Category Archives: Writing

Answering the call

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I found a couple of brave readers to give my manuscript a quick once over, so you can rest easy. I, however, am a nervous wreck. Will they like it? Hate it? Turn me over to the grammar police who will decide that I should die due to my many grammatical infractions? Maybe I should try to relax and find something better to do.

So I took out another manuscript, and I’m glancing over it, wanting to see what I need to do to finish that one. I’m not too invested in completing another work, but it’ll give me something to do, and I need to get into the habit of writing everyday. It’ll also take my mind off of the fact that two readers hold the key to my happiness or misery in their hands.

So, no pressure.

What’s with the crickets?

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The final chapter has been dealt with, and I’m done. Walking away from the book. I can do no more! I’m happier with this ending so I’m glad I decided to rework it. There’s more of a finality to it than my first attempt which I like. Now I need some readers. Anyone up for it?

*Crickets chirping*

Oh, it’s like that? I’m not surprised. That’s fine. I have back up plans, which is to say I’ll make something up. I would have liked to have a few writers give me their take, but I’ll start with a few of my friends and hope someone says yes. Anyone?

*Crickets looking around awkwardly*

I think I need new friends.

C’est la vie!

I need an alpha…reader that is

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Okay, I’m almost done with my rewrites. That went faster than I had expected. Most of the changes happened in the middle of the book and there wasn’t a lot at the end that needed to be tweaked. I’m happy for it. I’m mulling changing the last chapter, however. I find that it’s not satisfying. It’s just flat.

For now, I’m sitting at 91,570 words, which surprises me since I’m not usually that wordy. I’ll get some feedback before I try to subtract from that total, though I don’t want to lose too much. I want to start looking for a few alpha readers. I desperately need some opinions as to whether the story works or not, what if any changes need to be done. I’m not looking for proofreading or editing work, just a general sense of what the reader takes away from it.

My feeling is I like the premise of the book, and I’m hoping my execution delivers. This all began as a short story back in 2012, which evolved to become that year’s NaNo. I’ve been tweaking it ever since. I’m ready to be done with it and let it out to the world. It’s part of me trying to let go. I want to publish it this year. I can do it. I will do it. I just don’t know how!

That’s okay. Let me work on the ending and if anyone wants to alpha read, let me know. I’m looking for no more than a couple of readers. You can either comment below or shoot me an email at joe@joehinojosa.com. Once I have that feedback, I’ll take your comments to heart, make any necessary corrections, then look for someone to proofread.

This is getting scary. Better not think too much more about it or I’ll get overwhelmed.

How do I let go?

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How ’bout them Cowboys? Holy hell, that was a brutal game to watch. I can’t believe they came back to win it, but I’m extremely happy that they did. Understandingly, I just now got back to work on my WIP, and I’m ready to get this finished, and find a few readers to give me an idea of what works or doesn’t, and if it’s even worth trying to save.

So I’m back, reading and rereading, writing, and rewriting. I’m stuck at this stage, of being unable to let go. I think I need a coach, someone to take my hand and guide me. Maybe what I need is a nun to whack my knuckles with a ruler. I don’t think I would like that all that much.

My main problem is that this is something I’ve never done, and I’m horrible at doing new things. I’ve just never been this bad at it. What do I need to do first? What’s my plan? Is there a plan? Can someone just tell me what the plan is? Why am I so bad at this?

My tendency is to make a bigger deal out of things than I should I need to relax and just let go. Who want’s to teach me how? Is there some class I can take? Enough obsessing. I need to get to work. Have a good night, and have an awesome week.

I need quiet!

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For the second night in a row, I’m staying at my brother’s place. The ice on the roads makes traveling home a little too perilous. Since I live an hour from my job, I thought it prudent to stay near so that I wouldn’t have to call in, or worse, drive in this mess. I know I can make the drive, I just get anxious driving 30 mph down I-27.

So I’m at the dining room table, with the Baltimore-Pittsburgh game blaring on the television. Baltimore is leading 20 – 9 on the AFC Wildcard game. I don’t particularly like either team, but I really don’t want Pittsburgh to move on, so go Ravens!

The problem for me is that I can’t work with noise in the background. I need quiet to write effectively. I prefer silence, eschewing even music, unless I’m in public and I’m trying to drown out the crowd. I can’t hear the story in my head with too much going on.

Which begs the question; how do you work best? Do you like to work in a crowd? Do you listen to music? Or perhaps are you like me and prefer the kind of silence that makes most people nervous? You can tell me. I won’t tell.

I just can’t promise that people won’t read what you tell.