Blog book tours are much like regular book tours, except the authors get to answer questions and don't necessarily get to sign books. However, it's great for them, because it generates more buzz about their upcoming books, and it's great for the readers, because they get to learn something about the book in advance.
So, here's my question to you, my readers: if you could ask the writers who are going to be on my blog one favorite question, what would it be? Please post your questions here. I can't guarantee that I'll use them, but I'm definitely interested in what you'd like to know.
I'm planning to do the first of the blog interviews in the first week of July, so hurry and post your questions, please! Thanks!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Making Time to Write
Some of the best books on writing and the writing lifestyle suggest that you make time every day to write. They suggest everything from an hour a day minimum to all day once a week, to going by number of pages per day.
While those books have the write, I mean right, idea, sometimes they can be a little unrealistic for those with time constraints to follow. It doesn't allow for emergencies, unexpected company (sometimes that is an emergency!), acts of God, etc.
I agree that it's important to make time to write. However, if you cannot make time every single day, you shouldn't say to yourself, "Oh, I'm not following the suggestion in the book, therefore I'm not a writer." Nonsense. You're a writer if you love to write and do it even occasionally. You're an author if you persevere to the point of publication, which means setting ego aside and taking constructive criticism about your work, making edits, and trying to fit into the buying market.
And, if you can't write more than one sentence a day, make that sentence count!
While those books have the write, I mean right, idea, sometimes they can be a little unrealistic for those with time constraints to follow. It doesn't allow for emergencies, unexpected company (sometimes that is an emergency!), acts of God, etc.
I agree that it's important to make time to write. However, if you cannot make time every single day, you shouldn't say to yourself, "Oh, I'm not following the suggestion in the book, therefore I'm not a writer." Nonsense. You're a writer if you love to write and do it even occasionally. You're an author if you persevere to the point of publication, which means setting ego aside and taking constructive criticism about your work, making edits, and trying to fit into the buying market.
And, if you can't write more than one sentence a day, make that sentence count!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Best Laid Plans Department
You know how sometimes you can have the best plans in the world? Plans about how you're going to do this or that, and you feel as though absolutely nothing will ever stop you? And then something comes along that not only stops you, but makes you feel as though you'll never be able to get back on track?
That just happened to me, in case you were wondering why there were no new writing blogs lately. I've even had trouble keeping up with my 10,000 Book Challenge Blog at eharlequin.com. However, I am trying to get back to normal (or whatever passes for normal around here!), and hope to bring you more tales of my writing adventures soon!
That just happened to me, in case you were wondering why there were no new writing blogs lately. I've even had trouble keeping up with my 10,000 Book Challenge Blog at eharlequin.com. However, I am trying to get back to normal (or whatever passes for normal around here!), and hope to bring you more tales of my writing adventures soon!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Time and Typing
Of all the things a writer has to do, I think making time to write may be among the hardest. There are so many things in life that can steal time away from writing: reading (a necessary activity for a writer), a day job, eating, sleeping...
I think the important thing is not how many words can you squeeze into a day, but just to write whenever you can. Do your best work, no matter what. And if it's horrible, don't give up. At least you've written something! Remember, even something dreadful might have potential. With editing (your own, please, first!), it could become something wonderful!
I think the important thing is not how many words can you squeeze into a day, but just to write whenever you can. Do your best work, no matter what. And if it's horrible, don't give up. At least you've written something! Remember, even something dreadful might have potential. With editing (your own, please, first!), it could become something wonderful!
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Book Review: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WRITING AND SELLING THE CHRISTIAN NOVEL by Penelope J. Stokes, Ph.D.
Since writing Christian fiction is a goal of mine, having passed up the dreaming stage to the point where I'm actually working on it, finding this book at the library was like finding a handhold on a rock face when you're halfway up the mountain.
Dr. Stokes not only edits Christian fiction, she writes it as well, so she gives the reader both viewpoints. She begins with a definition of Christian fiction as accepted by the CBA, i.e., evangelical fiction, mentioning notable authors of fiction whose viewpoint is Christian but may not be evangelical, such as Madeline L'Engle, Richard Kienzle, C. S. Lewis, and others. She continues with an ennumeration of the types of Christian fiction, including romance, prophetic action/adventure (I don't think she labeled it that, exactly!) such as the Left Behind series of Dr. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins and the truly scary and wonderful books of Frank Peretti, Christian fantasy, etc. (It would be easier to write this review if I hadn't had to turn the book in yesterday!)
This book has a nuts and bolts approach to writing. Dr. Stokes dissects the writing process, and shows you how it's done for today's market. She gives the reader insightful techniques to polish and perfect their writing. This book would be useful even for writers of non-Christian fiction.
One extra plus: at the end of the book is a checklist with chapter headings, reiterating the points she made in that chapter, where the reader can analyze his or her motivation for writing, check off plot points, work on characterization, and make sure the book is moving in the direction it started. On a scale of one to ten for useful tools for writers, I'd give this one a ten!
Dr. Stokes not only edits Christian fiction, she writes it as well, so she gives the reader both viewpoints. She begins with a definition of Christian fiction as accepted by the CBA, i.e., evangelical fiction, mentioning notable authors of fiction whose viewpoint is Christian but may not be evangelical, such as Madeline L'Engle, Richard Kienzle, C. S. Lewis, and others. She continues with an ennumeration of the types of Christian fiction, including romance, prophetic action/adventure (I don't think she labeled it that, exactly!) such as the Left Behind series of Dr. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins and the truly scary and wonderful books of Frank Peretti, Christian fantasy, etc. (It would be easier to write this review if I hadn't had to turn the book in yesterday!)
This book has a nuts and bolts approach to writing. Dr. Stokes dissects the writing process, and shows you how it's done for today's market. She gives the reader insightful techniques to polish and perfect their writing. This book would be useful even for writers of non-Christian fiction.
One extra plus: at the end of the book is a checklist with chapter headings, reiterating the points she made in that chapter, where the reader can analyze his or her motivation for writing, check off plot points, work on characterization, and make sure the book is moving in the direction it started. On a scale of one to ten for useful tools for writers, I'd give this one a ten!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Moving to a New Location
Moving is never easy, even when it's on-line. However, since I discovered that my former blog location didn't allow comments except from other members of the site, I was already considering it. Then today, I wanted to put a post on a member's site here at blogger and discovered that she wasn't allowing posts from just anyone, so that did it!
It will probably take some time before I'm fully moved in over here. In the meantime, you can find my previous writing blogs at Hope Chastain, writer's blog. As moves go, I think this one won't be so bad.
It will probably take some time before I'm fully moved in over here. In the meantime, you can find my previous writing blogs at Hope Chastain, writer's blog. As moves go, I think this one won't be so bad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)