Writing a Novel isn't a cake walk...

There are far too many people out there who, when hearing about someone writing a novel, say, "I thought about doing that," "that's easy, anyone could do it," or my favorite, "I want to write one about my life story."

What most people fail to realize, is it's not that easy. So many people attempt to start a novel and never get to finish it. Most lose ambition when they realize how hard it actually is. So what makes writing so difficult?

Scenes: When writing a scene..one single scene...in a fiction novel requires more than one would think. First, it requires the characters. They have to feel real. Their responses must be a real life response someone would say or do. It has to sound competly natural...without actually being natural (really, go to your local Wal-Mart and listen to the way people actually talk). It has to be paced. Not fast, not slow, but perfect for that individual scene. The world around the characters needs to be real, even if it's a fantasy land, it still needs to be real to that world.

Voice: You have to find your own, unique writing voice. This comes with practice. Put yourself into your characters heads, become them while you're writing them, and find your writing voice. Don't try to write like Stephen King or Richelle Mead...that won't happen. It'll sound all wrong and be horrible. Find your own voice.

Characters: As I mentioned above, each character has to feel like a real person. Each one with a different fear, a different dream...a different voice. They have wants and hopes, a past that made them the person they are. Each and every character needs to be an individual.

Make sure you look into the Genre you're writing. Each Genre has their own set of rules. Some only allow certain things, and each has their own set of word lengths. Never forget, the word length isn't what's displayed at the bottom of Word. Each page is counted as 250 words. Forget about format and editing until you're all done writing. That makes life easier.

Never forget to read. Read, read, read, and read. Just like with any thing out there, you have to learn to do. For writers, the best text book you can receive on writing is reading. Even if it's a horrible book. That will get you thinking, "I can do better than that. I WILL do better than that." Or if it's an amazing one. It'll inspire you to write. The more you read, the more you learn about writing.

Book Tour

I thought I would give everyone some samples of the reviews I received along the book tour! So...here ya go.
 "There is a whole new twist on the zombies like how they became zombies and on the way or how humans could become a zombie. Candis Vargo has written a phenomenal story about zombies that will stay with me for a very long time.Eternal Revelations had me hooked from the very first page and I couldn't put it down until I was finished not that I wanted it to end. I wanted it to go on forever. I can't wait for the next book Eternal Hell."-- the-avidreader.blogspot.com
"The plot is original and full of morbid scenes. I have to read to know what's going to happen. At least for me it wasn't predictable at all. The descriptions are so well made that I could perfectly picture the scenes in my mind, almost like I was watching a movie, even when things happen really fast. I know there's a sequel for this book and I can't wait to read it. I recommend it if you like zombies and supernatural, and if you want to read a book full of action scenes."--http://english-written-portairt.blogspot.pt/
And part of another review from mycoziecorner.blogspot.com: "Candis pens "Eternal Revelations" in a unique plot centering around humanity that depends on the children of the earth to save it.A must read for all mystery, horror, thriller fans." Eternal Hell is out now, and Eternal Suffering, the third installment in the Eternal series will be out this summer! And for those of you that don't know..that's me rocking the cover of Eternal Revelations!!!

Giveaway!!

Who doesn't like to get a free book? I know I'm always excited to get any new book I can get my hands on, and if it's free it's always ten times better! Well, here's your chance to enter for a free copy of my novel Eternal Revelations. Just click below and enter! Enjoy!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Eternal Revelations

by Candis Vargo

Giveaway ends December 14, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Reviewers

I'm undergoing the long process of looking for people with Blogs to review my books. It's much harder than I ever thought it would be. I guess it should be worth it in the long run but the more I look at the computer the more my head hurts. I know, I know, it might help if I actually wore my glasses.

Other than that it's nice seeing people review my books on Amazon. I enjoy seeing what they have to say and I can't help going in and seeing what other books they've reviewed! So if you're someone who has reviewed my books, thank you!! You rock! If not, what the heck are ya waiting for?! Just kidding...sort of.

My head is actually hurting right now, so this post is going to be short. But maybe when I learn to wear my glasses like I should I'll be able to make a nice post again. Fare the well for now.

Getting back in the groove.

So, I'm finally able to get myself back in the groove of blogging and writing. Do you ever notice how everything seems to go wrong at the same time? Here's how it's been since I've last been on...

My van practically craps the bed. Nothing like stalling while you're going 55 down the road! And the back window in our truck decides to blow out...really? Come on! On top of that, my 3yr old broke our flat screen TV when he decided to try and Swiffer it while I was doing dishes...back to the tube TV we go. So much for the HD. And now Hubby thinks we're not buying another TV until the child I'm pregnant with goes to college (but I'm still working on convincing him otherwise). Oh yeah, and while working on two different birthday cakes for my mom and her boyfriend, who's birthdays are one day after another (and he's a twin, so it had to be a cake for his brother too), some way some how...something manages to fall off of the top of my fridge and smack the glass on my oven. Of course it was shattered. Yes, hubby is saying we're not getting another one of those either.

So...after working on cakes for 3 days, they're finally done the morning of the party. My friend Steph and her two kids, who are the same age as my two, come up and helps me get my house in tact for the guests and as we're doing up dishes (yeah, my dishwasher ALSO decides it doesn't want to clean the dishes? WTH?) All of a sudden we hear, "Mooooooooom! Someone got into the cake!"

Yeah, I guess if I had room in my fridge I could have put it in there, but no. I had to leave it on the dining room table. Yay me. So apparently my youngest decided to take his Chuggington choo choo train through the entire cake! So what started out looking like a truck, looked like a wrecked truck. I gave up. I didn't even care to try and fix it!

So to end this mindless rant, I'm back to working on Eternal Suffering, the third installment in my Eternal series! :)

Books for Troops

So, I have decided to start something new called Books for Troops. It supports our men and women over seas so please...read on.

I was talking with my brother in law the other day, who is currently deployed, and he said he couldn't wait to come home to get my new book and it gave me the great idea of sending him and some of his buddies free copies of my books which I would sign for them. That, in turn, got me thinking some more. If I can order my books for much cheaper than the customers (joys of being the Author) why don't I try to get people to donate and possibly help send as many books over seas to our Troops?

It doesn't have to be a lot. Five dollars is enough. One dollar from several people add up. And it all goes towards books for our men and women fighting for this Country. I will use the money to buy copies of my Novels in the Eternal Series and ship them over seas. If this goes well and continues when my brother in law comes back, they seem to always know someone who is over there, and I will continue to gather addresses and shipping books.

So please, if you would like to be part of this and help give our Troops some more entertainment, please feel free to use the button to the right and donate something...anything, to help me send books to our Soldiers.

I will in turn make sure my brother in law sends me pictures of him and his buddy's holding up the copies of the books!

Eternal Revelations

Since I'm in book mode today, I figured I would post a blurb of my new novel, Eternal Revelations. No, it hasn't been released yet, but I will be sure to post when it does. Here it be:

A Child. The Devil. The Fate of Humanity.

After millions of people vanish and the dead rise to spread plague over the Earth, 23 year-old Evelyn and her brother join with a small group as they fight for survival. As the plague spreads and the number of the Reanimated rise in humans and animals alike, there isn’t anything man made that is strong enough to hold them off.

The Anti-Christ, who unknowingly to humans has inhabited the Earth for years, begins to follow Evelyn and her group after they manage to find one of the only children left on the Earth—who is Autistic—since the remaining children are the only chance the human race has at defying the Devils plans.

Of all the horrors the Earth now holds, none are comparable to how treacherous the living become once their humanity is thrown out the window. Evelyn realizes survival isn’t just fighting for your life but fighting for your humanity in a world of terror.

Join the fight for survival against the undead and beasts released straight from the pits of Hell.