On writing: Castaway

It came like a wave, as it usually does, and I gladly let it wash over me and carry me away like a raging river. I took a deep breath and let the water guide me until my lungs screamed for air.

When I surfaced, I didn't find myself in the cold, pale waters of a river but in the vast, deep blue waters of an ocean. And in the back of my mind I knew that I had swum in these waters before.

On Writing: Rewrite it

So this it it, guys. The Hard Stuff.

Don't let yourself be fooled by editing. Be extra careful because time is precious and we do need so much time in order to properly write that book we have in our mind! 

When you finish that first heart-aching draft, and let it aside for a month or two, it's time for rewriting. Yep, rewriting and then editing because it's not the same. It ain't at all!

Seriously, editing can go on forever but now I know why! And I won't do this anymore!

Rewrite and then edit and maybe you'll have a book that you can proudly say it's finished! I'm heading that way.

Here's the thing. 

Criticism: Beautifully Different

I said that I’ll come back with more on criticism, didn’t I? Here I am with the second post on criticism. My journey to accepting people's' opinions and learn to improve myself, continues now…

Joining a critique group and receiving the first critiques on my work, was really interesting, as I described you the other day. 



As the days passed by and I got more critiques I noticed something. Not something new, but something I knew it was true. 
Seeing it, though, is quite different than knowing it. I saw how different people are.

Criticism is good

Criticism. I’m sure that every one of you is familiar with it. It’s when we hear peoples’ thoughts about our outfit, behavior, lifestyle, or our manuscript. Whichever is the case, the fact is that criticism is never pleasant. But critiques are good and necessary for us in order to be improved. And that’s why we should treat criticism with respect and learn to earn from it. Critiques are gold and it’s time for us to understand it. 

Indie Crisis

Well, I think the title is more than fitting. I am having an indie crisis and I am sure that many of you understand me completely. Being a writer is hard and especially for new writers, it is even harder. Every beginning has its own difficulties but with time and work we develop, and progress is what makes us stronger, better, what is leading our way step by step.

Indie authors, I think, we are in a more complex situation because we are alone. I am referring to writers, just like myself, who are doing everything alone. We don’t have a professional editor, we don’t have any author assistance, we don’t have a professional to design our book’s cover. We are alone! I don’t know if there are others like me, I guess there are, but you can’t imagine how hard it is!  

Editing Confusion

Today I want to talk to you about a confusion that takes place inside my mind. All started along with the editing I am currently doing for my first book DAZED. Until the fourth draft (which I am finishing now) everything was clear and I was confident and happy. Some time I decided to do two more drafts, as soon as I finish this one, but while I am getting closer, I am having second thoughts.

Writing and Editing...two different worlds.

Writing and editing…the most important parts in a writer’s life but two very different parts. Writing is the core of a writer’s life. It is where we are called to create our story, to build our characters, to give them substance and make them real, make the reader care about them and keep them interested and curious about their lives so they want to keep reading and reading and get attached with them. When we write we must be focused on that and not trouble our mind with anything else.