Finding the right blog can tremendously difficult. I'm extremely picky when it comes to customization and I will take days to create the right look. When playing Skyrim for the first time on PS3 I took about 30-40 minutes picking my characters looks, it was ridiculous, but in the end I was satisfied.
The same goes for this blog. I was shuffling through the pre made layouts here on the site and nothing screamed "PICK ME". I decided to search for others on the internet, but just when I thought it was the one, the preview proved differently.
After searching for two whole days, I finally decided to start from scratch. I chose the colors, font, background and extra widgets. Everything finally came together. Thought it isn't the greatest template, it's mine.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Comment of the Day
"Hi, I don't know if you remember me, but something happened, and I could not read your new chapter until today. I loved it! So much detail, and its absolutely exhilarating! I can't wait until more people find out about you. I will buy all your books, and when I become an adult, and start a family, I will pass them down. Every moment reading your work is full of excitement, and it makes me crave more. Keep writing the way you do."
Comment from wattpad. By THESOULLESSONE
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Veriloquent
Veriloquent: speaking truthfully; truthful
That's exactly how I want to write this blog. I won't hold back, nor will I sugar-coat anything for anyone's sake. These are my ramblings and my thoughts. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's move on.
To be honest I should have typed this out yesterday when my headache was at its prime. Words can't describe how hard my head was pounding, and I could only imagine what my publisher, MT, was going through. We plucked at my manuscript chapter by chapter, picking scenes that moved the story forward and stayed on the phone for roughly 2 hours working on each major plot point of Dragon Heir.
Now, at this point I realize something rather disturbing...I felt like I knew so little about my story.MY OWN STORY. It was a rather sad and disappointing thing for me at that moment. How could the book's own author barely know the what, where, when and why? Though in my defense, it had been months since I had looked over what I had written and to be quite honest even I'm appalled at the structure, grammar and dialogue of my first book. The more MT asked about my story, the more unsure I felt about it. He helped me quite a bit in these two hours and made me realize how much work this story needed.
When I first wrote it, I never intended for it to be published or even become remotely popular online. It was meant to help me pass the time since my leg was broken. Throughout the years i've always started stories, but would never make it past the 3rd chapter. There was something different about this one. It felt like i was supposed to write it. Though, I admit I'm kicking myself now for not outlining this story--for not creating a synopsis before actually writing it.
So, if you're reading this post and are thinking of starting a story, do the following:
Since I didn't do any of the above, I'm paying for it now. Using the word "Editing" would be too simple, more like "Revising" or "Re-writing". There's something else i've realized while going through the publication process. When going through these chapters and explaining what happens as well as why to someone else, I learned, is a tad embarrassing. When MT asks me questions about Dragon Heir, I actually feel my cheeks reddening at having to explain my magical world. It's just odd to hear it said aloud to another.
This journey won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it. I just have to keep my head up and i'll get through it with flying colors.
That's exactly how I want to write this blog. I won't hold back, nor will I sugar-coat anything for anyone's sake. These are my ramblings and my thoughts. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's move on.
To be honest I should have typed this out yesterday when my headache was at its prime. Words can't describe how hard my head was pounding, and I could only imagine what my publisher, MT, was going through. We plucked at my manuscript chapter by chapter, picking scenes that moved the story forward and stayed on the phone for roughly 2 hours working on each major plot point of Dragon Heir.
Now, at this point I realize something rather disturbing...I felt like I knew so little about my story.MY OWN STORY. It was a rather sad and disappointing thing for me at that moment. How could the book's own author barely know the what, where, when and why? Though in my defense, it had been months since I had looked over what I had written and to be quite honest even I'm appalled at the structure, grammar and dialogue of my first book. The more MT asked about my story, the more unsure I felt about it. He helped me quite a bit in these two hours and made me realize how much work this story needed.
When I first wrote it, I never intended for it to be published or even become remotely popular online. It was meant to help me pass the time since my leg was broken. Throughout the years i've always started stories, but would never make it past the 3rd chapter. There was something different about this one. It felt like i was supposed to write it. Though, I admit I'm kicking myself now for not outlining this story--for not creating a synopsis before actually writing it.
So, if you're reading this post and are thinking of starting a story, do the following:
Since I didn't do any of the above, I'm paying for it now. Using the word "Editing" would be too simple, more like "Revising" or "Re-writing". There's something else i've realized while going through the publication process. When going through these chapters and explaining what happens as well as why to someone else, I learned, is a tad embarrassing. When MT asks me questions about Dragon Heir, I actually feel my cheeks reddening at having to explain my magical world. It's just odd to hear it said aloud to another.
This journey won't be easy, but I know it will be worth it. I just have to keep my head up and i'll get through it with flying colors.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Silence of the Synopsis
First blog post on this. Apparently my publisher thinks it's best if I have one, so better get on that (my publisher can be pushy, but it's his job). Wonder if I should jump up in the air or begrudgingly type this. I think i'll go for something in the middle. Now, let's talk about something freakishly evil, that no author ever wants to do because it is downright annoying. What is it? A SYNOPSIS.
syn·op·sis /səˈnäpsis/
Noun
They define it so simply and user-friendly on the internet. Unfortunately, every author that has ever been or want to be apart of the publishing world has written one or will write one at some point.
It's inevitable and it's going happen.
Let's go through the checklist:
1.) Will it be fun? NO.
2.) It is easy? NO.
3.) Does involve lots of chocolate? HECK NO.
So why do publishers make us do it? There are a number of reasons. One of them is to check for plot holes in your story. Are there inconsistencies that need to be remedied? They ask questions like: Why does your character do this? How does the first part connect with the last? How does this particular scene aide in moving the plot forward? Whatever the reason they throw at you, they're not messing around. It may seem intrusive, or even downright blunt at times, but these are your publishers and they are here to help make your story the best it can be. Intrusiveness aside, they are both your best friend and worst enemy.
So, it's 12pm and i'm sitting in my room, harmlessly typing a chapter for DB. I've been procrastinating the synopsis for a long time (Yes, MT, I was procrastinating all this time). MT is my publisher, btw. Finally got to the point where it was just time for me to wo-MAN up and do it. But before that, let's rewind to our checklist. It wasn't going to be fun, easy, or get me any closer to free chocolate, but I had to do it.
It was time to write the synopsis!
I stared at the blinking line on my word document, wondering how I should start writing it. I had no idea. How do I fit 112,000 words onto two pages? Was it even possible? The first words I began writing was "There was a girl." How cliche was that? Completely unoriginal, but i said to myself Gem, just start writing! So I did. I just started typing the first paragraph and before I knew it I was on the second. After half a day wasted typing a few paragraphs and seamlessly jumping back and forth on internet tabs I had finished an entire first page. SUCCESS. I had finally hit a milestone in this writing journey. I had successfully completed the first page of my first synopsis. I felt like I was on top of the world. I stood up from the position I had been in for 5 hours and stretched.
Few seconds later I got a message from my publisher "Almost done?"
That's when I immediately jumped back onto the computer and furiously typed away at the second page. At 12:00am I finished typing my 2-page synopsis. It was done. I was done. It went over 1 paragraph, but at that point I didn't care because the nightmare was over. To be honest it feels like I exaggerated a bit on how excruciating I thought writing it was, but it certainly felt that way at the time. After you've written an entire book, every detail seems important and needs to be written into the synopsis, but it doesn't. Am I happy at how my first one turned out? No. What I am is satisfied, and that's all fine and good with me.
I'll probably--no, I WILL have to write one again eventually, but for now i'm proud, happy and a little fried that my first one is over with. Thanks for the push MT, I definitely needed it.
Till next time!
syn·op·sis /səˈnäpsis/
Noun
They define it so simply and user-friendly on the internet. Unfortunately, every author that has ever been or want to be apart of the publishing world has written one or will write one at some point.
It's inevitable and it's going happen.
Let's go through the checklist:
1.) Will it be fun? NO.
2.) It is easy? NO.
3.) Does involve lots of chocolate? HECK NO.
So why do publishers make us do it? There are a number of reasons. One of them is to check for plot holes in your story. Are there inconsistencies that need to be remedied? They ask questions like: Why does your character do this? How does the first part connect with the last? How does this particular scene aide in moving the plot forward? Whatever the reason they throw at you, they're not messing around. It may seem intrusive, or even downright blunt at times, but these are your publishers and they are here to help make your story the best it can be. Intrusiveness aside, they are both your best friend and worst enemy.
So, it's 12pm and i'm sitting in my room, harmlessly typing a chapter for DB. I've been procrastinating the synopsis for a long time (Yes, MT, I was procrastinating all this time). MT is my publisher, btw. Finally got to the point where it was just time for me to wo-MAN up and do it. But before that, let's rewind to our checklist. It wasn't going to be fun, easy, or get me any closer to free chocolate, but I had to do it.
It was time to write the synopsis!
I stared at the blinking line on my word document, wondering how I should start writing it. I had no idea. How do I fit 112,000 words onto two pages? Was it even possible? The first words I began writing was "There was a girl." How cliche was that? Completely unoriginal, but i said to myself Gem, just start writing! So I did. I just started typing the first paragraph and before I knew it I was on the second. After half a day wasted typing a few paragraphs and seamlessly jumping back and forth on internet tabs I had finished an entire first page. SUCCESS. I had finally hit a milestone in this writing journey. I had successfully completed the first page of my first synopsis. I felt like I was on top of the world. I stood up from the position I had been in for 5 hours and stretched.
Few seconds later I got a message from my publisher "Almost done?"
That's when I immediately jumped back onto the computer and furiously typed away at the second page. At 12:00am I finished typing my 2-page synopsis. It was done. I was done. It went over 1 paragraph, but at that point I didn't care because the nightmare was over. To be honest it feels like I exaggerated a bit on how excruciating I thought writing it was, but it certainly felt that way at the time. After you've written an entire book, every detail seems important and needs to be written into the synopsis, but it doesn't. Am I happy at how my first one turned out? No. What I am is satisfied, and that's all fine and good with me.
I'll probably--no, I WILL have to write one again eventually, but for now i'm proud, happy and a little fried that my first one is over with. Thanks for the push MT, I definitely needed it.
Till next time!
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