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#WritingHarvest

I was tagged by Scarlett Van Dijk whose own post for this blog hop you can find here. The rules are: Answer the four questions below, link back to the person who invited you, and name the people who will be posting the following Monday.

I was tagged by Scarlett Van Dijk whose own post for this blog hop you can find here.

The rules are: Answer the four questions below, link back to the person who invited you, and name the people who will be posting the following Monday.

I am so excited to share with you all my writing process.

I am currently working on editing my novel “The Mason of Hearts” which will be the first of a Trilogy titled “The Created Ones Trilogy”

I am super excited about this book. I am currently doing edit number 4. Here are some pictures of my crazy-editing-revision-rewriting process.

Within the next two weeks I will be submitting to agents.

I can’t compare it to other’s work, because it’s definitely something of it’s own creature.

I pulled the villains from my deepest nightmares, but also pulled my main characters – the heroes if you will, from my hopes, dreams, and prayers for the world.

I have loved reading Fantasy ever since I was a little girl. C.S. Lewis made me love Fantasy. He was the writer who made me want to be a writer.

I write in the Fantasy Genre because I feel that Fantasy is really close to reality. haha… read on before you start thinking I am a hermit with a pet dragon that I hide in the forest (errr… I shouldn’t have said that…) But yeah, we learn so much from Fantasy even when we don’t realize it. It’s much closer to reality than people want to admit.

When I read C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, I was transported to a land that taught me a lot about who I was. It was a great encouragement. I want to write books that spin whimsical tales in which kids and adults alike see their own worlds differently from seeing my world and how my characters lived in it. I want to change lives. I want to bring a light into the darkness.

Write, Write, Write

Live… (It is in the day to day things that you find more out about your characters and your book.)

Write some more… until you’ve finished the book.

Read through and make notes on what you need to fix.

Edit/Revise

Read through and make notes again.

Edit

Send to critique partner.

Read through critique partner’s edits. *Remember they want your book to be the best it can be too!*

Read through your book and make notes again.

Write each scene on its own index card until you reach the end scene.

Editing and making changes (This is where I am currently with “The Mason of Hearts”… YAY!)

Set aside for a week (Usually I’d wait a while longer… but I am impatient and want to get it out to my beta readers sooner) during this wait period I will do a “The Mason of Hearts” related art piece.

After waiting a week, I will read through the book (while making notes on major things – if there are any at the moment).

Fix any major things.

Send to Beta readers.

Wait for their responses and for them to send their notes back to me. *I will be excited, but I will probably be freaking out!* “er… in a good way…” **During this waiting period I will be perfecting my query letter and I will be sending out pitches.

Read through one more time.

Edit one more time.

Then I will be done, until I am told I need to edit more by an agent or editor.

UFFDA… that all seems like a lot of work…. just typing all of it down. haha…

Oh well, I can do it. I am this far already. I will keep on keeping on.

Now, I’d like to send the blog hop on to these people.

Anushka (MyLovelyCritiquePartner)

Katie Cross

If you want to continue the Blog Hop, just answer these questions and publish it on your blog next Monday! :)

Writer. Dreamer. Wanderer. Enjoyer of Life. She loves crafting stories that change lives. Her first book "The Mason of Hearts" was recently finished. It's the first in a Fantasy Adventure trilogy. She is also working toward agent representation. View all posts by Devin Berglund

Jessica F. Hinton says: April 15, 2014 at 1:45 pm I loved that your process is so streamlined and makes room for multiple rounds of feedback! That’s awesome! Reply Devin Berglund says: April 16, 2014 at 6:22 pm Hello Jessica, I’m glad you enjoyed the post about my writing process! What kind of things do you write and what’s your writing process look like? Thanks for reading & commenting! :) Reply Jessica F. Hinton says: April 23, 2014 at 1:13 pm Forgot to respond to this! I write nonfiction, though, I dream of someday writing more fiction. Currently, I don’t have much of a writing process. I do try to write everyday and pitch consistently every month, however. Oh, and I generally reserve editing sessions for weekend mornings, if I can. :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm That is a good idea to have a consistent pitching schedule. I need to start doing more of that. Reply

I loved that your process is so streamlined and makes room for multiple rounds of feedback! That’s awesome!

Devin Berglund says: April 16, 2014 at 6:22 pm Hello Jessica, I’m glad you enjoyed the post about my writing process! What kind of things do you write and what’s your writing process look like? Thanks for reading & commenting! :) Reply Jessica F. Hinton says: April 23, 2014 at 1:13 pm Forgot to respond to this! I write nonfiction, though, I dream of someday writing more fiction. Currently, I don’t have much of a writing process. I do try to write everyday and pitch consistently every month, however. Oh, and I generally reserve editing sessions for weekend mornings, if I can. :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm That is a good idea to have a consistent pitching schedule. I need to start doing more of that. Reply

Hello Jessica, I’m glad you enjoyed the post about my writing process! What kind of things do you write and what’s your writing process look like?

Thanks for reading & commenting! :)

Jessica F. Hinton says: April 23, 2014 at 1:13 pm Forgot to respond to this! I write nonfiction, though, I dream of someday writing more fiction. Currently, I don’t have much of a writing process. I do try to write everyday and pitch consistently every month, however. Oh, and I generally reserve editing sessions for weekend mornings, if I can. :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm That is a good idea to have a consistent pitching schedule. I need to start doing more of that. Reply

Forgot to respond to this! I write nonfiction, though, I dream of someday writing more fiction. Currently, I don’t have much of a writing process. I do try to write everyday and pitch consistently every month, however. Oh, and I generally reserve editing sessions for weekend mornings, if I can. :)

Devin Berglund says: April 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm That is a good idea to have a consistent pitching schedule. I need to start doing more of that. Reply

That is a good idea to have a consistent pitching schedule. I need to start doing more of that.

Prairie Style File says: April 18, 2014 at 8:59 am My goal is to sit down and actually make a more concrete plan! I’m in the research phase of my book and between that, my blog and pitching magazines, I feel like my brain is pulled in a million different directions. Reply Devin Berglund says: April 18, 2014 at 1:06 pm Oh my goodness! I know what you mean about feeling like your brain is being pulled in all directions. I feel the same way. I don’t think it ever changes. Hopefully it changes. haha! How exciting though – what is your book going to be about? Reply

My goal is to sit down and actually make a more concrete plan! I’m in the research phase of my book and between that, my blog and pitching magazines, I feel like my brain is pulled in a million different directions.

Devin Berglund says: April 18, 2014 at 1:06 pm Oh my goodness! I know what you mean about feeling like your brain is being pulled in all directions. I feel the same way. I don’t think it ever changes. Hopefully it changes. haha! How exciting though – what is your book going to be about? Reply

Oh my goodness! I know what you mean about feeling like your brain is being pulled in all directions. I feel the same way. I don’t think it ever changes. Hopefully it changes. haha!

How exciting though – what is your book going to be about?

AJ Bauers says: April 19, 2014 at 3:52 pm I have a calendar for the next three months for my writing goals day by day, whether it be writing or editing. But beyond that, the biggest thing I find helpful is reading my chapters out loud. I’m a fast reader so when I read silently, I sometimes will skip over crappy sentence structures or slow pacing. By speaking my words, it really forces me to concentrate and therefore catch more mistakes. Reply Devin Berglund says: April 20, 2014 at 10:11 pm I totally agree with you, Allison! Calendars are really great ways to keep your word-count goals. How many words do you try to write every day? Reading out load really does help, doesn’t it? Do you edit after you’ve written your book? Or do you write till you finish the book – and then edit later? Reply AJ Bauers says: April 23, 2014 at 11:52 pm When I’m on a roll, I won’t edit until I’m finished with the book. For this current book though I’ve been editing after each chapter. I kind if like the new approach, but I like it more when the new words just want to keep flowing off my keyboard :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 24, 2014 at 3:40 am That is so awesome! I haven’t been able to write and then edit right after. I will have to try it with my next book. So can’t wait, by the way as I’ve been up to my neck in edits. It is really nice to have a different approach once in awhile, isn’t it? Reply

I have a calendar for the next three months for my writing goals day by day, whether it be writing or editing. But beyond that, the biggest thing I find helpful is reading my chapters out loud. I’m a fast reader so when I read silently, I sometimes will skip over crappy sentence structures or slow pacing. By speaking my words, it really forces me to concentrate and therefore catch more mistakes.

Devin Berglund says: April 20, 2014 at 10:11 pm I totally agree with you, Allison! Calendars are really great ways to keep your word-count goals. How many words do you try to write every day? Reading out load really does help, doesn’t it? Do you edit after you’ve written your book? Or do you write till you finish the book – and then edit later? Reply AJ Bauers says: April 23, 2014 at 11:52 pm When I’m on a roll, I won’t edit until I’m finished with the book. For this current book though I’ve been editing after each chapter. I kind if like the new approach, but I like it more when the new words just want to keep flowing off my keyboard :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 24, 2014 at 3:40 am That is so awesome! I haven’t been able to write and then edit right after. I will have to try it with my next book. So can’t wait, by the way as I’ve been up to my neck in edits. It is really nice to have a different approach once in awhile, isn’t it? Reply

I totally agree with you, Allison! Calendars are really great ways to keep your word-count goals. How many words do you try to write every day?

Reading out load really does help, doesn’t it? Do you edit after you’ve written your book? Or do you write till you finish the book – and then edit later?

AJ Bauers says: April 23, 2014 at 11:52 pm When I’m on a roll, I won’t edit until I’m finished with the book. For this current book though I’ve been editing after each chapter. I kind if like the new approach, but I like it more when the new words just want to keep flowing off my keyboard :) Reply Devin Berglund says: April 24, 2014 at 3:40 am That is so awesome! I haven’t been able to write and then edit right after. I will have to try it with my next book. So can’t wait, by the way as I’ve been up to my neck in edits. It is really nice to have a different approach once in awhile, isn’t it? Reply

When I’m on a roll, I won’t edit until I’m finished with the book. For this current book though I’ve been editing after each chapter. I kind if like the new approach, but I like it more when the new words just want to keep flowing off my keyboard :)

Devin Berglund says: April 24, 2014 at 3:40 am That is so awesome! I haven’t been able to write and then edit right after. I will have to try it with my next book. So can’t wait, by the way as I’ve been up to my neck in edits. It is really nice to have a different approach once in awhile, isn’t it? Reply

That is so awesome! I haven’t been able to write and then edit right after. I will have to try it with my next book. So can’t wait, by the way as I’ve been up to my neck in edits. It is really nice to have a different approach once in awhile, isn’t it?

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