Snow Days are Great for Reading and Writing

/

We got another round of the white stuff yesterday. I'm hoping it's winter's final hurrah. The sleet, freezing rain, and snow are getting tedious. But, late starts, early releases, and snow days are great for reading and writing.

I finished Ellery Adams' Murder at the Mystery Suite. Her cozy, set in the mountains of Virginia, takes place at a resort for book lovers. I'm ready to schedule a vacation in her idyllic village. Her characters and world are fun and full of whimsy. But don't get too comfortable. Someone is willing to kill for a first edition.

Last night, I started Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins. It's full of lots of good advice for anyone who has to deal with people.

On the writing front, I'm collecting all of the second round of edits for Virginia is for Mysteries II. We are almost ready to send this to the publisher. I'm excited about our latest collection of stories.

And tomorrow, our SinC-CV group is hosting a boot camp about how to use social media.

I hope your weekend is filled with lots of opportunities for reading and writing. And maybe spring is really around the corner...

What I Learned from Mary Burton's Writing Process

/

The Virginia Romance Writers recently invited our SinC-CV group to attend their February meeting to hear Mary Burton's presentation on writing. Here's what I learned...

1. Write your first draft and finish it. You can edit at another stage.

2. Set daily page or word count goals. You will stay on track if you have deadlines.

3. When you start to edit, check the last word of each sentence to make sure that it's strong.

4. Create a list of overused or weak words. When you're editing, go through and search for each one. Get rid of the dead weight.

5. If you're bored with your manuscript, your reader will be too.

6. Pay attention to your work's setting. Know your location. GoogleMaps can help.

7. Know where your work fits in with the market and be able to explain it. But don't write to the market.

8. Make sure that you have escalating conflict.

9. Don't make your heroes and villains flat. They need to be well rounded and interesting.

What Makes Our Critique Group Work

/

I love my critique group. I learn as much from the discussion of others' works as I do from when they review mine. Our background, genders, age groups, and life experiences are varied, and that's an asset because of the breadth of knowledge. The group shares resources, reads, and provides reviews for published works.

Here's Why Our Group Works...

1. No one knew each other before we started the group, and there were no predetermined alliances.

2. We set the rules/procedures up front, and we review them to see if they need to change.

3. We have one standing facilitator and a backup if she can't attend.

4. Participants don't have to provide materials for each review at each meeting. It's up to the submitter to determine when he/she has items to review. I don't submit every month, but it keeps me motivated and provides deadlines for writing.

5. The comments/feedback aren't personal. We all have a common goal to get our work published, and we want to make our manuscripts as strong as possible.

6. We mark typos, punctuation, and grammar issues, but we don't spend the group's discussion time dwelling on these types of issues.

7. In the discussion, if more than one person agrees or disagrees with a comment, we pipe up when it's mentioned instead of repeating the same things over and over.

8. We commit to reading and providing feedback each month as part of the group. It takes time, but it is worth it.

I have learned a lot from this group. If you are serious about writing, you need a good, strong writing partner or critique group.

Suffolk Mystery Authors' Festival

/

Virginia is for Mysteries authors hosted three panels at the Suffolk Mystery Festival last weekend. I had the pleasure of presenting "The History of the Mystery" with Maggie King and Teresa Inge.

It was fun to meet all of the cozy mystery readers and writers at the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center.


What Words Are Off-limits in Your Writing?

/

How good are you at self-editing? I'm a great editor for others, but I don't see mistakes in my work. That's why my critique group is invaluable. Each member has his/her own specialties. When my stories or manuscripts make it through this group, I know they are ready for the next steps.

I've learned from this group that I have some crutch words. I've created a list, and when I'm editing, I go back and look for ways to remove these.

Here are my biggest offenders...

  • Just
  • Only
  • That
  • This
  • Was
  • Were
  • Said

I also tend to overuse names and colors.

Now that I've stared my list of things to look for, my writing is tighter before it gets to the critiquers.

Happy writing.

Writing Stuff...

/

It's raining here in Central Virginia. It's a good day to work on my manuscript. I'm editing chapter thirty-one. I also made a gift basket for Virginia is for Mysteries for the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). It's full of mugs, hot chocolate, chocolate candies, other goodies, and a copy of our VIFM anthology.

Disney and Riley also tried on parts of their Halloween costumes. They were not that enthusiastic about the entire ordeal. They only hung out because they were promised treats.

I hope you have a great weekend. Happy writing and reading!