How I Write– Reader Pet Peeves

Book pet peeves…everyone has them. Whether you’re reading a book or it’s happening in your own manuscript, they’re there. They’re those little nails that scratch on the blackboard of your brain. Little things that just make you roll your eyes even as you keep reading. Or, maybe it’s enough for you to call it quits and put that book back on the shelf.

It’s always difficult, especially from a writer’s point of view, to know what may turn off a reader. Every reader out there has a different opinion about something. But I know for myself, there are some thing I pick up on in my own writing. Things that when writing I may not notice but in editing, jumps out in huge glaring letters.

1. Wandering body parts- I don’t know why, but this can be a big one for me. The eyes of the heroine did not collide with the hero’s. Her GAZE did. Would be painful if it was her eyes. Things like this can drive me batty. I know my critique partners probably think I’m a bit crazy on this one. Sometimes, wandering body parts aren’t quite so noticeable, but other times, yeah…it just makes me smack my forehead.

2. I don’t think I do this a lot…but cutesy phrasing. Nothing makes me roll my eyes at writing quite like this. It just bugs me. I’ve written a few things in the past, however, that is so cutesy that I want to erase. There’s a part in Hunting the Shadows that every time I see it, I narrow my eyes and grit my teeth.

3. Inaccuracies. Ok this, I’m walking the edge on. I make up science all the time in my books, so I’m SURE there are readers out there who are screaming at me that it isn’t how it works. However, what gets me is bad archaeology/anthropology. In the past, I’ve stopped reading books from an author who did this. Of course I was in highschool when I read the book (I don’t remember what the issue was) but still, I don’t read books by said author.

4. Jarring. Sentences. That. Pull. Me. Out. I’ve done this a time or two. It may not even be as dramatic of my example, but sometimes, when sentences are split in some way to add emphasis, it makes it harder for me to get back into the writing. Once or twice or so in a book isn’t bad. It’s when it’s on every page that I want to curl up and hide under my King Tut comforter.

These are some of the technical peeves. I would also probably list love at first sight and the big miscommunication problem also, but these are lesser peeves because it all depends on the author. Some can pull this off. Others can’t. It all depends on the writing style.

What are your reader pet peeves?

Don’t forget to check out my accountability partners in crime: Danie Ford, Emma G. Delaney, Kimberly Farris, Kristen Koster

How I Write–Could you be friends with your heroine?

Ever pick up a book and think you could be the heroine’s friend? Or maybe that you don’t know how anyone could because you would never put up with her? What about in your own WIPs?

In Hunting the Shadows, the reader meets Amy, but more than that, also Mackenzie, Ajay, Ariadne, and Darilynn. While yes, the heroine is Amy, I consider the other characters just as much a main character. Why? Because they are a family and after this book, Amy isn’t going to simply disappear. She’s going to play just as important roles in all the other subsequent books.

Now, could I be friends with any of them?

Yes. I like to think I’m an easy going person. I can make friends easily. I feel like out of all the characters I write, the one I can connect the most with is Darilynn, followed closely behind by Amy. I think we have similar interests and personality types. Darilynn is a bit of a Jill-of-all-trades. She’s helps out in the science lab (to a point), is into technology, and often helps out teaching. She kind of evolved this way as stories were written. Interest-wise, I think we’d have the most in common so we’d have a lot to talk about.

Amy, she’s more quiet and open. I think our personalities would mix well. I could relate more to her than any other. She’s not kick-ass strong right from page one and I know I definitely am not. She’s willing to give others a chance but when push comes to shove, she’ll shove right back. I grew up lacking a backbone and it wasn’t until I moved out and was in University that it started to grow. I still struggle with this at times, to make my voice heard and I feel like Amy would understand that.

The two characters I probably would have some problems with is Mackenzie and Ariadne. I probably wouldn’t start anything, but they are so headstrong that we would probably clash at times, especially if I didn’t think a decision they were making is right.

What about you? Have you read any books where you connected to the heroine and know you could be friends? If so, who?

Want to see how other writers respond to these questions? Check out these sites: Danie Ford, Emma G. Delaney, Kimberly Farris, Kristen Koster

How I Write– Top 5 Ways to Get Writing Done

This week, we were asked what are our 5 top ways to be successful with our goals. Here are some of mine:

1. Oh a shiny!- Yeah, new story ideas are bad. The new characters like to chatter and complain. And oh the muse crack they dangle…I’m completely susceptible to those ideas for new stories. The crack, it’s everywhere, I tell ya and just when I think I’ve evaded one, another comes along.

Many people hear voices when no-one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing. -Margaret Chittenden

There’s no cure-all. Only a focus of steel. Writing all these ideas down in a WIP ideas file sometimes helps. But for the stubborn ideas…there are times when the only way it’ll leave me alone is to actually write out the scene in my head. Let me be clear on what sticks with me. Sometimes it’s the character or the plot, but most of the time, it’s a line. One measly sentence that stalks me and repeats over and over again. Usually, it’s the first line of a book, but not always. In those cases, I need to write out the scene. If I don’t, I can’t evade.

2. I want kick-ass fighting and awesome psychic moves and…oh what if I add a… (aka the grass is always greener on the other side)- This is the worse, to always want to do more. Sometimes the simplest scenes are the best. I write paranormal where your imagination is the limit and that can frustrate me because the laws of reality doesn’t always apply. I can waste time going back and re-writing because oh I can always add (insert awesomely cool thing). By doing this, I go in circles and it can take more time to complete. This can be one of the hardest procrastination devices for me. Sometimes, I can talk myself out of adding the new awesomely cool thing, other times, I can’t and I just have to write it and hope it doesn’t change the plot too badly.

3. I’ll write 120k in two weeks- Um yeah, not happening. Not that I even write past 80k, but still. The term here is keep your goals SMART. Who knows what will happen in two weeks. There’s so many variables you’re not in control of. Burn out is real and it can kill your motivation to write for awhile if you’re not careful. I won’t even get into carpal tunnel or the need for sleep and food. Know your limitiations. It’ll help you decide on a more reasonable goal.

4. I have to do the dishes and take (insert pet name) out for a walk and my show is on so I definitely want to watch that and…- Reality sucks. We have things to do. We get sick. When you have kids, it’s especially hard to put time aside for you when you have so many roles to play. Not to mention there’s those with a job outside of the home. Everyone’s situation is different. I get home and I have the intelligence of a slug. I don’t feel like writing. I just want to lie there. But then I wouldn’t get anything done. So I force myself. Even if it’s just for an hour. At least I’m making SOME kind of progress. Actually, first I nap. Yep…as soon as I get home and eat I zonk out for 30 mins- 1 hr. It re-energizes me enough to get through the rest of the evening. Otherwise, I’m a zombie. Writing is one of those things where you need to make time for it…scheduling it in if you need to. Harder to do if you have a life (I don’t), but sometimes it’s needed.

5. Twitter! Facebook!- The world will not stop if you don’t go on for an hour…or even a day. I’m bad at this. I love Twitter (not so much FB). I’m always on Twitter, BUT, I am a lurker. Especially when I’m writing or something. I have my chatty moments, but for the most part, I’m fairly quiet on there. A friend is trying out this internet nanny to block Twitter after a certain amount of time used… but still. Social media is great and all, but balance is important as well.

How I Write– 2011 in review

2011 Accomplishments

2011 brought interesting developments in my life. It was the year I got a book contract, a dream I’d secretly wished for so many years. Granted, I wasn’t prepared all those other years, I see that now. I learned a lot about editing–how to tighten, how to strengthen character goals, etc.

It was also the year I went to New York for the first time for the RWA Nationals. I saw many friends and met a bunch of people. We braved the taxis and street cart “dirty dogs”; and visited the very scenic Central Park. And brought way too many books back.

I also bought my first ereader in 2011, a Kobo Touch I fell in love with and then later on, also bought a Kobo Vox. Since then, I have bought over 60 books on them. I had held off for awhile for purchasing an ereader. Like many people, I still love the feel of a physical book in my hands and didn’t really want to read on screen. That all changed and while I have some favourite authors I still purchase the physical books from, the majority of future purchases will be ebooks.

What would I do differently?

To be honest, I’m not sure there is much I would do differently. Everything I did was a learning experience. The only thing I would change would be to not let myself “hide”. I’m a very introverted person and for a good part of the year I was off work. That meant staying at home for long periods of time and I got used to being by myself. I become a hermit, dreading leaving the apartment, even just to get groceries. I’m back at work now, but it’s an effort to get out of these ways. Looking back, I should have gone out more. I should have taken myself out to coffee shops more than once a week to socialize. I should have made more of a conscious effort.

What about 2012? Or what goals do I want to achieve?

Every year, for the accountability group I’m in, we each have to create our long term goal plan. While I won’t bore you with all of mine, I’ll list off some of the top goals:

1. Finish at least two books (this does not count Seducing the Shadows which has a deadline of Jan 31st to get to critique partners)
2. Re-vamp the Alexia Reed site. This means updating.
3. Read 100 books. This year I’m doing a challenge where 50 of those books (if possible) will be of main characters who don’t fall under the “perfect” category. Characters who deepen their story by being different in some way. I think this is important because I tend to trap myself in reading only a certain kind of book. This year, I want to push that envelope because perfect characters aren’t real.

What are your 2012 goals? What would you change of 2011 if you could? Check out my friends’ sites: Danie Ford Emma G. Delaney Kimberly Farris Kristen Koster