Yesterday, I talked about the importance of research.
About staying on top of the latest trends.
So I thought I might give you guys some of the links I use for my writing. Fiction and blogs. Forgive me if you’ve already discovered some of these, but I hope you find at least one or two that might be of use.
At least until Apple comes up with the next best thing.
Pixabay Images
If our stories are to stay current, we need to discuss texting.
Writers need to stay on top of trends and changes, whether they are permanent or fads. Why? Because it dates the story.
I’m discovering more and more the need for research. You may not be writing a historical or technical book, but the need for research is ever-present.
Children’s book? Need to research games they play, books they read or don’t read. Type of clothes they like, yes, even in kids.
YA? Research required not just in slang terms, but clothing, electronics, TV, social media, peer pressure and that’s only the beginning.
Fiction books require research as do non-fiction.
All that brings me to texting. If you want to write a texting scene in your book, research is a must. Start with your phone, that of your kids etc. However, like with most things in the real world, not all translate on to the written page with ease.
And an article by Rachel Ritchey which arrived just when I needed more insight into what other writers were thinking.
As Rachel mentions, writing “text” messaging into a novel is a new concept. Uncharted territory if you will. As strange as an alien planet.
Pixabay Images
So far, there is no standard.
And I’m not sure there could be, a texting conversation between adults is different from those between teenagers. After all, our in-person conversations are different too.
Young adults use emoji, online jargon and abbreviations. Older people are more likely to write out whole sentences. Yep, more research.
On one point I do agree, whichever way you choose to show a text conversation make sure you stay consistent throughout the novel.
Here is a sample of a chapter I’m working on.
Maybe I should try one more time. I tapped the text icon. Nothing new. My last texts stared at me, unanswered. This wasn’t like her. No calls, no texts, nothing. Not since Saturday night.
The music made talking impossible. My head pounded with the base. Midnight even on a Saturday was too late for me to play sister to Cinderella. I needed sleep. I texted Tiff. Her blond curls popped above the crowd, she waved at me and nodded.
12:01 AM
Headache going hm
😦
T2UT
OK
Disappointment, not anger. That was the last time I saw her, grinding against tall, dark and handsome on the dance floor. My head pounding, I’d gone home.
Next day, awake and feeling better after a long hot shower, I texted her, ready to hear all about the good-looking guy and what happened after I left.
9:50 AM
U up yet?
I’d waited until almost noon before sending another. Even Tiff wouldn’t waste a beautiful Sunday afternoon sleeping.
11:50 AM
CM details on last night
2:00 PM
Tiff WRU?
5:00 PM
CM!! WRU???
8:00 PM
GDI answer UR phone!
I’d tried calling several times. Rolled to voicemail again and again. Not like her.
***
Rachel gives examples of how she thinks texts should be written as well as a link to another good author and his opinion.
Do you think age and experience help with the creative process?
I do!
We’ve all heard the old saying, “Age is just a number.” Usually it’s said by some young, smart ass who doesn’t know a thing about dealing with arthritis, gray hair, forgetting where they left the car keys, or retirement. But hey, one day they’ll understand.
However, writing is one thing that is not regulated to the young. Not like skiing, swing dancing, or any of the other crazy things our knees let us enjoy in our 20’s.
No, writing is only limited by our imagination. I believe age can enhance imagination from interesting to downright bizarre. Not to mention we have more time to write.
I wrote an article about writing advice last week, today I’d like to give my readers, and myself, a piece of advice. As with walking, we place one foot in front of the other to begin a journey. So it is with writing. Placing one word after another we start a journey of words. And…
Keep writing, just keep writing and don’t stop.
Who knows when you might write that oneamazing story that sets the world on fire?
It could be the next time you sit down at your computer. So just keep writing. Even if it’s nonsense. Let the ideas and words pour out and see where they lead.
This post gave me hope, that before I leave this earth I might, just might write something worth reading. All I have to do is keep writing one word at a time.
Every day I learn more and more about what it takes to launch a book.
Writing the story is just the beginning.
Even if you can afford a cover designer, the decision regarding the final visual product is yours. That’s a heavy responsibility.
That first impression can get a reader to stop, click and buy. First impressions are very important.
Should you design your book to blend with what you see on the bookshelf at Barnes & Noble? Or do you want your book to stand out from the crowd?
We all want our book to be eye-catching. To make the shopper, whether on Amazon or in a brick and mortar bookstore stop and look. And of course, hopefully, buy.
But there is a fine line I think in between something unique or something bizarre. The same with copying the latest trends in book covers. We run the risk of coming off too trendy if we mimic other authors.
So, with or without a designer, where do you start? As with any story, research.
Check out other books in your genre, on the Best Seller Lists (all of them).
Look at books by your favorite readers. What do you like, or dislike about those covers?
Consider the books that are in ebook and print form.
I fall in the DIY camp. It takes a lot more time and effort but can be done.
Like a cook, making a recipe handed down from her grandmother, I add a pinch of or dash of the following to bake up a beautiful (hopefully) cover:
An Illustrator located through a referral from a local writers group.
What do you think? Trendy or Unique? Have you designed your own book cover? Are you in the midst of designing a cover? What programs or websites do you prefer to use to get the job done?
Jean's Writing 