Edit one, mission complete

I finished the first edit of the first draft of Pelegra and the Son of Merek. I figure it I'll probably do at least two more rounds of editing. What do I mean by round? I mean I go through the entire manuscript correcting one thing. This particular edit was content with some sentence structure thrown in. Next time it will be grammar and/or typos. Though to be honest, I'll probably have my husband read through it for typos. He's very good at catching things like that.

Well that's all for now.

Keep Reading.

White Christmas

I wish everyone who reads this happy holidays.
We had a white Christmas this year, the first in a decade or more. The downside is that the roads are very, very slick. Hopefully we will thaw this weekend.

Be safe everyone and as always, keep reading.

More Snow--way past the 14" mark

Hi Everyone, here's another weather update for NW oregon. Snow, snow, and more snow. We are past the 14" mark. I am too the point I can't keep measuring because I don't have a hardstick. I've included a couple pictures from this morning. I won't be walking out in the snow later (I did a day or two ago to take more pics) because I slipped on ice a couple times, fell, and pulled some muscles. Yeah I know, not bright. So you will have to make do with pics from around my house. Oh the tree pic however is from a few days ago and it's from one of my walks.

Let It Snow...

I only made it to work one day this week because of the weather. I live an hour from where I work and my car has no traction beyond regular tires. I live in Oregon, in the northwest. We've been hit with one storm after another. I thought you might like to see some pictures. We are at about 10" and counting right now.

These pictures are from much earlier this morning. We have gained a lot more snow since they were taken.

Review: The Twilight Saga

Ok, So I figured it was about time that I posted my thoughts on this book series. Two Words.

Loved It!

Start to finish, I loved each book. I'm quickly beginning to lose count how many times I've read through them and to be honest I was very late in jumping on the band wagon.

I knew that I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie and once I picked it up I was hooked.

I know that many people didn't like the last book. I loved it. I like having everything wrapped up. It gives me a sense of completion. I liked the addition to Bella and Edward's family and that they got married. I know some people will disagree me with me greatly.

I also understand why part of the book was written from Jacob's perspective. Because it's written from Jacob's perspective we get much more information than if it was to be from bella's perspective if you consider what is currently going on with her. I know I'm probably not saying much but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who has not read the last book yet.

Anyway, I loved it. I bough my copies about the time the movie came and haven't stopped reading them yet. Well my husband currently has twilight so when I start over this time I'll have to start at new moon, but you get my point.

I also loved the movie. I liked the book better but I thought they did do a good job portraying the emotions of the book. I also thought that they did an extremely good job casting the Cullens and Bella.

~Keep Reading

The End

Well after many sleepless, okay near sleepless nights I have finished the first draft of Pelegra and the Son of Merek. Now I just have to finish editing. The beginning is already edited I think it is currently at version three or so. The rest of it still needs a couple of edits.

Regardless, I can't even express the joy that I felt when I read the last sentence. The last sentence of my book.

I plan on being finished with edits (since that and work is pretty much my life) by the beginning of December. Then I will start submitting again.

Well that's all for now, lots to do....

Keep Reading,

Jina

Sick, sick, sick...

I'm home sick with bronchitis and sinusitis and it sucks.
On the writing front, I have made some good progress with edits.
I belong to a writers group that meets approximately two times a month and it has been a great experience. Getting feedback from other writers is very valuable and helpful. If you are serious about writing and publishing then I recommend it.

Well my cough medicine has kicked in so I'm going to go back to sleep now.

Keep Reading...

One down and one to go....

Well I heard back from one of the agents that I submitted to and they declined. That's ok. It's very subjective and I'll keep trying. I am happy they took the time to consider me. I'm still waiting to hear back from the other one.

I've been crazy busy with work and life in general but I"m getting back into my writing. I've been sick and that didn't help matters either.

Even though I've been busy. I remember one of the prints on my wall, "Ambition, the world makes way for those who know where they are going" I don't know who the print is by. It helps me focus and remember that I know where I'm going. It's simply a matter of the first step.

Well back to writing, until next time....

Personal Pick Me Ups...

I think that every person (writer or not) deals with days they are down, grouchy, cranky, and completely bitchy. It happens. It's part of life. When I am in an exceptionally bad mood I can't focus. Not on my writing. Not on cleaning the house. Not on anything. I'm not really good for anything but sulking.

However, one of the ways I have learned to combat this crankiness is to focus and think about things that make me happy. I also try and do things that I find relaxing (right now I'm listening to a brain sync meditation track by Kelly Howell--www.brainsync.com and I'm blogging.)

I journal. Regularly. On the back inside cover of my journal I've written notes to myself. Things like remember if you are bitchy then pause, breathe deeply, and imagine Pelegra. That almost always calms me down. I've written things I'm thankful for. I remind myself that writing is my dream and worth every second of effort. Most importantly I remind myself to believe. Believe in my dream. Believe in myself.

Anyway, so I suggest that you have a happy book--a small notebook with happy thoughts--or even just one page. something you can go to for a personal pick me up.

I've also taken to buying inspirational prints. Technically I think they are motivational prints and I realize that sounds cheesy but I really like the two that I have. One of them is of rings left in water after a drop has fallen and says "Serenity: the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." and the other one is of a dock looking across a body of water at a mountain and says "ambition: the world makes way for those who know where they are going." Oddly enough I bought both of them at Blockbuster.

So when I am down I read my notes to myself and study my prints and they help me remember to keep working toward my goals and believe that I can accomplish them.

The Magic Words

Requested Material. Two. Magic. Words.

Ok, so there are other magic words we all wish to hear, like "I love your book I want to publish it" but hey, baby steps.

For right now the magic words are requested material. Out of the slush pile, or well maybe at least moved to the top. I hope.

I mailed off my two submissions today, to the agents that requested them from the Willamette Writers Conference. I used priority mail so they should have them by Friday at the latest.

So now it's the waiting game...

Things I 've learned the past week or two...

Having plot problems? Yeah, me too. Every time I think everything is worked out Aiden throws me for a loop.

Well, I went to the Willamette Writer's conference this weekend, which was a blast! I recommend it to anyone serious about writing. I picked up a really fabulous book. Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon.

This book will help you through those plot problems, characterization, editing, preparing to submit and a whole lot more. I got it for $15.00 from barnes and noble well it was $14.95 or something like that. Elizabeth Lyon was also at the conference, very nice lady.

My point is that we can all use a little help once in awhile, or if you are new to the world of submitting you may need a lot of help, lol. The thing is you may not realize that you need the help. I was doing things that I wasn't aware of until I read about them in this book and re-revised my chapters.

I received several good pieces of advice this weekend. One of them really stuck with me.

If you are creating a world know it 100% and show 15%. This was from Agent Kelly Sonnack.

That got me thinking. I feel like I know Pelegra 100%, but do I really? That is the question. Well after I got home from the conference (I only attended Friday) I thought about that. And thought some more. I spent a year planning this series before I started writing it. But did I record all of the details that I thought about. No. Big Mistake.

Know the world you are writing about. Know your characters inside out and backwards. So I've spent the weekend recording all of the details that I did not previously write down. Do I know my world 100% yes. But I also discovered I needed to make some changes to up the realism factor. As real as a fantasy with travel by refrigerator can be.

So now that you've listed to me babble on I'll summarize my main point.

Know your characters. Know your world. Know your plot. Get help (critque groups are great) and yes you can learn to be a better writer from a book. However, in your editing craze keep something in mind. Keep you in mind and your characters. If, in your aim for perfection, you edit the passion out of your writing then you have defeated your own purpose (Hence I'll be rewriting the first chapter --again). So if you break a few "rules" but the story is better and the character stronger then leave it up to an agent or editor to decide what to change.

Ok. I think I'm done rambling now.

Word Count

I have found a couple of places that have extremely useful and I feel reliable, information regarding word count.


http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp

This is a great database where you can look up the word count of books already in print. It's always a good idea to see how long current books are running in the genre that you are writing.


http://www.agentquery.com/format_tips.aspx

This site has some great information on word counts, formatting, and submissions. I found it very helpful.

Manuscript Boxes

Well, I thought that it was going to be difficult to find the Manuscript Box creature, as it has been elusive in the past. However, I was wrong and happy to be so. I live in Northwest Oregon. I live in Yamhill County an area known for its wines but not necessarily exhaustive stationary supplies. Anyway, I figured the most logical place to look The UPS Store. Score 1. They do have top and bottom boxes that fit letter size paper. Yay!

Next stop, because I needed printer paper and it's across the street was Staples. So I decided what the heck, let's look at boxes. Low and behold, score two! They have corrugated mailing boxes (white) that are 11 1/8 x 8 7/8 x 2 1/4. They are very sturdy and come in a package of 5. I paid $8.49 for them. Oh and they were the "stapels" brand. They were with all of the other shipping/packaging stuff.

So I was very pleased that I didn't have to drive far to find a manuscript box.

My Calm

I haven't made a lot of time for writing lately. I've been focusing more on the business end of things, but now I am writing. I am momentarily pausing to try and explain how I am feeling. To best do this I pose this question to you: What are you truly passionate about?

I am truly passionate about writing. Writing for me is magic, being able to weave stories on paper, pluck characters out of my imagination. The simple act of putting pen to paper or hands to keyboard. It clears my mind and the world make sense. The quiet of it is amazing. Sitting here, with enya playing in the background, simply creating. Completely in control of a world of my own making. Believing with every ounce of my being that some day soon people will be able to buy my books. They will pick them up and feel some of the wonderment I do as they read them. I am passionate about writing. This is what I am meant to do and everytime I sit down and focus on my story I remember that. I feel that absolute joy mixed with absolute calm. The ultimate stress reliever and the ultimate high. I am persuing my dream, full force and loving every second of it.

So I ask you, what are you passionate about?

Website Redesign

I redesigned my website for better navigation and layout

While I feel like I accomplished nothing today there are two key things I did get done. One is I ordered my business cards. Two is I completely redesigned my website. It looks completely different and I removed the flash. So while it sucks that I'm saying goodbye to my turning pages it's overall a good thing. The links in the book kept breaking and quite frankly I don't have the time to deal with flash components right now. So easy navigation and overall readability wins out. Drop by and let me know what you think of the new layout and let me know if any links are broken. Now I need to sleep since I have work tomorrow. Why I couldn't have done all this Saturday night is beyond me. LOL!

www.jinaoravetz.com

Pelegra Preview

Sunday, July 06, 2008

A Preview of Pelegra, first two chapters I finally got my website up and runing, well for the most part. It is still a work in progress. It does contain a link to chapter one of Pelegra and the Son of Merek. I'll be updating semi frequently. Oh, the link, www.jinaoravetz.com

My own domain

Saturday, July 05, 2008

My own domain Well, I am making progress on my website. It's not up yet but it's coming along nicely and I'm learning how to create flash elements as I go, which is why it's taking me so long. I'm very glad that it's a long weekend. I'm hoping to have my homepage up by this evening. Everything else that I have planned for it will be slow in coming, but at least I will have something up. Keep checking back for updates! www.jinaoravetz.com

Elion...

Monday, June 23, 2008

Elion.... Elion is one of the supporting characters in my book. I know what her role is and where her she ends up but I was having a lot of problems begining her journey. Today I finally made some progess with that and have wrapped my mind around her character and voice. An excerpt from The Pelegra Chronices: The Son of Merek. "She's been studying since she returned from the counsel." He simply smiled but said nothing. A girl appeared in the doorway. She had delicately tapered ears, large dark eyes, and waist length black hair which fell in loose waves. Eldrad smiled, "Elion, this is Aiden." She studied him a moment, "Hi." She then slipped into the seat on the other side of her father. Jules joined them placing one last steaming bowl onto the table. "Well, dig in everyone!" The only sound was the clinking of dishes as everyone filled their plates. Aiden cautiously selected items; he had no idea what most of it was, but figured if it smelled good then it would taste good, at least he hoped so. There were vegetable mashes, a creamy soup, chunks of meat smothered in a spicy red sauce, and a crisp vegetable salad. Everything tasted delicious. More to come..................

Hate the gas prices....

Knowledge Publications

So, me being well me have decided to take matters into my own hands. I commute one hour to work and one hour from work. My car (when it's running) gets about 17mph. So I go through a ridiculouse amount of gas, but I really, really like my job and my employers and coworkers so it's worth the drive to me. Thus I have been spending my time researching alternative fuels, boosters, anything and everything that could possibly help me lower my gas costs AND help the environment. I found this great website that I wanted to share with you all.

http://www.knowledgepublications.com/

I ordered one of the dvd's and already have another one picked out to order. I think that they have valuable information. Also part of the video I ordered is up on youtube so I already know that it's incredibly informative and is not a rip off. I'm looking forward to learning more and forging my own way (well sort of). I encourage everyone to do the same because we all know the government is not doing a darn thing to help us out.