Speaking of beta reading. I'm really sorry I haven't gotten to yours Gar. Between work, revisions, and pre-existing beta reading commitments I've been too busy to find reading time. Overcommitting on beta reading is a bad habit of mine. I can still try to get to it if you feel it would still be helpful.
Personally, I feel that it would be better to work on your craft and struggle through rather than partner up with someone. But maybe a partnership would work better for you. I can't really imagine collaborating on one of my manuscripts; I think I'd just end up wanting to do it all my way. Even with the help I'm getting from my agent and her readers, it's a matter of them pointing out the weaknesses and it's up to me how to address them.
I made a create-your-own-author-bio madlib to go with a blog post on writing author bios. It seems to be amusing people.
Yes, I am waxing the cat. My office is clean too.
Yeah, I'm thinking that learnign to plot would be a good skill. I think I need some resources though. I don't think this is a case where practice alone will do it. Any good guides out there on plotting 101? I could google, but I'm not sure I'd be able to filter the garbage from the good stuff. So I prefer recs.
Does not have to be internet stuff though. If there are any books out there that people think have good plot advice I could try to get them.
How are you on the basic idea of a plot, the buildup, the climax, the denouement, etc? Complications and resolutions? I'm trying to think of my writing library and if anything explicitly addresses the process of getting people through an action. Are you wanting the grand framework of an entire story or the construction of scenes that progress the individual actions? Or all of the above?
Writing the Breakout Novel by Don Maas, who's an established agent. It's a great resource.
also The 90-day novel and Nancy Kress' Beginnings, Middles, and Ends.
Two totally different approaches.
I'll try all of those. beginnings middels and ends sounds especially promising, cause "middles" is my worst weakness.
I might look into some of those books too. I have an idea that I have had kicking around for a while, the characters and setting are very clear to me, but I have no idea how to actually plot out a novel.
Second Sight by Cheryl Klein (an editor at Scholastic) is pretty good. I have a copy. It covers more than plot, but I like how it deals with both the physical plot and the emotional plot of the story.
[link]
must resist buying more books
