10 Stages for Writing Your Novel

There are so many things that are involved in the process of writing a novel, sometimes it can seem overwhelming. But when you break down the tasks, it becomes more manageable. This doesn't mean that there is less work, only that you can think of it as a checklist--once one task is complete, you start another, and you can take pride in feeling good that you've accomplished something towards your goal. In other words, you stop feeling like there's too much to be accomplished for any one task to make a difference, and more like you're coming closer t the finish line.

FREE - August 25-29th!

 

FREE!!

 

 

From August 25-29th Fate's Exchange will be free for downloading from Amazon! Get your copy this week, before school starts and the long weekend.

 

 

Fate's Return, Book Two in Twisted Fate, will be published in October, and Fate's Demand a couple months after that (approx. December 2014). But why wait? Join Alyssa as the journey begins now!

The Reluctant Pen

So many people love to write and can't bring themselves to tell anyone about this passion that they have. For years, I kept my love for writing to myself - even denying it to myself. On one hand, this  allowed for an amazing experience I wouldn't have discovered otherwise: reading. This is the most invaluable learning tool a writer can have. Not only do you get to enjoy a new world, love, pain or information on what interests you, you learn the craft. You know, without having to open a textbook, that you enjoy a good 'voice' or so-called flow. You see the way your favourite authors write and hope to emulate them, not just in their success but their style (without copying it). This works in the opposite way, as well. After reading as much as you can, you know what you don't like, and what style you wish to never be compared to.

Shades of Chaos Release

 

Shades of Chaos (Dystopian YA Boxed set) RELEASE PARTY AND GIVEAWAY!

Take the Poll

Considering my earlier post, this couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Despite the headache, I am happy it has happened - maybe others will learn from this mistake. Unbound is the third title I chose for my first series, which has two books written to date. I thought I was done making changes regarding its name; however, I found another series written by a well-known author with the same name. Even more, someone else has a series called Forsaken, which was my second choice next to Unbound because it is the name of the first novel. To really ice the cake, the Forsaken series written by another author has a book called Forgotten as its third installment - that was to be the second title in 'my' series.

How It Began

Even before I could write, I was fascinated with words. It amazed me how they could be strung together to form thoughts, emotions, and sometimes, beauty. The way they roll off the tongue or produce such vivid imagery is incomparable. Even now, twenty-odd years later, words still have the ability to captivate me. Wherever I am, whether I want to be there or not, I can pick up a book and escape until it's time to leave.

So how did I pick up a pen and decide to write?