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Research needed!

I have 38072 words – which translates to 175 pages – done!
38000 words of research, that is  🙂    

But with all the information I’ve gotten so far, it was enough to start writing. The research however is far from over. With every chapter I write (currently 77 pages) new questions come up. And I think the story – though made up – needs to be as close to reality of the 18th century as possible. You wouldn’t think it needs so much research, but the moment you ask yourself some simple questions, you realize it’s needed.

For example, what did people eat, what did they drink? Remember, most of the water, unless it was a mountain spring, was contaminated as there was no sewerage or water control. 

How did they dress (women started wearing knickers, eg. underpans, only in the 19th century!! How, on the Moons of Senthia, did they handle a period, I still have no idea!) And then some larger questions, like the influence of the church on the population or changes in the philosophical views at the time. It all influences the story.

Dan Brown, when addressing the new writers, said “When your readers buy your book, they are not only paying for the words in the book”. Meaning, they are also paying for all the words you deleted, either because they have been edited out so that your story is distilled to enable your reader the best experience possible. But he also means the many words of your research, because although none of your readers will see those words, they will certainly feel if the author did the research or not.

And I completely believe him. Research is mandatory. Because you see, some time in the future, next year, or the year after that, this book will be finished. And in that moment, I will ask you to put away your life, your busy, interesting life where you are the protagonist and the main character in your story. And I will ask you to put aside this particular life for a few hours and give your full attention to my book. To my story.

And this is a lot to ask. 
Your attention, your time, is the greatest currency.

For me to be able to ask something like that of you, I need to do the best job possible, and the research is at the very basis of it, because you will not believe my characters, you will not live in my story, if it doesn’t ring true. 

So, I’ll continue researching and writing, and to you I wish happy reading!

Yours, Tara Jade

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Why write at all?

For the majority of authors, the money coming in is just a small, tiny, micro fraction of the expenses a writer needs.

The book editing, the cover illustration and design, paperback formatting and the necessary – and much needed – marketing all writers need to do in order to get any screen time on retailers and book shops (otherwise, though the book is officially there, it might as well be invisible!) make a large chunk of the expenses every writer needs to do.

So, you might be wondering, why do I and my fellow writers, write at all? Because let’s be brutally honest: For most authors, writing is a financial suicide. But here’s a little detail that most non-writers aren’t aware of, and that makes all the difference.

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Author vulnerability No.1: Fear of rejection

I think I can talk for all authors when I say that each and every one of us fears that our work will be disliked, that people won’t respond to it, that it will leave them unaffected, especially if we give heart and soul into our creative work (which is pretty much always). I succumbed to the same fear so much, that I unpublished some of my work due to the response. And then, I had a good talk with a very clever person who taught me some wisdom 😉

Check out my short stories: www.tarajadebrown.com/books

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One of the most famous book-spots in Switzerland

Last weekend my family and I went for a long dog walk starting in Bad Ragaz and ending up in the fields of Maienfeld. These names won’t mean much to most people.

But what if I told you that this is the spot where one of the best-ever selling books was written (no, not mine ;-)) and all the events in the book happened exactly here?

Any ideas?

Continue reading “One of the most famous book-spots in Switzerland”
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“The Senthien” audiobook excerpt 2

Today I am playing a scene that I find super cute.

A group of Old Earth people and Dora are about to cross the rushing river using zip-lining. Dora is getting ready and J is adjusting straps, when at one moment, they realise they are too close to each other. Dora´s Descendant upbringing urges her to move away but her inner emotions glue her to the ground.

I hope you enjoy it!

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Sweet romance & zombie apocalypse: Should the genres mix or not?

 

What if a writer is inspired to write two stories that fall into two different genres? Should they write both despite the fact that their readers might not follow one of the genres? Or will fans of an author be interested regardless, provided there is a common thread they like that runs through that particular writer’s work? Check out this video and find out!

 

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Stephen, you rock!

I’m reading “On writing” by Stephen King.

I love it, as most of his fans or aspiring writers would/do.

Two reasons:

First of all, this is the first book of his where I can actually “hear” him, Stephen King himself. Not Carrie White or Stu Redman. But Stephen King. And it was very nice to “get to know” him like that. And funnily enough, he reminds me of Dan Simmons’ Martin Silenius, a satirical character in the epic “Hyperion”. Continue reading “Stephen, you rock!”

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The reader-pack: Alphas, Betas and Omegas?

Wolf-7I have just finished draft of the book ♯1!

But that doesn’t mean it will shine tomorrow on Amazon’s bestseller list. 🙂

There’s a long road still ahead.

At this stage my book is written and self-edited, but what I now need is a second pair of eyes (or several of them). So before I give the book to an editor, I need to get input from beta-readers.

Who are beta-readers? Continue reading “The reader-pack: Alphas, Betas and Omegas?”