Win a Prize?
This is the new site for my blog, my books and all information concerning this part of my life. Though there will be some tweaking, refining and pages added (There will be a news/events/announcements page. It just isn’t here yet)… This is a great start.
Here are some things I have put into place in order to share ideas with you:
I have links to my twitter account and now have a more usable comment and contact options so we can stay in touch.
I have made and have a link to my Pinterest account so you can visit my boards of pictures: Settings/Inspiration for my writing (Sage Seed Chronicles – series) and Visual storyboard:Sunstone. (The new book I’m working on that is unrelated to the series)
These picture collections give you insight on how things might look On the planet Ose.
What I am considering including are:
1.a page for reviews
2.and perhaps a Wikipedia type of section that would give further information on characters or events. This last idea would not be right away as that is a whole lot of information but is a possibility if there is a demand for it.
Here is where you come in. I want and am asking for your feedback.
Do you have ideas about promotions or contests you would like to see?
Do you have thoughts about the site and information that would satisfy your curiosity about my writing?
What would you like to see?
Leave a comment and if I like your idea I’ll put your name in a hat and you can win a free autographed copy of “The Founders” which will be out before the end of this month!
7 Comments
I love the new site Holly 🙂 It makes it a lot simpler – which is important to me as I easily get confused!
Not sure what else it needs, but I will get thinking.
As for a competition/promotion, how about one to name a character?
Some questions for you, just things I’d like to know:
Firstly, do you just start writing or do you plan the whole book out first?
Secondly, I have written things and really enjoy it, but what I hate is the re-writing and editing. It feels like the words are my baby and I find it very difficult to ‘grasp the nettle’ and delete parts, even when logically I can see that they need it. Have you experienced this? if so, how do you get past it? I ended up secretly quite resentful of criticism, even though I could see that it was constructive and meant with the very best of intentions.
Finally, I was once told that my writing style is a bit too simple and my books read as if they are aimed at young teens. I am not sure they were right, but if they are I am not sure I could change my ‘style,’ I just write in a way that is natural to me. Do you write naturally or have you trained yourself to write in any specific styles?
I hope these questions are the sort of thing you were looking for.
Vicki 🙂
Hi Vicki. Thank you for the comment.:D The improved site was really necessary and, as I mentioned, I was at the boundaries of my abilities. This makes it simpler for me also.
I like the idea of readers sharing ideas about a character name. Let me think on that… which leads me to your question about how I write. I actually started in the middle of my series. I owned a furniture store and it was tax week in ’09 and the place was very q.u.i.e.t. I sat down at my computer and started to write. I don’t know where the story came from but it was rushing to get out. I didn’t get control of the reins until The Unraveling was close to 2/3 finished. By then I had been doing a lot of thinking about the story and much of the back story was in my head. I haven’t ever written a synopsis until the two that I am working on now. That said I did mentally plan the other three stories a bit more than Unraveling. BTW, Paper Crane Books will be printing the series. That means that the two that were issued as e-books will be re-edited before they come out. We are days away from (book 1) coming out and the second is scheduled for July/August.
Editing is an experience. I had to struggle sometimes with the suggestions. I got through it by trying hard to see the point they were striving to make. I know my stories from the inside out. They are experiencing them from the outside in. I had some redundancies that I was able to paraphrase away which tightened the story. Occasionally they really didn’t like the way I phrased something and my hackles would rise. The suggested deletions were the hardest. Often they occurred in transitional places. I had to take a couple of days break to cool off and get my head around one set. I compromised by deleting what really wasn’t necessary and taking what was and moving it to another place to blend it with an acceptable area.
About your writing style. Perhaps over time your style can evolve but you can only write as the words come. I love complex stories with subtle plot shifts. I don’t think I write that way. I write as I write. I can see things vividly unfolding as I type so I have to concentrate sometimes to actually flesh out the setting and personal details. I do it once at the end of each chapter and then as I am pre-editing I really watch for those spots and do it again.
I love your questions. You may see some of the answers repeated in a blog. 🙂
I do like the look of the new site. You might also set up links to Networked Blogs, GFC, and Linky. Also a follow me e-mail line.
The color of the page is pleasing to the eye and the type is also readable. All in all you did a great job.
Thank you for the tips, Nora-Adrienne. I appreciate the feedback.
Hi Holly! Thanks for alerting me via Twitter about your new website! I love it; it’s very beautiful, warm and inviting; and that makes me want to explore it automatically. (Does that mean I’m shallow?) After I write this comment, I plan to pursue the category “little skunk”. I think you’re absolutely on the right track with the autographed book prize. I love books and authors; and I almost always enter any contest that offers a book, especially an autographed one. Books are not inanimate objects to me, and one autographed by the author makes it even more like a personal friend. Congrats on the new website, and good luck with the Sage Seed Chronicles! *hug*
Hi Jodi! I’m glad you like the site. Put your thinking cap on and come up with some suggestions for me. I’ll put your name in the hat. The “little skunk” has shown up in a blog post or two. He is an important character in a later book. The Founders is the first book in the series and sets everything up for the rest of the series. The second book is in editing now and is scheduled for a July/August release. The little skunk shows up in books three and four and will be in five also. 🙂
Wonderful blog! Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that
I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any tips? Bless you!