R.T.II's QUOTE

"If you lose passion in what you do. You lose a part of what you are."

~R.T. II
Showing posts with label Book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

HUMP DAY UPDATE







That's pretty much it when it comes to me. I have a tendency to get really silent, but I will continue to keep this blog updated periodically, so fret not.

I was really expecting Elsa to 'Let It Go' with the winter storm... but all we got was a bunch of rain and ice. Oh well.

I was approached a few days back by some who purchased my first novel, and wanted it signed. Felt nice, it made me think about my future if I keep on the path.
 
I have been working on several manuscripts (one being in the Shadow Genesis series) and a few others from Slumgarde, The Multiverse, Wingless, and Slicka. Shadow Genesis: Inception is looking to get proofread, and I'm currently waiting on that trial edit batch to be emailed. So while that is being looked at, I keep busy elsewhere.

Enjoy your Hump Day.

Monday, February 9, 2015

PROOFREADING ROUTE & POSSIBLE PUBSLUSH







I aim to drop it to 100,000 or less while retaining the story's meat and potatoes. Recently I sent in a sample to this one online proofreading and editing service called Proofreading Services.Com


Given the size of my manuscript, the editing prices are greater than a paycheck. In fact, last I ever seen an amount like that (in the $1,000+ range) was when I self-published my first novel (my gift and my curse). I pulled two jobs to pull that off, paying in large monthly installments while also paying bills and stuff.


Luckily, I was making decent bank every Friday back in those days... good times.


A friend mentioned Pubslush, a platform for authors looking to crowdfund their projects (promote before you publish). The cash of course can go to settling an editor and other things too, and reading the FAQ plus reviews, I am still on the fence, for various reasons. I am still trimming and making little edits of my own before making the next move, and there are other situations popping off life wise, but in due time my second book will be ready.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

SG 3RD DRAFTED & PURPLE KNOWLEDGE

At last I am done with Shadow Genesis: Inception's 3rd draft.


Wait, wait I feel I need to do a little comb over of changes to the first half. Nothing major, just tiny adjustments here and there.

I notice when I was revising into the endings of my story, I feel like the beginnings are not up to snuff compared to the second half of the manuscript. When I mean second half, I mean half of the story towards its end. What's previously done seems old and I get the urge to go back and refresh the starting portion. Call it a hammer down after a hammer down.

After this, off to next phase.

Earlier I also updated the cover. The last versions were just the start of this result, and the previous two before this one did not look as great compared to this. The text is readable and the colors match Shadara realm's atmosphere in which the story takes place. Plus the colors also represent a bit Shadaran sovereignty, the black, purples, and silver are actual royal colors.

Something not many know - and despite me being teased about loving purple - purple is the most compelling color of the rainbow (taste it, love it), and has its origins and symbolism that I've looked up for a long while. Enough to actually deem the color purple perfect for my original character, Shadow Khan himself. As for purple, it use to be a color of royals (look it up) and was a rare color back in the long-long days. It was also pulled from shellfish back then (look that up too, if you like). It may not be as it use to be nowadays with the color, but it still symbolizes nobility and so forth. This is still effective today across the globe.

Combine all there is about purple from its origins to now, you will notice how prominent of a color it is. You can find it in magic, spirituality, creative aspects and then some. Aside from just royalty and virtue (looking it up yet?), there are chalk full of meanings to look into. It's all about the wisdom of it, different customs, ages, cultures, you name it. Purple has both a positive and negative meaning, which I aim to incorporate in a few things within the Shadow Khan Project (or universe as I also put it).

So much for purple being a 'Lame Color', eh?



Thursday, January 8, 2015

THURSDAY UPDATE - Violent Brain


     "So many ‘Rules’ to writing."




     When I first started writing many long years ago when I was but a dreamer in middle school I never once paid attention to the so called ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ to writing. Sure I took English classes and all that grammar speech stuff, but not once did I pay attention to how challenging the writing world is for I was too busy playing video games and drawing characters while being picked on for my rat-tail and chubby weight… and the fact I was a ‘geek’ not in the ‘Cool Club’.



     Growing up, between poetic spurts to short story plots and character creation I was writing free of critics and ridicule. Nowadays, critics are everywhere, in all shapes and sizes, and one has to be careful on helpful and unhelpful criticism. Through the years I’ve received various advice from many. From people who weren’t writers, to those who have published more than one novel.

     I have only published one, and after that one I’ve decided to revise it in one big reboot. It was a decision made not by others input, but by my own. The various ‘Rules to Writing’ were never an impact.



     Until one night my brain demanded that I ignore all input and just write, then critique later. I’ve done this before, with my first book. Why didn’t I think to do this again? Perhaps I was so open for input after dissolving the shyness I had of my work that I forgot to retain my fortitude? During these hankering stages I noticed a lag in my writing drive (minus the computer difficulties that lead to a reformat of computer) and my conscience started to nitpick due to other nitpickers planting seeds I knew better than to let grow.

     It’s one thing to accept the advice, but not all advice works for you. It was then I realized my whole element shift for the worse… and it needed to end.



     I still hold all advice I ‘DID’ take into consideration, and it worked well, but somewhere in this all I ended up getting violent in the head, or as I said: “My brain demanded I ignore and write for the sake of sanity.” Too many Do’s & Don’ts to writing and the “There are no rules” kicks back. Yes these ‘rules’ are guidelines other writers use for themselves, but as stated they are not for everyone. We all have our own style, and I almost forgot my own in the process of listening to others a bit too much… and that’s a bad thing.



     I wanted to learn from others. There is no harm in that and I learned a good deal. There are basis to grammar and then some, but everyone has their own style and that should never be argued against.

     And rushing a novel is bad juju.



SHADOW GENESIS INCEPTION 3rd DRAFT PROGRESS: 95%
  • SG Book II: (5 Chapter Cut Salvage from Book I) Waiting to expand
  • SG Book III: 2nd Draft Pending
  • SG Book IV: 1st Draft 25% 


     For those who don’t know, I just added another book in the Shadow Genesis series. SG Book II is now Book III, and the newly installed book (taking the former Book II slot) is the salvage of five chapters taken out of the current novel in progress (Inception) and will be expanded into thirty chapters with added content. A wise decision, for I want to expose more of the story and characters that matter in the series.



     Interesting how this all turned out. Just as you ‘THINK’ you got it planned, the story itself surprises you.

Friday, January 2, 2015

FRIDAY UPDATE - 3RD DRAFT NEAR DONE



 
  • 1” margin on all sides of manuscript doc.
  • Set up title page.
  • Number pages on first page of story text.
  • Headers on each page – Name/Title of novel in caps plus page number.
  • Each new chapter on its own page – Chapter Title starts 1/3 down on page (six spaces before Chapter Title) – Chapter number and title in caps.
  • Chapter body starts 4-6 spaces after title.
  • Indent five spaces per new paragraph. Double space text - 12pt Font (Times New Roman or Courier – Arial too).



And that, is my manuscript format guide…

New Year’s came in decent. Now we’re on Day 2 of January. Soon March is coming, well after February, and I’ll be 30 years old.

I’m getting...old?

Today I took the time to make sure novel formatting was good to go. I noticed it was off during my edits. It’s important to have that situated and on point for that is one of the many reasons why most stories are discarded upon submission. There is a sting of nervousness that gets to me here, since I am technically finished with the 3rd draft. I just want to be sure everything looks neat. Come to think of it, I planned to send this through another pair of eyes before giving it the go, so the publishing will hit when the nook and crannies are fixed, like plot holes and character build and stuff.

This is the part where I get very skittish and a bit scrupulous over my manuscripts, and here I’ve been all confident and sure of myself. Human nature, but I’m not afraid… or am I?

Ah, the mind and soul can be a conflicting state sometimes in me.


Monday, December 29, 2014

MONDAY UPDATE -- THE CUT



"There has been a disturbance in the force of my writing in Shadow Genesis: Inception."





I cut five chapters. If I continued to keep them along in this current 3rd draft it would have stretched the book over the thirty chapter mark, which is my limit for this book series. Each book is thirty chapters and ten a piece by parts… well… that’s what I initially intended it to be, but that too has changed. For this book at least.

As for the five cut, they will see the light in my next work.

Things change for the better and I keep from the worse, and the show of edits must go on, even into the New Year that is right up. I wanted to be done with this draft before the 31st, but that too has changed.

I know for sure I will not be working on this all the way into my 30th birthday this coming March 24th. I am joking however, for I won’t be that long and now over 50% complete.

I also cannot guarantee the number of books in this series, but it has been estimated to four. A change is possible. Therefore, I am just going to write until the story ends. No more trying to lock down a limit to this series because as written and spoken many times, Shadow Genesis is part of the Shadow Khan Project and the origin story of my personal character Shadow Khan telling events before his conception for better understanding of what is to come. I have a long line of events, some I may not write stories on, and the timeline is a very interesting chronology of events that I cannot say for the sake of not spoiling.

Then again, I tend to leave some in the dark, confuse, and purposely throw off those wanting to know things I rather not tell them but entertain the theory.



~Stay Tuned~