Writing Process

How to Survive the Querying Process; Or, Being a Stubborn Ball of Rock

2018-05-05
S.E. White
Blogging, Goals and Hopes, My Books, Query Letters, Recommendations, Silliness, Writing Process

Grit For this post we want the grit that means courage and resolve, or strength of character. The definition that is synonymous with bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, strength of will, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, determination, and tenacity. All of that sounds . . . well, amazing. MUCH better than refreshing your inbox for the sixth time in five minutes and then curling into a ball, rocking and staring, because the refresh only brought you another rejection. (Not that I’ve done…

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Springing Into Action

2018-05-02
SE White
Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Writing Process

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support Group Post post. (Sorry, got a bit carried away with my proper nouns there.) The IWSG meets up on the first Wednesday of every month to exchange judgment-free anecdotes about author life. To check out the other blogs participating or sign up for the group yourself head here. If you’re hopping don’t forget to stop by the co-host’s pages and say thanks. May’s co-hosts are E.M.A. Timar, J.Q. Rose, C. Lee McKenzie, and our own Raimey Gallant who also runs the…

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Learn to Write Well by . . . Watching Movies?

2018-04-21
SE White
Blogging, My Books, Recommendations, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists, Writing Process

Wait, what? Did I seriously just tell you to sit down and waste time watching a form of media that has nothing to do with meeting your word count goals? . . . yes. With some caveats. I don’t mean “watch a movie every day” or “ignore your writing to watch your favorite film” or “binge that Netflix show ’cause some random writing advice on the Internet said to”. Don’t do that. Media responsibly, and etc. etc. No, what I…

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Add Pre-Writing the Query Copy to Your Author Toolbox

2018-04-18
SE White
Author Toolbox Blog Hop Post, Blogging, My Books, Recommendations, Writing Process

I accept the concept of a muse wholeheartedly. However old-fashioned it might be, it’s a theory I like. My muse, however, does not resemble a lovely Greek statue. My muse is more like a kaleidoscope of butterflies, constantly circling my head. Only these delicate beauties carry ten pound cannonballs, which they like to release on me at random times. Me: *trying to get to sleep* My muse: WHAM!! *drops cannonball* My muse: This would make a good story. Me *buries…

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Still Waiting on That Silver Lining

2018-04-04
SE White
Critique, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, My Books, Writing Process

This is an Insecure Writer’s Support Group post. Once a month, authors from all over come together and post in a hop where it’s safe to admit that this writing job has its bad days. There will be listicles, support, and digital shoulders to lean on. To sign up for the hop yourself go here. And don’t forget to stop by and show some love to the co-hosts: Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood and Tamara Narayan. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is also on…

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Plotting, for Pantsers

2018-02-21
S.E. White
Plotters vs. Pantsers, Recommendations, Writing Process

Welcome to the 2018 #AuthorToolboxBlogHop and my first post for the hop! Come join in and post useful, helpful or interesting things for other authors. This blog hop is the brainchild of Raimey Gallant and you can sign up on her website. By inclination I’m a Pantser (Pantsers, Pantsers, Oi, Oi, Oi!) (That’s our motto) (I just made it up) I’ve read online about plotters who get their entire book, down to each and every scene, outlined to within an inch of…

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When One Door Closes, Kick Another One Open

2018-01-20
S.E. White
Blogging, My Books, Query Letters, Writing Process

Impostor syndrome has been on my mind lately, partly due to that viral thing Neil Gaiman wrote about it and also because I follow Chuck Wendig’s blog Terribleminds and he just wrote a whole article on impostor syndrome and how to deal with it. Seriously recommended, especially if you want to hear a good solid technique. What he wrote really inspired me, at a time when I needed inspiration (i.e. my very first e-book will be coming out in the next few…

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No Filter

2018-01-13
S.E. White
Goals and Hopes, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Writing Process

Did you know there’s such a thing as “filter words” when writing? I did not, but now thanks to the Tunnel of Rejection that was 2017, I do. In the course of a) submitting my manuscripts to RWA contests for judging and b) having my bits chopped off by the Axe of Editing the awesome staff at eXtasy Books wields, I have learned the stuff they teach you in creative writing. So take writing classes, is the lesson here. Alternate lesson: If,…

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