How to: Create Photo Frame for Book Reviews

I started this new image creating thing when I review books, and I'd like to share it with you. I don't use a professional camera believe it or not. (actually that's believable). I use my ipod touch camera and use several apps to perfect the photo.

First thing I do is I take the picture. Plain and simple right? Well, you have to get it in the right lighting and and take several photos to decide which one is the best. I usually take at least five pics for each pose I want the book to have, but lately I've gotten the hang of it and only need two to three. Lighting can be quite difficult during the rainny season or if you live in a place that rains almost 365 days a year. ;(

Next thing I do is pick the photo from the ones you have already shot. I decide on them by how crisp you can read the title and the lighting of course. I don't like to look at a book cover if it wasn't in it's best state. Just saying, :D. Then I have several apps that help me combine the three pictures you see in my reviews and how I crop and all that stuff.

From left to right: built in apple ipod touch camera app
, wallpaperHD, PS(photoshop) Express,
Intagram, Pic Stitch, Pinterest, Snapspeed

So, I have this folder on my ipod where I put all the apps I need for photos and anything that involves photography.

First off, after I pick my three photos I automatically use the built in photos app and use the auto-enhance tool because it's always good to have a starting basis that isn't that bad. This usually just makes it brighter and easier to read or look at.

Then I use the PS Express, it's not as great as the real photoshop that I use at school, but you know, you use what you've got. I many use this app for their exposure tool, saturation, and contrast. Sometimes  I may also crop my photos with this, but not often.

Next, comes the big guy. I use pic stitch as I think my main all around editor, cropper, and finisher. The main point to the app is actually combine photos together in a frame like manner. Though, I do use that for the frames I love the options they have for editing photos. I use many of their tools, such as: enhance (preferably auto or balance), orientation (if need), crop, brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. I also think that their draw tool can be useful, but I don't use it for my blog.

That is the majority of what I use to make the photo frames for my book reviews. All of the apps I use are free and I'm pretty sure they can be used with out internet. So, when I'm anywhere and waiting in line I'd take my ipod out and edit my photos that I had taken of for that week. I personally love to do these photos and I find myself editing a two or three photos in thirty minutes. Gah!

 Something that I'd like to share is the WallpapersHD app I found. It updates it's photos everyday and there photos are top notch. I usually don't have to edit them, but sometimes if I'm bored I will and make them mine. Many of my Writing to Wednesday posts are using those photos I've found on there. I love looking through their large selection and it is also something else I enjoy immensely. 

How I Start to Write a Novel (A Writing to Wednesday)

I've been writing since I was in pre-school and I loved it. I love to learn new words. I'm not that big of a fan with grammar like most people. I have my share of trial and error with trying to start a long project of writing a novel. So I thought I'd like to share some tips and tricks that might help you.

I like to be motivated. The best way to be motivated for me is to set a schedule or deadline to write a chapter or up to a certain part in the novel I want to be. This way I don't lazy and forget about the idea or loose anything that I want to incorporate in the novel. Also this way I don't keep putting it off that I just don't write it.

Know your characters. This one is easy for anyone who starts out with characters and then builds the world around them. That's what I do. I like to have realistic characters that are partially based off of people I know. Some of my characters have multiple traits of many people I know and that makes someone new and also someone you know. This way you stay true to you're characters and don't make them decide to do things when you secretly know that that will never happen.

Write for your characters, not for you. This way you are writing to or for someone. You're not writing because you like to. You write because you have to release these people or characters and ideas you have to ink. My favorite author, Stephanie Meyer (yes Twilight) said once that she had to write Bella's story with Edward. She couldn't just leave these people alone. That might seem strange to an outsider, but if you write  long enough and avidly you know that you write because you think about them in your dreams and right before you fall asleep.

Don't force yourself. If you force yourself I find that all that work and time you spent writing nonsense just to fill in words and have a larger word count is going to be cut when you revise. Write until you can't, breathe until you don't, and rest until you wake. Take that into consideration when you write. Take a walk if you have writer's block, or take a break and have a night out in the town. The only way to write is to live first.

Meet people. Talk to people on the train. Don't go talk to anyone you see, but be friendly and say high or talk about the whether. If the other person want to continue the conversation and seem interested then they know. This way you get a broader sense of mundane or not so mundane people where you live. Don't go asking random people their life story.

Write what you know. I know you heard this many times, but seriously you need to write what you know, or what you will ultimately learn or find out to create this novel or book. Don't go writing about a town in Minnesota when you've never been there. Almost all the books I read the author of the book has lived or been there before and stayed for long periods of time. Again don't go writing about being on a cruise ship when you've never been.

Keep you're mind open. Don't let your mind close up and only limit yourself to read about a certain genre or subject to become an expert in the field. There are many things in the world that connect to other lines of communication and education. Also it's not fun to research about France, when you really want to read about the rainy days of Seattle.

Edit. Edit. Reread. Edit. Reread. Edit. Edit. Edit. I don't think there is much to explain, but being a writer is just that. You have to write and write until you have an idea of everything you want to put in. Then let your mind simmer in the fact that you made a very rough draft of something that could make millions. Next you have to edit like there's no tomorrow. I remember reading somewhere that the author's favorite part of their story is the worst part because it's making it for you not the characters. Rereading can eliminate any errors and second thoughts you might have on a scene or a whole chapter or character.

These are just some main points that I keep in mind when I'm writing. There are many more little tips and tricks and if you'd like I could make another one more detailed. If there is anything big that I didn't mention please comment below and I hope you are successful at writing.

Best of luck,
Clara