A good book is when I can’t wait for my next available free time to sit and read the next few pages. When I read the page on the left and my eyes keep jumping to the page on the right, desperate to find out what will happen. A book that I often rewind: I go back to read a paragraph again and again, because I really liked it. A story where I identify with a character: someone who is good, brave, but still has some minor faults I can relate to.
Let’s talk about sex
It’s Tuesday evening, past 11, and my friend and I are still discussing the topic I brought up. She looks at me over a half full glass of Bellini and says, “You could still copy EL James… Take each third word, no one will point fingers at you for copycatting and it would still be a good sex scene.”
We are, of course, talking about writing sex scenes in my books. Continue reading “Let’s talk about sex”
The reader-pack: Alphas, Betas and Omegas?
I 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?”
Someone else
Long time not seen!
I’m finishing up the book #1, and I’m trying to postpone all other things that come my way, including this blog, sorry.
But, I need to give it something to eat, otherwise next time I come back, I’ll see only bones.
Being engrossed in writing up my story, every now and then I need to do something else, just to give my brain a breather. So today, I read the part of the book I had started some months ago, but then stopped to finish up book #1. Continue reading “Someone else”
Before you start writing your book, write a story line first
I need to again praise the J.A. Konrath “Guide to publishing”. He gives really valuable advice and I wished I had read it before I started writing my first book. (Mind you, I started writing before he actually published his “Guide”).
One of the things he advises is to write a story line for your sequel-book: just a few sentences that describe what happens in each chapter.
This is something publishers/literary agents want to have when a writer promises a sequel. Before any contract is made, they need to make sure you (as a writer) know what will happen in your book No. 2, or 3, or 7 (if that’s how far you’re going). Continue reading “Before you start writing your book, write a story line first”
Happy end vs. real end
A good friend of mine recommended a book. “It’s a love story, you have to read it!“
Being such a sucker for love stories, by all means, I had to.
Now, I’m not going to tell you which book this is, because I’m going to reveal a few things, which most people would define as spoilers. So if you plan to read it at any point in time, you’d better not know.
It’s a story about a woman and a man, who should be together, but because of stupidity and miscommunication, they aren’t. Continue reading “Happy end vs. real end”
Who will do the research for me?
Ken Follett, I found out recently, has 30 people to do the research for him: historical facts, architectural facts etc. I am also aware that when he wrote his first book, he didn’t have that. He had to do the whole research himself.
Like me, and every other indie author.
Alison Bechdel and a damsel in distress
I follow a blog which you might also find interesting, so here’s the link. This particular entry was about something called the Bechdel test. This was the first time I had heard of it and what it is about.
In short, this is a test about gender bias in fiction (books or movies). It’s a very simple test to perform. There are three questions that need to be answered:
- Are there at least two female characters in the story?
- Do they talk to each other?
- Do they talk to each other about something OTHER than men?
Book no.2: A surprise visit
It’s Friday night. I’m in my bed, tired. Must be close to midnight. Eyes closed. I want to sleep.
In my mind there is a scene running. It goes on and on. I think: “Fine, I’ll remember it. Now let me sleep! “
It still goes on, and on, and on.
Ahgrrr!
The introduction: It’s all about the book
All of this is about writing a book.
I’m really eager to get it finished and completed so it’s ready for my readers.
But – it takes time so to calm my eagerness I decided that I will tell you about the process of writing. Characters, events that make their way into the book, triumphs and miseries as chapters unfold, while the characters do what I want them to do. Or not, and they do their own stuff instead.
Come back to me with your thoughts, as they might find their way into the book itself.
I hope you will enjoy my blog entries, and in the end the book itself.
– Tara Jade