Tag Archives: writing

Aug 15 2012

The breakthrough we have all been waiting for!

Well, the breakthrough I have been desperate for, at least! I have been so very behind on my wordcount all month, dragging my heels because my initial story idea only lasted the first few chapters, then I was adrift in the sea of uncertainty.

I know I always write this way – with no plot or guide map, but I still get slightly unnerved when I have thousands of words left to write, and I don’t know what any of them will be.

But today, after pushing myself to write another 2500 words, to help my flagging wordcount, I had come to a standstill. So I figured I may as well make dinner and chill out for the evening. Until I suddenly realise I’m supposed to be somewhere in twenty minutes. In the hurry to get ready and go, just as I am about to leave, the flash of inspiration comes zooming into my head, and as I close the door, I recognise it for the genius that it is!

So I now know, where this story is going, and it’s perfect, even if I did not see it coming, at all. I hope I can do the idea justice, I guess I will leave my readers to judge that one.

All I need to do now is to fill in the rest of the story to that point that I imagined earlier.

Easy!

Aug 11 2012

Still camping…

Okay so you know I said I would update you about my wordcount, but if things went quiet it would mean that I’m behind? Well, surprise surprise, I’m behind on my wordcount, which is why you haven’t had an update!

But fear not, I WILL have 50,000 words of my novel written by August 31st!

I’ve got a few scene ideas floating around at the moment, and this evening I will be settling down to explore them. At the moment I am busy revamping my website, which I’m pleased to say is looking pretty good so far! I will post an update when it is done!

To all the other wrimos out there who are struggling – keep going! You can do it!

Aug 1 2012

I have arrived at Camp!

It is August first, and day one of Camp Nanowrimo. Once my commitments for the day are taken care of, I will be beginning my next novel.

I will post a few updates here, though if all goes silent, you will know that the word count isn’t quite what it should be!

Good luck to everyone out there who has also decided to attend Camp this year, I hope we all win!

Jul 23 2012
Gallery

Spiritual Author Insight – Sofie Couch

Welcome to the first Spiritual Author Insight! Each week I will be interviewing a different Spiritual or Visionary Author to gain an insight into their life as a writer. This week, I interviewed Sofie Couch, author of Angels Unawares. On Spirituality … Continue reading →

Jul 14 2012

Hello, my deer!

My favourite place to write is out on the balcony, in the sun. Due to the ridiculously wet weather we’ve been having this summer, I’ve resorted to a small table in front of the french doors that lead out to the balcony. Just the other day, I was writing my new novel, when I looked up to see a deer and her young wandering through the garden. The way she stared at me when I took this photo sparked my imagination, who knows, she may even feature in a future novel.

I think it’s important to have an inspirational place to sit and write, what do you think?

Feb 9 2012

February 2012

It’s a month into the new year, and I have not been posting every week, I know! But I have been very busy! Editing, setting up a publishing business, quitting my job, going on holiday, sorting out my art studio and desk… and that’s all just in the last six weeks! I knew this year would be a busy one, but it has already exceeded my expectations of busyness.

I have spent the entire day in front of two laptops doing research, Tweeting, and setting up the basics of the new publishing business. I know that in order to make money with the business and sell a few copies of my books I need to be on the social networking sites and make myself known, but I miss the times when I would go on my computer to actually write! I know, I’m complaining about social networking on my blog, don’t worry, the irony of that hasn’t escaped me. I’m not really complaining as much as commenting on the fact that I spend more time on my computer than I ever used to, and yet my productivity as a writer is so much lower than it used to be too.

But would there even be any point in writing my next book if I didn’t do the networking now to guarantee some readers?

I guess the answer to that depends on how important it is to me that people read my words. I know that those who have read my books have enjoyed them and have in some way been inspired or moved by them, and in some ways, that’s enough. But I would very much like to reach more people.

Which means I suppose I’d better get back to my Tweeting…

Dec 19 2011

2012 is going to be a fantastic year!

I know, I know, it’s been an age since  I last wrote, things have been beyond busy, I published The Doorway to PAM and launched it on the 4th December, and I’ve still been working, shopping for Christmas, editing etc etc! But I am hereby making a resolution right now to write at least once a week, about my self-publishing adventures, of which there are many! And the lessons I have learnt, in the hopes I save you all a little time and hassle!

Just to remind everyone that you can follow me on Twitter – themiraclemuse and ‘like’ my facebook page – Michelle Gordon – Author.

The Doorway to PAM is available on Kindle and Amazon.

Well, the plan for 2012 is to publish two novels, The Earth Angel Awakening and The Elphite. Do as many launches as possible, and also start up a business editing and formatting self-published books.

Not much then really!! I’ll also try to mention any tips here that I pick up along the way – my tip for today is this – if you are thinking of self-publishing your book, do not under any circumstances use a company who asks for lots of money, promises a lot, takes away your publishing rights and delivers very little in return.  If you are self-publishing, you should retain all the rights, and if you need to pay someone to edit and proofread, it should be fairly reasonable. It doesn’t actually cost anything to publish the book, on Print on Demand or as an ebook.

Well, I’m going to sign off for today, I promise to be back soon!

Jul 24 2011

The last six months – January

Okay, it’s taken me a little time, but here is the first column that I wrote for the Newbie Writers Newsletter, about my self-publishing journey. Hope you enjoy!

I’ve wanted to be an author since I was about eight years old, and I’m finally now taking the necessary steps to make that dream a reality. Though I’ve been writing for years, it was only in 2009 that I finally wrote a full-length novel, using the technique devised by Chris Baty, founder of Nanowrimo and author of “No Plot? No Problem!”. Since then I have written another two and a half novels, all in various stages of progress. Despite wanting to be an author more than anything, I’ve found it difficult to motivate myself to actually get my book edited to perfection (or something near) and published, so I decided that in 2011 I would make myself accountable to someone, in order to make it happen. This is where you come in.

I started a blog, called “Confessions of a Self-Published Author”, where I have been writing about my progress with getting my novel out there into the world. There’s nothing like having all of your friends and relatives (not to mention plenty of strangers) read your blog and hassle you every now and then to “just get on with it”. So far, it’s working well, I am currently in the midst of another massive edit of the novel, and am finding that I need to make not only a few spelling and grammar edits, but also change entire scenes that don’t actually work!

I suppose it may well be a good thing that I have waited until now to properly pursue my dream of being an author, it is certainly a whole different ballgame these days. In the past, self-publishing had a stigma attached to it, as it was usually associated with ‘vanity publishing’ whereby you paid hundreds or even thousands to print your book, then you would end up with a garage-full of boxes of your novel that you would then have to sell. You can still publish in that way today, but why would you go to the expense now that Print on Demand exists? It’s the perfect way to publish, especially if, like me, you are not a particularly well-off writer. For no initial outlay, you can usually print a very professional copy of your book for just a few pounds, and it will be available to buy online, and the price that you set not only covers manufacturing costs and fees, but could even give you a nice little royalty. So, self-publishing using POD, certainly to me, seems like the way to go. I also like that fact that you can easily upload your novel to be available on the Kindle, which is something else that I will be looking into once my novel is ready for publication.

Which brings me to my plan of action, which has also been a bit of a work in progress, seeing as I started this journey with no plan at all. The list of things that need to be done stand as follows:

  1. Finish the final edit of the novel.
  2. Design the cover
  3. Get reviews for the back copy.
  4. Write the back copy.
  5. Write the Acknowledgements and dedications
  6. Compile a bibliography of any books I have found inspiring of helpful, and also for any quotes used in the novel.
  7. Use social networking sites and websites related to the subject matter of my novel to drum up some interest in it before it is published.
  8. Build a website for the novel.

The other thing I have been considering doing is a trailer for my novel. It seems to be quite a popular thing to do these days, having a book trailer, and I would really enjoy the challenge of putting one together. The main problem will be finding the time to do it! As well as having a challenging full time job, writing books and self-publishing, I also have many hobbies which I’m trying to fit in, all the while still doing everyday things like food shopping! It does seem that the busier I get, the more I get done, but my mind still boggles when I try to figure out exactly how to get everything organised and completed.

Before I sign off and get some very much needed sleep, I thought it would be a good idea to give an idea of what my novel is about, and then a short excerpt from the novel itself.

The title is: The Earth Angel Training Academy. It’s based on the other side, in an Academy for beings from all different realms. There are Angels, Old Souls, Faeries, Mermaids and Starpeople. They go to the Academy to learn how to become human, so they can go to Earth and help with the Awakening. The novel follows several of the characters as they experience the final term of the Earth Angel Training Academy. Anyone who has read any of Doreen Virtue’s books will understand the term Earth Angels, and maybe even know which realm they themselves are from!

“Wow! It’s so beautiful!”

Amethyst and the little green Faerie gazed around their room in awe.

The spacious room was bright and airy. There were three huge beds dotted around,

 draped in beautiful linens. There was a notice board on the wall that had a large

sign on it.

“Welcome new students! I hope your room is everything that you desire.

To change the décor, simply touch the item and state your desire.

To manifest anything, just speak your request out loud, three times.

 If there are any problems, questions or concerns, write them down on

this board and they will be dealt with. We will be reconvening in the

main hall later on today. See you there! Velvet.”

The Faerie’s eyes widened. “We just touch things, and they change?

I’ve gotta try this!” She flew over to the nearest bed and touched the

sheets. “Green!” Instantly, the sheets turned the colour of spring grass.

The Faerie squealed in delight, and started zooming around the room,

touching things and yelling out colours and patterns, until the room

looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope.

Amethyst looked around, amusement showing on her face. “Hmm,”

she said. “I may just change a few things around my bed, if that’s

okay with you?”

The Faerie was bouncing up and down on her bed. “Okay!”

The Angel went to the bed opposite and touched the sheets.

“Amethyst,” she said. Instantly the sheets turned a shimmering

 lilac colour. The Angel nodded happily. She touched the wall behind

 her and said: “A meadow on a breezy summer’s day.” The wall took

on the appearance of a meadow, with a bright blue sky, lazy clouds

 drifting along, wildflowers in bright colours and the long grass swaying

 in an unfelt breeze.

“Ooh!” the Faerie said. “That’s so beautiful! I’m going to try!” She

 flew to her wall and touched it. “A lawn from a Faerie’s point of view.”

Giant blades of grass appeared, a huge ladybug crawled slowly up one

 of them, and a massive ant ambled past. The Faerie flew around in circles.

“It’s so life-like! It feels like I’m back home again!” She stroked the moving

image of the ladybug. “I wonder how Larry is,” she muttered to herself.

Michelle Gordon © 2011

Happy New Year!

It’s weird to look back at where I was six months ago, it seems like both five minutes ago and a lifetime ago. But apart from number three on my plan, I did actually achieve what I set out to do six months ago. Which is pretty amazing for me! I will post February’s column soon!