Tag: Writing

Secret Project!!! | Writing Update

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
After finishing the rough draft of Journey of Choice, I put it aside while I wrote a novella (yes! In just a few days, the Lord allowed me to complete a 17,000+ word rough draft!). I’m not quite ready to divulge what this “secret project” is yet, but if you’d like to play a game with me, I’m game. 😉 

Ever play “20 Questions?” It’s where you try to get an answer by asking less than 20 “yes or no” questions. So…ask away! I’ll answer any questions you ask, and I’ll try to stay on top of them… I know that I’m not usually that great with replying to comments quickly, so sorry!!

Here’s a hint: it is in an era that I have already used.

– – – –

As an update for Journey of Choice, last week I read through the entire rough draft. There is a LOT of work to be done with poor Nat. A lot of holes. A lack of arc. But there are some good things in it too.

As I read the draft and thought over the story line, I’ve been seriously praying and thinking about how to change some things up to add conflict and interest. I have an idea for the beginning; I’m not sure how it will change things up (besides majorly rewriting several chapters/adding some new ones), but prayers are GREATLY appreciated! Nat’s going to take a lot of work before he’s ready to be presented to the general public, and I know that I’ll need patience and endurance… and wisdom! Recently in my Bible reading, a lot has been standing out about God’s glory, and I definitely want God to be glorified through the message of Journey of Choice. And I realize that for that to happen, I need to be yielded to His direction. So again, I covet your prayers!! Thanks for helping me here!


Huge Black Friday Book Sale!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Smiley

Y’all know me. I love any excuse for free things and discounts. 😉 So, it’s Black Friday. Let’s just throw on the fun! 😀 I’m joining several other Indie Christian authors with discounted books and free eBooks. Hop on over to see what all we have (disclaimer: I have not read all of these authors so cannot endorse them all). From Nov 25 (that’s today!) through Nov 28th, more than 70 independent Christian books are on sale. You can find free shipping, $0.99 ebooks, package deals, and more! And if your budget is depleted from Christmas shopping, we’ve got you covered with some freebies!

Think 70 books is overwhelming? Narrow it down and find the perfect books for you or someone on your Christmas list by using this quiz to generate a customized book list.
A note on the Ebooks Only page. All books are listed as “Sold Out.” This only refers to paperback copies of these titles. Please click onto the product pages to find descriptions and links to discounted or free ebooks. Also, some of the authors this year chose to not sell their paperbacks directly through the site. Those books are also marked “Sold Out” but if you click them open, you’ll find a link to the site where they are on sale and a discount code for you to use at check out.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Leah E. Good and Kendra E. Ardnek for their work organizing this sale, and Hannah Mills for her fantastic design work on the website graphics. Hannah can be contacted at hmills(at)omorecollege(dot)edu for more information about her design services.

A few of mine are ONLY FREE TODAY! So you have to get them fast!

And these are free/discounted for the weekend until Cyber Monday.

– For $0.99 –
– FREE –

Grab yourself some copies, then spread the news! 🙂

Also, my paperback books are discounted. 



Here are the links:


Journey to Love
Befriending the Beast
Me? Teach Piano?

Apply the discount code E42CX3RT for $2 off each paperback book!


And don’t forget, there’s still the 5 for $5 on WAJN.


Journey of Choice | Quote Day 05

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Well, Journey of Choice has taken an interesting turn this month. My goal was to write 20,000 words and finish the rough draft. I wrote 10,414 and reached a dead end. 🙂 So, I printed out what I have and am about to read through it — to get ideas, to critique, that type of thing. I may actually start my editing/rewriting before I have the ending solidified. 🙂 There isn’t a law against that, is there? 🙂
This type of thing has happened before in my life: where I thought I knew what direction I was going then slammed to a halt and had to regroup. What about you? What is one area that you thought you had something mapped out, then God allowed things to go differently than you planned? How did you grow from that experience?
Now for the promised quotes…
Envisioning the battle…
Honestly, reading up on what our brave ancestors went through, I feel like I just cannot do their service justice. But to imagine the battle, men in action… it is sobering and exhilarating. 

^ True story ^

Change it Up!

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Today I’m happy to have a guest blogger over, Rebekah A. Morris. Rebekah has a whole bookshelf of novels and short stories that she’s written. Check them out!

Have you ever heard those words shouted at a hockey game? Have you watched some players suddenly leave the ice and take a seat on the bench while others vault over the sides to join the game? I’ve only seen it happen in movies because where I live, well, we don’t have any hockey teams.

But just the same, I think there is a lot to be said for that little phrase in regard to us writers.

Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t write? Like your creativity was being stifled or lacked that something that you use to have? I have! Many times. And that’s when I’ve begun to discover something.
For years I’ve known that I wrote best in the evenings. From after supper up until time for bed was the best time. But I wanted to write more. So, since I don’t do well staying up late, I decided to start writing before supper. At first it was hard. I could hardly get anything written. Then it got easier. And easier.

I used to write sitting on my bed. Then I tried standing up when I was tired of sitting all day long. I discovered that I wrote better that way most of the time. But sometimes it still couldn’t write. So I tried a chair in the other room.

Sometimes your writing may need you to “change it up.”

Now I may write standing up and using my music stand as my desk. Other times I find more inspiration sitting in a chair near a window, or perched on the edge of my sister’s bed with my music stand lowered. My writing time can now start as early as 3:30 or as late as after supper. I’ve never tried a coffee shop though. (Maybe because I don’t drink coffee.) But I did discover that I could write in an empty class room at church on Wednesday night after I helped with the nursery class.

So, if your writing is feeling blah and you just can’t seem to find the excitement, “Change it up!” Don’t be afraid to be different. Move to a new place, stand instead of sit, write at a different time. That might be all you need to get fresh energy. Don’t get stuck in a rut because someone told you that you “need to always write at the same time.” Maybe you need a change.

Have you ever experienced a fresh energy for writing by changing how, where or when you write? What is the most unusual place you have found yourself writing a story? I’d love to hear about it!


A Royal Ball

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Okay, so maybe it’s a cyber ball… but anyway… I’m excited to be a part of a FaceBook party for several authors today! We’ve already had some fun the past week and there’s going to be a lot more. I’m “on” from 6:00-6:30 (CST) if you’re on FaceBook and would like to stop by for a chat. I’ve got something fun planned out with me and my character, Belle, from Befriending the Beast.
But! I wanted you all to be a part of the giveaway, even if you’re not on FaceBook! I’ve not read most of these authors, but a giveaway for a Kindle is pretty fun! 🙂


The CROWN JEWEL PRIZE giveaway for a Kindle e-reader and 12+ e-books is sponsored by the authors of the “Meet the Authors of 2016 Royal Ball.” The giveaway will remain open until 12:00 am (EST) on Monday, November 14. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on the event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1755476794702604/) on Monday, November 14 at 1:00 pm (EST). No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Journey of Choice | Quote Day 04

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments
If you’re subscribed to my writing newsletter, then you know that nope, I’m not doing NaNoWriMo this year. 🙂 I haven’t done it yet, actually, as Novembers tend to be super busy for our family. BUT… I am going to try really hard to get 20,000 words done in Choice. Already I’m lagging a little behind and need to step it up. Prayers really appreciated as I’m in the home-stretch!


What is one of your favorite things about the Civil War era?

Journey of Choice | Quote Day 03

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
Time for more quotes! One of the things that I “dreaded” the most about writing Choice was the battle scenes. I’m not so sure I’m doing a swell job with the rough draft, but it’s coming. In fact… I think I like writing fighting scenes!

The following quote about the Hornet’s Nest is true history. A regiment is supposed to be 1,000 men. From what I’ve researched, The 18th Missouri never really reached full strength. But after the Hornet’s Nest, there were only about 300 men left in the regiment who were not killed or captured.

*spoiler alert* Yes, one of my characters that is close to Nat ends up captured by the confederates in this chapter! 🙂

The Distracted Writer (and how to not be one)

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
We’ve all been there.
*Write, write, write, check email, check FaceBook, get a snack, reply to some texts, look at stats*
Oh yeah… where was I?
*Write, do some research, remember something else online unrelated to writing…*
I’ll be the first to raise my hand. It happens here. Even when I know that I’m getting distracted, I still let it happen. In fact, as ironic as it sounds, as I’m writing this article I’ve already gotten distracted three times. The struggle is real, folks!
Some days, I write just fine without distraction. Other days, it seems like everything but writing is on the brain! And on these days, when I don’t quite know what I’m supposed to do in my writing, my mind wanders. And distractions come up.
Not that I’m the queen of solving these problems (obviously), but here are some tips I’ve applied to my own life in fighting against these distractions.

If you’ve got text tones on, turn them off. If your FaceBook or email notifications come up on your screen or make a sound, turn them off. Do everything you can to make your writing time your writing time.

If you just can’t stay focused, set a timer, then appoint an award (e.g. “I will do nothing but write for fifteen minutes, then I will spend five minutes working on emails.”).

How many words are you going for? Do nothing until you’ve written 100 words (or 500 or 1,000), or finished the chapter, or completed a scene (whichever goal suits your style).

 Find a fellow writer or friend to keep you accountable. Tell them your goals at the beginning of the day, and report back to them at the end of the day.


Whatever tip you decide to apply, don’t be scared to “award” yourself somehow. Whether it’s chocolate or internet time, after you’ve accomplished your goals, give yourself some freedom and relax.

You’ve heard my tips, now… what are your tips? When you find yourself getting distracted, what do you do to prevent it? Ready… share!