CONSTANCE BRETES
  • Welcome
  • My Books
    • Love Songs
    • Book of Love
    • Delayed Justice
    • Jarillo Sunset
    • The Last Dig
    • Jade's Redemption
    • The Christmas Ballet
    • Midnight Escape
    • Love, A Second Time Around
    • The Haunted Love Affair
    • Rekindled Christmas Mystery
    • Elkhorn in the Moonlight
    • Operational Code Name:Desert Love
    • Blue As Sapphires
  • Trailers & Videos
  • Coming Soon
  • Connie's Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Five Years Ago to Now. . . .

9/18/2013

3 Comments

 
When I opened up a Microsoft Word document five years ago to pen my first book, I had no idea of what I was getting into.  I thought that I could just write, and make sure the spelling is correct, the story flows well, nouns and verbs agree, and viola, here's my manscript.  Boy, nothing is further from the truth!  I came to realize that I hadn't even scratched the surface for crafting a manuscript for publishing.

I have spent years in a job where I edited and reworked manuals.  I spent five years writing portfolios for all the classes I took at Baker College to obtain my BA and MBA.  Basic grammar and creative writing had always been a part of my life since grade school.  But there is a world of difference between writing 'how to' and writing a romance novel.

I was ecstatic when Beachwalk Press Inc. contacted me with an offer for my romance story called Delayed Justice.  I am also nervous.  I've still a lot of work to do with the manuscript.  There are a lot more edits and tweaking that needs to be done with it.  I'm blessed that the publisher is working with me on this and I hope they don't decide to drop me.

This is all a new learning process for me now. 

Some things, I just didn't know.  In my writing career, which has spanned over twenty-five years, I never had a need to know this, or if I did, it's tucked away deep within this fifty something year old brain of mine.   Things such as one POV per scene, dialogue tags and when to use and not use them, action beats, pacing, using active versus passive verbs, a new paragraph for each dialogue, punctuation (although I did know the punctuation for the basic grammar, I didn't know how to use correct punctuation in dialogue and dialogue tags).

So, what I started out with five years ago, has basically morphed into something more complex and challenging. I have never backed down from a challenge, so I'm moving forward, charging from the gate, manuscript in tow.  Look out world, I'm coming through. . . . . .

3 Comments
Lucy Kubash link
9/18/2013 03:05:13 pm

Congratulations on having your novel accepted! Yes, there is still work to do but working with an editor will teach you so much. You've begun a new journey. Best wishes to you on your way.

Reply
Connie Bretes
9/20/2013 02:45:11 am

Thanks Lucy. I am very excited about it.

Reply
Kristen Brockmeyer link
9/25/2013 07:36:21 am

Love that imagery: "I'm moving forward, charging from the gate, manuscript in tow. Look out world, I'm coming through." I'm right behind you, Connie! Congratulations, again!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Archives

    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    RSS Feed

​PLEASE NOTE: SUBSCRIBING TO MY MAILING LIST, YOU ARE AWARE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE A NEWSLETTER ON THE 4TH OF EVERY MONTH, A RAFFLECOPTER REMINDER HALFWAY THROUGH THE MONTH, AND OCCASIONALLY, IF SOMETHING COMES UP IN THE MONTH THAT CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT NEWSLETTER, I MAY SEND OUT A  NOTE.
Website Copyright  © 2023 Constance Bretes
  • Welcome
  • My Books
    • Love Songs
    • Book of Love
    • Delayed Justice
    • Jarillo Sunset
    • The Last Dig
    • Jade's Redemption
    • The Christmas Ballet
    • Midnight Escape
    • Love, A Second Time Around
    • The Haunted Love Affair
    • Rekindled Christmas Mystery
    • Elkhorn in the Moonlight
    • Operational Code Name:Desert Love
    • Blue As Sapphires
  • Trailers & Videos
  • Coming Soon
  • Connie's Blog
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy