ProWritingAid
On a couple of occasions, I have talked about the tools I use as a beginning writer. These include various books, web articles, software, and writer’s groups. Perhaps the best tool I use is the local critique group. This group helped me understand how difficult it is to write well. Approximately once each week, I send off a section of my manuscript (2500 words maximum) to the critique group. The group distributes the section to the other writers who have also submitted that week. They read through my section and provide feedback to me. In return, I read their submissions and provide feedback to them.
When I first started using the group, I received a lot of feedback on very basic grammatical errors. Unfortunately, there were so many errors, I don’t think they could concentrate on the content. One critiquer suggested I try some editing software. Honestly, I did not know they were available or how they worked. But I researched them and tried some. All of them reduced the number of grammar errors in my submissions. Free versions of the software are available online, but I eventually purchased a license for ProWritingAid. (ProWritingAid: The AI-Powered Writing Assistant)
This enabled those critiquing my submissions to concentrate on the content, characters, pacing, etc. in my writing. Now I need to learn how to insert emotion into my writing by showing, not telling. I need to learn how to provide enough descriptive information without providing too much. Also, I need to create tension in every scene. There is still a lot for me to learn, though my grammar is better.
Fantasy Writer’s Week
The ProWritingAid software provides more than just grammar editing and suggestions with various tools and reports, which I won’t cover here. However, one benefit of the software that I didn’t expect came last week. The company sponsored a four-day webinar, Fantasy Writers Week, (ProWritingAid Presents: Fantasy Writers’ Week) with presentations from successful writers, editors, marketing experts, and complimentary software providers. Topics included, Story Types, World Building, Author Platforms, Magic/Science, Writing Scenes Not Chapters, Finding Fantasy in the Real World, Marketing, Writing Romance into Fantasy, and others.
Participants could also join the ProWritingAid Fantasy Writers Facebook Group which provides opportunities to expand their connections and opportunities. The free webinar was as professional as any I have ever attended. It provided a lot of good information I will use as I continue to write my second manuscript and edit my first.
The one downside to the week was that most of the successful authors doing presentations appeared to be in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. At seventy, soon to be seventy-one, they made me feel old, but not too old to continue with my stories.
R.I.P. Dad
I’m going to change topics now since this blog is read mostly by friends and family. Thirty years ago on March 13, 1992, my dad passed away after a battle with cancer. He was my hero and I have so many fond memories of the time I spent with him. I was reminded of times spent on the river in Missouri during our family vacations with my uncle Bill Anderson who turned 93 this month. We got up early and seined for crawdads to use as bait, then went to one of the many rivers around Springfield. We waded in old clothes and tennis shoes because of the warm water. We caught smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and goggle-eye.
My aunt Betty made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The sandwiches were made on buttered bread. The butter melted while the sandwiches sat in the hot vehicle as we were fishing. I can still remember how good those soggy sandwiches tasted. I miss those days, and I miss my Dad.
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