Tag Archives: jennifer eaton

Write a Story With Me # 66 – “Strong Insult” by Joe Owens

Posted on October 21, 2013 | 5 comments

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Here’s this week’s excerpt.  We hope you enjoy!

Part 66 – Joe Owens

“Protector Sumner, you were in great danger. We overestimated the strength of their forces. They have added to their contingent above our estimates,” a supporting officer spoke.

“The queen, Morath, has incredible powers. We must remove her from the equation. The young queen will not be as formidable as a foe.”

“You took a very big chance with this plan. The Establishment is pleased with your commitment.”

Yoran turned to look at the officer, a question in his mind. The question morphed into a feeling of uneasiness as the younger man continued to speak.

“It was almost like you knew nothing would happen to you. No one else offered to take your place and there are several officers my age who need to prove ourselves for the chance to be promoted. A man so important to our cause as you should not be taking such chances.

“Is there something you want to say son?” Yoran asked, irritation flowing with his words. To call another officer son was a strong insult, one Yoran used frequently.

“I think the confidence you had in the plan comes from more than just a belief in our forces.”

Yoran’s gut tightened with this statement. He blinked silently, which the young man took as an invitation to continue.

“Perhaps you have an advantage none of the rest of us have. A connection that means you have no reason to fear contact with our enemy.”

“Are you excusing me of consorting with our enemy?”

“Yes sir, I am.”

Want to read more?  See below for past excerpts.

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Parts One – Fifty Click Here

Part Fifty-One – Joe Owens

Part Fifty-Two – Shayla Kwiatkowski

Part Fifty-Three – Jennifer Eaton

Part Fifty-Four – Shan Jeniah Burton

Part Fifty-Five – Jenny Keller Ford

Part Fifty-Six – Susan Rocan

Part Fifty-Seven – Susan Roebuck

Part Fifty-Eight – Elin Gregory

Part Fifty-Nine – Nicky Wells

Part Sixty – Vanessa-Jane Chapman

Part Sixty-One – Ravena Guron

Part Sixty-Two – Julie Catherine

Part Sixty-Three – Kai Damian

Part Sixty-Four – Richard Leonard

Part Sixty-Five – Danielle Ackley McPhail

Part Sixty-Six – Joe Owens

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Shayla Kwiatkowski — TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story With Me Contributors

shayla kwiatkowski gryphonboy Jennifer M. Eaton Vanessa Chapman
Siv Maria Sharon Manship shanjeniah Vikki (The View Outside)
Danielle Ackley-McPhail Richard Leonard susanroebuck Jenny Keller Ford
aparnauteur kaidamian Eileen Snyder Elin Gregory
Joe Owens anelephantcant mysocalledDutchlife Nicky Wells
norahdeayjansen Julie Catherine Ravena Guron
jiltaroo 4amWriter mywithershins

1 swivel

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Just how good is the first line of your manuscript?

Posted on October 18, 2013 | 32 comments

I recently had the opportunity to chat with a submissions editor (you never know who you’ll run into at a coffee shop) and we had a discussion about first lines of a book, and how important they are.

I knew already how important it was to hook a reader quickly, but Mike told me that he actually knows by reading the FIRST LINE if he is going t request a full or not when he reads through submissions.

Wow.

Now Available from Jennifer M. EatonThat’s not much time to make a first impression, is it?

That’s why I jumped at the chance to post ONLY MY FIRST LINE for “The First Day of the New Tomorrow” over at The Ladies Cave website today.

http://theladiescave.blogspot.ca/

Hop on over.  This line obviously grabbed my editor’s attention.  Tell me what you think!

But while you still here…

What’s your first line?

Do you think it has the goods to grab a reader/editor in once sentence?

JenniFer_EatonF

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Posted in General Writing Tips

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Stop feeling! And don’t “think” either while you are at it — Rule #24 of 32 Simple Rules to the Writing the Best Novel Ever

Posted on October 15, 2013 | 3 comments

Writing_A_Great_Novel

I’m dissecting the article Hunting Down the Pleonasm, by Allen Guthrie, using it as a cattle prod to search for little nasties in my manuscript.  Yep, you can join in the fun, too.  Let’s take a looksee at topic #24

24: Cut out filtering devices, wherever possible. ‘He felt’, ‘he thought’, ‘he observed’ are all filters. They distance the reader from the character.

Sometimes I consider typing this out and saving it somewhere so I can paste it into manuscripts that I beta read.  This is one I see time and time again.  This is part of show don’t tell, and it is the hardest for new and some seasoned authors to understand… but it is the difference between a good novel, and a great one.

Which sentence packs more punch?

He felt sad.

Or

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

 

He saw the train go by.

Or

The wind stung his cheek as the engine throttled along the tracks.

It’s not a hard choice to pick the better sentence, is it?

Search for felt, saw, looked, was, thought… and words like that… and replace them with active sentences.  The result will astound you.

Jennifer___Eaton

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Write a Story with Me # 65 – Danielle Ackley McPhail – “Glamour”

Posted on October 14, 2013 | 3 comments

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Here’s this week’s excerpt.  We hope you enjoy!

Part 65 – Danielle Ackley-McPhail “Glamore”- http://www.sidhenadaire.com

East/Jenelle breathed deep of the magic of the Gleaming Tree, drew it in and made it their own. As the Establishment dragon ship plied the skies they fed the tendril of mage energy trailing from the vessel, latched on to Yoran. They fed it and shaped it, sharpened the edge, then by their will pressed it against the technological governor embedded in his brain, the one control he had been unable to extricate. That malevolent chip had turned a loving father into a hate-filled tool. The fate of his family and the world depended on East/Jenelle’s successfully deactivating that program.

“Ah!” the melding of elemental being and royal fae cried out, the building pressure of the magic proving nearly too much for even Jenelle’s fae nature. And still they drew more as the control chip somehow fought back, sending threads of fire down the connection to burn away the cord of mage energy. The fae strengthened the bond even as the technology sought to sever it. The magic flared in the sky. Its current jammed against the technology and finally overcame it.

East/Jenelle sensed as Yoran, trapped in the ship above, cried out and crumbled to his knees as the magic killed the cybernetic chip that had forced him to act against his nature. They gasped, and quickly shrouded him in a seeming. If they were to bring down the Establishment and reinstate harmony between Human and Fae, it was important that those in command believed Yoran remained their tool…for now, anyway.

Want to read more?  See below for past excerpts.

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Parts One – Fifty Click Here

Part Fifty-One – Joe Owens

Part Fifty-Two – Shayla Kwiatkowski

Part Fifty-Three – Jennifer Eaton

Part Fifty-Four – Shan Jeniah Burton

Part Fifty-Five – Jenny Keller Ford

Part Fifty-Six – Susan Rocan

Part Fifty-Seven – Susan Roebuck

Part Fifty-Eight – Elin Gregory

Part Fifty-Nine – Nicky Wells

Part Sixty – Vanessa-Jane Chapman

Part Sixty-One – Ravena Guron

Part Sixty-Two – Julie Catherine

Part Sixty-Three – Kai Damian

Part Sixty-Four – Richard Leonard

Part Sixty-Five – Danielle Ackley McPhail

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

Joe Owens — TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story With Me Contributors

shayla kwiatkowski gryphonboy Jennifer M. Eaton Vanessa Chapman
Siv Maria Sharon Manship shanjeniah Vikki (The View Outside)
Danielle Ackley-McPhail Richard Leonard susanroebuck Jenny Keller Ford
aparnauteur kaidamian Eileen Snyder Elin Gregory
Joe Owens anelephantcant mysocalledDutchlife Nicky Wells
norahdeayjansen Julie Catherine Ravena Guron
jiltaroo 4amWriter mywithershins

1 swivel

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Cut it out with those full sentances! — Rule #23 of 32 Simple Rules to the Writing the Best Novel Ever

Posted on October 8, 2013 | 22 comments

Writing_A_Great_Novel

I’m dissecting the article Hunting Down the Pleonasm, by Allen Guthrie, using it as a cattle prod to search for little nasties in my manuscript.  Yep, you can join in the fun, too.  Let’s take a looksee at topic #23

23: Don’t allow your fictional characters to speak in sentences. Unless you want them to sound fictional.

Time for all the English teachers to cringe! But it’s true, right?  Do we speak in sentences?  Well, sometimes.  But there should be a good mix of full sentences and fragments.  Heck, even an incomplete thought here and there will help make the dialog seem more real.

And if you are not sure if it sounds real or not, read it out loud.  Even better… have someone else read it to you.  If it sounds weird with a voice attached, then you need a little re-write.

Jennifer___Eaton

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Write a Story with Me #64 – Richard Leonard “Compromise”

Posted on October 7, 2013 | 2 comments

Write a Story with Me is a group endeavor just for the fun of it.  A different writer adds a new 250 words each week.  It is the ultimate Flash Fiction Challenge!

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Here’s this week’s excerpt.  We hope you enjoy!

Part 64 – Richard Leonard “Compromise”

Yoran’s smirk quickly disappeared as he walked the rest of the way through the grey metal corridors of his ship. The news that his wife of many years was in fact one half Fae, and by extension, his children one quarter Fae, was indeed a severe blow. His life-long ambition, his sole purpose in life prior to this day was to rid the world of the filthy fae. The discovery that his family shared their poisonous blood had diluted that ambition just as the fae had diluted the pure blood he’d given his children. His crew and the rest of the Planetary Raiders must never learn of this.

He had very near lost his family once. Sian he had all but given up as a lost cause before she returned after so many years. Bethany’s foolishness came close to claiming Marci. And his beloved wife, almost taken by the complications of childbirth. She survived, yet she is still lost, as she is not the woman he thought he married.

Could he still achieve his goal and save his family? Perhaps with a …

Wanna read more?  Check it out the rest on Richards blog… http://wp.me/p110vT-vl

Want to read more?  See below for past excerpts.

If you’d like to sign up, come on over.  There’s always room for more!

Parts One – Fifty Click Here

Part Fifty-One – Joe Owens

Part Fifty-Two – Shayla Kwiatkowski

Part Fifty-Three – Jennifer Eaton

Part Fifty-Four – Shan Jeniah Burton

Part Fifty-Five – Jenny Keller Ford

Part Fifty-Six – Susan Rocan

Part Fifty-Seven – Susan Roebuck

Part Fifty-Eight – Elin Gregory

Part Fifty-Nine – Nicky Wells

Part Sixty – Vanessa-Jane Chapman

Part Sixty-One – Ravena Guron

Part Sixty-Two – Julie Catherine

Part Sixty-Three – Kai Damian

Part Sixty-Four – Richard Leonard

Don’t forget to stop by next week to see what happens next.

  Danielle Ackley McPhail — TAG!  You are “It”

Write a Story With Me Contributors

shayla kwiatkowski gryphonboy Jennifer M. Eaton Vanessa Chapman
Siv Maria Sharon Manship shanjeniah Vikki (The View Outside)
Danielle Ackley-McPhail Richard Leonard susanroebuck Jenny Keller Ford
aparnauteur kaidamian Eileen Snyder Elin Gregory
Joe Owens anelephantcant mysocalledDutchlife Nicky Wells
norahdeayjansen Julie Catherine Ravena Guron
jiltaroo 4amWriter mywithershins

1 swivel

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Get up off your authorial butt – #BOOKBLOGWALKERS

Posted on October 5, 2013 | 27 comments

This week I signed up for #BOOKBLOGBLOGWALKERS. It’s just one of those fun author things where a bunch of people who don’t know each other root together to better ourselves.

In this case, it is to get off our butts.

I have to admit that I’ve gained nearly ten pounds since I started writing three years ago.

But guess what? Just walking for 30 minutes a day since October second, I’ve lost almost three pounds.

Isn’t that awesome?

I’m also getting a little help from home, because my peppy poodle is in on the fun. If I try to sit down now, she goes and gets her leash. Nope. She’s not going to let me get lazy… and if I try to stop walking after one turn of the neighborhood (about 1/3 of a mile, ten minutes) she stops and refuses to come in.

Nope… not messing with a seventy pound dog with attitude. Anyway, she’s right. Mommy needs to get up off her butt more often.

I have to admit that I missed October first due to “life” getting in the way, but so far, I’d say it’s been fun… and losing pounds just by walking… can’t beat that!

What about you? Wanna sign up? Come on, walk with me a bit. It’s easy, and you’ll feel better, too.

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The long and short of it – Your sentences, that is — Rule #22 of 32 Simple Rules to the Writing the Best Novel Ever

Posted on October 1, 2013 | 17 comments

Writing_A_Great_Novel

I’m dissecting the article Hunting Down the Pleonasm, by Allen Guthrie, using it as a cattle prod to search for little nasties in my manuscript.  Yep, you can join in the fun, too.  Let’s take a looksee at topic #22

22: Vary your sentence lengths. I tend to write short, and it’s amazing what a difference combing a couple of sentences can make.

Remember to be careful with this when you are trying to create a mood.  For instance, a string of short, choppy sentences can create tension when needed.  Overall, though, a mix of lengths in your text will bring it alive.

And while we’re here – watch those overly long sentences.  If a line is over 20 words, you may want to consider breaking that puppy up a bit.

 

Jennifer___Eaton

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Living up to your potential

Posted on September 29, 2013 | 9 comments

Do you have a special gift and not use it? Why?

I think a lot of us do. I don’t draw. Well, I do, but I could have refined my talent and maybe found a way to do something with it. For a long time, I gave up writing. I just didn’t have time.

You know what?

It always felt like something was missing.

Now Available from Jennifer M. EatonOne of the things I’m discussing with Vanessa Chapman today is living up to your potential. It’s part of my blog tour for THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW TOMORROW.

Vanessa’s interviews are always great fun. I hope you’ll stop over and say hello!

http://vanessa-chapman.com/2013/09/28/the-first-day-of-the-new-tomorrow/

But for now, what about you? What talent do you have that you leave dormant, hiding behind the scenes… and why don’t you set it free?

THEFIRSTDAYOFTHENEWTOMORROW-Banner

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With Great Power Comes Great Responcibility

Posted on September 28, 2013 | 10 comments

“With great power comes great responsibility.”**  It’s one of the most famous movie quotes of all time.  Thanks Uncle Ben!  Great words of wisdom. (From the first “Spider-Man” movie, 2002)

Now Available from Jennifer M. EatonDid you now that Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man never actually wrote that?  Well, he did, and he didn’t.  The original comic actually read: “With great power must also come great responsibility”.**

Did you know though, that this phrase was common far before Stan Lee? (I’ll give Stan credit for making it famous, though.  Kudos!)

You can trace this back to Voltaire.  Yep, that far back.  In 1817, a member of UK parliament actually said that the phrase had become cliché.

Cliché?  Maybe that’s because it can be applied to so many things, and it’s great advice, isn’t it?

So good, in fact, that you can…

Want to read more?  I’m guest posting way over in the UK on Nicky Wells today to celebrate the release of “The First Day of the New Tomorrow”. Come on over and say “Hi” and read the rest of the article!JenniFer_EatonFTHEFIRSTDAYOFTHENEWTOMORROW-Banner

http://nickywells.com/2013/09/28/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-centrestage-with-jennifer-m-eaton/

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