Today I received a phone call from Barnes and Noble in Nashua, New Hampshire. I have been invited to a local authors' book signing September 16, 2007. Of course, since B&N doesn't work with my distributor I have to bring in my own books. But that's okay. Whatever it takes to get my books signed and sold at B&N. I have had several book signings at B&N when my old now defunct publisher was with Ingram and Lightning Press, and sold a number of books of my novel The House On The Bluff, the first book in the Legacy Series. Now, I will have not only the first book in the series but the second book as well to offer. The Gatekeeper's Realm is Book 2 in the series and I am hoping that those who purchased the first one will be eager to read more and purchase the second book. There is a third book to the series which is not in print as yet, but that shouldn't be too long in coming. Anyway, that's my thoughts for today.
Oh, I should mention that on August 13, I will be hosting on my blog, Kim Baccellia virtual book tour. Hope you'll drop in and get to meet Kim
Elena
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
So You Want to Write A Novel
Hi, Everyone...These are some pointers I picked up along the way and thought to share them with you.
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A NOVEL?
If your work has been written, bound, and someone else is the audience, does anyone really have to be paid for their work to be published? Is it less valued if the work has been for one's family rather than the marketplace? Or is it valued because someone simply believed that what you have written is worth reading?
Stop dreaming about being a writer. Stop thinking about being a writer. Stop talking about writing. Just write. Use paper and pen, word processor, typewriter or tape recorder, but start. Then follow through until you've said what you must. Remember, there's always editing tomorrow.
You should have an idea or two that you'd like to write about. Begin by putting the first words on paper (or a file in the computer). You don't have to be structured at this point, because as you write, you may decide to reposition some of your paragraphs or chapters to other parts of the book. Just continue to write. Try to do at least 10 pages, (double-spaced) a day. Always finish the sentence or paragraph you are working on before you stop writing. If possible jot down a few notes on where you think you'll be going with the story before you leave it so you won't start out cold the next time. You don't really have to know the ending before you start. It will come in time.
When you begin again, reread what you have written the previous time, and continue on. You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish by doing this. You don't have to know the ins and outs of a particular place from a first hand experience as long as you do research on the subject or area you are writing about. Writers, artists, and crafts people learn from their mistakes as well as creating good work. No creative person created a masterpiece without many words, brush strokes, or stitches in their needlework. It is the sum total of a person's work that allows her to become skilled. One must write every day and evaluate and rewrite later. There can always be rework of the original, but there must be an original.
Remember it's only the first draft, it's not cast in stone. Make time to write. Early morning or late at night. I started writing after the kids went to bed and continued to two or three in the morning before my husband turned out the lights. (I had to go to work the next day). Like exercise, it is hard to get started and hard to be self-disciplined, but the process becomes the reward. It simply feels good doing it. The pleasure and absorption of the creative person is its own reward.
I found myself writing during working hours when something popped into my head. If it's not possible to do this (write during working hours) try using a recorder. A thought here, a sentence there, and when you reread your notes, you can come up with a chapter or two. This is important because one can never recapture those fleeting thoughts, even if one thinks so. Once gone, it seldom re-emerges. Always carry a tape recorder or small notebook with you so you can jot down these precious gems when they make themselves known.
When writing don't think about the big picture. Concentrate only on one chapter at a time. If the opening paragraph stumps you go to the next and go on from there. Before you know it, looking back, you've accomplished far more that you could have imagined possible. As a race-horse must wear blinders to keep himself from being frightened by distractions, so too must writers keep their focus on smaller portions of their environment to enable concentration and creativity.
Remember for writers: The key to success in writing is focus, focus, focus.
Don't get hung up on words. If you can't come up with the right word you want to use to begin with, place something similar in that spot that will trigger your memory and research it later. When I'm stuck on a particular thought or paragraph, I put a couple of asterisks in bold letters in the problem area and continue working elsewhere. Initials will work too. When I'm ready to go back and tackle the problem, or insert missing data or details, I use the search and replace feature on my word processor to find those asterisks and get going again.
Always keep a Thesaurus or Synonym Finder by your side as you write. I do.
Always get to know your characters. Define your characters by filling out a character chart on each one. Detail everything you'd like your character to be and how you expect your character to behave. This way, when the character in question does something or acts out of character you'll know something isn't right.
Setting is most significant in a mystery story. But it's just as important in other stories as well. If you can't visit various sites for atmosphere, research.
Certain moments in real life seem to imprint themselves on one's brain. Why these particular scenes are locked in is unclear but analyzing them and describing them can be useful to your stories, either the one you're working on or another at some other time.
What's the first thing you do when you put together a jigsaw puzzle? Several answers are suggested -- find the corner pieces, find the straight edges, do the top, bottom, and sides, etc. But the answer really is: The first things you do is pour out all the pieces on the table, and then you sort them out.
Now when writing an article or articulating an idea write -- without any thought to form or structure. Pour out all your ideas for the piece into your computer. After that, rearrange your thoughts. Print a draft copy so you can refer back to particular phrases after you start changing the sequence of your original thoughts. This simple puzzle idea really helps keep one on track.
The technique of clustering to record the first flush of unorganized ideas about a subject helps to quickly jot down fleeting thoughts about people and places.
All stories must have conflict -- good versus evil, a triumph over a problem. Always ask yourself -- what's the conflict in my story. How did my subject overcome it?
Research, research, research information you wish to include in your story. Even in fiction writing, when using any historical incidents, be sure they are accurate. There is nothing worse than a writer including in their work inaccurate historical references that can easily be dismissed by the reader, who may then do the same with your work.
Before you sit down to write, make sure (as much as possible) that all distractions have been eliminated so your creativity isn't disrupted. Always wear comfortable clothing; have something to drink nearby (ex. water, juice, coffee, tea...no hard stuff please) so you won't have to stop working to quench your thirst. The same applies to snacks and/or lunches -- if you're working through.
So what if after all of the above, you can't get past the first three chapters of a novel? Don't despair. Put it aside and start something else. Perhaps they weren't meant to be a book on their own, only short stories, or, those chapters may come to fruition in another novel and at another time.
After printing out the first chapter, because everything always looks different when actually printed in black and white, re-read it, make corrections and changes in red (so it can be seen easily) then re-type, with emphasis on smoothness and continuity. Before going on to the next chapter.
When all the chapters have been written, edited and printed out, and your story or book is finally complete, re-read the entire project making changes as you do. Re-type and repeat the process until you feel comfortable with what you have written before you let anyone else see or read it. Because if you get hung up on a sentence or section, so will the reader.
After my critic's have commented on my work and I have made the suggested changes and all seems well, I send it out to publishing houses and/or agents and wait. I try to keep three copies of a story out at one time. When rejections arrive, I immediately send my work out again to the next name on the list. But that was before I acquired an Agent. Still, I always keep duplicates of my work. Copies have been known to go astray before (and even after) reaching the editor's desk.
The most important factor to remember is, keep positive and keep writing. Perseverance will win out.
Good Luck And Best Wishes.
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A NOVEL?
If your work has been written, bound, and someone else is the audience, does anyone really have to be paid for their work to be published? Is it less valued if the work has been for one's family rather than the marketplace? Or is it valued because someone simply believed that what you have written is worth reading?
Stop dreaming about being a writer. Stop thinking about being a writer. Stop talking about writing. Just write. Use paper and pen, word processor, typewriter or tape recorder, but start. Then follow through until you've said what you must. Remember, there's always editing tomorrow.
You should have an idea or two that you'd like to write about. Begin by putting the first words on paper (or a file in the computer). You don't have to be structured at this point, because as you write, you may decide to reposition some of your paragraphs or chapters to other parts of the book. Just continue to write. Try to do at least 10 pages, (double-spaced) a day. Always finish the sentence or paragraph you are working on before you stop writing. If possible jot down a few notes on where you think you'll be going with the story before you leave it so you won't start out cold the next time. You don't really have to know the ending before you start. It will come in time.
When you begin again, reread what you have written the previous time, and continue on. You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish by doing this. You don't have to know the ins and outs of a particular place from a first hand experience as long as you do research on the subject or area you are writing about. Writers, artists, and crafts people learn from their mistakes as well as creating good work. No creative person created a masterpiece without many words, brush strokes, or stitches in their needlework. It is the sum total of a person's work that allows her to become skilled. One must write every day and evaluate and rewrite later. There can always be rework of the original, but there must be an original.
Remember it's only the first draft, it's not cast in stone. Make time to write. Early morning or late at night. I started writing after the kids went to bed and continued to two or three in the morning before my husband turned out the lights. (I had to go to work the next day). Like exercise, it is hard to get started and hard to be self-disciplined, but the process becomes the reward. It simply feels good doing it. The pleasure and absorption of the creative person is its own reward.
I found myself writing during working hours when something popped into my head. If it's not possible to do this (write during working hours) try using a recorder. A thought here, a sentence there, and when you reread your notes, you can come up with a chapter or two. This is important because one can never recapture those fleeting thoughts, even if one thinks so. Once gone, it seldom re-emerges. Always carry a tape recorder or small notebook with you so you can jot down these precious gems when they make themselves known.
When writing don't think about the big picture. Concentrate only on one chapter at a time. If the opening paragraph stumps you go to the next and go on from there. Before you know it, looking back, you've accomplished far more that you could have imagined possible. As a race-horse must wear blinders to keep himself from being frightened by distractions, so too must writers keep their focus on smaller portions of their environment to enable concentration and creativity.
Remember for writers: The key to success in writing is focus, focus, focus.
Don't get hung up on words. If you can't come up with the right word you want to use to begin with, place something similar in that spot that will trigger your memory and research it later. When I'm stuck on a particular thought or paragraph, I put a couple of asterisks in bold letters in the problem area and continue working elsewhere. Initials will work too. When I'm ready to go back and tackle the problem, or insert missing data or details, I use the search and replace feature on my word processor to find those asterisks and get going again.
Always keep a Thesaurus or Synonym Finder by your side as you write. I do.
Always get to know your characters. Define your characters by filling out a character chart on each one. Detail everything you'd like your character to be and how you expect your character to behave. This way, when the character in question does something or acts out of character you'll know something isn't right.
Setting is most significant in a mystery story. But it's just as important in other stories as well. If you can't visit various sites for atmosphere, research.
Certain moments in real life seem to imprint themselves on one's brain. Why these particular scenes are locked in is unclear but analyzing them and describing them can be useful to your stories, either the one you're working on or another at some other time.
What's the first thing you do when you put together a jigsaw puzzle? Several answers are suggested -- find the corner pieces, find the straight edges, do the top, bottom, and sides, etc. But the answer really is: The first things you do is pour out all the pieces on the table, and then you sort them out.
Now when writing an article or articulating an idea write -- without any thought to form or structure. Pour out all your ideas for the piece into your computer. After that, rearrange your thoughts. Print a draft copy so you can refer back to particular phrases after you start changing the sequence of your original thoughts. This simple puzzle idea really helps keep one on track.
The technique of clustering to record the first flush of unorganized ideas about a subject helps to quickly jot down fleeting thoughts about people and places.
All stories must have conflict -- good versus evil, a triumph over a problem. Always ask yourself -- what's the conflict in my story. How did my subject overcome it?
Research, research, research information you wish to include in your story. Even in fiction writing, when using any historical incidents, be sure they are accurate. There is nothing worse than a writer including in their work inaccurate historical references that can easily be dismissed by the reader, who may then do the same with your work.
Before you sit down to write, make sure (as much as possible) that all distractions have been eliminated so your creativity isn't disrupted. Always wear comfortable clothing; have something to drink nearby (ex. water, juice, coffee, tea...no hard stuff please) so you won't have to stop working to quench your thirst. The same applies to snacks and/or lunches -- if you're working through.
So what if after all of the above, you can't get past the first three chapters of a novel? Don't despair. Put it aside and start something else. Perhaps they weren't meant to be a book on their own, only short stories, or, those chapters may come to fruition in another novel and at another time.
After printing out the first chapter, because everything always looks different when actually printed in black and white, re-read it, make corrections and changes in red (so it can be seen easily) then re-type, with emphasis on smoothness and continuity. Before going on to the next chapter.
When all the chapters have been written, edited and printed out, and your story or book is finally complete, re-read the entire project making changes as you do. Re-type and repeat the process until you feel comfortable with what you have written before you let anyone else see or read it. Because if you get hung up on a sentence or section, so will the reader.
After my critic's have commented on my work and I have made the suggested changes and all seems well, I send it out to publishing houses and/or agents and wait. I try to keep three copies of a story out at one time. When rejections arrive, I immediately send my work out again to the next name on the list. But that was before I acquired an Agent. Still, I always keep duplicates of my work. Copies have been known to go astray before (and even after) reaching the editor's desk.
The most important factor to remember is, keep positive and keep writing. Perseverance will win out.
Good Luck And Best Wishes.
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Monday, July 23, 2007
My Book Trailer
Hi,
I have been working off and on for several months on a book trailer for all nine of my books. But I haven't spent every second of every day on it. I think I've gone as far as I can with it, but I'm waiting for my son and daughter to let me know what they think before I go public with it. At the moment, I haven't any music to go with it, and have been thinking of what music I would like to be able to use. I would love to use one of Chris Daughtry's songs. But I wouldn't know how to go about asking Clive Davies for permission, or have the money I am sure it would cost to do so. Anyway, I wouldn't know which one to choose...but it would have been nice.
I've been working on a new novel...it started out as a novella, but is now a novel...the tentative title is The Odessey. Whether that is what the final outcome will be...I can't say as yet. I'm still working on it and wonder where it will all take me...I have an idea for the ending, but it hasn't materialized yet. Well, tomorrow is another day.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
I have been working off and on for several months on a book trailer for all nine of my books. But I haven't spent every second of every day on it. I think I've gone as far as I can with it, but I'm waiting for my son and daughter to let me know what they think before I go public with it. At the moment, I haven't any music to go with it, and have been thinking of what music I would like to be able to use. I would love to use one of Chris Daughtry's songs. But I wouldn't know how to go about asking Clive Davies for permission, or have the money I am sure it would cost to do so. Anyway, I wouldn't know which one to choose...but it would have been nice.
I've been working on a new novel...it started out as a novella, but is now a novel...the tentative title is The Odessey. Whether that is what the final outcome will be...I can't say as yet. I'm still working on it and wonder where it will all take me...I have an idea for the ending, but it hasn't materialized yet. Well, tomorrow is another day.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Blog Name Change
Hi, All:
I just changed my blog URL to elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com. I thought the older version was too long and could be a hindrance, therefore the change. Frankly, I didn't know what else to change it to other than what I did.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
I just changed my blog URL to elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com. I thought the older version was too long and could be a hindrance, therefore the change. Frankly, I didn't know what else to change it to other than what I did.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Readers' Station Anthology
Coming Soon: Journeys of a Lifetime
Anthology - from the Readers' Station
Contributions by Elena Dorothy Bowman, Bryn Colvin, Nikki Leigh, Dorice Nelson, Nora Peterson, Ginger Simpson, Donna Sundblad, Angela Verdenius, and Anne Whitfield
There is an interesting combination of fiction in many genres and unusual non fiction titles. There's a little bit of something for everyone. More information will be posted soon by the publisher, Write Words, Inc., Cambridge Books and ebooksonthe.net.
Visit the Readers Station at: www.readersstation.com
Thank you,
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenabowman-scifimysteryromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Anthology - from the Readers' Station
Contributions by Elena Dorothy Bowman, Bryn Colvin, Nikki Leigh, Dorice Nelson, Nora Peterson, Ginger Simpson, Donna Sundblad, Angela Verdenius, and Anne Whitfield
There is an interesting combination of fiction in many genres and unusual non fiction titles. There's a little bit of something for everyone. More information will be posted soon by the publisher, Write Words, Inc., Cambridge Books and ebooksonthe.net.
Visit the Readers Station at: www.readersstation.com
Thank you,
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenabowman-scifimysteryromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The New Book Review Blog and My Virtual Book Tour
Hi, Everyone:
I just sent the New Book Review a copy of my review of the Gatekeeper's Realm...yes I had permission from Romance Junkies to do so. It will be up on their blog soon if not sooner. The URL is: www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com...The New Book Review is...
...associated with Authors' Coalition, founded by Carolyn H0ward-Johnson, directed by Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner.
Another place to advertise our books. Also want to let you all know that I am on my virtual book tour and today I am at Plug Your Book: http://www.plugyourbook.blogspot.com.
Take a moment to drop by both blogs and leave a comment. Thanks.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenabowman-scifimysteryromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
I just sent the New Book Review a copy of my review of the Gatekeeper's Realm...yes I had permission from Romance Junkies to do so. It will be up on their blog soon if not sooner. The URL is: www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com...The New Book Review is...
...associated with Authors' Coalition, founded by Carolyn H0ward-Johnson, directed by Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner.
Another place to advertise our books. Also want to let you all know that I am on my virtual book tour and today I am at Plug Your Book: http://www.plugyourbook.blogspot.com.
Take a moment to drop by both blogs and leave a comment. Thanks.
Elena
Elena Dorothy Bowman
************************************
Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenabowman-scifimysteryromanceauthor.blogspot.com/
e-mail: elenadb@comcast.net
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Novel "Pearl" by Newt Gingrich
I just completed the novel "Pearl" by Newt Gingrich. I had heard that the book was based on historical fact with some fiction thrown in. Also that it was from a Japanese point of view as well as American. I will say that I was intrigued by the way the book was written. Newt did a great job in describing how the Japanese felt, and their determination to be considered an equal to the rest of the world, even if it meant deceiving others to accomplish their goal. I knew what happened at Pearl Harbor in 1941, and how that attack affected our nation, however, I found the book very interesting and learned a little more about what led up to it. What was surprising to read was how the Japanese felt that attacking Pearl would help them achieve their goal. They had hoped that it would not lead to war but to their higher standing in the Pacific. To their dismay, it didn't turn out that way, but since they had made the first strike, they believed the destruction of our Navy would lead them to complete victory over the United States. This is the first book of the series and it starts long before the attack and ends with it. Book 2, from what I've heard picks up at that point in this series. I highly recommend to anyone interested in history to read this book.
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