Tag: novel writing

• A Look Ahead: Writing Projects for 2016

  I have an exciting slate of writing projects on tap for 2016. Let me list them out in no particular order. 5th Novel – Which Half David – Currently in revision. I’m hoping to push this along for a May or June release. Play – I’m co-writing a yet-to-be-titled play with four of my students. Need to…

  sassevn

  January 3, 2016

  Indie Author

  goals for the new year, novel writing, writing agenda, writing plans, writing projects

• Break Writing

  I have three weeks of Christmas break on a tropical island. You might think it’s a paradise for writers. Well, not to rub it in, but it is. My breaks away from teaching have fueled my writing habits for years, and this one is no exception. As I type, I’m sitting shirtless on a lounge…

  sassevn

  December 27, 2015

  Indie Author

  indie author, novel planning, novel writing, writing, writing inspiration

• Thoughts on Novel 5: First Draft Complete

  Just today I put the finishing touches on the first draft of my 5th novel. Of course “finishing” and “first draft” don’t really go together very well. They are opposites in every way, but even though the draft is far from finished, there is something to be celebrated about the completion of any novel. I…

  sassevn

  December 13, 2015

  Indie Author

  books on southeast asia, first draft, new novel, novel writing, writing novels

• A Writer’s Retreat

  This is a treat of a retreat. Back in August, I won a two-nights stay at a hotel in Georgetown from winning a couple awards at the Short & Sweet Theatre Festival. Now as I have a week off of work, I’m taking these days and turning it into a writer’s retreat. Here’s some views…

  sassevn

  October 18, 2015

  Indie Author

  georgetown penang, malaysia, novel writing, Penang, writing process, writing retreat

• Writing: The Difference between being Finished and being Done

  I don’t know how other people write. That makes sense. I’m not other people. But I do wonder sometimes the various methodologies (or lack thereof in my case) applied to craft. I was particularly thinking about first drafts recently, and I realize that I am a “run and gun” offense on my first draft. I…

  sassevn

  September 8, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  approaches to writing, approaches to writing draft, first draft, novel writing, second draft, when a manuscript is done, writing

• Finally, Back to Novel Writing

  I checked. The last time I had written on my fifth novel was March 29, 2015 – more than four months ago. That would seem terrible for a writer but not necessarily. It’s not like I feel off the writing grid and threw in the towel, far from it. Here’s what I’ve been doing since…

  sassevn

  August 9, 2015

  Writing Process

  drama writing, novel writing, planning writing projects, various types of writing, writing ideas, writing process

• Writers: Do you have multiple projects on your plate at one time? You should!

  I’m one of those people with a messy desk. I clean it a couple times a year to make it clean and pristine, but within a matter of days, it’s back to messy. It’s just the way my brain works. (For reference, I was just cleaning out my in-box and it had over 900 emails.)…

  sassevn

  June 19, 2015

  Writing Process

  brainstorming, multiple writing projects, novel writing, writing, writing ideas, writing process

• About that artwork…

  In a recent Facebook ad I created, concerning my new novel on Kindle Scout, I pulled out this old picture.   This awesome drawing is the creation of Woon Bin Chang, an artist who saw a production of my play, “Almighty Might” in 2013 in Kuala Lumpur.  Woon-Bin was so moved by the piece that…

  sassevn

  April 20, 2015

  Indie Author, Promotion

  a love story for a nation, Almighty Might, Kindle Press, kindle scout, novel writing

• Are second halves of novels better?

  As I finish up my due diligence with my fourth and soon (with 3 months) to be released novel, I came across a strange realization: the writing in the second half of my novel is better. I’m doing a final, thorough read-through and I noticed a strange difference in attitude between my perception of each…

  sassevn

  April 17, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  fiction, first half of a novel, indie authors, novel writing, writing, writing a novel’s ending, writing process

• Tedious Editing & a Decision about Kindle Scout

  I recently received the manuscript back from my editor for my new novel A Love Story for a Nation.  Once that happens, the gears start turning and the planning begins. The first step is to obviously fix the mistakes and issues brought up by my editor. This is what I can tedious editing – the minutia…

  sassevn

  April 8, 2015

  Indie Author

  Amazon, editing process, indie author, kindle scout, novel writing, publishing, publishing deal