ADVICE FOR NEW NOVELISTS: 4 Tips to Help You Write Your Book

I've been very ambitious with my YouTube videos lately.  The last couple have been playing for laughs, but I really did want to offer some genuine advice and encouragement to newer writers who have decided they would like to write a novel.



I'd love to keep making these sorts of videos, but starting on Monday I'll have another batch of essays to grade!  We'll see what that does to my creative output!

How to Increase Your Word Count (Stephen King Method)

NaNoWriMo Day 1: Writing Tips

Second and Third Drafts -- Simultaneous Revisions

My middle grade fantasy is still progressing. I am one third of the way through the second draft, and about one eighth of the way through the third draft.

How can I be working on the second and third draft at the same time? Simple. The second draft is all about me and the page, revising the novel chapter by chapter, making it the best i can all by my lonesome. The third draft happens orally. I have been reading it out loud to my eldest daughter. (I hope she doesn't mind being my first audio book beta-reader.)

Reading my work out loud to another person helps me understand what works and what doesn't. If Mackenzie laughs at the funny parts, I know I'm on the right track. If she gasps at the exciting parts, then i know I'm raising the stakes at the right moment. Even when she isn't verbally responsive, I'm still getting a good third draft done because just by me reading it out loud is incredibly helpful to me. It really helps with the sentence clarity and the over all flow.

Well, enough blogging! Back to the revision!

Boo at the Zoo - Halloween Children's Story #authortube

Monday Morning with the Dogs

Twixt & Twerp Update; The First Draft Is Complete!

Well, Monday morning I typed the words "THE END" into my first generation iPad.

The first draft of Twixt & Twerp is complete. Now, I'm forcing myself to take a break from it for just a few days. (Stephen King takes a few weeks, but I don't wanna wait that long!) Then, I'm jumping into the second draft. Hopefully that will tighten up the story and clearly define the characters, not to mention improve the descriptions.

When I get five chapters polished, I will send it off to my agent.

Keep your fingers crossed. I am thinking positive thoughts, believing that this little middle grade novel will find the right editor, and it will be love at first read. I have had such a marvelous time writing this book. It would be a shame if I'm the only one who gets to enjoy it.