Blog Moved. . . again!
FYI: I’ve moved my blog again–to blog.chashathaway.com. Come on over!
See you on the other side!
Anyone Want to Start an Online Manuscript-Critique Group?
I have a writing group, and the members are great. We inspire each other, give each other feedback, and boost each other’s motivation.
But in addition to that, I’d like to get together a group of serious authors, who like me, need fellow authors to help them get their completed manuscripts ready for submission.
Here’s what I have in mind, and it’s open to any serious writers. We get together a group of as many of us as we can (at least 4, but any number more), and trade contact info. When one of us finishes a manuscript (either roughdraft, second draft, or tenth draft, whatever you want), we send a copy of it to the others. Then everyone (everyone who has the time) reads it, offering as much or as little critique as we have time for. I would suggest that all critiques come back to the author within a month of when the manuscript was sent to the group, since the author may be wanting to submit it to a publisher (or self publish) as soon as possible, and will need time to make any changes before sending it.
If you get a manuscript and don’t have time to read it, that’s okay. That’s why we want a number of people, so at least a few will have time to look over it. We don’t meet or contact each therewith any regularity, but just when we have completed (albeit unrefined) manuscripts needing feedback.
With such a short time-frame, the critique need not be comprehensive. In fact, a couple paragraphs of feedback would be perfect. We don’t want to put strain on the time of struggling authors, we just want to help each other out in getting our manuscripts refined.
I’m open to different approaches if you have other ideas.
Anyone interested in being part of such a group?
Jeanette Isabella’s Torch
My family has an annual Christmas Eve party that includes an opportunity to share a story, talent, song, thought, etc. This year, as part of it, we decided to do a “carol-off.” We choose a carol, and everyone do something based around the theme of that song. We chose Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella. We ended up with an Irish dance performance, a traditional piano/flute/French lyrics performance, a bowed-glass performance, and this recording of mine.
I didn’t want to post this before the party, because I couldn’t let the family see it yet. Now I can share it with everyone. Enjoy!
Merry Christmas!
Chas
Interview with Author Misty Moncur
Show Notes:
Misty Moncur is the author of the LDS novel, Daughter of Helaman. As her bio on her website, http://mistymoncur.blogspot.com/ states,
Misty fits in writing like other people fit in breathing. She writes in the Romance, Young Adult, and Religious genres.
Misty lives in Utah with her husband, her Wii-addicted son, and her curly-haired daughter. They spend a great deal of time laughing and the rest of it eating pizza
.
Questions discussed in the Interview:
What gave you the idea of creating a young woman who is interested in joining Helaman’s army of 2000 young men?
I noticed that Keturah has a very strong view of gender roles. Was that difficult to write into the Nephite culture?
What kind of research did you have to do in order to write about day-to-day living in Nephite times?
There are probably many members of the church that would like to study more about what Nephite life may have been like. What sources or tools would you recommend?
Was there anything about the history or characters in the story that you didn’t include in the book (deleted scenes, unwritten backstory, etc)?
The book is obviously intended for an LDS audience. What do you hope members of the church get from Daughter of Helaman?
How did writing this book effect your testimony of the Book of Mormon?
What got you started in writing?
How did you get from an interest in writing to actually starting your first book? Was the task harder or easier than you expected?
What do you recommend to other writers who would like to write a book, but haven’t started yet?
What’s next? Sequel? Do you have another book underway?
Any advice or suggestions you would like to give new writers?
Thanks to Misty for allowing me to do the interview! Everyone go buy her book!
