ARC and Reviewers

Last week my editor informed me that the ARC (advanced reading copy) of my book, IT HAPPENS IN THREES, is just about ready to go to reviewers.

Being new to this industry, I asked, "What does that mean?"

Reviewers are (for the most part) influential readers that will post a review of your book on the internet and/or newspapers and other print media.

Authors many times make a personal contact with a reviewer that they like so that reviewer will agree to read their book. This often works better than just sending out review copies cold.

There are also many online reviewers that will accept an electronic version of the book. You can get great blurbs and endorsements from reviewers that will help in promotion of the book. Many authors love to get blurbs, but it is not mandatory.

Final copies can also be sent to reviewers after the publication date. There are some big name reviewers that will ONLY look at an ARC.

This is all good information!!

Writing Prompt Response

Sorry it took so long. Sometimes life just bites, and recently I've been bitten. Unfortunately, it wasn't a love bite. :-)

Not to worry... I'm back on track. Here's my writing prompt response.

She never expected to find. . .

She never expected to find an envelope of diamonds and a 9MM when she pulled up the floor board.

Writing Prompt

Time to put on the creative thinking cap. Here's your latest writing prompt.

She never expected to find. . .

Writing Groups

What are your thoughts on writing groups/organizations and critique groups?

Personally, I have found most to be very helpful. I joined RWA and NHRWA back in 2003 and from the moment I went to my first meeting I found a great support group. There I was, this wannabe/inspriring writer and there they were, this group of professional, experienced, and new writers all there to help each other out.

What exactly do you get from these groups?

I guess that depends on what you want. My NHRWA group has a monthly meeting where they share the latest information from RWA, talk about/create special events that help us all move forward in our goals, and have a speaker who discusses a topic to help with your writing craft or getting published.

In addition to that, NHRWA has a writing critique session at the end of the meeting so anyone who has a chapter they want to read and share to get feedback/input can do so. The best part of that is if you've actually read something you're inspired to leave there and go write more. Heck, even if you didn't bring anything you'll probably be inspired to go home and write.

I also have a group of people I met in one of my college courses, including the teacher, who we now get together to share our work, critique each other, and brainstorm. Sometimes you just stall, but when you get together with these folks they're there to help.

Most of all, I believe these groups give you encouragement. There could be 5 or more people at a critique session all writing different story ideas, but everyone participates and gives feedback. It's even interesting to see 5 people all writing that same kind of story (mystery for example) but their voices and their styles are completely different.

Let me end this cheering for these groups by saying that I value these people and their opinions, but more than anything I cherish their support and friendship.

Last Week's Writing Prompt Response

Sorry for the delay in sending an idea. Hopefully you all came up with something exciting. Here's my off the cuff shot.

Prompt:

When she entered the motel room...

My sentence:

When she entered the motel room, Angel stopped short, covered her mouth and nose with her free hand and attempted to keep the contents of her stomach down as the stench that washed out of the room assailed her.

One of those weeks AND good news

Sorry for neglecting my blog. Sheesh! It's been one of those weeks. Work has been wicked busy. The psychology class I signed up for turned out to be a dud so I dropped it. Hate that!

But the good news is that my publisher just sent me the pre-proof for my book!!! Yippee!

Now I get to see what they've done for edits and make my own. I love this process!

I'll send out my reply to last week's writing prompt shortly.

Writing Prompt

Time for another boost of creativity. Here's this week's writing prompt.

When she entered the motel room. . .

Show vs.Tell

I'm sure some of you writers attend writing critique groups, or maybe you belong to an online critique group, perhaps some of you have sent work to an editor. At some point on your path to becoming a published author you've probably had someone use the phrase "show, don't tell".

Do you really know what that means?

The best way to explain this is to show you. :-)

Tell:
Carol was walking on the beach near the ocean.

Show:
Sandals hooked to a finger, Carol inhaled the salty air. She strolled, the warm crystalline sand sinking beneath her feet, and scrunching between her toes. When she turned in the direction of a seagull's squawk, water-laden air wafted against her face, and lifted her hair from the back of her neck.

See the difference? The "telling" was flat without emotion. In the showing I never told you Carol was walking on the beach, but instead I drew you a picture with the words and from them you could gather she walked on the beach near the ocean.

Showing pulls your reader into the story, let's them see, feel, experience what your characters are going through.

Why don't you try this? Use the same example or show me. . .Cold, Anger, Scared

Discussion Topics

As you can see I've been doing most the talking on this blog. But, hey, I can talk with myself anytime. :-)

I wanna hear about some writing topics that are of interest to you. Let me know and we'll start a blog conversation.

In the meantime, I'll keep posting whatever pops into my head.

Response to weekend writing prompt

The prompt was:

Believing his sincerity. . .


What did you come up with? Or were you too busy enjoying the long holiday weekend to think about writing? Okay, not that I blame you. I just came up with this a minute ago.

Believing his sincerity when he’d said he loved her had been Jane’s biggest mistake. It had almost cost her life.

Let's see what you did.