Authors helping authors

This time, I'm going to take a few paragraphs to speak directly to current or future authors.

One of the best words of advice I can give you: Don't go at it alone. There are other authors in this world, and you need each other. Sometimes, only a writer can lift up another writer. Finding other authors isn't about the competition or the bragging, it's about learning together. There will always be writers whose words are greater or lesser than your own. But when you help each other, you grow.

The other day I was talking to my muse -- Brandy M. Miller. She helped me realize that my current work-in-progress didn't have to start where I started it. Linear isn't always best. Sometimes, it's OK to go back and begin partway through the story, filling in the details as you get there. And while I know the rewriting will take a lot of work, it's going to result in a book people will actually read cover-to-cover. Much better than putting out something I don't even want to read based on the first chapter.

Because of Brandy, I got through Dragon's Destiny. So today, I'm helping her in return -- and hopefully helping some of you. If you need to talk to someone about your book, consider this: http://40daywriter.com/jump-start-your-story/. It might seem like a lot to spend for some help, but her advice is priceless.

Even if you aren't looking for professional assistance, I'd encourage you to reach out to your fellow authors. Pick their brains. Offer to proofread for them, if that's your forte. You never know just how things might come full-circle.

Making progress

Hello, readers!

Well, here's another much-belated update for you. While I haven't been doing what I'd intended to do, I have been making progress that is inspiring me to move on to my next goal: I've gotten back to writing.

This time, it's a series of stories I hope to publish into an anthology, and a cookbook-in-the-making. It isn't Shifter, sadly, but I'm feeling that each passing day is giving me new ideas to make that one into a better book. Sometimes, you have to take a step or two backward to gain a little perspective.

And getting back into writing is definitely a move in the right direction. It's how I got myself back to finishing Dragon's Destiny (can you believe it's been almost two years since publication???) As you know, great works of any kind -- literature, art, etc. -- don't happen without time, dedication and effort. I want my next book to be the best it can before I'm ready to share it with the world.

I will make sure my next post is not as far in-between as these ones have been lately.

Until then,
Heather Kennison
Author

Changes

Hello readers!

It's been a crazy couple of months since I've last given you an update. So here it is: I've moved to Idaho! A job position opened up, and after much thought, I applied and I accepted an offer. I've been working here since Feb. 1, and things have been busy.

I'm still creatively writing, though. On and off. I will try harder in the future, but for now I am still trying to get settled into my own place. As you probably know by know, I finally have Internet, so I don't have an excuse to not work on Shifter besides the fact that I'm super stressed with everything that's going on. So I'm currently working on not being stressed, and from there I can move forward with my next project.

Change is hard, but I think that overall it's for the best. Despite the stress, I am enjoying many things about where I'm at in life's journey. I just have to take its challenges day by day until it gets easier.

As always, thank you for your support and your patience.

Heather Kennison
Author

The pain of editing

I've forgotten how long the editing process is.

You see, I dove into 2015 with ambitions of finishing my second book and submitting it to a publisher or an agent. The thing was written, I just needed to re-write it. But I forgot how painful that process is, and in many ways it was worse because I poured so much of myself into this book.

Writing is one of many forms of expression, but sometimes finding the right words to convey a thought, feeling, or idea takes a little time -- something I hadn't anticipated at the beginning of last year. I have to admit that I did put it off for a little while. Once I'd discovered the contest which I'd hoped to enter was cancelled, I didn't know where to go.

I had some help, and I made solid progress. While Shifter isn't quite where I'd like it to be, it's getting there. There are a couple of scenes that I know need serious help, but overall I like where it's taken me. I've gone through it twice now since completing the first draft, and much has changed.

So here's the next step: Get up the courage (and the motivation) to go through my beta readers' comments. This, too, will be somewhat painful. And yet, I know this is the sort of help my book needs before it can make a splash wherever it goes next.

In the meantime, dear readers, please have patience while you wait for my next few books to be released. I am trying so hard not to let you down with the stories themselves.

Until next time,
Heather Kennison
Author