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WENDY SCOTT: A writer's Point of View...

2/12/2017

44 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano
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RAVE-WRITERS - INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA is a gathering of award-winning writers who are "consummate professionals, dedicated, committed and driven to continually excel at producing the best written works possible." Today, I am participating in a Blog Tour, in which I am featuring a RWISA's author: Wendy Scott from New Zealand. The interview is below, followed by Wendy's sage advice for Point of View. 
 

1. How long have you been writing? In 2003, I attended a series of WEA workshops on “How to Write a Novel.” After the first 20 minutes I was hooked – I’d rediscovered my passion.
2. How many books have you authored? Seven (soon to be nine). Three of the titles are: Hieroglyph​, Fairy Dust, and Lodestone. 
3. Do you have a writing schedule? When working full-time I write at night. When not working full-time, I structure my writing time, during school hours, and also write at night.
4. You’re a member of RWISA.  Why do you think you were accepted into this exclusive group? I requested a review for Hieroglyph by the President of RRBC who has a reputation for being an honest, and “tough” reviewer, who does not lightly award her seal of approval. Receiving Nonnie’s 5 star review is one of my career highlights.
5. Modesty aside, what separates your writing from the millions of other writers in the world? Professionalism. I invest time and money into delivering quality stories.
6. If you could spend a day picking the brain of one author, who would that be? Why? C.S. Lewis, author of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.  As a child his stories fired up my imagination. I read them over and over.
7. Are you a die-hard INDIE writer who loves having complete control of your work, or, if you were offered a publishing contract today, would you sign on the dotted line? I do like control, but I would evaluate any opportunities offered.
8. As an author, where do you see yourself in 5 years? My expectation is that I will have completed at least another 7 books. I have dozens of story outlines waiting their turn.
9. What is the ONE tool that has been the most beneficial tool in the marketing of your books? Winning book awards has given my writing independent credibility. Adding award medals to the book covers and promotional material lets prospective readers know this is book worth reading.
10. Name one writer that you know of, member or non-member of RRBC, who you feel should be added to the RWISA Roster of elite members?  Why? Fantasy Author, Belinda Mellor. Literary fantasy at its finest – her stories and prose linger in your thoughts long after you’ve closed the last page.
11. What is the one piece of advice that you could share that would be most valuable for those aspiring to not only be writers, but those aspiring to be great writers? Writers write. Stop talking about writing, and actually write. Stop making excuses, and write. Find the time. Find the energy. Make whatever sacrifices required, and write.
12. Do you believe that writers who churn out several books a year are really putting out quality work? Several books from scratch within a year wouldn’t be feasible from my writing style of research, multiple drafts, edits, and proof reads. I suspect in some instances ghost writers are used, which also happens within traditional publishing. Ultimately, their readers will decide on the quality of their stories.
13. If you had promised your fans a book by a certain date only to find that your book wasn’t the best it could be, would you go ahead and publish your book just to meet that self-imposed deadline and deliver as promised, or, would you disappoint your fans and shelve the book until it was absolutely ready?  No matter your reason, please explain why? I don’t release any of my stories until they have been through my entire process. I now try to avoid mentioning any firm due dates.
14. In your opinion, what makes a book “a great book?” A story which readers struggle to put down, pulls at the heart strings, and there’s closure with the ending.
15. If you received a review of your book which stated that there were editing & proofing “issues,” what’s the first thing you would do?  And the second? I would review the stated issues, and if I agreed with them I would get the errors fixed as soon as possible.  I use several proofreaders before publishing to avoid this type of incident, as fresh sets of eyes will pick up issues an author will miss as we are too close to our work. English spelling is different between countries (US.UK, NZ), and readers may not be familiar with these differences. 

Wendy's advice about why a clear Point of View (POV) is important: 
     Point of view is the filter mechanism for each scene. Many new writers make the mistake of not structuring POV into their stories, and they "head-hop" between characters within sentences and paragraphs. This is considered by many literary establishments as "lazy writing". I'm a prolific reader and I've only found a few authors who are skillful enough to succeed with this technique. These experienced writers have consciously chosen this style, and have structured their words to avoid POV confusion.
     In particular genres, readers may expect POV in first or third person. Research the current trends for your area, especially the best sellers. Certain romance categories switch POV between the two romantic leads with alternating scenes or chapters.
     First person POV is more intimate; the reader experiences the story through the thoughts and actions of the character. All the senses are evoked: taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing, and intuition. The reader is only aware of what your character knows. Beware of starting every sentence with I ...
     Third person POV is less direct than first, using variations of he/she. There can be single or multiple viewpoints. Make it easier for your readers by inserting a scene break or new chapter between character POV switches.
     Refrain from the overuse of he/she or the character's name at the beginning of sentences.
     Contrasting POV types can be combined effectively (thrillers and mysteries).
    For clarity the author should make a conscious POV choice before scribing any scene. Decide who is going to tell this part of the story, and how this POV is going to be achieved. Evaluate other factors like tense, tone, accents, and character speech styles. Ask who has the most invested in this section, and query if they are the optimum conveyor of this information.
​     Select the POV which expresses your story best.

Contact information for author Wendy Scott:

http://www.wendyjscott.com/
www.authorfantasy.com
http://www.authorchildrens.com/
www.hieroglyph.ws 

https://twitter.com/WendyJayneScott
https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenAuthorWJScott/
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Thank you for supporting our RWISA (RAVE WRITERS-INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF AUTHORS) Members! Please follow and support the entire tour by visiting 4WillsPub. 

44 Comments
Jan Sikes link
2/13/2017 10:03:31

This is a GREAT interview with Wendy. I respect her so much as an author and professional. Her advice, whether about writing or marketing is always helpful and spot on! Thanks so much for hosting her, Gwen.

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Gwen Plano
2/13/2017 11:05:34

Thank you, Jan. I feel similarly about Wendy. She is amazing for a long list of reasons...one being wisdom!

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:45:33

Hi Jan,
Thanks for your lovely words. The marketing side changes so fast - I'm always learning from others, especially RRBC.

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Mae Clair link
2/13/2017 11:42:50

An engaging interview with Wendy. I like her advice about writing. I've encountered a few people in my life who are in love with the IDEA of writing or being a writer, but don't actually take the time to write. Given Wendy's accomplishments, she's clearly dedicated to the craft.
I also enjoyed the look at POV. Head hopping is one of my pet peeves :)

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Gwen Plano
2/13/2017 11:56:26

Thank you for visiting, Mae. Wendy and you are both amazing writers.

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:43:26

Hi Mae,
Thanks for your comments.

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Harmony Kent link
2/13/2017 12:32:34

This is a lovely post for Wendy. What an engaging interview and good advice about writing.
Thanks for hosting, Gwen! :)

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Gwen Plano
2/13/2017 14:01:10

Thank you so much for visiting, Harmony. Wendy has a lot to share with all of us.

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:41:00

Hi Harmony,
I always recommend your book 'Polish your prose' to other authors.

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Ntatalie Ducey link
2/13/2017 13:55:38

Wendy, it's wonderful to learn more about you and your writing process. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks for hosting, Gwen, and for the warm welcome, as always. :)

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Gwen Plano
2/13/2017 14:26:58

Thank you for visiting, Natalie. Wendy is a gifted writer with much to share with all of us.

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:38:56

Hi Natalie,
I enjoy sharing writing tips so recently I started up a pinterest board - Author tips & inspiration.

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Stephanie Collins link
2/13/2017 13:57:11

Wow! What a busy woman you are, Wendy! That's quite a few completed books in a relatively short amount of time...WITH a full-time job, even! Congratulations on persuing your passion for writing and for all of your success! Take care and have a wonderful week! :) ~Stephanie

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Gwen Plano
2/13/2017 14:28:51

Thank you for visiting, Stephanie. Like you, I'm in awe of Wendy's accomplishments.

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:36:39

Thanks Stephanie,
As of February I'm enjoying a few months of full time writing and it's magic.

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Wendy Scott link
2/13/2017 17:47:54

Dear Gwen,
Thank you for hosting me on your gorgeous blog.

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 03:52:17

I'm honored to host you, Wendy.

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Belinda Mellor link
2/13/2017 20:17:44

Is it okay for me to say that this is an excellent interview, when Wendy so very kindly recommends my writing? That aside, it really is an excellent interview! I am always impressed by the scope of Wendy's storytelling abilities and her willingness to assist fellow authors. Her work should (and undoubtedly will be) far more widely known.

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 03:54:24

I so agree with you, Belinda. Wendy is an amazing writer. Thank you for stopping by...

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Wendy Scott link
2/14/2017 12:46:45

Thanks Belinda - for authors helping authors I highly recommend Rave Reviews Book Club https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/. For awesomely talented writers like yourself please check out RWISA https://ravewriters.wordpress.com/

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Rhani D'Chae link
2/13/2017 23:45:32

Wendy, that was a great post. You certainly have accomplished a lot with your work. Gwen, I enjoyed stopping by your site. Thank you for hosting today.

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 03:55:23

Thank you for visiting, Rhani. Wendy is an amazing writer...

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Wendy Scott link
2/14/2017 12:49:50

Thanks Rhani - once I discovered writing was my passion I just couldn't stop. I have several storylines still waiting their turn to be written, and more ideas keep coming. The trick is capturing them onto the page!

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Sue Perkins link
2/14/2017 02:20:01

Wendy's books are phenomenal. Her interview above shows what a great writer she is.

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 03:56:51

I so agree, Sue; Wendy's books are amazing. Thank you for visiting today.

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Wendy Scott link
2/14/2017 12:51:48

Thanks Sue - high praise coming from a prolific writer such as yourself.

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Mar link
2/14/2017 09:55:51

Fantastic interview & post!! Thanks so much, Gwen, for sharing your blog with Wendy. :)

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 16:05:03

Thank you, Mar, for visiting. It's a pleasure hosting Wendy.

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Wendy Scott link
2/14/2017 17:16:45

Thanks Mar,
Glad you enjoyed it.

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John Howell link
2/14/2017 12:32:40

Excellent post, Wendy. Thanks Gwen for hosting.

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Gwen Plano
2/14/2017 16:05:40

Thank you for visiting, John. Wendy is amazing...

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Wendy Scott link
2/14/2017 17:20:22

Thanks John.

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Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko link
2/15/2017 09:38:34

Hi Wendy, I love your stories. I look forward to reading more. :D

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Wendy Scott link
2/16/2017 14:56:57

Thanks Joy - lovely to hear.
I always look forward to reading your book reviews because you tell it as you see it (read it).
I know its a good read if you've given it your approval.

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Peggy Hattendorf link
2/15/2017 12:23:33

Wendy, your advice on writing is so spot on. "Stop talking about writing and actually write . . .

Thanks Gwen for hosting Wendy.

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Gwen Plano
2/19/2017 07:30:41

Thank you for visiting, Peggy. It's a pleasure hosting Wendy.

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Lynn Hobbs link
2/15/2017 15:07:35

Great interview, Wendy, filled with excellent writing tips! Enjoyed your post on POV. Thanks for hosting, Gwen!

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Wendy Scott link
2/16/2017 14:57:38

Glad you enjoyed it, Lynn.

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Gwen Plano
2/19/2017 07:29:42

It's a pleasure hosting Wendy. Thank you for visiting, Lynn.

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D.L. Finn
2/15/2017 23:24:28

I really enjoyed getting to know Wendy.I am enjoying this format of question and answers. Good information with POV.

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Wendy Scott link
2/16/2017 14:59:47

Thanks D.L,
I always get a thrill when I read a book by an author 'I know'.
Maybe I'm a literary groupie?

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Yvette M Calleiro link
2/16/2017 04:45:08

I have several of Wendy's books on my TBR and I am really hoping to get to them soon. Thanks for letting us get to know her a little bit more today. :-)

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Wendy Scott link
2/16/2017 15:01:07

I'm delighted to hear you have my books on your reading list - thanks!

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Shirley Harris-Slaughter link
2/17/2017 16:42:28

Wendy Scott, it is a joy to learn more about you and its always a treat to have one's named mentioned. That has to be so uplifting to the author. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us.

Reply



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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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