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Author T.M. Shannon |
At first, I had such a urge to write that I did a lot of Hero of Talbadas (Vol 1) on the fly. I began on the PC, creating the idea of the world – what became the Verity in the published version, but then, like most writers, I had a day job to go to. I would leave work early, and take my time getting home just so I could write in an exercise book. Afterwards, I’d re-write it on Word, improving the narrative as I went. The project stalled near the end of the third book in the fantasy trilogy, all motivation gone. What I needed was to look at getting published for that final push.
Revising:
To get an agent or just to publish yourself you need to get the book up to a high standard. It starts making sure you have the book that you want. Revising is simply making sure your work makes sense. As I went with The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart I ended up removing some chapters and putting them in book two, took the start of book two and used it as the denouement for book one, and re-wrote a few things in between. It was just a matter of improvement.
Editing:
Past revising, editing is like “cutting the fat” off a steak. Go through and find proofing errors (I missed some of them and had to go again). Go through and ensure the formatting is good. Go through and make sure it makes sense i.e. delivers the narrative well. And after that, it pays to get it checked out by a fresh set of eyes.
This last step I actually haven’t done with The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart but intend to soon. It’s a bit of a monetary issue, but I wasn’t going to let that get in the way of my dream of becoming a published author
Publishing:
This is it. You’ve written your book and now you want to sell. You look up agents, send a couple of copies out, you get rejected. Twice was enough for me to give up trying about two years ago . . . until I heard about Createspace. All of a sudden, I had the chance to fulfil my dream AND give myself the drive to keep writing.
“To a kingdom facing darkness, a Hero will come…”
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Amazon.com |
has a head full of ideas. He is currently living the dream in Sydney,
Australia with his darling other half, and a 99% well-behaved son.
feet, stretched his arms and legs, and cracked his neck and knuckles both. He
looked to his family with eyes that no longer showed compassion, but dreadful
finality; and he made peace with the possibility that he may never see them
again.
asked uncertainly. Bindie and Gorden peered at him.
he said bluntly, his voice calmly level, different. “I will not have my
family, nor the people of my town, fear for their lives.” He had nothing else
to say; and having uttered those words, he strode for the hallway.
going?” Gorden asked excitedly. “Where are you going, Dresden?!”
moved for the study, his eyes set in cold, calculating slits. “Out for a
walk,” he growled…