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Post by thatwritergal on Sept 27, 2018 3:00:31 GMT
Argh, my brain stalled. I had planned to write a novella themed trilogy after finishing my fall book but now I may have to kick it in the butt to get it working. Does anyone else have this problem after finishing and releasing a book? My brain doesn't seem to want to return from its vacation.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Sept 27, 2018 3:14:33 GMT
I always need a break in between books and so far mine have all been short stories.  It might help if you had a pre-writing process, one that you went through at the beginning of each new project that just tells your brain, okay, it's time to be creative now. You would have to decide on what sort of process would work for you. It needn't be super structured. Maybe think about where you were and what you were doing when you first started work on the last book? For me, when I need to get inspired I have my playlist on my ipod. It has all of my story songs on it, and when I need to get back into that head space I listen to my music and it always re-inspires me. I guess that's my trigger. |
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Post by thatwritergal on Sept 27, 2018 3:43:12 GMT
That's a good idea. Thanks K. That's certainly better than waiting to be inspired. I may grab some similar movies to my story and also dig up a beat sheet. Maybe that will help my brain find it's own trigger. :-) If that doesn't work, I may have to bring out the whip aka Write or Die and drag it kicking and screaming. hee hee
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Sept 27, 2018 5:18:36 GMT
That's a good idea. Thanks K. That's certainly better than waiting to be inspired. I may grab some similar movies to my story and also dig up a beat sheet. Maybe that will help my brain find it's own trigger. :-) If that doesn't work, I may have to bring out the whip aka Write or Die and drag it kicking and screaming. hee hee That's the spirit!!! |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Sept 27, 2018 19:13:20 GMT
Today, I am nearing the end of deleting all non tuok files. But I'm sad because it looks like I'm only going to be left with a thousand and change files. I started with like 13,000, I think. Don't remember. None of those were tuok so were just in the way or were copies. Due to my amazing organizational structure I usually have anywhere from 2 to 1,000 copies of each file. I have done this like 70-jillion times already, so I'm pretty good at it. But this time is the final time and we are going to make it passed the next step. (sunshiney smiles of confidence and good intentions). ETA: step one complete. I was left with 1,962 tuok files. Now for a break before I start on step two, which is going through everything, sorting it all out in an easy to discover way and deleting all of the copies. Over half of these files are also copies saved under different names or long hundred-page copy/pastes. I will be left with much less once step two is done, but it will all be good, usable, unique content which I can use to build my universe. So it will be worth it. ETA 2: decided to start with my hugest file, which is 38,000 kb. I'm not sure if any of my word processors will be able to open it. OOPS. What's funny is that this file is larger than my "everything in one" file. And I had a heck of a time trying to work with that one, too. Any tips on working with huge word docs? |
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Post by beaker on Sept 30, 2018 0:04:15 GMT
Yesterday I got yet another review on one of my books saying something like, "I liked this book but not the ending." The truth finally got through to me. These people weren't just deluded or being mean. There was a problem with my ending, but I didn't know what it was. So this morning I read the "Endings" chapter of "Plot & Structure" by James Scott Bell. I think I understand endings better now. It's not enough to just stop and say, "The End," apparently.
I spent almost the whole rest of today rewriting that ending. The book is now 2000 words shorter. I wish I could reply to all those people who wrote reviews about my ending and tell them to check out the new one, but I know that replying to reviews is an absolute no-no. I'll just have to upload the new version and hope some more positive reviews come in sooner or later.
How do other people deal with rewriting and republishing their books - if you do that? Do you ever rewrite your books because of reviews?
I liked this example of a great ending from "Catcher in the Rye" that Bell gives: "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody."
I know my ending isn't as profound as that one, but I think it works as the ending to my book. Now to see what reviewers think. :/
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Sept 30, 2018 0:46:33 GMT
Yesterday I got yet another review on one of my books saying something like, "I liked this book but not the ending." The truth finally got through to me. These people weren't just deluded or being mean. There was a problem with my ending, but I didn't know what it was. So this morning I read the "Endings" chapter of "Plot & Structure" by James Scott Bell. I think I understand endings better now. It's not enough to just stop and say, "The End," apparently. I spent almost the whole rest of today rewriting that ending. The book is now 2000 words shorter. I wish I could reply to all those people who wrote reviews about my ending and tell them to check out the new one, but I know that replying to reviews is an absolute no-no. I'll just have to upload the new version and hope some more positive reviews come in sooner or later. How do other people deal with rewriting and republishing their books - if you do that? Do you ever rewrite your books because of reviews? I liked this example of a great ending from "Catcher in the Rye" that Bell gives: "Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." I know my ending isn't as profound as that one, but I think it works as the ending to my book. Now to see what reviewers think. :/ If you log into your KDP account and click community then contact down at the bottom, then on book details, followed by update a published book, it will give you a form letter to ask amazon to alert buyers of an update. Share the reviews complaining about the ending and explain you changed the ending to give readers a better customer experience, and they will probably alert your buyers. Kindle owners must have updates turned on, or remember to look for them, but it's one option. Another is to edit the book description to say "all new ending" or maybe even "at the readers request an all new ending." Don't forget to update website, email list, and social media as well. Use the opportunity to pimp your book again. Maybe even write a blog post, tumblr, fb note, or medium post/youtube video explaining what you learned about endings, and pimp your book at the end. I have 2 books I've unpublished to seriously overhaul and add to TUOK. Their evolution will be part of my branding story.  |
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Post by beaker on Sept 30, 2018 1:12:39 GMT
Thanks K'Sennia. Those are some great ideas. I knew there was a way Amazon can alert buyers of a new version, but I couldn't figure out how to convince them from reading their info on KDP. I'll try it tomorrow when I upload the new version and change the book description. Good luck with your rewrites too. Rewriting is a tough job, I know. This isn't the first time I rewrote this book and parts of my other books. Another recent review said something like, "good job fixing problems from the last version, but there's still some things you need to fix (did not tell me what the things were). Keep at it, you'll get there." I think this will be its last rewrite for a while though. |
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Post by corabuhlert on Sept 30, 2018 4:22:10 GMT
I finally finished the endless chapter of fight scenes, fight scenes and more fight scenes. Now all that's left to do is wrapping up the plot and tying up some loose ends over a tasty dinner.
Plus, I did my quarterly taxes, which is a whole different kind of awful.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Sept 30, 2018 4:48:19 GMT
Great job, finishing and hopefully winning all those fights corabuhlert! I just noticed the lol button doesn’t show up on mobile. (Sad face) Everything I’ve written the past few days is on here. But ipod does have google docs on her, so I have access to some of my files, but not all, the rest are on USB port required devices. Thankful for what I have though. |
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Post by Jeff Tanyard on Sept 30, 2018 5:33:19 GMT
I finally finished the endless chapter of fight scenes, fight scenes and more fight scenes. Now all that's left to do is wrapping up the plot and tying up some loose ends over a tasty dinner. Plus, I did my quarterly taxes, which is a whole different kind of awful.
Best of luck to you, Cora. |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 1, 2018 20:40:42 GMT
I spent all day yesterday trying to get a new computer. I did have some TUOK thoughts though in the morning. Today, I've been playing with the board. But TUOK is always at the back of my mind. I keep wanting to go super big and epic, but the stories I like best are personal and really delve deep into the psychology of it's characters, so I can't go too huge or else the story and characterization will be shallow. I need to decide what's really important and stick to that.
How is everyone else?
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Post by corabuhlert on Oct 1, 2018 22:43:32 GMT
You can always do both, tell personal stories in a world/universe with an epic scope. Or alternate between personal small scale stories and big epic stories featuring the same characters.
That's more or less what I do with my space opera series. There is a lot of epic macro level stuff going on - a rebellion against an evil empire in one and an intergalactic war between two equally unpleasant galactic empires (well, one is a republic) in the other, but the big epic macro stuff largely goes on in the background and is filtered through the POV of my characters. Occasionally, their stories intersect with the big epic plot, at other times they're just doing fairly ordinary, everyday things.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 2, 2018 6:18:22 GMT
You can always do both, tell personal stories in a world/universe with an epic scope. Or alternate between personal small scale stories and big epic stories featuring the same characters. That's more or less what I do with my space opera series. There is a lot of epic macro level stuff going on - a rebellion against an evil empire in one and an intergalactic war between two equally unpleasant galactic empires (well, one is a republic) in the other, but the big epic macro stuff largely goes on in the background and is filtered through the POV of my characters. Occasionally, their stories intersect with the big epic plot, at other times they're just doing fairly ordinary, everyday things. Well I took book one of my series out of storage and created a series folder and I'm working on focusing on it. I decided to not make the finale of the series happen so far in the future so that the characters in book one can still participate and be a part of it. When I published this series before I was trying short stories like that, but it really didn't work. I need a short focused series I think. Not too short, but not too long. And I sent book one to another beta reader. A not lesbian one this time. I have a few extra scenes that I lopped off, which will either be added back so book one can be longer, or will be the beginning of book two. |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 3, 2018 1:15:34 GMT
Today I have edited two chapters of TUOK Book 1. 2 cheers for productivity!!
Yay. Yay.
And now I'm just sooooo tired. Hah, I just realized that one of my main POV characters is the same age as I am.
My bed is an ocean of ants.
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Post by Jeff Tanyard on Oct 3, 2018 1:51:29 GMT
A war machine just burst into a tavern and started firing. Some people escaped out the back, but the tavern burned down due to the plasma fire.
My natural-genius-at-business character has started a new venture. She's now managing a major military project.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 6, 2018 2:13:49 GMT
I got sidetracked yesterday by Mathilda so made zero progress, but I just put her to bed and am now holding my breath while running recuva on an old flashdrive that got bent a couple years ago. It works if you hold it up at an awkward slanted angle. I stuck Norma, my plushy gecko underneath it to keep it elevated, and am praying to all imaginary deities for it to keep working until file recovery is done.
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Post by prolificwriter on Oct 6, 2018 2:57:55 GMT
I just finished spellchecking and Grammarly-checking three urban fantasy novels that I plan on releasing in 2019. Glad that’s behind me! Tomorrow, I’m starting a new book. Not too excited about it, but we’ll see how it goes...
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Post by Jeff Tanyard on Oct 6, 2018 7:48:58 GMT
I'm getting near the end of this current revision cycle. The problem is that I've got to bring all the plot threads together, and I've sort of done that in the first draft, but it still needs work, especially where pacing is concerned. 
My hero is in a tunnel again. I think he spends half the series in a tunnel of some kind or other.
I also had my hero get a few hours' sleep. This is something that's easy to lose track of, at least for me. Craft advice: have your characters eat and sleep every now and then. Just enough to let the reader know you haven't forgotten about basic human needs.
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Post by writeway on Oct 6, 2018 20:26:51 GMT
Doing good. I'm finishing a second edit then I will do final editing and put that book on pre-order for Feb. 2019. Unfortunately because of Amazon's stupid policy of not letting indies put pre-orders up before a certain time the book will be on all the other sites. I WISH Amazon would change that policy.
I am also finishing up the outline for the final book in my current series so I can start writing it soon. I'm on pace with what I wanted to do so feeling good with that.
I'm trying to concentrate on writing because lately there has been too much negativity going on in the country and in the media. Just wish it would all go away so having writing (and Netflix) helps me keep my mind off all this crap.
Sigh. This too shall pass...hopefully.
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Post by corabuhlert on Oct 7, 2018 1:39:32 GMT
I'm getting near the end of this current revision cycle. The problem is that I've got to bring all the plot threads together, and I've sort of done that in the first draft, but it still needs work, especially where pacing is concerned.
My hero is in a tunnel again. I think he spends half the series in a tunnel of some kind or other.
I also had my hero get a few hours' sleep. This is something that's easy to lose track of, at least for me. Craft advice: have your characters eat and sleep every now and then. Just enough to let the reader know you haven't forgotten about basic human needs.
I have to pay attention to sleep, but eating is never a problem for my characters. They will regularly eat and maybe even cook and I will tell you in detail about it and may even share the recipe. Which isn't out of the ordinary for cosy mystery, but I write space opera. There's a reason I call it cosy space opera. Space battles, firefights, fisticuffs and recipes, too. |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 7, 2018 3:37:45 GMT
I think all good space operas are cozy and every series worth its salt needs a cookbook! Having real recipes, especially if they're new and creative ones just adds depth and colour to the world.
I find Babylon 5 very cozy. Even though it deals with some very dark subjects, the way I feel about the main characters and Babylon 5, itself, always gives me a warm cozy feeling. Especially once Bruce joined the cast.
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Post by corabuhlert on Oct 7, 2018 3:42:32 GMT
I'd say Babylon 5 is definitely cozy space opera. Even when the fate of the galaxy hung in the balance, they always found time for the interpersonal stuff.
Meanwhile, my own cozy space opera has the characters arguing about following order versus following their own sense of right and wrong, while eating a delicious dinner (like you do).
I'm also barely 1000 words from crossing over into novel territory, though I'll continue classifying the story as a novella until I pass 50000 words, which I doubt I will.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 7, 2018 3:51:01 GMT
What else do you discuss during a delicious meal?
I have one story that's 14,000 words and I call it a novelette. I think I would classify it as a novella at 20,000. If I were going to actually publish my 40,000 word story I would probably still call it a novel. I feel like that's sort of treading the novella/novel waterline.
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Post by Jeff Tanyard on Oct 7, 2018 4:44:45 GMT
What else do you discuss during a delicious meal?
My characters toast their fallen comrades and tell war stories. And sometimes they brawl or dance on the tables. 
My hero plays the banjo, so I like to say I write "Space Opry." |
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 7, 2018 4:58:57 GMT
Toasting fallen comrades is what you do during drinks, which you have pre-appetizer. Are your characters barbarians? Also, dancing and brawling is done in the saloon where your characters should go to smoke cigars and play poker. There are rules. Banjo playing is only to be done during barn raising and square dancing contests. If your space opery is one of those stories where your ship is disguised as a wild wild west town, anyway. Think if Firefly and Little House on the Prairie had a baby.  |
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Post by Jeff Tanyard on Oct 7, 2018 5:34:19 GMT
Toasting fallen comrades is what you do during drinks, which you have pre-appetizer. Are your characters barbarians? Also, dancing and brawling is done in the saloon where your characters should go to smoke cigars and play poker. There are rules. Banjo playing is only to be done during barn raising and square dancing contests. If your space opery is one of those stories where your ship is disguised as a wild wild west town, anyway. Think if Firefly and Little House on the Prairie had a baby.
Some of my characters are quite rambunctious. Others are stuck-up snobs. And others fall somewhere in the middle. The fun comes when these different sorts of people have to work together.
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Post by corabuhlert on Oct 7, 2018 20:01:21 GMT
What else do you discuss during a delicious meal?
My characters toast their fallen comrades and tell war stories. And sometimes they brawl or dance on the tables.
My hero plays the banjo, so I like to say I write "Space Opry." Toasting fallen comrades and telling war stories as well as brawling and dancing on tables are good passtimes, too. Alas, there are no recently fallen comrades to toast and the table is too small for dancing, so arguing it is.
And SF definitely needs more banjos or music of any kind.
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Post by corabuhlert on Oct 9, 2018 3:35:46 GMT
In addition to new words written, I got the edits done on an upcoming release in my (cozy) space opera series and wrote the author's note.
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Post by K'Sennia Visitor on Oct 9, 2018 3:42:13 GMT
corabuhlert do you add an author's note to all of your books? I think that could be kind of fun. Do you put it at the front or the back of the book?
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