Blur Cover in final phases

This is a rough of the final phase of the cover for Blur which is in that last part of edit mode. I wanted to share this because it took a while to come up with this concept and frankly I think it looks good. There are still some elements that will be tweaked in regards to font color and placements, but overall I'm very excited that the book will be coming out in about a month or so. The next step is to have my beta readers read their ARCs give me feedback and then the last revision before publishing begins. Its looking like and mid November publish date.

I will be sure to keep you posted

writers write
Orlando

The Scythe of simplification

My second book Blur is in the edit process. It feels just like this-going over each word, each line and taking a scythe to it. Looking at each word, sentence- can it be cut- made simpler?  Can the story be made tighter- the pace faster here, slower here?  Its a long tedious process, but its necessary in order to create a book I can be proud of. Yes there are times I feel like the reaper when I go through the revision / edit process. Yes there are moments I would rather put it off because I know it means work, sometimes a lot of work. However I am a writer and this is what I enjoy doing. No one said it was going to be easy, actually everyone warned me it was going to be tough thankless work most of the time, and still I jumped in.

So I will sit with my story, sharpen the scythe and act the reaper when needed. When Im done a much leaner book will emerge to engage and thrill readers- starting with me.

writers write
Orlando

Pulling tight the skein of your writing

I just finished(this past week) the first draft of Blur. It is now in the editing process and being transcribed to a digital format, since I write longhand in something approximating Cyrillic crossed with Japanese. Then the much anticipated but often dreaded rewrite. Im looking at an early to mid May release and I was thinking of the process. A book has one overreaching thread which quickly becomes several threads. These threads then branch off in tangents which are related to the main thread but follow their own course. As a writer you must be able to follow the skein of your story. Pulling tight where the pace needs adjusting, cutting a thread where or when it becomes unneeded. The longer the story the greater the possibility of more threads. I keep them straight ( a very loose term) by staying immersed in the story. How do you keep them straight?

writers write
Orlando

Let it simmer

Blur, my second book is almost done. At this point the end is in sight, on the horizon. Then comes the editing and handing off to my beta readers and then after all that is done and I get all the feedback- nothing. I let it simmer. I don't go back to the book until I actually start to forget parts of it. Why do I do this?  It gives me fresh eyes. It lets me approach the book as a reader not as the writer, which I have discovered has notoriously acute tunnel vision when it comes to my own writing.

I really suggest this as part of the writing process. The best way to let the book simmer is to get on the next book right away. Immerse yourself in your next project while the finished one is simmering. Then when you go back and rewrite and tweak and adjust and tighten the story, guess what is happening to the current project you are working on? It is simmering. So the cycle never ends.

This is what works for me. What works for you?

writers write
Orlando

Making it to the finish line

So I'm on the last few chapters of Blur, my next book. I know when a book is about to end because that's when the procrastination urge hits overdrive. I also make it a point to carry the the unfinished book with me wherever I go. It gives me no excuses to put off writing, no easy outs. For me this is the most challenging part of writing-finishing the book.

Starting is easy, its a new adventure full of possibility. The middle is where the action is, things are happening  its all very exciting. The end? Well have to bring resolution to all that action and oh let me check my email. Wait must bring closure to that scene and  oh so many other non writing things to do!! You get the idea, I'm sure. Bottom line-here is how I did it on my previous book. You get yourself in a chair and just do it. Here you have to be uncompromising, first with yourself and with pretty much everyone else. This comes first. This gets done. Be unwavering. Do not capitulate. Get it done.

How do you make it to the finish line?

See you on the other side.

writers write
Orlando

Inspiration

As I finish my second book, Blur and begin on my third, The Ascendants, I have been asked where do I get my inspiration? I look at my bookshelves and at my kindle and some of the authors there are very prolific,( I have an entire shelf occupied by Terry Pratchett for example) while others not so much. So it got me thinking, where do I get my inspiration?
 I have always been of the mind that as a story teller we don't create new stories, ( is there even such a thing? ) but  that we are the stenographers of space and creative essence. What is commonplace to most, to a storyteller ( insert writer , painter, screenwriter, dancer or any other creative expression) is layered with meaning. We take the commonplace and ask what if? Why do we do this? I couldn't really tell you. Its just the way we are hardwired.

So I get my inspiration from everywhere. From the mundane to the mystical its all ripe for the plucking. The fact that there are so many new books released every day only lends credence to this idea of mine, that we are all tapped into a creative space, but our individuality gives it a unique voice. I believe everyone has access to this, it's just that so few answer its call.

Where do you get your inspiration?

writers write
Orlando

Just write it

On my window sill beside my desk I have no less than ten books on writing your first novel. This is not including the numerous articles I have on my hard drives. Included in this list are  a few must haves - Strunk and White- Elements of Style travels with me everywhere. so does Stephen King-On Writing. The others while good reads- (and think about this, being a writer reading about writing has to be the epitome of procrastination) did not really further my writing or prompt me to write any faster. Now don't misunderstand, I am all for learning and honing our craft of word smithing. Many times that takes reading and learning and studying. However the best way I have found to get better at writing is-writing. So why do I have ten books on writing staring at me everyday?  Well I bought those books before my first book was published and it was really a way to feel like I was progressing in my book without actually having to write. In other words it was busy work, but not real work. Very similar to shifting those papers around from one side of the desk to another but not really doing anything about them.

So here is my advice: Just write it- already.
You want to become better as a writer you have to write, a lot.
You want to become a published writer? It wont happen just thinking about it, only you can write your story.
By all means hone your craft, learn as much as possible. Read the books on writing, get the style guides. Just understand that at the end of the day none of that can replace your voice on a page.

writers write
Orlando