Blogging schedule

I am trying so hard to have a consistent schedule when I blog but honestly rewriting my novel has taking up my time and the reality is I am also a mother to two girls , so what has worked for me is simply writing my blog before the ending of the week that's the best I can do in regards to being consistent. I check out other writer's blogs and some are so amazing they blog consistently three times a week maybe even more and come up with great topics but I am not there yet, during the summer I have couple months off so I am hoping my blogging entries will get more consistent.

Pacing

Its Saturday, the kids are at my mother in law for the night so I have loads of time to write and I had a magical number my aim was to get to page 70, even if I cut and paste from the original document that was my goal but there is so much that goes into rewriting firstly, I am finding that reading over what I had written previously or cut and paste helps, it either conjures up new ideas or emphasise on the scene etc and yes that takes a load of time but I came to the conclusion that I did not write my novel in a night it took me a few months and will take me a few more months to make revisions on the rewrite I had done presently. So no pressure or guilt I am not under a deadline each goal I set will be executed so as I am writing my blog I will check off that I made it to page 40 of 100 this portion of my rewrite is the last 100 pages and I am done rewriting the entire book and happy so far the direction I went with my original idea.

Are you there luck? It's me writer

Last night during yalitchat I asked the question getting agent/published is it merely luck, many responses was it is partly luck but writing a well written book is the focus of the publishing goal.

The dreaded word again subjective; there are many factors that affect luck, books are published within particular seasons so it could simply be the wave of opportunity was gone, also if an agency has numerous submissions or there existing writers have written something similar I could go on and on.

So until my luck comes my way I will polish my mss and continue to grow and evolve as a writer I am convinced I don't want to do anything else but to write the stories in my mind.


*Luck*

This week though I did get luck in the form of a contest I won on twitter complimentary of IndigoGreenRoom, I won the opportunity to see one of my favorite author the legend known as Suzanne Collins.

I never heard of the Hunger Games series until last summer when everyone was tweeting about Mockingjay I bought the first book read it in couple of days and then bought the next two books. I was in awe this writer had me in her clutches I couldn't take myself away from the books and for the first time I read a series that I could not figure out what would happen next because when I thought I knew I was totally wrong. But it is more that I love this author because she appears humble and an overall nice person. I believe its important to never lose oneself success can do that.
Note: Pasted from former wordpress blog

HUNGER GAMES FANADDICT

Today has been the greatest day, I had the amazing opportunity to meet the legend known as Suzanne Collins. I waited in line anticipating what I would say, mingled with a few people talking about the Hunger Games series and how awesome it was and scary at times. Also the books got better as Katniss evolved throughout the series, and then the moment came I was next. I felt like the room became foggy my heart rate was elevated and then when I was in front of her the tears came.

A little quirky fact about me, people close to me know when I cry I am either really angry or happy I know its weird and doesn't make sense at all but that's what I am. Anyways I touched her arm and also I had a sore throat so when she asked me what's my name all that came out was a squeaky "I am Keisha." The employee of the store took two pictures of me and one was deleted immediately I wont divulge why and the other all you would see is my long curly black hair but none of that matters because I have a picture with Suzanne Collins and her beautiful smile, she is so humble and a joy to meet. My husband joked none of the teenagers cried but I got emotional because I am so inspired by her and the journey towards publication although rough at times is also rewarding when I get the opportunity to meet someone I respect. So if you have been living under a rock and have not heard about the series go get it an join in on an exciting series.

Reality Check

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer in possession of an awesome manuscript will find her agent, get published and have a successful career.



I wrote a previous post about my goals for the new year, thinking about my goals and the expectations in regards to my publishing journey I had an awakening. Firstly the surest thing I know is that I am in love with my first novel Ecliptic Dreams more so since I have started with revisions and rewrites which resulted in better ideas that heighten my plot and the variety of conflicts. In addition, I won’t give up I have gone this far it’ll be pointless to stop when I have invested in my writing, and I have set a round off number of 300 agents I will query when my manuscript is polished. Now I will move on to talking about expectations.



The expectations are brutal but again this is the reality that I have come to terms with.

Agents are not obliged to love my manuscript
Publishers have to fall in love with my manuscript to offer their investment to my product
I may never get on the bestseller list
I may never get appreciated by my target market
I may have to write plenty of novels before I reach the first step of getting representation


However….



I am not alone, many writers are striving up the same mountain as me and that is something which is comforting and helps with my tenacity to continue.

The final point that is important for writers is to focus on your realistic goals and put up a barrier so to speak blocking your expectations for the publishing industry.

GENRES

Today I was thinking about fiction and the various sub categories that it falls into, the first genre I am currently writing (editing/rewriting since 2009)

Paranormal romance is a sub-genre of the romance novel. A type of speculative fiction, paranormal romance focuses on romance and includes elements beyond the range of scientific explanation, blending together themes from the genres of traditional fantasy, science fiction, or horror. Paranormal romance may range from traditional category romances, such as those published by Harlequin Mills & Boon, with a paranormal setting to stories where the main emphasis is on a science fiction or fantasy based plot with a romantic subplot included. Common hallmarks are romantic relationships between humans and vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, and other entities of a fantastic or otherworldly nature.

Beyond the more prevalent themes involving vampires, shapeshifters, ghosts, or time travel, paranormal romances can also include books featuring characters with psychic abilities, like telekinesis or telepathy.

Paranormal romance has its roots in Gothic fiction. Its most recent revival has been spurred by turn of the century technology, e.g. the internet and electronic publishing. Paranormal romances are one of the fastest growing trends in the romance genre.

Source Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

CHICK LIT This genre I don’t like to read it or write it but if it’s a movie I’ll watch it I know that’s totally weird but that’s who I am the last CHICK LIT movie I watched was CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC and even weirder this movie was based on a best-selling novel. The basic understanding of this genre is that a young women maybe between the ages of 20-37 searching for her brooding, dashing guy, add shoes, clothing, accessories like purses and voila CHICK LIT.

HISTORICAL come on the name is straight forward but in this vast world there will be someone who does not know so here goes. Historical is the past it could be yesterday technically and it can attach to a genre, romance, mystery etc

LITERARY FICTION When I researched this I was still boggled because I thought all sub genres was fiction here is the research info.

Literary fiction is a term that has come into common usage since around 1960, principally to distinguish “serious fiction” (that is, work with claims to literary merit) from the many types of genre fiction and popular fiction (i.e., paraliterature). In broad terms, literary fiction focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character , the plot may or may not be important. Mainstream commercial fiction focuses more on narrative and plot

Source Wikipedia The free encyclopedia

THRILLER this genre involves mystery/crime that is thrilling the main character(s) must solve a problem or locate the clues to solve the problem police, FBI, CIA, via adventures, escapes, martial arts or military training. Thrillers can involve legal, forensic, basically the goal is to keep the reader on his/her toes by being fast paced.

MYSTERY When I was a kid I enjoyed reading the Nancy Drew, Hardy boys novels so the genre involves a detective who has to resolve a crime, maybe they know the suspects or maybe they have to travel to locate the above, towards the ending of the novel everything has to be resolved unless it’s a series and then the reader will anticipate what will the sleuth figure out next.

This year I kept hearing about this genre and after I researched I still did not get it but interested in reading books in this genre.

STEAMPUNK Revolves in alternative history, mainly in Victorian-esque capacities with clocks, steam power fictional machinery maybe a robotic insects that spew out metal from their teeth but the character has an anti-metal spray that temporary immobilize the robots or uses a gun with bullets made from titanium the only thing powerful against these robots. I watched LEAGUE OF EXTRODINAIRY GENTLEMAN for one reason only if my dreams come true he would be a candidate to play my MC main squeeze and I don’t care that he’s way past the teen years.



Scott Westerfield LEVIATHAN and Robert Downey Junior in SHERLOK HOLMES

SCIENCE FICTION Here is the research since I have never attempted to write in this genre, or read any SCi-FI I too have to know the definition

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation). Exploring the consequences of such differences is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a “literature of ideas”. Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possibilities. The settings for science fiction are often contrary to known reality, but the majority of science fiction relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief, which is facilitated in the reader’s mind by potential scientific explanations or solutions to various fictional elements.

These may include:

A setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record
A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens
Stories that involve technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature
Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as time travel or psionics, or new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots, or of new and different political or social systems (e.g., a dystopia, or a situation where organized society has collapsed)
Source Wikipedia The free Encyclopedia

URBAN FANTASY Fantasy elements faeries that reside in the real world which can include real life situations maybe faeries on a reality show partying all night, drinking and job in the morning and then doing all over the following night.



DYSTOPIA I never thought I would love this genre until I read the awesome series by the one and only…drum rock and roll Suzanne Collins HUNGER GAMES SERIES if you have not read these books you have either fell off planet or under a rock basically short version of what this genre is about are as follows.

A dystopia (from Ancient Greek: δυσ-: bad-, ill- and Ancient Greek: τόπος: place, landscape) (alternatively, cacotopia,or anti-utopia) is, in literature, an often futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian. Dystopian literature has underlying cautionary tones, warning society that if we continue to live how we do, this will be the consequence. A dystopia, thus, is regarded as a sort of negative utopia and is often characterized by an authoritarian or totalitarian form of government. Dystopias usually feature different kinds of repressive social control systems, a lack or total absence of individual freedoms and expressions and constant states of warfare or violence. Dystopias often explore the concept of humans abusing technology and how humans individually and collectively cope with technology that has evolved too quickly. A dystopian society is also often characterized by mass poverty and brutal political controls such as a large military-like police.

Source Wikipedia The free Encyclopedia

Crutches/Voice

Deep in revisions my editor brought to my attention the crutches I use in my manuscript The first is the body language, I tend to have my characters run their fingers through their hair, in addition, I use begin and started a lot. So the question is what crutches do you use when you write? I have made note of my crutches and try to catch myself as I edit. I also bought the wonderful BODY LANGUAGE FOR DUMMIES by Elizabeth Kuhnke which has helped me utilize various body language but its more than that once you know your characters their body language should be authentic to them. I am also watchful of my voice which is emotional/edgy/dark. My prose is using realistic situations within my fiction world.

Agent Rachelle Gardner talked about voice on her blog, which helped me finally understand what voice means in relation to writing.

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-is-writers-voice.html