Random Drops of...

Moving

2006-07-26T18:07:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm having a hard time keeping up with this -- and I got an invite to another blogging community thing where the blog functions are lovely.

To check out future posts on writing and life:

Amusingly Blank

and

Memento Vivere

Story ideas

2006-07-22T20:23:00.000-04:00

The Little Ice Age in Europe

Cool, wet summers led to outbreaks of an illness called St. Anthony's Fire. Whole villages would suffer convulsions, hallucinations, gangrenous rotting of the extremities, and even death. Grain, if stored in cool, damp conditions, may develop a fungus known as ergot blight and also may ferment just enough to produce a drug similar to LSD. (In fact, some historians claim that the Salem, Massachusetts witch hysteria was the result of ergot blight.)

Is just one of many paragraphs in the article which could raise some interesting story plots.

Link found via: Risky Regencies

Contest PSA

2006-07-21T18:21:00.000-04:00

***PERMISSION GRANTED TO FORWARD***

FF&P's On the Far Side contest for unpublished authors is in desperate need of entries! Final round judges are acquiring editors and agents of all genres of paranormal romance. Take this opportunity to get your best work in front of:

Erotic: Raelene Gorlinsky, Ellora's Cave
Romantic Elements: Michelle Grajkowski, Three Seas Literary Agency
Futuristic: Alicia Condon, Dorchester
General Paranormal: Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency
Time Travel: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency
Fantasy: Valerie Bongards, Triskelion Books

For details and entry forms, go to http://www.romance-ffp.com.

Andrea Wilder
2006 On the Far Side Coordinator

Fee:

$25 for non-FF&P members
$20 for members

Do not have to be RWA member

Deadline:

Entries MUST be received by August 1, 2006. Any entries received after that date will be returned, unopened.

2006-07-18T15:58:00.000-04:00

So.

Not having much luck keeping this journal active, am I?

Most of my writing and life musings have been going up over on my livejournal. I'd love to come up with an actual theme for this journal here that help keep me updating it, but so far no luck. My thinking cap is still on and activate, have no fear.

In the meantime...how about a writing prompt?

This story takes place in Anchorage. In it, an acrobatic repairman is forced to live with an explorer with an odd birthmark. What starts as obligation becomes love - all thanks to someone building a dwelling.

Wow....an acrobatic repairman. One has to wonder what he or she repairs.

Prompt from: Romance Story Generator

contest

2006-06-20T19:02:00.000-04:00

New Harlequin contest.

The Great American Harlequin Contest

Winners will receive:

-editorial evaluation by one of the line's editors

-one year subscription to American Harlequin books.

-possible publication

Contest submission needs:

- first chapter (no more than 5,000 words)

- outline of complete book (not more than 10 pages)

Must be postmarked by October 31, 2006

Is it sad my muse is saying do this...just for the free year's subscription?

Grrrr

2006-06-18T15:48:00.000-04:00

I hate blocks. Even though I know it's coming (I always get one in about the same place in a work-in-progress), I still hate it.

On the plus side...things are clean around the house that haven't been in so long...it's to long to divulge!

Finding one's self

2006-06-02T19:50:00.000-04:00

I'm an organic writer -- not really by choice, but because that's the only method where I've managed to actually have some success at completing any projects.

However, I really wish I could find a plotting method that worked for me because the hassle of going back over my very rough drafts to edit the story into what I think it should be is very time consuming.

I tell myself that I'd spend just as much time if I were plotting it out first and doing all the other pre-writing one does when starting a story. The time would just be spent at a different time in the process.

Still. I think I'm just lying to myself in order to feel like organic writing is something I can make work. It's a handy way to put into practice the story ideas and see what will or will not work -- but here I am staring at the second chapter in my rough draft and realizing I'm probably going to have to take it out completely -- or alter it so much it's not recognizable to the original. And, more than likely the next chapter and the next chapter and the next will have to suffer the same fate.

Having the story plotted all out would be very helpful before starting to write it because some of these problems could be eliminated then.

Not to mention, if I were to actually achieve some success with this writing gig, plotting beforehand and lessening the time needed to write and revise my stories would be very helpful in settling into a career as a published author.

Still struggling for process

2006-05-29T09:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm working on two projects at the moment. One, temporary title: Persephone, is going to be a short novella length story. I'm thinking of trying Inara Press with it when it's done.

The second, and larger project, is temporarily titled: Haven House and I'm almost at the end of it. Normally I would push through and get a rough finish written out, but this time I thought I'd try something different and flaunt the convential advice of "go back only after finishing the first draft" by going back now. There are subplots I've added into it late in the game, characters that need some more fleshing out, and a time frame that needs to be shortened badly.

Of course, as is always my problem...finding a way to revise that works for me.

What to do, what to do?

First, some internet hopping:

Fifteen Pointers for Polishing Your Prose by Cynthia Sterling

While helpful for maybe the third draft...not going to be much help here.

Self-Editing by Lori Handeland

Again, helpful but not for the point I'm at right now.

Guess I'm flying on my own. Which is actually better than nothing. At least this way no one can tell me I'm doing it the wrong way!

Critique Parters

2006-05-26T07:52:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking alot lately about critique parters (CPs), writing buddies, and writing communities on a whole.

I've joined many communities and established friendships with people on them...but except for the rare occasion, I've never really established a CP relationship with anyone. Whether this is do to my own indecision about subgenres in romance writing or just that I'm a naturally solitary by nature and find it hard to build relationships like that, I don't know.

I hear about the wonderful relationships people have estabished with their CPs. How they never would have made it without their help, or how much nicer it is to have people help with the crafting of stories and to help them.

It sounds wonderful and lovely and I admit there is a twinge of jealousy on my part when I come across such testimonials. And yet, the closest I've come is with the two people I currently work with. Generally it involves me posting stuff as I write it and their encouraging comments, word wars (times when we get together and just write), and that's it. I swing between feeling like I'm using them (the encouraging comments) and that I'm useless to them (because they rarely need help with anything).

And, it's gotten me thinking...what exactly forms the bond between critique partners? What makes up such a relationship? Is it just fate...a chance pairing that spreads into friendship? Or, are the best critique partners friends from the very begining?

The other consideration for me is trying to figure out just what I'd want and or need from a CP. Until I figure that out I've been hesitent about trying to find another fit with someone or group. Not that I'd leave my other group -- but I think I need something more...I'm just not sure what that might be.

Still Alive

2006-05-19T17:49:00.000-04:00

Yes, this blog had a bit of a slow down. (Ok, more than a bit). The same could be said of my other one as well.

At least this time, most of it was because I was actually writing. A rarity. Now that I've hit a block in the book and yet still have the drive to write something, my blogs are seeing a spot of light.

And, since this is my writing blog, let's talk a bit about this block I've developed.

First of all, what exactly is writer's block?

In its most basic meaning it's a period when a writer can't write.

And, even that is an oversimplification.

Some writers will tell you that there is no such thing as writer's block. That it's just a matter of willpower or being stuck on one project and yet working on another isn't a true writer's block. Or, they'll have other names for the same condition.

Either way you look at it...coming to a point where the words just don't want to come for a story is a problem for a writer. And, you can try to just write through it and sometimes that works, but at other times it might not. It all comes down to why you've got the block in the first place. Sometimes you'll never know exactly what caused it. It just lifts away and you realize the words are ready to come out. More than likely, the cause was mental. Either stress or worries outside of the writing which squeezed around what did happen to be going go and stopping it.

There's also the writing itself and instincts. I'm currently stuck just shy of the ending of this story and left floundering. This is happening for a couple of reasons:

1. I've arrived at an ending very different from the original one I'd planned on.
2. Being a linear and organic writer, I've added a few subplots into the middle of the book which need to be resolved at the end -- however, the ingrediants of those subplots aren't fully known because I need to go back to the beginning and develop them in there.

I know where my block comes from, I'm just not sure how to correct it yet.

The main thing about writer's block (or whatever label you choose to put on it) to remember is that -- it's not permanent. It will, eventually, work itself out if you stay calm and let it. Take it as a hint from your subconscious that maybe you need to take a break, or that you might be on the wrong trek with the story you are writing. Inspect what happened between the time you could write and the time you couldn't by any means and see if you can find the cause. But, if you can't, don't stress it.

Some times you just have to have faith in the universe that the problem will work itself out in time.

Links: Creation Myths

2006-03-02T21:07:00.000-05:00

Still working away on my haunted house story - the one that prompted my last post about antebellum homes.

But, I'm also starting to work on research for a fantasy idea and I thought I'd get started on building the world which will make it easier to just sit down and write the story.

So, with that in mind, I figure why not start at the beginning. Thus, we have creation myths:

Common Elements in Creation Myths High school student site, but for a quick glance of ideas not bad

Links to Creation Myths form around the world - as the title say...links.

Mything Links - Creation Myths - great site with much more than just creation myths covered.

No

2006-02-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

I refuse to watch Gone With The Wind just to get an idea of what kind of interior design was going on during the Antebellum period.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

A new idea

2006-02-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm still plugging away on the WIP. But, my brain has seized on the next story it wants to do and the urge to do some research is really getting strong.

I think this one will be a bit further along time wise- probably Victorian era because I need it to take place after the Civil War in America. And, I have to look into some research into the Old West.

Good thing I actually like research!

Story Progress

2006-01-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

I think...think..I've found my writing schedule. It will mean sacrifices on my part (*sniffle* getting up early) but it's worked the last two days so I'm going to try and keep it up.

Will start posting writing progress here as well as cross posting it to the progress community I run over on livejournal: Word Counts

3,284 / 80,000
(4.1%)

The Particulars:

WIP: Say You Remember (historical romance)

This morning's progress: 976 words

Current chapter: Chapter One

Stimulant: Coffee (with hazelnut creamer: yum yum)

Reason for Stopping: Work

Current feeling for story: happy

Characters

2006-01-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

I've been doing more and more thinking about characters because I know that is where the fault often lies in my writing, especially when you mix in the pacing of the story. Trying to get my characters emotions out on paper in the midst of whatever danger or mystery to solve that I've given them is hard.

My rough drafts generally end up being all about the non-romance plot with the occasional attraction and love scene through in as after thoughts. This would not be a problem if I could go back and revise with that emotion, but whenever I look back at the story I find so many other things wrong with it that I just want to shout out "do over" and chuck the first rough draft.

That's what I've done with my current one work in progress. Now, as I try to incorporate more of the by-play of the heroine and hero I find the writing much harder to do. I read and hear about people who can slip right into their characters' heads and povs with no trouble at all. I envy that so much. I have never felt that connected to one of my characters. Never ever. There is always a very definite line between them and me and I can't help but wonder if that is a fault that lies within me: this inability to look at my characters as real living people. To think like them, to talk like them. It is all a struggle some days.

Scattering of links

2006-01-23T20:04:00.000-05:00

A small page about Regency colors.

Author Candice Hern's website with Regency glossary and research links.

Side Sadle Lady Museum Page

England & Wales map 1660-1892

Historical Map Web Sites

A vision of Britain through time

Gardiner's Atlas of English History

As you can tell, I've been researching places and settings today. :-)

In which...my brain is odd

2006-01-21T15:26:00.000-05:00

Even though I know they are bad for me - I'm still reading writing craft books.

While my uber_challenge goal is pacing, I've branched out into characters and characterization because really the growth of your characters is a part of the pacing of your overall novel.

I've still got a couple chapters left in Scene & Structure. I've fallen behind on my one chapter a day goal - as I don't think I've read a chapter in over half a week.

I've also picked up 45 Master Characters and Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook from the library to look over.

Am I seeking inspiration - or just confirmation about the lack of my writing abilities? I prefer to think it's the first and not the second.

I have come to the conclusion that I need the problem of not knowing how the story I'm working on is going to work ahead of time. My example is that the story is a puzzle and the ending is a solution to which I have to work my way through all the pieces my brain drops as I write in order to figure out. Planning it out before hand - takes all the fun out of it.

Update

2006-01-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

Still reading Scene & Structure. The more detailed he gets the more my anti-outlining muse rebels. However, I am picking up some good ideas and possible planning methods.

I'm almost done with it. I think I have two more chapters to go.

In the meantime - no writing has been done at all. It is starting to irritate me--this lack of words.

Today....Sequels

2006-01-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

In Scene & Structure, Bickham uses the term sequel to describe what takes place between scenes.

Here the character gets to go through a cycle of emotion, thought, and decision which leads up to a new goal and action plan for the character.

With the new goal in place, mix in a character to oppose the character's actions - and you're on your way to the next scene.

Sounds much easier than it is, doesn't it? *sigh*

With romance - the sequels, I'm guessing, will be as big if not bigger than the scenes most of the time.

In fact, I think--looking back at the scenes I plotted out on the index cards--I suspect what I covered would probably work better as sequels and not scenes themselves.

The result

2006-01-08T19:40:00.000-05:00

I tried the planning on index cards which I talked about in my last post. I got about three scenes done and I don't think it's going to work for me. It's very hard to come up with four twists to happen for one thing!

However, it was an exercise and instead of dismissing it completely - I did try it. And, I could see it coming in handy during a scene that is floundering for some reason or another.

It also could be something to try when revising.

Technically the story I'm working on is a revision - but I'm not keeping any of the original writing so it is more of a complete rewrite.

Now onto the next chapter in Scene & Structure.

Planning scenes

2006-01-07T20:36:00.000-05:00

This is a little to close to outlining for me...but I'm reconsidering my attitude toward outlining. I know I can get a rough draft finished without one. I have nothing to prove there. But, can I get a rough draft done with out? That is the question.

A secondary question to that is...can I get a tighter rough draft done so that revision doesn't become a complete rewrite? This is where things stand now with my current rough drafts.

I hate rewriting. With a passion. So, anything I can do to give myself a cleaner first draft I really should do.

In Scene & Structure, the chapter for today talked about scenes and ended with an exercise to try in regards to planning them out. The author mentions that the scenes can be random - they don't have to be from the same story. However, since I'm trying to get started on a new project, I figure I can get a few scenes down as he suggests and see what happens.

For those interested - the exercise is taking a 5X7 index card and writing out:

1. Goal (10 words or less of what the character wants in the scene)

2. Conflict--write down

Who the conflict is with
Where the conflict takes place
How long the conflict last
and, Four (at least) twists or turns that the conflict will take during the scene

At the bottom of the card,

3. Disaster -- write down what the disaster would be for the scene.

From today's reading

2006-01-05T22:16:00.000-05:00

From Scene & Structure by Jack M. Bickham:

While the workings of luck, coincidence, fate, etc., may be shown from time to time, fiction must make more sense than real life if general readers are to find it credible.

In other words, he says,

...in fiction, effects (plot developments) must have causes (background), and vice versa.

Chapter three goes on to discuss on a smaller scale this as well with stimulus and response. Which not only helps the plot move and make sense, but also helps with the show vs. tell problem a bit as well. So, we have stimulus - response. Then, for more complicated scenes internalization is thrown in there as well. This actually helps me quite a bit, writing romance, because I always feel like I'm just letting the character ramble on for no reason. Keeping this in mind I might be able to stop that.

Final bit I'll grab from Ch. 3 is a list of things to check in your writing:

1. Nearly all the transactions are presented in the normal order.
2. Every transaction is completed-- i.e., every stimulus brings on a response
3. Internalization is caused by a stimulus.
4. Internalization is inserted in the proper order -- after a stimulus and before the next response.
5. When transactions are presented out of their normal order, the effect on the reader is one of confusion.

Number five being a good thing if that's what you want to do, although I suspect as it is with most writing "tricks" such a device will get old quickly and the reader will catch on and come to despise it.

Strolling through Gutenberg

2006-01-04T19:58:00.000-05:00

I have not read these and can not comment upon the validity of the information....however, I thought they might be of interest to those looking for historical information.

London in 1731

Letters from England 1846-1849

Tour Through the Eastern Counties Of England 1722

Reminiscences of Captain Gronow - Regency period

Travels in England in 1782

Little Memoirs of the Nineteenth Century

Inns and Taverns of Old London

1811 Dictionar of the Vulgar Tongue

Pacing

2006-01-03T15:06:00.000-05:00

My Plan to study and learn pacing:

1. Read at least one chapter from Scene & Structure a day. There are fourteen chapters with most running five or so pages, so this is easy enough.

2. Read at least one novel a week (luckily I have lots of category romance books around that I haven't read yet - and they tend to be quick reads so this should be doable even if time is running a bit short for the week) and after the initial enjoyment read go back over it with an eye to the pacing and structure elements.

3. Take notes.

We'll see how it goes after a couple weeks.

I also want to line up some other reference titles. I have Beginnings, Middles, and Ends by Nancy Kress which would fit with this as well but I think I'll need some others as well since the purpose of this Uber Challenge is to learn and study everything you can about the element.

Decisions, Decisions

2006-01-01T12:22:00.000-05:00

So I joined up for the Uber_challenge , but I have not been able to decide on just one thing to focus on. I've been considering 2006 as the year I work on revising so that by the end of the year (at the absolute latest) I will have a book ready to go spread its wings into the world of publishing and agents.

And yet, I also have tons of researching to do if I want to really keep focusing on Historical Romance.

Which, I think I do. The story I did during November for National Writing Month proves that I can mix some of my more favorite genres together in my current period of choice: Regency England.

Granted....researching a time period probably does not fall into focusing on a writing aspect and studying and learning it. But, revision seems like such a broad category to tackle. Hmmm....pacing could work. I do tend to rush through my scenes. And, pacing is definitely one of the areas I'll be focusing on with the revision of the story I'm working on.

There. Just writing it out has help.

Pacing.

Sites of Interest to historical writers

2005-12-31T22:07:00.000-05:00

Historical Text Archive - ebooks and articles

Casebook: Jack the Ripper - has a Victorian History section. Most is centered around London and the places famous to the Ripper's case. Still valuable information.

Salem Witch Trial Documentary Archives

ETANA - Ancient Near East archives

Making of America - a digital library for primary sources on America 1840s- 1860s+ from University of Michigan

Making of America from Cornell - more primary sources dealing with America 1830s+

Gentleman's Magazine - From London 1730s+

Eighteenth Century E-Texts - a list of a wide variety of sites with primary sources

Online Books Page - books online listing

Two new Regency links

2005-12-28T22:42:00.000-05:00

Two new sites for Regency Information I've discovered this evening:

Georgian Index

and

Author Gaelen Foley's History pages where she discusses fashion, townhouses, and currently has half of a regency glossary up. Not quite sure how often she updates the pages - but what she has there now will get you pointed in the right direction in terms of what you need and what you'll have to research on your own.

Uber-Challenge

2005-12-28T20:59:00.000-05:00

From Jo Leigh

"It's almost January, which is when the Uber Challenge swings into gear. I've gotten several emails asking what the Challenge is, so here's the recap:

Each year for several years, I've been choosing one subject that I need to work on regarding my writing. One year it was dialogue, another was metaphor and simile. What I did was choose my topic, then dig into every resource I could find about that subject. So I'd goggle the topic and order books and articles, I'd go to workshops if I could, and basically focus on improving that one skill. I didn't limit myself to how-to books for romance writers. I read everything I could, and experimented with different approaches and exercises. Each year I've learned a tremendous amount, and I think my writing has improved as a result.

This year, I thought it would be very cool if a whole group of us did the Challenge, with each of us choosing our own subject, of course. I'm doing something a little differently - my 2006 Challenge is writing discipline. You can choose a specific goal, say completing and submitting your novel, or perhaps writing first person books. There are so many things to learn, to improve upon, that the choices are unlimited.

The group is here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uber_challenge/
It doesn't matter where you are in your career. We can all learn something and share with each other. There's a database started that lists great resources books. Don't be afraid to add yours. There are no assignments, no deadlines. Just learning in an atmosphere of friendly encouragement."

I decided, what the hey, might as well give it a shot. I did something similiar on my own last year - focusing on finding my comfort in terms of writing style. I doubt that I've completed it but I'm much further along and more solid in what I should be writing than I was at this time last year.

For 2006 I am going to be focusing on revising - taking that very rough draft of 50-60k words and fleshing it out, smoothing it out, and giving it the polish needed to show up at the ball (okay, desk) without embarrassment.

Critiquing

2005-12-25T09:13:00.000-05:00

Critiquing: The best way to figure out your own mistakes -- finding them in others' writings.

At least, that's the informal "definition" you'll run across in writing circles. Oh, they might crouch it in better terms but in the end that's what it means. And, by no means is it the only way to look at it. I've found that critiquing helps me recognize the same goofs in my writing and I do admit that it probably has had a hand in making me a stronger writer. But, I also like seeing the progress that those I critique start to show in their writing. Both reasons should be kept in mind when approaching a critique.

Unfortunately finding a comfortable place to offer and give critiques can be hard - especially if time is a factor. In the end it is mostly a matter of testing the waters at various critique groups and seeing if you click with them.

Some things to remember:

1. The level of the critique is more based on how well a reader they are than how much experience they have as a writer. It is much easier to recognize good and bad writing in another's work than in your own.

2. A critique for all its fancy sounding name is really just one opinion. You don't have to agree with it and, in fact, most of the time you probably won't. Not completely.

Some critiquing links that might be of interest:

Writing Worlds Page of Links on Critiquing and Discussion Groups

How to Deal with Critiquing

SFWA Critiquing Notes

Short Story Writings Critiquing Tips

Welcome

2005-12-24T23:22:00.000-05:00

A fresh new blog where I hope to actually stick with one specific topic.

Writing.

We'll see how it goes.

As you can probably tell from the links along the side I write historical fiction - romances to be exact. Regency era to make it even more clear.

However, I've never been one to stick with a genre. Currently I'm working on a paranormal contemporary romance which has the potential to turn into a series revolving around a small town. I'm having a bit of a hard time getting into it. Mainly for two reasons:

1. I did the mad rush of National Novel Writing month in November and finished a novel rough draft in the beginning of December. Sometimes it's hard to let characters go.

2. Holidays suck.

I also write short stories of the SFFH variety. For those not familiar with the business side of writing (the need to name anything and everything) that stands for science fiction, fantasy, and horror. My stories tend to blur the lines between horror and fantasy for the most part.

Enough about me.

Not sure how often my posts here will be. I shall try and be good and get at least one post in a week. I have another blog where my more mundane life, rants, and quirky comments go. This one I shall try and keep strictly on the aspect of writing in all its depressing and bloody states.