Author: J.I. Soucie

Christian, wife, mom, and pet lover with a love and passion for reading and writing.
Facade, november nano

NaNo Prep – End of Day 1

J.I. Soucie

Yesterday I had set out to rework my story Facade, however, the new ideas I had for the story didn’t work out like I thought. It’s funny how ideas come to you, they sound great, and then when you try to work them into the story you realize the ideas were not as great as you thought. How frustrating is that?!

The ideas I had would have called for a major rewrite of my story which would allow me to use this story for NaNoWriMo. Thing is the ideas would change the story so much that a major plot would be eliminated and therefore all the action and suspense that went with it. I would have been left with maybe a beginning of a story but a HUGE whole after that. I had nothing… And going over this made me realize I really liked the plot I already had and that it worked so much better.

So this means I will set this story aside. Thankfully, I already had another story idea in my bag. I pulled it out and started working on that last night. I’m liking it so far. I don’t have a title yet, but it takes place in the early 1900’s in South Hampton, England. I am thinking of the title “The Three Sisters”, but I think that will be a place holder as it really doesn’t depict the message in my book. If you haven’t guessed already by the time, place, and prospective title of the story, the three sisters refers to the White Star Line luxury liners Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic. At least the Olympic and Titanic will have a part but not sure how far the story will go, or how much either ship will be involved.

Hmmm…. Thinking…. Thinking…. Lots to do so best get to it!

How are you coming along on your NaNo prep? Have you hit any road blocks? What do you do to overcome them? Feel free to leave comments below. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

God bless!

november nano

Prepping for NaNoWriMo 2014 – Day 1

J.I. Soucie

Good morning, everyone! Or good evening, depending on where you are in the world.

It is a misty morning here in the North Woods and I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than listening to good music, with scented candles lit, and prepping for NaNoWriMo! Yep. It’s about that time again.

I have a fictional story I started for Camp NaNo a few years ago, but I got stuck when the book wasn’t going where I wanted it. So I took some good advice and stuffed it away for awhile. I thought of the story often and prayed I would get ideas that get me on my writing path again.

Well, my friends that day has come. I pulled out the manuscript, dusted it off and I’m looking at it with fresh eyes. There is going to be some major rewriting and it will like writing a new book almost. The plan for the day is as follows:

  • Read through book
  • Mark what needs to be changed (characters, ect.)
  • Make an outline (not really a fan of this, but in this case, I may need one.)
  • Update synopsis
  • Make Book Cover

I think that may be it, at least for now. It’s a good start. Of course, I will also be visiting the NaNoWriMo site’s Nano Prep page which has good articles for beginning your novel, committing to it and planning it.

I would love to hear you prep for NaNoWriMo, or even if you don’t do NaNoWriMo, how do you plan out your novel? Let me know in the comments below.

 

my opinions

Word Progress Meter

J.I. Soucie

If you’re looking for a word progress for your projects outside of NaNoWriMo try writertopia. They have a couple of meters on their website. I am currently trying one on my site. I am using the one of the little raisin-like guy (reminds me of a California Raisin) and you get to not only update your wordcount but also this little guy’s mood. The moods rate from 0-7:

0 = very frustrated

1 = ready to shoot computer

2 = shocked at what’s written

3 = sleeping

4 = watching TV

5 = logical and calm

6 = working at novel

7 = joyful

I guess when the book is finished he celebrates by having a beer! lol

I have a feeling I’m going to have a blast with this little guy!

 

Writing Tips

Why I Quit Writing

J.I. Soucie

Why I Quit Writing by Joe Bunting touches on what I think EVERY writer goes through at some point in their writing career. I know I have been there soooo many times! I keep telling my husband maybe I should just quit. I’m stuck I don’t know where to go and then we start talking and BOOM in the middle of a conversation I get hit with something, tell him to hold on a minute while go write it down. But then, as soon as I start writing I KEEP writing just as Joe says has happened to him.

I think we get frustrated and at times, suffer from self-doubt. We just don’t see how things are going to turn out and that can be disheartening. But, we will never know how a project will turn out if we never finish it. We might be surprised and we often are.

We do know a couple of things, we love to write, it’s in our blood, and even though it can feel like torture during the moments of writer’s block, once that book is finished, we feel on top of the world!!! It is so worth continuing on through the tough stages to reach…THE END.

Thanks, for your post, Joe!

News on Writing

Playtime with Amazon’s Search Engine and Selling Prompts

J.I. Soucie

Playtime with Amazon’s Search Engine and Selling Prompts. by Jason Matthews is a great article on how to use Amazon’s search engine to generate keywords for your book. The keywords can be use in your title, interior book content, and in the keyword section of KDP. I think this would work for Create Space as well.

Some great advice here and something we Indie Authors need to keep in mind.

Thanks, Jason!

News on Writing

What the End of Yahoo’s Contributor Network Means for Freelancers | The Freelancer, by Contently

J.I. Soucie

What the End of Yahoo’s Contributor Network Means for Freelancers | The Freelancer, by Contently.

I must say after reading the article above I am infuriated over the closure of Yahoo’s Contributor Network. I worked hard on the articles I submitted to them. I had over 100 articles, poems, and book reviews. All were publishing credits and now they are gone! There is this, and then add the face I never got an email about this didn’t help.

Alas, I must let the anger go because really, maybe this is a good thing. I have my rights back to all my work now and that means I can rework any articles to my delight and find new homes for them. So now, I guess I am on an adventure of sorts. What at first felt horrible, a big bowling ball shot in my gut, turned out to be something good. Something I can work with and who knows, my articles may do much better elsewhere.

The more I think about it, I realize I hadn’t written anything for Contributor Network for  a long time because I felt they paid poorly for the time and effort I put into writing my articles. I wanted to help supplement my husband’s income but I couldn’t do that on like $3 an article. In the end, it wasn’t worth it. Something I did like about it though is that I got to see my work in print and see how many people viewed and even commented on my work.

What really hurt, was the complete loss of all those publishing credits I had. It took time and effort to build that up. Now I have to start again.

I am off on a new adventure in search of a home for my articles.

How do you feel about the Yahoo Contributor Network shutting down?

Have you tried sites like Hubpages, or sites similar? Did you like them? Why, or why not?

Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Facade, General Updates

Far Too Long

J.I. Soucie

It has been far too long since I sat down and wrote a post.

It has been busy here on the homestead. Summer vacation is over and school has started for my little one. Which means more time for me to do some writing. I will be able to get back into the writing craft that I have missed so much.

I sit here in my cozy recliner, the fan and the AC cooling the room. Brrr…almost a little too cold. My hubby is on the couch working on a text adventure game, which I might just delve into here at some point. May not happen until after NaNo though. We’ll see.

Our dogs are asleep, and so is our daughter. Quiet…ah…so that’s what it sounds like. *Looks around* Okay so now is the moment when some loud noise scares me five feet out of my chair. Ha! Can you picture that?

Hmmm…so the story I’ve gone back to working on is Facade. I had mentioned this story before. The main character is Wesley who is based off Elvis and he has a twin brother, Keith. This is based of my fantasy of “What if Elvis’ twin survived?” scenario. I think we’ve all had it at some point. The funny thing is I just heard on the radio this morning that Identical, a movie that is based on that principle, “What if Elvis had a twin brother?” only in the movie the brother is given up because the parents can’t afford both babies.

My story is quite different. The twin brother in my story is believed to be still born but the father doesn’t give up. He and his mother, and mother-in-law, take turns clearing the baby’s airways and smacking him firmly on the back until the baby finally wails to life. The second twin, Wesley, is born more easily and thriving. The twins get along fine for several years until Wesley takes up a love of music at an early age. Keith just doesn’t have that same rhythm though he tries. Eventually, jealousy brews between the brothers and Keith is set out to take his brother’s place no matter the cost.

So I may go back to working on this story, though another story is weighing a little more on my mind.

Just wanted to give you all an update from, Maine’s Northern Woods to your laptop, tablet, or phone, have a good one!

Camp NaNoWriMo, General Updates, highly sensitive person

The Clicking of Keys

J.I. Soucie

The light shines down on me and my husband, both working at our laptops. I’m writing while he is programming an android garden app.

I realized tonight that the last post I had written for this blog was saved in the drafts folder instead of being published. I apologize for that. I’m not sure what happened.

I am still holding down editing jobs and reading, though, a few books may have to be put down for now (and possibly re-read later) because there are some books I need to read for research for one of my books. A couple of my books I’m at various stages of writing are in the creative nonfiction genre, which I have found enjoyable to write. One book is going to be about living as a highly sensitive person, and the other, about my experience as a teenager, caring for my terminally ill mother. I want this second book to be one of, not only sharing my experience, but also be a book that can be encouraging to teens who have lost, or are losing a parent, or parent figure.

I have signed up for Camp NaNo but have not decided which of these books I would like to write yet. I think it may be the second book since that is the one most ready to begin writing. The book about being an HSP (highly sensitive person), still requires a lot of reading, notes, etc. This one will be a while in the making. The first book I will be reading will The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.

I have also been listening to The Creative Penn podcast hosted by author Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn). I love this podcast. You learn so much about the creative and business side of being an Indie Author. Highly recommend if you are looking for a podcast dealing with writing.

I think that is all for now. Off to read and then to bed. Morning comes quickly!

Book Reviews, General Updates

Editing, Reading, Poetry, And Book Reviews

J.I. Soucie

I am amazed how busy one can become without realizing it. Somehow I have attained three editing jobs, reading, writing book reviews, and I have started writing poetry again. As you can imagine this, and being a mom and housewife, take s a great  deal of my time. I wanted to write a blog post to update you, my readers, to let you know things are okay, just that I have been  so busy I am not able to write the amount of blog posts I would like to.

The books I have been reading are Outlaw Salvation by, William Tasch, which is a Christian fiction novel, Bringing up Girls, by Dr. James C. Dobson, Mastering Creative Anxiety, by Eric Maisel, and The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  Sourcebook, by Glenn R. Schirraldi, Ph.D. A lot to read at once and normally I read a nonfiction book in the morning and a fiction at night and that is all I will allow myself to read. It’s hard when there is so much you want to read about all at once, and hence, I know have four books all started and all being read at various intervals. I am thinking I will have to pick Outlaw Salvation as my fiction book and then choose a nonfiction book for the morning read. Bringing up girls may be the one I finish first. We shall see!

You can follow me on Goodreads for any updates and reviews on these books. Reviews will also be posted on Amazon.com.

A kindle book I just finished reading to my daughter last night was Tyrannosaurus T-Rex: Amazing Photos & Fun Facts Book for Kids About T-Rex (Kids Knowledge Series), by Deutsche Don Juan. I am in the process of writing a review and will be posting it soon.

That is all I have for now, but hope to be back soon and have more regular updates for you. Have a great day! :)