Honestly, there are times when I swear I'm like a cow with a wad of grass in my mouth and just chewing away....
Characters keep changing - sometimes growing, sometimes fading. I hate the little moments of 'sick stomach' when I know I don't know who that person is who just popped in. The main character gets a wee bit 'tame' and I've got to use a jolt of electricity or something to get her/him exciting again.
I suppose, as human beings, we feel that way sometimes. We just meander about, wondering where we are and what we're doing. Perhaps I should USE that and let the character just wander - for a VERY short time! I think that would work.
I've been watching kids a lot lately - you know the age bracket that the kids in 'Blue' are - it is interesting and a bit scary. Kids can be so deep. They harbor all kinds of stuff. And yet, they are like skiffs on the lake when a storm comes up - not sure how to save themselves.
I certainly hope I can 'save' my character.... AND there is always hope!
Life is interesting.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Ran Out Of Ink
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.
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.
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)
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