I have a very strained relationship with word counts. I'm a chronic over-writer, so I usually have to cut thousands of words between the first and final draft. In can feel like pulling teeth, but many of these tricks will also make your prose stronger. So why do you need to cut words, anyway? There… Continue reading 5 Ways I Trimmed Word Count
Author: Avery Ames
Music Monday: “The Mess I Made”
Are you ready for some good, solid romantic angst this week? Parachute's "The Mess I Made" is the perfect distillation of romantic regret when you watch the person you love walk away, knowing it's all your fault. It's one of those songs I play on repeat, think about my characters, and cry. Which characters? Ah,… Continue reading Music Monday: “The Mess I Made”
The 5 Best Decisions I’ve Made On My Writing Journey
After the last Friday 5 post, I’d like to switch things up by swapping out the negativity for some positives. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I’ve also made a few decisions that completely changed my writing life for the better. 1. Participating in NaNoWriMo. For those who aren’t familiar, NaNoWriMo is National Novel… Continue reading The 5 Best Decisions I’ve Made On My Writing Journey
Music Monday: “Frost”
Time for some good old-fashioned heartbreak. For those of you writing a tragic romance and needing that perfect, poignant song for inspiration. Ever had that relationship that could have been something magical, but just seemed to fall apart? And yet you still can't help but wonder "what if"? Vertical Horizon's "Frost" is a hidden gem,… Continue reading Music Monday: “Frost”
The 5 Worst Mistakes I’ve Made On My Writing Journey
We all make mistakes. And learning from the errors of others can certainly be much easier than experiencing the sting of your own. In that spirit, here are a few of my most cringe-worthy choices in my writing journey, and what I learned from each one. 1. Editing before revising. So your manuscript is complete!… Continue reading The 5 Worst Mistakes I’ve Made On My Writing Journey
