Lodestar – The HeartWord Way

Hello, everyone! Today I’m going to give you an update on my writing and book reading, and then share a few tips that will help you keep going on your writing.

Reading

So, right now I’m reading book five of Keeper of the Lost Cities (Lodestar) and book seven of The Mitford Years (In This Mountain).

I’m going along with other Keeper fans and rereading the series- one book each week. Last week was catch-up week, since we were in the middle of the series. I used the catch-up week to take my time finishing Neverseen and spend more time writing.

Here’s my reading schedule for the rest of the month.

July 14-20: Lodestar (Keeper Book Five), start In This Mountain

July 21-27: Nightfall (Keeper Book Six), and continue In This Mountain

July 28- August 3: Flashback (Keeper Book Seven), finish In This Mountain

My goal was to read four books this month, and if I follow that schedule, I should succeed, since I have already read two other books this month. August will probably be less books to read, since school will be starting back. I do online school, and this year we’re trying a different one than we did last year, so I’ll need plenty of time to adjust.

Writing

Right now, I’m revising my book. I’m just rereading, looking for mistakes, and changing what needs to be changed. This definitely isn’t my favorite thing to do, but if I eventually want to publish it, I need to keep going and push through.

My goal this month was to spend twenty minutes each day revising, which means about two hours each week, and about 10 hours for the month.

Here’s how I’ve done so far.

June 30- July 6: 1 hour 10 minutes

July 7-13: 2 hours

July 14-20: So far, I haven’t had any time to edit this week- I’ve been super busy. I haven’t been home much at all. So this week, I’ll probably only get one hour in.

Hopefully I will get my hours in this month!

Tips on Writing

Don’t think of it as “work” or something that has to be done by a certain date. Think of it as doing something you enjoy. Let your creativity take over and just write.
If you notice that you’re having trouble focusing and coming up with ideas, don’t force yourself to keep going! In fact, that will just make your writing sound bad. When this happens, it probably means you’ve been at it too long. Take a break! Or just be done for the day, if time allows.
Do it when you have no other distractions. No TV, loud music, or other distractions. It’s best to be just by yourself. Music with lyrics distracts me, so I usually just listen to soft piano music.
Think of the joy you’ll feel when sharing your work with others. You may feel a little freaked out about sharing your work at first, but after you get going, you’ll find that you’re excited to know what others think. Trust me, I’ve been there. If it helps, give them the paper, computer, or whatever it is your story is on, and leave the room. That way you won’t have to see their reactions until they’re done.
Only share it on two conditions. One, you’ve gone over it a couple of times, and you feel confident about it. Two, you trust the person you’re sharing it with. Like really trust.
Don’t kill off characters just to get your readers hooked, or to make them sad or shocked. Do it only if it is necessary for the story. You don’t want your readers to get mad at you for killing off their favorite character for no reason.
The best people to share your work with are your family and your close friends- especially if you’re sharing for the first time. They’ll be proud of you for trying and finishing what you started. This will make you ready to share with others as well.
Consider the feedback you get. You may not like it, but you have to consider it. Think about it, and if you think it makes sense, you can change something in your story if need be.
Ask for feedback, and don’t be upset when they give it to you. Feedback helps you improve your story, but sometimes it can also get you down and feeling like you shouldn’t have started writing in the first place. Don’t let that happen! Remember, they’re just giving you what you asked for!
Don’t give up after your first try. If you’re rereading your writing, and something just doesn’t feel right, try again. Rewrite the scene or sentence.

Well, I hope this was helpful! I know it helped me to come up with a plan for my reading and writing. Did you find the tips helpful? Can you come up with any tips? What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading! Happy writing!

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 ESV).

A Little About This Series

Author: Shannon Messenger

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Age Group: 8-12

Books in the Series: So far, seven. The eighth book is coming out this fall (more on that later).

Sophie Foster, the main character of this series, has grown up knowing she isn’t the same as everyone else. She can hear other people’s thoughts- whether she wants to or not. It’s been her burden ever since she hit her head on the concrete when she was five years old, and waking up in the hospital and hearing everyone’s panicked voices in her head had truly been horrifying. Ever since, she has struggled with headaches and wishing she was normal. Not to mention, she’s super smart! She’s only twelve, and she’s already a high school senior! But one day, everything changes. She meets a boy who knows her secret and also shares her burden. Once he shares the truth about who- and what -Sophie really is, her life changes completely.

Would you Rather?

And now, I have come up with some would you rather questions that you will enjoy answering if you have read the series. If you haven’t, you’ll probably be super confused.

Would you rather…

Have a pet imp, like Iggy or a pet alicorn, like Silveny?

Live at Everglen with Alden and Della or at Havenfield with Grady and Edaline?

Have teal eyes like Fitz or periwinkle eyes like Dex?

Take Elementism or Alchemy at Foxfire?

Have Keefe or Fitz as a brother?

Have a lifetime supply of Mallowmelt or Chocolate-Mint Ripplefluffs?

Be a Councillor or an Emissary?

Be a Vanisher or a Conjurer?

Be a Telepath or an Empath?

Be a Pyrokinetic or a Hydrokinetic?

Be an Shade or a Mesmer?

Fall into a pile of sparkly alicorn poop or have detention with Lady Galvin?

Be the youngest in your family to manifest or be the youngest in your family to get your nexus off?

Read an ogre or gnome’s mind (assuming you were a Telepath)?

Have a gnome or troll as a body guard?

Legacy

Legacy is the next book coming out in the series this November. I am crazy excited, and I just cannot wait! This is the second book in the series that I’ve had to wait an entire year for. When I read the series for the first time, it was about a month away from when book six (Nightfall) would come out. So, when I finished book five (Lodestar) and found out I would have to wait another month to read book six, I was devastated (if you remember the ending of book five, you’ll know why). After book six came out, I had to wait a year for book seven (Flashback) to come out, and now I’m waiting for book eight. *sighs dramatically*

Anyway, the hardback version of Legacy (which I’ve already pre-ordered) is coming with two special extras. One, some artwork by the author herself, and two, a scene from Tam’s point of view. It has also been announced that in October, a new edition of Flashback is coming out, and it will also have two extras. One, an extra scene from Keefe’s point of view, and two, a teaser for Legacy. My guess is the teaser is either the prologue or first chapter of Legacy.

Well, I suppose that’s it for today. I hope you enjoyed it!

Are you a Keeper fan? Are you excited for Legacy to come out? What were a few of your answers to the would you rather questions?

Next time, I’ll be giving an update on my writing and book reading.

Thanks for reading! Happy writing!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV)

Tag: Lodestar

Keeper of the Lost Cities: My Favorite Series

A Little About This Series

Would you Rather?

My Answers

Legacy