Things I have learned while writing my first novel

I would like to start off with two quotes here first that explains so much of what I have dealt with.

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage—as long as you edit brilliantly.”
― C.J. Cherryh

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

I have learned so much while writing my first novel and am still learning everyday as I continue writing. After writing my first draft of Echoes from a Hollow Soul, I thought it was great and complete all on its own. When I put it away for a little while, thoughts about the second book were coming to me. I thought about the first book some more and knew I needed to add more to it. There needed to be more. I wanted it scarier, with more emotion, just more! I don't know when this editing process will be done with this first book, but I can honestly say when it is done it will be exceptional. I've noticed many writers with there first novels take years to get it to publishing standards. So another thing I am learning is to be patient, and not to hurry this, or else I might publish something that isn't quite right.

I honestly believe reading is ones main tool for writing. Stephen King sure got that right. During NaNoWriMo I pushed reading to a back burner. I now know that should not be done. Yes I need lots of time to write during that month to get 50,000 words in but I still need to make time for a little bit of reading as well.

I have also made some great friends with authors, to be authors, and just writers in general through this whole experience. I hope to meet many more and continue down this road, because even if my stories go no where they are a part of me and I love them.
 ~

In other news I have started reading The Copper Witch by Jessica Dall. This is book one of the Broken Line Series, which is a historical romance. It will be available March 13th, 2014 from 5 Prince Publishing  Here is a little blurb about the book:

Adela Tilden has always been more ambitious than her station in life might allow. A minor nobleman’s daughter on a failing barony, Adela’s prospects seem dire outside of marrying well-off. When Adela catches the eye of the crown prince, Edward, however, well-off doesn’t seem to be a problem. Thrown into a world of politics and intrigue, Adela might have found all the excitement she ever wanted—if she can manage to leave her past behind.

I haven't read a historical romance in quite a while. I am excited to compare it to other ones I have read. So far I am 40 pages into it and so far it is very good, keeping me intrigued. Adela is a real chatter box but that can be expected when you live in a town of mostly sheep. I cant wait to delve more into this book. I have a feeling I won't be able to put the book down.

Lots of Revising Changes!

Okay this revising is going to be taking a little more time then I thought. Since I have changed some major points in my book. I have made the beginning a whole lot longer now. Instead of one chapter covering her being in the first mental institution it is now in four or five chapters. Not really sure where it will end quite yet since I'm not all the way done with it. I now have Alexia and Shade being basically strangers in the beginning so as I continue through the book there will have to be some changes in how their partnership continues and grows. Hopefully I will have this all done by June 30th. That way I can get my two free paperbacks through Createspace so I can have family and friends read through it. I technically hope to have it done by April but we will see.

I have also kept on writing on my newest story Ousted and hope to continue with that until its finish. Although I think this one will be a while till its finished since I am revising most of the time instead of working on this current story. But that is okay. I will finish it one day. I have many story ideas in mind. Currently I have 7 story ideas mapped out. Of course that changes once I start writing a book especially one I have marked that is going to be a series. I know when I start writing book 2 to Echo's from a Hollow Soul that I will be thinking of the next book. It's a never ending cycle.



Okay, I lied to myself. But in my defense these two books I received I did not buy myself. I received from Allen:

The Giver by Lois Lowry
and
Cress by Marissa Meyer

I also finished reading:


Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am glad I reread this series before continuing on to Tempt the Stars, I forgot a lot of stuff that happened that I would need to know for this next book. The only thing I didn't like really about this book is that it left off on a cliff hanger and I have a feeling this next book will as well. I so hope she finds and ends up with Pritkin. Not bashing on Mercea but those vampire politics are to much for me and I don't thing she needs someone like that.

View all my reviews

AND

Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finally got to read some stories that I have wanted to since I started this series. Most of these short stories pertain to the dark hunter series but two were just regular romance short stories. They were both very good.

View all my reviews
 

I am now currently starting/reading 2 books and 1 short story:

this is the short story of John Pritkin in the current Cassie Palmer Novel's that I am reading

and

All the books bought on my little holiday

Here is the list of books that I got on my little holiday on February 1- 4th. Also here is a picture of the necklace Allen got me for our anniversary. He also got me a  Barnes and noble gift card which I used that weekend as well.

And now for the Epic list of bargain books/ books bought with a gift card:

1. Sabriel (book 1) by Garth Nix
2. Lireal (book 2) by Garth Nix
3. Abhorsen (book 3) by Garth Nix (These three books I have read before and have been wanting to reread them for quite a while along with this next book which I have yet to read.)
4. Across the wall: A tale of the Abhorsen and other tales  by Garth Nix (Also found out there should be a fourth book to this series and can't wait to read it)
5. Kitty Takes a Holiday (book 3) by Carrie Vaughn
6. Kitty's House of Horrors (book 7) by Carrie Vaughn (It was $2 so I had to get it and I knew I would continue with this series so I had to get it)
7. Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn
8. Web of Lies (book 2) by Jennifer Estep
9. Venom (book 3) by Jennifer Estep
10. Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon and other writers
11. Witch (book 2) by Marie Brennan (I have been wanting to read this book for a long time and now I need to go back and reread the first one and can't wait till I can get to this book to know the true ending)
12. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
13. Outlander (book 1) by Diana Gabaldon
14. Dragonfly in Amber (book 2) by Diana Gabaldon
15. Voyager (book 3) by Diana Gabaldon (I got this series because my Aunt Becky recommended it to me and now that I have the first three in my possession and I can't wait to begin them)
16. The Way of Shadows (book 1) by Brent Weeks
17. Shadow's Edge (book 2) by Brent Weeks
18. Beyond the Shadows (book 3) by Brent Weeks (I have  been wanting this trilogy since 2008 when it first came out just because of how the cover look)
19. Scarlet (book 2) by Marissa Meyer (The third book just came out and I cannot wait to start this series)
20. Blood Rights (book 1) by Kristen Painter
21. Midnight's Daughter (book 1) by Karen Chance (I read the Cassie Palmer novels and this is a story about Cassie's kinda boyfriend's Daughter. So of course I'm intrigued)
22. Wicked: Witch and Curse (book 1 & 2) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié
23. Blue Bloods (book 1) by Melissa De La Cruz
24. Time Weaver (book 5) by Shana Abe (I now have the complete series. I have read the first two but now that I have all the books I am going to go back and reread those first two and complete the entire series)
25. Early to Death, Early to Rise (book 2) by Kim Harrison (As you may know I love everything done by Kim Harrison so far so I thought I would try this series but unfortunately on book 2 was on sale so now I have to get the other books)
26. Beautiful Chaos (book 3) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (I read Beautiful Creatures which is the 1st book before the movie came out and now want to continue with the series I already own book 2 so now I should get to reading the rest of this series)
27. Ruby Red (book 1) by Kerstin Gier (I have heard so many good things about this series on youtube book channels so I have to see what all the hype is about)
28. Darkest Mercy (book 5) by Melissa Marr (I have read the first three books and it is not my favorite series but I want to finish what I have started. I now have the whole series and need to make myself finish this series)
29. Marley and Me by John Grogan (Great movie, now time to read the book!)
30. The Last Apprentice (book 1) by Joseph Delaney (I bought this book for Allen but I also would like to start and read this series)
31. Witch and Wizard: Graphic Novel (book 1) by James Patterson (Again I bought this for Allen who has read this series and now wants to read the graphic novel but I do plan to read this series someday)
32. Daniel X: Graphic Novel (book 1.5) by James Patterson (Again I bought this for Allen who has read this series and I do want to read this series as well some day)

Okay there is the epic list I hope you enjoy! I know I will. Now to put all these books away (le sigh). The only other book I plan on buying this month is Kim Harrison's newest novel Undead Pool when I go meet her for the first time, unless if they have her other books at the book store as well which I need to complete her YA series. 

I finally got some writing done and now plan to write some more after I'm done with this. Now whether it will be revisions or continuing on to writing my second novel now that is the question. But I will figure it out soonish.

This has been my biggest book haul ever so far lets hope that doesn't happen again for a while.

Little Holiday

So for the past four days I have not been writing. I know bad Rocki! But in my defense I did go on a little holiday getaway with my significant other Allen since it was our anniversary and his birthday is today so it was a two for one special. Anyway on our little getaway I went shopping for books because how could I not right! So at the first book store I went to there were books up front that were all at a bargain price... most of them were set to $2... How could I not buy these!!! I mean How am i supposed to stop myself. So I ended up buying like 16 there. Then we went to another store in a mall and they had used books for cheap as well and I ended up buying 2 there even though there were a total of five that I wanted... see i have some restraint. Then we ended up going to this third one I have never been to and I just bought one from there even though I saw four that I wanted. I am getting better at saying no to books I swear!  Okay I'm not you caught me. Then when we came home I forgot that I wanted to get the next book to Spider's bite by Jennifer Estep so I had to go to barnes and noble and see if they have it there... of course they don't but they did have the third books so I thought why not and got that one. Now I have to go online and get the second one. While shopping the first time when I bought 16 books I got a Kitty Norville novel I think it was like book seven and I have only read the first three novels so I have to go and get the fourth one of that... so I will have a very big February book haul vlog...


Speaking about Vlog's I do have a new one up just click on the vlog button at the top and it will take you to my video's. Those books I wont list out like I did in my book haul one because they are books I have read and I have a list of those for this year in the reading tab. I should be back to writing/editing tomorrow but we will see.

ADIOS

Book review/ writing update

I just finished with

DIY Publishing: A step-by-step guide for print and ebook formatting and distribution
by Maggie McVay Lynch 

 

I gave it four out of five stars. 

Here is the review I wrote about it: This was a very interesting read and very informational. Some of it I skimmed since it didn't pertain to me or it was something I wouldn't use. The cover design portion I really liked since I have never helped design a book cover before. I will definitely reference back to some points in this book later on down my publishing career.  

 

 

I am now on to reading Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 This is a collection of short stories so I will also be rereading Hunt the moon by Karen Chance

This is the 5th book in the Cassandra Palmer series I have had to reread the series again since the 6th book came out a few months ago and I didn't remember a lot so I have been rereading these and I can't wait till I get to the one I haven't read yet. 

Writing update

So writing wise I am rewriting/editing the first part of Echoes from a Hollow Soul. For February my plan is to have this story either almost finished or all the way done. It is my main priority. For January I have written about 30,000 words on Ousted. I plan to also keep on writing on this story. I have a feeling this story is going to be a long one. But I could be wrong. Since I don't write by an outline I kind of go where the characters take me.

I do have some scenes mapped out and the ending is pretty much set but the in between well that is where the adventure lies I always say. 

Well I think that is all for the updates that I have right now... on Saturday I think I will try to make a vlog going over the books I read in January and the books I plan to read (possibly) in February. I will also post all the titles here so that if you don't catch it in the video, you can still find it somewhere. 

 

 

 

I received my book today!!!!!!!!!

Look that's my name there on the cover! Now time to read through this copy and perfect the paperbacks I will eventually receive for friends and family to read. This was the first time doing this so I learned a lot from the experience and will make some changes and hopefully have a great book to sell when I do decide to self publish.

And I also wanted to give a big Thank You to my friend Laura for doing the design of the cover for me! I couldn't have done it with out you! 

 I'M SO HAPPY!!!!! *happy snoopy dance*



I also made a youtube video for the first time the other day on a book haul for this month. If you did not catch all the titles to the books in the video I will post them here now.

• Dark Bites By Sherrilyn Kenyon
• Shadow Kiss: Graphic Novel By Richelle Mead
• Shadow and Bone By Leigh Bardugo
• Game Slaves By Gard Skinner
• The Demon King By Cinda William Chima
• The Exiled Queen By Cinda William Chima
• The Gray Wolf Throne By Cinda William Chima
• The Crimson Crown By Cinda William Chima

Reading update / Writing

I finished Innocence by Dean Koontz a few days ago and I did post a review on goodreads. I will post it here though as well.

 Omg Dean Koontz you did it again. It was hard for me to ever put this book down and stop reading. He kept me intrigued till the very end. I love how his books always make you think about the possibilities of life and what it entails. Makes you question everything. This book intrigues you with wondering how disfigured this main character has to be in order to enrage so many people. In the end I was shocked not even thinking of that possibility.

 Now I am on to reading Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep.

Very interesting so far. As for my book that I ordered it looks like I will have it by late Monday or Tuesday. I can't wait! I have already added to chapter one and broke it up into two parts. In the beginning I am adding a whole bunch of new stuff. I think it will be more interesting this way and will provide more information that is needed for the reader to understand some things later in the book. I have been toying with the idea for book two for a couple weeks now and now I have idea's coming to me for a book three. I have also been revising my summary for Echoes from a Hollow Soul, so the back of the book will be as perfect as what held with in its pages.

Also for the end of the month I will be writing a blog on my January book haul, of all the books I received in January. And at the end of February I will be meeting one of my favorite authors Kim Harrison! I cant wait there will probably be lots of pictures for that as well. Lots to come!

Things to think on or comment on:
Where do you get your story ideas?
How many books are in your to read pile?