Been traveling. Usually, when on a plane, I just can't write. I always try. Always bring along my folder and pens. But usually the 'stress' of flying keeps me from being able to focus.
Not this time. Perhaps the fact that both flights were VERY long helped. Whatever happened, Im grateful. Wrote for an hour on the first plane and an hour on the second.
I'm sitting on the plane, enjoying the creativity.... and my pen runs out of ink. Now, I always carry more than one pen, but I decided to stop writing and wait for the trip to end. I'm going to enter it on the computer today or tomorrow.
One other thing - when I'm away from my writing for awhile, I find it 'odd' to restart. Most times, I go back and read what I've already done (just the last chapter) and then I close my eyes and try to envision what happens next. Really works every time.
This last bit was full of action, the next bit I thought would be to go to the next and final test for my poor hero/heroine. Not to be. The Muse decided it would be a time for retrospection. And it worked.
Honestly, writing can be such fun. Now that I've put all thoughts of publishing aside (I did that about 2 weeks ago), I find the joy of writing is back and am even having fun with editing.
Life is good.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Back to Work
Honestly, I've been back to work for awhile... back to writing, that is.
Editing on Monday showed me a problem with my map. When you create your own world, you've got to have a map. Otherwise, you've got folks walking to the next country that really isn't the next country. OR, you've got someone stating their lands border yours, when in truth, they're nowhere close. I know most people probably wouldn't even notice - but if one of my readers gets 'thrown out' of the story because I was stupid enough to put the wrong countries next to each other....
I thought I'd have to change where the countries were, due to such a discrepancy, but I was able to 'trim' the country's length and that kept one from bordering another. This was really the best solution - for any other way and I would have had to change way too much.
None of this really impacts the characters or the plot or the arc of the story, but it impacts me. I like things neat. I like to think my work is as perfect as I can possibly make it. It's not just the words (just - hah), but it's everything.
Life can be interesting.
Editing on Monday showed me a problem with my map. When you create your own world, you've got to have a map. Otherwise, you've got folks walking to the next country that really isn't the next country. OR, you've got someone stating their lands border yours, when in truth, they're nowhere close. I know most people probably wouldn't even notice - but if one of my readers gets 'thrown out' of the story because I was stupid enough to put the wrong countries next to each other....
I thought I'd have to change where the countries were, due to such a discrepancy, but I was able to 'trim' the country's length and that kept one from bordering another. This was really the best solution - for any other way and I would have had to change way too much.
None of this really impacts the characters or the plot or the arc of the story, but it impacts me. I like things neat. I like to think my work is as perfect as I can possibly make it. It's not just the words (just - hah), but it's everything.
Life can be interesting.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Boy Stories and Publishers
An article was posted at the New York Times - http://tv.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/arts/television/game-of-thrones-begins-sunday-on-hbo-review.html
I think it's gone viral, especially after this cartoon was posted. http://www.weregeek.com/2011/04/21/
After that, author George R.R. Martin, got into the fray. http://grrm.livejournal.com/210874.html
My goodness - this does raise my hackles.
As you know if you've been following my blog, I'm in the midst of writing a dragons, castles, and wizards book. My editor likes it, but says I've got to make sure it caters to 'boys' - She says publishers want 'boy' stories. Supposedly, boys read fantasy/sf more than girls.
I could just scream.... I cut my teeth on Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Norton, and others. AND I AM FEMALE.
I'll not make you endure the flame of my wrath here....
I also wrote a children's picture book. Same editor loved the concept but told me I had to change it from poetry (couplets) to prose. Publishers don't 'take' picture books written in poetry anymore.
My editor is fluent in the ways of publishers. I love my editor, I really do. She only speaks what she knows. This NYT article confirms it!
I hate this! It feels like the publishing industry is contributing to the 'dumbing' of America. (I'd use dumbing down but that's redundant and I refuse to contribute to the aforementioned phenomena.)
Stand up and shout, women of fantasy/sf. Let your voices be heard by buying these books. From small publishers! Let the big publishing houses think it's because of the iPad or Kindle or some such!
Where woudl Harry Potter be if JK had listened to this kind of rubbish!
*steps off soap box*
(Phew - glad I got that off my chest!)
((thanks to modelnut for the links)
I think it's gone viral, especially after this cartoon was posted. http://www.weregeek.com/2011/04/21/
After that, author George R.R. Martin, got into the fray. http://grrm.livejournal.com/210874.html
My goodness - this does raise my hackles.
As you know if you've been following my blog, I'm in the midst of writing a dragons, castles, and wizards book. My editor likes it, but says I've got to make sure it caters to 'boys' - She says publishers want 'boy' stories. Supposedly, boys read fantasy/sf more than girls.
I could just scream.... I cut my teeth on Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury, Norton, and others. AND I AM FEMALE.
I'll not make you endure the flame of my wrath here....
I also wrote a children's picture book. Same editor loved the concept but told me I had to change it from poetry (couplets) to prose. Publishers don't 'take' picture books written in poetry anymore.
My editor is fluent in the ways of publishers. I love my editor, I really do. She only speaks what she knows. This NYT article confirms it!
I hate this! It feels like the publishing industry is contributing to the 'dumbing' of America. (I'd use dumbing down but that's redundant and I refuse to contribute to the aforementioned phenomena.)
Stand up and shout, women of fantasy/sf. Let your voices be heard by buying these books. From small publishers! Let the big publishing houses think it's because of the iPad or Kindle or some such!
Where woudl Harry Potter be if JK had listened to this kind of rubbish!
*steps off soap box*
(Phew - glad I got that off my chest!)
((thanks to modelnut for the links)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
This Is Crazy
I plan on spending the morning editing the scenes I've 'blown up.' (Three parts for editing: does it need trimming, cutting entirely, or blowing up further to make it fuller, richer.)
Had to go through emails and blogs I follow first. I found this great quote from Peter Jackson, filmmaker, multiple Academy Award winner, and entrepreneur. (Edited to make room for my own meanderings!)
We always find there are three distinct phases. First, it exists before the film starts shooting. Then you start shooting and things come more into focus -- actors bring their skill to the roles and we see the characters in a more vivid and tangible way -- constant script revisions to meet the renewed potential these characters now have. The third has to do with the final cutting. http://www.thehobbitblog.com/
I am inspired when I see that the different disciplines of art all use the same process. PJ's ruminations confirm that with another discipline. I've got artists friends whose modus operandi is the same, too.
So – what I do is write the draft. Set the characters. And then let them grow. Each editing phase fertilizes the characters and they become more than I ever expected. What a delight this is. To grow myself and learn who my characters really are, what they value, who they love, etc. is such fun. Hopefully, by the final edit there are no surprises left. My characters and I know each other in intimate detail.
Life is interesting - bold and fun.
Had to go through emails and blogs I follow first. I found this great quote from Peter Jackson, filmmaker, multiple Academy Award winner, and entrepreneur. (Edited to make room for my own meanderings!)
We always find there are three distinct phases. First, it exists before the film starts shooting. Then you start shooting and things come more into focus -- actors bring their skill to the roles and we see the characters in a more vivid and tangible way -- constant script revisions to meet the renewed potential these characters now have. The third has to do with the final cutting. http://www.thehobbitblog.com/
I am inspired when I see that the different disciplines of art all use the same process. PJ's ruminations confirm that with another discipline. I've got artists friends whose modus operandi is the same, too.
So – what I do is write the draft. Set the characters. And then let them grow. Each editing phase fertilizes the characters and they become more than I ever expected. What a delight this is. To grow myself and learn who my characters really are, what they value, who they love, etc. is such fun. Hopefully, by the final edit there are no surprises left. My characters and I know each other in intimate detail.
Life is interesting - bold and fun.
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