Sunday, November 2, 2014
Come and Sit Awhile: Dianne E. Butts About Writing: Help for Writers De...
Come and Sit Awhile: Dianne E. Butts About Writing: Help for Writers De...: Dianne E. Butts About Writing: Help for Writers Dealing with Disappointment
Monday, April 21, 2014
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Thankful for a Thanksgiving and Free to move through the Holidays.
I am thankful for a lot of things this Thanksgiving, but it came and went so fast that my head spun. It's the Sunday afterward, heading into Dec, and Christmas. I've been so glad that I made it and could enjoy another holiday with my family. I was sick most of the year and in the hospital five different times.
I learned a lesson as a writer. PACE YOURSELF, I had become over-baked in my writing and I burnt up early in 2013. I had to stop and make some clear choices about where I was headed.
Was getting a book close to my heart published, worth the risk of continued personal verbal abuse in the editing process? I think not and when I reflect, I realize what happened. I was so eager that I overlooked some vital elements to book publishing and communication.
If you are with someone who isn't an encourager and you begin to second guess yourself as a writer then it's time to change direction, even if it means that you need to wipe your feet and find another home for your project. I want to make it clear that I'm not a person who needs constant attention and hand holding but neither do I need to be raked over burning coals and line up for the whipping post or even roll over for others. We as writers have plenty of that from the world.Yes, I am thick skinned but not to the point of being skinned. That's where I put my foot down and that's where we all need to make better choices.
The experience hurt deeply, I trusted this person, but attack on a personal level is never right. I did learn and I am praising the Lord for this experience. It was painful and humbling. I had to backtrack and the stress did land me in the hospital. I took it hard and personally but I'm a better writer and person for it now so I'm full of Joy going into the Christmas Season. I feel free to write again and I feel free to stick my tongue out to catch snowflakes. Oh...did I mention I wrote another novel in July? It's called The Christmas Needle. I had a blast doing the research for it, a historical romance.
I have a great schedule for book signing in December. They will be on Military Bases and a Coffee Shop in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Look for the schedule on my website and Facebook. www.pauletteharris.com
May the Magic and Love of Christ be with each of you wonderful writers this Christmas and may you be richly blessed. Take the time with Jesus at the waterfalls of life and be refreshed as you move into the most wonderful time of the year. Hugs in Christ.
I learned a lesson as a writer. PACE YOURSELF, I had become over-baked in my writing and I burnt up early in 2013. I had to stop and make some clear choices about where I was headed.
Was getting a book close to my heart published, worth the risk of continued personal verbal abuse in the editing process? I think not and when I reflect, I realize what happened. I was so eager that I overlooked some vital elements to book publishing and communication.
If you are with someone who isn't an encourager and you begin to second guess yourself as a writer then it's time to change direction, even if it means that you need to wipe your feet and find another home for your project. I want to make it clear that I'm not a person who needs constant attention and hand holding but neither do I need to be raked over burning coals and line up for the whipping post or even roll over for others. We as writers have plenty of that from the world.Yes, I am thick skinned but not to the point of being skinned. That's where I put my foot down and that's where we all need to make better choices.
The experience hurt deeply, I trusted this person, but attack on a personal level is never right. I did learn and I am praising the Lord for this experience. It was painful and humbling. I had to backtrack and the stress did land me in the hospital. I took it hard and personally but I'm a better writer and person for it now so I'm full of Joy going into the Christmas Season. I feel free to write again and I feel free to stick my tongue out to catch snowflakes. Oh...did I mention I wrote another novel in July? It's called The Christmas Needle. I had a blast doing the research for it, a historical romance.
I have a great schedule for book signing in December. They will be on Military Bases and a Coffee Shop in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Look for the schedule on my website and Facebook. www.pauletteharris.com
May the Magic and Love of Christ be with each of you wonderful writers this Christmas and may you be richly blessed. Take the time with Jesus at the waterfalls of life and be refreshed as you move into the most wonderful time of the year. Hugs in Christ.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Writer's Voice Part II
"Polly," my friend from the South drawled in her soft sweet voice, "you are discouraged because this edit has wiped out your voice." She handed me a box of Kleenex.
"You know what voice is?" I wiped my tears and sniffed. "I've taught on voice, but I couldn't see or hear it in my own work. It's funny that you should discover that and I'm glad you did. Can you help me?"
"Of course, this editor has begun to insert her own voice into your work and I can see it clearly, the difference between the two of you. You talk like you are from the west, this editor is from the east and she's inserting words that you don't use in your everyday speech. Remember, your husband once told you to write like you talk. Don't try to pick up vocabulary you don't ordinarily use." Jodie continued, "Every time I read something that you've written, I can tell that you did it and I can also "hear" when someone has changed something that isn't you."
"Hmmm you can "hear"?
"There's a cadence to your writing and an expected way that only you do things. As you bring your characters to life, they can be heard by the reader. For me, it's a heart thing. Heart to heart, ya know sweet thing?" Jodie hugged me. "There's critiques and edits that help your work sing with constructive criticism but you should never change things if it's cold and unfeeling delivery or you don't understand what the editor has done." Smiling, she patted my hand, "You aren't Jim or Jodie, you're Paulette. Don't forget that fiction is different than non-fiction. You can take a few more liberties with fiction and someone that doesn't understand the differences, should not be editing your work. It will only discourage you. This editor doesn't have a handle on the fiction yet. But, I will give her credit, she is excellent in her editing for punctuation. By the way, I can always tell when you are tired when you write your beginning drafts."
"How so?" I raised an eyebrow.
Jodie laughed, "You get messy with your punctuation, especially dialogue."
Her warm honey words soothed my troubled heart and fed my soul. It was a deep southern love and care for me that struck me most. She was being her self and her personality is predictable. Just like our writing should be.
"You know what voice is?" I wiped my tears and sniffed. "I've taught on voice, but I couldn't see or hear it in my own work. It's funny that you should discover that and I'm glad you did. Can you help me?"
"Of course, this editor has begun to insert her own voice into your work and I can see it clearly, the difference between the two of you. You talk like you are from the west, this editor is from the east and she's inserting words that you don't use in your everyday speech. Remember, your husband once told you to write like you talk. Don't try to pick up vocabulary you don't ordinarily use." Jodie continued, "Every time I read something that you've written, I can tell that you did it and I can also "hear" when someone has changed something that isn't you."
"Hmmm you can "hear"?
"There's a cadence to your writing and an expected way that only you do things. As you bring your characters to life, they can be heard by the reader. For me, it's a heart thing. Heart to heart, ya know sweet thing?" Jodie hugged me. "There's critiques and edits that help your work sing with constructive criticism but you should never change things if it's cold and unfeeling delivery or you don't understand what the editor has done." Smiling, she patted my hand, "You aren't Jim or Jodie, you're Paulette. Don't forget that fiction is different than non-fiction. You can take a few more liberties with fiction and someone that doesn't understand the differences, should not be editing your work. It will only discourage you. This editor doesn't have a handle on the fiction yet. But, I will give her credit, she is excellent in her editing for punctuation. By the way, I can always tell when you are tired when you write your beginning drafts."
"How so?" I raised an eyebrow.
Jodie laughed, "You get messy with your punctuation, especially dialogue."
Her warm honey words soothed my troubled heart and fed my soul. It was a deep southern love and care for me that struck me most. She was being her self and her personality is predictable. Just like our writing should be.
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