Blog Takeover - Guest Blogger: K. A. Denver

     There is a saying that readers make the best writers.  I don’t know if that is necessarily true, but it is my love of reading that brought me to this point in my life today.  I had tried to write my first novel a few years back and had gotten just over 49,000 words written when my computer contracted the Blue Screen of Death, and yes it was as dire as it sounds.  I lost everything.  It put me off attempting it again for a while, it had been soul destroying to put so much effort, time and research into something to have it wiped away as if it never was.
     Fast forward seven years and I finally decided to give this writing malarkey one more stab.  So with notebook in hand I began to jot down an idea I had, one thing led to another and before I knew I was thirty thousand plus words in.  Then it happened…  I hit a wall.  So I let Facebook become my distraction from the torture that is referred to as writers block, it was either that or my Laptop was going to be flung out my kitchen window.  I saw Samantha Gregory’s status asking for short stories to be submitted for her blog, ‘Season of the witch’.   Thinking it would be a healthy distraction and keeping my finger in the writing process I asked if I could submit and she agreed.  This was the beginning of the birthing stages of what is now the labour of love I am working on at present.  I sat that night and with only one thing in my head, which was to be different, I set about writing about Eli the Warrior Witch. 
     I submitted it and when the day came for it to be published on Samantha’s blog I was so nervous and wracked with self-doubt, but I had fretted for no reason, Eli, and his story were well received and I even had a quite a few people ask where they could buy the book. 
I had loved writing about this magical man with his obnoxious familiar so I decided to continue his story.  I got yet another notebook and began to draw up the world of Eli and his Coven.  His fellow warriors and the war that would rage around them until within that book lay the bones of my first novel; The Guardian: Forest of Ancestors.
Taking Samantha’s advice, I joined a few pages on Facebook, one of these was Storytellers Cafe.  I asked questions from authors that were already published and established in the literary field.  They were so helpful and extremely supportive, with tips along with some do’s and don’ts.  It was great to get that support from people that had been where I am right now, and to know they experienced the self-doubt, the blocks, and insomnia when a story was in your head and you promised yourself that you would write just one more page or hit that day's word count before throwing in the towel and going to bed.  
     I made the decision.  I don’t want to be a good writer, writing mediocre books with likeable characters.  I want to write fantastic books with amazing characters that pull you into their world.  That is my aim, the task I set myself and I try to keep in mind, that for me… I want to write the type of books that I myself would love reading. 
     So after much research, YouTube watching and generally harassing author friends with unending questions, I came up with formulae that I work to.

• Outline the start, middle and end of the novel,
• Outline sub-plots,
• Create profiles on each character in the book detailing how they look, think, talk, walk, smell.  Who they are friends with, who they hate.  Their jobs, do they have family etc… you get the idea,
• Take time to then outline in detail each chapter and work to the timeline I have outlined in the beginning,
• I tend to draw in my little book.  I outline layouts for buildings so I can describe accurately. I draw how I imagine them in my head.  If there are items that are key to the story I sketch them so that it helps me visualise them as I describe them in my writing,
• While doing all of the above (Multi-tasking is key) put a call out to family, friends and colleagues for Beta Readers.  (Twenty person minimum),
• I created a questionnaire that I give out with each chapter, have them complete this and return for essential feedback. (Sometimes they can spot holes or faults that I can’t),
• Find a fantastic editor.  (This is essential, an editor is key to helping you prepare your work for print and I would never advise anyone to proceed without one).

     As I write this I am still in the process of finishing my novel and I have to say my experience thus far of stepping into the literary world has been amazing.  I have found this process not just informative, frustrating, and at times stressful but strangely enough highly enjoyable. 
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     If you want to see my first Chapter you can catch it here:
http://kadenver.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/the-guardian-chapter-one.html
     Want to chat or find out more about me or my future projects:
https://twitter.com/k_a_denver
     Or just keep an eye on Facebook for my up and coming author page.