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Friday, August 10, 2012

Starting From Scratch - RJ Scott's Anniversary Blog Hop




I'm participating in RJ Scott's blog hop, celebrating her two year anniversary of writing m/m. :)

So, I've titled my post Starting From Scratch...


Because that's what I did.


I started from scratch.

It's no surprise I wrote fanfiction prior to original fiction, and I've found a LOT of other authors did too, once upon a time, in a range of different fandoms. 


For me, it was how I learned and grew as a writer. I started out writing m/f and then found m/m (slash) and never looked back.  But in starting to write original fiction and having my first works published this year, I have realized something...


I didn't know the first thing about writing.


So I wrote some cute fanfiction stories about some cute boys, and people liked them. I had some great reviews, great feedback and, all in all, it was a very positive and fun experience. 


So, armed with two years of said experience in writing fanfiction, and a somewhat delusional opinion that I knew what I was doing, I took a leap of faith and decided to write original m/m for publication. 


And boy, what a steep learning curve it's been.


The truth is, my fanfiction writing experience counted for very little in writing original fiction. Essentially, I was starting from scratch.   Sure, I knew the mechanics of story writing, I knew the importance of plot and structure and character development, but I've really been amazed at just how very little I know about writing.


And that's a really, really good thing.


I figure the day I stop learning about writing, and how to be a better writer, is the day I should give it away. 


I wouldn't change my fanfiction history even if I could. I loved every minute of it, and it in itself was a learning process. I like to think of it as a stepping stone on my path to further my writing. I learned a lot from fanfiction, but I've learned, and continue to learn, in as little as six months, a billion times more from writing original fiction than I could have imagined.  


The editing process, in particular, has been mind-blowing. You know the saying It takes a village?  Yeah well, it does. And then some.

From a draft version, to the release of the ebook, a story (with Silver, in particular) is edited, edited again, and again, and again. I learned to take every comment positively, because with every correction, suggestion and adaption, the story gets stronger. 

I'm learning to look for what the editor/s sees, what the reader sees, and how to improve as I write. Though I don't assume to master this process any time soon. (Disclaimer: The teeny, tiny and equally devastating comma will be the bane of my existence FOREVER.) lol

So that being said, I have four manuscripts being released this year so far. My first release, Taxes and TARDIS, while released first, was not my first submission.  The first original fiction I wrote and submitted was in fact Point of No Return, which is scheduled for release on August 18th  - just one week away!

I also have my third ebook scheduled for release in October, and then my fourth in November.  Needless to say, it's been a busy six months. But I've loved it, and can safely say I've found a home at Silver Publishing.  Their networks are fantastic, they're helpful, friendly and professional, and the cover-art is the best there is. 

I'm still very much a newbie to writing original fiction, and I presume I will be for quite some time. And to anyone who wants to try their hand at writing, my suggestion is this: Never stop writing, and most importantly, never stop learning. 

Now for the fun part...

POINT OF NO RETURN GIVE-AWAY

To celebrate the release of my new novel, and the opportunity RJ Scott has given me, I'd like to offer Point of No Return in ebook format as a promotional give-away to one lucky reader! All you need to do is leave a comment to this post on my blog, and a winner will be randomly chosen on Sunday, 12 August 2012 and you'll be sent Point of No Return, on the release day, being 18th August 2012!


 It's that simple!!  

Now for the blog hopping!!   A link to RJ Scott's blog is   HERE.  Please check out all the other blog hops from other awesome authors!!  



27 comments:

  1. Well, as terrifying as it all sounds (and it does!!) I am so glad you stuck with it and produced the fantastic T&T which I adored. Very much looking forward to PONR too along with all your other offerings this year :)
    Congrats girl!

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  2. I wrote fan fiction first too, but a long long while ago. I think it taught me the basics of story telling while I was a teenager and I agree with you, we're always learning. I think you fail when you think you have nothing left to learn.

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  3. Just like your stories, this blog post is entertaining and a joy to read.

    Congratulations on your publishing successes and here's to many more fun-filled years of writing m/m stories.

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  4. i use to like creative writing in school. and i always believe that failing IS the best way to learn and improve onesself

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

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  5. I haven't read T&T yet, and I want to big time... thank you so much for taking part... HUGS XXXXX

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  6. Great post and so true. Please put me down for the draw :)))) elizabeth@elizabethlister.ca

    xo
    Liz

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  7. Congrats NR! Great post!! And here's to starting from scratch!


    Sharon
    schofield726@comcast.net

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  8. Thanks for the post!! Look forward to reading more of your work
    thanks for the contest

    evelynmoly@yahoo.com

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  9. The book looks wonderful and I look forward to reading it. Just in case I do not win I have added it to my wish list.
    Yvette
    yratpatrol@aol.com

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  10. thanks for the contest
    terrilee.byles@yahoo.com

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  11. Good Luck with your books. I already have Point of No Return on pre-order so really looking forward to reading that.

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  12. Love this blog hopping even if I don't win anything.

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  13. Thank you so much for the wonderful thoughts! All of this advice is fantastic!

    Kassandra
    sionedkla@gmail.com

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  14. I loved Taxes and TARDIS!! Thanks for the post!

    forettarose@yahoo.com

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  15. Starting from scratch is always a good way to go! Congrats on having so many releases in such a short time! Thanks for posting for RJ's anniversary! I would love a chance to win your up coming book!
    OceanAkers @ aol.com

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  16. I'm so proud of you and do proud to share our beginnings :) MUAH!

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  17. Thanks for the opportunity to win your new release. Congrats on being with Silver which appears to work with their authors to obtain a polished product.

    strive4bst at yahoo dot com

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  18. You deserve the happiness i can feel coming through your words here in your blogpost, and I'm so excited for you! What a year!

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  19. I like the look of this one, please count me in!

    moonsurfer123 at gmail dot com

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  20. *waves*
    This makes me so happy. What would make me more happy is a four-pack book special purchase in November when all 4 of your books are available. That would be wonderbar. In the meantime, I am putting my name in the mix for the draw.

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  21. Ahhh I am so proud of you! This will be a cherished part of my book shelf.

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  22. Wow, that must have been busy month to have so many releases waiting for the right readers ;)

    elaynelost(at)yahoo(dot)de

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  23. Great post! I look forward to reading more of your work in the future :)

    morris.crissy@gmail.com

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  24. I think it's good to always be learning...I always feel like the older I get, the less I know. Please count me in for the draw!

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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  25. I come from fanfiction as well and I'm a helluva lot better of a writer now than I was then. lol

    Great post

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  26. Thanks for sharing!
    madisonparklove@gmail.com

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  27. absolutely loved your insights on publishing OF hun. I'm going through the same thing, and I so agree with everything you've written above. Fan fiction has helped give me the confidence to submit OF, but I agree I have so much more to learn. I'm glad you've taken the leap. Keep it up :)

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