Was/is: The Worst Words

I have always been hesitant about giving out advice to writers, mostly due to the fact that writing is an artful and it is ever changing and no one style is right or wrong, but recently I have been reading through other writers' works and one thing sticks out that always puts me off: the constant use of "was/is". Now I know, "was" and "is" are two very important and basic words to English which makes it almost impossible--if not impossible--to write a novel without at least one of them showing up. However, what really irks me is when I read a paragraph and the verb of every sentence is "was"or "is".

Two paraphrase another writer I worked with, "is" is stagnant. You don't want things to be stagnant you want them to be moving. You don't say the picture is on the wall--you say the pictures hangs on the wall. That wall isn't just being--it props up the ceiling and barricades the kitchen from the living room.

As writers we need to inject life into our words and this is one tactic. So please, fellow writers, take this advice under consideration when writing or editing your novels. No one expects your novel to be "is/was" free, but the less they are featured the better.

Spread the Love!

Valentine's Day is only a week away, so you know what that means, don't you?

It means candy! Loads and loads of candy!

But it also mean special sales and deals, like this one here:

Go to Smashwords and use this code (AS42Z) to get Turning Curse for $2.14. This code expires on February 15th, so act now while you can.

First POV Pt. III

So shortly after my last post, I finally discovered why my version of first person point of view comes off as if the main character is talking to the audience. It's because she is.

The reason why it took me so long to realize this was because the character does it in a subtle way, or technically, I do it in a subtle way.

Now while I never had the character's narrative address the audience directly by saying things such as, "You have no idea how panicked I was when the werewolf lunged at me," I do have her saying thing such as, "Well, damn. That didn't go as planned."  Even though, the idea is that she is thinking that to herself, the latter bit still engages the audience in a dialogue of sorts.

So now that I know what is making my writing come off like one's best friend is talking to them, the question is: do I want to change that?

At this point, I'm still on the fence, but I am leaning toward not changing the narrative. The character is not supposed to be the most likable of protagonists, and so having the narrative possess that subtle friend-like quality might help the reader get through the story, maybe even cause the reader to like the main character despite the character's flaws.

We'll see though.

First Person Point of View Pt.II

After a month of squeezing in time to practice writing first person point of view between other projects, I think I may have finally realized why my writing style feels different compared to other writers' (besides the obvious fact that we are individuals, therefore there are going to be differences in our writing). I believe because of the way things are phrased and the way the main character's narrative digresses it comes off more conversational than literary. In other words, instead of the reader and main character becoming one, or the reader just being an invisible parrot on the main characters shoulder with access to the character's thoughts, it's more like the main character knows the reader is there and is prattling off his/her experiences.

Is that a bad thing? No. Is it a good thing? Eh, not really sure. It was never my intention to have a narrative like that. I can only think of one positive thing about such a narrative, which is that because it so conversational/friendly it might be more engaging/inviting for the audience. The negative side, though, is that the reader could get jolted out of the narrative. After all, if you are reading a story and suddenly the main character is talking directly to you (so far that isn't the case with my work, but it could be), you may be taken out of the story. Second, the narrative sounds immature, or at least mine does.

Anyway, I will continue with this first person point of view experiment for now.

The Missing Piece of Childhood

I have a confession: I have never read Harry Potter.

Around the time Harry Potter came out I was still resistant to reading, and by the time I was open to reading I found Harry Potter insulting. Why did I find it insulting? Honestly, I don't remember. I just know I loved witches to the point that I took everything I read about them as fact. Well, as factual as one can take any fantastical creature (and before anyone points out that there are witches; they're just not the ridiculously powerful kind you see in movies, TV, or books; I am aware). For whatever the reason, I thought Harry Potter betrayed what witches, warlocks, wizards, etc. were supposed to be.

Then I got older, and I realized I was stupid.

Even so, I didn't bother reading the series because by that point the hype was so big I didn't want to be disappointed. Then eventually it just became a matter of: What's the point? I was no longer the target audience, and I had been subjected to many birthday parties filled with Harry Potter spoilers as my friends discussed the latest release.

So why bring this up now?

After struggling to write from a child's point of view I decided that this week between writing and editing I will read the first book in the series.

Not going to lie. I'm a little excited.

First Person Point of View

So recently I have been trying to write in first person point of view, and all I can say is...why is it so weird?

I have tried so many times to write in first person, but whenever I do something just doesn't feel right. I know part of this is because I it's different from how I usually write, however, it's not just that. When I read through what I've written it doesn't sound anything like how other authors write in first person. It's hard for me to pinpoint what makes my stuff sound so different in my mind--perhaps there is no difference at all? Even so, at times I think that it may be because I'm "telling" more than "showing", but when I focus on making certain that I am "showing" the writing still doesn't feel right.

Sometimes I like to think it is because of the main character, which makes the problem not as worrisome, but I sense this is more of a result of unpracticed writing skills than the awesome and amazing writing skill to make each narrative have its own voice that reflects the character from whose point of view the reader is reading.

Bleh. At this point, I think I should just keep going and see what happens.

Switching It Up

In a previous post I mentioned that I was working on editing two novels, and as you can probably tell by some of my other posts, I have been doing as I said I would (is it just me or was there a chorus of, "No duh," just now? Let's face it, when do I not talk about me writing/editing?).

I can say with more certainty that the novel I labeled as having a similar tone and audience as Turning Curse will be available in some time. I can't give an estimate, nor would I like to say when I hope it comes out, because such a statement may cause false hope. All I can say at this point is it will be published. In addition, I am not saying this because it will be out any time soon. I'm still in the middle of editing it. The editing process just happens to be going well with this novel.

The second novel has gone through many delays, however. At this point, I doubt it will have the same release date as the aforementioned novel. It may not ever be published. I am also debating whether to switch focus to another novel that could be edited. I won't give up on it completely--there are very few novels that I do, but this may be a novel that if it is ever seen by the public that time will be years down the road, unless things drastically change.

As Time Passes

"Time passes, people move... Like a river's flow, it never ends..." so says Shiek in Ocarina of Time. 

Well, time has certainly "flowed" however, a lot of things are still in the works. Things are being written, edited, thrown away, stared at, yelled at, anything that makes me sound crazy and interesting and not like the hermit that I truly am. Though, perhaps I should rephrase that, because such a statement implies that all hermits are uninteresting, which is not true. I don't have any evidence to prove it one way or the other (in other words I have done no research), but I'm willing to take a leap of faith. 

Anyway, I leave you all with the knowledge that things are progressing, just slowly. Better to take my time in an attempt to put something of quality out there (doesn't mean I will succeed) then to throw something out there and hope everything is perfect.

Goodreads and Page99Test

This is probably a little late for everyone, but for those who don't know, I am a registered author on Goodreads. So while I may not be the most chatty blogger, if you feel the urge to spy on what I am reading or have read you now know where to look. I will say this, though, I don't rate or write reviews. While I do have opinions on what I read, I rather not deal with ensuing, "But in your book....", "You're such a hypocrite", and the "You think your book is better than this one?" It's just a headache I don't feel like dealing with.

You can also find me on Page99Test. Sadly, whenever I try to make a link to the my post on the site it doesn't work, so telling all of you this may be for naught.

Anyway, back to the editing dungeon.

Efficiency vs Beauty

When I a write and edit I am always at war with myself. I always ask myself would it be better to write efficiently or poetically? For example, "He sliced the queen's head off. Droplets of blood flew off the axe, speckling Rosemary's cheeks as she watched in horror," or, "The axe fell like death's scythe, stealing the head off of the queen's pearl-white neck. The crimson that poured from that once unblemished neck, covered the edge of the axe. The momentum of the axe flung the blood that clung loosely to it into the air, and the specks rained onto Rosemary's cheeks as she gaped in horror."

The second is a lot more dramatic, and since it is a death scene, the latter would be the best choice, since I'm trying to make an impact. However, what about those times when the events that transpire are not so important? An extreme example would be the main character eating breakfast. Unless how the protagonist's toast is buttered is relevant to the plot, must I wax on about it?

Still, I read reviews and watch blogs in which people will complain that the language is too simplistic, or lacks creativity. I don't think it's wrong to want a book that does more with the language then simply use everyday jargon or string non-complex sentences together. Language can be quite beautiful, and it's wonderful that there are people out there that want that.

Even so, I love efficient writing. Some may like, "He hurtled down through the clouds like Icarus, swallowed by the sea." Yet I like, "He plummeted into ocean." It's so simple, and it gets the point across. Again, if the protagonist's fall is meant as a dramatic moment, I would be more inclined to choose the the first example. Even so, I appreciate the second sentence. It gives me the information I need to know, and then let's me move on with story.

In a world where a war is being raged over the average reader's attention between social media, video games, movies, work/school, family, and other forms of entertainment, is it wrong to respect the reader's time?

Yes, I don't want to read a novel that is merely dialogue with "he/she said" tagged on at the end followed by an action already repeated twenty times on the same page. At the same time, I don't have the patience to wade through pages of describing what the dinner table looks like, of the history aforementioned table (though I'm sure Tristan Shandy could pull it off marvelously).

Thus, I am always left torn when writing and editing as I try to search for a balance. Although, I think by now anyone who has read this post suspects, which way I tend to lean. I can't deny, when it comes down to it, unless the scene is dramatic/calls for beauty over efficiency,  I tend to agree with Shakespeare:

"Brevity is the soul of wit" (Hamlet Act 2, scene 2).

Although, even his quoted character went on and on:

"My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
What day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time;
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad. . . ."

Really Polonius? You couldn't just say, "Your son is mad"?

Well, not like I can talk, considering this post...

Another Update

It's been a little over two weeks since I last posted, though I suppose that goes without saying.

There is not much to say. I still debate with myself what to do with this blog other than keep readers in the loop with what is going on book-wise. I'm still editing two novels. I sent the slightly older audience aimed book that I mentioned in my previous post to one of my lovely editors to get a better sense of what needs to be changed. As for book number two, I am personally working on it now. I've made some story changes, and now I'm focusing on flow, wording, spelling, and grammar. I can't deny the last two will always elude me. The day I become a cyborg with the ultimate spell check I'll be delighted, assuming I can still feel human emotions.

Perhaps as I get closer to publishing the novels I'll post a preview.

I suppose I could also look through old poems or short stories to see if anything stands out.

Until next time, readers.