Book series, Writing trilogies

Writing Trilogies

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When I first began to write I wasn’t thinking of trilogies. I still had to finish my first book. But from that came my second in the series. I am currently editing and revising the third one. I’m not sure if there will be any more after that but have a couple of possible directions I can go.

But now that I am writing in a new genre, which is YA, my thinking is different. My first NaNoWriMo win was with the manuscript called “Lost Faith” which at first was a stand alone. But quickly my mind went to trilogy. Why so quickly? The movies now a days seem to come in trilogies for this genre. Not only that but go to any bookstore and in this section it is trilogy galore. I even read in a few places that is what publishers are looking for. Whether that is the trend now or not I’m not sure. But my mind went there and so now that is what “Lost Faith” has become.

But with my Jasper series I wrote each one individually. With my YA I came up with a crazy idea. Why write one by one by one? Why not write this humongous novel where I would just have to divide into three?

Does anyone do it like this or not ? Am I nuts to try to do this? Probably so. Will it all shatter and I just go back to one at a time could happen. But for now I am going for the gusto.

Amazon Parrot: A Rainforest Adventure, Writing for children

Writing for children: Not as easy as one thinks

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My first book was for children and I have developed it into a series. I had no clue how to write for this genre so there were a heck of a lot of revisions to get it just right. So to hear someone tell me from a writer’s group, “Oh any one can do that. I can write a children’s book in a day,” was so lovely. Some people, include writers sadly, think children’s books are easy to do. What people don’t understand is one has to write it in a way that it does not dumb them down or so over their head you lose them. It is a balancing act. Getting the dialogue is not easy.

Kids are smarter than people giver them credit for. If you don’t hook them by the end of page one the book is already on the floor while they look for a new one to read. Who do you think buys their books? Parents. And parents who notice what their kids like or don’t like. If these same parents read the book to their children and see how bad it is, they will put it down.

Kids are tough. If yo don’t think so have a group of children beta read your book. If that doesn’t put you in your place and make you want to go in a fetal position I don’t know what else will.

I now do other genres and with that comes new challenges. I am glad though I started with the genre of children. To the question of how hard could it be. The answer is very hard. In fact children literature has been named from a few big sites as being one of the hardest to write.

Children writers don’t always get props. But they should.

 

 

Editing your work, Editors for authors, Writing resources

Editors: Do you have one?

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Years before I started writing I knew virtually nothing, if anything, about the craft. Yes I knew how to write but where to go from there? My English when it comes to grammar, run off sentences, prepositions, dangling participles and past tenses might as well be a foreign language to me. If you are like me then a good editor is absolutely needed. But what kind of editor do you need?

Editors ranges from content to copy to line editor. You also have your proof reader, critique partner and beta reader to boot to think about. There is also your developmental part which is what I do.

Who you choose all depends at what stage of your book you are at. Editors can be pricey but after working so hard on your manuscript do you want to leave it to chance you got every single thing right?

I know my line editor is awesome. I have had a few publishers comment on my manuscript noting how professionally it was edited. That is all her and no one but her.

Will you need more than one editor? If you can afford to then do so. You need to get your work in the best possible shape you can get it in before you start submitting for publication. Publishers get thousands and thousands of mail from writers. One good way for them to toss it in the slush pile is for it not being properly edited.

Even if you self publish, all it takes is for a few readers to read your works and rate it low due to the edits. Do enough books like this and readers will notice. You still need a editor regardless how you publish your writings.

Not sure where to start? Ask other writers. If you are part of a writing group ask the members in there. Look online,check out websites that are designed to help you to find an editor of any kind. But take the time to do this. Your work took you a long time to complete, why short change it now that it is ready to shine? This is not an area you short change yourself.

The Musings of A New Englander