I’m thrilled to be on the Owlet Blog Tour today. Author Emma Michael’s has a wonderful guest post with advice for new writers, as well as an exclusive excerpt and giveaway where you can win one of several prizes including swag,E-Books, Amazon gift cards, custom Owlet jewelry and artwork!
Owlet: Society of Feathers #1
“Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.
Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.”
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There are many tricks and tips I use for myself when I write that I couldn’t possibly impart all of it. Even if I did, it wouldn’t work for each of you. But if you’re not afraid to train yourself while trying new routes, you will find yourself becoming a better writer than you would have believed possible.
Wherever you look on the internet, you will find a wealth of written resources for new writers. When I first began writing I would look over these resources and try to learn as much as I could. But something I noticed as I continued my writing career is that all of this information, although helpful, will only go so far.
What do I mean by this? For example, you can learn about outlining, but outlining is not for everyone. Outlining allows me to create the heading I steer my ship of creativity towards, but it can also stifle my imagination if I follow it too strictly.
I want each and every one of you to remember this philosophy as you write: find what works, but don’t be afraid to stray off the path to get somewhere new. Always have an idea of your general heading so that you can find your way, but new routes are exciting, and they may end up being better than anything you could have imagined.
This is also true for adopting good writing habits. For example, you want to try to write at the same time every day. This will help train your mind and assist you in avoiding writer’s block. But don’t be afraid to change your venue of where you write. Sit at your desk one day. The next, go to a quiet area of your library, on the beach, or any place you find relaxing.
I would also encourage you to not shy away from trying to write in areas that are noisy. True, the sounds can be distracting, but they can also spark your imagination. Try sitting on a bench at your local mall. No, I’m not kidding. You will be bombarded with noises and people going about their business, but these people will (likely) not bother you. It is the perfect location to shore up your writing muscles and study people. You might see someone who is perfect for that elusive character you have been trying to find.
We’re writers. We go to sleep every night, dreaming of new worlds that only we know how to reach. Then we wake up every morning and we try to write how we get to those new worlds. We’re explorers, dreamers and our curiosity and imagination should never be stifled, but instead, we should allow ourselves to grow. Grow! Try new things and keep your compasses pointing true but don’t be afraid to try a little detour.
Keep writing!
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Bio: Emma Michaels is the author of the ‘A Sense of Truth’ and ‘Society of Feathers’ series. Her goal with her latest YA novel 'Owlet' is to give others what she did not have growing up; a strong female protagonist with asthma. While her previous aspiration was to be a lady knight she realized that not being able to run more than a few feet might become a hindrance so turned to writing instead. Her day jobs include being a cover artist, marketing consultant and silk screen designer. As the founder of The Writers Voice blog (http://OurBooksOurVoice.Blogspot.com) she loves to connect authors and readers. As a book blogger turned author, she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them. With the support of her fiancé, Chihuahua, and her amazing blog followers and fellow bloggers, she wants to prove to the world that anything is possible and help inspire fellow literary lovers to reach for their dreams. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Owlet read along excerpt
She was here. My Never-Never was her Sand Dollar.Iris went over what she knew about sand dollars in her head. Though not uncommon, they were rare and hard to find shells that were said to bring luck to anyone who found them.
“What will you bring me, my Never-Never?” She wanted the ferry to move faster but it was slowly inching its way across the water. Iris fidgeted with the feather necklace and wondered why she was so calm. She wondered why she wasn’t panicking about her dream being real, or the abundance of facts that she was just now beginning to learn.
You always knew it was real. Just like I am real...I am a part of you.
Part of her wanted to run into the cabin and force the deck hand to talk to her again but she could only feel the pull of the island drawing her forward. She wanted to be there...to walk to the dark red door and, for once, be allowed inside. Iris wanted to see the interior of the house and be where—she somehow knew—her mother had once been. To sit on her mother’s bed and find out more about her from the things she had once held dear. “Please let there be something left in that house. Something of hers.”
I miss her. Whether you ever knew her or not, I miss her.
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Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Follow the Owlet Blog Tour and read along excerpt schedule!
'Owlet' Blog Tour
Read Along Excerpt Schedule
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Wow that is one big love tour :)
ReplyDeleteKaren, thanks for your fantastic support of Emma's new release. We appreciate your help in spreading the word to all those lovely readers out there :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for inviting me!
DeleteWow, that is some blog tour, the longest I've ever seen. Thanks for some great advice.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice for new writers and I agree that's a very big tour.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm on this tour and am really excited about reading Owlet. Great excerpt and guest post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
This book looks really good. And i love the title :)
ReplyDeleteThis book looks great! I love the cover and excerpt. Thank for the chance to win!
ReplyDelete-Brooke Banks