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5 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer by C.J. KyleIt goes without saying that you can’t rely on natural talent to get you through writing a 400 page novel. So how do you stay at the top of your game? Here’s a starting point for you while you develop your own list of what makes you grow as a teller of tales.
- Read – This pretty much goes without saying, but you’d be surprised how many writers forget to read. It doesn’t have to be in the genre you’re writing (in fact, sometimes it’s a good thing not to read what you’re writing for the risk of blending another author’s voice with yours) but read you must. When in the creative process, I try to read my favorite authors who do aspects of writing that I feel needs work in my own writing. Plot issues? Stephen King is there for me. Pacing problems? Try a little Dan Brown. Character qualms? How about a little Julie Garwood or Nora Roberts. (Romance authors tend to be the best at bringing characters to life in my opinion.)
- Write – You can talk about writing all day long, but if you’re not putting words on a page, you’re a talker, not a writer. Stop talking about your story and write it. Often, talking a story through can make you feel as though you’ve already told it, which can turn writing the thing into a chore or nasty case of de ja vous.
- Push yourself beyond your limits – If you get up every morning and write your word goal—let’s say 250 words—and then go on with the rest of your day, you’ve accomplished your goal and this is a good thing. However, when you do publish, you’re not going to have the luxury of spending a year writing your novel one page a day. Decide how many books a year you’ll want to write when you do sell, and then do the math to figure out how many words a day that requires. Then add a few hundred to it, because we writers tend to forget the editing process that comes before a deadline. Schedule it in to your calendar, just as you do your page or word quota.
- Go with the flow – There are those awesome times where the story veers left on its own and you have no idea where it’s going or why it decided on this particular path. This is a good thing. It means your story is coming to life. Go with it. Follow it for a while and see if it works for or against your novel. If it isn’t making it better, don’t be afraid to cut it, go back to where you detoured, and start over.
- It only takes one yes – Once you’ve finished and polished your book until it shines to the best of your ability, it’s time to send it out into the publishing world only. Only a lucky few sell without receiving a truck ton of letters along the lines of “Thanks, no thanks” first. Editors are people, too. Opinions vary. If you get fifteen nos, does it really matter as long as you get the one yes you need? That said, if you’re never getting any positive feedback in your rejections, it might be time to move on. Some books are meant to be learning experiences, so that the book you’re meant to sell can finally be created.
So, there you have it. My ways of becoming a better writer. What’s number one on your list of improving your skills?
Silent Night
By C.J. Kyle
Publisher:
Avon (An Imprint of Harper Collins)
Release
date: October 28, 2014
Genre:
Mystery/Thriller/Holiday
Length:
384 Pages
ISBN: 978-0062079671
ASIN: B00IRC8CD0
Add to GoodReads
Christmas, Tennessee, is a town where no one locks their
doors and the worst crime is a stolen bicycle. Until the night blood is
found…but there’s no body.
Police Chief Tucker Ambrose hopes it’s just a prank, but his years as a cop in Chicago tell him different. Then a body is discovered in the middle of the woods, staged with a bible, a crucifix, and a rosary… and Tucker knows something dark and sinister has arrived in his town.
Miranda Harley knows exactly what’s going on. In fact, she’s been tracking this serial killer, hoping to gather enough evidence to convict him. Trouble is, no one will believe her, not even the sexy police chief whose heated gazes promise nights of sin. But when Miranda falls into the crosshairs of a psychopath, Tucker must put aside his doubts and race to stop the killer from striking again.
Police Chief Tucker Ambrose hopes it’s just a prank, but his years as a cop in Chicago tell him different. Then a body is discovered in the middle of the woods, staged with a bible, a crucifix, and a rosary… and Tucker knows something dark and sinister has arrived in his town.
Miranda Harley knows exactly what’s going on. In fact, she’s been tracking this serial killer, hoping to gather enough evidence to convict him. Trouble is, no one will believe her, not even the sexy police chief whose heated gazes promise nights of sin. But when Miranda falls into the crosshairs of a psychopath, Tucker must put aside his doubts and race to stop the killer from striking again.
Author Info
C.J. Kyle lives in Florida, where the weather is as bipolar
as her characters sometimes turn out to be. Besides partaking in all things
Jeep-related, she is an avid reader of most genres, loves cooking, watching
sports, and thrives on being a wife and mother. She also classifies herself as
a geek and nerd, enjoying gaming while thinking about the next scene she has to
write. She loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Twitter,
Facebook, Pinterest and more.
Author Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjkylebooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjkylebooks
Thank you for hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great book I look forward to reading it.
ReplyDelete