tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post7044896845621144967..comments2020-04-06T03:58:25.478-07:00Comments on the blog of author E S Moxon: Mentoring: Honing my inner HawkE S Moxonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00910986089563223935noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-26703831663990138422013-08-07T00:37:59.876-07:002013-08-07T00:37:59.876-07:00A battle scar map sounds like a good idea! I notic...A battle scar map sounds like a good idea! I noticed on re-reading my manuscript that one scar jumped from under the protagonist's left eye, to over it!Matthew Harffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12994917417232123639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-25994655053710582952013-08-06T16:00:20.839-07:002013-08-06T16:00:20.839-07:00Thanks Matthew.
I love the idea of writing the ba...Thanks Matthew.<br /><br />I love the idea of writing the back stories for your characters. I usually create profiles for each of my characters, down to eye colour and height. For one character I even have a battle-scar 'map' to remember where he has been injured/scarred. This was for fear of an injury suddenly leaping from left to right arm, or vice versa. I think it's essential to know as much as we can about our characters, their history or their likes/dislikes. The more we know them, the more realism we can inject for our readers.<br /><br />Thank you very much for adding my blog to your site's blog list. :-)E S Moxonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910986089563223935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-68247527377809413312013-08-06T15:31:57.788-07:002013-08-06T15:31:57.788-07:00Interesting and thought-provoking post.
I have fo...Interesting and thought-provoking post.<br /><br />I have found test readers very helpful so far, but do find the open questions that arise from their input hard to reconcile. A few weeks of thinking time has been needed to get my head in the right place before being able to tackle edits. I also found I needed more depth for my characters to went off and wrote back stories for them. Hopefully this will add an extra layer of depth to the story as I add some detail when redrafting.<br /><br />By the way, I've added your blog to my blog list on my site. :-)<br /><br />Keep up the good work.Matthew Harffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12994917417232123639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-76636968392649465562013-07-22T14:55:12.658-07:002013-07-22T14:55:12.658-07:00I too discovered Beta readers only recently. I hea...I too discovered Beta readers only recently. I heard a friend online discussing their use of them. As it happened, I was at a juncture where I needed another viewpoint on the start of my novel. I wanted some interesting feedback, so I chose a range of ages in both genders and asked readers within and outside my genre (which is historical fiction).<br /><br />I tested 2 sample chapters with my readers, so that I could receive a quick response. Despite the variety of readers, I did have recurring issues and was able to fix those items. It also meant I could test my audience. When I have completed my edit/rewrite I'll choose a trusted reader for the entire book.<br /><br />All the best with your writing and I hope that I have given you some food for thought on Beta readers.E S Moxonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910986089563223935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-74527448664822317542013-07-21T18:12:56.727-07:002013-07-21T18:12:56.727-07:00Your Nan's words are wise indeed. Beta readers... Your Nan's words are wise indeed. Beta readers are relatively new in my world. I know only a handful of writers who have used them, and would be interested in your views. <br /><br />A lady in my writers group, has written a historical novel and has put out a call for readers. I feel quite guilty but I do not have time to read her novel, and it wouldn't be fair to her if I said 'yes' and couldn't read it quick enough. I am a horrendously slow reader. It takes me a while to finish a novel.<br /><br />Have a good week writing.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05322234219197041788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-22092148992280853792013-07-13T02:03:14.659-07:002013-07-13T02:03:14.659-07:00Thank you Maria. It's nice to know someone els...Thank you Maria. It's nice to know someone else has shared these dilemmas. It certainly is not easy to remove something you have laboured over, in particular the more poetic pieces your heart is tied to.<br /><br />However, as you say, it makes for stronger writing and a better book if we can be brave. And in terms of considering the suggestions of others, I've been through an editor and a mentor, as well as Beta readers. If I'm not hardening to it now, I should be!<br /><br />In the absence of a mentor, I'd say that any other writers, with whom you can share your work/writing problems, are mentors. Many hands make light work, my Nan used to say. Writing allies are those many hands, holding pens. :-) xE S Moxonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910986089563223935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-44518325025750510712013-07-11T07:38:45.754-07:002013-07-11T07:38:45.754-07:00I can so identify with you Elaine. And I think the...I can so identify with you Elaine. And I think the key here is not being fearful of removing whole scenes if they don't further your plot.<br /><br />I'm getting better at it now, but found it horrendous if I'm honest. I felt I was hacking the life out of my work, but actually I wasn't, I was in fact making it stronger and better.<br /><br />It takes a while not to be precious about your own work, but once you get your head around it, you won't regret allowing yourself to consider someone else's well meant suggestions.<br /><br />I am very envious that you had a mentor though... :-)<br /><br />Thank you for sharing with us.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05322234219197041788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3818661175714741437.post-72669728520187709232013-06-29T11:28:48.583-07:002013-06-29T11:28:48.583-07:00Thank you. I'm eager to implement the amendmen...Thank you. I'm eager to implement the amendments and finally finish! I'll let you know how I'm doing. :) xE S Moxonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910986089563223935noreply@blogger.com