Middle Grade Settings: An Introduction Having photos in front of you can help you write about your settings I’m going to make a confession. Settings are not something I often spend time planning. Perhaps my stories are the poorer for it, but the settings come as I’m writing or editing. The Glass Room, in Taking Wing, is not something I planned before I started writing. Personally, I’m a very visual writer, seeing my characters as though they are a video in my head, and I write what I see. As such, the setting just happens! There are benefits and drawbacks to this. The main benefit is that the writing process is more interesting. Not everything is set, and my story can still give me surprises. The drawback is that, similar to AI, I cannot know that I’m not stealing settings from films and books I’ve seen/read previously. I certainly don’t mean to plagiarise but the concern is a real one! With that in mind, I have started to at least have a vague idea of my settings before I start t...
Saturday 30th November - What Next?
Wow! We've made it to the end of NaNoWriMo. If you managed your 50,000 words: Congratulations! If you managed to get off the starting block: Congratulations! Whatever anyone tells you, there is nothing easy about writing a book. Even when you enjoy it, it's still hard work.
So, what happens next? Here's what Crowvus suggests:
Wow! We've made it to the end of NaNoWriMo. If you managed your 50,000 words: Congratulations! If you managed to get off the starting block: Congratulations! Whatever anyone tells you, there is nothing easy about writing a book. Even when you enjoy it, it's still hard work.
So, what happens next? Here's what Crowvus suggests:
- Have a party - you've deserved it! And, by the way, a party only needs to have as few or as many people as you want. My favourite parties have been family affairs. It's important to be proud of yourself, and to celebrate your success.
- Revisit your novel - I suggest you re-read the whole thing. Pick up and iron out any continuity issues and correct any typos you spot, but don't go through looking for them. Proofreading comes later.
- Find your First Reader - for advice on this you can read our Day 15 blog.
- Rerevisit your novel - decide which of the First Reader's comments you want to build on and make these changes.
- Proofreading - you can choose whether to employ someone or find a friend, but proofreading should not be done by yourself or your First Reader. You need someone who is not familiar with your writing and story.
- Rererevisit your novel - no need to add or change anything other than any issues your proofreader highlighted. Some proofreaders will make these changes for you.
- Editing - for advice on this you can read our Day 10 blog. This stage takes time, and will probably take a lot of to-ing and fro-ing for your manuscript.
- Rerererevisit your novel - this is your novel's final visit before handing it over.
- Decide your publishing route - whether through a publisher or self-publishing, your book is now ready to go "Out There".
On behalf of Crowvus, Congratulations!
If you're looking to take the next step, we'd love to hear from you. We have a one-off offer available through our Crowdfunding rewards offering critiques, graphics, illustrations, and a complete manuscript edit (up to 100,000 words).
Thanks for sharing NaNoWriMo with us!
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