Don't forget my interview with YA author/agent Mandy Hubbard. Monday March 1st. There will be a chance to win a copy of Mandy's book, Prada and Prejudice. Hope to see you here. =)

I hope everyone had a most wonderful unplug week. I did. And before I get on with my post, a HUGE congrats to Ivy on her jumping. Saturday was the start of the show season for her and Shamrock. She won two 1st place ribbons, 1 third place ribbon, and 1 fifth place ribbon. Pretty good start, I'd say. So, CONGRATS IVY!!!!!! =) (I know she reads this blog.) hehe

I have found a most wonderful book on revising and editing and I feel I must tell you about it. Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. I am going to be doing several posts on this book. It is just that good. If you have read it, please comment about how it has helped you in your writing life. 


First off, James Scott Bell also wrote another great book, Plot and Structure. He is a best-selling novelist for those of you who aren't aware of that. Presumed Guilty is just one of his great reads.


In Revision & Self-Editing Mr. Bell shows us how to feel our writing. The techniques he teaches, become natural. Easy. Regular.


He tells you that there have been whole books written on each of the chapters in this book. And there have. But the purpose of this book is to explain the most important aspects of each one, so you do them without even thinking about them. 


Chapter one begins with a quote. "Keep working. Don't wait for inspiration. Work inspires inspiration. Keep working." Michael Crichton. WOW! How true. =)


I had a revelation when I  read the first three or so pages about one problem I was having with SEVENTY TWO HOURS. BAM! I was able to fix my little snag.

In the first chapter he explains what makes memorable characters. Grit, wit, and it.  He says there is one unbreakable rule for major characters in fiction: No wimps! And I have read books where the main character who reacts rather than acts. And as Mr. Bell says, a character can start out to be wimp, but VERY EARLY ON, he must develop real grit. He's got to have forward motion. He says, grits is guts in action. And he gives great examples with real novels where the author has shown grit in fiction. 


"Wit is something everyone warms to when it's natural, not forced." James Scott Bell. Great stuff. If the character can laugh at himself , wit comes naturally. He reminds us of Rhett Butler and gives us an example of Rhett's ability to do this. And I said to myself, oh yeah."

It, is that personal magnetism that shows up when certain people walk into a room. All the attention is directed at them. Margaret Mitchell describes it in the opening line of Gone With The Wind: Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm, as the Tarleton twins were. Scarlett definitely has It. And Mitchell goes on to wisely provide action to back it up. I must reread that book. 


On Wednesday I will have more on this wonderful writing tool. Have you read the book? If not, you are missing out. Thanks for reading. =)