Summer's over for me....Boo Hoo...

So now that summer is over I feel like I can start my old routine again.  The kiddo goes to school and I get about an hour of writing in before I go to work, etc. During the summer I slept in until I had to go to work. Only writing I did was after work on most days.  My days off the kiddo was home, so I was easily distracted.

This summer we went to the condo for about 4 days or so, and no it is never long enough.  I keep trying to get the hubby to take more than two days off of work, but it never seems to happen.  The beach was great though and I can't wait to go back.

Another great summer moment was when Liz Pelletier (Entangled Publishing) came down for the weekend to teach a day long class. I love, Liz. She's pretty awesome. She also invited me to write a short story for a submission call they are putting out soon. I wrote it in 4 days. LOL  Maybe submission requests are they way to go for me.

Then I went to Atlanta in July to RWA National. There were about 9 Sola-RWA chapter mates there, and we all got together for lunch one day and breakfast another day.

I attended several classes, but I missed many of them too.  Seems self-publishing was the biggie this year, and that's great, but I'm still working on my craft. I took lots of craft classes. I'm still learning my voice right now, which I'm thinking is pretty simple. No flowery prose at all.  I say what I gotta' say and get out. Sometimes its more telling, though I do work hard to show when needed.

While at RWA I decided I know what I want when I grow up.  I want my book covers on elevator doors. Those elevator covers were just too cool! And Sylvia Day had drink coasters in the bar with her books and name on them. Whoa. Now that was a great idea. Mostly everyone hung out at the bar.

I got to chat with Barbara Vey, Jade Lee, Laura Bradford, Pamela Clare, (and her cute audio guy, Kaleo.), Sabrina Jeffries, and we even sat next to Nora Roberts once. Yes. I was an amazing time. And for the Rita/Golden Heart awards my buddy Devon Alexander and I got to sit with some amazing talented people.

 So where is my name you ask....Well, we sort of just sat down, and then realized we were crashing Table #64. We leaned over and asked two ladies who happened to be The Librarian and Bookseller of the year, Cathy and Sarah if someone was sitting there, and they said nope. LOL They said Devon and I where there guest. Sweet, huh. Congrats to these wonderful ladies...They rock!


So what did I learn from the conference? The number one thing was to write the next book.  Series sell better on Amazon. Readers still love paperbacks as much as e-readers.

So what did I do all summer on the writing front? Well I wrote a short novella in less than a week as I mentioned above. And I'm working on another short contemporary set in a small Louisiana town set in the Bayou. I'm still playing around with my witch novel, but it's been the hardest book to write.  Maybe because I re-wrote it 3x's and it's telling me enough.(Never)  I also got a new critique partner. And I hope she'll push me to do my best. She's already doing really awesome, but she has lots more on the way. I'll do my best to help her as best I can too. :-)

I hope you had a great summer. I would love to hear what you did or still doing.

Hugs,
Dawn Chartier

Jennifer Crusie on Sharknado

For anyone with a creative imagination - please read Jennifer Crusie's blog. She had great insight.

Click here. 

A little secret from Liz Pelletier with Entangled Publishing (Self-Editing Class)

Self-Editing Class

A little editors secret from Liz Pelletier, Sr. Editor, Co-Owner of Entangled Publishing:

How many times have you heard that you need to polish your manuscript until it's gleaming before sending it out the door? Armed with an almost infinite supply of caffeine, you toil over your baby for hours, cutting a few words here, changing a few words there. You diligently run spell and grammar checker over and over. You may even use a macro that points out you used the word "that" 16 times per page and smack yourself in the head. You argue with your critique partner over appropriate comma usage and dialogue tags until neither one of you can remember when to use a comma. And finally… Finally, you deem your baby ready for public consumption and send it off to your dream agent or editor.

After what seems like an eternity, you get a polite rejection in the mail claiming she just didn't "connect with your characters" or she felt your "plot was too passive" (my personal favorite) or he "didn't think your story started in the right place" or any number of things. I betno one mentioned a single thing about comma usage or redundant word choice, did they? And yet, every time we sit down to edit our manuscripts, those are the things we tend to focus on.

I'm going to share a little secret with you... Editors typically consider the mechanics of your writing only if they're truly horrible, but that's only after they decide if they can sell your story, if they love your voice. In the history of publishing, I don't think anyone has ever lost a book deal due to a missing comma or over-usage of adverbs. If you can write a story that a reader can't put down, even despite grammatical errors… Now that's a bestseller.

With that in mind, during this workshop we're going to focus on both the big picture and line edits, but we'll be focusing on concepts that will help you craft a bestseller: How to review your book through the standard three pass editing structure used by professionals, how to evaluate character growth arcs and story structure, how to peel away those bad writing habits to reveal your voice, and how to refine your writing style so a fluid and engaging story emerges.

By the end of the day, I hope everyone will have the tools they'll need to "Edit a Bestseller Like A Pro"!

Join us near New Orleans, LA. as we learn from Entangled Publishing co-founder and editor Liz Pelletier. Registration information is here. Early registration prices have been extended until June 10th.  Class is on June 22, 2013...  (if the links above don't work try this one below) http://solawriters.org/2013/06/03/self-editing-workshop-why-should-you-join-us-liz-pelletier-lets-you-in-on-a-secret/

I hope to see you there!
~ Dawn Chartier

May 11th and June 22nd - Writing Events in the New Orleans Region

This Saturday at 10am to 3pm Sola Writers is having a small fundraiser ($10 members / $15 non-members) in Westwego, LA (at Salaville Perk - Sala Avenue) (15 minutes from New Orleans).

It's more about getting writers (any writer in the NOLA/Gulf Coast area) to come on out for a day for writing and/or plotting. Giving each other ideas to help you move past just an idea, etc.  Can you imagine if 5 or more authors gave you 5 to 10 ideas on where you can take your story next? Or maybe you are stuck on a character? Or maybe just the plot. Whatever it is, these writers will help. And you'll help them right back.

OR if you rather just sit and write - going 20 minute writing sprints, then we will make sure that is what you do. :-) (anyone can attend...) (Lunch not included.)

For more info you can go here... http://solawriters.org/2013/04/02/plottingsprinting-party-may-11-2013/


Self-Editing Class::::You don't want to miss this Self-Editing class on June 22, 2013.  Sr. Editor, Liz Pelletier with Entangled Publishing is going to be teach us how to self-edit our novels before they are sent to a publisher or before we self-publish. (This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!) 

This is an all day class in Metairie, LA - Lunch and Lite Breakfast included. (10 minutes from New Orleans) and it's worth a drive from where ever you are... (You do not need to be a member - anyone can sign up.)

For more info go here...  http://solawriters.org/2013/04/16/self-editing-workshop-by-liz-pelletier-from-entangled-publishing/

Can't wait for these events... I hope to see lots of people attend...

Happy Writing,
Dawn Chartier
www.dawnchartier.com

Self-Editing Class by Liz Pelletier - June 22, 2013 (Metairie, LA)

Sola-RWA Writers group is having a full day class on Self-Editing and our instructor is the fabulous instructor, Liz Pelletier, Sr. Editor of Entangled Publishing. (See info below or go to www.solawrites.com)


~ Have you completed a rough draft of your book but have no idea how to tackle your edits?
Have your submission efforts netted a full request from an editor or agent only to end in
rejection after they’ve reviewed your manuscript? Do you want to learn how to edit like a
professional editor? Then you are a prime candidate for this Self-Editing Workshop by Entangled Publishing Co-Owner and Editor Liz Pelletier. ~

• When: Saturday, June 22, 2013
• Where: Andrea’s Restaurant, 3100 19th Street, Metairie, LA 70002 (map)
• Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm with pitches from 4:00pm-5:00pm
• Cost: SOLA Members $85/ Non-members $90 (Early registration ends June 1st.)
  • Late registration (June 2-10) SOLA Members $95/ Non-members $100
  • Registration includes light breakfast and lunch.
  • Space for the workshop and pitches is limited. Sign up early to ensure your spot.

To sign up go to:  www.solawriters.com and click on the Events page.

Hope to see you there!

Dawn Chartier

Paranormal Author: Jami Gold shares 3 tips for being a better beta-reader...

I'm about to start searching for beta-readers for my witch series, Book #1, and I came across this great article written by author, Jami Gold.   Thought I should share it with those you who like to beta-read like I do. Enjoy her tips, and go and buy her books! :-)

Link below:

http://jamigold.com/2013/04/three-tips-for-being-a-better-beta-reader/

Author Kristen Lamb's Blog - My new favorite blog!

If you are an author and you are following my blog, I have one piece of advice for you.

Follow Kristen Lamb's blog.  Seriously.  Every day I read her blog and she inspires me in a such a way that no one else does.  She doesn't sugar coat the real world of the struggles of an author/writer.
And I think that is something we as writers need.  She tells you how you need to toughen up and keep going.  Yes, you will get bad reviews. Yes, you'll have people not like you. Yes, you'll want to give up and cry because of this or that, but the real writers, they get back in the ring and fight.

So do yourself a favor, and follow her blog.  Even if you don't want to follow, just head over there and read a few posts and make a comment or two. She has lots of tips for writing as well...

I promise you, it will make you feel better. You will not feel so alone after reading her blog. And if you are not a writer, it still might help you get through a tough time.

So here is the link.  Kristen Lamb. 

Enjoy!