Entries Tagged as 'Writing'

Lady Sitwell’s Party. And an update.

March 11th, 2024 · No Comments

I’ve finished the first round of serious line editing on the Witch Novel and now I need to buckle down and make the more serious changes needed. And maybe think of a name for the damned thing. In poking around my folder of miscellaneous writing advice, I came across some exercises I did from WONDERBOOK […]

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Tags: News · Uncategorized · Writing

Witch Novel update

January 24th, 2024 · No Comments

I survived the comments from Reader #2. Most suggestions are easy to implement or require just a bit of revision. One of the areas requiring major change wasn’t a surprise at all, as I was never sure that it really worked anyway. Lots of positive comments helped, of course, so I wasn’t required to visit […]

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Tags: Writing

I used that word HOW many times?

December 27th, 2023 · No Comments

I’m waiting for some ‘bigger picture’ comments on the Witch Novel so thought I might as well proceed with some ‘easy’ editing. This involves searching the document for weasel words* and my own personal pet words (notably ‘dark’ and ‘pale’. God, I love those words). Weasel words include things like: suddenly, finally, merely, huge, most, […]

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Tags: Uncategorized · Writing

Too busy to work …

September 18th, 2023 · No Comments

As usual, I dove into the annual cottage getaway with plans for writing, editing, flamenco practice, etc. But the weather was fabulous, the mornings misty, the afternoons glorious, and so I mostly dove into the the lake (ok, I went down the later), went for walks, and read books. Je ne regrette rien.

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Tags: Travel · Writing

April is the Cruelest Month

April 29th, 2023 · No Comments

Yes, I know it’s overused, but April has not been kind to me. First up, COVID. I paid the price for sitting in a coffee shop for two hours by testing positive at the end of March. Gestures were made towards isolating from my husband but he inevitably came down with it as well. His […]

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Tags: Writing

First Review Done

April 17th, 2023 · No Comments

Finished off the first review of the novel. Conclusions: Next steps: Onward!

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Tags: Uncategorized · Writing

Second Draft Ready to Go

March 21st, 2023 · No Comments

I’ve now ignored the shitty first draft for about 2 months so it’s time to start the less shitty (let’s hope) second draft. I’m starting with some suggestions from Matt Bell’s book REFUSE TO BE DONE for my revision process – but I’m quite sure I’m going to draw the line at writing the book […]

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Tags: Writing

It was February. I did some things.

March 3rd, 2023 · No Comments

While the Witch Novel is marinating (i.e. I printed off all 299 pages but have not looked at them AT ALL), I’ve turned my attention to my other project, The Glass World Thing. This is the project that started as a fluffy modern romance, switched gears to become a historical fiction supernatural thing (possibly not […]

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Tags: Books · Uncategorized · Writing

SHITTY FIRST DRAFT DONE!

January 22nd, 2023 · No Comments

Last Monday, sitting in Balzac’s Coffee Shop on Market Street across from Gemma Files, I finished the shitty first draft of the the Witch Novel. Cue the celebratory noisemakers and confetti. (Sadly, there was no champagne for me as I’m doing dry January.) I know shitty first drafts are the thing but I struggle with […]

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Tags: News · Uncategorized · Writing

Rocks and Shoals

November 20th, 2022 · No Comments

Or perhaps the mid-month slump. I’m on target for my NaNoWriMo goals but definitely feeling like I’m tap dancing like crazy and waving my jazz hands in an attempt to conjure up something meaningful to write. To take the dance from metaphor to reality, I’m also working on my piece for the next flamenco video […]

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Tags: Uncategorized · Writing