Writer’s Corner: My Self-Editing Processes
Posted: February 3, 2025 Filed under: Editing, Writer's Corner, Writing, Writing Tips | Tags: Editing, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writer's Corner, Writing to be Read 6 Comments
Editors can be expensive. WordCrafter offers editing services at low prices, but even then, the words add up and I wouldn’t say it’s cheap. As an independent author, it’s not always easy to come up with the money to hire an editor, but it is imperative to have another set of eyes go over every word of my manuscript, so I can publish a quality product. As The D.I.Y. Author, I’ve come up with a few methods of accomplishing this without straining my pocketbook too much.
Novel Length Works
For novel length works, once I finish the first draft, I do one pass over of self-editing when the manuscript has sat for a day or two. I’ve heard that it’s important to let it sit for a while, so I do, but I limit the time it sits, keeping the story fresh in my mind. This is where I find the weak spots which need enhancing, embellishing my descriptions and extending or cutting dialog. In The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles, I also used this opportunity to plant little easter eggs which connect back to the first book, for those who have read it.
When that is done, and the necessary edits have been made, I do another run through, reading it aloud. When you read aloud, you catch errors that a silent reader might skim over. Sometimes I can find a beta-listener to help me with this. This is where I do my developmental edit, looking at things like if the storyline flows smoothly, and if my characters are staying true to who they are. My beta-listener doesn’t have to be versed in the craft of writing, because their job is to offer an opinion from the listener’s, or reader’s, perspective.
Only when this is completed is the manuscript ready for a second set of eyes. Editing is a difficult job, and I think it’s important to send your editor or beta-reader as clean a manuscriptas possible. It saves making major changes at the end, too. If I can’t afford to pay an editor, I seek out a beta-reader to do the job. I have a few other authors who I exchange services with who can be called upon for this task.
To finalize, I do a final proof read before I publish, making sure all the ‘t’s are crossed and ‘i’s dotted. During this part of the process I use the editing tool which come with MS Word and ProWriting Aid Everywhere, which are both free and help me spot places which could be worded better and possible misspellings. Both of editing programs are AI powered, but they don’t always agree on corrections, or agree on things which should be changed. And they don’t have the final say. I still reserve the privilage of acceptance or rejection of all AI suggestions.
This system is not fullproof, and I use a professional editor whenever I can. When writing The Rock Star & The Outlaw 2: Seeing Doubles, I referred back to the first book a lot, and found many errors that all of these processes had missed. I’m now in the process of revising and correcting those errors, so I can republish the first book, before releasing the second.
Short Fiction
For short fiction, I follow the same basic processes as novel length works, but because they are collaborative works, it is much easier to get a second, and sometimes even a third set of eyes on each story. When putting together an anthology, I read story individually and request the desired edits from the authors. For my own stories, I recruit a beta-reader to go over it while I’m editing everyone elses. (This is after I’ve read it through twice; once aloud.)
After I receive the revised stories, I put the manuscript together, and give it yet, another read through, checking for any errors which may have been missed. Once it is formatted and ready to publish, I send the entire manuscript out to each of the authors, requesting that they proof read their story and one or two others, so that each story has at least two or three sets of eyes, other than my own, scrutinizing it. This collaborative form of editing ensures a quality product and it doesn’t cost me or any of the contributors anything but our time and keen eyes.
Author’s Note: You can find these editing tips and more writing tips for writing and publishing yourself in The D.I.Y. Author.
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, her the first three books in her kid’s book series, My Backyard Friends, her poetry collection, Small Wonders, and her writer’s resource, The D.I.Y. Author. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by The D.I.Y. Author and WordCrafter Press.
Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.
In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences and the tools, books, references and sites to help you learn the business of being an author.
Topics Include:
Becoming Prolific
Writing Tools
Outlining
Making Quality a Priority
Publishing Models & Trends
Marketing Your Book
Book Covers & Blurbs
Book Events—In Person & Virtual
And more…
Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author
Share this:
Review in Practice: “Wit & Wisdom”, “Romance Character Tropes” & “Steps to Self-Editing”
Posted: November 18, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Nonfiction, Review, Review in Practice, Story Bundle, Writing, Writing Reference, Writing Tips | Tags: 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, Book Reviews, Craig Martelle, Jana S. Brown, Jessica Barber, Review in Practice, Romance Character Tropes, Steps to Self-Editing, Tara G. Ericson, Wit & Wisedom, Writing Resorce, Writing to be Read 3 CommentsOne of the advantages of being in a Story Bundle, is that you get a free copy of all the books included in the bundle. That means you get to read everyone else’s book. With the 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, for me, it, means I get to read a lot of writing reference books and I can discover from them, bits of writing wisdom which I can utilize in my own writing and publishing processes to improve my own work. For this segment of Review in Practice, I chose three books from this Story Bundle, with hopes of a few little nugets of gold that I can mine from them and share with you: Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle, Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson, and Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown.
Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle
An exclusive first release in this StoryBundle— chock full of quips and snippets to help authors stay focused on the right things to accelerate their business.
My Thoughts on Wit & Wisdom
I always wanted to attend the 20 Books to 50K Conference, but I never could make it. So, when I had the opportunity to review a book written by one of the founders, Craig Martelle, you can be sure I jumped at the chance. Wit & Wisdom is packed full of useful tips and advice to help make your writing business successful.
Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber & Tara G. Ericson
In this one-of-a-kind resource, you’ll find more than a list of tropes or broad genre fiction advice.
The Romance Writer’s Encyclopedia Series breaks down our method for categorizing tropes into four types of framework tropes – Character Tropes, Situational Tropes, Setting Tropes, and Relational Tropes.
The Character Tropes Encyclopedia includes detailed entries on favorite romance tropes like Cowboys, Royalty, Law enforcement, and Athletes. And we didn’t forget popular modern tropes like Alpha Male, Cinnamon Roll, or The Grump!
But this is more than a trope list – it’s an encyclopedia!
Each encyclopedia entry includes an introduction to the trope itself, as well as information on why readers love the trope (including examination of what inner desire is being met by the trope), what expectations exist in the stories, common pitfalls that authors need to avoid, common characteristics and potential wounds.
Putting a cowboy hat on the cover of your book isn’t enough to have a Cowboy romance that readers will love – but we’ll tell you what will. And then we’ll do it for Pirates and Rockstars and Firefighters, too.
Romance Character Tropes is designed to be used at every stage of planning, writing, and publishing your books. If used effectively, it will help you write a romance that readers will love, but also help you market that book to get it into the hands of readers who will devour it.
We’ve studied thousands of books and movies, polled readers and studied the market to understand not just which Character Tropes work – but WHY they work. And knowing why they work means you can put them to work for you.Harness the power of Character Tropes to make your book marketable, multi-dimensional, and satisfying, so readers will come back again and again.
You can purchase this book seperately here: https://www.amazon.com/Romance-Character-Tropes-Billionaires-Encyclopedia-ebook/dp/B0C1HQLW8X/
My Thoughts on Romance Character Tropes
Tropes are something which have always puzzled me. They were touched on in my graduate classes, to say that you should be aware of them and know what they are, but it was left to the individual to figure it out from there, probably because there are so many of them, and they differ from genre to genre. Since then, I’ve learned that there are too many tropes, no matter the genre, that the whole trope thing seemed overwhelming to me, and I got tired of trying to figure it out , choosing instead, to just write.
I wish I’d had a resource such as this one back then, because Barber and Ericson made it so easy to understand. If someone had explained that internal character tropes were based on the archetypes that I studied in graduate school, it would have all made sense so much sooner. They give a clear definition of what tropes are and why we use them.
“Each of the internal character tropes in this chapter is derived from some of the most popular literary archetypes in fiction. They will carry elements of the universal symbolism, themes, and patterns that have transcended both time and history.”
When I was running my “Ask the Authors-” blog series, back in 2018, I inteviewed many authors, and one of the questions was about using tropes. Some said they used them, some said they avoided them, and still others didn’t have a clue as to what a trope was. But the fact is, we all use tropes, whether we do it conciously or not, no matter what genre we write in. Without character tropes, our characters would be flat, with no personality, and readers would have no reason to care whether our characters achieved their goals or not. If you have a character who is a firefighter, then you are writing with a Man in Uniform character trope. And if you do it conciously, which you should, there are certain things you need to be aware of which will make your character bigger than life for your readers.
I haven’t written much romance, so you might find it odd that I would choose to review Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson. My thinking is that although this book delves into tropes which are specific to the romance genre, many of the character tropes can be found in other genres, as well.
This month, for NaNoWriMo, I’m writing the second book in my Time Travel Adventure series, the sequel to The Rock Star & The Outlaw, which has a strong romance element, and my male protagonist just happens to be a cowboy, which is a popular romance character trope, so I paid particular attention to what the authors had to say about the Cowboy trope.
I discovered that the cowboy hero I created for the first book, and I am now writing into the second isn’t a rodeo cowboy, a lone wolf or off the grid cowboy, or a law enforcement cowboy, but more of a cross between the cowboy and the reformed bad boy tropes. When LeRoy is introduced in the twenty-first century, in the first book, he is all cowboy, manners and all, and that fact is what attracts my heroine, Amaryllis, in the first place. But when he goes back in time, to an actual western setting, we see the reformed bad boy, who has done all the wrong things, but for the right reasons. Over all, I feel like I did a pretty good job on the first book, and I’ve gathered some ideas about where his character arc may lead in the second one, to make him a more well-rounded character.
I learned so much useful information from Romance Character Tropes that I know it will be a resource I turn to again and again. I have a couple of romance stories that have been trunked, and after reading this book, I’m tempted to pull them out and give them another go, so don’t be surprised if I had add romance to my list of genres I write in in the future.
Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown
You’ve finished writing your rough draft! Congratulations!
Now what are you going to do?
Before going out into the world, every manuscript needs a little love from its creator in the form of self-editing and revision.
However, that can be a daunting task.
- Plotlines
- Character arcs
- Continuity
- Grammatical mistakes
Where do you begin?
Join author and editor, Jana S. Brown, at her virtual table and learn the Steps to Self-Editing from setting your structure, to rubbing out wordiness to make your manuscript shine.
You can purchase this book seperately here: https://www.amazon.com/Steps-Self-Editing-Common-Writing-Publishing-ebook/dp/B0CK54T3TC
My Thoughts on Steps to Self-Editing
I chose to read this book because I do self-edit, in spite of all the warnings that I’ve heard not to. I’ve always been told that self-editing is a big no-no, especially if you do it as you are writing, and guess what, I do that, too. But Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown doesn’t make that judgement. In it, Brown actually discusses the reasons why you may want to self-edit and talks about the differences in self-editing as you write, and doing an overall self-edit when you’ve finished, (I do both types), and when you may want to do both, as well as when you may not. Brown also makes it clear that self-editing is not recommended to take the place of paying a professional editor. It’s just another step which can be taken to hone your creative child and polish it to look its best.
As I am currently undertaking the NaNoWriMo challenge, and I’m in the process of writing the second book in my Time Travel Series, so I’m already using some of the tips as I self-edit as I go. I am compelled to do this with my writing, as I find and fix plot holes, and go back to add foreshadowing where needed, but Brown has reminded me of other things that can be looked for and fixed early on.
When I have a completed manuscript, hopefully at the end of the month, I’ll be using it again to give my manuscript a complete once over, before sending it off to be scrutinized by another set of eyes. Brown also is a fan of reading your manuscript aloud as a part of self-editing, a step which I always employ, sometimes during the writing process, sometimes after. As she points out, reading your work aloud can help you find logic errors and inconsistencies in your story, as well as helping to smooth the rough edges.
The section that touches on punctuation and grammar rules assures I’ll be turning back to this book again and again, because there are too many rules to remember, making double checking a necessity. This is a quick and easy to use writing resource, which will be a valuable addition to my library.
The 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle
Wit & Wisdom, by Craig Martelle, Romance Character Tropes, by Jessica Barber and Tara G. Ericson, and Steps to Self-Editing, by Jana S. Brown, are all offered in the 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle, along with my own The D.I.Y. Author and nine other valuable writing references that every author should have at their fingertips. This bundle offers valuable writing advice from successful authors such as Kerrie Flanagan, Kevin J. Anderson, Mark Leslie Lefabvre, Wulf Moon, Joshua Essoe, Kerrie Flanagan, Matty Dalrymple and M.L. Ronn, Jessica Brawner, Todd Fahnestock, along with a year’s subscription to Indie Author Magazine. A percentage of every bundle sold goes to the Neil Peart Brain Cancer Research Fund from Cedars Sinai. These digital books are DRM-free and compatable with any digital reading device. And you get a lot of books for one great price.
You can get your 2024 Novel Writing Story Bundle here: https://storybundle.com/writing
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About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This post is sponsored by The D.I.Y. Author and WordCrafter Press.
Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.
In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences and the tools, books, references and sites to help you learn the business of being an author.
Topics Include:
Becoming Prolific
Writing Tools
Outlining
Making Quality a Priority
Publishing Models & Trends
Marketing Your Book
Book Covers & Blurbs
Book Events—In Person & Virtual
And more…
Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author
Share this:
Welcome to the D.I.Y. Author Release Party!
Posted: June 4, 2024 Filed under: Book Covers, Book Event, book marketing, Book Promotion, Book Release, Book Sales, Books, Indie Publishing, Nonfiction, Publishing, Self-Publishing, WordCrafter Press, Writing, writing advice, Writing Business, Writing Resource, Writing Tips, Writing to be Read | Tags: Author Business, book marketing, independent publishing, Kaye Lynne Booth, Publishing, Release Party, The D.I.Y. Author, WordCrafter Press, Writing Reference, Writing to be Read 12 Comments
About the Book
Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two but being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.
In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences and the tools, books, references and sites to help you learn the business of being an author.
Topics Include:
- Becoming Prolific
- Writing Tools
- Outlining
- Making Quality a Priority
- Publishing Models & Trends
- Marketing Your Book
- Book Covers & Blurbs
- Book Events—In Person & Virtual
- And more…
Meet the Author
Greetings! Thank you so much for dropping by to help us celebrate the release of The D.I.Y. Author. You all know me as author Kaye Lynne Booth, but with the release of this book, I hope to be known as the D.I.Y. author. This is the book that only I could write, where I share knowledge and experience as I build my author business. This is not a book on craft, but a reference for authors and aspiring authors who wish to expand and grow their author business on a limited budget. Learn the tips and tricks, sites and tools, which took me over a decade, and three masters degrees to amass.
I’ve always been a do it yourself kind of gal. I’ve built my author business up around this blog, finding ways around obstacles which stood in my way, learning new skill sets because outsourcing was more than I could afford. My first novel was published by a small independent publisher. But as the five-year contract ran out, I felt I could do better through my own small independent publishing house, WordCrafter Press, so I re-published it as the first book in my Women in the West adventure series last year, and I sold more copies than that other publisher had over a five year stretch. I just released the second book in the series this month. When Covid struck, I organized and hosted two virtual writing conferences, because writers are tribal bunch, and we need contact with like minded people. Networking is a huge part of building an author business. I use that networking to build not only my author business, but my own author tribe. I’ve published my own books, and collaborative anthologies, as well as publishing books for others. And I’ve built a winning blog team here on Writing to be Read with Robbie Cheadle, Jeff Bowles, Arthur Rorsch, and DL Mullan.
No one else has shared in these exact same experiences that I have, and that’s why only I could write The D.I.Y. Author, and why I can hold that title. But enough about me. The D.I.Y. Author is a great reference packed full of links to sites and tools and tips for increasing productivity, publishing choices, and marketing your books.
We have a great release party ahead to send this book off right. We’ve got exclusive offers running this week only. After Saturday, the whole D.I.Y. store will disappear, so take advantage of them now. By buying direct, you are supporting this author and her works more than when you purchase from retailers.
My D.I.Y. Video
On with the party!
Thanks for dropping by for The D.I.Y. Author virtual release party. We’ve got some great things planned, including a giveaway for all attendees, so be sure to leave a comment, so I’ll know you were here. I’ll be monitoring the comments throughout the day and will answer any questions you might want to post there. While you’re here you can peruse the D.I. Y. store below, for exclusive and discounted offers that you won’t find anywhere else. The store will come down at the end of the week. After that you’ll have to pay full price through retailers, and signed copies will no longer be available.
And if you are already a bestselling author and you don’t need this book or the WordCrafter services offered here, you can still offer your support for the author and this project by using the ‘buy me a soda’ button below.
Buy me a soda
Show your support for author Kaye Lynne Booth and her many endeavors through WordCrafter Press & Writing to be Read.
$1.00
You can get a sample of the topics in the book in my post,”Writer’s Corner: What it means to be an Indie Author”
Thanks for joining me today for The D.I.Y. Author Release Party. I hope you found a few useful tidbits here. For more tips and advice, you’ve got to buy the book. If you miss the window for the D.I.Y. Store, you can still purchase this useful writer’s reference here: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author
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WordCrafter Books Are Discounted for the 2024 Smashwords Read an Ebook Week
Posted: March 3, 2024 Filed under: Book Sales, Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Historical Fiction, Humor, Mythology and Legend, Nonfiction, Paranormal, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Fiction, Smashwords, Speculative Fiction, Stories, Western, Women in History, Women's Fiction, Women's Fiction and Poetry, WordCrafter Press, Writing Reference, Writing Resource, Writing Tips | Tags: 50% Off, Books, Smashwords 2024 Read an eBook Week, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments
When:
March 3 – 9, 2024
Where:
On Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek
What:
All WordCrafter Press books
The Discount:
50% off!
Find all WordCrafter Press books on Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kaye_LynneBooth
Get all your favorite WordCrafter Press books today!
If there are WordCrafter Press books on your TBR list, now is the time to buy them. All WordCrafter Press Books are 50% off for the Smashwords 2024 Read an Ebook Week. That’s right. All titles in the WordCrafter Press catalog are on discounted 50% this week only on Smashwords.
Titles Included:
- Ask the Authors: Writing Reference Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Ask the Authors 2022: Writing Reference Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Behind Closed Doors: A Collection of Unusual Poems, by Robbie Cheadle
- Delilah: Book 1 of the Women in the West adventure series, by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Feral Tenderness: Poetry & Photography, by Arthur Rosch
- Hidden Secrets: Paranormal Mystery Novella, by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Last Call and Other Short Fiction: short story collection, by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Lingering Spirit Whispers: Paranormal Anthology bundle, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Once Upon an Ever After: Modern Fairy Tales & Folklore, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Poetry Treasures: Poetry Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle, et. al.
- Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships: Poetry Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle, et. al.
- Poetry Treasures 3: Passions: Poetry Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle, et. al.
- Raise the Tide: Daily Devotional, by James Richards
- Refracted Reflections: Twisted Tales of Duality & Deception, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Small Wonders: Reflective Poems, by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Spirits of the West: Western Paranormal Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- The Rock Star & The Outlaw: Time Travel Adventure, by Kaye Lynne Booth
- Visions: Multi-genre Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Where Spirits Linger: Paranormal Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
- Whispers of the Past: Paranormal Anthology, by Kaye Lynne Booth, et. al.
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Writer’s Corner: Words of Wisdom – Writing advice through the ages
Posted: August 7, 2023 Filed under: Writer's Corner, Writing, writing advice, Writing Tips 4 Comments
Quoting the Experts
Jim Neighbors’ character, Gomer Pyle is always quoting the infamous Grandma Pyle, with words of wisdom for every occasion. As writers, we have many ‘Grandma Pyles’ to offer writing advice and advice on life, in general. Below you will find some of my favorites. Feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.
“Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure, when mere facts are dust and ashes, and forgotten.”
Neil Giaman
“Writing is like a whore. First, I did it for my own pleasure. Then, I did it for the pleasure of my friends. And now, I do it for money.”
Ferenc Molnar
This quote has been attributed to author Virginia Wolf, but acording to Quote Investigator, the original author was French playwright Ferenc Molnar.
“Our greatest weakness is in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Thomas Edison
Another way of expressing this particular idea:
“Stopping a piece of work just because it’s hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it & sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing to do is shovel shit from the sitting position.”
Stephen King – On Writing
And my personal favorite, which I often use like a motto, was put quite succinctly by the character of Lone Wadi in the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales:
“Endeavor to persevere.”
Chief Dan George as Lone Wadi in The Outlaw Josey Wales
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
J.R.R. Tolkien – “The Riddle of Strider”
This quote was taken from a poem in The Fellowship of the Ring, so it wasn’t offered up as advice per-se, but I think it is good advice, because isn’t that what we, as authors do? We wander down paths unexplored to see what happens, and how the story comes out. But just because we may not know where we’re going, it doesn’t mean we’re lost. In fact, we usually emerge enlightened, with a killer story to show for it.
“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.”
Anne Rice
I find this quote to be spot on. Any type of expression involves a certain amount of risk, and writing is no exception. It’s this open and honest type of writing that is received best. Readers know, they can feel when an author has written from their heart, but to do that, the author must open themselves up and allow themselves to reveal their own vulnerabilities.
“It is a happiness to wonder; it is a happiness to dream.”
Edgar Allen Poe
Every writer should be able to relate to this quote. It’s what we do. We wonder. We dream. And stories emerge.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Author Annonymous
This quote is my all time favorite. It is not the hardships which life throws at us, but how we handle them. I love it. I’ve had quite a bit thrown at me lately. I need to remind myself of what really matters.
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References
(Frances Molnar) Quote Investigator. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/01/17/for-pleasure-for-money/
(Thomas Edison & Neil Gaimon) Brainy Quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/neil_gaiman_403389
(Edgar Allen Poe) Goodreads Quotes: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9927514-it-is-a-happiness-to-wonder-it-is-a-happiness-to
(Stephen King) Book Riot: https://bookriot.com/stephen-king-quotes-about-writing/
(Anne Rice) Brainy Quotes: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anne_rice_383179
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Want exclusive content? Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. She won’t flood your inbox, she NEVER sells her list, and you might get a freebie occasionally. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, just for joining.
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Review in Practice: Million Dollar Productivity
Posted: July 10, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Nonfiction, Review, Review in Practice, Writing, writing advice, Writing Business, Writing Tips | Tags: Book Review, Kaye Lynne Booth, Kevin J. Anderson, Million Dollar Productivity, Nonfiction, Review in Practice, Writing, writing advice, Writing Tips, Writing to be Read 10 Comments
I have to tell you, Kevin J. Anderson is the most prolific writer I know, but there are others. I met many of these incredibly productive authors through my studies under Kevin J. Anderson. I think they all hang out together. And honestly, when I first began to see what KJA does, putting out at least five novels a year, plus co-authoring books and screenplays adapted from his books, run WordFire Press, orchestrate his SuperStars Seminars every February and his classes at Western Colorado State University, and go to numerous Cons and writing seminars throughout each year, all I could say was, “Wow!”
Million Dollar Productivity, by Kevin J. Anderson is the book where he reveals all the tips and tricks which make him into the most prolific writer I know. So, when I received a digital copy of Million Dollar Productivity, for the 9th Stretch goal met in KJA’s Dragon Business Kickstarter Campaign last January, I had to give it a read. (I had already read the companion reward book for this stretch goal, On Being a Dictator. You can read my review here.) As I had suspected, I already knew and practiced many of the tips given in this book. After all, I studied under the author. But there were others that I either didn’t know about or hadn’t tried.
One of the ones I think have been most helpful to me was to set goals and stick to them. In class, we were required to create business plans and set goals for the coming year. I began to employ this strategy in the fall of 2021, a year in which I had published two anthologies, one poetry and one short fiction, and nothing else. When I am listening to people in the business who are telling me that you need to have a large inventory of IP (intellectual propeties), be prolific enough to put out several books each year, and have multiple streams of income to make a sustainable living from your writing, and looking at the couple of books per year that I was putting out, I knew I was going to have to do better, and I planned accordingly. I found that making a plan and setting some goals which keeps me moving in a forward progression.
As a result, in 2022, I published five anthologies: Ask the Authors 2022, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships, Once Upon an Ever After, Refracted Reflections, and Visions. Anthologies probably aren’t as helpful as novels would be, but it was a start. In 2023, I will publish two anthologies, Poetry Treasures 3: Passions and Midnight Roost, plus two books of my own, Delilah and The Rock Star & the Outlaw, and of course, my debut poetry collection, Small Wonders. And I’ve already begun to plan out the books I intend to publish in the coming year. You have to admit, four to five books per year is an improvement on the one or two per year that I was producing previously, so that one suggestion, which is offered in this book, helped to make me a more prolific publisher.
Working on different projects at the same time is another tip which I have found helpful, although this is something that I have done for several years, but it is included in Million Dollar Productivity, and it is an effective strategy for getting a lot accomplished. I’m not talking about multi-tasking, but more like time-sharing – you work on your latest manuscript for a time, but when you seem to tire of it, you set it down and go work on the editing for the anthology you’re working on, and when you get tired of that, answer a few emails and then back to writing, for instance. Of course, KJA suggests an approach that is a little less haphazard, but it’s good advice none-the-less. He also points out other modes of writing, which can be used in various places.
Letting the first draft be bad and edit, goes hand-in-hand with knowing the difference between writing and editing, tips which most writers have heard many times in their writing careers, but that doesn’t make them any less true. These are both tips that I will have to work at incorporating into my writer’s toolbox. I am notorious for editing as I go, which takes extra time, but turns out a top quality draft with little editing required.
This book is filled with lots of writing tips and advice for busy authors who want to increase their productivity. These are the strategies that worked for the author, Kevin J. Anderson, and they could work for me or you. Whether you’re a full time author or one who writes on the side while working at some other job for your livlihood, this book will have something helpful for you. It’s one of those books I will have to go back and visit time and again.
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For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; and book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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WordCrafter Press’ Spring Writer’s Sale
Posted: May 3, 2023 Filed under: Ask the Authors, Book Covers, book marketing, Book Promotion, Book Sales, Books, Cover Art, essays, Indie Publishing, Interview, Nonfiction, Promotion, Publishing, Self-Publishing, Writing, Writing Life, Writing Process, Writing Reference, Writing Tips | Tags: Anthology, Ask the Authors 2022, Bobby Nash, Chris Barili, Jeff Bowles, Kaye Lynne Booth, Kevin Killiany, L. Jaagi Lamplighter, Mario Acevedo, Mark Leslie Lebefvre, Nancy Oswald, Paul Kane, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Spring Writer's Sale, WordCrafter Press, Writing Reference 2 Comments
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3LnK8e
Eleven authors share writing tips and advice on writing, publishing and marketing.
Visit the Ask the Authors 2022 page here to learn more about this ultimate writing reference anthology.
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Holiday Sales from WordCrafter Press
Posted: December 9, 2022 Filed under: Anthology, Book Promotion, Books, Editing, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Nonfiction, Paranormal, Poetry, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing Tips | Tags: Book Deals, Holiday Sales, Kaye Lynne Booth, Merry Christmas, WordCrafter Press 4 Comments
This is a purely promotional post. All the great holiday specials that WordCrafter Press is offering this season warrent a post of their own. These are all books that you’ve heard about before, so I’m not going to offer long-winded explanations of the books, but if you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, or maybe you’vebeen eyeing a few WordCrafter Press titles for yourself, peruse the offerings below for substantial holiday savings, and enjoy.
Whispers of the Past: https://books2read.com/u/38EGEL
Spirits of the West: https://books2read.com/u/ml2Kxq
Where Spirits Linger: https://books2read.com/u/mYGyNG
Hidden Secrets: https://books2read.com/u/38RZ2O
Last Call and Other Short Fiction: https://books2read.com/u/4jL2no
Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships – https://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK
Something for my author friends
Write it Right: https://writingtoberead.com/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/write-it-right-quality-editing-services/
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Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, as a sampling of her works just for joining.
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WordCrafter News: Halloween Book Event and Looking Ahead to November
Posted: October 31, 2022 Filed under: Anthology, Ask the Authors, Book Event, Book Promotion, Book Release, Books, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing Life, Writing Reference, Writing Tips | Tags: Ask the Authors 2022, Halloween, Sonoran Dawn Studios, Visions, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 3 Comments
Halloween Book Event Party!
It’s Halloween! My favorite time of year. This year, you’re invited to come join WordCrafter and Sonoran Dawn Studios in the All Hallow’s Eve – The Web We Weave Autumn Cider Book Event on Facebook. It is today from 12 pm MST, so come join in the fun by clicking on the link below. There will be lots of treats and maybe even a few cool tricks.
WordCrafter Press is offering several giveaways and you can vote on the best audio story or excerpt from stories featured in all three 2022 WordCrafter anthologies: Once Upon an Ever After, Refracted Reflections and Visions, each narrated by the story’s author. Pick up a copy of your favorite WordCrafter paranormal anthology for the special Halloween sale price of .99 cents. Find out how to get a copy of any of the 2022 WordCrafter releases and get a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2023.
With author takeovers by Robbie Cheadle, Joseph Carrabis and myself. And don’t forget to check out the offerings from our gracious host, Sonoran Dawn Studios. Plus lots of good music and other entertainment. It will be a hauntingly good time, so I hope you will join us. See you there!
New Release!
I don’t know how you coud have missed it, with the extensive blog tour we just ran, but in case you did…
Visions is available now!
18 talented authors share their Visions with you. Get your copy from your favorite distributor today: https://books2read.com/u/49Lk28
Valuable Writer’s Toolkit!
Ask the Authors 2022 will be available in the Writer’s Career Toolkit Bundle, currated by Kevin J. Anderson, throughout the month of November. The intitial 5 book bundle is $5, but for $20, you can get all 15 writing references, including Ask the Authors 2022. It’s a great deal for authors! just in time for NaNoWriMo this year. Pick up your bundle of valuable writing tools today.
Purchase Link: https://storybundle.com/writing
NaNoWriMo Challenge
Having Ask the Authors 2022 as a part of the writing tool bundle this year, just in time for National Novel Writing Month and being able to peruse all the other wonderful writing references which are included has given me the urge to try to do the NaNoWriMo thing once more. I tried this challenge once before, back when I still really had no idea how to write a novel, and I failed miserably.
Since then, I ‘ve learned a lot about writing and a lot about this writing challenge that I hadn’t yet realized back then. For one thing, this challenge isn’t inteneded to produce publishable novels, but rather very rough first drafts. For another, although the goal is 50,000 words, which is probably not a full novel anyway, you don’t have to start from square one. I know of writers who are right now plotting out their story, with no intention of writing by the seat of their pants. (Of course, back then, that was the only way I knew how to write.) When Tuesday, the 1st of November roles around, they will be locked and loaded and ready to write.
That one realization is what made me change my thinking, because I have a novel already started, which I hope to realease in 2023, and this writing challenge could be a good way to help that happen. So, with partial novel in hand, I prepare to take the NaNoWriMo writing challenge once again.
Can I do it this time? That’s left to be seen, but I think changing my goals a bit to adding 50,000 to what I already have, and by following some of the great time management strategies found in Aisley Oliphant’s Booked to the Gills, which is also included in the Writer’s Career Toolkit Bundle, (see my review here), I might be able to meet this challenge head on now. For this challenge, I plan to work on my Time Travel Romance, The Rockstar and the Outlaw, which is based on the music of The Pretty Reckless and has been sitting on a back burner while I worked out a few obstacles that I ran into with it. Any of you out there who are feeling the urge are, of course, welcome to join me, as I set goals, block out writing time, and probably drive myself crazy writing an awesome story, (or at least a bad first draft). If you do plan to participate in NaNoWriMo, let me know in the comments, so I won’t feel so all alone.
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Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, as a sampling of her works just for joining.
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Ask the Authors 2022 is featured in KJA’s Writing Tools Bundle
Posted: October 1, 2022 Filed under: Anthology, Ask the Authors, Book Promotion, Books, Nonfiction, WordCrafter Press, Writing, Writing Business, Writing Challenge, Writing Inspiration, Writing Life, Writing Process, Writing Tips | Tags: Aisley Oliphant, Ask the Authors 2022, Kevin J. Anderson, L. Jagi LAmplighter, Mark Leslie Lefebrve, WordCrafter Press, Writer's Career Toolkit Bundle Leave a comment
Where can you find publishing industry experts willing to share their secrets?
Ask the Authors 2022 is the ultimate writer’s reference, with tips and advice on craft, publishing and marketing. Eleven experienced and successful authors share what works for them and offer their keys to success in traditional publishing, hybrid, and indie. You’ll learn industry wisdom from Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Kevin Killiany, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Bobby Nash, Paul Kane, Nancy Oswald, Chris Barili, Jeff Bowles, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Mario Acevedo and Kaye Lynne Booth.
This book offers up-to-date and tried-and-true ways to improve your craft, explores current publishing and book marketing worlds. Take a peek inside and find out what works for you.
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Every year, Kevin J. Anderson curates a Writer’s Career Toolkit Bundle in coincidence with NaNoWriMo, because we all know that those crazy writers who knock themselves out at this time of year to produce 50,000 words in 30 days, need all the help they can get.
This year, Ask the Authors 2022 is one of those books to be included in this useful bundle of books for writers! We are in great company. L. Jagi Lamplighter has a book of her own in the bundle, The Art and Craft of Writing and Mark Leslie Lefebrve has a book co-authored with D.F. Hart, MBA, Accounting for Authors. Also included are books by big name authors such as Joshua Essoe, Joanna Penn, Kevin J. Anderson, and David Farland. There’s even a book by one of my cohorts, Aisley Oliphant, Booked to the Gills, which is aimed at writers of 30 day writing challenges, and will be helpful to those preparing to participate in NaNoWriMo. (You can see my “Review in Practice” for Booked to the Gills, here.)
The Writer’s Career Toolkit Bundle – Curated by Kevin J. Anderson
This is the time of year when a lot of people turn their thoughts to writing. Challenges such as the National Novel Writing Month (November) and other writing groups and workshops encourage you to push your craft and productivity. So, each year I put together a big writing StoryBundle packed with insightful books on a wide range of topics relevant to writers, both newbies and old pros. I include craft books, basic advice, time management and productivity, careers planning, publishing, and marketing—the complete bag of tricks!
This year we have fifteen titles, enough to keep you busy planning your next project and your entire writing career.
For basics, I’ve included Kaye Lynne Booth’s comprehensive Ask the Authors 2022, the ultimate writing reference anthology, with writing tips and advice from eleven different authors on everything from pre-writing rituals, to character development and world building, editing and revision, publishing, book marketing and more.
L. Jagi Lamplighter’s sharply insightful The Art and Craft of Writing delves into the nature of storytelling itself to discover simple and practical steps that can bring our writing to the next level.
And if today’s most successful publishers, editors, and writers wanted to share the lessons they’ve learned, would you listen? Here’s your chance in Titans Rising: The Business of Writing Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror in the 21st Century by William Alan Webb and Chris Kennedy.
Next, if you’re ready to write that novel, Joanna Penn will get you started with How to Write a Novel, everything you need to write your book from idea to finished final draft.
David Farland’s Million Dollar Outlines is the seminal writing manual on outlining and structuring a book to make it reach the largest audience, written by well-known master and teacher.
And Kevin Ikenberry’s Mercenary Guide to Story Structure gives a great overview of your story: All stories have structure—learn the ins and outs of the most common modern structures and how they enhance your characters and thestories they inhabit.
And you can’t get anything done unless you learn how to find and organize your writing time. Booked to the Gills: How to Crush Thirty-Day Writing Challenges for Busy People teaches time management, workload distribution, and other skills for writers who feel they have no time to participate in writing challenges such as National Novel Writing Month. Now to more specific skills, depending on what you’re writing.
Joshua Essoe continues his series of Guides with Worldbuilding, written by an editor from the perspective of tackling all the most-common issues writers struggle with when creating worlds.
On Writing (and Reading!) Short by Ron Collins is a celebration of writing, reading, and living short fiction.
Interested in writing scripts? My own book of Clockwork Angels: The Comic Scripts contains nitty-gritty inside examples of how to write a comic script, all six complete scripts for the BOOM! Studios comic series from bestelling author and award-winning comic writer.
In The Non-User-Friendly Guide for Aspiring TV Writers by Steven L. Sears, a veteran successful TV writer shares tips and inside knowledge on how to break in to writing for TV.
Once you have your masterpiece completed, you need to turn your mind to the business. If you decide to go the indie publishing route, a vital guidebook is Chris Kennedy’s Indie Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores, which teaches both the craftand business of writing.
Sarah Painter’s Stop Worrying; Start Selling:The Introvert Author’s Guide to Marketing shows you how to take control of your success as an author and build your readership through authentic, low-stress marketing.
Christopher D. Schmitz sells thousands of paperbacks every year by identifying his fanbase and targeting where those folks go… and he shows you how to replicate his success in Sell More Books at Live Events.
And finally, you can’t forget about the numbers. Read Accounting for Authors by D.F. Hart and Mark Leslie Lefebvre. Regardless of how you are publishing, having a solid understanding of basic accounting principles allows you to make the most out of your author earnings and calculate your
pathways to success. With this StoryBundle, you’ll be well equipped for your writing and
publishing journey. – Kevin J. Anderson
For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of five books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.
On Writing (and Reading!) Short by Ron Collins
The Art and Craft of Writing by L. Jagi Lamplighter
Essoe’s Guides to Writing: Worldbuilding by Joshua Essoe
Indie Publishing for Profit by Chris Kennedy
Booked to the Gills by Aisley Oliphant
If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all five of the regular books, plus ten more books for a total of 15!
Million Dollar Outlines by David Farland
Clockwork Angels – The Comic Scripts by Kevin J. Anderson
The Non-User-Friendly Guide for Aspiring TV Writers by Steven L. Sears
Stop Worrying; Start Selling by Sarah Painter
Accounting for Authors by D.F. Hart, MBA and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
The Mercenary Guide to Story Structure by Kevin Ikenberry
Ask the Authors 2022 edited by Kaye Lynne Booth
How to Write a Novel – From Idea to Book by Joanna Penn
Sell More Books at Live Events by Christopher D. Schmitz
Titans Rising edited by William Alan Webb and Chris Kennedy
This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com .
It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file
transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub, .mobi) for all books! It’s also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.
Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.
• Get quality reads: We’ve chosen works from excellent authors to bundle together in one convenient package.
• Pay what you want (minimum $5): You decide how much these fantastic books are worth. If you can only spare a little, that’s fine! You’ll still get access to a batch of exceptional titles.
• Support authors who support DRM-free books: StoryBundle is a platform for authors to get exposure for their works, both for the titles featured in the bundle and for the rest of their catalog. Supporting
authors who let you read their books on any device you want—restriction free—will show everyone there’s nothing wrong with ditching DRM.
• Give to worthy causes: Bundle buyers have a chance to donate a portion of their proceeds to the Challenger Center for Space Education!
• Receive extra books: If you beat the bonus price, you’ll get the bonus books!
StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.
For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us
at @storybundle and like us on Facebook . For press inquiries, please
email press@storybundle.com .
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The 2022 Writer’s Career Toolkit Bundle launched on September 29th and will be available thorugh the end of November. So, before you sharpen your pencils and limber up your fingers for the upcoming writing challenge, grab you bundle and warm up your brain cells to do your best writing ever!
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In celebration of this momentus event, eight of the contributing authors to Ask the Authors 2022 are getting together to tell us more about this great bundle and offer more writing tips and advice. Contributing author Mark Leslie LeFebrve will host myself, Bobby Nash, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Kevin Killiany, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Nancy Oswald, and Mario Acevedo, on his Stark Reflections podcast. I’ll keep you posted as to when that podcast session will air.
