Category: The Notebook
Build Your Plot, Part 2 – The Characters
Writing characters: “You can be a face (good), you can be a heel (bad), for the love for god, don’t be f***ing boring.” A high quality character is distinct, compelling, and complex with an understandable motivation, even when it’s negative.
Rewriting a Novel in Fifteen Easy Steps
You would think rewriting a novel would be a simple process with just a little clean up. You would be wrong! Fifteen steps to finish a “completed” novel.
Pantheon Release – One Year as a Published Novelist
One year as a published novelist and I have published two books plus a chapter in an anthology. Not too shabby for someone who considered the publishing of their first book a fluke.
My Father Died Today
My Father died today. I’m not sure if I killed him or if he took his own life by a suicide that took nearly thirty years.
Everyone holds an idea of what a father should be in their heart and mind. Some are fortunate enough to get it, but everyone else is left scrambling. What is fatherhood? What makes a man? What does it mean to be a father? What does it mean to support another’s life until they can function as an adult?
What Drives You? Pain.
It takes a lot to write a novel and I write my own pain into my work. As I said recently, it’s been a long week and you’re getting the darker side of my writing these days. Why? Because this blog sometimes functions as my diary and repository of all my thoughts. Unfortunately for you, its been a tough week. So, enjoy what is probably fiction; maybe its not. Either way, this has rattled around in my brain since Thursday.
Pantheon Release – Six Months as a Published Novelist
In my first update as a published novelist, I described some of the misconceptions I had and the reality of publishing a novel. In the second update, at the three month mark, I gave further updates. I stand by my three month update and not much has changed.
Oh. Other than BOOK TWO COMES OUT IN SEPTEMBER!
Here we take another look at the tangible ways one can measure success as an author, now six months later.
Build Your Plot, Part 1 – The Framework
Framing plot on index cards is all well and good, but how do I get enough information to even start that process?
Pantheon Sequel Release – The Strategy
I spent today working through marketing strategies. I had a few ideas but the one I think I’m most proud of is also the dumbest. Truly, it’s brilliant in how dumb it is… It’s a PowerPoint. Because, let’s all be really honest: what’s more military than death by PowerPoint? Therefore, 1,000% on brand, I give you Captain Valerie Hall for the OPERATION MARKET BOOK strategy briefing.
Pantheon Release – Three Months as a Published Novelist
In my one month update, I talked about misconceptions I had and the realities I faced: not everyone is an overnight success, it does not mean instant popularity across social media, the hustle is both real and necessary, and I am not instantly or fabulously wealthy. But after three months, I’m starting to see the intangible wins and working on setting my goals for 2021.
The Hunt for Beta Readers
As many of you saw from my posts across social media, I am on the hunt for one or two more beta readers for my novels. I’ve gotten a lot of positive responses so far, but a host so questions too. This, of course, means I want to blog about it! Today’s post will cover what a beta reader is, things authors look for in a beta reader, and what I want from my betas.