THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
a Fictional Book
"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."
AMY TAN
SHOW THE READERS EVERYTHING----TELL THEM NOTHING Ernest Hemingway I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve learned “show don’t tell” takes practice, practice, practice. Every fictional author’s biography shares one message in common. A single thread that will help every other aspiring author and that is read a lot.
Over the years I’ve read numerous books, but it was only until recently when I myself started writing that I questioned why certain books I’ve read have stayed with me for decades while others have not. I went back into my overstuffed with nonsense closet and pulled out a box of books I never gave away. I try to read 3-4 books simultaneously. A chapter in one, put it down, a chapter in another, put it down, and so on, and so on. I grabbed 3 books from my “refuse to dispose of box.” Each was a bestseller in their time and each became hit movies. WHY, I asked. So, I started reading them and paid close attention to the writing. MAY I SUGGEST: I keep a pad and pen with me while I’m reading for one specific reason. When I find a sentence that stands out and fits into “show don’t tell” I write it down. Every day I re-read my growing list to help me develop what I call a descriptive mind. The following sentences are some I have found interesting and helpful. I’m sure you will find equally interesting sentences in the books you read.
from: Anne of Green Gables, The Horse Whisperer, Bridges of Madison County, The Exorcist Don't tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass. Anton Chekhov Writing a Novel is not a Team Sport
6/18/2018
If you want to write a novel, picture yourself standing on a 40 acre plot of land. As the pictures above depict, writing is a solitary endeavor if you are writing a novel. Read bio's of authors you admire. For the most part there will be nothing about writing groups. The truth is if you need others to encourage you to write you are not ready yet. Writing takes discipline and perseverance.
If you are still reading this you might be saying that I am so negative or that I am not encouraging you. My friends, that couldn't be further from the truth. I will always encourage anyone who wants to write, as long as they as willing to work at it. Everyday, 1-3 hours each day, 300 + days a year.
There are so many facets in writing that need to be perfected, but they only come with practice and patience. The settlers and explorers who ventured into the unknown were fearless. That is exactly what a writer has to be, fearless. Go into the unknown with the knowledge that mistakes will be made. That's okay, make them, learn from them, improve because of them. Remember one thing. Writing a novel is a solitary journey. #writing,#novel,#Iwanttobeawriter,#learntowrite,#writeanovel,#beawriter IMPROVE BOOK SALES-AUDIOBOOKS
6/1/2018
I found this takes a little more effort on the author’s part to create a finished product. After the author registers all of their pertinent information with ACX the next step is auditioning producers. The person who will read your book. Here is the process. 1. I described the story, the characters, their voices along with special tips for anyone choosing to read. 2. After that section is completed the author selects up to three pages in the book that would a good representation. Select the gender and type of voice you think would be best for your book. The author needs to remember, this is your book. You are in charge. I selected a part where Glen Barton, the homicide detective/protagonist follows a clue where he enters the dead man’s apartment without a warrant. His brother, Nikolai Koslov, the leader of a Russian gang, surprises Detective Barton and confronts him. BELOW IS THE AUDITION I SELECTED TO PRODUCE “LAYERS OF DECEIT-LIES HAVE CONSEQUENCES.” After listening, I made some corrections and gave the producer the green light to proceed to the next step.
The following are segments from two different articles about the future of Audiobooks. May 9, 2018 By Michael Kozlowski Digital audiobooks increased by 25.8% in 2016 and generated $264.8 million in revenue. Last year audiobook sales saw another strong gain of 30% and major publishers brought in $343.4 million dollars. For the first time ever, digital audiobooks have overtaken mass market paperbacks in revenue total revenue earned. Audiobooks on tape and CD’s continue to bring in a respectable amount of money, physical audio was $55.6 million in 2017, down 8.6% from 60.9 in 2016 Published: Jan 30, 2016 10:43 a.m. ET JEREMYOLSHAN EDITOR- Marketwatch Audiobooks have begun to outsell print All good business stories begin with an economist admitting he has no idea what’s going on. “I just don’t get it,” Richard Thaler told me a few months ago, when I asked how his book tour was going. “More people are listening to my book than reading it.” Though I’m a heavy audiobook listener, and have written about how the technology is changing our relationships with reading, exercise and time, that audio has grown popular enough to outsell some traditional books is hard to fathom. Audiobooks racked up $1.5 billion in sales last year and remain the fastest-growing segment of the book publishing industry, according to the Audio Publishers Association, but text is still king. You as the author set reasonable deadlines as to when the book will meet certain milestones and be completed. I was very pleased with the producer I selected, Dan Orders. I was very pleased that he was ahead of schedule on the first milestone. The reading of the first 15 minutes of LAYERS OF DECEIT-LIES HAVE CONSEQUENCES. I am proud to share the opening 15 minutes. |
AuthorRobert Stephen. Archives
September 2018
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