Sunday, June 17, 2007
6/17 Update
Treischan Strength is still only half edited, it's been a busy couple of days. I completed a crit for my group, and have been thinking a lot about Forgotten Star. I'm implementing some character changes which makes a low level support character now very important. It really is important, because it'll explain some things about Crystal. I have to get to that this week.
That baby's birthday was a smashing success. She had a fun time and received cute gift. She really needed new toys so the timing was perfect. :) And today is Father's Day, so there will be little writing time...
That baby's birthday was a smashing success. She had a fun time and received cute gift. She really needed new toys so the timing was perfect. :) And today is Father's Day, so there will be little writing time...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
More Editing
Treischan Strength is coming along. A friend provided some feedback that melted the hurdle blocking my internal editor from the story. No, it's not perfect yet, but give me some time. I'm halfway through the piece tonight, I hope to finish it up tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
6/12 Update
I'm working on the Treischan Strength edit, and while I'm cleaning up grammatical issues and word choices, I'm pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. My writer's conscience consists of my muse hanging over one shoulder saying "It's beautiful! It turned out just the way I wanted it.", and my Editor hanging over the other shoulder red pen in hand. She shakes her head and scribbles across the top of the first page. "You need more distance." I don't want to pass it on to my crit group without knowing that it's as good as can be. I need to give it a major edit before I use that kind of resource (crits don't come for free, so I try to use the groups carefully). So, I'm editing what I see needs fixing for now, and then I'm going to pass it by my first readers for some opinions. (If you want to help me out, drop me an email within the next week please!)
Winter Warrior keeps dancing on the sidelines, which is good. Forgotten Star is also coming along - I'm organizing the madness that use to be my folder of notes, and trying to put them to use. Katlana's new name is Talanna. I like it, but I haven't written with it yet. I'll be doing that later today. I completed Myrddin's crit, and moving on to another one. I think this is the last one I need to hit backstory (in the form of 3/4s of a novel in order to crit. So here on out, the critting should be a little easier.
Winter Warrior keeps dancing on the sidelines, which is good. Forgotten Star is also coming along - I'm organizing the madness that use to be my folder of notes, and trying to put them to use. Katlana's new name is Talanna. I like it, but I haven't written with it yet. I'll be doing that later today. I completed Myrddin's crit, and moving on to another one. I think this is the last one I need to hit backstory (in the form of 3/4s of a novel in order to crit. So here on out, the critting should be a little easier.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
6/09 Update
Tons of complications this week, but I still managed to get a lot done.
* June Challenge: SF story scene Midnight Rainbow done (and it's got the potential to be a children's story)
* Winter Warrior: decent amount of "casual" worldbuilding, this character is talking to me while I drive.
* Forgotten Star: came up with a different name for Korin's sister, which is still holding me back from completing this chapter.
* The Crossing: two edit passes, doubled the story length; however I'm still having issues with the opening paragraph.
* Silver Griffin Crit: took a lot longer than I would have liked, but I'm almost done. I need to finish some notes and review my line edits before I can post it for Myrddin tomorrow.
Next week is going to be rough on writing, but I'll do what I can. Baby's birthday party is on Saturday, so I have tons of house cleaning and such to handle before then. :)
* June Challenge: SF story scene Midnight Rainbow done (and it's got the potential to be a children's story)
* Winter Warrior: decent amount of "casual" worldbuilding, this character is talking to me while I drive.
* Forgotten Star: came up with a different name for Korin's sister, which is still holding me back from completing this chapter.
* The Crossing: two edit passes, doubled the story length; however I'm still having issues with the opening paragraph.
* Silver Griffin Crit: took a lot longer than I would have liked, but I'm almost done. I need to finish some notes and review my line edits before I can post it for Myrddin tomorrow.
Next week is going to be rough on writing, but I'll do what I can. Baby's birthday party is on Saturday, so I have tons of house cleaning and such to handle before then. :)
Friday, June 8, 2007
Edit: The Crossing
Thursday night was useless, I've been writing all week without a break, but it was needed. I had trouble getting started tonight, but managed to get myself in gear and got something done. I started and completed the second edit pass of The Crossing. Better dialogue, better action, and I hope the plot holes are fixed.
It's ready for crit now, so I'll just hold onto it for my crit group to get going. :) And now I get to start looking for markets to submit this.
It's ready for crit now, so I'll just hold onto it for my crit group to get going. :) And now I get to start looking for markets to submit this.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Editing, Editing, Editing
The Crossing has been edited, I am happy to say. I think it's really improved now. I may have to touch up a little here and there, but the plot is sound. It was hard to keep everything to "just the short story" as this is the short that sparked Winter Warrior.
Additionally, Valora doesn't work for Korin's twin in Forgotten Star. I have to go at it again.
Additionally, Valora doesn't work for Korin's twin in Forgotten Star. I have to go at it again.
Heroes
What is a hero? Someone who helps us, provides for us, who wants to see us succeed and is willing to do what is neccessary to get us there. They are the ones who don't ever ask for anything in return.
I've mentioned before how far I've come in the last 4 years of writing. What I haven't told you is that I've been writing for 9 years, and these last four have been astronomical in terms of my progress. I haven't done it alone. Today, I'd like to introduce you to one person who has impacted my writing and inspired me.
Lazette Gifford is the owner and administrator of Forward Motion, my writing home online. I found FM and signed up mid 2003. It was at this time that she took over managing the site, else it would have been abandoned. Zette didn't want this to happen, and took the reins which requires many hours of her own time which she previously spent writing, editing, and publishing.
Additionally, Zette doesn't just run the place, she loves this place, and she takes care of FM members. For instance, she has posted classes on short story writing (without which I'd never have completed any decent short stories). She schedules monthly challenges (inspiriation, she makes us write!). She has put herself in the role of teacher and mentor by writing and implementing a novel writing course that takes two years to work through. Zette starts a new class every year, which means she has two classes at once. I've taken this class, suffered through it (there were some very challenging lessons in there!).
My message to Zette today:
Thank you. Thank you for being my steadfast mentor, thank you for proving that a person can work like a dog and still make the time to write; thank you for loving writing and sharing that love; thank you for your everlasting patience; thank you for your professonalism; and thank you for believing.
My message to you, if you're a writer and you haven't been to Forward Motion: GO! Right now. See for yourself what this place is. For me, it's Writer Heaven!
Forward Motion - www.fmwriters.com
Vision - http://www.lazette.net/Vision/
Zette's website - http://www.lazette.net/
I've mentioned before how far I've come in the last 4 years of writing. What I haven't told you is that I've been writing for 9 years, and these last four have been astronomical in terms of my progress. I haven't done it alone. Today, I'd like to introduce you to one person who has impacted my writing and inspired me.
Lazette Gifford is the owner and administrator of Forward Motion, my writing home online. I found FM and signed up mid 2003. It was at this time that she took over managing the site, else it would have been abandoned. Zette didn't want this to happen, and took the reins which requires many hours of her own time which she previously spent writing, editing, and publishing.
Additionally, Zette doesn't just run the place, she loves this place, and she takes care of FM members. For instance, she has posted classes on short story writing (without which I'd never have completed any decent short stories). She schedules monthly challenges (inspiriation, she makes us write!). She has put herself in the role of teacher and mentor by writing and implementing a novel writing course that takes two years to work through. Zette starts a new class every year, which means she has two classes at once. I've taken this class, suffered through it (there were some very challenging lessons in there!).
My message to Zette today:
Thank you. Thank you for being my steadfast mentor, thank you for proving that a person can work like a dog and still make the time to write; thank you for loving writing and sharing that love; thank you for your everlasting patience; thank you for your professonalism; and thank you for believing.
My message to you, if you're a writer and you haven't been to Forward Motion: GO! Right now. See for yourself what this place is. For me, it's Writer Heaven!
Forward Motion - www.fmwriters.com
Vision - http://www.lazette.net/Vision/
Zette's website - http://www.lazette.net/
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Writing Update
Winter Warrior: I made the right decision to worldbuild Winter Warrior. Ideas on this world, the characters, and their goals/obstacles have started flowing.
Forgotten Star: I also realized in reviewing Forgotten Star that some character names need to change. Too many K names for prominent characters in the story. Crystal and Korin work well together because the sound is pleasing but the words are visually different. Korin's twin Katlana is going to be renamed and I'm using the name Katlana for a character in Winter Warrior.
The Crossing: The short story edit is going better. I've decided to try another method and it seems to be helping. Previously I was printing, marking up the printed copy, then inputting changes. That's really duplciate work. I'm trying to edit right into the word document using the track changes feature, which I don't have much experience using. I used it last night, and made it through a severe edit with only a little elbow grease. Of course, it took me an hour to edit a single page, but it's much better than it was before.
Critiquing: I've read all the material (backstory and current chapter) for Myrddin's crit. A lot has happened and I'm not sure I have a good feel for his writing style yet, but I'll muddle through. I see some places where I think I can help, so at the very least he'll get something from me.
Forgotten Star: I also realized in reviewing Forgotten Star that some character names need to change. Too many K names for prominent characters in the story. Crystal and Korin work well together because the sound is pleasing but the words are visually different. Korin's twin Katlana is going to be renamed and I'm using the name Katlana for a character in Winter Warrior.
The Crossing: The short story edit is going better. I've decided to try another method and it seems to be helping. Previously I was printing, marking up the printed copy, then inputting changes. That's really duplciate work. I'm trying to edit right into the word document using the track changes feature, which I don't have much experience using. I used it last night, and made it through a severe edit with only a little elbow grease. Of course, it took me an hour to edit a single page, but it's much better than it was before.
Critiquing: I've read all the material (backstory and current chapter) for Myrddin's crit. A lot has happened and I'm not sure I have a good feel for his writing style yet, but I'll muddle through. I see some places where I think I can help, so at the very least he'll get something from me.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
New Novel Project: Winter Warrior
Winter Warrior is my new novel project. Yes, I decided. No, I couldn't resist. Yes, I know I haven't finished Shadow of Blood. No, I'm not giving up on it. I'm committing myself to worldbuilding and outlining the new novel, probably for July. In the meantime, when ideas pertaining to this world come to me, I'll record them. I don't know when the writing will start, but I typically worldbuild for several months before I begin writing a first draft.
Writing isn't just inspriation: it's blood, sweat, tears, lots of printer toner and paper, lots of daydreaming and research, oodles of doubt and self pity, and forcing yourself to continue the story because once upon a time you saw hope in it. When Inspiration is gifted my way, I am compelled to receive it graciously.
Writing isn't just inspriation: it's blood, sweat, tears, lots of printer toner and paper, lots of daydreaming and research, oodles of doubt and self pity, and forcing yourself to continue the story because once upon a time you saw hope in it. When Inspiration is gifted my way, I am compelled to receive it graciously.
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