Photo by Pixabay Writers are often considered quirky, eccentric, weird—you get the idea. No matter how deranged you may think writers are, famous writers had set routines they followed religiously. Can we prove or disprove their bizarre routines? After all, they were famous. There’s the old saying: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it . Maybe there’s something to these strange habits of famous writers. Isabel Allende began each of her novels on the same day: January 8. J.A. Jacobs author of Drop Dead Healthy writes while walking on a treadmill. Walking pales in comparison to Kurt Vonnegut’s preferred fitness habits. The Slaughterhouse-Five writer walked and swam every morning, and claimed to do pushups and sit-ups all the time. Haruki Murakami takes things a step or three further with his routine, which includes a 10-kilometer run, 1500-meter swim, or both, each day. While Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Lewis Carroll, and Philip Roth wrote by standing. In Stephen King’s earlier days, he used drugs and alcohol to write better, so much so that he doesn’t remember writing Cujo. Maya Angelou rented a hotel room in her hometown every month. She’d go in at the crack of dawn, write until the early afternoon, then take her work home to look it over. Angelou asked the management not to enter her room, except to remove the paintings and other decorations. Instead, to occupy herself while she brainstormed, Angelou kept crossword puzzles and a deck of playing cards handy. Thomas Wolfe wrote while leaning over a refrigerator. Some authors prefer to write lying down as standing up, like Ernest Hemingway, Edith Wharton, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Lewis Carroll, and Philip Roth were all known to write while lying down. Truman Capote was, as well, but that’s hardly the strangest thing about his routine. Capote was certainly a persnickety writer. Not only did he claim to be a horizontal author and could not think unless lying down. Capote had more superstitions than most people could keep up with. He wouldn’t begin or end a piece of work on a Friday, would change hotel rooms if the room phone number involved the number 13, and never left more than three cigarette butts in his ashtray, tucking the extra ones into his coat pocket. Both John Cheever and Victor Hugo thought writing in various states of undress was beneficial. Cheever may have written in his underwear for practicality, given he had but one suit at the time, but Hugo had other motives. The Les Misérables author gave himself only a few months to write The Hunchback of Notre Dame . To ensure his success, Hugo had his valet remove all of his clothes from the house. With nothing to wear except a large gray shawl, it forced the author to meet his deadline. James Joyce wrote lying on his stomach in bed, with a large blue pencil, clad in a white coat, and composed most of Finnegans Wake with crayon pieces on cardboard due to his failing eyesight. John Steinbeck, who liked to write his drafts in pencil, always kept twelve perfectly sharpened pencils on his desk. He used them so heavily that his editor had to send him round pencils to ease the calluses Steinbeck developed on his hands from the traditional hexagonal ones. Agatha Christie munched on apples in the bathtub while pondering murder plots, and Flannery O’Connor crunched vanilla wafers. As for myself (I’m not a famous author, yet), I have a few quirks. I compose my rough drafts with a fountain pen and cheap Composition Books. I’m not superstitious, but I ring a brass bell before I write, warding off negative vibes. A silver pendant of St. Paul (patron saint of writers and teachers) hangs around my neck. I’m protestant, but why take a chance, right? So, I think we can agree, writers are a strange breed of kookie. We hide dead bodies in our attics and kill our darlings, yet we write fantastic prose. In my humble opinion, I say do whatever makes you feel more confident when you write. If what you do hurts no one, why not? Is it worth tempting fate and possibly pissing off the muse? I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Image by Pixabay Most writers have a daily goal to write a set number of words. Those goals can vary between writers. Here are examples of some famous writers' daily word count goals. Ernest Hemingway: 500 Words Stephen King: 2,000 Words Jack London: 1,500 Words Tom Wolfe: 135 Words Mark Twain: 1,400-1,800 Words W. Somerset Maugham: 1,000 Words Anne Rice and Arthur Conan Doyle: 3,000 Words As you can see, famous authors have different word count goals. How are your daily word count goals working out for you? Are you achieving your goals? How much of your daily writing gets “red-inked” or pitched into the trash? What percentage of your writing is salvageable? So, my question is: Are daily word count goals productive or counterproductive? Setting word count goals motivates a writer. A writer enthusiastically begins the daily writing routine, working diligently until reaching a predetermined number of written words. This approach can be intimidating or counterproductive, especially if the writer is experiencing writer’s block or unsure what should happen next in the manuscript. In determining a daily word count, would an individual who writes by hand share the same daily word count goal as someone who uses a typewriter or even a word processor? Writing by hand is a much slower process than using a word processor. However, it’s been shown that handwriting increases creativity and deepens thinking , keeping the brain sharp and increasing comprehension . ( Oxford Learning ) Time restraints are essential for setting word count goals. Some writers have more time than others. Suppose you work a full-time job and have a limited amount of time you can allow for writing. The same is true for a stay-at-home parent taking care of a child or homeschooling. Unless you are a full-time writer like the ones listed above, you may not have the time to devote to your writing. How about quantity over quality? A daily word count goal may produce a set number of words, but is it your best quality work? It takes time to cultivate a quality manuscript. So, is one sacrificing quantity over quality by limiting oneself to daily word counts? I’m not saying daily word counts are right or wrong; only YOU can decide after weighing the pros and cons. As for myself, I’m a proud pantster who writes in fountain pen on paper, and I do not set daily word counts for myself. However, each morning when I sit down at my desk I set a goal for that day—maybe it’s completing three chapters, maybe just one, I don’t set a word count for myself. Of course, I’m not a New York Times best-selling Author either. But I do crank out a book or two every so often. My point is that maybe you should take a closer look at daily word counts. Are they working for you? If so, kudos to you. But, if you’re like me, an individual who has found a process that works for you yet goes against what’s being preached, congratulations. Writing is personal; each writer has their way of doing things. There’s no right or wrong way to write; just get the words down in whatever way suits you best. (Yes, this post title is a spoof on One Republic's - Counting Stars ) I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixabay You may already be in one of my stories I say this not as a warning or to shock you. When I develop a story, I have a basic plot (and subplots) in mind. For any plot to occur, there must be at least one character. I imagine someone I know or someone I’ve seen as an actor on TV or in a movie who might fit the role. From there, I craft the character, taking characteristics from different people to produce a character profile. Usually, I start with someone I know in real life, from my present or past, as the base personality, and then I build on that until I visualize a character that best suits the story. From there, I Google-search for a photograph that best fits my image of the character. I then attach the photo to a character profile sheet describing the character. The profile includes a physical description of the individual’s likes, dislikes, dreams, fears, etc., until I have compiled a complete character profile. Rarely do I use the attributes exclusive of one individual. When crafting a character, they are a composite of qualities from many diverse people. Sometimes, I craft a character(s) out of the blue. Take, for instance, my novella, MASKED IDENTITIES . The interior story's two characters (Christian and Ezra) are entirely made up—two fictional characters from 1900 London, England, without connection to anyone from the real world. However, I researched popular names of the period, clothing, and hairstyles, including facial hair. In my upcoming novel CLIPPED WINGS , most of the characters are composites of real-world people. Shane Davison, the 18-year-old narrator and protagonist, is loosely based on me and some of my real-world experiences. I base other characters in the novel on real-world people from my past and present. I made up only a few characters with no specific individual in mind. So, when you read something I’ve written, don’t go searching for yourself as a character. However, should you recognize an aspect or trait within one of my characters, embrace the recognition, knowing that maybe, just maybe, you were part of the inspiration for that character. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixy Point-of-View (POV) in literature is the narrator's position in relation to how a story is told. A story's POV sets the tone and mood of how a story unfolds for the reader. There are four basic POVs: 1. First-person point of view. First-person is when “I” am telling the story. 2. Second-person point of view. The story is told to “you.” 3. Third-person point of view, limited. The story is about “he” or “she.” 4. Third-person point of view, omniscient. Sees and knows all. A POV can also be combined with any of the others. Some stories are told using several POVs throughout the life of the story. So, why is POV important to a story? It depends on the kind of story and how the author best feels the story should unfold. Myself, when I began writing the novel CLIPPED WINGS , I experimented with different POVs. The manuscript wasn’t working for me resulting in severe “writer's block”. Not until I tried writing in First-Person did the story flow freely. That’s when I knew I must tell the story in First Person POV for several reasons. 1. The novel is a personal story told by an 18-year-old searching for answers. How better to draw the reader into the story than to have him tell it in his own words? 2. The entire novel hinges on Shane’s (the protagonist/narrator) perception of the world around him, giving the story a one-sided view. 3. Shane views the reactions of people and situations without the aid of an outside narrator filling in the blanks. Everything is up to Shane to figure out in his own time and on his own terms. 4. Shane does not know what other characters are thinking, so he’s left to make assumptions . Without an outside narrator, it pulls the reader into Shane’s head and his limited logic. 5. Shane offers many of his own thoughts and opinions, which he justifies through numerous flashbacks from his earlier life experiences. 6. The reader is free to disagree with Shane and to make his/her own assumptions and predictions about situations, other characters, and the direction the story is going. 7. Shane relays conversations (dialogue) between himself and other characters. He recalls what he hears , maybe not what is literally said or implied by other characters. The First-Person POV works best in this situation, drawing the reader into the story—or rather into Shane’s head. If the novel were drafted using one of the other POVs, the story may not have provided the essential components required to develop into a personal, emotional, and moving narrative. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixbay For the younger generation who have grown up with computers, smartphones, iPads, etc, there was a time when there were no computers. Yes, I’m referring to the “ dark ages ” before email and texting. When we communicated by snail mail, phone (connected by wires to a wall outlet) and yes, we even spoke to one another in person (face-to-face)—can you believe that? Scary ain’t it? My first foray into computing was a Commodore 64. I waited outside in a long line at Service Merchandise to order mine. People lined up nearly around the building for their turn to place an order for the first affordable home computer. None of us knew anything about computers, except for maybe making punch cards for binary computers at universities or major employers. We were entering an uncharted and exciting era into the unknown. The Commodore 64 was revolutionary at the time, one could create data lists and play games. We were amazed and entertained by our new home computers. Then a new must-have innovation burst into our homes—the Web TV. By hooking up a converter box to the TV one could access the Worldwide Web right from the comfort of our living rooms. With a simple keyboard on our lap, we could write and send emails from our television sets and surf Web TV-compatible websites. Web TV is where I discovered webcam sites. For hours upon hours, I was intrigued by watching ordinary everyday people broadcasting images of themselves from their homes. The “live” pictures refreshed about every 15 seconds. Depending on the traffic to the webcam site and the internet speed. Frequently, the images froze, and I’d have to reboot the Web TV. Rebooting was slow because of a dial-up connection. I will never forget that hideous Web TV music that played as the unit gradually linked to the web. After a couple of months of no sleep because of my addiction to watching webcam sites, I wondered if I too couldn’t do the same. All I figured I'd need was a tabletop computer and a webcam. So, I ordered a computer from an ad on Web TV. My new IBM-compatible computer was delivered by UPS on Christmas Eve in 1999. I tore into the shipping box, unpacking my first real computer. So excited, I set it up and attached the cables on the floor instead of on top of my earlier purchased computer table. Plugging the cord into the electric socket, I flipped the power switch—nothing happened. There were no blinking lights, no humming motors, zilch. Well, I think I cried for a little while, disappointed I’d spent my hard-earned money on a piece of worthless junk. To top it off, it was Christmas Eve, and I’d waited nearly a week for my custom build computer to arrive. Disappointed, I gathered the packing materials of styrofoam, plastic bags, and waded paper. Then, I happened to stumble upon a sheet of paper with red printing. “For Customer Service Call 1-800-XXX-XXXX.” Of course, I immediately dialed the number. An amazing and patient service tech guided me through the disassembly of the entire tower. Unidentifiable computer parts lay all around me on the floor. It worried me I’d not be able to put it back together properly. After all, until that evening, I’d never used a real computer, let alone taken one entirely apart. By dawn on Christmas morning, I had ultimately reconstructed the tower (with the help of the service tech). Lo and behold, the computer worked. All night on the phone and with a bad case of cauliflower ear, I’d unassembled and reassembled my first computer tower. Building a website was my next challenge. Knowing absolutely nothing about coding, I rapidly self-taught myself through many hours of trial and error—and a LOT of failures. At the time there were few books on web design and WYSIWYG editors were extremely expensive. Somehow, through diligence (sheer stubbornness) and endless hours of frustration, I launched my first 3-page website on the afternoon of February 26, 2000. Pages filled with random moving gifs and smart-ass sayings. Don’t ask me if I understood how any of my codings worked, all I can say is that I had a webcam site of my own making. There were a grand total of four visitors during my initial hour of broadcasting. The webcam site changed and grew over the eight years of its online life, growing from one webcam to six webcams in my condo, operating from three computers. Countless people aided me along the way to better understand web design coding, but mostly, I’m self-taught. It’s been 11 years since I operated a webcam site. Today, I prefer a quiet and very private home life where I can write tales of made-up characters and the predicaments they find themselves in. Over the years, I’ve continued to make my own websites, reflecting the various paths my life has taken. Life isn’t static; it’s always in flux and transition—or that’s how it's been for me. Please visit the website I completed this past weekend, my umpteenth website design: https://www.dalethele.com . I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixbay It’s that time of year when the temperature is cooler, trees turn from green to vivid colors, and holidays line up one by one. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year, there’s something in the air (most likely allergies). But there’s something else, something magical, maybe it’s anticipation, maybe it’s memories, maybe it’s just the shift in seasons. The time of year when afternoon shadows grow longer, leaves crunch underfoot, and curling under a blanket provides extra comfort. Some years ago, I wrote a very short short story about a walk under a Harvest Moon. Although it was a work of fiction, there was a lot of truth in the words, as I told of an actual personal experience. No, it wasn’t a story of self-revelation or a life-changing epiphany; it was a simple story with a simple message. I hope you will take the time to read it. (It’s a free PDF download ) Harvest Moon https://www.dalethele.com/books#harvestmoon I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

1939 Parker Parkette Mechanical Pencil and Fountain Pen Set In September of this year, friends gifted me with a vintage fountain pen and mechanical pencil set, which once belonged to their mother. What little they knew of the set’s history was that their mother purchased the set before starting nursing school. Other than that little bit of knowledge, they knew nothing else. I'm proud of the small collection of restored vintage fountain pens (Sheaffer, Parker, and other brands). My favorite are the original Esterbrooks. Since I’ve only been a collector/user for about five years, I don’t have a great deal of expertise in vintage pen history. The pen/pencil set did not come with the original box so I had to do some research on the set. Luckily there was some etched information on the pen barrel. With the aid of a lighted loupe, I was able to gather enough details to research the manufacturer's details. Turns out, the fountain pen is a 1938 Parker “Parkette” (type 3B) lever-filler, made of gray, black, and red celluloid. It is fitted with a 1939 Rador Point Steel Fine Nib. According to Parker’s 1939 retailers catalog, the Suggested Retail Selling Price was $1.95. Decades have passed since the pen had probably last been used, so it was not in working condition. First, I had to remove the dried ink and deteriorated ink sac from inside the barrel. Once it was clean, I replaced the J-Bar and rubber ink sac, then polished the barrel and brass trim with a jeweler’s polishing cloth. Filling the pen with Parker Blue Ink, I was able to test the pen. It’s a smooth writer with light feedback and is quite enjoyable to use. The mechanical pencil is in working order just required some cleaning and polishing. After a modest investment in restoration supplies, a couple of YouTube instructional videos, and my personal time, the Parkette pen and pencil set are now valued pieces in my vintage pen collection. Words can’t convey the extraordinary feeling of history while writing with a restored eighty-year-old fountain pen. Then, of course, it may be because I’m a fountain pen nerd. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Craig Adderley from Pexels The condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing has plagued writers for eons and will continue to do so in the future. It’s an occupational hazard. So, what is the underlying cause of such a disabling condition? Here’s my take on Writer’s Block. 1. Procrastination. Writers are the worst procrastinators. Admit it, writers use some of the most creative excuses to delay writing. Checking email, browsing social media, watching television, or daydreaming all in the guise of finding inspiration, or waiting for the Muse to speak to them. When actually, the writer is simply making excuses to delay the deed of writing. 2. Mentally stuck. Writing requires an open mind for the thoughts to flow. The mind can get bogged down with life details such as overdue bills, car repairs, what to make for dinner, and tens of thousands of other thoughts. These life details build up in the brain, building a damn so new thoughts can not flow freely. The brain becomes constipated and literally stops the creative writing process from occurring. It is said we have between 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day, this means between 35 and 48 thoughts per minute per person. Neuroscientist and philosopher Dr. Deepak Chopra agrees, although–being a rigorous, skeptical scientist, he acknowledged some error in his measurements and said “60,000 to 80,000”. That’s a lot of neurons working overtime, creating massive amounts of chatter inside the head. With all that mental noise, how would one hear the voice of the Muse? To clear my head of the chatter, I write a to-do list. This helps to reduce some of the static trapped inside my brain. It also helps to focus my thoughts, to prioritize details, and it reduces mental stress. A mind can not function at peak performance when one attempts to remember every single thought banging around inside the head. I’m not a huge fan of multitasking, so I try to focus on one thought. When the brain tries to do two things at once, it divides and conquers, dedicating one-half of our gray matter to each task, new research shows. But forget about adding another mentally taxing task: The work also reveals that the brain can’t effectively handle more than two complex, related activities at once. Multitasking Splits the Brain by Gisela Telis. The whole point of writing is to get your thoughts down on paper or on a word processor. If the thoughts aren’t yet formed or I’m not sure of the direction the writing should take, I don’t seek out things to keep me busy until inspiration strikes. I begin writing about the chatter inside my head. With 3 to 4 dozen thoughts per minute, there’s plenty to write about. I just let the words flow. I don’t try to direct the ideas, I simply record the thoughts that are in my head. This exercise has nothing to do with the writing I should be doing, but I’m also not sitting around waiting for inspiration, If anything, I force inspiration by documenting the static in my mind. Once I begin writing, thoughts begin to gel and peculate and within no time, I’m humming along with the muse and back on track with my primary writing. As for the dribble I wrote while clearing my head, that’s filed away as a reference for future writing projects. I don’t truly believe there is a thing called Writer’s Block. It’s simply a term writers tack onto those occasions when their brain is constipated, filled with too many thoughts. I don’t give myself permission to get bogged down in a counterproductive concept. Writer’s Block is real, I know cause I have a wooden block that sits on my desk. It’s etched with “Writer’s Block” on the side. For me, that’s Writer’s Block. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixabay Picture, if you will, a spotless expansive lobby, void of chairs and tables, only the lingering pungent scent of disinfectant hangs precariously in the air. Where only last week folks laughed and told jokes around tables of lively dominoes and friendly card games. What a stark difference one week makes. I’m referring to a 164-unit downtown high-rise apartment building where most of the residents are single senior citizens living on meager monthly social security benefits. A community of aging folks who gather daily in the lobby to socialize with their neighbors, in most cases, the only social interaction they have. A community setting where they claim a complimentary morning cup of joe, play weekly Bingo, or other games, participate in on-site Sunday church services complete with a continental breakfast, activities these folks look forward to each week. Then the Novel Coronavirus put an end to all of that for these folks, as they are banned from gathering in the lobby. Today. the lobby sits empty, with no chairs, no tables, no residents, and even the often-played upright piano is gone. Only ghostly echos of bygone laughter and fading memories of neighbors enjoying each other's company haunt the deserted lobby. What will become of these forgotten folks who are living out what are supposed to be their golden years? Cooped up in their modest apartments, they’ve been robbed of their social support system. Isolated and afraid of their own shadows, they huddle behind securely bolted doors, waiting, wondering what’s to become of them. They have nothing to look forward to, no one comes to visit, and many do not own a television or even a radio to keep them company. Some own cell phones, but they never ring. They stare blankly out of windows that separate them from the outside world where a menacing virus lurks, waiting to pounce—if contracted, it could put them in the hospital—or worse. What do they have to look forward to? Before you lament about how challenging it is to be confined to your home—complete with your computers and laptops, cell phone, television, video games, friends and family you text and chat with daily—imagine what life is like for the less fortunate, the vulnerable, the lonely who have little to nothing. Social distancing has proven to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but at what cost to our forgotten elderly? In these uncertain times, reach out to your elderly and vulnerable neighbors with a weekly (or daily) phone call or anonymously hang a frequent care package on their door. Find a way to let them know they have not been forgotten. Just remember—one day in the future—you too could be in their shoes. Be safe. Be kind. Be patient. But most of all, show compassion for your neighbors. Don't make them suffer this temporary storm alone. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixabay You've probably heard of beta testers before. These are real folks who test products, like new consumer products for marketing research. Similarly, beta readers “test read” a manuscript before publication. A beta reader’s purpose is to assume the role of an average reader. They’ll read a manuscript and provide actionable feedback. I've often mentioned beta readers in my social media posts. Beta readers typically read a manuscript during an early stage of the writing process. Beta readers’ feedback is considered when revising a manuscript. A revised manuscript may be sent to a second set of beta readers to gather new feedback. If the manuscript is ready to advance beyond beta readers, then it is submitted to an editing service for a professional manuscript critique. I prefer my beta readers to evaluate a very early manuscript. The feedback allows me to get a handle on what works and doesn't early on in the writing process. I always select from 3-5 readers. Always an odd number for when there is a common issue brought up by the beta's I will lean heavily toward whatever the majority says. Beta Readers Vs. Critique Groups A critique group is a band of writers who share their work. The best critique groups are small and filled with fellow writers of the same genre. Critique groups can be supportive and are essential for any writer who wishes to improve their work quickly. However, critique groups are not the same as beta readers. The first distinction is that a critique group is made up of writers. Beta readers are readers . Most beta readers don’t write and won’t approach a manuscript from a writer’s perspective. They may not get all of the nuances that a fellow writer will see. And that’s the point. I want to see how an actual reader will experience my manuscript. The second difference is that critique groups are a mixed bag. Not everyone in a critique group may be on the same level. Some may be experienced writers with several published books. Others may still be in high school and working on their first novel. It can be challenging to account for the different levels of experience when absorbing feedback. It’s better to cherry-pick who will read the manuscript instead of submitting it to the entire group. Finally, a critique group may not accept full, unedited manuscripts for review. Different groups have different rules when it comes to what can be submitted. Beta Readers Vs. Alpha Readers Oh yes, there’s such a thing as an alpha reader. Alpha readers are people who see a manuscript before it’s completed. They may even get to see the first draft before it is spell-checked. Alpha readers are likely to be close loved ones, like spouses or best friends, who see the manuscript in its early stages. They may provide a pat on the back and a cheer of encouragement, but they can never take the place of beta readers. By contrast, beta readers aren’t usually close friends/family and will usually evaluate a manuscript after it is self-edited. The selected beta readers are chosen by different criteria and the kind of evaluation I require. Why are Beta Readers Necessary? Why even bother with beta readers if the manuscript will be submitted to a professional editing service? Are both necessary? A writer absolutely needs both. Here’s why: Beta readers aren’t editors and do not replace them. Editors are professionals who review and revise manuscripts. An editor may perform several types of tasks. They can offer manuscript critiques where they evaluate the structure of the author's work. This includes plot, theme, character, consistency, and voice. An editor may provide a comprehensive edit where they go line-by-line and analyze prose for revision opportunities. Then, of course, an editor can provide a copy edit where they check on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and continuity errors. Beta readers are everyday people who read books because they have a passion for the subject matter and/or the genre. That’s not to say that editors aren’t passionate readers. The distinction is that editors are professionals who approach critique from a technical perspective. Not only can they spot when something doesn’t work in the manuscript, but a professional editor can also explain exactly why it doesn’t work, and how to fix it. Beta readers provide me with early feedback in the writing process which guides me to what and where I should focus to better my manuscript. I value beta readers' opinions and suggestions, after all, they are a small sampling of the readers who will read my finished work. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Graphic Created by Dale Thele The original concept of what would eventually become the novel titled CLIPPED WINGS began in 2011 with a rough draft entitled "OUTED BY ANGER". In the draft, Shane (the main character) was an angry and vengeful teenager. The story wasn’t what I’d originally anticipated. Below is an early video book trailer made in 2011. Video Trailer for OUTED BY ANGER which would later become CLIPPED WINGS The draft was shelved for several years while I battled with AIDS. In 2016, I resurrected the rough draft, realizing that "OUTED BY ANGER" would be the ideal vehicle to introduce Shane as the protagonist of a six-book series. Off and on during the next few years, I scribbled out various possibilities for a book series. I had nothing concrete until 2019 when I finally completed the entire 6-book series outline. That same year, I re-titled the original rough draft first novel: CLIPPED WINGS . Everything fell into place and the novel practically wrote itself. The novel was completed in December 2020. The first paperback was released on February 11, 2021, on Amazon. Three weeks later, the novel became an Amazon Best Seller. Video Trailer for CLIPPED WINGS The second novel of the Shane Davison Chronicle Series ( BLURRED LINES ) is scheduled to launch in 2022. CLIPPED WINGS: https://www.dalethele.com/clippedwings BLURRED LINES: https://www.dalethele.com/blurredlines I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .

Photo by Pixabay Southern Literature is oftentimes considered one of the most challenging genres to write. To be a true southern author, one must be born and raised in the South. There's no way to get around this requirement. You are either born a Southerner or you're not. Packing up your s**t and moving to the south does not make one an honest-to-goodness Southern Author. Myself, I was born and raised in the South and I've lived all but one year of my life in the South. That one exceptional year was spent in Southern California. The rest of my life has been lived in Oklahoma and Texas. (Yes, Oklahoma is considered the South by the US Census Bureau.) Wikipedia states: Southern literature consists of writing about the American South. Often, "the South" is defined, for historical as well as geographical reasons, as the states of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Arkansas.* Writing southern literature doesn't only come easy for me, but I’m also claiming my heritage by writing in a genre that I’m uniquely qualified for. Instead of running away from my heritage, I’m embracing my authentic self and celebrating who I am and where I’ve come from. In doing so, I write authentically without pretense. Below are nine characteristics that must be present to be authentic Southern Literature. 13 Characteristics of Southern Literature The author must be born and raised in the South. The South is a way of thinking and being, a characteristic that only a native Southerner experiences. It's a characteristic that can't be imitated or copied. Strong sense of tradition. Strong sense of the past. Importance of family and community. The family is a huge presence in Southern literature. Often the family members have to come to terms with each other as part of the plot; sometimes these connections are important way after the siblings grow up and go their separate ways. It is hard for most Southerners, even now, to understand how a brother could move away and never be heard of again. Importance of place (setting) in a physical sense. Emphasis on concrete imagery. Southern literature is usually quite descriptive, and the best writers use very strong imagery as one of the important tools for creating the story in all its power. Importance of ownership, of things and/or land. The revelation of unique or unstable relatives. Self-importance. Language of the South. The distinctive dialect, phrases, and delivery of those phrases are unique to the South. Politics and/or political views. Importance of a parental figure. A mother or grandmother is oftentimes prevalent as the patriarch of the Southern family. Use of religious imagery and backdrop of the Christian church in the setting of many of the stories. Religion and Christian beliefs are strong themes in Southern literature. In my most recent Southern novel entitled CLIPPED WINGS , Shane reveals a poignant coming-of-age narrative of growing up in ultra-conservative, north-central Oklahoma in the early 1970s, told entirely from Shane’s teenage perspective. From triumphs to disappointments, his story unravels a tapestry of secrets and lies, exposing deeply hidden skeletons in closets that should never see the light of day. A fictional novel, inspired by actual events. ​ Clipped Wings is the first novel of the Shane Davison Chronicles Series in which Shane shares his life experiences. From childhood through adulthood, he shows the similarities and challenges he faces as an out, gay man in a predominately straight world. No matter, if you are gay, bi, straight, or anything in between, you will certainly relate to his experiences. Maybe not identical experiences, but those that are similar. As Shane demonstrates, all of us live on the same earth and share many related challenges, triumphs, and obstacles as we forge through this journey we call life . Paperback & Kindle available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578836637 Official Author website: https://www.dalethele.com * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_United_States_literature Note: This blog post was revised on September 18, 2021. I would like to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the bottom of the page. Dale Thele Bestselling Fiction Author Stories with an LGBTQ+ Twist corrupting readers since 2008 Don't miss another blog post! Get new blog post notifications and new book/story releases sent directly to your email. Click here to subscribe .