Weaving threads together in The Telepath...

I finally wrote the last line on the last page of The Telepath - as I've mentioned (somewhere) before, this book was a mess of information.
I'd gone back through it three times while writing it to cut and move pieces because it just wasn't working for me. There were threads from the previous six books hanging all over the place - so I tied up all the threads.
Now I'm much happier with where it is. It's longer than I intended, but will be worth the read. (whew!)
I can't wait to see where the characters take me in the last two books of the Alterealm Series.

Shameless self-promotion space:

Jacqueline

Paige

...

J.Risk

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorjacquelinepaige/

Twitter: @JacqPaige

All Things Paranormal

http://jacquelinepaige.com/

Pick a spelling...

We all notice it at some point, the differences between certain words in Canada, the US and the UK. It didn’t affect my life until I started writing. My editors would either correct my “spelling error” to the US version (for books edited and published in the US) OR ask me to pick a language, Canadian or American English.

I live in Canada so obviously I decided Canadian – which was bad for me. Reviews would say the editing and spelling errors were bad. Clearly these reviewers only read, thought in the US versions of spelling.  I ended up switching so my spelling when I write was in the US version – making my children and friends think I’m a bit daft because now when I message or text them, I use the US spelling.  -_-

Here are some examples for those sheltered to only reading/writing one version of the English language:

“honour”, “colour”, “flavour”, “armour”  ß Canadian

“honor”, “color”, “flavor”, “armor” ßAmerican

(A notable exception is “glamour” which retains the “u” in American, as does “saviour”) WHY this is, I don’t know!

“centre”, lustre”, “spectre”, “fibre” ßCanadian

“center”, luster”, “specter”, “fiber” ßAmerican and oddly enough the prairie provinces of Canada as well … Again, WHY???

“offence”, defence”, “pretence” ßCanadian

“offense”, “defense”, “pretense” ßAmerican

The list is long, so I won’t drone on about it.

This drives me crazy, still, 27 books later, so I decided to find out WHY! (for the Canadian versions at least) I won’t list the lengthy explanation about the reasons, but will include this link for you to check it out. Why Canadian English is spelled the way it is.

https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/blogue-blog/canadian-spelling-eng

Now I have to get back to work and hammer out this dialogue/dialog for a scene where my characters are not cooperating/co-operating at all!

Shameless self-promotion space:

Jacqueline

Paige

...

J.Risk

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorjacquelinepaige/

Twitter: @JacqPaige

All Things Paranormal

http://jacquelinepaige.com/

Beta Readers

When I first started writing, I didn’t understand the need for Beta readers.  NOW nothing happens without my beta readers’ input. The final draft doesn’t even get sent to the editor until the beta’s have climbed through my stories.  Final versions AFTER editing do not get published without my beta readers confirming:

The flow of the story makes senses and has no awkward spots.

Characters have the same color of hair/eyes/habits throughout the book/series – more often then I’d like to admit I’ve accidentally changed some important detail like this.  In my defense, in some books/series I have roughly 20 (or more) characters in my head – so it can get a little fuzzy in areas.

Twice, that I recall I even put the WRONG NAME for a character! I had the wrong person married to a character not even in the same book and another time I switched brothers and completely changed a family tree with one wrong name.

There are no ‘jump off the page’ spelling errors or grammar flops.

Unfortunately, no matter how many run throughs the editor or I make, some things get missed.  Often it’s due to pieces being deleted, added or formatting adjustments – leaving an odd letter not attached to a word in the middle of a sentence… We are not perfect.  If my book makes it through two beta reads without reports of errors, I call it done.

There are no ‘huh?’ scenes.

It happens. I see it in my mind and from time to time my mind and typing don’t translate well. My editor usually finds all these areas (she is amazing – but still human), but from time to time my editor and I get focused on other details that a scene we didn’t find complicated, turns out to be just that.

I ♥ my beta readers. You are the first and last step to the long process of my writing world.

We really need a beta reader appreciation day added to the year. I saw this once on Facebook, but now I can’t find it – but seriously authors need to unite and get a Beta Reader Appreciation Day going!

Shameless self-promotion space:

 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/authorjacquelinepaige/

 Twitter: @JacqPaige

 All Things Paranormal

 http://jacquelinepaige.com/