I actually don't have the answer to this. I know there are many great authors who do an MFA and many more who don't. Eventually, I would like to have an MFA. However, today I cringe at the thought of going back to school. Plus, I work full time and have small children, so if I was working towards my MFA I wouldn't have time to contribute to my WIP (work in progress)—I might never get past chapter one! BTW, I am almost finished with my revisions on chapter one and will shortly (hopefully) be moving onto chapter two.
Now, with that being said, I found another great article called No MFA? Never Took a Writing Class? 6 Ways to Write a Bestseller Anyway! I hope I don't sound like I work for Writers Digest, because I don't. I just find a lot of their material inspiring and helpful.
I am kind of bummed out today though, because I forgot to bring my copy of Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. I am almost finished with it and was hoping to have a review posted by now. I usually like to read my craft books at lunch and my fiction at night. However, people keep asking me to lunch (how inconsiderate) and I haven't had time to accomplish any reading.
Back to work!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Progress and Book Recommendations
OK – I actually got up this morning to write. I have been putting it off because I had sent Chapter 1 in for critique and got it back on Tuesday with a few suggestions and I have enjoyed sleeping in (4am is so early). Now, I am in the process of taking some stuff out and adding a few things in. Toughest of these is of course my beginning. I am writing a science-fiction/fantasy/paranormal (without vampires-nothing against them though) YA novel. Furthermore, my “critique partner” likes where I have my opening scene but thinks I am spending too much time describing the location and she has taken out my first paragraph. Without giving any spoilers, I purposefully did this because I thought the location was interesting and wanted to give readers a chance to see a place they probably have never been. Now, I am trying to figure out the beginning again and I think that is the toughest part! I will let you know how it turns out.
On another note, I have read several of craft books in the last few months that I would like to recommend. I will not recommend every craft book I read, but I will not be writing a bad review of it either—I will simply not mention it. I am doing this because I have never claimed to be an expert, and I find myself unworthy to criticize someone else’s work for that reason. Just because something was not able to help me does not mean there are not other people out there who could get some benefit.
The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer – First let me start simply by saying EXCELLENT! I found this book around December 2011 when I first decided I wanted to write (or give it a go anyway). I found James Thayer when I was looking for a writing certificate program. I researched the University of Washington’s Writing Certificate Program in hopes that they offered online classes (which they do not, as of yet) and Thayer is the professor for this class. With great disappointment, I did the second best thing to taking his class, which was purchasing his book. First, I bought it for my Kindle then I purchased it again in paperback. BTW, I always recommend purchasing craft books in their physical form. I do not know if I am too old but I personally like the fact that I can grab a book from my office and thumb quickly through to a specific area. Anyway, this is a very easy read and covers every topic in writing—such topics as technique, the market, publishing information, making time, organizing, genre, characters, dialogue, setting, scene, tools of the trade, vivid writing, editing and much more! It was a great book for me to start with! I highly recommend this book to any writer, seasoned or beginner. It will save you hours of time weeding through material and, it is neatly compiled into one book. Some people have gone as far as to say this book is all you need, in addition to Strunk and White. When I finished reading this book, I was so motivated to get started on my journey.
Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham – This is an excellent book about the flow of scenes and how to structure them starting off by simple cause and effect moving onto more complex writing elements such as Sequel. This is a big picture book. It also gives numerous tips in technique and techniques that should not be used or used sparingly. I really like Bickham’s writing style and he used many examples from his own works of fiction. I found myself being drawn into his examples and being slightly disappointed I could not find out what happened to these characters! I guess I can always purchase his books to find out. Anyway, I highly recommend this book.
Back to work!
**Note to self** Save the blog writing for later in the day-now that I've spent so much time on this blog, it leaves me little time to actually write! That's my tip for the day - put your distractions aside and get to the real important stuff, your WIP (work in progress).
On another note, I have read several of craft books in the last few months that I would like to recommend. I will not recommend every craft book I read, but I will not be writing a bad review of it either—I will simply not mention it. I am doing this because I have never claimed to be an expert, and I find myself unworthy to criticize someone else’s work for that reason. Just because something was not able to help me does not mean there are not other people out there who could get some benefit.
The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer – First let me start simply by saying EXCELLENT! I found this book around December 2011 when I first decided I wanted to write (or give it a go anyway). I found James Thayer when I was looking for a writing certificate program. I researched the University of Washington’s Writing Certificate Program in hopes that they offered online classes (which they do not, as of yet) and Thayer is the professor for this class. With great disappointment, I did the second best thing to taking his class, which was purchasing his book. First, I bought it for my Kindle then I purchased it again in paperback. BTW, I always recommend purchasing craft books in their physical form. I do not know if I am too old but I personally like the fact that I can grab a book from my office and thumb quickly through to a specific area. Anyway, this is a very easy read and covers every topic in writing—such topics as technique, the market, publishing information, making time, organizing, genre, characters, dialogue, setting, scene, tools of the trade, vivid writing, editing and much more! It was a great book for me to start with! I highly recommend this book to any writer, seasoned or beginner. It will save you hours of time weeding through material and, it is neatly compiled into one book. Some people have gone as far as to say this book is all you need, in addition to Strunk and White. When I finished reading this book, I was so motivated to get started on my journey.
Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham – This is an excellent book about the flow of scenes and how to structure them starting off by simple cause and effect moving onto more complex writing elements such as Sequel. This is a big picture book. It also gives numerous tips in technique and techniques that should not be used or used sparingly. I really like Bickham’s writing style and he used many examples from his own works of fiction. I found myself being drawn into his examples and being slightly disappointed I could not find out what happened to these characters! I guess I can always purchase his books to find out. Anyway, I highly recommend this book.
Back to work!
**Note to self** Save the blog writing for later in the day-now that I've spent so much time on this blog, it leaves me little time to actually write! That's my tip for the day - put your distractions aside and get to the real important stuff, your WIP (work in progress).
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
My First Recommendation
My first recommendation is this article on Writer's Digest website - 7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great. It’s a great reminder of how to make your work pop and breathe more vivid colors into your characters. It’s short, simple and to the point. Hope you enjoy.
What This Blog is About
I started writing this blog, because I kept hearing this question from friends and family repeatedly. Unfortunately, when I opened Pandora’s Box and told a few people that I wanted to write a novel, I never fathomed that progress would be so slow and I would have to update these people. Hind sight, it was a terrible idea. This was something I should have kept close to my breast until I actually finished or made some actual progress. Now, I am full of fear. What if I stink? What if I don’t finish? Then I will have to do the inevitable, which is to tell the same story, again and again, about how I failed. So, this is why I started this blog – so I can update said friends and family on my progress when they ask me, “So, how’s the writing coming?” I can kindly refer them to my blog… That way, I don’t have to hear the hesitation in their voices when I tell them I am still on Chapter One...
Also, since I am reading so many craft books, taking classes, and reading articles, I hope that sometime soon I can post a review of these books/classes/articles and hopefully other aspiring writers can find them useful.
Wish me luck!
Elle
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