Posts Tagged ‘writing’

 

All the tools that you need to create engaging scenes and permanently remove the bane of writer’s block.

 

 

Mastering Your Scenes: Your Blueprint for Success

Author: J.A. Cox

Publication Date: August 27,b 2020

Pages: 78

Genre: Nonfiction/Writing 

Mastering Your Scenes was written with one main purpose, to help give authors and writers a creative boost in their scene writing and toss writers block into the oblivion of the abyss. In order to accomplish this each chapter is written in a workbook like format so that the steps provided can easily be implemented after they are explained. For each element of scene writing that is presented J.A. Cox explains the How, Why and When of its use along with his own description so that the information is easy to assimilate. He provides copious examples from his own writing of these elements in action as well as from shows and movies.

You will be given an anatomical look of what composes a scene and understand what goes into creating scenes that are engaging, seamless, and bristling with activity without any fluff. Mastering Your Scenes gives you the practical advice you need to keep your readers turning pages and falling in love with your characters. With the steps you will learn there will be no more question of if that scene fits or seems out of place.

“A slim, concise and well focused treatise on how to write and master scenes and how writers can become authors by mastering scene writing. The various elements of a scene are discussed with well known examples and the key facts of each element are presented in depth, with a well laid out structure. The focus on the when, why, how, and the practical application tie up the various aspects of an element neatly and are very well explained. The author’s observations based on experience in each area further adds to the utility of the treatise.”

– The International Review of Books

Buy Links:

Amazon | Kobo

 

 

Enjoy this peek inside:

 

Since this book is all about writing a scene, it would be a good idea to discuss what it is before we begin talking about how to build one.  I am sure that you already have many ideas on how to answer the question above, but please humor me for now.  

Let’s look at a scene in this manner:

  • As an episode.

  • As a segment of an episode.

Some episodes are short, and some are long, it really all depends on how they are made.  Also, an episode is the medium in which a portion of a series plays out.  A scene can also be viewed in the same manner, as a medium in which a portion of your story plays out.  On that notion, some may be short, and some may be long, but they still fulfill the same purpose.  They provide the boundaries to contain all of the myriad of things that will take place at a certain point in the story.

Consider that within an episode that there are segments in which very particular things happen, such as a robbery at a bank, a high-speed chase along the highway or even a ship being boarded by pirates on the high seas.  All of these segments placed into a written format would actually be the scene itself.  I hope I am not confusing you but am just trying to convey the fact that a scene in a story fulfills the purpose of both episode and segment combined.

The purpose of this book is to look at the pieces that go into creating the segment so that you can create the most dynamic episode possible.  Another very important factor about a scene, is its continuity.  Whether one scene directly spills into the next or it is briefly interrupted as you transition to something else for a few scenes and pick back up where you left off, you still want things to be seamless. One of my goals is through the use of these elements to empower you with the ability to do so with ease. You can think of each element as a layer on which to build each scene in your story and as your story evolves your use of each will shift as some may not be needed and others will be essential.  I will help you to realize how they all tie together to bring out the best in your scene creation.

 

– Excerpted from Mastering Your Scenes by J.A. Cox, J.A. Cox, 2020. Reprinted with permission.

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About the Author

 

 

J.A. Cox is a husband, father and disabled veteran. He is passionate about Jesus Christ and has a desire to allow God to use his writing to bring glory to his name and reach others for him. His other passions lie in: 1) Empowering people by teaching about things that he is knowledgeable in in a simple and fun as well as interesting manner. 2)Inspiring others that they may realize how the true potential to overcome their perceived dilemma lies right between their ears and how they allow it to manipulate what their eyes behold. 3) Helping people to realize that being healthy truly begins with realizing how important it is for them to be intimately acquainted with their own body in order for others to help them resolve its maladies that beset it. Along with those, he enjoys entertaining with fiction based on the concept that fact is stranger than fiction and then stretching it just a tad to create some memorable page turning moments that you will likely recall for some time to come.

Author Links

Website | LinkedIn

 

 

 

Sponsored By:

 

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blogcover

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The Authorship Adventure Series
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Name of Author – Ella Medler
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The Author Platform: How to build yourself a castle that will stand the test of time
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1
Description:
How To Build Yourself A Castle That Will Stand The Test Of Time
This first module of the Authorship Adventure Series for writers is intended to provide an overview of an author platform, an explanation of its use and operation, and the simple, practical steps to follow to get started on building your own platform right now or fix an incomplete, ineffectual one.

 

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How To Build A Novel: What works, what doesn’t, and how to fix the unfixable
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2
Description:
How To Build A Novel – the easy way
The second module of the Authorship Adventure Series for writers provides a simplified, clear way to construct a structurally sound novel, together with guidelines, suggestions, tips and a checklist to steer you away from rookie mistakes while helping you enhance the quality of your manuscript pre-edit.
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10 Sane Thoughts For Harassed Writers: How to gain perspective and turn setbacks into triumphs
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3
Description:
How To Gain Perspective And Turn Setbacks Into Triumphs 10 Sane Thoughts For Harassed Writers
The third module of the Authorship Adventure Series delves into the psyche of writers and the way we relate to the demands of present-day society. Learn how to cope with your most hidden worries and fears, from the fear of failure to dealing with procrastination. Every chapter breaks down a problem before laying down tips and strategies for overcoming it.
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Proof And Edit 101: Easy basics guaranteed to save you time and money
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4
Description:
Easy Basics Guaranteed To Save You Time And Money Proof And Edit 101 – Smart tips and tricks to put you ahead of the rest
The fourth module of the Authorship Adventure Series for writers provides a simplified look at basic grammar and punctuation, to give you a clear understanding of the most important factors when line editing and proofing your work. Tips and tricks for remembering easy rules, and examples every step of the way, provide you with the foundation you need to power through the mire of uncertain grammar and polish your novel to a high standard.
Use in conjunction with How To Build A Novel – What works, what doesn’t, and how to fix the unfixable, to improve more aspects of your writing, whether you intend to work alone or simply want to make your editors love working with you.
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Ella Medler is a U.K. author and editor who lives in a corner of Heaven, on the south-west coast of Ireland, overlooking the Atlantic. She writes fiction in many genres – some after her own tastes, and some to make her readers happy. Sometimes, those two happen to coincide. A fierce supporter of genuine talent, Ella Medler founded Paper Gold Publishing because she believes there are authors out there who deserve a chance to shine, authors who would otherwise fall between the cracks of a crumbling, forever-shifting industry.
As an editor, Ella Medler has the tendency to nit-pick on plot issues while ignoring the type of rule which doesn’t allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. If you want to win her over, make sure your books are action-packed, your characters real, and you bring chocolate.
The Authorship Adventure Series is a set of resources for writers, which is available free of charge to Paper Gold Publishing members (membership is free and unconditional).
Join here: http://www.papergoldpublishing.com/resources
All the books are also available on Amazon at the minimum price of 99c or you could read them for free through Amazon Prime.
        
magicofbookspromo@gmail.com
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Until the next time….
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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I’ve had my blog for about a year and a half now and met some really awesome people. Some who have become friends.

What better way to introduce you to some of them then by putting them in the spotlight.

For today, I’ve dragged Ella away from important work to tell us a few things about herself. She has her blog here . Make sure to go by and say hi. I hear she has some yummy cake! I hope she brought some with her:)

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Ella Medler

Ella Medler – Author
Goodreads Facebook Twitter Blog

She’s also an author, co-author, and a woman of many writerly talents:)

Ella is so busy, I’m convinced she’s a robot. That, or a vampire!

Please make Ella welcome!

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Hi, Laura.
Hi yourself, Ella.
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I know you’re very busy and I won’t keep you long. especially as I’m waiting on your next new book! So, let the fun begin.
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question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  Please tell us a little about yourself. Inquiring minds want to know 🙂
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I am currently working on my fifth book, a thriller. I don’t count the books I’ve started but don’t intend to finish. My head if full of books that will make it. Of the four published books so far, the first one was traditionally published by a small publisher, and the other three are all self-published. Of these, two are co-authored with Kristie Haigwood. When I’m not writing, I’m usually editing. I prefer content editing, but I’m one of those people who enjoys nitpicking at grammar, so I end up doing a combined job. And when I’m not editing, I’m reading and reviewing, hosting author features or writing articles related to the publishing industry. Beware, I do hold opinions.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  Why did you start blogging and what were your plans for your blog?
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At first, I simply wanted a website. I bought myself the software and a domain name, and then spent two weeks learning how to build a website from scratch. I did manage it, but my original hope that I would be able to keep freshening up the content on an almost daily basis fizzled out pretty soon. I found having a blog on my website incredibly cumbersome. So then I researched other ways to build a blog. WordPress came top of the list, so that’s where you can find me.
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In terms of articles for my blog, I wanted a place where I could be myself. Yes, I know I get to do that through my writing, but writing a whole book takes a bit longer than writing a blog post. My posts are about writing and authors, though I will admit to have vented once or twice on publishing in general and the prejudice against indie authors in particular. Can’t help it. I’m a fair minded person who strives to see a situation from all points of view. I strongly believe in fair chances.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  Being an author yourself, do you receive a lot of review requests and how do you choose which ones to review?
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Yes, I do. To start with, I didn’t have much of a system. If I liked the sound of a book, I went for it. Funnily enough, until I became an author myself, I didn’t see the purpose of leaving a review. Now I do. It’s so obvious why we should! At the moment I work in batches of about twelve titles I commit myself to reviewing, and the authors know what position they are in my list. They know if they’re first on the list, the review will be posted this week, and if they’re last, it won’t be out till some time in July. I used to think I only enjoyed one or two genres, but then I tried others, and the more I tried the more I discovered books I enjoyed. Sticking to a narrow field was certainly a mistake. I review all the books I read cover to cover, though I haven’t published all my reviews on my blog.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  How do you feel about scheduling your posts? I do this, but I miss pushing that publish button and watching the post go live. Guess that’s why I don’t always schedule them.
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push the button photo: Push The Magic BUTTON thmagisbutton1.gif
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Ah. Yes, you knew what question to ask, didn’t you? I have extremely itchy fingers. Once I’ve written something, I want it out there. It’s one of the reasons why I decided to self-publish. I’m impatient. I like to see the fruit of my labours right away. I’d probably make a rubbish gardener. Right now, I only have four draft posts, but there are posts scheduled for almost every day this month. I’ve printed out my calendar and I keep scribbling on it, rearranging things.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  I’ve seen your latest posts and you are insanely busy. Care to tell us what you’re up to these days?
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I’ve just released book two in the Eternal Series, Eternal Immortality, co-authored with Kristie Haigwood, on May 10, solar eclipse day. It’s doing so well! we are very proud of how its been received. It’s a paranormal action/romance, a completely original take on witches and vampires with a humorous twist.
Right now I’m writing book two in my Hunter thriller trilogy – Blood is Power – and very much enjoying the process. As I write, new ideas occur to me, and the story twists in ways I certainly didn’t see at the beginning. I’ve re-written the first half three times so far.
I have just finished editing a YA book, and soon I’ll be receiving my next edit, a contemporary fantasy by an author I admire. At the same time, I have packed as many book reviews and author spotlights into my blog as possible.
I’m uncertain about what to write next, so I’ve put a poll on my blog. I’ve asked my visitors to vote, and so far a sci-fi project is winning. You can still cast your vote, it’s anonymous, so why not have your say? Here’s the link to the poll: http://ellamedler.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/2013-week-17-and-a-poll/
Once Blood is Power is out there, I’ll take a couple of weeks off from actual writing to plan and produce a series of visual aids – authors’ resources, for want of a better description – which will be available free on my Custom Writers’ Services page on my blog.
As and when I find a minute, I research trends in the publishing industry – top genres and figures, and sometimes news to do with established publishers. These percolate through into my blog posts because I just can’t shut up if I feel strongly enough about a subject. I have to speak my mind, or I will explode.
Did I tell you I’m learning to play the piano? It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as a child, but not managed to fit it in until last year. I couldn’t even read music when I started. My fingers seem to be in the driving seat, though. They line up nicely when I have to play Schubert, but won’t let me do a recognisable Jingle Bells.
Have I missed anything? Oh, yeah. I have a family. There were a couple of teenagers and a husband around the house, last time I looked, and nine pets of assorted sizes and descriptions.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  Do you have a favorite genre you read?
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I used to stick to mystery, crime, thriller – that sort of thing. But then one day I read a book about zombies and I liked it. Then a sci-fi (which I used to be hooked on in my youth) and I loved it! From there, I decided to just read any book I like the looks of, and now I don’t have boundaries. If it’s a book, chances are I’ll love it.
question mark photo: question mark question-mark.jpg  One last question and then we’ll get to some fun short ones!  Is your blog how you wanted it to be when you began?
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No, it’s better. I didn’t have a clear idea, on day one, about its definite direction. Now, the onus is on producing material that is useful to authors, whether self- or traditionally published, in whatever way I can. This trend is going to continue, but it will focus even more on actual, practical advice, tips and mentoring so that more writers can produce high-quality material and, once they have that, find an easier way to publish and promote their books effectively.
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Now for Five Fun Shorts!
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1)  Who is your favorite book character?
Rover from the Giggler Treatment, by Roddy Doyle. He’s a dog who knows more about humans than the humans know about themselves.
2)  Do you have a phobia?
Probably not, though I do hate dusting with a vengeance.
3)  What’s a famous one liner from a movie that stayed with you?
“You just did!” – from Pretty Woman, when Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) has just been told by heartthrob Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) that he’d never called her a prostitute.
4)  If you could be any creature in the ocean, what would you like to be?
jellyfish photo: jellyfish JELLYFISH.jpg
A jellyfish. Useful, in fact indispensable to the ocean’s health, flexible and pretty to look at (see what I’m doing here?), still able to teach scientists something new experiment after experiment and, best of all, can sting when circumstances warrant it.
5)  If you could pull anything out of your hat, besides a rabbit, what would it be?
alarm clock photo: clock Alarm_clock.jpg
Time. I am constantly on the lookout for those spare minutes, or seconds even, to finish a project.
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And a Dare!
Say the first thing that pops into your head! I dare ya!
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Zohan! (oops!)
Any last words for our readers?
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Follow your dream, because “I have spent a good many years since–too many, I think–being ashamed about what I write. I think I was forty before I realized that almost every writer of fiction or poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent. If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing, I suppose), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that’s all.” ― Stephen King, On Writing.
Thank you, Laura. This has been way more fun than an interview has the right to be!
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I loved having you here Ella. Now get back to work! lol
Just kidding, kind of:) Waiting for some more good reading!

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Books by Ella Medler


Fantasy novel available in ebook and paperback
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Blood Is Heavier – Book Trailer YouTube
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Co-authored with K.S. Haigwood

Eternal Island, Book One in the Eternal Series

Goodreads

Eternal Immortality (Book 2 in the Eternal Series)

Eternal Immortality, Book Two in the Eternal Series

Goodreads

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I have a really good book to tell you about and an interview with the author.

The Circle by RG Lawrence

I really like the title. It is important to me that the title be an integral part of the story inside.

So come meet The Circle

Cicely Manley is a Protestant teacher in an all Catholic school. Growing up on the streets of South Chicago toughened her skin and she’s not afraid to stand up for herself or to confront any obstacles in her path. Like a boulder, she crashes right through.

Recognizing all the classic signs of drug abuse and futility, Cicely sets her sights on Lisa Dennis. A rude awakening is called for and Cicely gives it to her in spades.

Now, Lisa has been given a soccer scholarship at Pittsburg State University, in Pittsburg, Kansas, far from her father’s heavy-handed control, and the world is her oyster. With her dream of freedom finally coming true, how did it all go so wrong? On the very day she gets her scholarship and a new lease on life, Lisa now lies on a cold metal table in the morgue. The police say it was an accidental heroin overdose. Maybe Lisa’s father and the police believe this, or find it easier to do so, but Cicely isn’t buying it. Not at all.

With her friend and landlord Margaret O’Connor at her side, they set out to find out what really happened that night and things quickly get complicated. When some teen-aged skateboarding assassins try to take Cicely out in her own driveway, the ladies agree.  Time to get help.

Margaret O’Connor used to be somewhat the socialite in her day and has a “Circle” of lifelong friends she can call count on. Tommy O’Malley, rumored to have ties to the IRA and hopelessly in love with Margaret, heads up the Irish Circle, a group of gentlemen mobsters.  She has only to ask and he comes calling.

The Circle, which now includes Cicely, dig deeper, checking all angles and infiltrating a murderous child pornography ring, with dangerous consequences.

Roger has given his characters life. They are genuine, with all the flaws and baggage of real people. The story is fast-paced and addictive. There is a lot of darkness here, but also a lot of special moments. Ones that make you smile, hope, shout, and sit up and pay attention. The story demands that you think.

The Circle is a juicy mystery/thriller with a believable story, characters so real they can walk off the pages, and a darker, seamier side we usually don’t like to think exists.

Not recommended for young readers.

I would like to see this book become a series. I see potential for some stand alone stories here. Many people will want to read more about the fiery, stubborn Cicely and her friend and cohort Margaret- a vibrant, intelligent, loyal companion with a lot of moxie. I would also like to know more about the early years of Margret and Tommy. Now that would be interesting.

5 STARS

I first met Roger some time ago when I first joined Twitter. We tweet to each other and RT each others stuff, but have never really talked.

With this interview, I feel I know a little more about Roger the person vs. RG Lawrence on Twitter. Please come meet Roger and get to know him.

L. Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself, Roger.

R. I live in Kansas on a small acreage with my wife. We have several dogs, a lot of cats, and a few goats. I have been writing for many years, starting with short stories that I sold to biker magazines. I also wrote fairy tales for my kids when they were small, putting them in book form. I wrote my first book, Summer With Fidel, a decade ago, and pit it in a closet, not thinking anyone would be interested. Several other completed books soon joined the stack in my closet. I only let my mother and my wife read my work. Last year my mother told me that one of her wishes before she died was to see me published. Although the idea didn’t appeal to me, Amazon made it too easy to refuse. I put three of my books on Kindle, and have truly enjoyed the process. I like the fact that there are people out there who enjoy my thoughts and stories, and I have made many new friends from the experience. I have two books started, one a pirate yarn I am writing that will entertain my two grandchildren when they are older, and another thriller in the vein of The Circle.

L. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

R. I always enjoyed writing, and knew in high school I had a certain talent. I could write a paper for class at the last minute and get good marks, even without much effort. I find writing fiction a certain form of escape. I have sat down at a keyboard and started something, and looked up at the clock and realized I have been working for 12 hours. That is the ultimate high, knowing that I can transport myself into the middle of a story and never even know I’m gone.

L. What is your solution to writers block, if you get it?

R. I’ve never experienced writer’s block. I have a head full of stories that I need to get out, and the problem I have is remembering all of them. My characters dictate my stories, and I just follow along. If I ever sat down with nothing to say, I would grab my golf clubs and go do what I truly love.

L. Is there anything specific you do to stay motivated when writing?

R.  Motivation is not something that concerns me. My only motivation for writing is to do it well enough so that people will enjoy it. I know I’m not going to get rich writing. That thought never passed through my brain. My motivation is that people will like my stuff. If I didn’t think there were folks out there who would enjoy my stories, I would leave them in the closet. Writing is not life or death to me, it is something I do. But I also play golf, and I’m much more passionate about that then writing. I like goats, I love spending time with my wife, I love my kids and adore my grandchildren. So I’m not motivated to write, I just do it.

L. Do you have a favorite genre?

R. I wish I had a genre I could stick to, but that’s not how my brain works. There is no relationship whatsoever between the three books I have on Amazon. I love to read action/adventure like Lee Child, Harlen Coben and John Sanford. I’m addicted to John Locke’s books. And I’m totally hooked on vamp books, and someday will write a vampire story. I try to read all of the Indie stuff I can, and really enjoy many of the authors who I have come to know through Twitter. Many of them are first-rate, and I appreciate their work. Rachel Caine, Zoe Saadia, Wendy Potocki. Lisa Vaughn, Alana Siegel, Elise Stokes, Teri Heyer, Vicky Limbert, and C.L.R. Dougherty are just a few of the Indies who I have enjoyed. Lots and lots of talent out there.

L. Where did you get your ideas for The Circle?

R. The idea for The Circle just evolved from the character I created. I started with a high school teacher in a Catholic school, and then she kept finding herself in trouble. The Irishmen in the Circle just showed up one day on the pages to save the day. I never know what the story is, I just create characters. I know that is not conventional, but it is the way it is.

L. Would you care to add anything else?

R. The one thing that I think needs to be said to Indies is that they need to have their work edited by an outside person or agency before submitting to Kindle. There are so many books filled with grammatical errors and misspelled words, and it turns readers off to the idea that we are a legitimate force. And we do ourselves a great disservice when we give each other 5 Star reviews, knowing that the book needs massive editing. I am as guilty as the next person of this, and have decided that I will not post a review for a book that is poorly edited. I have sent e-mails to several writers, advising them that I think their work is worthy, but needs attention in the editing department. My e-mails have not been well received, but that’s their problem. I care about Indies, and we must put our best product out there to be taken seriously.

I want to thank Roger for sharing this with us. I hope you enjoyed the interview.

Contact info for Roger: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/rg-lawrence.html

If you would like to purchase The Circle, The Golden Boy or Summer with Fidel, all written by RG Lawrence,just click on the cover images in this post.