Verb Tense Whiplash: A Random wRiting Rant

With lots of reading comes lots of rants, I guess.  So, another rant thanks to my current reads. 

If you’re interested in what I’m reading, check out my Goodreads widget to the right.

Anyway, I am currently reading a really sweet New Adult romance book (once again, author and title shall remain unnamed).  I love, love, love the story so far.  The plotting and characterization are brilliant and beautiful.

The whiplash I’m getting from flipping back and forth between past and present tense is not pretty, however.

Let me clarify, this is not due to flashbacks or any such thing.  The author flips from present to past to present tense in the same sentence.  This is another self-published read.  I know self-pubbed editing budgets are often limited but this is a glaring mistake.  And it doesn’t happen occassionally, it happens constantly. 

Here’s an example of what the past, present whiplash is like (not an actual example from the book):

I walk into the room and tripped on the edge of the carpet, falling onto my face and crushed my nose.

OMG, it’s painful and hard to read.  I love this book so I will read on, but seriously, self-publishing authors, please, please, please offer your grammar nazi friend a case of beer or something to read through and red-ink your manuscript.  These are big, glaring mistakes, not like a random missed comma or the rare typo.  This can kill your chances of a reader finishing your book or ever reading another one of your books.

Cheers and kisses,

Heather

 

Lost in the Weeds, A Perspective on Revisions

I’ve admitted before that I’m an editing whore.  I get stuck in an endless round of edits and never get to that “Final” version of my WIP.  Currently, I’m stuck in Revisions Hell.

I got 13,000 words into my WIP and didn’t like the way it was headed.  I tried some minor character and plot revisions with no avail.  So, major revisions here I come.

This unfortunately means I will lose pretty much all those 13,000 words (nearly 6 chapters).  I have learned in the past that, unfortunately, when I do revisions of this magnitude, trying to cling to the original draft of the manuscript ends in a horrible mess with continuity errors, etc.  It’s better to start fresh.

So, here’s me starting over.  I am however much, much happier with the direction of my revised characters and plot.  Hopefully that will stick past 13,000 words this time.

Cheers and kisses,

Heather

The Up-Down Plotting Method

As writers, most of us are familiar with those plotting charts that look like a rollercoaster. 

A good plot takes the characters and the reader on a ride of highs and lows, failures and triumphs, ntil the ultimate pinnacle of the climax.

I’ve been working on roughing out my plot for my Work in Progress.  I’m not a big fan of massive plotting with intricate details written down.  I like those little details to evolve organically as  I write.  I enjoy a more spontaneous creative process where my characters and their lives come “alive” as I write.  I’m a dedicated pantser.

But even the most dedicated pantser can get lost in the wood while writing if we don’t have a direction to point our plot in.  Thus I have developed what I call the Up-Down Plotting Method. 

New Adult Books: Point of View Poll

I’ve had quite the burst of creativity the last couple days. I’ve written nearly 2 chapters in my WIP but I’m at a bit of a stickying point/crossroads and it really comes down to character Point of View.

In the past, I’ve always written in 3rd Person (he, she, they, etc.). The genres I was writing in favored it and it’s much easier to switch between different character’s POV.

Seemingly following in the footsteps of Young Adult fiction, New Adult seems to favor almost exclusively the 1st Person Point of View (I, me, we). I’m actually really enjoying writing in 1st Person and my first draft is going really well.

The First Step: From Inspiration to Story Idea

A writer’s inspiration can come from anywhere.  For my new adult romance Work In Progress it started with a single character, the heroine.  She came in part from a great 70s movie with Goldie Hawn called Butterflies Are Free.  My heroine is loosely based on the hero, Don, not on Goldie Hawn’s character.  And the basis of the plot comes from the gorgeous title song by Stephen Schwartz.

I knew the day you met me,

I could love you if you let me,

A Brand New Blog

Welcome to my new blog.  I’m starting a new journey, writing in a new genre with the intent to publish and I’m really excited to share the process.

 About Me

I began writing at the age of 14 under the encouragement of a marvelous high school English teacher.  I’ve continued to write in the years since and have dabbled in almost every genre of fiction out there.

I haven’t really tried to get published, writing more for my own enjoyment and as a creative outlet, but recently, I discovered the New Adult fiction genre.  The books I’ve read by authors like Tammara Webber and others have fired my imagination.  I’m eager to write and share my stories.