Category Archives: Writing Advice

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing Advice

When do you end a series?: Regardless how many volumes is out

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How do you decide when it’s time to move on from a series?

At the moment, I have three volumes in my Jasper, Amazon parrot series, with the fourth one about to be published. I have my Squirrel Mafia series. One is out, while the second is about to be released.

I have many manuscripts to work on, which I know is a thing with writers. Something else in common is having a notebook of ideas to work on. The list will be long, and we will not get to them all.

It is those projects I want to work on.

I need to decide if there is more material I can expand with the series I have out. I already have a list of ideas for ten chapters for a third volume of my Squirrel Mafia series. But I need to decide if people also are interested in reading a third one.

For Jasper, I have received many great reviews and feedback from parents, teachers, and children who have read the book themselves. Do I have material for a fifth book? I am not sure. The series talks about problems with the rainforest. I need to develop a story around one if I can come up with something. For this series, that is what it comes down to.

I have discussed this topic on this site before. Apparently, I am uncertain where it lies.

Hopefully, soon, the answer will come to me.

Until then, I will continue to write.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing Advice

It’s okay to fail in writing: Seriously

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t’s okay to fail when it comes to your writing. You have probably have already many times and will again.

How can we fail? For me, it’s grammar and tenses. Those are my Kryptonite, at the top of the list.

Another way to fail is failing to run it by an editor and critique group. Authors also do not learn about social media before they promote to the top of the world that their book is complete. Now, buy it. Failing to do the proper research for your book can doom it.

But there are instances where failing is needed to improve. One volume of my Jasper, Amazon Parrot series had me writing a three-page scene about elephants. I was sure these animals lived in the same area. It occurred to me to do a simple search when I finished the section. But I did so I could confirm I was right. I was so massively wrong.

One should define in their writing career what aspect of it you consider failing. For me, one way to stop submitting to publishers after getting rejected would have been a failure.

What works for me might not work for you.

I suggest you take a few minutes to determine the line between calling something a failure versus something you are okay with at the end of the day. It could save your sanity and those around you.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing Advice

When is your manuscript ready for submission?

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I always figured the hard part of being one was writing the book. I soon found out writing the book was one of the easiest parts of the journey.

Revising is a big part of getting one’s book in the best shape possible. If you don’t have all the ducks in a row, the novel may not go very far.

But how many revisions and editing is too much? Can you go overboard and make it worse?

I get the fact that we want it as perfect as we can make it. But revision can take up a lot of one’s time. If you are fortunate to be part of a critique group or beta group, that can help you shave off some of that precious time.

But there comes a point when you have to say enough is enough. I’ve done all I can do and move that manuscript forever. That is not easy to do. We want it to fly as well as possible. It may even come to a point where we become obsessive in our revisions and editing. I have been there a few times. It is not fun. LOL

But at the end of the day, we need to step back and evaluate how close we to being done, are we just tired of it all and let move on or realize that you have done all one can without ruining your story. Only you can decide when you are ready. Let’s hope you don’t keep your fans waiting so long they move on.