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| Robin E. Mason |
Honestly, I had no clue. No idea what I was doing and no idea what I needed to be doing. I floundered along, hit-n-miss, trying to make my way.
That was three years ago, and although I’m far from expertise level, I have learned much in that time. Here is my process:
- Know your story. Planner or pantser, you have to know where your story is going—so you know when you get there.
- Write. Commit to writing regularly. I am home most every day, and have more time to write than one who works outside the home, and/or has children and/or spouse clamoring for attention.
- Research. Whether historical or not, none of us is expert in everything. There is always something, some detail, to discover.
- Keep Notes. You need fastidious notes. Character sketches and details, events and plot developments. Saves time later.
- Edit. No matter your ability with grammar, hire an editor. No one doesn’t make mistakes, and no one can catch them all. The more eyes on your work, the better.
- Design. Unless you are an artist/designer, hire someone to design your cover. If you do your own, do your research. I am an artist and designer, but my first attempt was, well, awful. (Seriously, it was sad.)
- Format. I work in MS Word, and while tedious, I did not have too much trouble formatting my doc. If, however, this is something that looks like Greek to you, enlist the help of one who can pull it off for you. (see #10)
- Upload. Speaking Indie, here. Once all the pieces of the pie are set—sections set and formatted, page numbers in place—upload to CreateSpace (or whichever you choose) and bake til done (wait for the magic email that says your file is approved) and publish that baby!
- Celebrate. Share your big news!
- Network. Perhaps the most important step of all. Blog and follow other blogs. Attend conferences and online events. Learn from others, and share what you know. "In-ter-act." Ask questions. Someone will know how to do what you don’t.
- And read. Read some more. Read in your genre, and out. Read books on the craft. Never stop learning.
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| About the Author |
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| The Long Shadows of Summer by Robin E. Mason |
The southern town of Saisons lies at the crossroads between North and South, progressive and genteel antebellum life. Between East and West, between history and heritage, and new frontiers. Think Downton Abbey meets Gone With the Wind.
It’s 1912, in a world where slavery is dying and women’s rights are rising, and four young women who once shared a bond—and experienced a tragedy—question their own truths.
Mercedes has always been an avid reader and devours each new Sherlock Holmes mystery as soon as she gets her hands on them. When one of her friends comes to her, Mercedes vows to keep Simone’s secrets and uncover the truth.
But as Mercedes plays detective to her friends’ questions, she discovers something far more shocking—she herself is not who she thought she was.
Robin E. Mason writes stories of identity conflict. Her characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” For all who have ever wondered who you are or why you’re here, her stories will touch you in a very real—maybe too real—and very deep way. “I know, I write from experience.”
http://robinemason.com
http://robinsnest212.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robin-E-Mason-Author-Artist/224223274404877
http://www.amazon.com/Robin-E.-Mason/e/B00MR5IQ9S https://twitter.com/amythyst212
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| Other books by Robin E. Mason |
