Post: 7
Books Sold: 0 (currently unpublished)
eBooks Sold: 1 (currently unpublished)
Pages in Grumble: 149
Reviews of Grumble: 1
Pages in Jumble: 110
Grumble has been reviewed. It's electronic availability has been revoked. And the reworking has begun.
It's been exactly one month since I last posted. I figured I must post today to keep things rolling. Plus, I have received my first review. JG just finished talking with me for nearly three hours. His background was definitely something to be called upon. While I write at a high school level, he writes at a Masters level. While I invoke the words of the authors, he knows the authors as his friends. But we have chosen different orders to our attempts at authoring. I seek to be published, and then refine my skills. He seeks to refine his skills, and then be published. His is definitely the smarter way to go. And I think I am going to have learn as much as he is willing to pass along so I can revert to this same path as best I can. And his review shows how much I still have to do. Because of that, Grumble was removed from access. And he is the rare exception to the aforementioned advice of picking a reviewer from friends and family. I learned quite a bit about writing from him. I hope I can remember it all. He assures me that he can write down all of his advice. I'm still wishing that I had taped the information.
We discussed plots, empathy, unwritten contract, tension, resolution, conflict, character development, authenticity, and so much more that Grumble is going back to draft status. We discussed how the writing starts out with "throat clearing". Once passed that, the writing picks up. He even pointed out a few scenes that worked very well and to pattern rewrites after those. And he mentioned problems that I was resolving in Jumble. This means I have much more to bring forward to be able to make Grumble work. There are so many ideas that are running around in my head, I'm not sure where to start recording them to make sure I have them available.
Under Authenticity, I need to write more of Stanley's awareness of his architectural surroundings.
Under Character Development, need to develop scenes with Stanley and his wife. Need to resolve inconsistencies like Stern asking about shoes and then later being able to narrate the battle. Need to much better explain the use of the word grumble.
Under Rules of the Realm (my term, not his), I need to create more detailed understanding of the rules of magic in this realm, his specific concern was the introduction of magical talismans near the end of the book. The role of that specific talisman is okay. The information surrounding talismans needs to appear earlier.
There are several misunderstandings that need to be resolved, such as the role of Pilgrin.
He had mechanical advice. Look to remove as many adverbs as possible. Look for phrases that start with "that" and challenge their existence. There is usually a better way to write it. For example, instead of "He ran quickly up the street," say, "He bolted up the street." I thought I had been doing that in my own analysis, but I need to analyze much more.
I wish with great fervency that I had written down or audio recorded this information. There is so much more we discussed. I pray with great energy of the soul that he will be able to remember all of the information. He was an exceptional source of information.
He said there are ideas that are definitely sell-able. And that there is a high level of writing.
And while he disagrees with the term, I feel well and truly mentored. I wish him well in his own authoring endeavors.
It is time to turn the Author-Ship around and head back to port. She will ever be at the ready. I am in need of going ashore and rolling up the mental sleeves, applying the intellectual elbow grease, and doing the work at hand of taking the low level work I currently have and elevating it into a better piece of work.
I will be sure to keep people apprised, especially as the reviews go forward and the revision ensue.
Dreams of the Open Ocean Fill the Sails of Possibility Still.
Dreams! Ahoy!
