Rewrite

Now that everyone has finished the writing marathon, you’re probably all thinking a lot about revisions…RIGHT?

Maybe that’s just me.
Anyway! One thing I struggle most with are revisions. I can bust out a novel in a few months, but when it comes to revisions I drag and drag and drag my feet.

Today I have a few little writing tips for revisions that have helped me, and may help you, too!

Cut distractions! 
Yesterday I decided I couldn’t be on facebook anymore. It’s too distracting. I can spend hours on there, just reading nonsense. Not to mention, I read my first “fake news” article! I nearly died of a heart attack when I did. And no one needs that. So I have deactivated my account until I’m done revising my books.

Read your work aloud. 
See if you can get your boyfriend, or girlfriend, or husband, or dog, to listen to you read your revised work. When I’m revising I do this, and it actually does help a lot.

Write notes and comments to yourself, and then organize those notes and comments. 
If your’e anything like me, you write a lot of notes to yourself and a million comments. When I first started doing this, I would lose track of a comment here, or a note there. Lately though, I’ve been trying to keep everything more organized. It’s made revising so much easier.

Get someone else to read your work.
Maybe something you just wrote needs a revision, but you’re not sure where to start. Get someone else to read. Having fresh eyes is one of the best things you can have when working on a story. You don’t always need to do this after a first draft, but it certainly can’t hurt.

Please share your own tips in the comments below! 
And also, it sounds like we’re going to be having a potluck soon! Keep an eye out for more details.

Weekend Trouble

This weekend really knocked me down a couple (writing) notches. Then I got sick yesterday, and that didn’t help.

But today I’m back in the game!
I’ve almost made a habit out of writing every day. And that’s the point, right?
Right!
Let’s keep it up.

Author Interview: Julie Shepard

 

As a child of the 70’s, Julie’s writing career began on a Smith Corona typewriter, where she hammered out terrible short stories about dog catchers and homicidal identical twins who conspire to get away with murder.
Julie knows that success as a writer is a goal no one can achieve alone, which is why she is actively involved in the writing community—attending conferences and workshops, meeting with fellow SCBWI members for a monthly critique group, and holding various committee positions for YARWA. While her sons have already flown the coop, Julie and her husband still occupy their own slice of paradise in South Florida.

You have an awesome new book out called ROSIE GIRL. Can you tell us about it?How you came up with the idea?
Psychological suspense with an unexpected twist! For me, a story unfolds slowly and unpredictably, so the idea took shape over time.

Tell us about your experience getting into publishing. How long did it take you?
Can “forever” be my answer? Because that’s what it feels like. I queried my first novel about fourteen years ago.

What writing advice do you have for someone trying to breakout in the market?
Study the craft of novel writing. Read every book you can, in multiple genres. Network with other writers. And this was the hardest part for me: Share your writing. It’s the only way you’ll really get a sense of how it appeals (or doesn’t) to others.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Anything outside! (Although I do write outside, too, so I guess I should give another answer.) Yoga, reading, long walks with my husband, and lounging in the pool or ocean when the water is warm enough.

Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what’s your playlist like?
Never! Need it fairly quiet to work.

Everyone writes about people they know. Who shows up in your books over and over?
The bad boy!

What are you working on now?
A murder mystery!

Where can we find out more about you and your new book?
http://www.julieshepard.net

Just FYI…

I’ll be doing a little twitter interview tonight at 7pm with Utah Books.

You can find more info at: http://utahbooks.blogspot.com/

HAPPY WRITING, EVERYONE!