Mapmaking for The Slow Trail Home
I’ve been busy mapmaking. When I first decided to use the Pecos Trail (aka, the Goodnight-Loving Trail) for my book, I had no clue how few detailed maps there were of the route. After spending several years (including one very long road trip) piecing the route together, I’ve put that research into map form, so when the next book comes out in a couple weeks, my readers will have a visual to follow along with. While I’ve found myself somewhat hamstrung by the fact that my only tools are a scanner and MS Paint, I think I’m doing a decent job. Thank goodness for my Bamboo...
Read MoreSlogging Through the Slough of Editing
The Slow Trail Home is nearly at the end of its editing journey. My editor returned the final manuscript to me last Sunday and I’ve spent the past week drowning in (virtual) red ink as I work my way slowly through her edits. What exactly is copy editing? Copy editing is the final step of the editing process. We’re long past plugging big plot holes or fixing characterization issues. This is the point where the editor goes through and catches all those punctuation and grammar errors that most writers just don’t have the training to deal with. I have a solid background in...
Read More4 Good Reasons for Writing Fanfic
Many people look down on fan fiction (or fanfic) as the scribblings of wanna-be writers, of those who don’t have the creativity to come up with their own ideas. Here are four reasons why writing fanfic is actually a good thing. 1. Writing Fanfic is Less Overwhelming. It’s a bit like having training wheels when you’re first learning how to write. My neighbor’s daughter wants to be a writer. The other day I invited her over to talk for a bit about the writing process. It was with obvious embarrassment that she admitted, “I’m not that good; all I’ve...
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