Reading makes the writer a better author.

As I stated in my last blog post, I have been reading a lot of books that will help me become a better writer. I have finished 10 of the 24 books and so far they all highly agree on one thing. "As a writer you must read. Read a lot. Read everything."

There were a couple other things that really stuck out to me as well. I guess as a reader I didn't notice it until it was pointed out in ways to make you a better writer. That is the tone. The music of how your writing is read by the reader. It should have a flow that is almost musical. As I was reading a Y.A. book, I noticed how it had a "musical" tone to it as I read. So, I picked up a few more books that I have read in the past and read a few paragraphs from those authors, and there was a tone as well. Books that I haven't enjoyed and found hard to read, didn't have a tone to it. It was choppy as I read it and I think that is why it was not for me. I guess I am a "tone" reader. I want that for my readers as well. To hear the music in the words that will take you to another world.

In my normal life, I am very organized. I like to have things all in their places so I know where to find them when I need them. I like to have my writing area organized, but when I was reading through some of the books, I realized, I am not as organized as I thought and maybe that is why it was so hard to write before. I got that all done and writing and editing has been going really smoothly.

I am really excited to get going on the short stories for you. I have done the first draft of my first one and sent it off to my readers for feedback. I will have that by the end of the week and will begin finishing that and working on the next. I am not posting them until March, because I want them to be perfect and ready, as well as having a few stories to go so I don't get behind and stress and then not have enough to post, and I definitely don't want to post rushed stories.

Thank you all for bearing with me and I hope you are as excited as I am about the short stories and new books!