Search found 670 matches

by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 1:44 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: 2013 Writing Goals
Replies: 9
Views: 8642

Re: 2013 Writing Goals

I tend not to set specific themed goals. My biggest goal of 2013 is: Don't Die.

I've got a 31 and a half year streak! XD
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 1:42 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

I also approach new beta readers with a list of expectations for them, so they know what I want from them up front. I ONLY beta read with people who read or write in my genre. I think this is important because someone who doesn't read or write YA are going to have problems with nuances of the genre...
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 12:23 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: The Current Trend of Using Action Noun Titles
Replies: 6
Views: 4929

Re: The Current Trend of Using Action Noun Titles

I'm not a fan of one word titles unless it explains everything in one word.

Of course, I'm guilty of giving my books long names associated with each other, like Eden Underground, Eden Down Under, and Eden Out of Control (tentative? yes).
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 11:21 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

So I have some bullet-point thoughts that I want to say before I have anything coherent and/or new to add to the conversation: First, Hillsy has amazing advice. Listen to it all. Second, you seriously need to drop that one beta. They are poison to your writing. Someone who will dictate how your boo...
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 9:34 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

Right........ ......Firstly, sounds like you've got a problem with 1 person. Deal with that, hit reset, move on. Secondly, and as ridiculous as this sounds, to me it seems like you need to learn how to workshop. Meaning - learning the weight and merit of critique/advice, how to sift the gold from t...
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 9:05 am
Forum: Connect With a Critique Partner
Topic: Looking mostly for a CP to tell me it's time to stop.
Replies: 0
Views: 3287

Looking mostly for a CP to tell me it's time to stop.

I stole this from the NaNo Forum. I'm basically just needing someone to tell me it's time to stop and set it on fire because it isn't publishable. Title - Chasing Miracles Length - 115,000 words. It's not as long as you think when you start reading it. Draft - Final V2.1 Language - English (there is...
by sierramcconnell
January 22nd, 2013, 8:13 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

...well, I think one of my biggest problems also is that I didn't really want to work with this beta. In the first message, I just had a /feeling/ we would not get along, and unfortunately, it was a good feeling. She's very harsh, doesn't seem to understand what the sandwich rule is, and everything ...
by sierramcconnell
January 21st, 2013, 11:46 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Re: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

Hm. I think the biggest problem is that I don't see anything wrong with the beginning. If I were reading it I would like it more than an action sequence. But the different betas all say different things about it. So I'm assuming there are just some people hooked by the beginning of a book, some hook...
by sierramcconnell
January 21st, 2013, 3:49 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Strangely Quiet
Replies: 8
Views: 5567

Re: Strangely Quiet

...I've been busy with things at work. I got moved from one department to another because of reasons. The new department has less call flow, and now I work 12 hour weekends, so I have plenty of time to get writing and such, which is one reason I have decided to work on it again. [breathes after the ...
by sierramcconnell
January 21st, 2013, 3:43 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?
Replies: 13
Views: 9891

Do you have to listen to /everything/ a beta says?

I think I might have asked before...it feels deja vu-y. Anyway. I am so excite because one of the things my current beta told me I agree with 100%. I hated this one scene and only put it in to make other betas happy. It made me raaage. But then she says that the opening I want to use, might not be t...
by sierramcconnell
January 9th, 2013, 12:53 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: FINISHED
Replies: 8
Views: 5628

Re: FINISHED

dios4vida wrote:^^ That is some seriously awesome advice. :)
Thanks! Now if I could put it into practice... XD I've been sooo lazy.
by sierramcconnell
December 31st, 2012, 2:04 pm
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: 14 Tips for better cover design
Replies: 5
Views: 5349

Re: 14 Tips for better cover design

This gives me ideas! Thank you!
by sierramcconnell
December 31st, 2012, 10:57 am
Forum: Writing
Topic: FINISHED
Replies: 8
Views: 5628

Re: FINISHED

Read through it once while fighting the urge to change things, even grammar things, because you want to look for plot holes. (Ie. OMG I used a magical artifact in chapter three that isn't mentioned ever again...!) Section it into chapters if it isn't already, take the first chapter, and start making...
by sierramcconnell
December 31st, 2012, 10:49 am
Forum: Self-Publishing
Topic: Oh, God, I think I'm going to do this...
Replies: 2
Views: 3614

Oh, God, I think I'm going to do this...

So I stopped writing for about a year. I couldn't even get myself to do NaNoWriMo this year. The reason? I got laid off /again/ in the middle of NaNo 2011, and was told "it isn't that you're doing your job, you just haven't been here long enough and we have to cut costs" so they let the gu...
by sierramcconnell
August 13th, 2012, 6:25 pm
Forum: Writing
Topic: writer's block and more .....
Replies: 4
Views: 2363

Re: writer's block and more .....

Too much of one thing is too much. You have to have a balance. It's why many authors still choose to do other things aside from writing. You can't be a writer all the time or your brain would die! I find I have to switch between playing with my dolls, sewing, antiquing, watching interesting things o...