#elementalauthor

[monicaannebooks]

I did it! 🎉 I got up the courage and queried another agent.

Her wish list seems very aligned with my book series to which I expressed with enthusiasm.

So we will see. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🤞

Wish me luck! 🍀

[monicaannebooks]

Anyone else just in love with Petra’s outfits on Jane The Virgin? 😍

Yeah, so, this is the third I’ve watched this show. Yup. I re-watch Netflix shows instead of writing or editing. 😬

Her body type is totally different than mine, so not all of the looks would work on my body, but some might. 💞

[monicaannebooks]

Pro Tip for Editing Your Book:

Want to catch more errors? Try putting the text into a different medium. For example, if you have it typed up, print it out and vice versa. If your book is typed, another great medium to try is audio. Most computers and phones have a text to speech option. I use Ivona, but it’s not really available any more.

I’ve done a lot of editing on my first book. I don’t converted written text to typed text and edited the typed text twice to make it coherent. I then listened to an audio version that allowed me to find errors. This is when I sent it to beta readers and to an editor. I also sent it t two of my brothers. (One is also a writer and knows a great deal about the theory behind writing good novels, while the other one is very knowledgeable about book, lore, and editing.) At this, I printed my book, leaving the editors suggestions to review further. My brothers sent or told me their suggestions, I mark my pages up. I would sometimes discuss those suggestions with them. Of course, having written edits doesn’t help me if my book is typed, so I manually entered all the edits. Once that was done, I turned it into an audio file, found some errors, and fixed them. Those same brothers will be getting another copy this week. I’ll also re-read over it. But, for the most part, I am done editing my novel. It’s time to start querying!

You definitely don’t have to edit that many times, but I felt like my book needing that many edits. Plus, I can be perfectionist.

Wishing all of you luck with your book writing and editing!

[monicaannebooks]

Banned Books

I watched a foreign tv show today. They talked about books that were banned in their country. That made me think, “I’m so glad we don’t do that here.” I mean, sure, churches, schools, and workplaces may banned books, but the country as a whole doesn’t.

I remember in high school I read Angela’s Ashes, a coming of ages story about life during The Great Depression. To me, I was shocked that I was really allowed to read a book for high school that was so... progressive, so vulgar, so raw. Time after time, I’m able to read books that may be banned in other countries.

Freedom of speech and press are a wonderful things that we, especially as authors, should not take for granted.

[kjsimmill]

Book review: L.B. Gilbert - Earth (@elementalauthor)

Book review: L.B. Gilbert - Earth (@elementalauthor) #bookreview #amreading #fantasyromance

In L.B. Gilbert’s Earth, Gia, the Earth Elemental, has been poisoned but after being infiltrated by the alchemist, John, and betrayed, the Elementals found it very hard to trust anyone, but they needed help. The only person who can possibly be of aid is Salvador, a witch with a family history of darkness and evil. Sure he broke away, healed instead of harmed, but John had seemed to be trustworthy…

[sophiek16]

Invested with the powers of Mother Nature Fire by @elementalauthor will take you on a #paranormal #romance #journey http://amzn.to/2keP1E8

[monicaannebooks]

Writing is my outlet. I’m stress; I write. I’m mad; I write. I’m feeling romantic; I write. I’m super happy; I write.

I watch an awesome fantasy show that makes me miss writing on my book, so I’ll either write on my book or work on my writing website. I write about writing, like now. I’m feeling WooWoo, so I write LOA stories about what might/could/will happen.

I can’t get enough!

[monicaannebooks]

This is me waiting for an agent to pick my book.

Sometimes, it’s just so defeating getting a rejection email or even just going through agent want list after agent want list, only to find out that YOUR BOOK isn’t what they’re wanting.

I know I just have to keep the faith, but it’s not always easy.

After my last searches and set of rejections, I had to take a break from it all.

It was heart wrenching knowing how long and how hard it was to create this amazing story, only to find out that either there aren’t agents wanting to even look at my book or who pass on it when they do. 🙄

But I’m ready to get back to it now.

However, I’m not looking forward to the gut punches that’ll come my way. Fingers crossed that there won’t be too many at least. 🤞

[monicaannebooks]

It's time to get serious about all these blog posts and articles. 👩‍💻 I've got so many posts that are half done.

Fellow writers: Always remember that what you write does not have to be perfect. Just write it. You can always edit later. You got this❣I believe in you.

[monicaannebooks]

A big part of writing a book is brainstorming and doing research. I ran across this book on Amazon and just knew I had to have it for my current book series. Actually, I will be able to use it for future series and in real life (if the need ever arises). It’s such a great find. 📃��📄📚📑 Before anyone says it, yes, I do use the internet to research. I read blogs, forums, websites, and scholarly journals as well as watch videos on YouTube and participate in courses on Udemy and Lynda. You can’t forget podcasts though too which I also enjoy but don’t get alot of information that’ll be helpful to the content of my books; maybe the marketing or the business side though. 📲💻🖥 What books have you bought or borrowed recently for research? 📚📖📚 #nature #howtoeatinthewoods #eatingwell #foriage #leaves #plants #tracking #animals #research #amwriting #amediting #elementalmagic #yafantasy #yafiction #fantasybooks #teenbook #elementalmagick #elementalauthor #youngadultbooks (at Pensacola, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnQQH5WnuD6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1athlwdfopejw

[monicaannebooks]

Remember, today is a new day. I hope your worries fall away and your smile shines bright.

Reach towards your goals as you have an amazing day!

a little wind can lift a big spirit

[monicaannebooks]

I just finished writing a blog post for @united-nations-of-influence. Through the first go around, it seemed pretty legit. I'm stepping away before doing any revision or sending it to the team. It's important with writing to wait a few minutes, hours, days, etc. before editing. The words are just too fresh. I hope it's well received. Wish me luck! ☘

[monicaannebooks]

Editing Update

I hate doing line edits. They're the freaking worst. As of Saturday, 9/1/18, I've finally edited 100 pages of book one of my young adult fantasy series. That's over 1/3 of the book edited. YESSS!! 😁

I procrastinate editing so much because it's just not something I enjoy doing, and it takes alot of work to turn something mediocre into great or great into freaking fantastic. (I like editing the works of others.) Sometimes I can't find the right synonym or can't come up with just the right diction and syntax to fix what's written. However, I find that perhaps my message and most of my words are good but only here and there needs to be tweaked.

Yesterday, I ran across a scene that was boring and too systematic, so I rewrote it. But I'm not sure if it's even that necessary. I had my husband read part of the scene (original and rewrite). While he thought it was well written, he doesn't think it assists the plot any. And to what he read, it doesn't. A few paragraphs later it does and the rewrite definitely helps. But I must decide if I want to keep the scene or cut it.

There are so many hard choices when you're a writing and editing your own book. The pressure's on.

[monicaannebooks]

I’m doing line by line edits today. This will be me life for awhile. My hubby took my along to the gaming place, so he could play Dragonfire while I edited. 📑 I. Hate. Editing. So. Much. 😭😭😭😭 It takes so long and has so many parts to it. However, greatness is achieved by perseverance and hard work. 💪 . . . . .

#amediting #amwriting #writerslife #entreprenuer #positivevibes #positivemind #bossbabes #bossbabetribe #monicaannebooks #dragonfire #dnd #dandd #tbscomics #fantasywriter #writersofinstagram #floridaauthor #alabamaauthor #pensacolaauthor #elementalfantasy #elementalauthor #roadtogreatness #fantasyseries #bookstagram #bookophile #yalitchat #happilymarriedwifey

[monicaannebooks]

Listening to 🎶classical music🎶 & editing my book. 📑📚 Ah, the life. 💕

[monicaannebooks]

Write about Sword Fighting

‪I went to a panel about sword fighting in books, movies, and reality at the local con - Pensacon.

This is what I learned and/or what was discussed:

1. When the swords touch, that’s called kissing.

2. If there are experienced swordsmen fighting, the battle will be over quickly.

3. Have the sword easily accessible. On the back is not easily accessible.

4. The swords can buzz or sing when they hit. ‬

5. You can feel the weight of eachother’s swords as you press them against each other.

6. Putting a sword into the ground or leaning on it makes a sword dull or can end up breaking the tip off.

7. The guys hosting the panel went over a few sword fighting terms that I can not longer remember. I found this site that has a lot of great terms though.

8. If you have sword fighting of any kind in your books or want to, the guys that hosted the panel suggest taking a sword fighting class.

9. Swords are not like Swiss Army knives. They are not supposed to be used for everything. For example, they are supposed to be used for killing, maiming, and wounding individuals and maybe animals, depending on the animals. They are not supposed to be used for cutting grass, chopping down limbs, clearing spider webs, opening locked doors, prying open chests, etc. Over time, these things can damage swords which are generally expensive things to have.

10. Not all swords are created equal. Definitely look up what swords are normally used for the technique that you want to go for as well as the look of the swords. That will change so if the descriptions you will use.

11. Remember that the material of the sword can make a big difference. Most swords are not “melted down” and remade to make new swords because the metal would be weaker. The only way to make a strong sword and do that is to add organic material to it.

12. The majority of swords are relatively light or at least not super heavy. However, after holding them and fighting with them for a long time, the participants will become quite tired.

13. If you kind of want to have swords in your story but don’t really want swords in your story, you can start with practice swords, like woooden swords or foam swords. You could also just have your characters use Kendo or something similar.

14. Most warriors will have swords on them but will have other weapons as well. “Swords are for self-defense.” It’s best to avoid close up combat as much as possible. Once the enemy is up close, the lives of both parties are at great risk. Sometimes armies will use fire, cannon balls, long range rifles, traps, etc. then the swords or guns (if that’s something you want to have in your book) if the other things Hong’s didn’t work or if the enemy is getting too close. If an enemy is injured and falls down or has a heavy breast plate, a small, sharp dagger will do the trick instead of a large sword.

15. In normal sword fighting, not necessarily war, a lot of the skill is in the foot work. It’s also in recognizing your opponent’s moves and next moves and countering them.