Last week, I got a giant box full of CAGED GRAVES t-shirts, featuring the artwork of my daughter’s friend, Emily Hutchison. And I’m anxious to send them out into the world!
So, I’m going to give away two t-shirts here on my blog. And I’m also going to give away an ARC of the CAGED GRAVES, plus a t-shirt, over on Goodreads. You can enter for the t-shirts on Rafflecopter below this post. And you can enter the Goodreads giveaway by clicking here – and it’s also on my sidebar.
In other news, I’m about halfway through second draft revisions of THE EIGHTH DAY #2, and I’ve already knocked it back to 69k (from 75k). I think “word scything” is my favorite part of the writing process. I love taking an already completed draft and streamlining it, slicing unnecessary words and phrases, cutting sentences that repeat an already stated idea, and even killing a few darlings here and there. (As in, yeah, that was kind of cute but doesn’t move the scene forward; it’s gotta go.)
This weekend, I also got a really convincing recommendation to try Scrivener, and I’m considering it — even though I’m usually resistant to changing my way of doing things. However, I can see how it might be useful for planning out this 3-book series. For instance, looking ahead to something I want to happen in a later book, I realize I need to change the details of a particular incident. And that means finding every instance where it’s mentioned in the first two books and changing what I say. I’m given to understand that Scrivener could make navigating my manuscripts in search of particular details a lot easier. Does anybody want to weigh in on that?
Sign up for the giveaways and let me send you some stuff!
Good for you, Dianne! T-shirts are way cool, and a great avenue to spread the word! (Great pic of the girls!)
T-shirts look cool! What a great way to advertise your book. : )
Answering question : Why cage a grave?
Wasn’t it considered a way to keep the bodies from disappearing? *Answering a question with a question. : )*
Awesome you got your daughter’s friends to help with the artwork.
I don’t use Scrivener. Sorry. But I’ve heard it’s better on Apple. I think Stina Lindenblatt reviewed it.
It’s funny how when you go back through you find those repeated phrases. Makes you wonder why you felt the need to harp on that particular thing. And I’ve found those cute/clever even brilliant things I really liked, but nevertheless did not work at all. I call it slash and burn. And I LOVE the tees! What a talented girl!
Did they cage them to keep graverobbers out?
Cool T-shirt! Going to tweet about this. And good luck with your #2 book! I’m in the midst of planning a #3 and I have to say, Scrivener is not yet part of my planning but I think I’m going to have to make it. It certainly is amazing for editing.
You’ll LOVE Scrivener. I recommend Scrivener for Dummies. I learned to use the software quickly because of the book. I couldn’t imagine writing my mss any other way now. I’m a huge fan of it, even though I was resistant to the idea of it to begin with. If I hadn’t won a copy of it, I never would have tried it.
Cool T-shirts! That’s great that your daughter’s friend designed them.
I have recently heard some great things about Scrivener from my CPs, though I haven’t yet jumped on board yet. Like you, I’m resistant to changing how I work, but Scrivener sounds brilliant.
And awesome t-shirts! 🙂
P.S. Why cage a grave? Because of the fear of Zombies, of course.
The shirts look awesome, Diane!
Congrats!
The t-shirts look great. Scrivener: I’ve had multiple recommendations to use it too, but just can’t quite bring myself to flip the switch.
If you are interested in interacting with other Scrivener users, there is a public community for Scrivener Users on Google+. We have over 150 members. Several of them are experienced novelists that could explain how Scrivener works for this particular need. Since this is a public community you can read the community page before you decide whether or not you want to participate or not.
https://plus.google.com/communities/109597039874015233580
I would except…I really don’t like white t-shirts! 🙂
I tried to answer the question on the Rafflecopter, but no words appeared when I typed, so I clicked on ENTER thinking it might lead me to a prompt, but no…Oh well! Thanks for hosting this contest though!
After I did NaNoWriMo, I was offered a discount on Scrivener. I asked people on my blog what they thought of it, and it seems that those who use it like it a lot, but people who haven’t used it are content to stick to MS Word. I’m thinking about possibly trying it before my discount expires later this year…
Not sure if my answer worked-I put “to keep the zombies inside, of course”
Let me know if you give Scrivener a try. I have attempted and given up on it twice now, but have a CP who recented fell in love with it (once she figured the dang thing out)
And doesn’t cutting feel good? Glad you’re doing so well with Book #2!
I’ve never tried Scrivener or any of those writing programs, but they sound so cool. And I totally want the ARC! 😀 Entering now~ <3
Love the t-shirts!!!
I’d cage a grave to keep things out … or to keep things in! Either way creates shivers!!
And I love Scrivener. My pantsty soul is learning (slowly) to plot and outline and change things. The index cards on Scrivener are worth the cost of the program for me – they helpe me see the whole thing at a glance. I don’t think I’ll ever write without it again!
You cage a grave to keep the zombies from getting out, of course. 😉
You cage a grave so no one else can get to your beloved.
AWESEOME shirt!! (go, Emily!) and giveaway – I can’t wait to read The Caged Graves!
Now off to tweet your contest… 🙂
Oh, Maria — that is SUCH a good one!
I totally want you to send me stuff! Since I (finally) read We hear The Dead, I’ve known you are an amazing writer…and I can’t wait to read Caged Graves in May. 🙂
You gave a grave, so something doesn’t get OUT.
You cage a grave to keep dead things in and living things out. Good to maintain that status quo.