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Archive for the ‘Writing Tips’ Category

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The Queen and I: Working with your Editor


Great writing (editing) tips! ~ Bette A. Stevens

Ernesto San Giacomo's avatarSan Giacomo's Corner

According to Stephen King’s On Writing, “The editor is always right.” My editor never misses an opportunity to remind me about that quote. Therefore I’ve created a system for editing, revisions, et al that prevents arguments about the placement of a comma or about the start of a new paragraph.

pen

Editing a Paper by Nic McPhee used under CC License

I #write out my first draft and look it over for something glaring like misspelled words. Then I save the document to a memory stick and pass it off to my wife, a.k.a the Editor and Queen (Grammar Nazi is too over-used).

She will read it over and type in notes and comments with Word’s highlight tool. For suggested omissions, she’ll change the text to blue and will use red when she wants a stronger verb. I think you’re getting the idea.

The memory stick comes back to me…

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Written

on 05/16/2014

Aside

ESTABLISHING A WRITER’S PLATFORM by Nonnie Jules


It’s my delight to have author Nonnie Jules here today to celebrate her Blog’s (WATCH NONNIE WRITE!) Birthday. Nonnie is also the founder and president of RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB. Readers and writers, if you’re not a member of this amazing book club yet, it’s time to jump on board. Nonnie Jules is here today to talk about Establishing a Writer’s Platform. Take us away, Nonnie…

New Book Club & You're Invited!

Today is the first day of my 15 day “HAPPY BIRTHDAY: ARE YOU WATCHING NONNIE WRITE?” Blog Tour and I’m kicking it off with a very supportive lady whose passion for children is equal to mine. Bette, thank you for having me and I hope that you and your guest enjoy me sharing the happy birthday.

This month marks the one year anniversary of my burst onto the social media scene and during that time, I have published three REALLY GOOD books, and have learned so very much about the industry. Although I’ve been a writer for most of my life (actually, I was born one), I only just became a published author in 2013. Some might say “In that short amount of time, what does she know?” Well, I’m here to tell you that “SHE” has learned a lot! “SHE” has taken the time to hone her skills in the writing department as well as her knowledge. “SHE” has taken the bull by the horn and run full speed ahead in building her author platform and establishing herself in the writing industry. “SHE” is making her name KNOWN.

On each stop of my tour, I share with you tips on writing, publishing and support, all topics equally important to the writing industry. I hope that what I am imparting, you will take, mull over, and then act on in the best interest of YOU.

With that being said, here is…

ESTABLISHING A WRITER’S PLATFORM

We, as writers, write and blog about many different things. We blog about our family and friends, exercise, politics and even the food we eat. But, unless you’re a family therapist, a fitness guru, a politician or a foodie, none of these are your platforms UNLESS they are all you speak about, the majority of the time.

Many writers pop onto the scene and want the world to know them as being “good in everything” and although there is a strong possibility that they are, readers don’t care to know this. Readers want to think that they are reading material from EXPERTS, and in the minds of most, we can’t be EXPERTS at everything. So then, you need to establish a writing platform.

I actually have two main platforms and they are CHILDREN & SUPPORT (although I must admit that I’m pretty good at writing about a multitude of things). If you were to mention my name to any number of people and ask: “What is her platform?” They would, nine times out of ten, give you the two that I’ve just mentioned, and in the exact order that I mentioned them. WHY? Because these two areas are what I write about, talk about and live the most.

So, if you’re not already, I’d like for you to watch me write as I will continue to offer more tips to help you begin establishing your writer’s platform. (My blog links are listed below). What is it that you’re most passionate about? What is the one thing you’re actually KNOWN for? That could very easily serve as the medium you need to establish your credibility with your new-found platform.

Bette, thanks so much again for having me!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nonnie Jules BookNONNIE Jules grew up loving books and everything about them.  She has traveled the world, jumped out of planes and climbed many mountains, all thanks to the wonderful world of literature.  She lives with her husband and two daughters on a very quiet strip of land in Louisiana, where red dirt roads and pick-up trucks go hand in hand.  She is the Author of three great reads at present:  “THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS,” 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can’t Help But Love!; “Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend” (a novel);  and “SUGARCOATIN’ IS FOR CANDY & PACIFYIN’ IS FOR KIDS!” Nonnie is also Founder and President of the widely-known Rave Reviews Book Club, as well as being a sought-after book reviewer with a strong “eye” for perfection.

NJ Cover Design-1-1

She continues to write from many different genres and hopes to teach and touch minds and hearts alike with her very unique style of writing.  She loves positive feedback on her writing and personally responds to each and every email.  Nonnie can be reached at nonniewrites@yahoo.com, on Twitter @nonniejules, and do follow her blogs WATCH NONNIE WRITE! {nonniewrites.wordpress.com}  and ASK THE GOOD MOMMY {askthegoodmommy.wordpress.com}.

Nonnie’s feet are firmly planted in her two most important platforms:  Parenting & Support, where she continually invites the masses to join her.
BUY LINKS:

“THE GOOD MOMMIES’ GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS,” 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can’t Help But Love! – amazon.com/dp/B00CP62056;  createspace.com/4355124
“Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend” – amazon.com/dp/B00GLM2VVM;  createspace.com/4386308

“SUGARCOATIN’ IS FOR CANDY & PACIFYIN’ IS FOR KIDS!” – amazon.com/dp/B00IRIA0I4

 

 

 

 

Written

on 04/16/2014

Aside

How to Avoid the Dreaded Dialogue Tag


Thanks for the great writing tips! ~ Bette A. Stevens

LauraDrake's avatarWriters In The Storm Blog

by Laura Drake

medium_3281242614Okay, I admit it. I’m prejudiced against dialogue tags. Yes, I know they say, ‘He said/she said’ are invisible to the reader.

They’re not to me.

Even if you don’t share my pet peeve, why settle for something so boring? You write a sparkling line of dialogue, and slap ‘he said’ on the end? Why not continue the sparkle instead?

But first, a few rules of dialog you may or may not be familiar with:

1. The ONLY time you need a tag is if the reader wouldn’t know who was speaking otherwise. I’m always surprised by how many NYT authors have tons of unnecessary tags. If there is only a man and a woman in the scene, and someone says, “Excuse me, I have to go to the ladies room.” do you really need a tag? Many times the dialogue itself cues the reader.

2. Names.

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Written

on 03/28/2014

Aside

Do You Write by Heart or Head? Technique Overload


Great Writing Tips! from Cate Russell-Cole

 

Do You Write by Heart or Head? Technique Overload

Posted on March 26, 2014 by

 

 

Written

on 03/25/2014

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Get Fresh! Write the BEST Body Language with Margie Lawson


Writers: A great post to check out!

~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

writersinthestorm's avatarWriters In The Storm Blog

Margie LawsonBy Margie Lawson

 Big hugs to Laura Drake for inviting me to post at WITS today.

I love teaching writers how to create their best, best, best writing. Writing that draws the reader in so deep, that when the POV character’s heart races, the reader clutches their chest.

Best writing carries specificity and clarity. It carries nuanced power in its structure and style. It carries a compelling cadence in every sentence that drives the reader from the first word to the last.

Best writing cuts words that reader’s skim and adds words that increase power.

Writing body language and dialogue cues at the best level pushes writers beyond using at-the-ready basics and beat-fillers. Best writing doesn’t use words and phrases that are predictable, overused, clichéd. Best writing is fresh writing.

Writers Need to be Kinesics Specialists

Writers need to be experts at reading body language, experts at writing nuanced…

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Written

on 02/12/2014

Inspiration for Writers


Inspirational! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com

jenowenby's avatarJens Thoughts

Stormy weather on a city streetWriting is hard work! When we think we’ve got it figured out an editor or trusted friend lets us know there are still plot holes. Maybe we realize we left out key elements, missed tying up a loose end, or we just put our head on our desk and stay there the rest of the day. Here’s some encouragement, keep writing and don’t give up!

I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose. – Stephen King

Prose is architecture, not interior decoration. – Ernest Hemingway

It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way. – Ernest Hemingway

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master. —Ernest Hemingway

A word is not the same with one writer as with another.  One tears it from his guts.  The other pulls it out of his…

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Quotes, Writing, Writing Challenges, Writing Tips

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February is Blog Taming Month on CommuniCATE Resources for Writers


Writers/bloggers: Don’t miss out on this… FREE pdf e-book downloadable “Savvy Blogging for Time Starved Writers”~ Bette A. Stevens

Category:

Blogging, Writing Tips

The 5 Most Important Revision Tips I Learned from Margie Lawson’s Classes by Author Kourtney Heintz


Great tips for authors… I’m revising the draft of my first novel now. Thank you! ~ Bette A. Stevens

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

Kourtney Heintz

1) The opening sentence of a book/chapter/scene should be hooking and make the reader curious enough to read onward.

Like any man, I loved my wife, but these 3 a.m. suicidal thoughts were killing me.

2) The closing sentence of a chapter/scene should never let the reader slip in a bookmark. You need to make the reader want to keep going. Cliffhangers, uncertainty, new questions, they need to be built into that final sentence.

I worked best under pressure–they’d never know how much.

3) There is a power to 3 in using the same word, phrase or sentence structure. Don’t stop at twice, make sure it’s 3 times.

I didn’t want the end of me. Over a girl like her. Or a friend like him. Or a father like mine.

4) Write fresh. Find a new way to describe something. Your readers will thank you.

My jackrabbit pulse began to…

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Category:

Articles of Interest, Writing Tips

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How to write a novel in 30 days!


NOVEMBER WAS NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH

THANK YOU NaNoWriMo and my writing buddies for helping me meet the challenge of writing a novel in 30 days!

2013 Accomplishment

ON NOVEMBER 27th, 2013, the draft of my upcoming debut novel reached more than 55,000 words as I finished writing the final chapter. If there are any writers or want-to-be writers out there who haven’t finished , or perhaps haven’t started, writing their stories yet, I highly recommend committing to the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days. You’ll find plenty of support and encouragement both online and through regional group write-ins.

For more information on how to sign up and commit to write your own novel in 30 days next November, check out http://nanowrimo.org/how-it-works

Here’s what my draft looked like at the end of the day on November 27, 2013. Since then, I’ve taken a holiday break. Come January, I’ll be reading, writing & editing my draft over and over before having a professional editor take a look-see… Winter here in Maine is a great time for all of that inside work. I’ll get in a little snowshoeing on warm (30+), sunny days and catching up on all the books I still have on my TO READ LIST, too. Have a wonderful winter. ~ Bette A. Stevens, author of PURE TRASH, The Story (the short story prequel to my upcoming debut novel)…

The CreateSpace  (an Amazon affiliate for indie-authors and self-publishers) photo above was posted on my Facebook feed. The version you see, has been adapted by me for this blog post. I have self-published all three of my books using CreateSpace and recommend that you check them out if you’re considering self-publishing.

You can find my books—AMAZING MATILDA; PURE TRASH, The Story and THE TANGRAM ZOO AND WORD PUZZLES TOO!  at http://www.Amazon.com/author/betteastevens

First draft of PURE TRASH, The Novel (working title) for Bette's first novel planned for release in 2014.

First draft of PURE TRASH, The Novel (working title) for Bette’s first novel planned for release in 2014.

Sign up for Bette’s FREE Email Updates at http://eepurl.com/t-7JP

Category:

Maine Author, Writing, Writing Challenges, Writing Tips

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Do You Know Your (Copy) Rights?


Excellent post for writers! ~ Bette A. Stevens

Jenny Hansen's avatarWriters In The Storm Blog

SusanSpann_WITSby Susan Spann

Writers In The Storm is delighted to welcome back Susan as she kicks off her new series on copyright and rights clauses in publishing contracts.

Note: As always, Susan is open for questions down in the comments!

*  *  *  *  *  *

As 2013 draws to a close, I’m starting a brand new #PubLaw guest series here at WITS.

Many of you have commented about your desire to take charge of your writing careers in 2014 – to launch a new year with a brand new publishing outlook. For some, that means finishing a new novel. For others, finding an agent or a publisher. For others still, 2014 will mark the launch of an independent publishing career.

Some of you may look at this list and say “yep, I’m planning all of the above.”

Whatever publishing path you choose, and wherever you are along it, it’s…

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Writing Tips

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