Listen to Me Now! (Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking Software)

Hearing my story read back to me has been a phenomenal help to my story crafting! The suggestion that I read my writing out loud has always caused me a great deal of discomfort; therefore, having the software Dragon NaturallySpeaking read the paragraphs to me works quite well.

Why is it the one thing you dread, resist, fear, dislike and avoid, is THE one thing that you need to do the most to succeed in your goal?
After hearing my voice on a tape recorder years ago, I have avoided reading aloud.

Hearing myself made me cringe and flush hot with shame and embarrassment. The tinny high-pitched nasal-sounding me that talked into the microphone ran for the hills and hasn't been seen since.

No matter how hard I try. I can't seem to overcome that fear. If I try to read aloud, my revising stalls out completely. Instead, I am using Dragon SpeaksNaturally software. The Read That (Test to speech) feature reads back paragraphs at a time.

Earlier on, I listen and make edits to flesh out the first draft, then later toward the end of the revision stage, the voice reading back to me helps me to vary sentence structure and adjust the sound of the word flow.

As the voice reads, I follow along in the text and make edits as needed. If I need to stop the voice, I press the Esc key, make more extensive edits, then select the text and either click on Audio, then Read That or say, "Select next four paragraphs" then "Read That" into the headset.

Hearing the flow of the words in the story had taken my writing to a new level. I highly recommend the Reading Aloud advice, but if that's not possible, Dragon SpeaksNaturally is the next best thing!

Dear Writer... (An example of what not to do)

I recently dropped by a writer's blog (I followed the author from a post that I found odd...curiosity pulled me in). On this writer's blog, she blogged about how readers SHOULD read her short stories, SHOULD read her novels, SHOULD leave reviews, etc., etc., etc.

Really, you're telling readers what they should and shouldn't do? Look, fellow author, I realize you have "worked your a-- off" (your words, not mine), but...

Wait! I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I'll checked your offerings on Amazon. I'll download a sample or two of your writing. Then, we'll see.

Dear Writer, perhaps YOU should consider:

• Creating or commissioning book covers that don't look similar, faded, and are displayed in a cartoon-type format.
• Revealing the genre of your work. Are the books graphic novels? Horror? Thrillers? Romance?
• Showing not telling in your writing. (Savvy Authors offers several classes on showing versus telling. Also, Show or Tell? A Powerful Lesson on a Crucial Writing Skill [Kindle Edition] sells for $0.99 on Amazon.)
• Intriguing and enticing the reader with your book descriptions.
• Using your blog to share the positives of your books, instead of sharing a whine-fest.
• Changing hobbies or careers. (If you are that unhappy, do us readers a favor and MOVE ON. Life's too short for you to be that whiny and miserable.)

As writers, perhaps before we even consider telling our readers what they should do, first and foremost, shouldn't we do what we need to do as authors?

Dear Writer, perhaps YOU should!

Lightning Drafting Downside

I tried lightning drafting and finished the first drafts of five (5) books. However, I am now left with EXTENSIVE revision and editing. So, for those soon-to-be writers or writers looking for a quick first draft, my suggestion is DO NOT lightning draft.

During a lightning draft, for instance, an author rushes to get their story on the page. You might type: INSERT fight scene here or include dialog with just a name of the speaker only so that you keep on typing.

These shortcuts require going back through the skeltonized material and fleshing out and at times even rewriting scenes.

Had I slowed down the first drafts, the process might have taken twice as long; however, with this route, it's taking a great deal longer than the process would have had I slowed down the first draft and ended up with a close-to-final version in the first place.

Instead of taking perhaps one and a half to two times as long, this technique has resulted in taking three to four times as long.

From one writer to another, I highly recommend NOT lightning drafting. It's doing double duty and creates additional prolonged revisions.

Once this current series is complete, my goal will be to complete stronger first drafts not lightning ones.

Back to revision. Onward!

Hitting Send

With my first-round of revisions finished, I attached the book to an email to send to my writing coach and mentor for a final review before editing. I sat with the cursor pointer hovering over SEND.

Ten minutes later, pointer still hovering, hubby dropped by and said, "You've already done the hard part. Sending it is the easy part." (Gotta love that man!)

That loveable man was right, so I pressed SEND.

Book #1, Series #1, sent.

Second later, the questions started:

• Does it include too much telling versus showing?
• Is there enough emotional connection with readers?
• Are the character growth arcs strong enough?
• Might I use more similes and metaphors?
• Was the POV deep enough?

And on and on until I realized there are four more books to revise. (Alexa heaves a massive sigh.)

I look forward to the coach/mentor's comments and then will go on from there. First, I need to step back from the book, let someone else review and share their insight, then I'll perform another review.

One thing I am learning is that my writing process proceeds in stages and layers.

In the future, once this series is complete, my goal will be to write stronger first drafts so that less revision is required.

Also, I realize that you can take classes to help you grasp craft, but its the act of actually writing from which a writer learns.

And, boy, am I learning...

Author Dean Wesley Smith's Crazy Idea

Author Dean Wesley Smith is writing in public. Of all things! Can you believe it?

Starting August 1st, Dean Wesley Smith sets out on a year-long journey to share his daily writing experiences. He intends to share: "A real year in the life of a professional fiction writer. (I'll try to keep it a lot more interesting than that sounds.)"

This challenge is his personal challenge for the next year. During his shared ghost writing experience, I read his posts and every comment to each of his posts. What an awesome learning opportunity!

He intends to post daily word count, activities for the day, excerpts at times, etc.

Just when I realized -- or possibly bought into another myth -- that writing is a very private personal thing, he offers to share his daily writing journey with the world, and he plans to share what he's written at times, without editing.

From reading the blog posts comments, it's obvious others are as excited as I am to have the opportunity to be included on Smith's one-year writing saga journey.

Hop on over to Dean Wesley Smith's Personal Challenges: The New Challenge and check out the details.

BTW, I'm in! I'm going to be dropping by daily and going along for the ride.

A real year in the life of a professional fiction writer. (I’ll try to keep it a lot more interesting than that sounds.) - See more at: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/#sthash.QEdqdYbG.dpuf

A real year in the life of a professional fiction writer. (I’ll try to keep it a lot more interesting than that sounds.) - See more at: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/#sthash.QEdqdYbG.dpuf

A real year in the life of a professional fiction writer. (I’ll try to keep it a lot more interesting than that sounds.) - See more at: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/#sthash.QEdqdYbG.dpuf

Step Away and Get More Done!

In spending less time at the computer, I'm getting much more done writing- and revision-wise on the computer. That sounds odd, I know.

You see, I've been experimenting with taking breaks away from the computer, and amazingly, my revising is progressing at a faster pace. Rather than sit at the computer for 12 hours or more a day with few breaks, I write in 1 1/2-hour time blocks.

During that 1 1/2 hours, that's all I do. Revise. It's a drill-down focus on the chapter in front of me. Revise, move on the next chapter. Revise. It's an intense hyper focus on writing for that hour and a half.

After years of extended hours in front of the computer job-wise, I find it difficult to actually take breaks and walk away from the keyboard; therefore, I am utilizing TimesUpKidz software to enforce 30-minute breaks every 1 1/2 hours.

During break time, I nap, read, bake, clean, declutter, exercise, play with the puppy, go in search of hubby hugs, etc.

The book Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys To Transforming the Way We Work and [Kindle Edition] explains the process in more detail. 

Bottom line, I am getting more done and am much less stressed and far less fatigued. In stepping away, I am accomplishing and enjoying more.

As hard as I pushed during my day jobs, I so wish I'd learned this technique way back when, but I'm on to it now, so if you'll excuse me, I'm stepping away...

Reality Sets In: It's a Book!

Over the last few weeks, I have been revising a book, chapter by chapter. Today, I pulled all the individual chapter files into one single file...and I have, ta-da and to my amazement, a BOOK.

Okay, I'm slow on the uptake at times, but knowing you're writing a book and having the entire manuscript of the book in your hands... Ooh boy, talk about bringing reality home. An honest to goodness (cohesive, well-plotted, developmentally sound) book!

In Times New Roman 14-Point (to ease overtired eyes) and at 400 pages, the manuscript sits three finger-widths deep and waiting. Gulp and wow, just wow...

First, I pretend I'm a reader, and read the pages for enjoyment, only noting those sections that might lag or need further revision.

Second, I read for character voice. Does the character's POV "sound" like the character in individual POV chapters and in dialog?

Thirdly, I polish, adding metaphors and similes and improving style.

Then comes a focus on pacing... Does a scene ending need to be tightened or sections of the chapter sentences shortened? Is the pacing of chapters varied and forward-moving? What adjustments (shorter paragraphs, shorter sentences, shorter words) need to be made to increase pacing to build to the book's climax?

After that, the entire manuscript gets analyzed via AutoCrit (autocrit.com) to catch overused words and phrases repeated throughout the book in its entirety.

Next, back to 12-point font size, the book is ready for a chapter break review and spell checking.

Lastly, I attach the BOOK to an email and send the attachment to a professional fiction editor, a few beta readers, and then move on to the next revision project.

Busy times ahead.

Also, if the attached photo is any indication, I anticipate a few roadblocks... Wait, maybe the little guy is there for support... Nah.

And look, do you see that stack of paper there next to Lightning Boy? That's a manuscript, an honest to goodness book. Yeah, baby, it's a book!

A Lonely Thing on Lonely Street

When I worked extensive overtime in my day job, I spent untold hours in front of the computer. Now that writing is my job, I realize that I only thought I experienced solitude during work.

The time spent alone to write, because there is absolutely no required interaction with others during the process, is most definitely a trip down a lonely street.

Because of this aloneness, I very much appreciate contact with friends and family via phone, text, and social media. I also am grateful for an awesome husband who does most of our cooking, the puppy that requires lots of petting and walking, and the three cats that sleep in kitty cubes near the writing table to keep me company.

While for some being part of a group is rejuvenating, for me, alone time is how I ground and regain my energy. But THIS much alone time...

Even for someone who enjoys quiet solitude, this amount of alone time does tend to foster a feeling of a lack of connection with others and, at times, a deep aching loneliness.

For now, I am tapping into that ache and using the discomfort to finish my current revision; yet, in doing that, the next four books in the series tend to loom before me.

Writing coaches Cathy Yardley and Kat Duncan both suggest setting up and fostering support systems. Awesome writerly friends check on me every few days and fantastic non-writer friends touch base every day or every other day. In taking breaks, I reach out as well. I so welcome the connecting and interacting!

Since, I want writing and revising to be something I look forward to with enthusiasm, I am experimenting with scheduling and potential techniques to increase productivity but also encourage balance.

I hope to blog about potential options soon. In the mean time, a singular task conducted in solitude, writing is a lonely thing on a lonely street.

Under Attack (I Was Warned)

SCREECH!!!! That was the sound of doubt bringing my writing and revision to a halt.

All during the writing of my series, from several writer-friends and associates, I was warned to be prepared for when doubt set in. Doubt? Nah, not me. I'm enthusiastic. I love the series, the story, and my characters. All five first drafts are written, and I believe in the books so easy sailing from here on out, right? Not so much.

Over three-quarters of the way through revising the first book...something insidious and ugly happened. The thing they tried to let me know was coming rose from the depths of the swamp. Monster-like, doubt crept onto my doorstop and seeped under the door.

Wrapped around my ankles and creeping upward, Doubt whispers, "The story isn't engaging."

"Your style, your voice, your WRITING is weak, weak, weak," the guttural voice taunts. "With five first drafts, you've not finalized one book in the series. You SHOULD HAVE written better first drafts. You COULD HAVE written faster. You keep spinning your wheels. What's the matter? Are you scared, little girly." (Shades of Mr. Gold from Once Upon a Time here.) Doubt smirks and laughs a low rumble as dry as the desert and taunts, "Not good enough."

According to my writing coach, during revision is an expected time for doubt to pay a visit. As many tried to tell me before, going through the doubt process IS part of the process. It's a phase, or at least, that's what I'm telling myself.

As if in a small town speed trap, I'm letting up on the gas and easing through.

Okay, I admit it. At first, I tromped on the gas peddle and tried to barrel through by putting in long hours and trying to force my way through. Didn't work. That's how I actually got stuck -- I over extended and physically drained, couldn't push on any farther.

"Doubt," I say, "They told me you were going to pay a visit. Almost finished with the book's revision, I thought you'd decided not to drop by, but since you're here, why don't we take a little drive. A road trip, slow and easy, over the scenic route."

Doubt, still eager to attack, looks, er, doubtful.

"We'll take it page by page," I suggest. "Let's give it a once through, then send it to the writing coach. She can have a look through before we send the manuscript on for editing. We'll probably pass the book back and forth several times, before it goes on to be edited. How's that sound?"

Quiet, Doubt remains a puddle under my feet, ready to turn blob-like and attack at any moment. Perhaps like Talking to da Fear, doubt can be addressed with negotiation and reasoning.

Perhaps...

Deep down, I know I can revise and finish the series. Yet, Doubt is doing its best and its worse. I am under attack.

How will I deal with this phase of the writing process? I hope to blog about my success in surviving a mega attack of doubt, or at least my continued battle, in a later blog.

Doubt, is the enemy. I was warned.

Snobs, Con Jobs, & Thingamabobs

SNOBS

"So what sort of books do you write?" I asked.

Literary fiction author said, "I write literary fiction."

"I see... Um, what is your book about?"

"A woman's life's journey." Literary fiction author's nose lifted ceilingward.

"Ah, so woman's fiction?"

"Not hardly. And what is it YOU write?"

"YA paranormal," I said, "with aspects of science fiction and fantasy."

Literary fiction author gazed at me with THE look that was meant to pity and to put a lowly genre writer such as me in my place.

(Bet I had more fun writing in my nose-upturning genre than literary fiction author did with literary fiction! Just saying.)

CON JOBS

From a recent writing class, the instructor offered to edit a few chapters for a set fee. The turnaround was quick, and the editor asked for a couple of more chapters to edit as a bonus. ("I just love your writing style." "You're such a fast learner.")

For further edits the editor offered to edit for a set fee per hour. The edits took a bit longer, with the same chapters undergoing multiple edits.

Next go around, the editors fee went up 50%, and deeper editing per chapter was suggested.

I passed.

THINGAMABOBS

Hubby is my initial reader of edited chapters.

When I used the method from You Can Write a Novel by James V. Smith Jr. to adjust chapter pacing, he was impressed with the increased pace.

I was thrilled when he asked about the technique.

A few minutes into my Readability Statistics explanation, he said, "Whatever you're doing, it's working."

Off to revise using my thingamabob process.