It's very important to have a good support group in those long hours of editing. I have the best little assistant. Now if she'd get her cute lil butt off the manuscript, maybe we'd get some work done. 💕🐱 . . #blogger #catstagram #cats #wrinos #msharris #writer #author #writerslife #brainstorming #worldbuilding #amwriting #amwritingfantasy #books #reading #bookstagram #writersoftumblr #writersofig #writersofinstagram #ameditng #catsofinstagram #earlymornings https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ksiHcolh6/?igshid=1g643099nwz8b

You Need an Outline

We’ve all seen it happen a lot, maybe more than others if you happen to frequent the NaNoWriMo forums. Much love to wrimos, this is not a diss on the NaNo format, I wouldn’t have gotten to my current writing place if it weren’t for that group.

Pantsers. People who write without an outline, without a plan in place, or even a concept of where the story is going. All you know is the idea that jumped into your head a moment ago, and maybe some of the details of your cast.

 You might be thinking, Hey! That’s just because I’m so inspired by the story, I don’t have time to sit down and plot it all out when I could be writing! Isn’t that the whole point of being a writer, actually writing?

Well…yes and no. Yes, writers write. That’s what defines us as a species. But to get a functional novel that you don’t have to completely rewrite afterwards…you need to know where it’s going. You have to have more than just a sparkling idea that excites you.

Think about it like a relationship. Good looks are the spark that carries you into NRE(New Relationship Energy), but without a solid foundation that relationship will fizzle out and you’re going to break up sooner or later. Hopefully sooner, or else you’re going to have wasted a lot of time.

Writing a book is exactly the same. Sometimes NIE(New Idea Energy) will carry you half way through the book, sometimes only a few pages, but you will always hit that point where you wonder why this was even a good idea to begin with, and where is it all going? Some novelists will continue to bang out the words with the motto in mind that “every rough draft sucks” and “everyone has to rewrite anyways.” And while it’s true that the grammar, formulation of a scene, or balance of show and tell likely suck in most first drafts…a well plotted story won’t need an actual rewrite.

If you’re defending your time so fiercely, why not actually put in the effort to make a solid outline that will carry you through the moments of doubts and what if’s, so that you can write the story you want to write…the first time.

Build the foundation, move past NIE, and love your novel.

My agent insisted it must be cut, I argued it could be trimmed, but in the end, I agreed with her and cut the whole thing. Still, it completed the book thematically and symbolically in a way that was painful to lose. Don’t even talk to my husband about it. 'It was a tragedy!' he shouts whenever it comes up. 'That was the best part of the book!' And even though it wasn’t the best part of the book, I love him dearly for saying so.

Rufi Thorpe, author of The Girls from Corona del Mar, at The Millions

Goin' old school on this revision. #ameditng

The Hunt

The Hunt- #free #shortstory #amwriting #amreading #paranormalromance #author

This unedited short story gives us a look at Marin’s life, and the events leading up to her job at Finder’s Keepers. Enjoy this small taste as we wait for Oct 26 and the release of Shocking Finds (A Finder’s Keepers Novel)

The Hunt

Marin knew that she needed to snap out of her trance but what did she have to go back for. The bear at her side coughed his insistence. Sinking her fingers into his…

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Paranormal Romance Blog hopping

Paranormal Romance Blog hopping

I have joined a Paranormal Romance blog hop… hmmm… for those of you new to blog hop (as I basically am) this is a fun way to get a list on new/established/and upcoming authors in the paranormal romance genre. For a list of all participants, go HERE … Most of you guys have already seen my blurb, but for those who haven’t …

An act of rebellion, Marin doesn’t think that running into the new store…

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Find your Inspiration

Where do you find your Inspiration???

For years, I wrote down my ideas and worked on my outlines and rough drafts, but that was all. I looked down and had dozens of both, but unless I wanted to build another room to house my ideas, I needed to finish this and edit that. It was a moment of ‘omg, where do I start…’ and I didn’t have a clue. Then I saw something on twitter about National Writers…

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yasmine phoenix blog post, part two & crazy update

yasmine phoenix blog post, part two & crazy update

In my internet overload moment, I managed to tweet about Yasmine Phoenix’s blog, but forgot to slip in and update on my own blog… hmmm … anyone else seen the movie Multiplicity??? Right now I am seeing some definite benefits to doubling up on helping hands…

Since I’m on my own for now, I will do my best to catch up.. :P Starting with Ms. Phoenix’s blog… She asked a few more question, and we did…

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