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Some ways to broaden your stories

Nov 21

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Hey, everyone!

Happy to be writing again, I thought it’d be a fun thing to share some of my thoughts and methods (some new to me, some I already knew). Here are 3 of those thoughts and suggestions.

Suggestions on broadening the setting of your:

1. Landscapes matter.

Don’t be afraid to add some paragraphs here and there to describe how the environment changes as your characters move through the space. This helps paint the picture in your readers minds, but also makes the setting feel more real and grounded (even in a fantasy setting!)

2. Use and reuse extra characters

You likely have a cast of characters that the story is being told about. Heroes, villains, side characters, and more. Maybe keep some interesting extras to throw around to keep the world changing but still feel familiar. Maybe you had a rude grumpy person who knocked your hero off their feet. It can be a fun nod to bring them back in an unexpected way, or even in the same way but after so much in the heroes journey has changed them they still have normal rude people in their lives…

3. Don’t be afraid to make new characters that are for the setting more than the plot

I’m a big proponent of making everything in a story relevant to the plot. Yet you know, the setting, the place the story takes place in, is relevant to the plot so if it helps breathe life into the world, go for it. I’m hoping to be better at this one for sure, so look for it in the next series 😉

That’s all for now, as always, may God bless you and keep you.

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How my editing process goes

Apr 13

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Hello everyone,

Since I am in the process of reviewing the first draft of The Sorcerer’s Gamble, I thought I could let all of you know how I approach my editing process. I don’t believe I have written this out before, but it would be interesting to see what you all think.

I begin my editing by re-reading previous entries (in this case the first two books). Then I sit down with my first draft and begin creating the second draft. I call the process that I employ a “read edit”, this is because I literately edit the book while I am reading through it. I only do this for the second draft, otherwise a book would never be finished. During this process I am primarily looking at story flow, character voice, context of existing explanations, supporting details, and if the general goals of each chapter are being accomplished.

Whew that’s a lot huh? ha ha. To top it off once I start the “read edit” I try to complete it in a short window (typically less than two weeks, though I aim for five days). Since I tend to write in spurts (sometimes taking months in between writing sessions), this helps smooth out the story. This whole process provides a level of polish, and single vision for the book.

What happens next? Once I have the second draft, I print out proofs and send copies to my editing/reviewing team. This team is composed of a few individuals who I trust, that can look my book over with a critical eye. While they have it I also go back over it, looking for grammar, spelling, and such errors, which creates the third draft. I take the feedback of my team and generate a forth draft based on that input. Then I usually take another pass through, making sure the flow and grammar still work, and any changes made become draft five. After all this, the book is ready for release and I shift my focus towards promotions and advertising.

This whole process takes place over several weeks, so there won’t be too much to update on as far as that goes. I look to get some artwork out to you guys soon, and I plan to be changing the banners on this site and my Facebook soon there after.

 

Thanks for reading this summarized look at my editing process, I hope it’s not too confusing ha ha. Its a bit of a long post, but hey I missed last week so this makes up for it 😉

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