Exciting news
1970-01-01 00:59:59
I have some exciting news about this blog... I just can't tell you yet. However, there will be some significant changes and I think many readers will be pleased.Stay tuned folks!
Fugitive found a home
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Hi everybodyAfter Nienke's last post, I fear the news might disappoint...You see, my own blog was suffering neglect of late. So following the sad state of my blog, Nienke offered me a refuge here, in her corner.Let me tell you, this is the best solution I could come up with. I can actually stay within the community of writer-bloggers I've grown to know over the past year (or so). I can't believe how kind (and smart) Nienke is. I'm forever indebted to her.I'm really excited about this and can't wait to "meet" all of Nienke's friends I don't know yet.So to many more posts and collaborations.Thanks for having me Nienke and everybody :)
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Characters - real or fictional?
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Okay, so anyone who knows me a bit, knows how concerned I am about my characters being real and 3-D. I don't like one-dimensional characters, I like development, I like character driven books (although I have been know to be an Asimov fan, so go figure...).In any event, lately, I decided my antagonist needed a little change in character to make him more interesting. You see, despite the interesting bits I tried to inject to his character, at the end of the day, I felt he was predictable.So I made him do something out of character. Being the selfish, self-centered, control freak that he is, I made him do a selfless act.I discussed this with a buddy who said that while in real life, this would probably never happen as we do tend to stay in character, in fiction it is necessary. Fictional characters, he said, should act totally against their nature as it adds more depth to them and it makes for great drama.So it's a funny thing. I keep wanting to have "real characters," yet to make them
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, fictional
Muse - full speed ahead
1970-01-01 00:59:59
During a fitfull sleep the other night, I kept dreaming the story of a girl named Lacy. I kept waking up, even to the point of reading for a while, but every time I fell asleep, I returned to Lacy's story. I suppose it's a love story because she tells me about her relationship with Ned Stevens - how she met him, how she feels about him, etc.What was interesting to me, was the story was told as a story, to the point of the actual opening sentence and so forth. Every detail was rich to the specks of dust, smells, sounds, feelings. When morning rolled around I had no choice but to get up and get the story out of my brain and on paper (virtual paper, that is). I wrote it as it came to me, with the understanding that it would need editing later to remove some of the surreal dream aspects.I discussed it with Melly and told her how good it felt to have the need to write back. The book I've been working on was created consciously, with the goal of a certain Harlequin line in mind. Once I ge
Read more: ahead
Happy New Year!
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Happy New Year to all!Every year, I make a list of all aspects of my life and how I want to improve them. I've written about this before, and every year the list includes writing more.I've learned a lot about myself as a writer this past year, so now it's a matter of putting a plan into place. Like my most recent post addresses, right now I'm learning about structured writing processes versus organic writing. This issue is not unlike plotters versus pantsers. I thought I was a total plotter, but my recent experience with a story that had to come out has make me rethink my whole strategy. For me, what it comes down to is finding what will make me want to keep writing. I still think plotting is important, but perhaps my Virgo side took over and I need to learn to relax a little. The bottom line: GET THE FIRST DRAFT DONE ALREADY.So, my writing goal? To get the first draft done. I'll be setting a deadline and plan of action and try to keep away from my incessant desire to research, pl
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, Happy New Year
Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.What do you do to keep yourself motivated with your writing?
Read more: Friday
a lotta linky fun
1970-01-01 00:59:59
IMHO, these are worth checking out...Storybase.netThe Paris Review - InterviewsNovel in 90 Days (LiveJournal group)Whole Writing (redchurch - I think you'll like this one)Angela Booth's Top Ten Writing Tips To Help You To Write MorePOWER POPP! - dedicated to helping people realize their dreams. Success lies in wait for those who plan, organize, pursue, and persist.Poynter Online Ten Paradoxes of the Writing LifeOkay, that's enough. Get back to work.
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Help!
1970-01-01 00:59:59
I've been working on my WIP and, while I write, I'm not concentrating at all times on my characters' goals, motivations, and conflicts. Is this something for the second draft? Should I plot more extensively before I write?Also, what is your definition of inner conflict (vs. external conflict) and can you give me an example? Thx guys.
Inner Conflict
1970-01-01 00:59:59
So, I've done some research to try and understand the concept of inner conflict a little better. My main issue was whether or not you could - or should - have inner conflict independently of external conflict. It seems the two are more intertwined than I thought. Which, BTW, will make writing a little easier for me.The Ottawa-Carlton District School Board English 4U Student Handbook says, "Inner conflict refers to emotional or analytical struggles a character has due to his values, his role in society, or the company he finds himself with. For example, Willy Loman cannot emotionally ignore his failure as a breadwinner, failure as a faithful husband, and his failure to bring up decent sons"Redchurch says, "The best advice I've read says that where you can, try to link the inner conflict with the external and interpersonal conflicts" He also says, "Someone being forced to compromise their values of honesty is an inner conflict. But, it is externalized if they are force
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Furry Babies
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Thought I'd post some pictures of my furry baby collection. Just because.This is my australian cattle dog/hound mix, Piffy (short for Epiphany). She's 7. We got her from a border collie rescue mission that saved her from euthanasia when she was 2. She had been stray before that and was very, very skinny. She's not so skinny anymore. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you may remember we adopted an abandoned cat in July. This is Cairo. He's just over a year now.Another picture of Cairo.This is Suki, another abandoned kitty we took in during October. He was 10 weeks then, so he's about 5 or 6 months old now. He is so soft and cuddly. He's also gained about 10 pounds since then. Another Suki post (this one's older from November when he was still closer to 2 pounds). Who else has pictures posted of their furry babies? Share your link so I can check them out.
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, Babies
Isn't it romantic?
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Understanding human behavior - especially how it relates to love and romance - is important for the romance novelist. Here are some links so you can avoid real writing..."Romance novels also can provide opportunities for learning about adult loving relationships," says Dr. Bill Emener on his blog, Dr. Bill's Harley Wisdom. Emener has been a licensed psychologist for 33 years and is the author of self-help book Adult Loving Relationships, and romance novels Fear of Feeling Loved and My Sweetpea: Seven Years and Seven Days.In his post, Emener talks about three distinct stages of adult loving relationships and how they relate to real life as well as romance novels. Check it out.John Bowlby believed psychoanalytic view that early experiences in childhood have an important influence on development and behavior later in life. Our early attachment styles are established in childhood through the infant/caregiver relationship. In addition to this, Bowlby believed that attachment had an evoluti
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Close the book
1970-01-01 00:59:59
When a book is not being read, it should be closed.(That's my Cairo BTW)
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Me
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Humpday Hunk
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Sean Patrick Flanery Powder is one of my favorite movies. But, really folks, can this be the same guy that played Powder??? To boot, he's credited with more than 66 shows and films! No actor's block there.Speaking of blockages, check out this post on hacks for writing.
Monday is business in your bathrobe day
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Meet Spice Author Jina Bacarr, author of The Blonde Geisha and Naughty Paris:http://www.businessinyourbathrobe
day.com/http://www.webmomz.com/
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Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.What do you do to keep yourself motivated with your writing?And, since you're not writing, why not check out online writing magazine, Vision?
Read more: Friday
I command thee... I mean me
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Gretchen Rubin over at The Happiness Project has made a list of 12 command
ments for herself. I think that's a great idea. I especially like her first one, "Be Gretchen.' I think I'll steal it for my own commandments (as well as a couple of others that are perfect for me). Nienke's 10 Commandments Be NienkeDo it nowDo not let emotions rule meWrite every day (of course, what do you expect on a blog called The Writing Life?)Stand up for myselfBelieve in myselfEnjoy life - every day and every momentDon't take things personallyDo something nice for myself every dayDon't betray myself What would be on your list?What would be on your protagonist's list?
How to Write a Book
1970-01-01 00:59:59
How to Write
a Book in Three Easy StepsCLICK HERE
Dialogue tags NOT to use
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Writing advice on dialogue often tells us to use only the word 'said' as a dialogue tag. They seldom tell us what words not to use. Here are words NOT to use as dialogue tags:AcknowledgedAddedAdmittedAdvisedAgreedAnnouncedAnsweredApprovedArgued AssertedAssumedAssuredAskedBabbledBargainedBegan BellowedBoastedBraggedCalledClaimedCommandedCommentedComplainedCriedDecided DeclaredDemandedDeniedDescribedDictatedEmphasizedEstimatedExclaimedExplainedExpressedFearedGiggledGrinnedGrunted HowledIndicatedInsistedInstructedLaughedLecturedLiedMentionedMoanedMumbledMurmuredNaggedNotedNotifiedObjectedObservedOrderedPleadedPointed outPrayedPredictedQuestionedReassuredRelatedRepeatedRepliedRespondedRequestedRestatedRevealedRoaredRuledScoldedScreamedShoutedShriekedSnappedSneeredSobbedSpokeSputteredStammeredStatedStormedSuggestedTauntedThoughtToldUrgedUtteredVentedVocalizedVoicedVowedWailedWarnedWhisperedGot more?
Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.Oh, and happy 40th to my hubby!!
Read more: Friday
Writing Goals
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Last time I asked about whether you set goals when you create your characters. Today, I want to know if you set goals for yourself. I'm referring specifically to writing, but am also curious if you set goals for writing as part of an overall strategy to reach life objectives. Personally, I write out goals for myself at the beginning of each year. I review my previous year's goals and see how well (or poorly) I did in achieving them. My strategy usually consists of an evolving set of goals. For example, if I want to write more, I may start with a goal of 5 hours per week and work my way up during the year. I call my strategy my "2006 Plan of Action.' It includes a mission statement, writing goals, work, family, and home goals, spiritual and ethical goals, social and cultural, physical and health, mental and educational, and outreach goals. Sounds like a lot, but I usually feel successful if I improve even just a little in each area. I got the idea from Vicki Hinze, an inspiratio
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Writing scenes and creating characters - techniques
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm off to Quebec City for a few days on a business trip. Then, I'm off for 1 1/2 weeks on holidays! The plan: to get tons of writing done.My question to you writers is, do you use the Goal-Motivation-Conflict technique in your writing? Do you apply GMC to both internal and external goals?Joan Swan over at Romance Worth Killing For wrote an interesting post about Robert Gregory Brown's attitude, emotion, goal and action technique. Swan says:In relation to character development though, RBG brought it all back together for me with one simple concept: imagination + self.He says every character he writes is him--hero, heroine, secondary, tertiary, one-liners. They're all him...RBG suggests you ask yourself, if this were me, how would I handle the situation?My next question is, do you get your characters from within yourself? Or, do you create characters externally? Or, if none of the above, how do you make your characters seem real?UPDATE: Therese Wal
Read more: scenes
Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.
Read more: Friday
Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.
Read more: Friday
Goals & Dreams
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Moira Allen talks about setting effective writing goals. She suggests that since writing is an unstructured working environment, a good way to be productive is to set goals.However, since we're all different in what we want, time we have, and dedication to our craft, Allen says, "To be effective, goals should meet three criteria: They should be measurable, meaningful, and attainable"She also points out that goals are separate from dreams."Goals
, by the way, are not the same as dreams. While you may yearn to become a six-figure novelist who regularly guests on Oprah, that's not a goal. It's a dream -- and the only way you'll achieve that dream is by setting measurable goals that will take you toward that dream, one step at a time"One of the changes I've made lately is to stop obsessing over word count. You'll notice I've taken my word meter off the sidebar. Instead of worrying about word count, my goals consist of time spent on my writing. Publication may be my drea
Read more: Dreams
Friday's Excuse Not To Write
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Reprinted with permission from 101 Excuse
s Not to Write
.I have discovered a great way to help develop characters. I will share sometime this weekend. In the meantime, have a great one. It's going to be hot and smeltering here in Toronto!
Read more: Friday
Plotter or Pantser?
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Louise Doughty, author of the London Telegraph column, A Novel in a Year, says, "It is easy to believe that there is some holy mystery to plotting or structuring a novel but, at its most basic level, it is no more than a matter of you as a novelist deciding that this will happen, then this, then that… and if it doesn't work, you will change it" The ongoing debate is whether plotting is something worth doing before your write or as you write—otherwise known as plotting vs. pantsing.Plotters are writers who like to write with a detailed outline. Pantsers like to write by the seat of their pants, sans outline. There is no right or wrong way to write, and new writers need to discover what works best for them. Personally, as a first time novelist (and virgo), I like to work with a very, very detailed outline. In fact, I am currently working with Karen Wiesner's First Draft In 30 Days. This book develops an outline to the point where it can be considered the first draft. I also d
Using Psychology to Create Characters
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Okay, finally on to my characterization ideas.As most readers probably know, I love searching the internet for ways to improve my writing - in fact, it's more like an addiction. In any case, I came across some interesting ways to help develop characters.We all know that it takes some understanding of human psychology to create believable characters. That said, I know I don't have the time to study psychology in order to improve my characters. I could use a little help. A cheat sheet maybe. Well, wouldn't you know it, there are some wondrous resources out there on the internet.I came across an article (based on a workshop) by romancewriter and speaker Laurie Schnebly Campbell called "The Psychology of Creating Characters
.' In it, she says there are basically four things that determine people's character: birth order, priorities, enneagrams, and personality scales. She says:"Each one of these has the potential for conflict, and conflict is what we need for a great romance
A few good links
1970-01-01 00:59:59
Just some items I've found whilst surfing that I thought might be of interest to my fellow writers:Carolyn Jewel's Writing Workshop - What I Learned the Hard Way(courtesy of Lady Tess)Tests of document readability and suggestions how to improve readabilityRed River Romance WritersPeder Hill's Learn the Elements of a NovelWriting Information - List of ArticlesWriters on Writing Broadcasts from 2000- the thoughts of twenty-one established writers. They share their hard worn experiences, explain aspects of the craft, and reflect on the wisdom gained from success and failure.Writers on Writing presents an in depth study of the craft of writing from the inside. Our selection of writers impart their experiences based on five key learning areas: the spark of idea;the grind of writing;creating characters;shaping and balancing narrative; and the ups and downs. Writers include: Cristopher Koch, Dorothy Dunnett, Roger McDonald, Tom Petsinis, Eva Sallis, Janet Evanovich, Venero Armano, Anne
Read more: links
, few good
Around the web in 90 seconds...
1970-01-01 00:59:59
I can't wait for the Hotlanters to start posting about the RWA National Conference. In the meantime, a few interesting blogs to check out:John Baker has been asking "Five Questions" to all kinds of bloggers about why they blog. Some very interesting answers. Many writerly types.Paperback Writer has an interesting post called Extending Your Writing Range. She writes about the journey to becoming a writer and a "novel recipe.'Anne Frasier asks if writers are broken.Tamara Siler Jones has a great dialogue going on about perfectionism, fear, and being good enough over at tamboblog. See posts from July 27 to 29.Amy Durham at tappity tap talks about the worst writing advice she's ever heard. She also asks readers to share their own worst advice.Melly at All Kinds of Writing traveled to her hometown in Northern Israel a few weeks ago and has been keeping us posted on what's happening and how she feels. From reading her posts, I've developed a whole new perception and understa
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