The revision process is a mystery some people. Some hate it. Some love it. For me personally, I'm still finding my groove. Right now, I'm 28k words into a 50k novel, so before too long, I'll be in the revision stage again. Part of me is biting at the bit to get started on fixing some major problems with the story. Another part of me is dreading it because there is so much to fix with this story. I've talked to a lot of authors over the last 5 years or so. No two authors write or revise the same way. Some write very cleanly in their first draft and need very little revision and editing before publication. Some revise as they write. Some overwrite and some underwrite in their first draft. For some revision means just fixing some things, but for others it means completely rewriting the whole story from page one to the end. It can even change from story to story. Once I get through with the revision on my current novel, I'll share my current method. Meanwhile, AJ Korman shared with me her method of revising her novels. AJ is the author of The Halloway Hills Middle School Mysteries. She has a ton of great advice for revision! Here is what she wrote:
Category: mystery
7.5 Plot Archetypes Book Tag
Yep you read that right! 7.5 Plot Archetypes! I've heard some people say there are 9 or 12 archetypes, but traditionally there are 7. I did read one article that proposed 9 and I kinda agree with one addition. Read, skim, or scroll down to see the one I'm talking about. * A complete list … Continue reading 7.5 Plot Archetypes Book Tag
Linking an eBook Series Using KDP
Today I have a guest author for this post. Maggie Foster is a member of my writing group and a dear friend! I interviewed her for my book, From Rough Draft to Published. She mentored me through publishing process. She writes mysteries and currently has four books out. Linking an eBook Series Using KDP CONGRATULATIONS! You have a book (or two, or three) in a series, published through Kindle Direct Publishing and available on Amazon, and you know your readers will want an easy way to find the rest of them, no matter what book they pick up first. The keyword in that sentence is, “easy.” Now that Indie Publishing has taken off, some experts estimate there are more than two million new books published every year. That’s a lot of books for a reader to wade through to find yours. Luckily, KDP anticipated the need and has developed a Series Page for authors to use to link books in a series. What’s more, it’s automatic. You don’t even have to set it up yourself.
Deep Dive into Description: Fairytale-Style Narrative
Fairytale has such a childish connotation, but bear with me on this. You don’t have to be an author of children’s books to get something from this post. I find that the best way to get better at something is to learn from the masters. I would love to sit down with any of these authors and learn all their secrets, but I doubt they would agree to meet with me. Even if they did, they cannot impart their years of toil upon me in a quick interview. That is best done by study.
Book Review: The Body in the Garden
I enjoy a good, classic murder mystery from time to time, so when The Body in the Garden showed up with a lovely looking cover on Netgalley, I snatched it up. I received this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. This book is different from most books I read for … Continue reading Book Review: The Body in the Garden
Book Review: Brightstorm
Maudie and Arthur were not only orphaned and sold to a cruel family, their father and their name was disgraced. The twins know their father didn't do what he was accused of doing and they are determined to become explorers like their father and clear his name. Maud is a brilliant engineer. Arthur loves to read and learn and discover. Of course, the children still hold hope that perhaps their father survived the expedition south. So when they get the opportunity to go on an expedition south, they jump at the chance to fulfill a life long dream and maybe even find their father, or at the very least, find out the truth of what happened on that trip.
Characters Through the Ages (Well, through 70 Years)
I hope you are all well! This week has been madness! As you know I'm a 6th grade English teacher. My school was on spring break. It got extended this week, but teachers were required to work from home. Wednesday we started to get information. Thursday we began frantically redesigning our lesson to go online … Continue reading Characters Through the Ages (Well, through 70 Years)
First Page Friday: Game Changer
This week has been Crazy with a capital C! Exam week at my middle school. Grades had to get finished and turned in. Kids were excited about the break. Oh so much fun! I’m sure your week was just as crazy. So needless to say I didn’t get First Page Friday up on Friday. Can’t … Continue reading First Page Friday: Game Changer
Lone Star Reading List 2020
The Texas Library Association puts out a Lone Star Reading list every year. They just released their 2020 list last week. I try to read as many of them as I can each year and I'm never disappointed! The books are selected by librarians across the state. The books are well written and highly engaging for teens and adults.
Book Review: The Invisible Library
The Invisible Library does not have a fancy cover but it is simple and elegant and I am a sucker for any book that has the word "library" in it. So I had to pick it up! And I'm so glad I did! This is not a YA book but I loved it none-the-less. Book Review: Irene is a junior librarian for THE Library. This library exists on its own, outside all the countless alternate worlds. Irene travels to different alternates on assignment to collect certain unique copies of books..occasionally, by any means necessary. Sometimes this is an easy task, sometimes not. For this mission, she must go into an alternate that is infested by Chaos. To make matters more complicated she has been assigned an apprentice that is keeping something from her.
Quill and Books 
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