Today I'm working on editing the second book. I always have a hard time making myself get started on editing...it isn't my favorite thing to do but it's necessary! It's easier to come up with fresh ideas than it is to try and make all the pieces fall into place! I'm on the second chapter...I'm going to try and get that and maybe the third done today.
The other night I typed up the first chapter of the third book. I usually don't start typing the books into the computer until the rough draft is finished but I felt the need to type that chapter for some reason! I'll probably type a little on that one off and on so look for some excerpts soon. I love posting those little teasing tidbits!
The other day I was re-reading through the rough draft manuscript of my first book and comparing it to the manuscript I submitted to Xulon for editing...wow! What a difference! My writing style really changed in three years. I got better at using descriptions and making the scenes feel more real. It is really interesting to go back and see the progress. I enjoy reading through the rough drafts, if only to laugh at myself!
I've had a few people ask why I hand write my books first, then type them up. Well, when I first started writing, I couldn't type, well, I could....with one finger but that isn't very fast! So I wrote them by hand. Then when it came to the point where I needed to have the first book on the computer, I had to learn to type. I took a typing class with my homeschooling but actually only did about a month of classes. I picked it up pretty fast and then typing the book was great practice! I've gotten pretty quick at typing...the first book is around 70,000 words and the second will be near that too when I'm finished so I got a lot of practice!
So why do I continue to hand write my books? For one, its a great keepsake. I like having the actual physical manuscript in my hands. Also, its a lot handier to carry around with me. You can't take a computer everywhere, but you can take a notebook. I take it with me just about everywhere I go...you never know when a scene will come to you and if its the scene you've been stuck on for the last two weeks...you really want to be able to write it down quick!! Writers block can be really frustrating...I could write twenty pages yesterday and today I can't think of a thing to write!! But I love it when my writers block clears up...because you get flooded with ideas! My pen usually can't keep up with my head when that happens. I think the longest time I had writers block was about two months and that was this past summer. I couldn't think of a thing! And then, wow! It was a flood. I had a slow time about November through January but it's picking back up again.
I'm not the kind of writer who can just pick a topic, do some research and write a book about it. My subject has to be something that I love, something I'm familiar with, something that means something to me. Its hard for me to write about something I have to research, its much easier to use facts that are already stored up, but that isn't always the best way!
I love writing to music. Sounds crazy, I know, but it works. The words seem to flow better if I'm listening to music while I write. In fact, that's what I'm doing right now. I'm listening to Jeffrey Michaels album After the Storm. Its a great album to listen to while writing. So most of the time when I'm writing, you'll find me near my computer with headphones on! It also helps me drowned out background noise so I can concentrate.
Take a look at the length of this post....do you think music helps?!
So anyway, I just thought I'd share some things about writing today. It's been awhile since I did a post like this!
The other night I typed up the first chapter of the third book. I usually don't start typing the books into the computer until the rough draft is finished but I felt the need to type that chapter for some reason! I'll probably type a little on that one off and on so look for some excerpts soon. I love posting those little teasing tidbits!
The other day I was re-reading through the rough draft manuscript of my first book and comparing it to the manuscript I submitted to Xulon for editing...wow! What a difference! My writing style really changed in three years. I got better at using descriptions and making the scenes feel more real. It is really interesting to go back and see the progress. I enjoy reading through the rough drafts, if only to laugh at myself!
I've had a few people ask why I hand write my books first, then type them up. Well, when I first started writing, I couldn't type, well, I could....with one finger but that isn't very fast! So I wrote them by hand. Then when it came to the point where I needed to have the first book on the computer, I had to learn to type. I took a typing class with my homeschooling but actually only did about a month of classes. I picked it up pretty fast and then typing the book was great practice! I've gotten pretty quick at typing...the first book is around 70,000 words and the second will be near that too when I'm finished so I got a lot of practice!
So why do I continue to hand write my books? For one, its a great keepsake. I like having the actual physical manuscript in my hands. Also, its a lot handier to carry around with me. You can't take a computer everywhere, but you can take a notebook. I take it with me just about everywhere I go...you never know when a scene will come to you and if its the scene you've been stuck on for the last two weeks...you really want to be able to write it down quick!! Writers block can be really frustrating...I could write twenty pages yesterday and today I can't think of a thing to write!! But I love it when my writers block clears up...because you get flooded with ideas! My pen usually can't keep up with my head when that happens. I think the longest time I had writers block was about two months and that was this past summer. I couldn't think of a thing! And then, wow! It was a flood. I had a slow time about November through January but it's picking back up again.
I'm not the kind of writer who can just pick a topic, do some research and write a book about it. My subject has to be something that I love, something I'm familiar with, something that means something to me. Its hard for me to write about something I have to research, its much easier to use facts that are already stored up, but that isn't always the best way!
I love writing to music. Sounds crazy, I know, but it works. The words seem to flow better if I'm listening to music while I write. In fact, that's what I'm doing right now. I'm listening to Jeffrey Michaels album After the Storm. Its a great album to listen to while writing. So most of the time when I'm writing, you'll find me near my computer with headphones on! It also helps me drowned out background noise so I can concentrate.
Take a look at the length of this post....do you think music helps?!
So anyway, I just thought I'd share some things about writing today. It's been awhile since I did a post like this!
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