Sorry for not posting my WiP updates yesterday...Cat was over and by the time she left I still had other things to do so blogging kind of took a backseat. There wasn't much to report, anyway, so there you go.
Today's post is another one that could become a weekly feature, but I don't know. On most of the forums that I post on, there is a thread called "The Question," which is updated every so often with, aptly enough, a question. On the writing forums, the question is anything writing-related (obviously) and ranges from grammar and structure to the infamous "what character would you spend the day with and why?"
Since I've already covered why I write (several times, actually--this is my favorite post about it), I'll throw out something else:
If writing was out, nobody else but those already published was allowed to do it, and you had to stop all of your recreational and creative writing (including diaries), what would you turn to for your creative outlet?
Okay, seriously. I think I stumped MYSELF with this one. NO writing? Not even my diary or blogs? Seriously? Well, after I recovered from my stroke (IF I recovered), I would probably turn to painting. I like to paint anyway, and though I'm not fantastic, I'm not too horrible, either. The physical action of brushing paint on canvas (or paper) is very stimulating and, for me, it's such a rush. Not as big a rush as writing, but what is?
So what about you guys? Care to answer my most evil of questions? ;)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The Tuesday of the Teases
It's Tuesday, and I've decided to go ahead and throw a Teaser Tuesday at you. A lot of you have asked several times in the past, and since I've talked about tSotD on this blog before and I've emailed drafts to myself over the past few months for backup purposes, I really don't feel like thievery will be an issue...anyway.
All I have for you today is a newly retooled blurb (which a few of you have already read), because the scene I wanted to share with you today is in the middle of heavy revisions. I've changed a few minor plot lines, and the scene won't be ready until probably tomorrow. So I'll share that next week.
I feel like it's a lot more polished and way more on-track then past drafts. Lemme know whatcha think! :)
For generations the citizens of Adonia have suffered, ground beneath the heels of corrupt kings and unjust laws. Fear and chaos run rampant and the time has come for the people to rebel and take charge of their own lives. The members of the resistance, taking their only chance and risking everything, spirit away twin infants of great power, hiding them in our own world and praying that one day the children can return and save Adonia from destruction.
Eighteen years later, Valerian and Astra are living a completely normal life, unaware of their true home, the looming revolution, and the violent role they must play. When the leader of the resistance storms into their lives, they follow him, hoping they will find what they have been missing all these years: a home, a family, and answers to the questions that shape not only their futures, but the fate of all Adonia.
But the path to Valerian and Astra’s enlightenment is slick with blood. For if the twins do not emerge from the palace with the king’s head, not only will the country fall, they will be on the line themselves, accused of treason—for which the only punishment is death.
All I have for you today is a newly retooled blurb (which a few of you have already read), because the scene I wanted to share with you today is in the middle of heavy revisions. I've changed a few minor plot lines, and the scene won't be ready until probably tomorrow. So I'll share that next week.
I feel like it's a lot more polished and way more on-track then past drafts. Lemme know whatcha think! :)
For generations the citizens of Adonia have suffered, ground beneath the heels of corrupt kings and unjust laws. Fear and chaos run rampant and the time has come for the people to rebel and take charge of their own lives. The members of the resistance, taking their only chance and risking everything, spirit away twin infants of great power, hiding them in our own world and praying that one day the children can return and save Adonia from destruction.
Eighteen years later, Valerian and Astra are living a completely normal life, unaware of their true home, the looming revolution, and the violent role they must play. When the leader of the resistance storms into their lives, they follow him, hoping they will find what they have been missing all these years: a home, a family, and answers to the questions that shape not only their futures, but the fate of all Adonia.
But the path to Valerian and Astra’s enlightenment is slick with blood. For if the twins do not emerge from the palace with the king’s head, not only will the country fall, they will be on the line themselves, accused of treason—for which the only punishment is death.
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Characters Report--A Day in the Life
This is Pax. Jenna is off doing some research for another project (taking a break from revisions), and we tSotD characters are on a break. Since Jenna is trying to reform the blog, here, and get in some new, different types of posts...well, on behalf of all of the characters, I'd like to say that we want to step up. Mondays are always a drag (even the name is so boring. Mundane Monday. Yuck.), and we feel we can liven things up with a new feature called THE CHARACTERS REPORT.
Today it's a day in the life of a character.
You authors...well, we love you, but you're not exactly easy on us. We wake up when you do, and we're always around, searching, scanning for things that can help us improve ourselves, make us stronger characters and improve our stories. Kind of like you do. Some of us also try and play an active role in your lives, helping you out and providing advice or just relieving the stress and boredom that comes with life.
We get antsy, and we want to be worked with. After all, we're not technically "real" people, and we only exist on the page and in your imagination. And when you ignore us (and you do, far too often), we want to be able to get on that page and do something. But you keep ignoring us, until you can find "time" that "suits you" and when you don't have other "important" things to do.
Pfft.
When you do finally make time for us, you work us hard. And that's fine--hey, if it's the story, you've got to tell it. But all the same, we put up with a lot. Some of us die, some of us get tortured, some of us get ridiculed, some of us have a lot of stress throughout the story that we have to put up with. Among other things. But we do it anyway. After all, we are characters, and that is our job.
It's not easy, though. Sometimes we want to throw in the towel and say "forget it." We need breaks and want some time to ourselves, too. So when you go off and take your breaks, so do we. And you know what? Breaks are nice.
You're not the only one who has it tough. I mean, after all, we're the ones living this stuff, and we're the ones confined to your heads. You think you're crazy? What about us? Can you say cabin fever? It gets frustrating.
But, even though you really put us through our paces, we love it. It's where we're us, and it's where we grow and change. Who says fiction isn't real? Sure, it's "imaginary," but we're people, too. Too many people forget that for my liking. Sure, we're fictional, but we're still real. So treat us like it. Don't make us cardboard and crap. Real, breathing people, okay? At least in your head and on the page.
Character power!
--Pax.
* Note from Jenna: All information presented in this post is based on the personal experience of Pax Eurion and her character comrades. Some of you might not be as mean to your characters as I am to mine, or as crazy as I am...
Today it's a day in the life of a character.
You authors...well, we love you, but you're not exactly easy on us. We wake up when you do, and we're always around, searching, scanning for things that can help us improve ourselves, make us stronger characters and improve our stories. Kind of like you do. Some of us also try and play an active role in your lives, helping you out and providing advice or just relieving the stress and boredom that comes with life.
We get antsy, and we want to be worked with. After all, we're not technically "real" people, and we only exist on the page and in your imagination. And when you ignore us (and you do, far too often), we want to be able to get on that page and do something. But you keep ignoring us, until you can find "time" that "suits you" and when you don't have other "important" things to do.
Pfft.
When you do finally make time for us, you work us hard. And that's fine--hey, if it's the story, you've got to tell it. But all the same, we put up with a lot. Some of us die, some of us get tortured, some of us get ridiculed, some of us have a lot of stress throughout the story that we have to put up with. Among other things. But we do it anyway. After all, we are characters, and that is our job.
It's not easy, though. Sometimes we want to throw in the towel and say "forget it." We need breaks and want some time to ourselves, too. So when you go off and take your breaks, so do we. And you know what? Breaks are nice.
You're not the only one who has it tough. I mean, after all, we're the ones living this stuff, and we're the ones confined to your heads. You think you're crazy? What about us? Can you say cabin fever? It gets frustrating.
But, even though you really put us through our paces, we love it. It's where we're us, and it's where we grow and change. Who says fiction isn't real? Sure, it's "imaginary," but we're people, too. Too many people forget that for my liking. Sure, we're fictional, but we're still real. So treat us like it. Don't make us cardboard and crap. Real, breathing people, okay? At least in your head and on the page.
Character power!
--Pax.
* Note from Jenna: All information presented in this post is based on the personal experience of Pax Eurion and her character comrades. Some of you might not be as mean to your characters as I am to mine, or as crazy as I am...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Reform!
Hello again, everyone! I hope you had a great week last week. I wound up getting pretty swamped with Christmas wrapping and cleaning and baking and babysitting while my mother locked herself in her room to wrap our presents and all that mess. So yeah. Lots of stuff.
But now I'm back! Yay! Right?
Anyway.
Today was pretty chill. We hit the bookstore earlier, and I bought a couple of new books that I'll be reading over the next week. Nothing big, just a few new reference books. I've also done a few revisions, which is awesome. This week I'm planning on kicking back and getting at least through chapter seven.
I'm going to do a bit of an overhaul here at As the Plot Thickens and change some things up. I've been trying to read a new book a week (which, so far, has failed horribly) and review it over at The Delusional, but I'm thinking I might move that over here. Also, several of the comments and emails I've been getting have asked if I can do a few more updates each week and talk more about my writing. So I'm going to start doing that.
I love doing the advice and theory posts, and apparently you guys love reading them. But I'm thinking of toning those back--after all, I'm not exactly experienced in the publishing world. I'm not even currently querying. Plus, as much fun as it is to write those posts, it is a lot of work to come up with fresh topics that I feel are helpful and that I actually know enough about. So I'm thinking two a week, three tops. We'll see how that goes.
Beyond that, though, I'm completely open to suggestions! If you have anything you want to see here, or just have an idea that you'd like to throw out, let me know!
I hope you all had a great Sunday, and I hope you have a fantastic week. :)
--Jenna.
But now I'm back! Yay! Right?
Anyway.
Today was pretty chill. We hit the bookstore earlier, and I bought a couple of new books that I'll be reading over the next week. Nothing big, just a few new reference books. I've also done a few revisions, which is awesome. This week I'm planning on kicking back and getting at least through chapter seven.
I'm going to do a bit of an overhaul here at As the Plot Thickens and change some things up. I've been trying to read a new book a week (which, so far, has failed horribly) and review it over at The Delusional, but I'm thinking I might move that over here. Also, several of the comments and emails I've been getting have asked if I can do a few more updates each week and talk more about my writing. So I'm going to start doing that.
I love doing the advice and theory posts, and apparently you guys love reading them. But I'm thinking of toning those back--after all, I'm not exactly experienced in the publishing world. I'm not even currently querying. Plus, as much fun as it is to write those posts, it is a lot of work to come up with fresh topics that I feel are helpful and that I actually know enough about. So I'm thinking two a week, three tops. We'll see how that goes.
Beyond that, though, I'm completely open to suggestions! If you have anything you want to see here, or just have an idea that you'd like to throw out, let me know!
I hope you all had a great Sunday, and I hope you have a fantastic week. :)
--Jenna.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The D Word
In the writing of books, we deal with characters. And characters are people (well, sometimes they're animals, but that's another post). And people come in all shapes and sizes and ages and cultures and everything else.
But unless you really have experience with a lot of different groups and types of people, it's hard to work a lot of diversity into your novel. I've read stories where the writers try too hard to make everything diverse and "politically correct" that, honestly, it backfires and they wind up looking stupid or even racist.
And we don't want that to happen, am I right?
I guess my biggest nugget of advice on this one is, if you don't have experience with the group you're trying to portray and you don't feel that research is helping, just stick to what you know. If diversity isn't a big theme or issue in your novel, don't try too hard.
Not, of course, saying that diversity is bad. On the contrary, it's fantastic. I'm all for it. I just think that if we get so caught up in making things diverse and being politically correct and not offending anybody, we honestly do offend people when we screw up details.
I'm also not saying that you can't write about people different from you. Again, I'm all for doing that. Just...well, make sure you have it right! Get some friends from that group and have them read over your work. Research. Learn. Changing the skin color or the accent of your character doesn't mean you've done all that you need to.
So, basically, be as diverse as you want...but make sure you get it right.
Question for the comments:
How diverse are your works? How do you make sure you've portrayed everything and everyone correctly?
But unless you really have experience with a lot of different groups and types of people, it's hard to work a lot of diversity into your novel. I've read stories where the writers try too hard to make everything diverse and "politically correct" that, honestly, it backfires and they wind up looking stupid or even racist.
And we don't want that to happen, am I right?
I guess my biggest nugget of advice on this one is, if you don't have experience with the group you're trying to portray and you don't feel that research is helping, just stick to what you know. If diversity isn't a big theme or issue in your novel, don't try too hard.
Not, of course, saying that diversity is bad. On the contrary, it's fantastic. I'm all for it. I just think that if we get so caught up in making things diverse and being politically correct and not offending anybody, we honestly do offend people when we screw up details.
I'm also not saying that you can't write about people different from you. Again, I'm all for doing that. Just...well, make sure you have it right! Get some friends from that group and have them read over your work. Research. Learn. Changing the skin color or the accent of your character doesn't mean you've done all that you need to.
So, basically, be as diverse as you want...but make sure you get it right.
Question for the comments:
How diverse are your works? How do you make sure you've portrayed everything and everyone correctly?
Monday, December 21, 2009
Crowd Crush
Have you ever been stuck in a huge crowd of people? It's pretty claustrophobia-inducing and, honestly, it makes me feel nauseous. People are packed in all around you, all of them melting into one unintelligible, indistinct mass and making your head ache.
It's the same thing as when you have too many characters in a story.
Characters are great. Of course they are--they're the ones that move our stories forward and give us something to write about. But there can be too many. There can be WAY too many. If you can't remember them all, there are too many. If some of them do nothing, there are too many. If there are so many people per scene nobody can keep up, there are too many.
There's this great weeding exercise that I use when I feel I have to many characters. It is as follows:
List all of your characters. Every single one, from main to bit. Now look at that list and cross off five random names if there are more than ten characters, and three if there are ten or less. Look carefully at the names you have crossed off--can you get rid of them? If you can, do so. If you can't, can the major traits of the crossed off characters be combined with the traits of a non-crossed off character?
Don't be afraid to cut characters, or even to combine them. Sometimes less really is more. :)
Question for the comments:
Do you ever feel you have too many characters?
It's the same thing as when you have too many characters in a story.
Characters are great. Of course they are--they're the ones that move our stories forward and give us something to write about. But there can be too many. There can be WAY too many. If you can't remember them all, there are too many. If some of them do nothing, there are too many. If there are so many people per scene nobody can keep up, there are too many.
There's this great weeding exercise that I use when I feel I have to many characters. It is as follows:
List all of your characters. Every single one, from main to bit. Now look at that list and cross off five random names if there are more than ten characters, and three if there are ten or less. Look carefully at the names you have crossed off--can you get rid of them? If you can, do so. If you can't, can the major traits of the crossed off characters be combined with the traits of a non-crossed off character?
Don't be afraid to cut characters, or even to combine them. Sometimes less really is more. :)
Question for the comments:
Do you ever feel you have too many characters?
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Magna Carta
My apologies for leaving this post so late. :) I was a little busy today.
Anyway, I thought I'd start this week off right with a little something I like to call the Magna Carta. Basically, it's made up of two lists: Things I love to see in a book, and things I really don't like to see in a book. If you have a Magna Carta of your own, feel free to post it on your blog or share it in the comments! :)
Some things I like:
Anyway, I thought I'd start this week off right with a little something I like to call the Magna Carta. Basically, it's made up of two lists: Things I love to see in a book, and things I really don't like to see in a book. If you have a Magna Carta of your own, feel free to post it on your blog or share it in the comments! :)
Some things I like:
- Really cynical secondary characters
- Really wacky secondary characters
- Well-developed villains
- Main characters who are total smart-alecks
- Stories that involve life-and-death struggles
- Vivid settings
- An air of mystery, even if the story isn't a mystery itself
Some things I don't like:
- Prophesies
- Weak main characters
- Stories that feature an animal in some significant way (excepting, of course, when ALL of the characters are animals, like with Redwall or the like)
- Cardboard characters, especially villains
- Characters that are there for no particular reason
- Characters that are all the same
There are a lot more things in each category, but those are the biggies. So what about you guys? Likes, dislikes, loves, hates? They can be related to characters, story, structure...anything that you like or don't like to see in a book!
Have a good week, everyone! :)
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Game Plan
Well, hey! I'm back! Thanks for all the good luck wishes. I missed seven questions on my history test, giving me a 93, scraping a 98 midterm average. Not bad, if I do say so myself. :)
Anyway, I meant to post yesterday, but I wound up running out of time. No excuses, really. And I just woke up from a nap, and I'm still a little groggy. Pardon the cop-out, but I just don't have an in-depth post for you today. I'll pick it back up tomorrow, and maybe this week I'll be able to relax and find some time to not only do all my posts, but read all of yours, too.
In addition to that, tonight I want to get through the end of chapter five with tSotD revisions, since I haven't been doing much this week due to exams. Since I don't have to go back to school until the fourth, I've got plenty of time to catch up. I've got a game plan, and I intend to stick to it.
I want to finish revisions by the end of January, do a read through and touch-ups in February, and maybe start querying again in March. So I've really got to get on the ball. But I think I can do it. :D
Happy Saturday everyone!
Anyway, I meant to post yesterday, but I wound up running out of time. No excuses, really. And I just woke up from a nap, and I'm still a little groggy. Pardon the cop-out, but I just don't have an in-depth post for you today. I'll pick it back up tomorrow, and maybe this week I'll be able to relax and find some time to not only do all my posts, but read all of yours, too.
In addition to that, tonight I want to get through the end of chapter five with tSotD revisions, since I haven't been doing much this week due to exams. Since I don't have to go back to school until the fourth, I've got plenty of time to catch up. I've got a game plan, and I intend to stick to it.
I want to finish revisions by the end of January, do a read through and touch-ups in February, and maybe start querying again in March. So I've really got to get on the ball. But I think I can do it. :D
Happy Saturday everyone!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
No Time
Can't do a long post. No time. Have history test tomorrow, need to study, need to do some revisions. Etc. Have a good Friday! :)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
It's WiP Wednesday, Honest!
It's WiP Wednesday, but, sadly, I don't have a vlog for you. I look like crap today and I don't feel like subjecting myself to the unforgiving eye of my camera. So you get text. :)
There really isn't much to report. I've done some more revisions on tSotD and have done a little outlining on a new project that spun off of a short story I turned in for Kirby's class. I got the idea and, though I'm not going to start writing it yet, I wanted to get an outline down so I don't forget anything.
There is a reason for my slowed pace this week, though: EXAMS.
Yeah.
It's halfway through exam week, and I've got a lot to study. I have English, French, and algebra 2 tomorrow, and history on Friday. I'm exempt from my health final and the written portion of the French test (we all have to do the oral), and we just have to turn in a Rural Voices Radio essay for creative writing. So.
The big two to study for are math and history, and I'm doing pretty well. I have my history notes all but memorized, word for word. No joke. Eh. I need a break.
Anyway, yesterday I got the Honest Scrap award from Nicole at Chapters. I have to tell you ten honest things about me and then pass the award on to ten people. So here goes:
Ten Truths
1. I use the word "boss" to describe things that I think are really, really cool.
2. I think we should all fight our wars with foam swords and pool noodles.
3. When I was younger I thought "shallot" was just a fancy way of saying scallop.
4. I have never, ever eaten a beignet. Cuban sandwiches, however, I have eaten a lot of.
5. I love when nobody has heard of my favorite bands.
6. There is a picture of the GEICO money taped to my wall.
7. I LOATHE the song "Feliz Navidad" with every fiber of my being.
8. I have a plan of action for if my school bus ever flips over while driving down the road, and another for if I ever find myself in a sinking car.
9. I love proving people wrong.
10. Sometimes I do things just because I want people to think I'm weird.
As for my ten people...well, shoot, so many of you guys have this one already and I really don't know who to pass it on to. So, I guess, if you want it and you don't already have it, grab it. :) Sorry for being such a cop-out, but I am so horrible at figuring out who to pass these things on to...
Anyway, I have some more stuff to do before bed, so see you next time! Happy Wednesday. :)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Scene by Scene
You guys rock. Just so you know that. Y'all really know how to make a girl feel loved, what with all the fab comments and blog awards and all that awesomeness. Today, because I rock (*wink*) I got another blog award! Big thanks to Nicole at Chapters for the Honest Scrap award. I'll be passing it on tomorrow, so be sure to pop over. :)
Today, because even though I'm lazy I have to follow my to-do list, I'm going to spend some time on scenes--you know, those things a novel is made of. The parts wherein stuff happens. Yeah.
Each scene in a novel is its own contained unit, with its own arc and beginning, middle, and end. However, scenes have to be cohesive, otherwise you don't have a story, but rather a bunch of random scenes. Just as each scene has its own arc, the novel as a whole has to have an arc, incorporating each scene arc.
I think it's really easy for writers (or at least me) to get distracted and let each scene sort of melt into the others so that there are few distinct scene arcs. While the overall story arc may be clear, the individual arcs leave something to be desired. Of course, that may be the intent--nothing wrong with that, to each his own--but I, personally, like each scene to be distinct while still contributing to the story as a whole. That's what scenes are supposed to do, right?
When I outline (and I do a lot of outlining), I like to break things down, sometimes into three acts, sometimes into the ten major scenes. I've recently started working with a new method wherein I get a lot more involved with it and write a few lines for each scene, even the minor ones. It helps me keep track of everything, though it can be a bit hampering. But that's an issue for another post. My point is, I find it harder to get off-track if I have each scene arc planned out beforehand. Whether I do it before I start writing the book or just stop between scenes to plan (which I have been known to do), I like knowing.
I guess my point with this one is to point out the obvious: Make sure all of your scenes mesh together while still having individual plot arcs. Or, if you want to think of it this way, make sure that the little stories work together to make the big one.
QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS:
How do you make sure each scene is its own unit while still making sure it contributes to the overall story arc?
Today, because even though I'm lazy I have to follow my to-do list, I'm going to spend some time on scenes--you know, those things a novel is made of. The parts wherein stuff happens. Yeah.
Each scene in a novel is its own contained unit, with its own arc and beginning, middle, and end. However, scenes have to be cohesive, otherwise you don't have a story, but rather a bunch of random scenes. Just as each scene has its own arc, the novel as a whole has to have an arc, incorporating each scene arc.
I think it's really easy for writers (or at least me) to get distracted and let each scene sort of melt into the others so that there are few distinct scene arcs. While the overall story arc may be clear, the individual arcs leave something to be desired. Of course, that may be the intent--nothing wrong with that, to each his own--but I, personally, like each scene to be distinct while still contributing to the story as a whole. That's what scenes are supposed to do, right?
When I outline (and I do a lot of outlining), I like to break things down, sometimes into three acts, sometimes into the ten major scenes. I've recently started working with a new method wherein I get a lot more involved with it and write a few lines for each scene, even the minor ones. It helps me keep track of everything, though it can be a bit hampering. But that's an issue for another post. My point is, I find it harder to get off-track if I have each scene arc planned out beforehand. Whether I do it before I start writing the book or just stop between scenes to plan (which I have been known to do), I like knowing.
I guess my point with this one is to point out the obvious: Make sure all of your scenes mesh together while still having individual plot arcs. Or, if you want to think of it this way, make sure that the little stories work together to make the big one.
QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS:
How do you make sure each scene is its own unit while still making sure it contributes to the overall story arc?
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Problem With Prologues
In the past I have posted a bit about prologues and why I like them. However, they have a dark side. And a lot more people see them as the bad guys than good guys.
I've heard it said that you should take everything you have in your prologue and weave it all throughout the story. I've also heard that if you can't write your book without the prologue, you're starting in the wrong place. I've heard a lot of things.
In general, I think this is pretty good advice to stick to. If you don't need the prologue, figure out how to include all the information throughout the story proper. A lot of people--and I admit, I am also prone to this--just skip the prologue. My cousin doesn't even give them a chance. So many people consider prologues to be extra flab that they don't need to struggle with.
I had a problem because of this. My prologue had to be there. There was no way for it to be thinned down, stuck somewhere else in the novel, or just explained in a paragraph of exposition. It introduced several important characters and showed the scene that was the catalyst for everything that happens later in the novel.
The logical thing, of course, would have been to just start the story there. But there was another problem--the story proper didn't start for another eighteen years. What to do?
I cheated a little bit and just retitled the prologue as chapter one, and gave chapter two the subtitle Eighteen years later. It may be fudging the line a bit, but there's no rule that says I can't, now is there? And if there is, I intend to kick that rule under the rug.
My point is, if you can't get rid of your prologue in some way, consider making it chapter one. Several authors have first chapters that read like prologues, but readers aren't put in the mindset of, "oh. It's a prologue. SKIP!"
It's all mental. If a reader who skips prologues sees the word "prologue," he or she is going to skip it. But if you disguise it with "Chapter One," they'll read it, thus making sure that your important, story-preceding information is read.
Yay for cheats, eh? ;)
QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS:
What is your philosophy on prologues?
I've heard it said that you should take everything you have in your prologue and weave it all throughout the story. I've also heard that if you can't write your book without the prologue, you're starting in the wrong place. I've heard a lot of things.
In general, I think this is pretty good advice to stick to. If you don't need the prologue, figure out how to include all the information throughout the story proper. A lot of people--and I admit, I am also prone to this--just skip the prologue. My cousin doesn't even give them a chance. So many people consider prologues to be extra flab that they don't need to struggle with.
I had a problem because of this. My prologue had to be there. There was no way for it to be thinned down, stuck somewhere else in the novel, or just explained in a paragraph of exposition. It introduced several important characters and showed the scene that was the catalyst for everything that happens later in the novel.
The logical thing, of course, would have been to just start the story there. But there was another problem--the story proper didn't start for another eighteen years. What to do?
I cheated a little bit and just retitled the prologue as chapter one, and gave chapter two the subtitle Eighteen years later. It may be fudging the line a bit, but there's no rule that says I can't, now is there? And if there is, I intend to kick that rule under the rug.
My point is, if you can't get rid of your prologue in some way, consider making it chapter one. Several authors have first chapters that read like prologues, but readers aren't put in the mindset of, "oh. It's a prologue. SKIP!"
It's all mental. If a reader who skips prologues sees the word "prologue," he or she is going to skip it. But if you disguise it with "Chapter One," they'll read it, thus making sure that your important, story-preceding information is read.
Yay for cheats, eh? ;)
QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS:
What is your philosophy on prologues?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Awards Day
Well, I just rock this week, don't I? I got two blog awards over the past couple of days and I was interviewed for The WM Freelance Connection! The interview can be found here, for those who haven't seen it yet.
The first blog award is the Superior Scribbler award, and it comes from none other than Mireyah Wolfe, who rocks and whose blog you need to go read.
I'm supposed to pass this one along to five other people, but I just don't know who do give it to...there are so many of y'all out there who I love and whose blogs make me smile on a daily basis. So I guess I'll give it to...everyone! If you don't already have this one and you feel you are a Superior Scribbler, go ahead and grab it. :)
The second award I got, I got from the awesome Emily Cross. Emily is one of the people on my Awesome List, because it's her fault for getting me sucked into this networking thing. And since it's helped me out so much in the writing world, I will forever be in her debt. So here's to you, Emily! :D
Anyway, the award she gave me is one of her own creation, the Silver Lining Award, for those whose blogs are uplifting, positive, and optimistic.
This one I'm supposed to pass on to five other bloggers, which I shall do! My five nominees are as follows:
- Kerrie, at The Kerrie Show!
- Suzanne, at Suzanne Young!
- Beth, at Writing it Out!
- Natalie, at Between Fact and Fiction!
- Nicole, at Chapters!
Yay, blog awards!
Happy Sunday, everybody, and I hope your week treats you right. :)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Dance
I once heard somebody say that writing is a dance, and that, as writers, we have to jump between several different heads as we write. They are the heads of the writer, the reader, and the characters.
We may write one scene as the writer, thinking of style and structure and story. In the next paragraph you might jump into the mind of the reader, making sure that the prose is readable and that it makes sense. Then you slip into the mind of your main character, writing from his or her point of view so that everything is real and authentic.
And it's a constant dance, from paragraph to paragraph, while writing--and later, while editing and revising. It's mostly an unconscious thing, but it's definitely there.
I like to spend the majority of the writing portion in the head of the characters, switching out into the writer mind every so often to make sure that the story is going okay, and double checking to make sure I'm headed in the right direction. Then, before I go back into character mode, I read a bit of what I've just written--maybe a paragraph or two--as the reader, making sure it all makes sense. If it doesn't, I mark it with either my pen or Word's comment feature (depending on if I'm writing longhand or typing) and then move on, slipping back into character mode.
It's a tough dance sometimes, but one that's definitely beneficial. Or so I believe.
Questions for the comments:
Do you feel like you do the dance? What head do you spend the most time in: writer, character, or reader?
We may write one scene as the writer, thinking of style and structure and story. In the next paragraph you might jump into the mind of the reader, making sure that the prose is readable and that it makes sense. Then you slip into the mind of your main character, writing from his or her point of view so that everything is real and authentic.
And it's a constant dance, from paragraph to paragraph, while writing--and later, while editing and revising. It's mostly an unconscious thing, but it's definitely there.
I like to spend the majority of the writing portion in the head of the characters, switching out into the writer mind every so often to make sure that the story is going okay, and double checking to make sure I'm headed in the right direction. Then, before I go back into character mode, I read a bit of what I've just written--maybe a paragraph or two--as the reader, making sure it all makes sense. If it doesn't, I mark it with either my pen or Word's comment feature (depending on if I'm writing longhand or typing) and then move on, slipping back into character mode.
It's a tough dance sometimes, but one that's definitely beneficial. Or so I believe.
Questions for the comments:
Do you feel like you do the dance? What head do you spend the most time in: writer, character, or reader?
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Panic Zone
Thanks for the great comments on yesterday's post, everyone, and huge thanks to Mireyah for the Superior Scribbler award! I'll pass that along when I get a chance, but I already have a post for today, so away we go!
On my river trip every year, one of the things that is stressed is the idea of stepping outside of our comfort zones, but not taking it so far that we hit our panic zones. This is great on the river--challenge is good, panic is bad. But with writing, we have to not only push our characters out of the comfort zone, but well into the panic zone.
Stories, as Mr. Kirby constantly points out, need conflict. And conflict reeeeeeeally gets interesting when it shoves characters into the panic zones. Stories where characters just sit around, content, with nothing going on and with everything perfect in their world...well, that's just not very interesting, now, is it?
Take your characters and throw them into situations that are beyond their comfort zones, and, occasionally, if the situation and story demands it, into their panic zones. Make them sweat--heck, make your reader sweat! Make you readers--and characters--think that not everybody will make it out of the story. Create some chaos! Put your characters through some hell!
In short, don't be afraid to throw them out there. You don't have a story when everything is all hunky-dory. :)
Question for the comments:
What is your main character's panic zone, and how do you make sure you put him/her there at least once in the story?
On my river trip every year, one of the things that is stressed is the idea of stepping outside of our comfort zones, but not taking it so far that we hit our panic zones. This is great on the river--challenge is good, panic is bad. But with writing, we have to not only push our characters out of the comfort zone, but well into the panic zone.
Stories, as Mr. Kirby constantly points out, need conflict. And conflict reeeeeeeally gets interesting when it shoves characters into the panic zones. Stories where characters just sit around, content, with nothing going on and with everything perfect in their world...well, that's just not very interesting, now, is it?
Take your characters and throw them into situations that are beyond their comfort zones, and, occasionally, if the situation and story demands it, into their panic zones. Make them sweat--heck, make your reader sweat! Make you readers--and characters--think that not everybody will make it out of the story. Create some chaos! Put your characters through some hell!
In short, don't be afraid to throw them out there. You don't have a story when everything is all hunky-dory. :)
Question for the comments:
What is your main character's panic zone, and how do you make sure you put him/her there at least once in the story?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Set the Scene, Part Three: The Mood
Part one was the look. Part two was the reactions. Today in part three I bring to you...
The Mood.
Setting can be used to accomplish a lot, including influencing mood. If you play up the details of a setting and select appropriate surroundings, you really can go that extra mile with getting across the emotion of the scene.
For example, a dark setting can be used to increase feelings of fear or a light setting can be used to indicate a light, happy sort of mood. A crowded setting can help set up a frantic mood, a open setting feelings of loneliness or abandonment, and including weather in a scene can provide all sorts of moods.
Of course, relying on this tactic every time can get stale, and it should be used sparingly and for effect.
Really, though, seriously think about your setting when you want to play up the mood of a certain scene. Think of everything you normally think of about setting--the objects, the weather, the place, the background characters walking through it, and everything else. Evaluate how each one can be used to influence the mood, whatever it is, of your current scene.
Activity:
Pick any scene in your WiP and read over it, paying special attention to the description of the setting. Is there anything you can add that will influence the mood? Can you tone down the lighting and make it more somber or clear away some of the clutter in the room to make it more open and breezy?
Question for the comments:
In what ways do you use setting to influence the mood?
*
Thanks for reading, everybody! I hope you enjoyed this series. Remember, always pay attention to your setting--it can do a lot more than you think. :)
For part one, click here.
For part two, click here.
The Mood.
Setting can be used to accomplish a lot, including influencing mood. If you play up the details of a setting and select appropriate surroundings, you really can go that extra mile with getting across the emotion of the scene.
For example, a dark setting can be used to increase feelings of fear or a light setting can be used to indicate a light, happy sort of mood. A crowded setting can help set up a frantic mood, a open setting feelings of loneliness or abandonment, and including weather in a scene can provide all sorts of moods.
Of course, relying on this tactic every time can get stale, and it should be used sparingly and for effect.
Really, though, seriously think about your setting when you want to play up the mood of a certain scene. Think of everything you normally think of about setting--the objects, the weather, the place, the background characters walking through it, and everything else. Evaluate how each one can be used to influence the mood, whatever it is, of your current scene.
Activity:
Pick any scene in your WiP and read over it, paying special attention to the description of the setting. Is there anything you can add that will influence the mood? Can you tone down the lighting and make it more somber or clear away some of the clutter in the room to make it more open and breezy?
Question for the comments:
In what ways do you use setting to influence the mood?
*
Thanks for reading, everybody! I hope you enjoyed this series. Remember, always pay attention to your setting--it can do a lot more than you think. :)
For part one, click here.
For part two, click here.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
In Which I VLOG!
No, Admiral Ackbar, it's not a trap, it's a VLOG! For WiP Wednesday! Which is awesome! Right? (Yes, I'm a Star Wars geek.)
So there you go! My first ever vloggy-type thing. Hope you liked!
So there you go! My first ever vloggy-type thing. Hope you liked!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Set the Scene, Part Two: The Reactions
In part one I discussed how to create a vivid setting with clear, brief details. But no matter how many fantastic details you have, and no matter how clear your scene is, you're still missing something if you don't have your characters interact, in some way, with their environment. That's why today's post, part two of three, is about
The Reactions
of characters, and how they can be used to not only further describe the scene, but also to characterize.
Things are filtered through your point of view character before they get to the reader, and so the reader's impression of the scene is generally going to be swayed in the direction of the POV character's thoughts.
Take a look at the following examples, all written from different points of view but all about the same setting:
Example 1
I threw down my bag and glanced around the apartment. Hopelessly, pathetically tiny. Who lived in places like this? Midgets? I swore the walls moved closer together every time I blinked. I'd have to tape my eyes open, because if it got much smaller, I'd be smashed between the walls with no C3-PO or R2D2 to save me.
Example 2
I set my bag down as I looked around the apartment. It was small, but not unbearable. And surely mirrors would make it seem larger. Yes, lots and lots of mirrors. And maybe if I painted the walls a light green, or maybe blue. My home wouldn't be a claustrophobic trap, not if I had anything to do with it.
Example 3
I closed the door behind me and nodded when I heard the lock click. I glanced around--the room around me was blessedly small, with no places for shadows or gaping chasms. I shuddered at that thought--who needed that much...empty? Who would want to be surrounded by endless, suffocating nothing? The walls hugged me, protective arms that shielded me from the outside.
* * *
Take a second and read those again. The examples all take place in a small apartment, but the reactions of the characters are wildly different, and thus our perceptions of the apartment are different.
In the first, our POV character hates the smallness of the room and because of the character's comments, we feel the claustrophobia. The character is resentful and likely a complainer.
In the second, the character is okay with the smallness, but is eager to improve it and fix up the space. Because the character sees the smallness as reversible, it doesn't seem as bad. This character is likely a fixer-upper, progressive kind of person.
The third character is clearly agoraphobic, and welcomes the tiny apartment as a haven from the outside. The apartment feels tiny to us (or at least to me) but doesn't feel uncomfortable because the character sees it as just the opposite.
Use your descriptive skills, but remember that you can filter your description through your point of view character's eyes to both characterize and alter your reader's perception of the setting.
Activity:
Write three paragraphs about a setting of your choice, filtering it through a different POV character each time. How does your description change? How does it stay the same?
Question for the comments:
How do you think filtering description through the POV character helps the story?
The Reactions
of characters, and how they can be used to not only further describe the scene, but also to characterize.
Things are filtered through your point of view character before they get to the reader, and so the reader's impression of the scene is generally going to be swayed in the direction of the POV character's thoughts.
Take a look at the following examples, all written from different points of view but all about the same setting:
Example 1
I threw down my bag and glanced around the apartment. Hopelessly, pathetically tiny. Who lived in places like this? Midgets? I swore the walls moved closer together every time I blinked. I'd have to tape my eyes open, because if it got much smaller, I'd be smashed between the walls with no C3-PO or R2D2 to save me.
Example 2
I set my bag down as I looked around the apartment. It was small, but not unbearable. And surely mirrors would make it seem larger. Yes, lots and lots of mirrors. And maybe if I painted the walls a light green, or maybe blue. My home wouldn't be a claustrophobic trap, not if I had anything to do with it.
Example 3
I closed the door behind me and nodded when I heard the lock click. I glanced around--the room around me was blessedly small, with no places for shadows or gaping chasms. I shuddered at that thought--who needed that much...empty? Who would want to be surrounded by endless, suffocating nothing? The walls hugged me, protective arms that shielded me from the outside.
* * *
Take a second and read those again. The examples all take place in a small apartment, but the reactions of the characters are wildly different, and thus our perceptions of the apartment are different.
In the first, our POV character hates the smallness of the room and because of the character's comments, we feel the claustrophobia. The character is resentful and likely a complainer.
In the second, the character is okay with the smallness, but is eager to improve it and fix up the space. Because the character sees the smallness as reversible, it doesn't seem as bad. This character is likely a fixer-upper, progressive kind of person.
The third character is clearly agoraphobic, and welcomes the tiny apartment as a haven from the outside. The apartment feels tiny to us (or at least to me) but doesn't feel uncomfortable because the character sees it as just the opposite.
Use your descriptive skills, but remember that you can filter your description through your point of view character's eyes to both characterize and alter your reader's perception of the setting.
Activity:
Write three paragraphs about a setting of your choice, filtering it through a different POV character each time. How does your description change? How does it stay the same?
Question for the comments:
How do you think filtering description through the POV character helps the story?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Napoleon’s Protégés
Before I kick off today's post, I'd like to say a big HELLO! to my two new followers! Glad to have you. Also, I got some great feedback on yesterday's post--be sure to check out part two tomorrow and part three on Thursday.
Oh, I've added a list of upcoming posts to the sidebar, underneath the about me. I'll be updating that at the beginning of each week, so you can check it out and see what I've got coming up. :)
*
Have you ever noticed the supreme egotism that a lot of writers have? I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying that a lot of us writerly types seem to have it. I know I do--a few friends of mine even call me Napoleonette.
It goes with the job, I think. We writers, it seems to me, either really, really despise our work or we think it's the best thing ever and that we are the epitome of writerly awesome. While it may be unbelievably egotistical to think so, I personally believe that it's better than the alternative. Self depreciating helps nobody.
Another reason it's good to be a little bit of an egotist is that writers should think of themselves first when it comes to quality of writing. I know from personal experience here that if you're not invested in your project and you don't write the story you want to write, everybody else can tell and it won't really get you anywhere. I believe the best way to go about it is to write for yourself first, and then go on to think of the readers. You can clean up your mistakes in a project you love, but if you hate the story, you'll probably find yourself not caring how it turns out.
In short, don't be afraid to be an egotist. You're a writer, after all. It goes with the territory. ;)
Question for the comments:
How do you think egotism helps (or hinders, or both) writers?
Oh, I've added a list of upcoming posts to the sidebar, underneath the about me. I'll be updating that at the beginning of each week, so you can check it out and see what I've got coming up. :)
*
Have you ever noticed the supreme egotism that a lot of writers have? I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying that a lot of us writerly types seem to have it. I know I do--a few friends of mine even call me Napoleonette.
It goes with the job, I think. We writers, it seems to me, either really, really despise our work or we think it's the best thing ever and that we are the epitome of writerly awesome. While it may be unbelievably egotistical to think so, I personally believe that it's better than the alternative. Self depreciating helps nobody.
Another reason it's good to be a little bit of an egotist is that writers should think of themselves first when it comes to quality of writing. I know from personal experience here that if you're not invested in your project and you don't write the story you want to write, everybody else can tell and it won't really get you anywhere. I believe the best way to go about it is to write for yourself first, and then go on to think of the readers. You can clean up your mistakes in a project you love, but if you hate the story, you'll probably find yourself not caring how it turns out.
In short, don't be afraid to be an egotist. You're a writer, after all. It goes with the territory. ;)
Question for the comments:
How do you think egotism helps (or hinders, or both) writers?
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Set the Scene, Part One: The Look
In the past, I've gone on and on about characters, dialogue, story...all that good stuff. I haven't really paid much attention to setting. But setting is just as important as the rest. In fact, I like to treat it as its own character. You have as many, if not more, things to think about with setting as with the people who populate it.
This three-part series of posts is geared toward helping figure out what to do with settings. Today's post is...
The Look
Readers need good, strong details to make your fictional world clear to them, so they can see it in their mind's eye. But a lot of readers will skip over long paragraphs of setting description--any description, really. A good strategy is to hit 'em with a few details that really pack a punch. But how?
You don't have to describe every little thing in perfect detail. Get in a sentence or two about the entire setting, and then zoom in on details that you have selected to emphasize. Give an overview, then point out details that drive it home. Say you have a setting that's in the bad part of town. You could do something akin to the following (I've highlighted the overview statement in blue and the supporting details in purple):
"The house was in one of the worst parts of town, where many of the buildings were done in bright colors and you expected to hear gunfire at any moment. Dogs barked at my car as I passed, and people lounged on their porches, some smoking, many shooting me evil looks."
Granted, it was a quick example, but doesn't this paint a clear picture of the bad part of town? I didn't point out every little detail, and yet I still, I believe, provided a good look at the scene. Most readers have seen the bad part of town, whether by driving through it, living in it, or seeing it on TV, and can most likely fill in the rest of the details.
It's the same with the posh part of town, with the local supermarket, with the doctor's office, the zoo, a school, an office. Give a good overview of what it looks like, zero in on a few strong details that emphasize it, and then sprinkle other small details throughout the narrative and dialogue. It's the same with setting as it is with people--you don't need to describe every last thing. Give the reader a few knockout details and let their brains do the rest.
Activity:
Pick any of the locations I mentioned in the above paragraph and write a few sentences describing your choice. Carefully select details that get the picture across without bogging everything down.
Question for the comments:
There are lots of ways to describe a scene--this is just my favorite. How do you go about describing your settings without making your scenes drag?
*
Coming up in part two: The Reactions--how characters' reactions to setting can help with characterization.
This three-part series of posts is geared toward helping figure out what to do with settings. Today's post is...
The Look
Readers need good, strong details to make your fictional world clear to them, so they can see it in their mind's eye. But a lot of readers will skip over long paragraphs of setting description--any description, really. A good strategy is to hit 'em with a few details that really pack a punch. But how?
You don't have to describe every little thing in perfect detail. Get in a sentence or two about the entire setting, and then zoom in on details that you have selected to emphasize. Give an overview, then point out details that drive it home. Say you have a setting that's in the bad part of town. You could do something akin to the following (I've highlighted the overview statement in blue and the supporting details in purple):
"The house was in one of the worst parts of town, where many of the buildings were done in bright colors and you expected to hear gunfire at any moment. Dogs barked at my car as I passed, and people lounged on their porches, some smoking, many shooting me evil looks."
Granted, it was a quick example, but doesn't this paint a clear picture of the bad part of town? I didn't point out every little detail, and yet I still, I believe, provided a good look at the scene. Most readers have seen the bad part of town, whether by driving through it, living in it, or seeing it on TV, and can most likely fill in the rest of the details.
It's the same with the posh part of town, with the local supermarket, with the doctor's office, the zoo, a school, an office. Give a good overview of what it looks like, zero in on a few strong details that emphasize it, and then sprinkle other small details throughout the narrative and dialogue. It's the same with setting as it is with people--you don't need to describe every last thing. Give the reader a few knockout details and let their brains do the rest.
Activity:
Pick any of the locations I mentioned in the above paragraph and write a few sentences describing your choice. Carefully select details that get the picture across without bogging everything down.
Question for the comments:
There are lots of ways to describe a scene--this is just my favorite. How do you go about describing your settings without making your scenes drag?
*
Coming up in part two: The Reactions--how characters' reactions to setting can help with characterization.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Saturday Plans
Hello, hello, everyone, and happy Saturday! The last remnants of last night's snow party are melting as I type, and my snowman is looking a little sad and melty. But, man, was it fun. We went out there at about ten, ten thirty and I didn't come in until midnight. You can read all about it here and see the pictures at my mom's blog, here.
Anyway, now that that's over, I'm going to be spending the day working on some bloggy maintenance--I'm going to go back and re-tag all my old posts, tweak the layout, and experiment with a three column layout. If you pop in, don't freak out--it will all be back to normal soon, I promise.
When I finish that, I'm going to try and finish revising chapter one of tSotD, and maybe start working on chapter two. Hopefully I can get that far. Wish me luck. :)
So what are you guys up to today?
Anyway, now that that's over, I'm going to be spending the day working on some bloggy maintenance--I'm going to go back and re-tag all my old posts, tweak the layout, and experiment with a three column layout. If you pop in, don't freak out--it will all be back to normal soon, I promise.
When I finish that, I'm going to try and finish revising chapter one of tSotD, and maybe start working on chapter two. Hopefully I can get that far. Wish me luck. :)
So what are you guys up to today?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Snow and tSotD
Happy Friday, everyone! How are you this fine evening? I'm great, and I'm mondo excited because they said it might snow this weekend. Living in southern Mississippi and being originally from central Florida, I don't exactly see snow that often. So I'm hoping we get some! It's cold enough, but conditions aren't quite right. Yet.
[Update: Snow! Snow! Snow! SNOW! SNOW!!! SNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOW!!!!! It's SNOWING!!!! YAY!!!!]
And now for something completely different.
Since I've been on a revisions and characterization kick lately, and since I've been doing a lot of tips-tricks-opinions posts, I thought I'd throw out a little something-something that's a bit different, just to shake it up a bit. How do you guys feel about a WiP meme?
1. When did you start writing your current WiP?
12:00 am on November 1, 2008. It was my NaNo '08 novel. :)
2. Where does your WiP take place?
The majority of it takes place in another world, in the country of Adonia--a good portion of it in the Freyfeld Ruins, which, by the way, are completely awesome.
3. Who is/are the main character/s of your WiP?
Twins Valerian and Astra. Who, it must be said, kick some serious butt. Especially Astra.
4. Describe your main character(s) in one word.
Valerian: Cautious. Astra: Determined.
5. Open up your WiP to a random place and copy the first sentence you see.
“So? Just because somebody's related to a rotten person doesn't mean that they're bad.”
6. If you were going to have lunch with one of your WiP's secondary characters, who would it be and why?
Always a tough question. I think I'd pick Bran, because he's a great storyteller and can tell really good jokes. Plus he reminds me of my uncle, who rocks.
7. What do you consider your WiP's theme song and why?
Policy of Truth, by Depeche Mode. The lines "You had something to hide/should've hidden it/shouldn't you?/And now you're not satisfied/with what you're being put through" sort of sparked the idea that eventually became the story. The song really doesn't have much to do with the story at this point, but it's to blame for sparking my imagination.
8. What do you consider your main character's theme song?
Oh, man, this is hard. I think, for Valerian I'd pick The Red by Chevelle. For Astra, maybe something like Daylight Dancer by Lacuna Coil.
9. What's your favorite thing about your WiP?
I love the way the secondary characters interact with not only my main characters, but each other. They just work together so well, even when they're trying to kill each other, if you know what I mean. I don't mean that they're buddy-buddy, I mean that they play off of each other and for each other so well that the story seems to mesh better, to me. If that makes sense.
10. If you're WiP were to be made into a movie, who would you pick to play your main character? Your villain?
Aw, man, I don't know. I don't think about actors. I honestly don't know.
*
So...yeah. If any of you guys do the meme, let me know! I'd love to read it. :) Have a good weekend!
[Update: Snow! Snow! Snow! SNOW! SNOW!!! SNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOWSNOW!!!!! It's SNOWING!!!! YAY!!!!]
And now for something completely different.
Since I've been on a revisions and characterization kick lately, and since I've been doing a lot of tips-tricks-opinions posts, I thought I'd throw out a little something-something that's a bit different, just to shake it up a bit. How do you guys feel about a WiP meme?
1. When did you start writing your current WiP?
12:00 am on November 1, 2008. It was my NaNo '08 novel. :)
2. Where does your WiP take place?
The majority of it takes place in another world, in the country of Adonia--a good portion of it in the Freyfeld Ruins, which, by the way, are completely awesome.
3. Who is/are the main character/s of your WiP?
Twins Valerian and Astra. Who, it must be said, kick some serious butt. Especially Astra.
4. Describe your main character(s) in one word.
Valerian: Cautious. Astra: Determined.
5. Open up your WiP to a random place and copy the first sentence you see.
“So? Just because somebody's related to a rotten person doesn't mean that they're bad.”
6. If you were going to have lunch with one of your WiP's secondary characters, who would it be and why?
Always a tough question. I think I'd pick Bran, because he's a great storyteller and can tell really good jokes. Plus he reminds me of my uncle, who rocks.
7. What do you consider your WiP's theme song and why?
Policy of Truth, by Depeche Mode. The lines "You had something to hide/should've hidden it/shouldn't you?/And now you're not satisfied/with what you're being put through" sort of sparked the idea that eventually became the story. The song really doesn't have much to do with the story at this point, but it's to blame for sparking my imagination.
8. What do you consider your main character's theme song?
Oh, man, this is hard. I think, for Valerian I'd pick The Red by Chevelle. For Astra, maybe something like Daylight Dancer by Lacuna Coil.
9. What's your favorite thing about your WiP?
I love the way the secondary characters interact with not only my main characters, but each other. They just work together so well, even when they're trying to kill each other, if you know what I mean. I don't mean that they're buddy-buddy, I mean that they play off of each other and for each other so well that the story seems to mesh better, to me. If that makes sense.
10. If you're WiP were to be made into a movie, who would you pick to play your main character? Your villain?
Aw, man, I don't know. I don't think about actors. I honestly don't know.
*
So...yeah. If any of you guys do the meme, let me know! I'd love to read it. :) Have a good weekend!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
How to Revise, How to Revise...
Jennifer Shirk (hi, Jennifer!) commented on yesterday's post and said that she'd never heard of an Editing Bay before. That made me think about all of the different random strategies that I use to work my revisions and edits. I have several, and today I thought I'd share a few of the ones I've used.
Sound like fun? I thought so.
1. The "Whole Hog" Method
This is the one I don't really use--just start hacking away at the whole manuscript, either printed or on the computer. It's a lot of work, and, personally, I think it's kind of daunting. But hey, it works for some people.
2. The Editing Bay
One of my personal favorites. In this one, I take one scene and copy it into a second document that I've saved as "Editing Bay" and work on small sections at a time. I just save it in that document and paste it back into the manuscript when I've finished. It's one of my favorites.
3. Print, Edit, Plug
I've just started working with this one. It's pretty much the Editing Bay strategy, but printed. I print out the section (usually a half-chapter or so) that I want to work on and, using my color coded system of pens (red for grammar/spelling/etc., green for sentence structure, and blue for things that are strictly story--plot holes and things like that), I make notes and corrections. When I'm done, I plug the edits and revisions into the document on my computer, read through it, make any additional changes, and then shoot it off to my beta. I LOVE this method. I think it may be my favorite.
4. Notes
This one I've worked with and I quite like. I use Microsoft Word's notes feature and make notes on why something isn't working, or where I need to "up it," or other things like that. Then I take all of that and plug scenes into the Editing Bay (it copies the notes, too) and break it up into the small bits and work with my notes to revise. It's pretty sweet.
*
So, yeah, that's what I do. Sometimes I'll combine 'em or use something completely different on a whim, but basically those are the four that I'll stick with. What do you think?
Question for the comments:
How do you revise?
Sound like fun? I thought so.
1. The "Whole Hog" Method
This is the one I don't really use--just start hacking away at the whole manuscript, either printed or on the computer. It's a lot of work, and, personally, I think it's kind of daunting. But hey, it works for some people.
2. The Editing Bay
One of my personal favorites. In this one, I take one scene and copy it into a second document that I've saved as "Editing Bay" and work on small sections at a time. I just save it in that document and paste it back into the manuscript when I've finished. It's one of my favorites.
3. Print, Edit, Plug
I've just started working with this one. It's pretty much the Editing Bay strategy, but printed. I print out the section (usually a half-chapter or so) that I want to work on and, using my color coded system of pens (red for grammar/spelling/etc., green for sentence structure, and blue for things that are strictly story--plot holes and things like that), I make notes and corrections. When I'm done, I plug the edits and revisions into the document on my computer, read through it, make any additional changes, and then shoot it off to my beta. I LOVE this method. I think it may be my favorite.
4. Notes
This one I've worked with and I quite like. I use Microsoft Word's notes feature and make notes on why something isn't working, or where I need to "up it," or other things like that. Then I take all of that and plug scenes into the Editing Bay (it copies the notes, too) and break it up into the small bits and work with my notes to revise. It's pretty sweet.
*
So, yeah, that's what I do. Sometimes I'll combine 'em or use something completely different on a whim, but basically those are the four that I'll stick with. What do you think?
Question for the comments:
How do you revise?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
WiP it Good
It's Wednesday and we all know what that means. Another installment of that lovely little thing called Work in Progress Wednesday!This past week, I finished NaNoWriMo '09 with just under 71K, which was this week's big claim to fame. Apart from that, I began revising The Surface of the Deep, as I've said. I haven't gotten very far with that, because I had a huge history test today that I had to study for, but I'm hoping to get a lot more in by the end of the week--I at least want to finish a chapter.
I've been breaking it down scene-by-scene, which I've decided is a LOT more efficient than just trying to hack away at the whole pie. What I'm doing is copying the scene I want to work on and pasting it into another document, which I've saved as the Editing Bay. I can edit and revise in that document and save it as I go, and when I finish I can copy and paste it over the old scene in the main document. It's a pretty snazzy system, if I do say so myself. And it's working, so clearly I'm doing something right.
My friend Becca stumbled across my YouTube channel today and watched all of my videos, including my trailer for tSotD. She was bugging me today at lunch and asking when the heck I'm going to get the thing done with so she can read it. See, I've known her awhile, but we only really just started hanging out (just at lunch, really), so she wasn't really in on my writing thing. So I guess the trailer wasn't as bad as I thought, and neither is the idea behind the story. So...sweet!
Anyway, that's all I've got for you tonight. Well, that and the winner of our NaNoWriMo contest over at Quill and Ink. Pop on over. :)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Editmas
I didn't mean to leave you hanging yesterday, but I had a fantastically horrible day and wasn't up to much. I did manage to post on Quill and Ink, though, and I did my weekly emo post on The Delusional. Not that I schedule a weekly emo post. It just sort of happens.
Anyway, I had a way better day today, even though it's been MAD busy (I got home at about 4:30 and didn't finish my homework until, like, 7:30.). So I'll get my blogging on and chuck a post out for your enjoyment.
It's December, which means revising and editing. I'll be out of school for a good couple of weeks for Christmas break, so I'll have plenty of time to just chill and get some novel beautification in. I mean, I won't have family in town, since they were just here, and I won't have much else to do. Hang out, mostly. And that gets really old really fast. Thus, my attention turns to the love of my life--words. Rearranging them, polishing them, fixing them up.
Over the next two and a half weeks, I'll have a lot of studying to do. I've got midterms in four classes and finals in two. I'll very likely be exempt from the two finals, though, but I'm not writing anything off. For the next bit, I'll be fitting in the revisions when I can, but I'll definitely be focusing on the schoolwork.
But, basically, my December plan is edits. And revision.
What about you guys? What are you up to this month?
Anyway, I had a way better day today, even though it's been MAD busy (I got home at about 4:30 and didn't finish my homework until, like, 7:30.). So I'll get my blogging on and chuck a post out for your enjoyment.
It's December, which means revising and editing. I'll be out of school for a good couple of weeks for Christmas break, so I'll have plenty of time to just chill and get some novel beautification in. I mean, I won't have family in town, since they were just here, and I won't have much else to do. Hang out, mostly. And that gets really old really fast. Thus, my attention turns to the love of my life--words. Rearranging them, polishing them, fixing them up.
Over the next two and a half weeks, I'll have a lot of studying to do. I've got midterms in four classes and finals in two. I'll very likely be exempt from the two finals, though, but I'm not writing anything off. For the next bit, I'll be fitting in the revisions when I can, but I'll definitely be focusing on the schoolwork.
But, basically, my December plan is edits. And revision.
What about you guys? What are you up to this month?
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