That picture ---------> is from last weekend, when I received the five printed copies I'll use for in-house editing before I try to shop it out to publishers. Definitely a thrilling moment!!
I pursued a writing minor in college, and while I did a little creative writing (mainly poetry), I most enjoyed editing and business writing (grant writing, proposals, professional presentations). Novels weren't my "thing", or so I thought. Until very recently, I had spent basically *NO* time thinking about writing elements like pacing, character development, plot, and conflict. But now I'm playing catch-up.
Here are some links I've found helpful as I think about writing. I hope they also encourage you, whether you are a writer, or just a person who loves to learn about interesting things:
- My favorite of all? This tutorial by James Scott Bell-- I found it really REALLY helpful for developing and refining my novel. It's called "Novel Refining: Craft a Story Readers Can't Put Down."
- If you liked that, here's a good interview with the same guy, James Scott Bell. It's a segment of the show, "Bully Pulpit!" with Mark Joseph, and they have some interesting thoughts about writing fiction as a Christian.
- My favorite author of both fiction & non-fiction, Randy Alcorn: Why I Write Fiction, and Writing as Ministry First, Vocation Second
- Writer's Digest has some great material on YouTube (often only the first 6-8 minutes of a 30-minute tutorial they put out for purchase, but even those tips you can get for free are helpful)-- one example: 8 Things First-Time Novelists Need To Avoid
- 101 Writing Tips- a good list to browse and consider, especially after having written some of your story... it may help give you clarity about what *your* problem areas are (cause, as I'm learning, we all have them)
- You might want to Tell People You're Scrapbooking Instead
- Check out my writing Pinterest board for other links
Hope this is helpful for you. I always love pointing people in the direction of great resources!
5 comments:
Hey! I don't even know you, but I am excited for you! How fun to get published! Will there be copies on Amazon/for kindle? Am in Asia myself but it would be fun to read your first printed work!!
From Julie
www.simplicityandpurity.blogspot.com
That is a HUGE accomplishment for a mother of six children in the home! Wow! Congratulations. Our sixth baby is due August 10th, and I am counting the days. :)
how exciting!! I hope to read it one day!
What an awesome accomplishment and exciting time! I'm so happy for you! As an aspiring writer myself, I can only imagine the absolute thrill that it must be for you to hold your first book in your hands!
I love your blog, and I am still bumbling through this new world of blogging myself, but it has been such a pleasure reading yours! Congratulations, again!
So exciting! :) And inspiring! Can't wait to hear more or read it!
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