When people find out that I've written a book a lot of them will tell me that they've always wanted to write one. "Go for it!" I say. But there is a lot more to writing a book than just sitting down and typing it up. Even though getting words on the page is a huge accomplishment, you really need another set of eyes to take a look at it. This other set of eyes should be able to tell you honestly (and encouragingly- hey we're supposed to be on the same team!) what works and what doesn't, how they interpreted and envisioned the picture you painted, and what just needs to be axed.
For example, I inserted a random kid in a pirate suit swooping in and saving the day in my upcoming novel, Inspirited. I thought it was hilarious. My writing group girls (whom I love to pieces and are pictured in this post) said, "What the heck! You can't just drop him in at the last chapter. Where's he been the whole story? Put Big Mike in the pirate suit! He's been here all along and deserves part of the hero cred." Why didn't I think of that? Mike is so big that the pirate suit will be too small. I think that's hilarious.
So whether you've got pirate problems or a dragon named Montana that can't find a dress in her size anywhere in Shabbywocka County (take a look at The Dragon Dress Hunt by Penelope Aaron on funclassroomprintables.com), you really need to get a group of eyeballs together every week or month or however often works for you all. But seriously, do it- your story's life depends on it!
Oh, and please check out my debut novel, Inspiraled. Don't like to read? Listen to it instead! It's easy and can be free at audible.com
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Great post, Soo true! And I love the idea of Montana the Dragon! So fun and creative!
ReplyDelete"This finite existence is only a test, son," God Almighty sed to me in my coma. "Beyond thy earthly tempest is where you'll find corpulent eloquence" (paraphrased). Lemme tella youse without d'New Joisey accent...
ReplyDeleteI actually saw Seventh-Heaven when we died: you couldn't GET any moe curly, extravagantly-surplus-lush Upstairs when my beautifull, brilliant, bombastic girl passed-away at 17.
Find-out where we went on our journey far, far away like the symbiotically, synonyMOUSEs which creep across thy brain bringing U.S. together done in sardonic satires.
"Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the Heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightousness as bright as stars for all eternity" -Daniel 12:3
Here's also what the prolific, exquisite GODy sed: 'the more you shall honor Me, the more I shall bless you' -the Infant Jesus of Prague.
Go git'm, girl. You're incredible.
See you Upstairs...
I won't be joining'm in the nasty Abyss where Isis prowls
eklektikmantra.blogspot.com
-YOUTHwitheTRUTH
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PS Need some uncommon, unique, uncivilized names? Lemme gonna gitcha started:
Oak Woods, Athena Noble, Autumn Rose, Faith Bishop, Dolly Martin, Willow Rhodes, Cocoa Major, China Stone, Bullwark Burnhart, Magnus Wilde, Kardiak Arrest, Will Wright, Goldy Silvers, Sophie Sharp, Gloria Hood, Violet Snow, Lizzy Roach, BoxxaRoxx, Aunty Dotey, Romero Stark, Zachariah Neptoon, Turkey Yankee, Mercurio Morrissey, Fritz & Felix Yates, Mortimer Victor, Isabella Kennedy, Redding Rust...
God blessa youse
-Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL