Friday, December 16, 2016

Explore New Writing

Merry Christmas

Wishing all, individually and collectively, the merriest 2016 Christmas ever.

I filled a lull to engage in reading aspiring novel writers outside the stream of those for whom I get paid to do freelance editing.

The novel picked up today, women's fiction, stopped me cold in the first few pages.

This book and writer, who shall remain anonymous, hit me with the following two sentences:

1.  "Anne spent the next year was in a blur of creative frenzy."

Obviously the word "was" should be deleted as one simple grammar cure.
Even then the narrative presentation smacks of dullness. I think I know what is meant. You may get a greater understanding if I reveal Anne is a portrait painter.

Would you say "blur" is the right word? Blur can be defined as "obscure," "haze,"
"stain," "cloud," and "dim."

Rather than "spent" would you be more impressed if Anne "unleashed" a frenzy of creative talent?

2.  "Inside the warmth and happy mood lighting welcomed them, and they ...."

Are you dangling with me? If you read further, the scene starts as two people walk into and begin a conversation in a bar. You might rearrange the words to state: "Warm lighting and a happy mood welcomed ___ and ___ ." That may not be true. It could be "____ and ____, in a happy mood, were welcomed by the bar's warmth." "Happy mood" could be expanded to tilt one's understanding in another direction: "Joyous voices, interrupted by song and laughter, greeted _____ and _____."

No matter what you decide, isn't the fact that you had to delay your reading to grasp an understanding of what the words were crafted to mean annoying?

Still, it's no reason to avoid new writers. Pick up one of their books or download a digital copy. The hunt for hidden treasure is always exciting.

Again, Merry Christmas. 



Friday, December 9, 2016

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

It's been awhile since I posted.

Obstacles have been cleared and I return to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

While it's untitled, a new romance after 2016's Gold Award One Paper Heart has been
completed and will debut in early 2018. The timeline extended to make room in 2017
for the promised mystery Into the Dark, the return of Sheriff Jonas McHugh. He was first
encountered as the Iowa sheriff in Baby Bones.

Keep writing. Be aware that if you have to take multiple breaths before the end
of the sentence, it's likely too long, or mindless. Be aware of words. The term "awful" in the beginning was meant to be "full of awe." Not what you find today. It's meaning is the exact
opposite.

While spoken words "disappear" into the air as soon as spoken. Words typed on a computer
screen are often viewed as provisional. That is, not as permanent as words struck by the
letters on a typewriter. Technology has created an easier path to the mind, not one that is
different in hope.

The hope still remains that words have impact, an intended impact.

Enjoy the holidays with friends and family. I'll be back sooner than expected.

Until December 15, 2016, One Paper Heart is available for 50% off only at
www.smashwords.com/books/view/553245 with coupon code JC59M entered at checkout.