Inspire page turning #AtoZchallenge

Another important aspect of self-publishing is to ensure that the manuscript inspires page-turning. End scenes and chapters in such a way that the reader feels compelled to know what will happen next. Will the characters be okay? What's the solution to a puzzle? What is going to happen next? The reader should want to know. 

In this story, there is a big plot twist in the third act. The foreshadowing is very limited. The antagonist is hidden until the third act. It seems like a person-vs-nature up until that moment. Like getting to the place will be the hardest part. Everything seems clear-cut until that moment. But one character is not at all what they seem to be. 

---

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Holes in plot #AtoZChallenge

Yesterday I posted about grammar. Another reason to review a manuscript is to check for holes in the plot. If a character has a broken mobile phone in chapter three, they better not use that phone in chapter five without a trip to the repair shop or phone store! Anything that might cause a reader to pause and flip back, "wait, I thought this other truth was established..." is a hole. Writers sometimes write so fast that we don't notice such flaws. Readers do. Especially mystery readers, who love to find something out of place, that little clue to help solve the who-done-it. This is also a great reason to get a beta reader, or a few, who can point such flaws out.

---

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Grammar #AtoZChallenge

Grammar and spelling are very important in books. Especially with self-publishing, as readers will deduct stars ⭐for mistakes. Some grammar is subjective and can vary by location, cultural influence, and historical factors. 

There is help. Programs such as Grammarly make suggestions. It can be added to Chrome and used with Google Docs. This is great for strengthening your writing. 

Free information is on hemingwayapp.com, which breaks down your writing and offers tips. 

I don't like this site as much, but onlinecorrection.com is free.

Before Grammarly, I relied on prowritingaid.com, which remains popular among Scrivener users, especially because it integrates with that app.

My favorite free resource is wordcounter.net. There's a setting to allow proofreading, and various voice options are available. Hearing your manuscript is a superior way to spot mistakes. It's absolutely worth the time. I'd suggest pasting smaller scenes at a time, so if you hear a mistake, it'll be easier to find and fix. The site won't save your work forever, so be sure you aren't using it that way. There's a button to clear your work. 

---

 


Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Find Title #AtoZChallenge #win

Find title
The working title is: 

A Howl in the Darkness

That title has an ominous feel. It makes you think that something unpleasant is going to happen, which is what I'm going for. The howl is a reference to Monoghan. 

However, a quick search on Google shows that it might be a bad choice lacking in originality. 

Quest to the Shamlin Ruins

This title has not been used. "Ruins" still gives that ominous feel. The three main characters are on a quest. "Quest: Trip to accomplish a specific task." The task is retrieving a bequeathed item left by a recently departed friend. 

What title might you suggest? 

I'll gift a free copy to someone if I use the idea.

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Energy up

Energy up
It's important to keep the energy going in a story. Some ways I do that in this novella:

The story opens with a fire. It turns out to be a phoenix who introduces the quest.

Unusual creatures set this fantasy world apart and create energy as the reader learns about them.

The settings keep the story moving as they present difficulties for the characters. 

Plot twists grab the reader as the story glides toward the end.

Emotion is the strongest way to bring energy. 

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Define Goals #AtoZChallenge

Define goals

It's important to define goals when writing something one plans to share with the public.

In this case, my goal is to put this novella on the market. I prefer to self-publish, so I do a month of work before putting a book out, at minimum. If it sells more than 25 copies, I plan to write another story with Monoghan.

Goals for the characters are also vital. 

Monoghan starts wanting to discover what was bequeathed to him, learn which friend has died, and escort the two traveling companions safely, all within the short three-day window.

Candra is on the same quest. She wants to see more of the world and grow her powers.

Phin Fynn is on the quest also. He has a secondary objective that is not revealed until later.

What reading hopes and goals might you have if you bought a copy of this fantasy novella?

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Create Strong Settings #AtoZChallenge #IWSG Blogging History

Create strong settings

In the opening, we saw The Forest. In this next scene, we see the Valiant Tavern. The highlighted areas below show setting details that point out what the place basically looks like, especially as it will relate to the story.

The portrait is our first clue that Monoghan was once famous and that he is much older than the audience might believe. 

The trash becomes important later.

We learn from the porch that this is a bit like a red carpet at an awards show. Judgment reigns supreme here, but Monoghan doesn't care. 

The door is so heavy and solid that it suggests this place may have been a stronghold at some point. The walls are stone, adding to that theory. Inside has hiding places, such as the rafters and corners. 

Hopefully, the five primary senses are involved: 

sight 👀 - The look is described, especially the dirty portraits.

smell 👃 - We can imagine how that trash might smell. (Moreso if you've been in allies with such dumpsters.🚮)

hearing 👂 - The first sounds are the judgemental porch patrons. Later, the door and the echo.

taste 👅 - He orders a mead 🍺 later in the scene. 

touch ☝ - The weight of the door is the clearest usage. Velvet on the stool also has a distinct feeling.

Is this the sort of place you'd want to go or read about?

A lot of fantasy stories include a tavern or similar place, especially near the start. 

A bit of intrigue, a little mystery, and perhaps danger make the place intriguing. 

Do you expect this type of place in a high-fantasy story?

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

---

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? What do you like about it and how has it changed?

I started back in 2012 so I could join the #AtoZChallenge. The first blog was on a platform that is now defunct. The second platform shut down after some problems with coding. This Blogger blog is the third and current blogging platform for my blog. 

I enjoy sharing more details about what I'm writing, participating in blog hops, and connecting with fellow bloggers. The biggest change is the shrinking community. A to Z and the IWSG are the strongest groups of bloggers I know, and they are supportive of one another.

Have one of those, or both, brought you here today?