If anyone's ever interested, they discount 50% for Black Friday. But yes, the underlining can be so frustrating and nonspecific. It also flags things that are completely fine, which makes you get into your own head a bit too much!
That's good to know! I've looked at some of their discounts because I can get one through the one that I found out about it through their advertisement of it. I wanted to jump right in and get it, but I decided to test it for awhile before actually making a purchase seeing I've been working with Grammarly longer, and it costs the same price on the annual. (Lifetime is too high of a price for me right now, plus I believe they have different plans so I want to know I'm happy with whichever one I pick.)
I've seen that on the flagging! I had it flag something earlier, I did what it said, then it underlined the word next to it saying to put it back as was. Eventually I dismissed it, but I can only dismiss the things that are shown through the free plan. Some of the things which I intentionally wanted as it is, like in dialogue, it won't give me the option to dismiss.
Same! If I can actually shut my brain up and read, that means I'm reading something quality. But I've heard a few times that good writing doesn't = good sales. You just need to keep people interested in what comes next. Now I write in constant fear of boring readers.
Well, here's a tip: Always add conflict. Be careful to avoid "every scene's a fight scene" level, as you want breaks, cool down moments, but throwing in some internal conflict is fine. Yes, the character laid down to take a nap for night watch, but maybe he shouldn't? Maybe he should be helping keep watch? The others aren't as experienced as him. They don't know about sneak attacks. He didn't tell them! What if the enemy boards, holds them at gun point, but he doesn't know because they're forced into silence before they could alert him!
Then suddenly your readers are hooked. His simple nap turns into him worrying himself awake until he gets up, creeps on deck, eyes racing in every direction, and is startled to find that everyone and everything is fine and now they're mad at him for not getting some rest because he's starting to go crazy.
Keep your scenes interesting, add some conflict even if it's small, and avoid info-dumping as much as possible.
Not yet. I wanted to publish this year, but I've been sluggish getting back into a groove (hence all the articles to warm up). But it's only March, so it could still happen!
Are you doing self publishing or traditional? (I don't want to be a downer, but getting a start this year is a easier plan. Publishing takes time, depending on which route you take.
)
How about yourself (and everyone else here)? Has anyone published?
Not yet. I've been itching to be published for years, and even was talking with a self publishing company a few years ago, but I haven't taken the actual bite yet. Since that one experience (which was all good), I've been constantly searching for ways to improve my writing and have already read
several books on craft. I feel like getting published is going to be harder for me than most, so I want to produce my very best.
But on that note, on my current plans for publishing, I haven't really gotten started on yet. I have an idea for a book series and I'm currently working out the first draft all in my head before I start actually typing. I'm *hoping* to get started on the actual writing of "Book One" this Fall, depending on circumstances and what not.
(The piece I've been working on and talking about on here is actually tied to this book series and is kind of the end, but placed in a different character's POV. The main idea with this piece at this point is to be used to improve and practice my writing, which it has, and in small steps. I need small victories and proof that I can do something in order to keep going and go after bigger things.)
