Category Archives: Writers helping writers

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers helping writers

Watch out, everyone: I have another book coming out

Leave a comment
Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com

I received some good news recently. A publisher has picked up one of my manuscripts which is part of the Squirrel Mafia series.

I don’t have a working title and need to gather pictures for the book like I did with the first one.

Writing Squirrel Mafia vol. 1 was such a fun book to write as I implored people to look at my POV when it came to squirrels. These animals are not cute, cuddly, or as wonderful as people might think they are.

But they kept on giving me more information and ammo. I suppose, as I took down notes and realized soon that there was enough material to write yet another book on the subject.

I had someone two days ago who said, “ I never understood your massive hatred for squirrels. But then I went down your way, saw them, and had interactions with them to realize I understood what you were going on for so long.

Finally, someone has crossed over to my thinking. LOL

In one section of the new book, you will discover what mushrooms do to them, as well as many more chapters on their antics.

Who knows? Maybe they will give me enough new material that I will be able to write the third installment of this series. And as of now, I have six ideas for chapters.

I know I giggled when I opened the acceptance letter up. It does not get old when a publisher accepts your manuscript.

May it never get old.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writers helping writers

Do you stand behind your manuscript?

2 Comments

When you are exercising, do you hydrate? When your car is overheating, do you add water to the radiator? If it is cold in the house, do you leave the windows open?

When people in your beta or critique group layout suggestions, do you pay attention? Do you ignore what you are hearing? Do you put up a strong front knowing full well the critique is off base?

One example that comes to mind happened a few years ago at my writing group. The group of like-minded people told me I needed to strip two chapters out of my book.

I was shocked. I knew inside that was not going to happen.

Why?

I know my characters, I know my book, and the reason those chapters were in that volume was to help educate children.

I didn’t vocally fight hard for my book at that meeting. The opinions, in a critique group, were off base. They were even close to what I was trying to accomplish, and it was clear they were not going to listen to me. I did raise some objections only to hear again those two chapters needed to go.

I have learned a lot from my writing groups. I have used many of their ideas before. But not everything you get from a group works.

You know your book better than anyone in this world. It is unable to talk for itself. It needs you to do that.

A blog on writing, Writers helping writers

Are you still meeting during this pandemic?

2 Comments

With Covid being what it is, meetings of any kind have been on hold. Some groups have gone virtual, some are on hiatus, while others have still met.

As a writer getting feedback on our works is necessary to get our work in the best shape possible.

Why?

When one submits to a publisher or self-publish, what readers see between the covers will determine its success. There are a lot of parts to any book. But when we edit and revise one’s work, we won’t catch everything. We know our manuscripts the best, and in time we glaze over errors that others might notice, such as loopholes, spelling errors, punctuation, and run-on sentences.

We can’t be our editors and get 100% of it correct. Different eyes are necessary to make our book better.

So, during this pandemic, you need to decide what is the right path for you in being safe in how you go about getting your eyes on your work.

I have had an opportunity to meet IRL with other writers at a new writing group. I am not of the mind to do that just yet.

Ultimately I want you all safe regardless of how you proceed.