Month: June 2016

I apologize for being a couple of days late with this blog post. Friday night, my parents, sister and her children met my niece and her family at the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Two of my nieces are in the play, and it was wonderful to see them.

I continue to try and get my story published. It is currently in the hands of a publisher. Their submission process takes eight to ten weeks. I won’t know anything definitive until mid-August. I continue to revise my manuscript and write flash fiction and short stories for the 2016 Ozark Creative Writers’ Conference in October in Eureka Springs.  I’m also looking into attending a WordPress one day conference in July in Fayetteville, Arkansas. My website, www.alanlampeauthor.com, is a WordPress template. I am happy with the look and content of the site. I believe it would be beneficial to learn more about the software that runs it so that I could make changes as needed.

I have ideas for my next story, most of which are written down. I’m working on my schedule to carve out quality writing time. After all, history doesn’t write itself. The previous sentence will become my unique sales proposition or USP. My story takes place between 1939 and 1969. I mention a great amount of historical events during my romp in the swamp. My next book, although taking place on a fictional planet, will be based in the European Renaissance era. A lot of research to do. I enjoy incorporating history into my story. If I can educate one reader to look up a historical fact from my story and learn something, then all of this will be worth it.

In closing, be a historical fiction writer. You’ll learn a lot of what happened in the past. It’s a great feeling to share your knowledge. Just remember, history doesn’t write itself.

What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished Oh, for the Love of God last week. My review is on Good Reads. While at the lake yesterday, I read most of The Last Raid of the Daltons by David Stewart Elliott. This short book, 66 pages, recounts the Dalton Gang’s attempted dual bank robbery in Coffeyville, Kansas on October 5, 1892. I visited the town last summer and picked up the book at the Dalton Defenders Museum. I’ll finish the book tomorrow and start The Branches of Time by Luca Rossi. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

I took last week off to attend my annual family reunion. All who attended had a great time. Also, at the end of May, I submitted my manuscript to a publisher in Austin, Texas. Their website says to give them eight to ten weeks to review each submitted manuscript. At the latest, it’ll be mid-August before I hear something from them. I’ll keep you posted on how things are going with them. I hope you continue this journey with me as I strive to become a published author.

Automobiles can make or break a story. From the General Lee to Esmerelda, cars play an important part of your story, even if your character is just driving off into the sunset in one. What type of car your character is driving, or riding in, tells your reader a lot.

I use many cars in my story. They range from a Ford Model A, to a Plymouth coupe, to a GMC truck, to an Oldsmobile sedan to a Buick Roadmaster to a Greyhound bus, to a Louisiana State Police patrol car. Each of those vehicles says something about the character who drives, or rides, in it. If I were to change the vehicle, it would change the character. Ensure the vehicles fit the character. Would Back to the Future be as entertaining if they used a VW Bug instead of the DeLorean Coupe?

I used Google Images for photos of the above vehicles. I didn’t need to know the details about each vehicle, only the unusual, visual traits. Granted I did find several refurbished and highly detailed GMC trucks, but the image I went with fits my story. It didn’t take long to find, and I went back to writing. It’s a good idea to save the photo you find so that you can reference it when needed. Little things like this are great aides in your writing.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished Breaking Wild earlier this week. The ending is very emotional. I started Oh, for the Love of  God by John K. Anthony, a Catholic priest. The book contains his sermons, and they are entertaining.

I’m currently revising my first draft manuscript. It’s taken me longer than anticipated, but I do believe it is creating a better story. During the revision phase, my goal is to clarify scenes/dialogue that wasn’t up to par in the first draft and add the details my critique group mentioned. I do have to change some scenes completely. As a writer, you have to be open to changing your manuscripts to present the best possible story. Don’t be so entrenched with your work that you feel no change is necessary. Every story can be revised and edited, especially when your characters do something you didn’t plan for them to do and you have to get your story back on track.

First, write your story all the way through to the end. Get a finished first draft so that you have something to work from when you revise. If you write and revise, write and revise, you’ll never finish the story. Write your story, no matter how long (or short) it is, how long it takes you, how many computers you blow up. It is an awesome feeling to be able to write “The End” and mean it. It took me just under two years to write my manuscript in my spare time. I still have to work for a living.

Second, use a critique group. They will provide invaluable information about your story, your characters, and your style. The more diverse the group, the better your story will be because of them. Critique groups are also online. Find one you are comfortable with and listen to them. They represent a portion of your future audience.

Third, when you manuscript is complete, then go back and edit it. Stay in the creative mode for as long as possible, but once you type “The End” become an editor and look for ways to make your manuscript better. There will be times during the editing process where you do have to create (as I mentioned in the first paragraph). When that occurs, focus on that one scene, finish it and get back to editing.

Fourth, don’t count on Microsoft Word as your editor. Spend a little money and have your manuscript professionally edited. The publishers will thank you for it. At least I assume they will. The more time and effort you put into your manuscript, the more positive feedback you will get.

It is a job trying to become a writer. I hope this blog of my journey will help you in yours.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished The Heart that Gives earlier this week. It can be read multiple times as a refresher on how to be a good Catholic steward. I started Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets yesterday. It’s a tale of a female hunter in northwest Colorado who gets lost and the female ranger who goes looking for her.