July 22, 2024
How do you determine where to end a chapter?
A chapter is as long as the chapter needs to be.
That’s the best piece of advice I’ve ever received in terms of how long to make my chapters.
I’ve seen chapters as short as two pages and others so long I have no idea how many pages they were. My typical chapter falls in between.
The first books I wrote, I didn’t stop for chapters. I just started at the beginning and didn’t stop until I reached the end. Then I went back and figured out where I needed to make breaks. Frankly, that wasn’t an efficient process.
It also didn’t work out to start a new chapter each time I started a new scene. The length of scenes is often far too short. Breaking it up that way makes the story choppy. I’ve settled on using section breaks for those as denoted by something like *****.
That still doesn’t answer the question of how I know when to end a chapter.
The first few chapters in The Marquesa’s Necklace came in at around 2000 words when they reached a natural stopping point. It seemed like a sign, so I aimed for each one to be around that length. Since the stories in that series were more lighthearted, the shorter breaks felt like they fit the book better. I wanted readers to be able to read it in short bursts. (Or devour it in one sitting if they feel so inclined.)
But short doesn’t work for The Edwards Investigations. So, the chapters are each more that 3000 words. Nowhere near the 81,200 word chapter in the Memory Of Light, the last book in the Wheel of Time series. Shoot, the entire story isn’t that long.
That still doesn’t answer the question.
How do I know where to end a chapter?
I’ve worked with some authors who attempt to start and finish a minor story within a chapter, with the end of the chapter being a natural end to the mini-plot. I don’t work like that. Although I don’t write cliffhangers at the end of a book, that’s how I like to end a chapter.
How do you determine where to close a chapter? I try to end with a hook, something to get the audience to turn the page and keep reading. Or be ready to pick it up again as soon as possible. Sometimes, finding that moment is a battle. Other times, I recognize it as I write it.
But I don’t make the rules. How do the other authors on this hop know when to end a chapter? Follow the links below to find out.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
July 22, 2024
What Does Your Pet Think? #OpenBook Blog Hop
July 15, 2024
Kelly Williams’ dog wants to know: “Why does she spend so much time at the computer and not scratching my ears?’ What does your pet want to know? (If you don’t have a pet, feel free to make up an answer.)
I’ve always been ‘pet adjacent.’
Of all the pets we’ve had over the years, none of them have been ‘mine.’ The dogs, the cats, the birds, the fish – none of them were mine. Even if I was the one responsible for most of their care, somehow they were more attached to other family members. (Except the fish. They lived in a small pond in the yard and didn’t really care who fed them. I can only guess what they thought.)
We currently have two cats in the house. Both are my daughter’s. They ignore me most of the time, and rarely even beg for food. (They will ask my husband!) I have no clue what they think of me. So, this is strictly a figment of my imagination.
We’ll call the cats Calico (Cal) and Tuxedo (Tux). They are rarely in the same room at the same time, so this conversation takes place over long periods as they wander from one place to another.
Cal: (As they change places on the cat tree) She’s still at it.
Tux: (Stretching) Staring at those light boxes?
Cal: Yeah. Does she ever get out of her chair?
Tux: (Later) Well, she played lifeguard when the noisy little humans were taking a bath outside (playing in the pool) and scaring off the birds you like to watch.
Cal: At least she’s good for something besides cleaning up our poop.
Tux: (Curling up on the bed) She feeds everyone else.
Cal: (Later) They ate. Time to go hunt for crumbs. And chase a fly. ‘Cause she’s staring at those light boxes again.
Tux: (Licking her paws) She’ll never even notice.
That’s how I imagine it.
The cats can deal with me as long as I stay out of their way. And I can put up with them, so it’s a fair trade.
I’m looking forward to hearing from other authors’ pets. Just check the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
July 15, 2024
Kelly Williams’ dog wants to know: “Why does she spend so much time at the computer and not scratching my ears?’ What does your pet want to know? (If you don’t have a pet, feel free to make up an answer.)
Support From The Ones I Love #OpenBook Blog Hop
July 8, 2024
What kind of support do you receive (or not receive) from family, friends, and your community?
None of my books have made it into a top 100 list on release day.
No matter how long I stare at it, I can’t get the bar on the sales chart to go higher on a book release day. It makes me wonder who among my large family hasn’t bothered to buy a copy. But support comes in many ways.
But I’ve been lucky. Many of you already know that my sister (one of four) is my cover artist. She also helps me with other graphic needs. Of course, she gets a free copy of the print book. I’ll also give her credit and thanks for helping me hunt for new venues to sell my books. My dear hubby puts up with me ignoring him when I’m deep in writing mode and encourages me to keep at it.
Before I retired, the team I worked with liked to tease me about my books-but in a ‘fun’ way. A few of them even bought physical copies. Of course, those sales don’t show up on sales chart.
Since moving, I’ve had to rebuild a local community. I haven’t been able to locate a local writers’ group, (The nearest one is 30 miles away on 2-lane curvy roads, which I don’t want to drive after dark. In the snow. Uphill both ways.) I have met other authors at events, but none of them have ‘clicked’ as far as a continuing relationship. So, I’m leaning heavily on the connections I make on-line.
But there’s an upside.
I’ve sold my books at several local events and have a new (if small) fan base. I found out one of my brothers buys print copies of my books even if he doesn’t read them. My boss (I’m working a part-time job) gives me all the days off I need to attend events.
Then there’s this group. It helps to keep me focused, and hearing how everyone else deals with the writing life is encouragement in my journey. Even with oceans between us, we’re in this together.
So, I have lots of support.
It may not be pushing me to the top of the charts, but it helps me to keep trying.
How about the other authors on this hop? Do they have a support system? Find out by following the links below.
And, as always, please stay safe until next time.
July 8, 2024
What kind of support do you receive (or not receive) from family, friends, and your community?
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Celebrating A Writing Achievement #OpenBook Blog Hop
July 1, 2024
Do you have a special way of celebrating when you finish writing a book?
Or other achievements in your journey? How do you reward yourself?
The day when you write ‘The End.’ Or send your manuscript off to your editor. Have your first look at the cover. Hold a print copy of the book for the first time. All of those are achievements are worth celebrating. How do you do it?
I’ve heard of authors going out to dinner, or enjoying their choice of an alcoholic beverage. Perhaps a bouquet of fresh flowers graces their desk. Some will take a vacation from writing to allow their muse to have a break.
But I’m not good at rewarding myself. I put so much energy into taking care of other people that I don’t leave enough for me. Yes, I know better, but don’t always practice what I preach.
How do I reward myself?
Sometimes I remember I deserve to celebrate, too. My reward? Dark chocolate. Not your standard, every day chocolate, but the pricey stuff. (Not the over-the-top, break-the-bank expensive variety. I have my limits.) A few pieces go a long way. I’m low-maintenance.
The other way I reward myself is with flowers. Not cut ones, but potted ones for outside. (I only plant a few shrubs because I have to protect them from the local deer.) I allow myself to splurge in the spring. The flowers may only last a season, but they bring me happiness every day for those few months. There’s no landscaping plan. I just buy whatever flowers catch my eye when we go shopping.
Now, these rewards aren’t tied to a specific event. I don’t keep a stash of chocolate handy waiting for am opportunity to celebrate an achievement. My willpower isn’t strong enough to keep me from raiding any chocolate I have tucked away. (Unless I bought it for a specific holiday. Then my ability to ignore the goodies is amazing.)
But back to celebrating my writing achievements.
A simple post on Facebook may be the only public acknowledgement I share. And that won’t be seen by more than a handful of people. I’m not good at all the publicity stuff.
How about the other authors on this hop? Do they reward themselves for their accomplishments, no matter how small? Find out by following the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
July 1, 2024
Do you have a special way of celebrating when you finish writing a book? Or other achievements in your journey? How do you reward yourself?
Favorite Film Genre and Favorite Book Genre #OpenBook Blog Hop
June 24, 2024
Does your favorite genre of film correspond with the genre you write in?
I can’t answer this question, because I don’t have a favorite genre of film.
If I had to pick one, it would be sci-fi. I enjoyed the Star Wars and Star Trek films. Even the Marvel films I’ve watched entertained me. (But I haven’t seen all of them.) Sci-Fi is also one of my favorite genres of books.
But as I’ve mentioned before, sci-fi is a genre I’ve never attempted to write. I don’t feel confident enough in my writing skills to make the attempt. Shoot, I felt like I was pushing it when I placed The Rise of Jake Hennessey twenty years in the future.
My favorite genre to write?
Mysteries. I love creating a puzzle that needs to be solved, and then writing all kinds of red herrings to throw the reader off. I may not even know the answer to the mystery until I get close to the end of the story. (Yes, I am a pantser. I don’t have my book plotted out before I start writing.)
But I can’t tell you the last movie I watched that was a mystery. There are plenty of TV shows that are mysteries, but movies? Maybe on streaming services, but in theatres? They may exist, but I don’t see any ads or hear any ‘buzz’ for them. (I’ve got mad skills for ignoring advertising, and I don’t watch TV.)
I also write urban fantasy/paranormal.
And I’ve never seen the Twilight movies. (Or read the books.) Same goes for The Hunger Games. I’ve read numerous other urban fantasy books, but the genre crosses into sci-fi, so that makes sense.
Let’s find out what genres of film the other authors on this hop claim as their favorite, by following the links below. (Most links will show up on Monday.)
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
June 24, 2024
Does your favorite genre of Film correspond with the one genre you write in?
An Under-Appreciated Novel #OpenBook Blog Hop
June 17, 2024
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
You’d think this would be an easy topic to write.
I could pick any random book and no one would know the difference. There are many books out there that are deserving of additional attention. But me, being the occasional perfectionist, put way too much thought into the answer. Which book should I choose? Assuming, of course, that picking one of mine is out of the question.
I didn’t want to choose anything from a well-known author, even if it was one of their lesser-known works. Classics are out of the running, of course, or they wouldn’t be a classic. Ten years ago, Craig Johnson of Longmire fame might have fit the requirement, but after the TV series gained him fame, and his writing went downhill, he no longer makes the grade.
But I don’t want to ignore any of the friends I’ve made through writing.
Including ones who have taken part in this hop. That list is long and varied. How can I choose only one? I’m going to take the easy way out and highlight two. I suspect I’ve mentioned both of them on this blog previously.
Cornelia Amiri: A Moonless Night Note: Cornelia and I have traded beta reads and critiques. When I read the first draft chapter of this story, my response was this was the best damn writing she’d ever done. Many of her books draw heavily from Celtic myths, and this was no exception. But she used the story of Dylan, a sea god, to highlight the issue of child abuse, while writing following her normal plot of a romance between a god and a human.
You can check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Moonless-Night-Hope-Swims-Darkest-ebook/dp/B07GCPG23Z
Angela Pryce: The Devil’s Caress I don’t remember how I was introduced to this book. Angela and I were both scheduled at a book signing, (along with lots of other authors) but due to car problems, she didn’t make it. But we started chatting on-line, and I bought the book. At least, I think that’s what happened.
Anyway, I loved the story. It blurs the lines between good and evil in the name of love. I loved it enough that when Angela started to do line editing, I hired her. She’s edited each of my books since then. You can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Caress-Angela-Pryce-ebook/dp/B07QHZ5H6Z
I look forward to seeing what books the other authors on this hop post. You can check them out by following the links below. (Most of them will show up throughout the day on Monday.)
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
June 17, 2024
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Good, Bad, And Ugly of Ghost Writers #OpenBook Blog Hop
June 10, 2024
Ghostwriters. Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Her name is Priscilla.
She hangs out in the spare bedroom at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Other times she’s off somewhere, gossiping with the house goddess, Penelope. When she settles in come evening time, the rays of the setting sun caused create a glow around her silver-white hair, styled in a loose bun. She helped me pick out the new color for the front stairs, a deep purple. She also picked out some of the artwork I hung on the walls.
So far, she hasn’t revealed when she moved into this 100-year-old house, or any of the stories she has to tell. But I’m not in a hurry. I figure we have a decade or more to spend together. I can wait.
Oh, not that kind of ghost writer. Sorry, Priscilla, making you the star of a post will have to wait. Have another cup of tea. Peach, this time?
Now on to ghostwriters of the living kind. Let’s start with the bad (and ugly.)
I hate picking up a book by a favorite author to discover that the writing style is nothing like previous stories by that writer. Sometimes the ‘partner’ author is listed, other times not. I don’t mind as much when the joint venture is listed up front. When it’s not disclosed, I feel cheated.
Then there’s the concept of a ghostwriter for a celebrity’s book. It’s well-known they aren’t spending the time to type out their stories and perfecting them to make them readable. The publisher is using the celebrity’s name as the selling point. It has nothing to do with the quality of the writing. The person who is doing the actual writing earns little to no recognition, and is normally paid a contracted amount, without regard to how many books are sold.
But there is a good side.
“Normal’ people may want to leave the legacy of their life story to their family, but don’t have the skills to document it. Their view of the war they served in. Or how they earned and lost a fortune selling drugs. They may be your neighbor or the nurse at the hospital. They have no desire to sell the book commercially, but want to make sure their tales are not lost to the winds of time, at least not immediately. Hiring a ghostwriter is their shot at making that dream happen. As an added bonus, the writer receives extra income that may support their creative endeavors.
Now, I’ve never given ghostwriting a shot, because I’m busy enough trying to write my own stories. But some of the authors on this hop may have. Will they tell us about it? Find out by following the links below.
Anyway, until next time, please stay safe.
What’s that, Priscilla? Penelope is out of Earl Grey? (Sigh) I’ll add it to my grocery list.
June 10, 2024
Ghost Writers. Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Because You Can’t Do it #OpenBook Blog Hop
June 3, 2024
What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve been lucky.
No one has ever told me that my work is so bad I should stop writing entirely. Sure, I’ve had my share of critiques and criticism, but those I can take time to consider if they help me improve,
Plus, I’ve developed a fairly thick skin. It’s gotten easier to nod politely and ignore baseless harsh words. On line, where no one can see my face, I’m free to display my reaction and delete the email or close the web page. Not as satisfying as slamming down an old-fashioned phone receiver, but not bad.
As a result, I can’t tell you the worst advice I’ve received. It’s been wiped from my brain and replaced with encouraging words.
But the journey hasn’t been all roses and sunshine.
Many years ago, when poetry was my passion, I wrote a poem detailing the mix of emotions I felt when leaving on a solo trip. A fellow poet, whose opinion I respected, commented it needed more humor. It wasn’t supposed to be funny. Yes, I gave up on that piece, but that was around the same time that poetry gave up on me.
The move to fiction was made without consulting anyone. There was no one to tell me I couldn’t succeed. I didn’t rely on advice from anyone-I just did it.
Bad writing advice? I’m sure I’ve received it, but tuned it out. On the other hand, I’ve heard plenty of marketing advice that didn’t work for me. But then, there are plenty of authors in the same boat. What works for marketing is short-lived and changes constantly. But that’s a topic for another post.
I know that some of the authors on this hop haven’t been as lucky as me. Check out their stories by following the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
June 3, 2024
What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Reading Not Editing #OpenBook Blog Hop
May 27. 2024
How do you turn off your internal editor when you are reading for enjoyment?
Every author knows how hard it is to spot the mistakes in a first draft—or a final one.
And how easy it is to spot mistakes in the books you are reading. It’s a hard habit to break, looking for those misplaced commas and typos. I’ve stopped trying. Instead, I use them as a moment to hug myself and say, “See, it happens to other people, too.” (Especially in the case of big-name and best-selling authors.) With that, I can move along and not let it interfere with the pleasure of reading.
Now, that’s for minor mistakes. Like we talked about last week, many errors create a different scenario. I can’t overcome those and will stop reading.
It’s not just reading.
My internal editor is finely tuned to pick up missteps in other forms of communication. My ears pick up on bad grammar in TV shows and commercials. (If I happen to walk by the TV when my husband is watching.) Even you-tube videos can be a target. Of course, those can be research for dialogue in my writing.
So, I don’t think my internal editor ever turns off. I even edit my dreams. (You know, getting half-awake, going back to sleep, and dreaming the same dream but making it change.)
How do other authors do it? Find out by following the links below to more posts. Not seeing any? Check back. Most of them show up on Monday.
FYI, next weekend (June 1&2) I’ll be selling books at the 3 Rivers ComicCon in Pittsburgh PA. If you’re in the area, come by and say hi! As always, until we get together again (in person or on-line), please stay safe.
May 27. 2024
How do you turn off your internal editor when you are reading for enjoyment?
I Used To Take Pride In Finishing Every Book I Started. #OpenBook Blog Hop
May 20, 2024
What determines whether or not you finish a book you’re reading? Do you review books you didn’t finish?
I used to take pride in finishing every book I started.
That doesn’t happen anymore. If an author spends the first three chapters of a book describing a world, with paragraph after paragraph of nothing but description of scenery, chances are I won’t wade all the way through. If there are major grammatical and spelling errors, it pushes my buttons. Then there’s terrible storytelling. Many of us have experienced that. I used to ignore everything and skim, not read, all the way to the last page. (No, I won’t be naming names.)
But somewhere along the way, I decided I don’t have time for that. There are so many good books waiting to be to read, why waste my time on bad ones?
I’ve made exceptions for authors I’ve enjoyed in the past, but the current book doesn’t feed my soul or mind, hoping that it will get better. Or deciding I’ve outgrown an author. This usually happens in a series, when I don’t see any real growth in the characters, and I stop following the story.
Do I write them reviews?
Bad books? In short, no.
I refuse to review books that deserve a one or two star rating. (If I haven’t finished reading them, I won’t review them!) Chances of me writing a three star review are slim. Heck, sometimes I feel bad giving a deserved four stars. I want to encourage other authors, especially indies or those with small presses. Shoot, I worry about pointing out obvious typos in a non-critique setting. (Yes, I hope someone will let me know if I’ve made a typo that has been missed by my editor.)
By the way, I struggle with writing reviews almost as much as I struggle with book blurbs. Yes, I know all I have to say is that I loved the book, but I can’t do it! I have to write more.
If you follow this blog, you know the drill. This is where I tell you to go check the other authors on this hop by following the links below.
And, as always, please stay safe until the next time!
What determines whether or not you finish a book you’re reading? Do you review books you didn’t finish?