How to use this Page

I love Shut-Up and Thanks!!!! Too good, too good. Thanks for participating. I’ve been getting such a kick out of all of these. :D

So I’m thinking we could do something with: “Yes, I do love the feel of cash myself.”

Something that’s a cross between Dynasty and Agatha Christie…

Thanks for tagging me! This was a rough day so it was good to end on a light note. :)

Haha. But seriously, who doesn’t love the feel of cash?

These are hilarious. I’m enjoying reading this hop.

Karen, I don’t worry so much about idea theft. It takes so much time and energy to write a novel, and no two would ever turn out the same. But I am a bit quiet about my writing, when people ask, something I’m working on changing.

I do worry about idea theft. Not to the point of paranoia, but it has crossed my mind every now and then. However, I have shared my idea when posting my query for critique during WriteOnCon — I actually debated on whether I should. But the advice I’ve gotten from WOC outweighed the potential idea theft for me. (Or, at least, I’m hoping.)

I keep it close. I tell my closest friends and critique partners, but I don’t broadcast it out there on the internet like some writers do. You won’t find summaries of any of my non-completed WIPs out there. I did get burned once, back in college, when someone I thought was a friend stole an idea and used it for the class final feature writing project (thereby precluding me from using it). Even though we would have written two very different stories, that stung and I never forgot it.

Andrea: I think this is mostly why I stay quiet. My novel has changed SO much since its inception and so I just like to keep it general until I know what it’s about. Ha.

Emy: I think this is a decision that writers must make. Sometimes the feedback that you receive outweighs the threat of idea theft. Actually, I believe when you are at the querying stage, you don’t have as much as problem because your work is about to go on submission, so writers would have to write lightning fast to catch up to you.

Meredith: Wow, that sucks. I hate when that happens! I don’t think it’s a good idea to have chapter excerpts or writing samples on the Web. But that’s just me. :)

I find it hard to share simple because I’m still working on how to pitch it :/ I usually keep it really, really simple. Stories I plan on submitting I don’t post on my blog or anywhere else for that matter, but I do like to post samples just to share and entertain readers :)

Sometimes idea theft happens without writers intentionally doing it. So I think it’s better to keep our ideas close to the vest while we are writing and revising. I also find that my creative process works better if I’m not telling everyone about it.

Now that’s my kind of research! Congrats on being on track with your writing projects, that’s excellent! I love to visit places for research when I can. When I can’t though Google maps is a great way to start.

I’m on track with editing the sequel to my novel that’s debuting this month (eekk!). I’ve got time though, it won’t release until next year (whew!).

Of course you have to taste the chocolate for authenticity. Get the kind your main character would like and then sample some from their best friend, family members, and the villain. LOL.

I love to base my stories on real-life places. My vacations double as idea sparkers for that.

Welcome back! I’ll visit if it’s a close enough drive. But with google I’ve been able to see shots of the streets. And youtube has been great for different pictures. And blogs too! We have so much available!

Now, THAT’s research!!! Why didn’t I think to include a bakery in my story… :)

I tend to use Google for research – none of my stories are set anywhere close by! :)

Oh my goodness, I’d be in a world of hurt if I kept researching bakeries. Sweets are my weakness!

I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like, since my kids are home from school. But I’ve been revising one book and plotting another. Not too shabby!

I can so far only write third person past tense, however, I am trying to practice writing first person POV. I have a hard time with it so it is going really slow. It is a form I definitely to work on. I like reading first person POV in past and present, but I only like to read third person POV in past tense (don’t ask me why, I am still trying to figure it out myself)

Anne: You know that could be it too. The last few novels I’ve read have been in present tense but I just finished a novel last night and it was in past tense and still very exciting with the action and emotion. I think it could possibly work both ways, but I can see what you mean, you can be influenced by what you read.

Anna Ha, why does it not surprise me that we’ll be working on this same “experiment” this summer. We’ll have to touch base with each and see how it all turns out. :)

Lisa: See this is funny. I remember first reading a present tense novel and I didn’t like it. But maybe since after reading THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy and other books, I’m really liking the immediacy of it too.

Laura: Thanks! We’ll see how it goes. Worse case, I try it and it doesn’t work. At least I’ll know right? Ha.

Saba: When I first started writing, I only wrote in 3rd POV, but now I find it harder to get into. I feel too far away from the character. However, I think my next project will be in 3rd POV. We’ll see!

I’m trying it, Karen! Can’t say it will stay but I am trying it in present tense…

I used to always right in past tense, but my past few WIPs have been in present. I love it–it’s like the reader is discovering everything along with the narrator. :)

The MG that I’ve finished is 1st person past tense, but the YA I’m working on now is 1st person present. present tense is definitely working for my YA. I love it.