Staying a reader whilst becoming a writer…!

Friday 17th June 2016

As you’ll know if you’re a writer, it’s extremely important and necessary to keep reading just as much as you’re writing.
When i was working on my first novel a couple of years ago i focused solely on the writing aspect and didn’t bother reading, and because of that i couldn’t write. I thought from this that i wasn’t deemed to be a writer, so i went back to reading a huge amount like i had before, then what did i find out? All of a sudden i could write again, that was how i learned it was a necessary aspect of living this life, to make room for both of them in my day, and that’s what i still do now. 

I find it’s a lot more of a struggle now that i’m taking my writing  seriously. Some days i just want to sit there and keep plowing on with the scene i’m doing,  but with the night drawing closed and me having to wake up at 4am for work, i have to put the writing down and settle with my reading. This has become some what of a ritual now.
My other options are reading on my breaks at work, or if we’ve got nice weather i’ll sit outside with my partner for the day and the both of us will read to our hearts content together.
It’s extremely enjoyable and easier to do when you figure something that’s right for you, just make sure you keep doing both. Besides, who doesn’t want to be reading with all the amazing books and authors that have been publishing lately…give me some new Sarah. J Maas any day!

“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” – Stephen King

Editing takes away the fun

Wednesday 15th June 2016

Now the editing begins and it’s really drawn out my vibe. Yes reading my novel for the first time was amazing, seeing how it all came together. But going over the same thing continuously is a little repetitive and frustrating.
Trying to get the right words and right sentences structured together better then they were before is hideously frustrating but there is no way i’m giving up now (even though i do just want to go straight into writing the second one).

I’ll let you into my little editing process that i’m working on:

1. Print off the manuscript, read through like a normal novel and mark changes with a red pen.
2. Mark down major changes on a post-it note and stick on the page for you to reference back to when you start working on the computer again.
3. Have both the marked paper manuscript and your word document on your computer in front of you and make the changes page by page, (this is an extremely long but not dull process).
4. Then go through the post-it note pages and make all the huge changes that you’ve identified.
5. After i’ve done all this i print off the new self edited manuscript and hand it to someone who proof reads for more. This gives them the chance to get the most out of your book instead of editing it with you, even though you can give them the option to write any changes they’d do on the manuscript. Remember you’re not limited to how many times you change it or print, this has to be just right. 

Reading through it and making the paper changes takes me about a week depending on the manuscript length. I’ve nearly done this one and it comes up to 367 pages, then the computer fun begins.
The boost i’m getting though to work hard on the editing is the people who are excited to get into the rest of my novel. The proof readers who i’ve given the opportunity to read the first 4 chapters when i editing those first.

The thought i like to keep is if my non-reader proof readers are enjoying this then who else is going to enjoy my world.

I can’t wait to share this with people one day and to get back to writing the second instalment, my characters are calling to me…we’ve got a Kingdom to burn together!

PS: i may also start doing some posts on the books i’ve been reading and my thoughts and feelings on them. I love talking to people about books but don’t have many bookish friends, so who better to express my love to in words other than myself!

MANUSCRIPT COMPLETED!

Saturday 11th June 2016

Lets just sit and hyperventilate together! 

This is the details from microsoft word right now and i’m officially finished with this manuscript…woo hoo!
Now i’m spending the weekend editing the 20 odd chapters and seeing where this takes us. I’m so excited now it’s really done it’s unbelievable. Doesn’t feel real at all!

I think the excitement that empowers you when you finish a manuscript is completely overwhelming but also enough to completely freak out a new writer. Now i’m done i’m just thinking, “so what do i do now i’ve finished this?”
I guess we’ll soon find out.