Tag: writing

Joining the crew of freelance editors

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I’ve been debating about doing this for a while and I’ve decided to take the plunge: I’ve decided to take on freelance editing. 

Editing is something that I enjoy doing, especially when it comes to fiction. I’ve picked up a few projects from close friends that have asked for help with fiction works and academic papers. 

The kind of editing that I do takes on a form of line edits/basic copyediting* and developmental. I own Chicago Manual of Style book, 17th edition, so that is what I would use for fiction editing. As for academic, I tend to edit with a professor’s requirements of a paper and how it should be styled, i.e. APA, and basic line editing. I also would make suggestions on how to articulate what is meant.

EditingBlogGraph

Fiction and academic works are just two types I plan to start with, but not limited to once I am ready to take on works. (I’m finishing my novel, which you can track the progress under the Currently Writing tab and on Instagram.)

I will not take on any nonfiction works outside of academia as to not interfere with my day job,  which I mainly edit in AP style. 

I’ll make a separate post once I’m ready to helping out my fellow writers. 

P.S. I’ve created a Ko-Fi account, so if you like some of the content I produce here, feel free to donate there. It would be greatly appreciated.

 

*In Chicago style, copyediting is one word while AP style it is two.
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Just a little left

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A little update on my manuscript: I didn’t finish on time. The last couple of days I put a lot of pressure on myself to finish by my deadline and that’s all I could think about and struggled with the next words. Coming off a vacation would hopefully leave me ready to finish the last 18K words.

The attempt at an ideal writing day

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The idea of creating an ideal day started to stir in my head sometime last year. I originally planned to get a blog post out to the internet then, but it fell to the wayside.

Over the last couple of weeks, I played with the layout (which took the longest), what I wanted to include, organizing it, and other things of that nature. I guess what got me in this process was how to create one with a fluctuating schedule and two separate off days.

It’s easier for me to run errands on off days–these are days when I start writing in the afternoon while I am at my local Starbucks or home.  On my early work days, I have a limited time to get writing done, but mostly free after. I can get through a chunk of my word count goal if I go to work  in the afternoon.

In all this mini-chaos, I decided to have my work days on one page and writing on the other.

IdealDaysSpread

My ideal day for work, left, and writing day, right. I color coded to make things easier to understand when it comes to my schedule. The main layout follows my Monday, Wednesday and Friday work days. Tuesday is indicated with a T next to a color coded dot.

I tried to stick to the routine I normally do when creating this. But now I’m wondering, am I just writing down my routine? What makes this ideal then?

When it comes to writing, getting any kind of time in is ideal. I think when you’re creating your own ideal writing day, or a general ideal day, the root of it is time management. How do you spend your time normally and how do you want to change it, or what are the things you want to hold yourself accountable for?

I played with the layout on separate grid paper. I wanted to do a clock but it turned out to be a bit much with my schedule
I settled on quadrants, but here I was figuring out how I wanted to write down everything.
A view of the process
Setting up the pages for real in my bullet journal
A close up of the writing side. It’s a bit sparse, but it will get the job done until I feel like I need to add more
This is the work side of Ideal Day. I created a key at the top, color coding tasks and days.

In the end, I wanted to create something for me to take note of everyday, especially when I say I don’t have time. I’m going to use this visual as a reminder to myself, and hopefully to writers, that it can get done. Even if it’s just on a lunch break.

As writers, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to reach word goals, get the dialogue or prose right the first time. This is something you shouldn’t stress about. This is something you should use a guideline and keep yourself accountable.

Supplies used:

Leuchtturm1917 A5 Medium notebook – grid, Red

Grid paper – to plan

Marvy Le Pen – Black, Grey, Periwinkle

Sharpie Pen – Fine – Green, Purple

Muji Polycarbonate Ballpoint Pen .7mm with grip – Red

A lesson in rejection

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Hey writers,

This is a random post spurred by an email rejection. Yup, you read that right. And it stung.  

At work, I have my personal email up in a tab–I check it when I get into work. After settling into the groove of things, I went to my browser and noticed the blue dot next to the Gmail icon.

I clicked and saw the email. The first line filled in the preview area.

To clarify, I didn’t sumbit a query, I submitted an application to a creative writing program. I thought what I had would get me into the program. The email was general rejection letter explaining why I wasn’t accepted, how it’s complicated judging process, and how the rejection shouldn’t deter  me from writing. 

The email was crack in my confidence–I almost started to cry. I had my thoughts of how it would go if I got accepted. I was ready for that. I was excited for it. But clearly this is not the path I’m meant to go on right now. And that’s ok.

MPhanQoute
I updated the people who knew I applied to the program and they responded with encouraging words. It was helped me feel better. And it also became my fuel to keep writing.

While this isn’t a query rejection, it’s still one nonetheless. It’s something that’s a part of the writing process.

I think it’s ok to be upset for a couple of days or a week about getting a rejection. But as long as you don’t linger on the pain or have it stop you, you will be fine.

Do you what you need to do to move on from it.

And keep writing.

 

Progress Update – TORQUE

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In my head,  I’ve kept up with my word count and I’m breezing along to finishing my novel by Dec. 15, 2017. In reality, I’ve skipped at least 14  days of writing due to being tired and not knowing what’s next (trying to make each scene mean something for the end product).  When I restarted, I was stuck on chapter five and six for the longest time, telling myself I will get to it later. But certain events in my life pushed me to stop messing around and set a goal. 130,000 words here I come!

I am now in chapter eight (of 18…maybe) in Torque. The last month has been the fastest I’ve ever gotten chapters done, and had less slumps. It’s clear I need to keep the momentum going so I don’t have as many.

I’ve been using Scrivener’s word count tracker to help push me to write between 750 and 900-plus words, for the days that I’ve selected as writing days. Since there have been days that I didn’t plop a single word onto the page, it adds words for the next day so that I can make up for it. Which is nice in a way, but if I wasn’t committed to being done by my self-made deadline, I’m sure that my word count would be way higher. And looking at my goal for the day can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, but as long as I split the writing to before and after work, I reach my goal.

I’ve also been using my book map to keep me on track plot wise. I noticed the other day when I went to Starbucks that I never really finished my detailed outline; breaking each chapter down by characters introduced and mentioned, and a detailed look at three important/ focal points for the book.

While I am all for planning, it’s not realistic of me to try and finish the outline. In the book map, I break it down with a one sentence summary (for both of my main characters, chapter conflict, storyline notes, characters introduced and mentioned, and if there are any important plot points for it.

I know this sounds like more work than the detailed outline, but it works for me. I did my best in the book map to keep everything brief so it wouldn’t take so long to do. As mine is in Google Sheets, it’s easy to adjust and change and I always have access to it.

Since I am trying to write 130,000 words by the end of the year, I need to keep my focus on that, but I will do my best to do one full post and a writing prompt for the rest of the year.

I will eventually have a second Write Reads post on here soon, but until then, check out the first one and let me know what you think.

-Keep Writing

 

Writing Prompt No. 3

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Some dialogue starters:

  1. “There are consequences to your actions, you know this – it puts us all….”
  2. “This can’t be any different than when we….”
  3. “You watched me lie there, I would think that….”
  4. “But I am young, so what…”

 

Check out the last writing prompts here!

Writing prompt No. 2

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  1. In a rush, your character bumps into someone while not paying attention. Both knock a plethora of items onto the ground, jumbled and mixed together. They gather their things and continue on their way…. by the time your character gets home they notice that there’s something that’s not theirs.
  2. Your character needs to change appearances quickly in order to not get caught. There’s only a few things that they can grab to do so.
  3. Give your character a memory associated with the color maroon.

Here’s a link to the previous prompt.

Managing a looming manuscript

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Maybe it’s good to start small. But for some of us, we decided that we would start with  a large manuscript.

Once you finally realize what you’ve done, you’ve already told so many people that you’re working on a novel. You probably feel kind stuck right now.

And to be honest, I’m right there with you. The words used to flow from my fingertips, but my wondering mind makes it difficult; I keep thinking of ways to make it better/ edit before I even finish the book.

I never want to give up on it; Torque is my first novel I wrote when I was younger and finished it. I wrote it out of being inspired by (albeit, I am a bit embarrassed to admit this) Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight.”

And I feel as though if I take a step back that I won’t come back to it. But I am going to push these feelings aside to keep writing it. I’ll do my best to balance it with another manuscript but I’m going to finish Torque.

I think I’ve rambled on for a bit, but I wanted to explore ways for writers to keep going or take a step back without feeling they are abandoning their manuscript.

For fun

I guess the obvious would be to reread what you have, but don’t make any edits.  Realize what you fell in love with when you first started writing. If you start to make edits, it’s possible to become critical of what’s there. There is such as thing as over editing.

 

Fill in the blanks

Write specific scenes — whether you plan to fit it in your manuscript or not. This will keep the brain moving and could add more depth to character. If you are adding the scene to your book, hopefully it will excite you to get to fill in the blanks.  A writing prompt is also a good way.

Plan or pants? 

If you’ve planned things out with an outline — forget it. It may restrict the writing by sticking with the plan.  If there is no plan, create one. Your novel may need some direction — it doesn’t have to be detailed, just mention three important actions you want to happen. ( Three is a good number because there is less of a chance to make the outline too complex or overwhelming.)

Like Nike’s tagline: Just Do It

Put that butt in that chair, or favorite writing spot and just write. Push through the feelings you may have, no matter how rough those sentences, hell, even chapters, are. Don’t give up.

Step back and reflect 

As mentioned in a previous post, Making the most of your time, hop into another project. It may be time to step back completely.  It doesn’t make you a failure. Even if you don’t hop into another project, use that time to reflect on another.

And if any one of those people you’ve told about your novel asks you how it’s going, say it’s fine. Sometimes keeping it to yourself can lessen the pressure of a large manuscript.

Keep writing!

P.S., if you’re not already, follow me on either of my Twitter accounts and Instagram.