary. But word to the wise. When you ask someone to read or critique your story you need to grow a thick skin. Some point will be valid and you may have to face making changes. If you are going to stand firm in not changing something then it needs to be for a good reason. If you are defensive at the start you won't gain much for improving your story and isn't that the goal? So have an open mind and face the music. Your story may need the help.

Time to Write Week 28

This coming week:

Group 1: Edits chapter 8
Group 2: Writing chapter 28
Group 3: Writing chapter 8

So everyone should have made it through chapter 7 and 27 depending on your group. Did you make progress? If not why? What can you change in the coming week to make sure you do get your writing done? 

Is it time again to warn and notify you family of the hour a day that is yours? Is it time to post those times on the fridge that you aren't to be bothered? Do what's needed to gain time for your story. 

So this week...A word on the dreaded synopsis. It's sad. I can write a 100K novel to submit but I cannot narrow it into one to three pages without blood sweat and tears. So I am gonna share some hints below that might helps. 

In my book planner where I map out chapters I usually write one sentence to explain what that chapter is about. Later that help me sort of begin to tell the brief happening in paragraph form. Usually this is fairly length so I end up having to tighten it up and cut words and say things better with Edits there. 

I am even worse with the back of the book blurb where I must shorten it down into about 2 paragraphs and 100 words. That begs to own my first born child. 

And I only wrote Query letters before I had a contract so I won't be much help there but I'll search out some pointers to add. 

So for the next three Thursdays for writing hints I will cover briefly Query Letters, synopsis' blurbs...in an order to help where I can on this. 

Focus on writing for now. Those things can come later.

The Dreaded Synopsis

A synopsis is a quick telling of your story. An abbreviated version. It depends on the publishing house but a synopsis can be 1 to 3 pages and longer if requested. 

In a synopsis you do tell all that happens where in a back of thr book blurb you don't give it all away. 

So my theory on this is to use words with punch. Strong words and less word count to give as much as you can about your story as you can. 

Yes use spell check. 
Yes write in third person. 
Yes cut the Adverbs. 
Yes cut the extra words.
Yes tell it all.

Explain the setting and the hero/heroine in detail. Note how the story begins. Remember the story arc and character arc as you explain the story in order. Skipping around may confused the person reading it. If they cannot follow your synopsis I will bet they won't care to read your story. So be precise and to the point. I tend to lean on leas is more. One or two pages is better than five. 

If you write by beats...all the steps that need to happen then explain the beats in order. 

If like me you panstet then tell the story as it will happen. 

I encourage you to look up and study about synopsis.A synopsis is a quick telling of your story. An abbreviated version. It depends on the publishing house but a synopsis can be 1 to 3 pages and longer if requested. 

In a synopsis you do tell all that happens where in a back of thr book blurb you don't give it all away. 

So my theory on this is to use words with punch. Strong words and less word count to give as much as you can about your story as you can. 

Yes use spell check. 
Yes write in third person. 
Yes cut the Adverbs. 
Yes cut the extra words.
Yes tell it all.

Explain the setting and the hero/heroine in detail. Note how the story begins. Remember the story arc and character arc as you explain the story in order. Skipping around may confused the person reading it. If they cannot follow your synopsis I will bet they won't care to read your story. So be precise and to the point. I tend to lean on leas is more. One or two pages is better than five. 

If you write by beats...all the steps that need to happen then explain the beats in order. 

If like me you panstet then tell the story as it will happen. 

I encourage you to look up and study about synopsis.A synopsis is a quick telling of your story. An abbreviated version. It depends on the publishing house but a synopsis can be 1 to 3 pages and longer if requested.

In a synopsis you do tell all that happens where in a back of thr book blurb you don't give it all away. 

So my theory on this is to use words with punch. Strong words and less word count to give as much as you can about your story as you can. 

Yes use spell check. 
Yes write in third person. 
Yes cut the Adverbs. 
Yes cut the extra words.
Yes tell it all.

Explain the setting and the hero/heroine in detail. Note how the story begins. Remember the story arc and character arc as you explain the story in order. Skipping around may confused the person reading it. If they cannot follow your synopsis I will bet they won't care to read your story. So be precise and to the point. I tend to lean on leas is more. One or two pages is better than five. 

If you write by beats...all the steps that need to happen then explain the beats in order. 

If like me you panstet then tell the story as it will happen. 

I encourage you to look up and study about synopsis.

Time to Write Week 27

 

This coming week:

Group 1: Edits chapter 7 Group 2: Writing chapter 27 Group 3: Writing chapter 7 Ok there is your assignment for the coming week. Are you hanging in there and keeping up? Ask yourself why if not. Only you can answer that question. And only you can do something about it. But I will say if you are not keeping up then keep moving forward no matter where you are. Any progress is good progress. Just use this blog as a guide to keep going. You'll get there! Just don't give up. Writing is hard. Seriously lonesome at times. But we are vested at this point in finishing the story. So get that time to Write scheduled. If you don't it sure isn't going to be handed to you. Work on it because you and this story deserve it!!! Hey, think about asking some of the other authors and writers here how they get it done. Everyone works differently and you might just learn something to help. Anyway, go onward to it!!!