I’m actually quite sad to see 2017 go. This is the year I wrote my first draft. I shall always remember it fondly. How did I do it? I used tools and toys. I have mixed feelings about them. Paying for these things kind of feels like buying exercise equipment. I have good intentions and […]
People often think of Christianity as a kind of bargain in which God says “If you keep a lot of rules I’ll reward you, and if you don’t, I’ll do the other thing. “ I do not think that is the best way of looking at it. I would much rather say that every time […]
I wrote about 15k words and got about 10k in notes done before holiday projects for the day job struck me down like an avalanche. It certainly felt like an avalanche. Note to self: people who do online retailer support for a living can’t do much else in November. So yeah, I don’t think I’ll […]
The first time I was published was in 2006, in an anthology by Roy H Williams. You can see and download it here: People Stories It’s an actual book. I have it on my bookshelf. My essay is on page 178 __________________________________________________ Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 01:53:50 -0800 (PST) To: Corrine@WizardAcademy.com Subject: the challenge […]
So Dean Koontz had a pep talk today. An excerpt follows but you can read the whole thing here. My second literary agent was a great guy. We became friends. He did good things for my career. Then he began to decline one book pitch after another: “I can’t market this. You’re pitching bestsellers, but […]
So today I wrote words. More than 1667 words, which is important. It’s my first full Nanowrimo. I’ve done several Camp Nanos. This is different. People meet up to write together and try not to distract each other. I find that both mystifying and comforting. Here are things I looked at today for Chapter Two […]
This is my scene map. The thing right now that I’m doing is filling in the “issues” column and then notes from Critters on plot/structure. (This method is explored fully in this book, which I highly recommend) It’s somewhat hellish. There are many issues. Right now they’re ranging from…”Why is this character here?” to…”wow you […]
I kind of think I can’t write anymore until I do what I said I would. I gotta spend about 3 days critting and leaving some reviews. There’s a simple principle. If you want to receive you must give. It’s selfish and manipulative to give because you want to receive. I admit that. But I […]
So yesterday in the midst of my research, I discovered a few amazing things about Stonehenge First thing? It sings. Yes if you google “Sonic stonehenge” (and thrill a bit over the Whovian search parameter) you find quite a bit about it. You can hear some of it here. Untitled from Landscape Perception on Vimeo. […]
Sue Monk Kidd wrote a book called When the Heart Waits that speaks to my soul more with each passing year. I read it in my 30s. In it, she introduced the concept of “remaining in my questions.” As an impetuous Type A who thinks too much, I have lots of questions. John Eldredge talks […]
I’ve been dealing with my second draft and I knew it needed something. I knew it was missing the weight I wanted and I knew I needed massive changes. Overhaul. The Longsuffering Editrix® tried in her ever so subtle way to explain what it was. I didn’t get it. I’m obtuse sometimes. Then I read […]
So I whittled my 135k word book down to 17k for a contest. And to see if I could. It took me three days and I learned much about myself and about my story. Here’s why it helped me. Editing this book is really daunting. It gave me a manageable goal. I have a lot […]
Editing is where books go to die. A new acquaintance on Twitter said this to me. He’s right, and I didn’t laugh. I winced. I’ve had insanity hit me these last weeks with my business and my family. It’s been unbelievable, with my stress levels completely maxed. It’s making it hard to edit, especially when […]
I posted a book quote today that excerpts the chapter wherein the title of the book is explained. It appears in the Lorica as well. I’m still wrestling with this idea, and whether or not it has been adequately explained and demonstrated. So I want to sort through it a bit here, if you’ll bear […]
One of my friends/readers (@FaeraLane on Wattpad) made this for me. I love it and am so touched!
Got my first rejection this week! Woot! that is all.
Sorting through an idea. I am editing my book. Actually I am waiting on a last round of feedback before I rewrite it. I’ve realized I’m basically going to rewrite it at least four times. So yes, I’m going to read it out loud to myself and all but I know there is a fundamental […]
This is a short story I wrote for fun. It isn’t fantasy but it’s a hoot. I hope you enjoy it. The lemon meringue pie at Patti’s in Grand Rivers, Kentucky boasts a height of 4 feet, six inches. It takes two men four days to eat one, and a slice tastes better than ambrosia. […]
I think there’s a little escapist in every writer. What other kind of person willingly dreams while conscious and records it? Then we spend hours refining our thoughts so others can more easily join us in our dreams. A theme of scifi recently has been the problems inherent in “Second Life” type gaming or VR […]
So, all I have read led me to believe I had to give my manuscript, AKA Baby, over to my longsuffering editrix® in order to make edits. She reads. I get feedback. I edit. Not so. Though I have been cautioned with balefire about making structural edits without her, I am able to edit. Pitchwars […]
You know, sometimes you just gotta go for it. I know I finished my first draft literally seven days ago. I know I’ve been in the throes of self-hatred. And you know what we do when stuck in a funk? We jump into a new challenge! So I submitted to Pitchwars like an hour before […]
Blast it all, writers write. My book is likely terrible. I shall love it anyhow and finish my story. I am finished with the wallowing, thank you very much. I am resigned that even if no one likes it or gets it, I’m finishing what I started. I’m off to write the sequel to Sorrowfish. […]
I got three ideas today. The first was about time. Which wouldn’t be super pertinent, except that my expectations about the future shifted, a lot. So that was nice, and makes me feel like I won’t be so rushed on my writing. I’ll have the time to get better, and can take it. The second […]
So, I’ve finished my first draft. It already horrifies me and it’s only been in the drawer for a few days. I wobble between “That’s the worst piece of tripe ever written by anyone, ever. There is no saving it. Back to the ranks of voracious readership/hobbyist with you!” and “It has potential to not […]
First draft done. 135,085 words I shall now resume my other life until further notice.
So yesterday was a down day for me on writing. I spent a long time discussing plot with Rod and decided my pacing was off and I needed a break. Took it but read some helpful things. So the first resource I found was from reading Alec Hutson’s thread on Wattpad. If you’re self-publishing, it’s […]
Apparently this isn’t new, but this week as I got to the last of my chapters (I have about 3 left to write) I was hit with full-blown hatred for my story. I am certain its the worst piece of fiction ever penned and should be burned and never see the light of day. It’s […]
I just now understand my villains and know what happened to Darmon and Doran and the Cyntae. I have six chapters left. Liz Gilbert has a theory about all of us having a genius that I embrace with all of my heart. She says they are like Dobby the house elf, these geniuses and if […]
There is only one 60-year-old character on television. He’s been a staple to British culture and generations of children have looked up to him. I’ve been a Whovian since the reboot with Christopher Eccleston. My gamertag is R1verS0ng. I drive a Mini Cooper CARDIS. It’s bigger on the inside. I carry a sonic screwdriver in […]
I wanna cuss. A lot. I try actively not to cuss, so this is a problem. I’m gonna sort through my big issue here. I’ve been broiling, stewing over it for 5 days. Wasting time. Okay so there are different elements I need to make sure are in my story. And looking at it, I […]
I dashed off an entry for That Thorn Guy’s contest. Here it is. It’s called “Baptism” Day broke when he stabbed my heart. Ritual sin cleansed by pain, my life leaked from that wound. I suddenly believed in ancient medicine. You could be bled to health. He vomited. It splattered on my black duster and […]
I do a lot of research and looking at photos to write description. I got to read a lot of fun tweets during #CampNanoAdvice today and discovered that I’m not alone there. I’m also a developer and designer so I thought I might share tools you other writers would enjoy using. DuckDuckGo is actually my […]
I’m trying to sort through the different methods I’ve seen of dealing with political structures in epic fantasy. A big part of me is tempted to shirk my duty to develop this thoroughly, making up what I need and leaving the rest. I have four books to write. That’s a stupid-cop out that will cost […]
Stuff from Twitter I need to refer to. Struggle with Show & Tell? Here's when you should "TELL" https://t.co/NTfCtzWzIu #writing #writetip pic.twitter.com/flDeuqWXUD — Angela Ackerman (@AngelaAckerman) June 29, 2017 https://twitter.com/beccapuglisi/status/877916781029052421 Show Not Tell (1) https://t.co/yv4p88B5hd pic.twitter.com/8RIGbtKCyu — Manaiakalani Cluster (@clusternz) June 2, 2017 THIS. Been reading/reviewing books for YEARS, and the most fundamental writing […]
So I’m just going to do a mini round-up of fantasy map resources. I researched this quite a bit when I was making my map, pictured here. My map still isn’t geographically correct. It might change a little or become more detailed, but for now, it suits me. I need to add in scale. Deserts […]
I started my first draft about two and a half years ago, maybe three. I joined a crit site and put up my initial chapters and was soundly berated for my use of adverbs. I quit, shoved it aside for months. Then I came back to it. I decided to enter the Fantasy/SciFi contest put […]
So occasionally I hit snags in writing. I won’t know how to describe things. It’s a fantasy world. I can do what I want. But what I want is to remain mostly consistent on the level of tech. This world doesn’t have tech because it has magic. It never needed it. But then the magic […]
Listening to this: and the other 4 of them. Then I’m working with the Snowflake Method too. Camp Nano is in a week and I’m trying to lay the groundwork. I did okay last time. I wrote like 49.96k words out of my 50k, but I did it in a week because I had a […]
One of the numerous reasons I love Camp Nano is that they give us resources and wonderful discounts on things that cost money. Scribophile is free, but has a premium option. For my friends who are familiar, it works much like #NBR*. You have a spotlight, get critiques and earn more spotlighting by giving thoughtful […]
So I’ve recently dealt with my magic system, working out some kinks. Brandon Sanderson has this famous set of teachings on magic systems. He refers to them as hard and soft. So basically, if you have rules and explain your magic system then it’s a hard magic system. If you don’t explain anything and stuff […]
