After much debate!

I have settled on my pen name.  Following the KISS method, I decided on C. S. Marshall.   I really like the name C. Mars Hall. But for publicity sake, it will be easier to stick with my original pen name of many moons ago.  This will simplify my life and use of social media venues.
Slowly reading my book aloud.   Believe me, when someone suggests reading your book aloud, do it!   So far, it has made a world of difference.

The Last Stages

One of the methods of self-editing that I have read is reading your book out-loud.   That's where I am.   Neighbors beware!   There's going to be some dramatics.

In the meantime, I have started a blog strictly for The Time Savers Club.   I agreed to be the keeper.  The blog is called The Time Savers Club.   I have started to add information there as the club allows.

Enjoy!

Show, Flow, Tell... Oh my!

It's been a couple of week since my last posting.   Taking a reading break, I have spent time learning show versus tell as well as flow in writing -- all suggestions from my chosen seven readers.   The reviews have been positive which makes me feel great.   I laugh whenever I look back at my earlier editions.  The first incarnation was a paragraph long and basic.  And now after almost three years... I am ready to complete it and send it out into the world.

On a completely different topic, when I discover a writer, I immediately search for their credentials.   Where did they go to school?   What was their major?   Was it English?  Creative writing?  How many books have theyr written?  Awards?  Tell me more!   Why do I do this?  I want to know that I am not the only writer out there with no background in English or creative writing.  

I have discovered others like me.  I am inspired by them to keep writing and chugging forward. 

One of my readers recommended Rebecca Stead and her book, When You Reach Me.   I checked it out from my local library and love it after only a couple of chapters.   However, I am also encouraged from her personal story.   She was lawyer turned writer.  I love her statement (found on her website under "About"):

"Some people will tell you that real writers don’t use parentheticals (which is nonsense). The most important thing to know about writing is that there are no rules."

Look Rebecca, I used them too...

Interview with Mrs. Lottie Steers

Hi everyone.  A few days ago, I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Mrs. Lottie Steers, time-traveler extraordinaire.

CSM:  Lottie, it's great to have you here on the blog.
LS:  Thanks, Mars.  It's my pleasure.
CSM:  So, I have to ask, how was traveling with Sam?
LS:  It was great fun.   We saw many of the best London sights.  Sam had never been to London, which made it even more exciting.
CSM:  Great.   So I understand that you and your husband traveled a lot.
LS:  We traveled everywhere.  Not only in time, but in our lives.   Albert loved to travel.  We took a tour of Europe one year.  We went to Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Venice.  We like to stay in villages as well, soak up some of the local culture.
CSM:  You two must have had a great time.
LS:  We did until Albert bought the book, then we had a fantastic time.   It was so much fun.   Some of my favorite adventures include the building of the Great Wall in China, the Pyramids, watching Napoleon get defeated at Waterloo.  There were some rough times. We visited Dachau.  That was horrible.  Absolutely horrible.
CSM:  I couldn't imagine.
LS:  We saw the concentration camp at its worst.   We went just a few days before the Americans rolled in.  I'm not even going to mention what was going on.   Let's talk about something else.
CSM:  I agree.   So, I understand you are part of a larger group of time-travelers. 
LS:  Oh yes.  We have conventions.   Last time, we meet in Oslo.   There were about 68 chapters from all over the world.   I got to see a lot of old friends and meet the newest inductees.  About 23 new travelers.
CSM:   I don't want to give away the plot of the book, but I understand there are some fight scenes.
LS:  Oh yes.  Some wild orb throwing.
CSM:  Good to hear.   Well, let's stop there.  I want our readers to have a good time while reading and not give away too much.
LS: I agree with that point as well.
CSM:  A special thanks to Mrs. Lottie Steers.  She's one of my characters in my first book.  Hopefully available by the end of the summer or early fall.  Thanks for joining us.  Until next time, keep reading and travel as a far as you can.

Starting Book Two...

After three years of learning how to write, reading about writing, and writing, I am drawing my first book to a close.  The end of August is the deadline.   No more editing, no more changes, no more additions...  Fini.  Special thanks to the gallant six who read it -- ppc, ll, db, mjte, jc, and jh -- the first time.  Some of their advice was taken to heart and I have to admit that I am thrilled with the new version. 

With the close of book one, I now have to turn to book two.  I have gave it the title Cleo and Edgar.   Over the past few weeks, Sam, Mrs. Steers, and myself have conferred on where to go.  Of course, I didn't tell them about my meeting with their arch enemies.  What a meeting that was!

Check back in a few days, I did an interview with Mrs. Steers.   She answered a few questions about my book.

Talking like an 11-year old

One of the biggest challenges for me has been writing dialogue that sounds like an 11-year old.  I still think Sam talks too much like an adult, even though he hangs out a lot with his Mom and Mrs. Steers.

I found this site -- Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies.  I had no idea the Dummies series had a website.  I learn something new everyday.   They have some good tips.  Since I am no longer a kid, but still one at heart, it's not easy to think like one.

As I read over their advice, I found this one interesting -- "Choose simple words. Young people don't generally break out the 50-cent words in normal dialogue unless they're fascinated by words or maybe want to show off how smart they are."   Guess what?  Sam is pretty smart for his age.  Maybe we'll be fine with a few bigger words.

Setting the Mood

Stephen King wrote in his book, On Writing, that you should have a quiet room and a door to shut out the world while you write.  OK, I have that, but it's not always quiet when I write.
In order to help me set the mood of the scenes I am writing, I play music.   Only instrumental, never vocal. 
On the stack next to my desk, I have a CD entitled The Hollywood Sound (John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra), the soundtracks from both Sherlock Holmes films, Danny Elfman's Serenada Schizophrana, Beethoven for Your Beloved, the soundtrack to Hereafter, Birth, The DaVinci Code, and Downton Abbey.

They help me create the mood of a scene.  I wonder what a seasoned writer would say.