Comments for A NOVEL Writing Site

Comment on How to Build Scenes and Add Length and Substance to Your Novel by Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:28:02 +0000

Naomi’s right. When we began this blog, we thought our “students” would be homeschooled high school students, but we quickly realized that writers of all ages were using the tips and prompts. To me, that’s even better. Who says we ever have to stop learning?

Comment on How to Build Scenes and Add Length and Substance to Your Novel by Naomi Musch

Naomi Musch — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:34:36 +0000

Lol! Nope, not a requirement. Glad you dropped by and found it useful!

Comment on How to Build Scenes and Add Length and Substance to Your Novel by carolyn

carolyn — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:42:34 +0000

I will use the tips in this post RIGHT NOW to improve my WIP. So useful! At 66, I’m not a “young writer.” Hope that’s not a requirement for Using this fantastic site.

Comment on A Method for Rewriting and Self Editing by Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:44:39 +0000

Loving the comment thread and learning from the ideas shared.

“It” and “that” are problem words for me as well. I usually find ~~that~~ I can simply eliminate “that”, and my sentences are usually more interesting if I spell out what “it” is.

So glad you mentioned Scrivener! I’ve begun using it as well, and I love the bulletin board for plotting. Lets me move stuff around. In addition, Scrivener has a tool to help you prepare your manuscript for self-publishing on Kindle (and maybe some other formats). You can download a trial version and use it 30 days for free, and the program is very reasonably priced at around $40 when you decide you love it.

Comment on A Method for Rewriting and Self Editing by Naomi Musch

Naomi Musch — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:37:09 +0000

You bring up some great points to remember, Linda. Having someone else act as a beta reader is always helpful if you can count on them to give the necessary feedback and to point out those character/time/setting issues.

I also have to watch for those telling words. “That” has been a particular problem of mine as well as starting sentences with “It”.

I also have to keep careful files for those characters. I started using Scrivener last fall, and that makes it a bit easier to quick reference, but it doesn’t do as good a job at watching for grammatical errors. However, like you mentioned, you can’t really depend on those computers to do it correctly all the time anyway.

Thanks so much for dropping by and adding to the dialogue. I appreciate your input!
Blessings~
Naomi

Comment on A Method for Rewriting and Self Editing by Linda LaRoque

Linda LaRoque — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:31:40 +0000

All excellent points, Naomi. However, I do have a hard time letting my rest. I usually want to tackle edits right away, but usually I’ve had several people go over it as each chapter is finished, so it’s been a while since I’ve started at the beginning.

On my latest WIP, I have so many minor characters that it’s hard to keep up with names. That’s why a chart will all that info in your files is so important. Something else I always have to be careful with is time sequence and make sure it’s correct. If your story spans two years, make sure your reader is aware of the season changes, events in each, etc.

Echoes are a problem for me. Sometimes a search for those as well as those telling words–that, had, was to name a few are changed to active words.

I don’t know about you, but my computer thinks it’s smarter than me. So, I find really quirky errors. Most times I catch them as I work. I know…I should go in and change that setting but haven’t done so yet. But, I so agree that edits are a time to add more expression to your characters, include more of the senses, correct those boring dialogue tags and delete the information that does not move the story along.

Thanks for the awesome article and reminder on certain details. And now, back to my editing!

Comment on Writing Lesson 3.36 – Contests–My Perspective as a Judge by Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:02:27 +0000

I agree! Sort of like a golfer who gets down to look over the putting green from several angles, it has helped me to view my writing from the perspective not only of an author but also of a reader, an editor, even a critic.

Comment on Writing Lesson 3.36 – Contests–My Perspective as a Judge by bethrachg

bethrachg — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:59:05 +0000

One of the reasons I started judging contests year ago is because I thought I could learn so much about writing that way. Seeing other people’s work like this could give me insight into what an editor looks see in the slush pile. What is it exactly that catches an editor’s eye. And you know what? That really helped. I was quickly able to see the kind of stories that really stood out from the rest, and applied that to my own work.

Just my two cent.

Great post, Shannon.

Comment on Writing Lesson 3.32 – Finding Your Voice by Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:49:07 +0000

Sorry for the delayed response, but you’ve asked a great question.
You may submit the first five pages of ANY story you’re working on. The manuscript does NOT have to be finished.
Thanks for giving us a chance to clarify! I look forward to reading your work!

Comment on Writing Lesson 3.32 – Finding Your Voice by frechfry89

frechfry89 — Sat, 05 May 2012 15:56:59 +0000

Hi, just a quick question, does the five pages of the sample work have to be a finished piece to be submitted? Or can it be like the first five pages of a book that we are working on or something like that?

Thank you