Tag: #Editing

Writing My Life Story #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 3, 2026

Have you included any of your major life events in your stories?

The easy answer is no.

I consider my life to be fairly boring, but other people are amazed by the variety of places I’ve lived and the number of jobs I held. Still, I don’t write about them. Not in my fiction, anyway. My poetry from twenty years ago is different. Even then, I fictionalized the moments being memorialized.

Still, there are hints of my life in my stories. There’s truth to the advice “write what you know.” That’s how I ended up with wolf shifters who were computer programmers and technicians. It’s your guess which of those I’ve known.

Then there’s Harmony, my librarian turned internet researcher. I’d considered being a librarian as my career, but life sent me a different direction. I don’t have any experience to explain Jake Hennessey’s experience in stealth. Not that I’d admit to, but the internet is a fine tool for research. 

 

So, although my books don’t portray any major event from my life, bits and pieces of the stories reflect moments of real life.

How about our other authors? Find out by following the links below.

As always, I hope y’all remain safe until the next time.

 

Have you included any of your major life events into your stories?

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The Way It Is #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 20, 2026

What are you working on right now? (as far as writing goes)

What’s going right? What’s going wrong?

I haven’t done much writing this weekend. Instead, I had a booth at the Waterford Heritage Festival, pushing my books. It wasn’t a great time. On Friday, we were under a cover of smoke from the Canadian fires. Saturday provided us with threats of thunderstorms, hail, and potential tornadoes. Obviously, we closed up early. All my books were returned to their plastic storage containers and stored under my table and several layers of tarp. Good thing, because the high winds and heavy rain broke the frame of my canopy. So, now it’s time to go shopping. (The old canopy was probably close to ten years old, and wearing out, anyway. The part that broke isn’t replaceable.)

As far as writing goes, I am deep in edits for my new book, The Edwards Investigations: The Donovan File. It’s my second or third edit, depending on how you want to count. I pulled 500 words out of a chapter a few days ago. It was the setup for scene that never happened. Maybe a different book in the future. I don’t have a cover or a blurb  yet, but they are on the agenda. Here’s a quick excerpt:

It wasn’t the first time that Annie sat on a curb waiting for the cops to interview her, but at least this time she didn’t wear handcuffs. In fact, she’d tucked her hands into her coat sleeves, keeping them warm from the January chill. A pile of crumbled tissues lay on the sidewalk beside her; she’d used them to scrub as much blood as possible from them.

I’m trading edits with Cornelia Amari, as she works on her own new book. We’ve been trading edits for years now. I don’t want to reveal her premise, but it’s a challenging project.

In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out what my next story will be. One of these days, I need to find the plot for another of the Free Wolves books. I’ve only started and rejected three beginnings. And I need at least one more addition to the Edwards Investigations series.

How about the other authors on this hop? What are you writing? Readers can find out by following the links below.

As always, until next we meet, please stay safe.

 

 

July 20, 2026

What are you working on right now? (as far as writing goes) What’s going right? What’s going wrong?

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A Picture Is Worth #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 8, 2026

Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing?

Or do you use paid photos?

When I first started writing blogs, ages ago, one of the first pieces of advice was to include illustrations. Back then, it could be hard for me to find a picture that wasn’t tied up in copyrights. It’s still hard depending on the topic, but not as hard as it used to be.

In forums along the way, I’ve come across several sites with royalty-free photos. I’ve lost track of some of them, and others shut down. That has left me with only two pages bookmarked.

The first is Pexels.com. It offers a mix of photos, drawings, and AI illustrations. It used to have a wide selection of illustrations, but these days it partners with IStock photos and the user needs to be careful about the pictures they choose.

The second is my favorite. Pixabay.com. It’s my go-to. It offers a wide selection of pictures and artists. Yes, users are requested to make a donation to the creator, but it’s not required. And pictures can be downloaded in different sizes, whichever fits the platform being used.

When it comes to covers, my cover artist uses paid photos. We’ve spent hours going through pictures, picking the perfect ones for her to use to create the design. Then she does her magic.

What sites do our authors use? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Goal Update! I did it! I have finished the first draft of the Donovan File, The Edwards Investigations. It took longer than I’d expected, but the it’s also longer than I’d plan. It ended up at just over 64,000 words. I’ll likely lose several thousand of those in my first attack at diting.

June 8, 2026

Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing? Or do you use paid photos?

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

 

Writing After Covid #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Feb 23, 2026

Looking back at the Covid years, did that time impact your current writing?

It’s only been a few years, but it feels like ancient history.

Like many writers, I am an introvert. (Well, mostly, depending on the circumstances.) The year and a half of working from home deepened my appreciation of that personality trait. In contrast, many of the extroverts from our office returned to work much sooner. It came as a shock to my system the first time we went out to a restaurant to eat after the quarantine was lifted.

How did that affect my writing?

I want to say it increased my speed, but that’s not true. Instead, I became more deliberate in my choice of words, which slowed me down. Editing became a fixation. I’m more concerned with writing the best words I can rather than as many as possible.

But I don’t know how much of that is because of Covid or all the changes in my life after the restrictions were lifted. Retiring, moving halfway across the country, my mother dying. Everything happened way to close together. The older I get, the more of a perfectionist I become when it comes to my writing.

Is the change in my writing style good or bad? It depends on what my current goal is. Right now, it’s bad. I’m trying to get the first draft of this book finished. Last week was a good week; this week not so much. (Too few words, and I’m not happy with the pace of the story. But I keep plugging away.) I’m debating whether I need the last 500 words at all. I thought I’d get it done by the end of this month, but don’t see it happening. Not if I keep getting rid of words!

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

How is everyone else doing?

Did Covid effect your writing? I’m looking forward to your answers. As regular readers know, you can join me by following the links below

As always, please stay safe until next time.

Goal update: I only made it to 39,000 words. I have several good excuses, but I haven’t forgiven myself yet.

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Editing Is Hard #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

I released my first book in 2014.

Of course, I had sent it through several online editors and a critique group before I published it. But it didn’t take long for a reader to find and point out the first error. Later, I heard about another one. And another. A reviewer said my primary female character winked too much. And they were right.

Luckily, it was fixable. I found enough instances of the word near the end of paragraphs to switch them out without reformatting an entire page or chapter. But it was a lesson I needed. But it also led me to pay more attention to overused words.

But editing is more than grammar and spelling.

There’s pacing and story flow and continuity. (Does the main character start with blue eyes and end with brown ones?) Don’t forget eliminating cliched phrases. {She released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.) Then there’s using the same uncommon word more that once, too close together. Let’s use the word metaphorical as an example. Used once, it’s interesting. Twice, it’s a little less gripping. Used three times close together, it loses its power.

As you can see, editing is hard. There’s always more to learn. And, no matter how many eyes look at the manuscript, an error can slip through.

What lessons have our other editors learned? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

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Writing and/or Revising #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Discuss: “Write the book you want to rewrite—

because most of writing is revising!

“Don’t agonize over every word in a first draft; that will only slow you down. Just write the story. Get it onto the page. Drafting is the stage where you capture the idea. Revising is where you figure out how to really tell the story well.” -Beth Kander, author of I Made It Out of Clay

When I started writing, I was a speed demon, throwing words on paper with little worry about their “rightness.” I just wanted to get the story in my head out of there and make room for more. And, as Kander notes, that meant those stories needed a lot of revision.

My earliest attempts didn’t result in what I consider publishable works. Not only was the writing stiff, but the stories themselves lacked merit. No number of revisions would fix them. One, I revised at least eight or nine times, including changing points of view, before finally giving up on it. Another, I started over from scratch after trying to revise it for a decade. (That resulted in Edwards Investigations: The Rimer File.) As I have said several times, the story wasn’t a revision of the first draft written long ago; it was a tribute.

My writing pace has slowed down in the past few years, and I suspect it’s because I can’t turn off my inner editor.

I struggle to find the right word – or a better word – or a better word than that – as I write. (Last night I spent 15 minutes deciding if I should use ghost, haunt, or haint.)  I worry about the order of sentences. I stress whether the story is going in the right direction, or if I need to go back and add a scene or take away a paragraph. Little things that I might not catch in a revision bother me. I have to go back and change them. Big things might never get written if I think they won’t work out.

And yes, I know what the advice is, not only from Kander and others. Write first and then spend the time in revisions. But editing as you go can be a hard habit to break.

Even writing these blogs takes me what I consider to be too long. I don’t want to come off like I know it all. I don’t. Not even close. At the same time, I want to be an encouragement to other writers. We’re all reaching for the same goal – to get our words seen by as many readers as possible.

I worry too much.

About getting things perfect, although I know I won’t. I want my words to mean something. To me, at least, and hopefully to others.

So, I suspect I will continue writing at a snail’s pace. It’s frustrating. And satisfying when I pull together a line that sings. It happens once in a while.

How about the others on this hop? How do they interpret this quote? Check out their posts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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March 17, 2025

Discuss: “Write the book you want to rewrite—because most of writing is revising! Don’t agonize over every word in a first draft; that will only slow you down. Just write the story. Get it onto the page. Drafting is the stage where you capture the idea. Revising is where you figure out how to really tell the story well.” -Beth Kander, author of I Made It Out of Clay

Pushing Publish Too Soon #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Aug 19, 2024

Have you ever regretted ‘hitting publish’ on a work realizing you could have done more or tweak something to make it an absolute banger?

It was never an issue in the Dark Ages when I wrote poetry. Back then, publishing meant sending typewritten copies on higher-quality paper by snail mail to magazines or other paper publications. If I was lucky, they’d send the copies back along with the all-too-often rejection slip in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope. The advent of home computers and printers made life so much easier.

I’m always excited to get new work out to my readers.

Now, getting it out ‘too soon’ is another question. With my books, they get seen by so many eyes that I’m confident in releasing them. Sure, there are always tweaks that can be made, but once a book has made it all the way through the process, I like to leave it alone. It’s like setting a butterfly free. You wish it love as it flutters away.

I made small changes to The Marquesa’s Necklace after publishing it. A reviewer mentioned a word that was overused. They were right, and the changes were easy. It didn’t change the story at all. That’s the only time I’ve changed the contents of a book after release. (Covers don’t count.)

My blog is different. I normally write it a day before releasing it. I hit the publish button for this hop just before going to bed on Sunday evenings. Then, as I drift off to sleep, I’m thinking of all the minor changes I should have made or things I could have said. If I remember them in the morning, I can easily add them. (If I remember!)

Social Media posts are different playing field.

I often regret my infrequent comments on social media. Not because of the content, but due to the frequent typos I make, that I don’t spot until after I’ve pushed the arrow. Thank heavens for the ability to edit them. But it bothers me knowing other people have seen the errors.

I work hard to keep my actual posts on social media typo-free. I wait longer and triple-check my work before I publish them. If all else fails, I’m able to delete them and start over.

How about the other authors on this hop? Do they ever regret pushing the publish button? Find out by checking out the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Aug 19, 2024

Have you ever regretted ‘hitting publish’ on a work realizing you could have done more or tweak something to make it an absolute banger?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Getting Feedback On A Work In Progress #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Aug 5, 2024

At which stage in the writing process do you seek feedback?

And from whom?

Most often, writing is a solitary occupation. Editing, on the other hand, is better done by several sets of eyes. Feedback, in a general sense, can be done at any step.

I know authors who have a trusted partner they can turn to for advice at a moment’s notice. When I first started writing years ago, I had one of those. But life interfered with that relationship. So, I prefer to finish the first draft and at least one round of edits before seeking outside suggestions for revisions.

Where do I get my feedback?

Here’s where I get to pay homage to my long-time critique partner, Cornelia Amari, the author of 76 books. We met through a Yahoo group, back in the days when those were a thing. That was ten years ago. We’ve traded encouragement and feedback since then. She’s been a great mentor.

I also use Critique Circle, an online community, to get more eyes on my drafts. Although I may not have the same people stick with me through an entire manuscript, as a whole, I get valuable insight into each chapter.  The upside is that I receive input from around the globe. The downside is that it’s a long process to get an entire book through the forum a chapter or two at time. The people who do the critiques don’t see each other’s ideas, and that insures I get a fresh point of view from each.

I started using a professional editor a few manuscripts ago for a final check and to polish my writing. I’ve used Angela Pryce, author of The Devil’s Caress, but sadly, she isn’t available for my current work-in-progress. Instead, I’m contracting with Horus Copyedit and Proofreading.

Final feedback

Of course, the final feedback comes in the form of sales and the always-important customer reviews. So please, when you enjoy a book, please let the author know. 

What do the other authors on this hop do for feedback? Just follow the links below to find out.

As always, until the next time, please stay safe.

Aug 5, 2024

At which stage in the writing process do you seek feedback and from whom?

 

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Favorite Word Processing Software #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
 
The awesome co-hosts for the  July 3 posting of the IWSG are JS Pailly, Rebecca Douglass, Pat Garcia, Louise-Fundy Blue, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 3 question – What are your favorite writing processing (e.g. Word, Scrivener, yWriter, Dabble), writing apps, software, and tools? Why do you recommend them? And which one is your all time favorite that you cannot live without and use daily or at least whenever you write?

 
The first word processing software I used was Novell’s WordPerfect. (Does anyone use it anymore?) That was back in the late 80s/early 90s, when Microsoft programs didn’t rule the world. It was an easy move to Microsoft Word and the rest of the Office Suite when I switched jobs. With all the changes since then, Microsoft has turned Word into more than a simple letter-writing tool.
 
But they also changed the payment model. Unless you purchase a stripped down-version, you pay to use it either monthly or yearly. 
 
No, thank you. That’s why I use LibreOffice, free software that emulates all the basic functionality of Word. Yes, enough of the commands are different to beat copyright claims, but it’s easy to learn.
 

I have another choice for editing.

 
While LibreOffice is great for a first draft, it doesn’t have all the editing functionality as Word. I have another favorite for that. I’ve tried Hemingway, Grammarly, and several others. The one I settled on was ProWritingAid. The free version was useful, but the full version made a big difference. And I received a lifetime subscription as a Christmas present.
 
One caveat: I’ve noticed more errors getting through ProWritingAid in my current editing. I don’t know if I’ve messed up a setting somewhere or what, but I need to check into it.
 
So, that’s what I use. I’ve used both in the writing of this post. I’m making bets on what the most popular answers will be. Check out a few of the other answers by following the links below.
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Celebrating A Writing Achievement #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book


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.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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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?