I’ve got a treat for your today. Actually a double one. Craig Boyack of Entertaining Stories and I are doing a blog swap. Craig and a “special guest” I asked him to bring along are taking over my blog, while I’m hanging out at his. I’m talking about my experience offering a book for free on Amazon. Was it worth it? You’ll have to check my post on Entertaining Stories to find out. 🙂
Meanwhile, I’ll leave Craig and his companion to keep you entertained. The special guest he brought along is only one of the many colorful characters from Craig’s imagination that haunt his blog. I just happen to be partial to this particular character. Maybe because I can relate to how it feels when he drops in for a visit. You’ll see what I mean in a minute, so sit back and enjoy Craig’s post. . .
~ooOOoo~
I walked up to the shop and checked the map on my iPhone. A huge raven whooshed over my head and landed in a tree. This looked like the right coffee shop, and I took a seat outside. Mae asked me to come here and write about my editing process and the blessing/curse that follows me around.
The truth is, I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to editing. I’ve learned a trick or two and made notes in my living document. I looked around the parking lot, but there was no sign of Mae. I took a table outside so I could watch for her.
I started writing this blog post; any available minutes can be precious. The raven swooped down and landed on my table. See, he’s a gift from my Muse, and tries to keep me looking professional. The bird’s name is Doubt.
I’ve learned to search out my personal sin words, like “that, very, was, and the various forms of its and there.”
These days I’m trying to eliminate what I call stage directions. These are usually things like “said, heard, saw, smelled, felt.” If we’re in a character’s point of view, it’s better to describe someone walking across the parking lot, than to write, “she saw someone walking across the parking lot.” This is a new one for me, but I believe my writing is better for it. I learned that from Doubt.
Doubt pecked at my hand. Krik krik blork.
Ravens make hundreds of noises, more than common crows. I really don’t know what they all mean. This one even manages to mimic a few human words. I’m guessing he doesn’t like me using contractions in a blog post. It’s a blog post, it’s supposed to be a bit more familiar to readers. Now I have doubts. That’s how he works.
I have to put him away when I draft my novels. If I listen to him during the draft phase, I never get anything done. My Muse says he helps me, but I have my doubts.
I love my stories, all of them. I even love the trunk novels that no one will ever see. Doubt gets into my head, and keeps me from the most egregious mistakes. The run of the mill mistakes are mine, and sometimes they get in. I’ve learned not to listen to him in every case.
I thought he was going to peck my hands bloody, when I edited Will O’ the Wisp. This is the first thing I ever wrote in first person point of view. He didn’t like the over use of “I and my.” I changed what I thought I could, but some of that has to happen in first person point of view.
The trick is to listen to Doubt, but to also override him when needed. I’m still not sure who’s right in some cases, but I’m learning. Doubt would have all my fiction looking like a lawyer wrote it, and he would take all the character out of it. Fiction needs character, and sometimes it’s the best part of the story.
Too much input from Doubt leads to perfectionism. Perfectionism is the bane of many writers. It prevents us from putting out acceptable work for fear it might have a mistake. I personally believe we learn more from drafting new material. Not everyone feels this way.
Kaw! Doubt pecked at my iPhone.
“We’re at the right address.” I checked again anyway. “I wonder if I wrote it down right in the first place.” See how he works. A little Doubt goes a long ways. “Why don’t you fly around and see if you can spot Mae Clair. Maybe she’s at a different coffee shop.”
Doubt slit off the table and took to the sky. I kind of hoped to give him to Mae for a month or so. I get a lot accomplished when I don’t have Doubt getting in my way.
~ooOOoo~
Craig’s newest book is WILL O’ THE WHISP, a highly entertaining novel which combines elements of magical realism, mystery, and fantasy, as well as an appealing coming of age theme.
BLURB:
There is something evil up Bergamot Holler, and it’s been targeting the Hall family for generations.
Patty Hall is fifteen years old. She loves stargazing, science fiction, and all things related to space exploration. This leaves her perfectly prepared for the wrong problem.
Patty is afraid her mother will send her to a care facility if she tells her what she’s seen. If she doesn’t figure things out soon, she’s going to join her father in the Hall family cemetery plot.
Patty has to come to grips with her own physical handicap, face the wilderness, and an ancient evil all alone if she’s going to survive.
Will O’ the Wisp is suitable for young adults. It involves elements of suspense, and is set in the mid 1970s.
Purchase From:
Northern American Continent
Rest of the world
You Can Follow Craig at the Following Haunts:
Blog
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Find all of Craig’s novels here
Mae – always powerful – I thought I was watching Shakespeare – this is such amazing, detailed introduction. Bravo…
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Glad you enjoyed it. I need to work on a short story today, and am going to hide from Doubt to get it done.
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I’m going shoo Doubt your way at the end of the day, so get busy writing, LOL!
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I just did some short story work. I suppose I’m ready for him now.
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Thanks for dropping by, Mino. I’m going to make Craig take Doubt with him when he leaves!
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Glad to meet both your guests, Mae!
Though Craig’s companion is familiar to me too.
Congratulations for the release, Craig! The story sounds captivating with a strong premise. Best of luck with finding mew readers and fans!
As about your companion,I can compare him with the talking cricket in Pinocchio fairy tale. Doubt keeps nagging us all in the creative process, trust me. It nags me too.
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I understand, but Jiminy Cricket doesn’t bite. 😄 I had a blast writing Will O’ the Wisp and it’s been pretty well received.
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Hi, Carmen. Yep, I’ve had many of flighty visits from one of Doubt’s kin. Usually when one of his feathered kind arrive they camp out on my desk for a while and bog down the whole creative flow. Lately I’ve been trying to keep their visits few and far between!
Thanks for dropping by to check out Craig’s post.
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I love your “entertaining stories”, but you knew that. It’s nice to see Doubt here at Mae’s. He’s one of my favorites, too.
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Glad you enjoyed it. I never got to pawn him off on her.
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I don’t mind Doubt as an occasional guest, but not a permanent lodger, LOL!.
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I always enjoy when he shows up on Craig’s blog, Sue. I remember the first time I discovered him, I kept thinking “how clever!”
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Having in doubt about Doubt sounds rough. Great point about perfectionism being a bane for authors. Seems to be the easiest hole to fall into because it’s never ‘good enough’ when you hit that mindset. Hard to accept that every work of literature has flaws of some kind. Many of those are seen only in the eyes of the beholder and varies from reader to reader. Just get it to where you like it and set it free.
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That’s the eventual secret to overcoming Doubt. It pays to listen to him for the first few passes.
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Bribing it wouldn’t help, huh?
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You know me, I say try it. Maybe you could get him drunk.
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That usually backfires. Drunkenness is an open door for the thing.
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Whereas I tend to become bulletproof. Oh well.
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And then he needs to take flight!
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I find that perfectionism trait interfering a lot when working on a WIP. I need to learn to write the scene/story and polish it later. I guess that’s Doubt saying “this isn’t good enough” before I can move on.
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I don’t know when I gave up the first draft perfection. All I want to do is write and have fun with the initial stages. Even the editing, I kind of accept that I won’t catch everything. Just hope those that test read it do.
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Good advice, Charles!
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Always love your stories, Craig! Thanks for sharing another, and I’m tossing a few raven treats your way for Doubt 🙂
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Oh cool! I think he was getting tired of that Dwarven scrapple.
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Thanks for visiting, Julie. I’m sure Doubt will like those treats, too 🙂
P.S. . . . haven’t forgotten about the Five Day Photo challenge. Life has been crazy lately, but it’s still on my list!
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No worries. I know you’re on your book blog tour. However, I am anxious to see what you post for the challenge 🙂
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Considering I just got back from my Mothman trip, I’ve got some cool stuff to choose from 🙂
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Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
The raven of Doubt makes an appearance at Mae Clair’s blog today. Please visit and consider following her.
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Thanks so much, Craig. I’ve met and connected with some great writers through your blog!
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We all seem to have a pretty awesome community. Blogging is almost as much fun as writing.
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That’s a great picture. Thanks for inviting us over today.
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I had to find something worthy of Doubt. Thanks for bringing him over today. Loved your post!
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Grinning big! I think Doubt has a lot of brothers. How fun to see you here on Mae’s blog, today.
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Hi, Stanalei. I have a feeling, Doubt’s kin are like rabbits, constantly multiplying. 🙂 Glad you could drop in and check out Craig’s post. I thought it was awesome!
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Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for commenting.
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Doubt visited me a while back when I wrote Naked Alliances. He’s a good bird, but left a lot for me to considered. I’m not sure I’ll ever publish the novel. It may end up being one of my trunk novels. 🙂
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Uh-oh. Doubt must have been pretty persistent with that one, Susan. I vote you let it rest for a while and then read it again with fresh eyes. Even if it does stay a trunk novel, I’m sure it was a learning experience and a memorable journey!
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I have a couple of those myself. I’ll bet most writers do.
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What a great post! I feel like Doubt and I are like twins separated at birth…well, except we were never separated. LOL Doubt has an important role to play, but always seems to miss its cue, showing up too early to do anything but cause mayhem while I’m writing. 🙂 I’m hopeful I can get it to figure out its proper place. #oneofthesedays
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Hi, Donna. I think that’s why the Muse gave him to me. She wants me to fall somewhere between too cocky and perfectionism. I’m learning to over-ride Doubt, but I’m never exactly certain if I’m right.
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Hey, Donna, great to have you drop by. Amazing how Doubt brings us altogether, isn’t it? :D. I can just see Craig’s raven and your muse, Endora sitting down for a pow-wow, LOL. AS always, great to have you visit!
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Great post, Craig. The raven is cool. I have a whole flock of his brethren resident in the churchyard trees opposite my house. They’re a noisy bunch, but they tend to stay away, although in the winter, they had a habit of partying in my garden for some reason.
I shall hop across to your blog now and check out Maes post.
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Hi, Ali,. Thanks for visiting here on my blog and also for checking out my post in Craig’s corner of the world. Delighted to see you in both places!
Boy, those ravens really get around, don’t they? And the mention of them hanging out in a churchyard gave me shivers while simultaneously intriguing me.
Sounds like they had fun in your garden, too. 🙂
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That vision of Ravens in the churchyard is pretty intriguing.
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It’s interesting how ravens are present all across the northern hemisphere. There are subtle differences, but they’re all similar.
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Craig, I’m so glad you have the raven somewhat under control and he is not picking at your bones. Great job with that. :Your book sounds exciting. I like that girl’s attitude. I’m already following you on social media:)
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Thank you, Flossie. Patty Hall went through a lot. There is a pretty good character arc to this story. I’m glad you enjoyed Doubt. Most readers relate to him.
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Best wishes:)
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So glad to have you check out Craig’s post, Flossie. I really enjoyed having him and Doubt visit, although I didn’t want Doubt hanging around too long. 🙂
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