The Tidy Guide to Self-Editing Your Novel by Rachel Aukes – Book Review

This book seeks to provide clear-cut and practical tips to editing your novel.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

Review: Following the pattern of the preceding book ‘The tidy guide to writing a novel,’  this book follows a clear, organised method to self editing your novel. This method is divided into headings and sub headings in a chronological order so that the reader may follow this step-by-step guide as they progress. This prevents the reader from getting lost in a theoretical pile and helps in better execution of the information.

This book helps the reader get acquainted with the different obstacles one has to face while editing and the practices that help overcome these hindrances. The author further addresses each heading/ element of editing separately, providing insight on the questions we should ask ourselves while editing and the loopholes we must avoid. The author also mentions snags, overused words and styles one must abstain from.

This book ends with a list of tips regarding replacement and removal of words and the usage of numbers while writing. Further, being a concise, 30 minute read, this book proves to be convenient and swiftly applicable.

Get it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2J6qrk1

~ Saadia

 

 

Words that move me | Dp self prompt

Words can create. Words can destroy. Words weave the stories we all love and the ones that make us cry are made up of words. Words are the most decent way to inflict pain and perhaps the most vicious. Words matter. Words move. Here are the words of great people who have made me question tradition:

1. “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.” ― Gilda Radner
2. “To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.” ― Arundhati Roy. (Arundhati Roy is a legend. Talk about guts, talk about courage)
3. “When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back.” – Paulo Coelho
4. 

I read this first in a youtube comment and then found the picture. Love it ❤

1. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ HARRY POTTER AND JUST WATCHED THE MOVIE, BELIEVE ME IT IS NOT FOR KIDS<,GET THE BOOKS AND READ AND IF, I REPEAT, IF YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED I WILL NEVER POST A BOOK RELATED THING EVER AGAIN. GO AND READ THE LEGENDARY BOOKS> YOU OUGHT TO LOVE THEM. The beauty of this truth moves me EVERY SINGLE time 🙂

~Saadia , {crafted with due love and respect}

Dear Pen

I make you bleed,

the blood stains my hands,

takes away the pain,

that had settled,

right here in my heart,

I love you for that,

for bringing back my sanity,

Picking you up and scribbling,

my thoughts, pouring my heart out,

I love you for that,

for always being there,

ready to lighten the weight,

I carry in my head.

I love you for when,

there is no friend left,

only you, dear pen,

I love you for that.

~ Saadia

The Sisterhood of the World Blogging Award

A big Thanks  to Life as I interpret it for this lovely acknowledgement. I appreciate your kindness with all my heart.

According to her nomination ,*the rules of this award are the followings (directly pasted from the post):

1. Thank the nominator and link their blog to your post.
2. Answer the 10 questions given to you.
3. Pass the award on to as many bloggers as you went and let them know.
4. Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog.

My questions for the nominees are the followings:

1. Which one of these you would like to imagine yourself in right now; beach or forest? Beach.

2. What are the 5 values you would like to see in the next generations? Honesty, fearlessness , selflessness, thirst for knowledge and kindness, basically values of every faction from Divergent :p

3. How would you like to be on a TV show? As a revolutionary politician.

4. What is your favorite food? Chocolate and cake 🙂

5. Is there any time that you have been kind to a stranger? Yes, once.

6. What is the most important financial issue you are tackling right now (if you are tackling)? I don’t own any money, prob a rupee coin, got novels for all the money I ever had .

7. If you must, which one of the followings would be your favorite exercise – walking, jogging, or team games such as basketball? walking.

8. Imagine you have a lovely cat; it is a hunter (naturally) and brings in and leaves a dead mouse in front of your front door. Would you freak out like me at the sight of the mouse or would you pet your cat, making sure it feels great because it brought its gift to you? No, I’d freak out.

9. How do you think we can set our minds to become more grateful, kind, and cheerful? By looking at those who don’t have the privileges we have .

10. What makes you happy? 🙂 Food, hushed talks, running in a school ground, strolling, reading, buying books, writing 🙂

NOMINEES:

1.Life Confusions

2.The Wandering Poetdragoneystory.wordpress.com

3.Interesting Literatureinterestingliterature.com

4. Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blogthestoryreadingapeblog.com

5.Rethinking Lifegigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com

Choose Wisely

This life is your journey,

leave your mark,

As you choose for it to be,

either uphill or downhill,

choose wisely,

be careful what you wish for,

as it has setbacks,

boulders raining down,

in the path uphill,

be careful throughout ,

your decision making,

the journey is hard,

the view is breathtaking.

~ Saadia

The Liebster Award

One of my fellow bloggers, COURAGE COACH (https://couragecoach.wordpress.com/) nominated me for a Liebster Award! 🙂

A big thanks from the core of my heart 🙂

THE RULES:  (you can copy and paste these)               

– Insert the Liebster award logo in your post
– Thank and link those who nominated you
– (After reading the official rules) You also have to reveal 11 interesting facts about yourself!
– Answer the questions designated by the blogger who nominated you
– Nominate up to 11 other new bloggers with less than 100 followers
– Ask 11 questions of your own to your nominees that they have to answer
– Notify your nominees about The Liebster Award
– Include instructions of the process in your post

11 facts about me:

1.  I do not have a middle name .

2. My favorite quote at present is ‘ Throw me to wolves and I’ll come back leading the pack’ 😀

3. I used to play soccer in middle school. 😉

4. I love Enid Blyton’s work. She was a legend.

5. I hate narrow minded people who live inside their own bubble and choose not to feel for others, or to understand their suffering.

6. The first novel I read was ‘ Alice in Wonderland’.

7. The first poet I was influenced by was Robert Frost.

8. I believe that the people who try to point out everything wrong with a particular thing, instead on concentrating on its positive aspect are headed for self-destruction.

9. I have always preferred to be loved deeply than widely.

10. I was born on Christmas!

11. I do not like winters or the cold or rain or snow 😦

Her Questions to me:

1. Name two things/people that inspire you: J.K Rowling, Steve Jobs.
2. What is your current goal in life? To be a doctor .
3. Why is that goal important to you? I want to help people out of their sufferings and add a little piece of bliss to their lives.
4. Imagine the word LOVE written in giant letters on a movie screen, when you see this word up there, what do you feel or think of? All people loving each other irrespective of caste, creed, color, religion or ethnic group .
5. If you could travel anywhere in the world and money was not an issue, where would you go and why? California; for the sun and the beaches . I love warm weather 😀
6. What is your favorite food(s)? Chocolate, cookies and ice cream, simply, anything sweet.
7. How do you use your creativity? In writing poems.
8. What languages do you speak? English, Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri.
9. What is your favorite thing to do on your day off? Read novels, surf the internet and eat! 😛
10. What do you try to avoid doing? dancing or singing .
11. Do you have any pets? If yes which kind and if no, what kind would you like to have? We have half a dozen of chicks. The cutest and smallest ones ❤ ❤

I’d like to nominate:

1.johannisthinkingjohannisthinking.com

2.Rethinking Lifegigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com

3.Life as I interpret it

4.Window With A Viewrekhaaa.wordpress.com

5.themischiefmemoirsthemischiefmemoirs.com

6.MINDING MY P’S WITH Qthreepsandq.wordpress.com

7.Totally Inspired Mind…totallyinspiredpc.wordpress.com

8.Shifa Naseershifanaseerpoems.wordpress.com

9.The Midnight Stationthemidnightstation.wordpress.com

10.A Mixed Bag

11.nicodemasplusthree

Some of these bloggers may have more than 100 followers, but i tried my best to nominate bloggers under the criteria given .

My Questions for you:

1. What is your ambition in life?
2. Who’s your favourite author and poet?
3. How will you classify your eating habits: unhealthy, moderate or healthy?
4. What is/ was your favourite subject?
5. Would your 8 year old self be proud of who you are today?
6. What is your ultimate fear?
7. Are you a technology obsessed? Why or why not?
8. Are you a morning person?
9. Favourite quote?
10. Are you a pessimist or an optimist?
11. What are your thoughts on discrimination?

Have an amazing day everyone 🙂

3 DAYS 3 QUOTES CHALLENGE – DAY 1

A big thanks to the amazing Erika (Author Erika Kind ) for nominating me for this challenge. I think it is really fun!

The rules

• Thank the blogger, who nominated you.
• Post one of your favorite quotes (different quote on each day) on three consecutive days. The quote can be from your favorite book, author, or your own. Don’t forget to acknowledge the source.
• Nominate three bloggers to challenge them.

I decided to go with my own. I hope you like it 🙂

My nominees :

1.Art by Rob Goldstein

2.Source of Inspiration

3.Perspectives on Life, the Universe and Everything

~ Saadia

The Dragon’s Loyalty Award

Thank you very much Erika for this award. I feel very honored that you consider me as one of your nominees for this.

The rules:

1. Thank the nominator.
2. Pass it on, as per your will.
3. Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

7 FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I do not consider myself interesting , I don’t know why but I feel ordinary. Anways if you feel inclined, here are the other 6 facts:

2. I am very interested in dietics, nutrition and fitness.

3.  I am obsessed with Harry Potter series ( I love spells ) I think it has got me under the Imperius curse 😉

4. I hate people who lie. Unlike many people I just can’t stand liars more than any other type of people.

5. I strongly believe in equality between people of different color , religion or ethnic group. I face numerous people everyday who discriminate on the basis of these factors and I simply loathe that.

6. My favorite imaginary sport is Quidditch ( search it up on google) :p

MY NOMINEES:

1.The Wandering Poetdragoneystory.wordpress.com

2.Coffee fuels my photography!coffeefuelsmyphotography.com

3.a touch of my saint!touchofmysaint.wordpress.com

4.Perspectives on Life, the Universe and Everything

5.Just Blisstanveerrauf.wordpress.com

Good day!

The Starlight Blogger Award!

The rules for this award:

–Show off your award by posting the picture of it.
–Thank the person who gave you the nomination.
–Answer the 3 questions given to you.
–Pass on the award to at least six of your fellow bloggers and let them know of it.
–Give your nominees 3 questions to answer.

Thank you so much Nupur (Letters To Mowgli) for this beautiful award! You made my day! 🙂

Here are the questions:

1) What led you to writing? One fine day, I found a prompt in a book asking the reader to write a poem on a street vendor, I gave it a try, it came out immature but I loved writing, I developed my skill at it, so today here I am 🙂 You can find the first poem here on my blog  titled ‘Meeting a vendor’

2) How did you overcome the weakest point of your life? I had  a very low very low confidence. But the day I realized that confidence and belief in oneself was the key to real living, I started working towards developing my confidence. Blogging, public speaking and getting involved in public leadership have really helped  .

3) What is the one thing you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t done yet? Hmmmm…. I have a whole lot of list of things I want to do and haven’t like becoming an oncologist, converting my blog into a website and being a published author .( I was supposed to mention 1 but I am too excited , sorry :p

My nominees :

1. nicodemasplusthree

2. Author Erika Kind

3. Richard Ankers

4.Window With A View

5.Totally Inspired Mind…

6. PSEUDOMONAZ

My questions :

1. What is your hobby?

2. Three favorite books?

3. Favorite quote at the moment?

The Versatile Blogger Award, The Real Neat Blog Award and the Beautiful Blog Award

This is the biggest heading I’ve ever used for any post. Thank you so much Akhiz (Akhizmunawar.wordpress.com) for these beautiful awards. I am honored 🙂

I am going to do a mixed post ( bear with me)

The rules:

*Thank the people who nominated me, and add the pictures of the awards above. (DONE)

*Answer the questions.

1. Whats your Favorite Genre of Music ? British Pop.
2. Name of your Favorite author, your favorite book? Khaled Hosseini and Stephenie meyer are two of my favorite authors. I have no PARTICULAR ‘favorite’ book but I LOVE ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ , ‘The Kite Runner’ and the ‘Twilight’ series.
3. Whats your favorite TV show ? Sadly, I don’t watch T.V
4.  What advice would you like to give yourself if yo get a chance to travel; 10 years back in time? Have fun and don’t mind people who do not matter.
5. Again if you are given a time machine to see and visit the wonders of these civilization at their prime where will you go?… a. The Egyptian Civilization b. The Mayan Civilization c. The Mohenjodaro (Indus valley) civilization d. The Middle Ages (Europe and central Asia) e. The Mughal Empire f. Jurassic Period

ANSWER: I would go to the ‘ Mughal Empire’
6. Your Favorite Quote ? You are not a drop in the ocean, you are an ocean in a drop.~ Rumi
7. What are your thoughts on Coffee? I do not like coffee as I have said later in this post . I love tea, though .

( Thank you Akhiz for these interesting questions)

• Thank the person who gave you this award, and include a link to their blog.
• Next, select 10-15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly. (might I add they must be super-cool and totally deserve the nomination)
• Nominate those 10-15 bloggers for the Award — you may include a link to this site.
• Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things/facts about yourself.
  

My nominations

1.THE HEALING ARENA

2.Author Erika Kind

3.leaf and twig

4.Beautiful Insanity

5.Life Confusions

6.YasSarNal QuR’aN

7.Window With A View

8.Richard Ankers

9.bjsscribbles and photography

10YA BAKİ ENTEL BAKİ

Facts about me:

1. I have a massive sweet tooth. I don’t see the point of eating spicy food(sorry) but chocolate and cake and cookies .AH!

2. I love plants . Their growth and development is fascinating ❤

3. I used to be a girly girl when I was small, grew into a tomboy and today I am a casual(normal) person :p

4. I love people who spread positive vibes.

5. I love the sun. Summer is my fav (obvious) and plus I get to eat a lot of ice cream (back to 1) 😉

6. I still have the soul of a kid. My enthusiasm never dies down. They say that your sould never ages . That’s right.

7. I hate coffee. Unusual but that is me.

Have an amazing day! 🙂