Gary Corby's blog is a must check out blog for all writer's. I'm sure most of you know all the cute wonderful tricks microsoft word has, but really he's got great tips for helping you with words you type waaay too much.
Check it out and have a great Superbowl Weekend!
Vicki
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing. Show all posts
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Excuse Me – What Did You Just Say?
Picture this. You’ve plotted your book, or parts of your book. You may have even interviewed your characters, asking questions about their past, their dreams for the future, and you know, how they’re living in the present.
You’ve made notes, done research, and you’re fingers are itching to hit the keyboard. The sun is shinning (that is for you Keri), the weather is fabulous (forgot don’t mention the weather in the beginning or near the beginning), the iPod is on, playing the music this book is written too, and the kids/pets are behaving. All in the world of writing is perfect.
In fact, this book, this secret project, err, I mean you’re book seems to be one of the gimmie books you’ve heard others speak about, but really wasn’t sure existed.
The words flow from your fingers as you continue to tell your internal editor to go away. You’ll fix it after you’ve finished the chapter. Right now you’re flowing, the muse is happy, the characters are –
So, if I could figure out how to add that squeal of a brakes sound above I would have. This is when you’re writing and you’ve got it figured out. Not the actual words, but you’ve plotted what needs to happen in each chapter and you know why it needs to happen to move the story along.
No need to write useless words just for the sake of increasing the word count. You’ve been there before and cutting tons of ineffective words isn’t fun.
Ah, but this is where it gets good. See, I’m really excited about TLIAV, and truly the words are coming very easy. It is hard to turn off the internal editor, but we had a talk and I promised to edit after three chapters were finished. 3,6,9,12…you get the point. So far that seems to appeased the IE.
Last night I finishing up chapter three and although I didn’t have the scene completely worked out in my head, I did know who was in the scene and what the scene needed to accomplish.
So I wrote, first on notebook paper (yep, the old fashion way), which can be dangerous when I really get going. I can’t read always read my own writing. Can you say speed writing.
Everything was going as planned and then Harry (a secondary character) ask “G” a question and makes a statement. I laughed because I knew differently. Really, “G” can’t think that or have a clue what he did might mean that until at least several more chapters.
Yeah, right. “G” answered him all the while I fought to gain control of the keyboard.
He knew, he wouldn’t admit it to Harry and he really didn’t know at the exact moment he said what he did, but now…oh yeah, now he knows.
At least he’s a bit uncomfortable with what he knows inside his head. Hah!
Chapter four is going to be one interesting chapter, that’s all I can say. You know, secret project and all.
So, what about you? Do you find you’re characters moving up your plotting? Is it like once you’ve put the plotting forward down on paper, they decide to mess with?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
You’ve made notes, done research, and you’re fingers are itching to hit the keyboard. The sun is shinning (that is for you Keri), the weather is fabulous (forgot don’t mention the weather in the beginning or near the beginning), the iPod is on, playing the music this book is written too, and the kids/pets are behaving. All in the world of writing is perfect.
In fact, this book, this secret project, err, I mean you’re book seems to be one of the gimmie books you’ve heard others speak about, but really wasn’t sure existed.
The words flow from your fingers as you continue to tell your internal editor to go away. You’ll fix it after you’ve finished the chapter. Right now you’re flowing, the muse is happy, the characters are –
So, if I could figure out how to add that squeal of a brakes sound above I would have. This is when you’re writing and you’ve got it figured out. Not the actual words, but you’ve plotted what needs to happen in each chapter and you know why it needs to happen to move the story along.
No need to write useless words just for the sake of increasing the word count. You’ve been there before and cutting tons of ineffective words isn’t fun.
Ah, but this is where it gets good. See, I’m really excited about TLIAV, and truly the words are coming very easy. It is hard to turn off the internal editor, but we had a talk and I promised to edit after three chapters were finished. 3,6,9,12…you get the point. So far that seems to appeased the IE.
Last night I finishing up chapter three and although I didn’t have the scene completely worked out in my head, I did know who was in the scene and what the scene needed to accomplish.
So I wrote, first on notebook paper (yep, the old fashion way), which can be dangerous when I really get going. I can’t read always read my own writing. Can you say speed writing.
Everything was going as planned and then Harry (a secondary character) ask “G” a question and makes a statement. I laughed because I knew differently. Really, “G” can’t think that or have a clue what he did might mean that until at least several more chapters.
Yeah, right. “G” answered him all the while I fought to gain control of the keyboard.
He knew, he wouldn’t admit it to Harry and he really didn’t know at the exact moment he said what he did, but now…oh yeah, now he knows.
At least he’s a bit uncomfortable with what he knows inside his head. Hah!
Chapter four is going to be one interesting chapter, that’s all I can say. You know, secret project and all.
So, what about you? Do you find you’re characters moving up your plotting? Is it like once you’ve put the plotting forward down on paper, they decide to mess with?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Romance Bandits Rock - X-Posted
Last week Romance Novel TV hosted a week with The Romance Bandits
Each day, they posted a picture, and four the Bandits gave four different vignette’s of the picture. Then we finished the scene with one line or more. Five days, five different pictures, and each day had four different Bandits.
At the end of each day those four authors picked a winner, (different prizes each day). On Thursday, Hawk was chosen as Honorable Mention and on Friday, I was chosen as an Honorable Mention. Very cool.
Talk about having a blast and reading some amazing endings as well as ALL the Bandits vignette’s. Winning wasn’t the reason for doing it, even though everyone loves to win something. But letting your creative mind go, reading the vignette and then rolling with what came to you was so much fun.
Reading the others was amazing. So much talent and many that we wanted to know the rest of their story.
With so many people commenting (about 200 each day), we read everything from flying grannies to an interrogation room (that no one expected) to a ghost bride who...
Yep, this is x-posted from my Tuesday group blog over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance so go on over and read the rest of the post. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Each day, they posted a picture, and four the Bandits gave four different vignette’s of the picture. Then we finished the scene with one line or more. Five days, five different pictures, and each day had four different Bandits.
At the end of each day those four authors picked a winner, (different prizes each day). On Thursday, Hawk was chosen as Honorable Mention and on Friday, I was chosen as an Honorable Mention. Very cool.
Talk about having a blast and reading some amazing endings as well as ALL the Bandits vignette’s. Winning wasn’t the reason for doing it, even though everyone loves to win something. But letting your creative mind go, reading the vignette and then rolling with what came to you was so much fun.
Reading the others was amazing. So much talent and many that we wanted to know the rest of their story.
With so many people commenting (about 200 each day), we read everything from flying grannies to an interrogation room (that no one expected) to a ghost bride who...
Yep, this is x-posted from my Tuesday group blog over at Everybody Needs A Little Romance so go on over and read the rest of the post. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Shaking in Your Boots Words or Jumping Up and Down Excited Words? - X-posted
Before I begin, there’s an added bonus at the bottom of this post! Go ahead, check it out, then come back, and read the post. If you’re like me, you have to know the bonus before you continue. :)
La, la, la, la, la…oh, you’re back, sorry about that. I tend to sing or hum when I’m waiting. With RWA nationals around the corner, (registration is now open), I thought we’d talk about pitching.
What is it about the words ‘Pitching to an Editor’ that causes the stomach to roll, the eyes to blur, and the heart to pound with the force of category five hurricane? (I’m in Florida, so change the hurricane to twister, blizzard, or whatever major weather you have where you’re from.)
For any of you who’ve been to conference you totally understand the above paragraph. For those who haven’t here’s a little image for you.
Breathe, you tell yourself as you sashay into the perfect meet the editor/agent outfit. You’ve remembered not to wear perfume, just incase their allergic. Having them break out into hives or a sneezing fit isn’t going to help you get those much-wanted words, ‘send me the full’.
With a quick check of the iron, making sure you’ve unplugged it from the wall, you grab your badge and head out the door. You check your watch and smile. Thirty minutes until your pitch appointment. You’re doing great.
The elevator door opens and you squeeze in with countless other hopefuls, only to remember…
Read the rest over here
Make sure you come back and let me know your answer here too. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
La, la, la, la, la…oh, you’re back, sorry about that. I tend to sing or hum when I’m waiting. With RWA nationals around the corner, (registration is now open), I thought we’d talk about pitching.
What is it about the words ‘Pitching to an Editor’ that causes the stomach to roll, the eyes to blur, and the heart to pound with the force of category five hurricane? (I’m in Florida, so change the hurricane to twister, blizzard, or whatever major weather you have where you’re from.)
For any of you who’ve been to conference you totally understand the above paragraph. For those who haven’t here’s a little image for you.
Breathe, you tell yourself as you sashay into the perfect meet the editor/agent outfit. You’ve remembered not to wear perfume, just incase their allergic. Having them break out into hives or a sneezing fit isn’t going to help you get those much-wanted words, ‘send me the full’.
With a quick check of the iron, making sure you’ve unplugged it from the wall, you grab your badge and head out the door. You check your watch and smile. Thirty minutes until your pitch appointment. You’re doing great.
The elevator door opens and you squeeze in with countless other hopefuls, only to remember…
Read the rest over here
Make sure you come back and let me know your answer here too. :)
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
More Hours in My Day, Please
I'm a little behind this week and it's only Tuesday. Not a good thing. Right now, I'm in the process of cutting words from ATB. This is a good thing, but it takes time going through line by line to decide if something is needed or not. Does it really move the story along? Or if it doesn't move the story, is it still needed to give a sense of place, time, and little bits of info on the H/H?
So far I've cut 6000 words and I'm only in chapter 9. My plans are to cut around 6 - 8K more, but we'll see. :)
For me the process means printing out the manuscript and red lining the pages and then going to the computer to input (or cut), the words. I know it would be quicker to just do it online the screen once and for all.
Doesn't work for me. I get cut happy. Really, I do. I start out with little to nothing cut off the page and before you know, I'm marking huge sections. So I do it on paper to keep the logical person within me happy. When I'm sitting in front of the computer, I can then say, nope need to keep this part.
Many of the editors who used to ask for higher word counts are now lowering them, due to paper cost and the economy in general. Cutting is in order. For those who’ve read ATB, I’m not losing any of its story, but tightening the pacing. I love it.
The day job is crazy. One of my bosses is moving to NY (big sigh, cause he's great to work for), and Science Guy and I are trying to find a house. And I need to have the cutting process done, the manuscript re-read (get ready cp's), and ready to mail out to the GH hopefully next Monday. The deadline approaches.
How about you? What's your process for cutting down your manuscript? Are you on a deadline now?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
So far I've cut 6000 words and I'm only in chapter 9. My plans are to cut around 6 - 8K more, but we'll see. :)
For me the process means printing out the manuscript and red lining the pages and then going to the computer to input (or cut), the words. I know it would be quicker to just do it online the screen once and for all.
Doesn't work for me. I get cut happy. Really, I do. I start out with little to nothing cut off the page and before you know, I'm marking huge sections. So I do it on paper to keep the logical person within me happy. When I'm sitting in front of the computer, I can then say, nope need to keep this part.
Many of the editors who used to ask for higher word counts are now lowering them, due to paper cost and the economy in general. Cutting is in order. For those who’ve read ATB, I’m not losing any of its story, but tightening the pacing. I love it.
The day job is crazy. One of my bosses is moving to NY (big sigh, cause he's great to work for), and Science Guy and I are trying to find a house. And I need to have the cutting process done, the manuscript re-read (get ready cp's), and ready to mail out to the GH hopefully next Monday. The deadline approaches.
How about you? What's your process for cutting down your manuscript? Are you on a deadline now?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Monday, October 27, 2008
Golden Pen Contest and Knight Keeper's Giveaway
Before I do the contest for this week I must give props to the Golden Pen Network and their contest. In case you’re not sure who or what this is, they are a group of people who have all been Golden Heart winners, many of which are now published and alumni of the group.
They hold a contest each year called the Golden Pen and I can’t say enough good things about it. Although you don’t have to be entering the RWA Golden Heart to enter this contest, if you are it’s a fabulous thing to do. Think about it. Your entries are judged by former GH finalist. How cool is that.
Did I enter this year? Yep. Did I final? Nope. But I received amazing feedback from all my judges. There is one judge who went above and beyond and to that person I am here to say, WOW. The person opened my eyes to an area I needed to fix and to look for areas I could cut.
Did they like the story and my writing? Yep. What I did have (no more) was a few areas which could slow the pacing and I needed a stronger GMC for my heroine. She has an incredibly strong GMC after the moment where her world changes, but her GMC until that point wasn’t really strong enough. Now it is. :)
I would highly recommend this contest to anyone who truly wants feedback AND you’re ready to make those changes/cuts.
Now for this weeks contest:
Jessica Andersen’s Knight Keeper is an amazing story using the Mayan Calendar. Check out the blurb below.
As a Miami narcotics detective, Leah Daniels never knows how her day will turn out. But she certainly never expected to be strapped to a stone altar, the human sacrifice in an ancient Mayan ritual meant to coax up a demon from the underworld. Or that she'd be saved by a handsome warrior-priest king who claims to recognize her from his visions...
Jaguar Strike wishes he hadn't made the mistake of reuniting his fellow warrior priests, or broken the law by saving their chosen human sacrifice. Now, he has no choice but to join forces with Leah and invoke dangerous magic in a death-defying race against the end of time.
To read and excerpt, click here
Leave your comments this week and on Friday the randomizer will choose a winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
They hold a contest each year called the Golden Pen and I can’t say enough good things about it. Although you don’t have to be entering the RWA Golden Heart to enter this contest, if you are it’s a fabulous thing to do. Think about it. Your entries are judged by former GH finalist. How cool is that.
Did I enter this year? Yep. Did I final? Nope. But I received amazing feedback from all my judges. There is one judge who went above and beyond and to that person I am here to say, WOW. The person opened my eyes to an area I needed to fix and to look for areas I could cut.
Did they like the story and my writing? Yep. What I did have (no more) was a few areas which could slow the pacing and I needed a stronger GMC for my heroine. She has an incredibly strong GMC after the moment where her world changes, but her GMC until that point wasn’t really strong enough. Now it is. :)
I would highly recommend this contest to anyone who truly wants feedback AND you’re ready to make those changes/cuts.
Now for this weeks contest:
Jessica Andersen’s Knight Keeper is an amazing story using the Mayan Calendar. Check out the blurb below.
As a Miami narcotics detective, Leah Daniels never knows how her day will turn out. But she certainly never expected to be strapped to a stone altar, the human sacrifice in an ancient Mayan ritual meant to coax up a demon from the underworld. Or that she'd be saved by a handsome warrior-priest king who claims to recognize her from his visions...
Jaguar Strike wishes he hadn't made the mistake of reuniting his fellow warrior priests, or broken the law by saving their chosen human sacrifice. Now, he has no choice but to join forces with Leah and invoke dangerous magic in a death-defying race against the end of time.
To read and excerpt, click here
Leave your comments this week and on Friday the randomizer will choose a winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Monday, October 20, 2008
Writing the Stand Alone Series
You’re writing a stand alone book and yet it’s a series. Sounds great, right? Well, it’s sort of this double edge sword thing. I’ve been using that word a lot lately, but with stand alone series, it’s true.
The first book is completed, shinning so bright, if it was a hotrod you’d seen yourself in it. And you’ve got it out there. People have requested it. Not quite to the point that it’s ‘your people call my people’ yet, but you feel it’s getting close.
You start the second book. Fingers tremble slightly as they pose over the keyboard. For the last month you’ve been dying to start this book. The first chapter flows and you smile. Of course it’s mostly POS, but not to worry, you’re writing forward and besides this is book two.
The screen is white, not a hint of black fills the page. You’ve now decided white is no longer one of your favorite colors. Shaking your head to clear out the proverbial cobwebs, you get another cup of coffee, grab a couple dove chocolates and head back to the laptop.
Maybe if you put on sunglasses it’ll stop the glare of what you are sure is now the brightest white on computer screen you’ve ever seen. And then it hits you. OMG, you’re going to need to plot this out. (Imagine hand slapping forehead here)
Two of your secondary characters from book one are the hero and heroine in book two. Shouldn’t be a problem, you’ve heard them in your head for months. They’ve been dying to get their story told.
Hero and Heroine decide to clam up. Oh yeah, they aren’t saying a word. You cajole them with promises of really listening to them and writing what they want you too. Nothing. What the heck is wrong with these two? Where have they gone? Don’t they know you’re ready now?
And that’s when you finally get it. You don’t know them at all. Sure you knew them in book one as secondary characters, but that’s all. You really didn’t care to much about their GMC’s and now all of sudden you think you can sit down and just spew it out.
You’ve got to plot, BUT more importantly you’ve got to LISTEN to them.
After pouring yourself a glass of wine, and taking the bottle with you, (hey this could be a long night), you settle down and begin. You talk about personal dreams, goals, and desires. Things no one else might know. During the course of the conversation you laugh and you cry and then you’re ready.
Electrical current charges through your fingers and mind, you’ve a real story to tell and it’s theirs. Not something left over from book one, but their lives, hopes, and dreams.
Book two, a stand alone series comes alive and you smile.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
The first book is completed, shinning so bright, if it was a hotrod you’d seen yourself in it. And you’ve got it out there. People have requested it. Not quite to the point that it’s ‘your people call my people’ yet, but you feel it’s getting close.
You start the second book. Fingers tremble slightly as they pose over the keyboard. For the last month you’ve been dying to start this book. The first chapter flows and you smile. Of course it’s mostly POS, but not to worry, you’re writing forward and besides this is book two.
The screen is white, not a hint of black fills the page. You’ve now decided white is no longer one of your favorite colors. Shaking your head to clear out the proverbial cobwebs, you get another cup of coffee, grab a couple dove chocolates and head back to the laptop.
Maybe if you put on sunglasses it’ll stop the glare of what you are sure is now the brightest white on computer screen you’ve ever seen. And then it hits you. OMG, you’re going to need to plot this out. (Imagine hand slapping forehead here)
Two of your secondary characters from book one are the hero and heroine in book two. Shouldn’t be a problem, you’ve heard them in your head for months. They’ve been dying to get their story told.
Hero and Heroine decide to clam up. Oh yeah, they aren’t saying a word. You cajole them with promises of really listening to them and writing what they want you too. Nothing. What the heck is wrong with these two? Where have they gone? Don’t they know you’re ready now?
And that’s when you finally get it. You don’t know them at all. Sure you knew them in book one as secondary characters, but that’s all. You really didn’t care to much about their GMC’s and now all of sudden you think you can sit down and just spew it out.
You’ve got to plot, BUT more importantly you’ve got to LISTEN to them.
After pouring yourself a glass of wine, and taking the bottle with you, (hey this could be a long night), you settle down and begin. You talk about personal dreams, goals, and desires. Things no one else might know. During the course of the conversation you laugh and you cry and then you’re ready.
Electrical current charges through your fingers and mind, you’ve a real story to tell and it’s theirs. Not something left over from book one, but their lives, hopes, and dreams.
Book two, a stand alone series comes alive and you smile.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Plot or Pants - Who Are You?
Quick reminder for anyone just tuning in: This week’s giveaway is Now You Die by Roxanne St. Claire. Leave your comments to be entered into the contest. Also, if you have questions for Rocki, leaves those as well.
The subject of this post isn’t something new, in fact it’s something we writer’s discuss a lot. You read about it on blogs, take online classes to see if you can make it work for you, and feel super excited if your chapter is doing a workshop on it.
What could it be? To Plot or Not to Plot, yes, this is a life long question of most writer’s. And it’s one that may change as you pull, okay, brace your feet on the side of your muse, and pull the next part of the story from her for all you’re worth.
Maybe that’s a bit much, but what else do you call it when you’re sitting in front of the all that white space and there’s nothing? Or you’ve typed the last 250 words at least twenty different ways and still you can’t type the next line. Nothing.
So, what do you do? Well, someone can come to the door, or the phone can ring, the spaghetti sauce boil over, or…you can kill someone. Now the killing thing might not work if you’re writing comedy. Then again, that could be a new fresh voice mixed together.
Basically what I’m saying is it’s time for action, which is great if you’re a pantser, but not so easy if you’re a plotter. I mean really, you’ve spent what, days, weeks, maybe more, getting your plotting board ready to go. You smile, turn on the computer, and start. The words flowing with ease and why not, you’ve plotted it out.
And then it happens. You can’t make the scene work no matter how many times you rework it. But you love this scene, the hero is amazing, sweet, sexy, and you know the readers are going to love it. Except it isn’t working with that plot line you’ve created.
Now if you’re a pantser, you can find yourself in the same boat, but the difference is you’re not married to the plot you’ve already created. Why? Because you don’t have the book figured out. You’re just as surprised as your heroine, when the hero throws a rock at her window and begins serenading her, with a voice that is less than perfect. Or when the shy heroine becomes the bold seductress and meets the hero at dinner with a low cut, cling in all the right places, can’t wear any undergarments, showing a lot of leg, red dress.
It’s those times that the pantser will sit back from the computer and say, “Really, I didn’t know that.” Or something along those lines.
Why am I telling you all this? I, Vicki Lane, am a pantser. I love being one and even when the block comes, I can usually make my out of it without too much pressure. My characters take on a life of their own and its fun. Sure you have to rein them in once in a while. And of course, you will have a conversation (or two) with a secondary character to remind them, this isn’t their book.
Here’s the problem. I have to plot the book I’m working on now. Make that two books. Although Annie’s is more of an outline, still there are things that must happen. But it’s the smaller book, the 55k book, which I had to plot out completely. I thought it would make it easier, but not so much for me. Now, I’m sitting in front of the computer knowing what happens next, but I’ve got to get them to that point, keeping the plot in mind.
So, what about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser? Have you tried both? Which works better for you? Or do you flip back and forth, depending on the book?
Leave your comments to be entered into this week’s giveaway. Also, if you have a question for Rocki, leave them in the comment sections.
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Monday, July 7, 2008
I'm Chum in the Water and it's not so bad...
I'm off the site for a few days while Ms. Shark chews on the revision. It should be back up tomorrow or the next day. Take a look and let me know what you think. :)
Do you read Query Shark? If not, then let me give you the 411. Janet Reid, agent for FinePrint Literary is the blogger, the Shark and we are her chum, if you will.
You can email her your query letter and it may or may not be posted. If it’s posted she’ll critique it and others will comment. You can then revise and resend it you choose.
I love this!!! I know, all work is subjective and everyone has different opinions. And yes, it’s the query, not the synopsis, not the partial or a full. But really, this is such a great way to see what an agent thinks of the letter as well as others.
Why am I telling you this??? Because mine is up today (#51) and I’d love to know what you think. I’ve already received some fabulous feedback, both from the shark and from the commenter’s. Now that doesn’t mean that they all loved it. It means they gave me their thoughts, and I can work with those thoughts as I do the rewrite.
So, check it out, leave a comment on the post and/or come back here and leave a comment. I’d love to know what you think, good or bad.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Do you read Query Shark? If not, then let me give you the 411. Janet Reid, agent for FinePrint Literary is the blogger, the Shark and we are her chum, if you will.
You can email her your query letter and it may or may not be posted. If it’s posted she’ll critique it and others will comment. You can then revise and resend it you choose.
I love this!!! I know, all work is subjective and everyone has different opinions. And yes, it’s the query, not the synopsis, not the partial or a full. But really, this is such a great way to see what an agent thinks of the letter as well as others.
Why am I telling you this??? Because mine is up today (#51) and I’d love to know what you think. I’ve already received some fabulous feedback, both from the shark and from the commenter’s. Now that doesn’t mean that they all loved it. It means they gave me their thoughts, and I can work with those thoughts as I do the rewrite.
So, check it out, leave a comment on the post and/or come back here and leave a comment. I’d love to know what you think, good or bad.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
It's Been a Year Since Miss Snark Retired and We Miss Her
May 19, 2007 was a day for many of us that will go down in history. It’s the day our much beloved Miss Snark announced she and Killer Yapp were retiring.
524 comments later, she came back and gave us several more post, finally closing on May 20, 2007.
Although we no longer have her or Killer Yapp live on the blog, she's left it up for us. To which we say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I have visited it many times, refreshing or making sure I'm doing it right when I query. She taught us to Query widely and Query well.
For any aspiring writer, the posts along with comments, (yes, snarky comments) are a valuable learning tool. While many of us were lurkers and posted occasionally we were there everyday, learning from someone who was quick to place her T.Rexual heels of stiletto snark upon us.
It’s there you’ll learn about the true crapometer, (which became an industry term from the blog), the do’s and don’ts of query letters, and more. Really everything you ever wanted to know and probably more, you’ll find in the archives.
So to you Miss Snark, and lest I forget, to you as well Killer Yapp, I hope you’re doing well, drinking from the gin pail, and of course married to George Clooney. Also, know that you’re missed by all!
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
PS. Last week’s contest: The winner for Karen Rose’s book Scream For Me is…Karen Lingefelt. WhooHoo Karen!!!
524 comments later, she came back and gave us several more post, finally closing on May 20, 2007.
Although we no longer have her or Killer Yapp live on the blog, she's left it up for us. To which we say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I have visited it many times, refreshing or making sure I'm doing it right when I query. She taught us to Query widely and Query well.
For any aspiring writer, the posts along with comments, (yes, snarky comments) are a valuable learning tool. While many of us were lurkers and posted occasionally we were there everyday, learning from someone who was quick to place her T.Rexual heels of stiletto snark upon us.
It’s there you’ll learn about the true crapometer, (which became an industry term from the blog), the do’s and don’ts of query letters, and more. Really everything you ever wanted to know and probably more, you’ll find in the archives.
So to you Miss Snark, and lest I forget, to you as well Killer Yapp, I hope you’re doing well, drinking from the gin pail, and of course married to George Clooney. Also, know that you’re missed by all!
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
PS. Last week’s contest: The winner for Karen Rose’s book Scream For Me is…Karen Lingefelt. WhooHoo Karen!!!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tagged Myself - You Can Too
I tagged myself over at the Manuscript Mavens blog. Here's the deal:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five no people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.
The nearest book is on my computer. Mine. So here are my three lines. You’ll see they come at a scene break.
Except this time it didn’t feel quite the same as it had with the others. Not wanting to think about what that meant, he turned the music up and began singing at the top of his lungs.
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five no people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.
The nearest book is on my computer. Mine. So here are my three lines. You’ll see they come at a scene break.
Except this time it didn’t feel quite the same as it had with the others. Not wanting to think about what that meant, he turned the music up and began singing at the top of his lungs.
***
It took Mallory three tries before she got the pilot light lit on the old gas stove.
What about you? Pick the nearest book and leave the lines in the comments (they also help you in winning Karen's book).
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Thursday, May 8, 2008
What's In Your Old Computer Files
I was spring cleaning my computer files and found this, as well as other short snippets of, well...hmmm...just plain stuff.
I wrote this year’s ago. No, it’s not an actual story, but it flowed from somewhere deep within me. Way before I ever met Science Guy, just in case you’re wondering if it was him. Nope, not at all.
Will it end up as a scene in a book? Maybe. It depends on what Lord G and Lady E do in the next book. Yes, they are part of the paranormal world in Mallory's book.
Although the writing is not perfect, I thought I’d share it with you anyway. And yes, should I decide to use it in AToD it will be rewritten.
Written about six years ago, late on night.
The Butterfly
The day was dreary but that would be okay for it matched her heart. She stood in the meadows, the metaphoric butterfly cupped safely within her hands.
Trembling with the fear of the unknown, the Lady turned, lifting both, her face and hands towards the gray sky – slowly, hesitantly, she opened her hands, releasing the very thing that had become precious to her.
With silent tears running down her face, she sat to wait for her butterfly, not really knowing if HE would return, but hoping that she would be what HE longed for and return once more to dry the tears and stay within her heart forever….
Days passed and the Lady rose from the once beautiful meadow, now no more than a salty sea. The sky was still as dreary as her heart. Though she knew the sun would once again come out, she didn’t know if she would ever see the beauty or really feel the warmth.
Life would continue, her heart would beat, never the same, but still it would beat. Her butterfly would not come back. HE thought HE knew what was best when all the while HE left her lost and alone.
Time, they say heals all wounds. The Lady’s heart had healed but the scar left would forever remind her of a Butterfly she released so long ago.
And yes, the Lady still looks for him, no not everyday, but when she least expected it. She’ll would look at the moon or hear the train and HE would come back to her thoughts. The scar would pull with the memories of what was and what would never be.
She once read, “Don’t cry because it’s over, but Smile because it happened.” The Lady knew this was to be forever true, as she would never be sorry that it had happened, even with the pain of loneliness and lost that her heart felt. What He had given her in their short time would forever be inside her. To remember, to smile, and yes, too even sometimes still feel the dampness on her cheeks as she thinks of a Prince and prayed HE was happy and content.
~Vicki Lane
What about you? Do you find things you've written years ago and smile at the memory they bring? Or are you super clean computer woman/man and never leave anything you don't need on your computer?
I wrote this year’s ago. No, it’s not an actual story, but it flowed from somewhere deep within me. Way before I ever met Science Guy, just in case you’re wondering if it was him. Nope, not at all.
Will it end up as a scene in a book? Maybe. It depends on what Lord G and Lady E do in the next book. Yes, they are part of the paranormal world in Mallory's book.
Although the writing is not perfect, I thought I’d share it with you anyway. And yes, should I decide to use it in AToD it will be rewritten.
Written about six years ago, late on night.
The Butterfly
The day was dreary but that would be okay for it matched her heart. She stood in the meadows, the metaphoric butterfly cupped safely within her hands.
Trembling with the fear of the unknown, the Lady turned, lifting both, her face and hands towards the gray sky – slowly, hesitantly, she opened her hands, releasing the very thing that had become precious to her.
With silent tears running down her face, she sat to wait for her butterfly, not really knowing if HE would return, but hoping that she would be what HE longed for and return once more to dry the tears and stay within her heart forever….
Days passed and the Lady rose from the once beautiful meadow, now no more than a salty sea. The sky was still as dreary as her heart. Though she knew the sun would once again come out, she didn’t know if she would ever see the beauty or really feel the warmth.
Life would continue, her heart would beat, never the same, but still it would beat. Her butterfly would not come back. HE thought HE knew what was best when all the while HE left her lost and alone.
Time, they say heals all wounds. The Lady’s heart had healed but the scar left would forever remind her of a Butterfly she released so long ago.
And yes, the Lady still looks for him, no not everyday, but when she least expected it. She’ll would look at the moon or hear the train and HE would come back to her thoughts. The scar would pull with the memories of what was and what would never be.
She once read, “Don’t cry because it’s over, but Smile because it happened.” The Lady knew this was to be forever true, as she would never be sorry that it had happened, even with the pain of loneliness and lost that her heart felt. What He had given her in their short time would forever be inside her. To remember, to smile, and yes, too even sometimes still feel the dampness on her cheeks as she thinks of a Prince and prayed HE was happy and content.
~Vicki Lane
What about you? Do you find things you've written years ago and smile at the memory they bring? Or are you super clean computer woman/man and never leave anything you don't need on your computer?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Synopsis – Love em or Hate em???
There are contest, we’re talking writing contest, all through out the year. Some are amazing and some…well, it’s not that they are not good, they just don’t speak to me personally to enter. Which is great on the pocketbook so to speak.
Yet, it’s this time of the year I get excited about them. Now and going through the next couple of months there are several contest I think are great. There’s the TARA (deadline just passed), the Molly’s, (deadline fast approaching) and the Maggie’s, (deadline coming soon). Yes, there are more than these three and they’re really good too. It’s these three that speak to me, Vicki writer.
Of the three above, two require a synopsis and one is your choice to send or not to send. And out of the two that require the dreaded “S” word, one of them is a judged component of the contest.
Synopsis. How can one word breath fear into so many of us? Is it because we’ve written this incredible long book and can’t for the life us figure how to get everything in a 3 – 5 page document? Maybe.
I looked up the meaning of the word on dictionary.com and this is what it says:
• A brief or condensed statement giving a general view of some subject
• A compendium of heads or short paragraphs giving a view of the whole
• A brief summary of the plot of a novel, motion picture, play, etc.
So where are the words, Fear, Dread, and oh yes, Procrastination? I mean really, most of us who are writers (there are a few who love them), really hate (strong word) writing them. We will sit for days on end thinking about them, trying to wrap our minds around the few short pages we need to tell our story and get everything “we” think is important.
That’s just it, everything is NOT important to put in the synopsis. Really. An agent, editor, or contest judge, doesn’t need everything including the proverbial kitchen sink in there.
So, we write it, part of it anyway, and then stew over it, write some more, stew some more and finally come up with what we hope will be a shinning short version of our work.
The thing is this, I’ve seen the lengths of them, long, medium, and short. By short, I mean very short. In fact, a friend of mine, sent me hers to look at. I asked about hers, since I knew her first book was indeed quite long, had paranormal elements, romance, and well, great stuff.
I expected it to be at least 5 pages, probably longer, since I knew roughly the word count of the book. Nope, not so much. What I received was 2 pages. Two! That’s it. It was great. Told whomever would be reading it, everything they needed to know.
Guess what I’m saying here, is yes, Synopsis World, is the place where so many of us get stuck. Perhaps even put the book under the bed with the other ones and begin the next book. Why, because writing the book is so much more fun. And the writing of the book isn’t the part which can bring the rejection first.
Still the contest deadlines loom and the agent / editor queries must have them, so they must be written. Yes, fear, dread, and procrastination, must be pushed aside and the words which flowed when you wrote your book, must now flow in a shortened, condensed version, so to tell your story and hopefully final in the contest or acquire the agent / editor.
Your turn, do you love to write them? Hate to write them? Ask for help writing them? Do they make you stop and go to the next book?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
I’d Like a Side of Bad Boy with my Hero, Please
Ooh, first things first. Stay next week for a majorly exciting contest!!! The trailer alone will ROCK you. :) Nope, not saying what it is yet, but it's a great one.
Also, to those who I owe books to, I promise to get them in the mail this week. Except for the one that is an ARC, I haven't received it yet to send to you, but will as soon as I do.
Now, back to the boys.
A few weeks back on the WIP, Tawny Weber posted about the different types of men and how do we choose our favorites. Check it out. It was a great post.
Here’s the comment I posted:
I had to think about this for a bit before I could answer. I’m like most the others out there who like her some bad boys, but then I think about my family. You know like the big family get together and think, would I be able to take him home with me. Or better yet, would he even want to.
Then I thought about the GQ guy and how incredible handsome he is. Now of course, I could take him to anything family related. BUT, what about when it’s just us? Will he be so preoccupied with his own self that he doesn’t think about me? Or put me up there above his own wants and needs sometimes (hey I believe in fair play). :D
Then it happened!!! On the way home last night, I saw my guy. Okay not really my guy, because as some of you know Science Guy is my guy and I love him very much. I wouldn’t want someone else.
But since this is for the imagined hero, I’ll go back to when it happened. Basic Black rocker tee-shirt, just tight enough to make you drool, his jeans stretched taut over his extended legs. The black boots were…oh who cares about the boots. :D Dark sunglasses covered what I’m sure are amazingly sexy bed-room eyes, his tanned face staring straight ahead as the wind created by the motorcycle he was driving, blew through deep black hair. When I came along side of him, he turned my way, nodded his head and drove off, while I sat there with horns blaring behind me.
Okay so the horn part isn’t true, but everything is.
This man could so pull off the rocker, motorcycle riding bad boy and the best dress GQ man around.
That’s when I knew…I like my hero’s to be a bad boy and the GQ rolled into one. Bad to bone, sexy in bed, and eye candy when we’re out.
And yes, Science Guy is my bad boy/GQ hero. At least to me.
So what about you? What type of guy is your favorite hero to read about?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Also, to those who I owe books to, I promise to get them in the mail this week. Except for the one that is an ARC, I haven't received it yet to send to you, but will as soon as I do.
Now, back to the boys.
A few weeks back on the WIP, Tawny Weber posted about the different types of men and how do we choose our favorites. Check it out. It was a great post.
Here’s the comment I posted:
I had to think about this for a bit before I could answer. I’m like most the others out there who like her some bad boys, but then I think about my family. You know like the big family get together and think, would I be able to take him home with me. Or better yet, would he even want to.
Then I thought about the GQ guy and how incredible handsome he is. Now of course, I could take him to anything family related. BUT, what about when it’s just us? Will he be so preoccupied with his own self that he doesn’t think about me? Or put me up there above his own wants and needs sometimes (hey I believe in fair play). :D
Then it happened!!! On the way home last night, I saw my guy. Okay not really my guy, because as some of you know Science Guy is my guy and I love him very much. I wouldn’t want someone else.
But since this is for the imagined hero, I’ll go back to when it happened. Basic Black rocker tee-shirt, just tight enough to make you drool, his jeans stretched taut over his extended legs. The black boots were…oh who cares about the boots. :D Dark sunglasses covered what I’m sure are amazingly sexy bed-room eyes, his tanned face staring straight ahead as the wind created by the motorcycle he was driving, blew through deep black hair. When I came along side of him, he turned my way, nodded his head and drove off, while I sat there with horns blaring behind me.
Okay so the horn part isn’t true, but everything is.
This man could so pull off the rocker, motorcycle riding bad boy and the best dress GQ man around.
That’s when I knew…I like my hero’s to be a bad boy and the GQ rolled into one. Bad to bone, sexy in bed, and eye candy when we’re out.
And yes, Science Guy is my bad boy/GQ hero. At least to me.
So what about you? What type of guy is your favorite hero to read about?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Words...
I love words. Okay, that’s not a big surprise, but really I do. An email comes to me each day with a new word and its meaning. Sometimes they’re normal, everyday words. More often than not, they’re obscure words and those are the ones I love the most.
The funny thing is as much as I love words, I found in the editing process, I was using some words way to much. How many times can you ‘look, gaze, or peer’? Or better yet, the words ‘as she’ and ‘as he’. I’m not saying you don’t need those words, because you do. Just not tons of them.
Action words are some of my favorite. Slammed, bounced, tickled, kissed, and so many more with or without the ‘ed’ or adding ‘ing’. Going back through AT&B, I’ve found places to add action rather than the normal ‘as she/he’ or ‘she turned’ or ‘he looked’. For me it makes the pacing so much better and keeps the dreaded ‘TELLING’ out of the book.
Yes, for those of you who know me well, I do have a spreadsheet. I love spreadsheets, what can I say. It’s a little OCD of me, but it works. It’s simply called, are you ready for this? Words To Start Paragraphs With.
In all honesty, I rarely glance at anymore. In fact, I forgot it was hanging on my bulletin board, until last night. I needed a word. Yep, it was there. Just what I needed and so the ‘Unexpected’ the paragraph took on new life.
See that’s the thing. Words are the life force to our books. If they’re too weak our characters will have problems breathing. Everything slows down and for a book that would be its heart. You can’t live long with a heart that doesn’t beat. The same thing happens but to the other side of the spectrum if they’re too strong for to long. The characters begin racing through the book and without warning they’ll plop down and won’t move. Okay, that sure doesn’t work in the book.
Long blog, short. I’ll spend the time to find the right word when needed. Because when that happens, you’ve hit gold. The reader no longer realizes he or she is reading. The words have breathed the correct amount of life into the book at the right time. The readers breathing will match the books, slowing down and speeding up as they are then immersed within your world.
Yep, I love words.
How about you? Do you find you have words you have change as you go back through your wip? Or as a reader, do find words that slow your reading down, making it hard to get through? What about the books where after the fist paragraph you no longer realized you were reading words, but now lived inside the pages of the book?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Oh and just on a side note, Julie Leto is guest blogging over on Diana Peterfreund’s blog today. Go read it, leave a comment, and you may win a copy of Phantom Pleasures.
The funny thing is as much as I love words, I found in the editing process, I was using some words way to much. How many times can you ‘look, gaze, or peer’? Or better yet, the words ‘as she’ and ‘as he’. I’m not saying you don’t need those words, because you do. Just not tons of them.
Action words are some of my favorite. Slammed, bounced, tickled, kissed, and so many more with or without the ‘ed’ or adding ‘ing’. Going back through AT&B, I’ve found places to add action rather than the normal ‘as she/he’ or ‘she turned’ or ‘he looked’. For me it makes the pacing so much better and keeps the dreaded ‘TELLING’ out of the book.
Yes, for those of you who know me well, I do have a spreadsheet. I love spreadsheets, what can I say. It’s a little OCD of me, but it works. It’s simply called, are you ready for this? Words To Start Paragraphs With.
In all honesty, I rarely glance at anymore. In fact, I forgot it was hanging on my bulletin board, until last night. I needed a word. Yep, it was there. Just what I needed and so the ‘Unexpected’ the paragraph took on new life.
See that’s the thing. Words are the life force to our books. If they’re too weak our characters will have problems breathing. Everything slows down and for a book that would be its heart. You can’t live long with a heart that doesn’t beat. The same thing happens but to the other side of the spectrum if they’re too strong for to long. The characters begin racing through the book and without warning they’ll plop down and won’t move. Okay, that sure doesn’t work in the book.
Long blog, short. I’ll spend the time to find the right word when needed. Because when that happens, you’ve hit gold. The reader no longer realizes he or she is reading. The words have breathed the correct amount of life into the book at the right time. The readers breathing will match the books, slowing down and speeding up as they are then immersed within your world.
Yep, I love words.
How about you? Do you find you have words you have change as you go back through your wip? Or as a reader, do find words that slow your reading down, making it hard to get through? What about the books where after the fist paragraph you no longer realized you were reading words, but now lived inside the pages of the book?
WW’s and PD’s,
Vicki
Oh and just on a side note, Julie Leto is guest blogging over on Diana Peterfreund’s blog today. Go read it, leave a comment, and you may win a copy of Phantom Pleasures.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Characters: Conforming or Rebelling? And Exciting Contest Update
Before I begin, I have some exciting news about this weeks contest at the end. Go ahead, scroll down and read it and then come back. I’ll wait. :)
I was sent an email this morning about an older woman, who I’ll call Mary, goes to lunch with several much younger women. When it’s time to order, the younger women order healthy food, while the Mary orders dessert and adds chocolate ice cream to it.
Funny thing about this story is the YW’s didn’t actually enjoy their lunch as they watched the Mary eat her dessert. They wished they had done the same thing, but knew in their hearts they couldn’t, wouldn’t, because it wouldn’t be right. Not at all what you should do.
After a second lunch, with much the same effect, one of the women asks Mary why she does this.
Come on, you know that answer to this. She older and doesn’t want to miss out on what she wants in life. Mary also decides to do some of the things she used to love and never takes the time to do them anymore. She says if she dies, then she knows she did what she wanted.
Of course I had to check it out and no, I can’t find that it is a true story, however, that didn’t stop me from thinking about my characters in my book.
What is it they want to do? And do they care what others think of them for doing or not doing such. Now, I’m not talking about murder (okay, maybe I could be), I’m talking about the daily life stuff. The stuff that makes them real in our heads and our hearts.
Do they have to conform to the rules? Is that what makes them tick? If they do, then is it okay with them deep down, or would they really like to (take a deep breath all of you writers) wake up and eat chocolate for breakfast even if that is not consider a meal.
Or maybe simpler still, would they call into work sick, when their not and enjoy the day at the amusement park, or would they go and not eat the corn dog or ride that killer roller coaster because they just plain felt to guilty to be there.
I don’t know about you, but I have both types of characters in my book. Having them and realizing that you have them are two different things. If the one, who conforms to all the ‘expected’ rules, breaks one, then she is miserable. But her friend is totally the opposite. She believes in live and let live, enjoy the ride because you only get one ticket.
Biggest question is this. Am I writing them as such? Do I find that emotion within each of them to convey that to the reader? Will the reader say to herself, ‘OMG, I know just what (insert character name) feel, I want to do that too, but can’t let myself. Or (again insert character name), ‘I’m with you, I say do it, enjoy it, and who cares what others think.’
Knowing this will give your characters more depth and your readers more sympathetic feelings for them either way.
So your turn, do you show this side of your characters? Do you think it makes a difference if do or do not show it?
And remember to leave your comments for this week’s contest. And the big news is this: Diana has linked to the contest on her site. She has also said that rather than make the winner wait until June as soon as she has the ARC’s she’s going to send one to me to give to the winner. How cool is that??? But then, Diana Rocks Big Time!
One last question. Which did you do? Did you read the blog from the top to the bottom even though you wanted to scroll down and read the exciting news first?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
I was sent an email this morning about an older woman, who I’ll call Mary, goes to lunch with several much younger women. When it’s time to order, the younger women order healthy food, while the Mary orders dessert and adds chocolate ice cream to it.
Funny thing about this story is the YW’s didn’t actually enjoy their lunch as they watched the Mary eat her dessert. They wished they had done the same thing, but knew in their hearts they couldn’t, wouldn’t, because it wouldn’t be right. Not at all what you should do.
After a second lunch, with much the same effect, one of the women asks Mary why she does this.
Come on, you know that answer to this. She older and doesn’t want to miss out on what she wants in life. Mary also decides to do some of the things she used to love and never takes the time to do them anymore. She says if she dies, then she knows she did what she wanted.
Of course I had to check it out and no, I can’t find that it is a true story, however, that didn’t stop me from thinking about my characters in my book.
What is it they want to do? And do they care what others think of them for doing or not doing such. Now, I’m not talking about murder (okay, maybe I could be), I’m talking about the daily life stuff. The stuff that makes them real in our heads and our hearts.
Do they have to conform to the rules? Is that what makes them tick? If they do, then is it okay with them deep down, or would they really like to (take a deep breath all of you writers) wake up and eat chocolate for breakfast even if that is not consider a meal.
Or maybe simpler still, would they call into work sick, when their not and enjoy the day at the amusement park, or would they go and not eat the corn dog or ride that killer roller coaster because they just plain felt to guilty to be there.
I don’t know about you, but I have both types of characters in my book. Having them and realizing that you have them are two different things. If the one, who conforms to all the ‘expected’ rules, breaks one, then she is miserable. But her friend is totally the opposite. She believes in live and let live, enjoy the ride because you only get one ticket.
Biggest question is this. Am I writing them as such? Do I find that emotion within each of them to convey that to the reader? Will the reader say to herself, ‘OMG, I know just what (insert character name) feel, I want to do that too, but can’t let myself. Or (again insert character name), ‘I’m with you, I say do it, enjoy it, and who cares what others think.’
Knowing this will give your characters more depth and your readers more sympathetic feelings for them either way.
So your turn, do you show this side of your characters? Do you think it makes a difference if do or do not show it?
And remember to leave your comments for this week’s contest. And the big news is this: Diana has linked to the contest on her site. She has also said that rather than make the winner wait until June as soon as she has the ARC’s she’s going to send one to me to give to the winner. How cool is that??? But then, Diana Rocks Big Time!
One last question. Which did you do? Did you read the blog from the top to the bottom even though you wanted to scroll down and read the exciting news first?
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Checking In and Trying to Get Back in the Swing of Things
The Pay It Forward contest is still going on. Leave a comment to be entered and on Feb. 8th I’ll pick two winners.
If you haven't been reading the Maven's blog, then you are missing the new CYOA. The line of authors writing each day's mini chapters is amazing and this is a fun story. Each day you read the new installment and then vote on what happens next. Fun, Fun!!! :D
I know it seems I have been MIA for the past week and in truth, I have. I've read/lurked, but my schedule has been way too crazy to post or even leave comments for the most part.
The retreat was great! Michael Hauge gave us much to work on in our current and future wip. His Identity to Essence is amazing. Funny thing is, I vacillated between my characters and myself.
If you have not heard him teach this, then his DVD is something I highly recommend. I was there, took tons of notes, and still bought them.
We had a full agenda starting with a TARA mixer on Friday night, which was so much fun. Having the time to talk with other members that you don't always have the chance to at the monthly meetings was fun. We learned things about each other and heard of new sells, (Yay Ellisa!!!). There was also some down time for those who did not want to participate in the Saturday afternoon functions. Time to walk on the beach or go shopping. A girls gotta love that. :)
Saturday night we had the pj party and watched the movie Sideways. Michael was speaking on it on Sunday morning. Most of us had not seen the movie, and truth be known, we couldn't really see this as a romantic comedy. Yes, there was laugh out loud moments, but the romance as we romance writers think of romance wasn't really there for most people.
Still, for me the movie was great. The dialogue was funny, yet there was depth to the words. More often than not with a much deeper and different meaning than what was actually said. Favorite part??? Okay, I'm with everyone else, when she hit the guy with the helmet, over and over again. He so deserved it.
Anyway, we had prizes, fun, food, drinks, and a great time. Hopefully this is something we will do again next year.
Now to check in. Not so much writing this past week. I did do edits on the hard copy. I'm in chapter 11 right now. The synopsis has 3 more paragraphs in it, all or most of which will probably be tossed, but I'm writing it. :)
The rest of last week was final prep for the retreat.
This week, finish edits on the hard copy and finish the first draft of the synopsis.
So, how was your week? Did you meet your writing goals, or come close? Oh, the new pic is from the retreat.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
If you haven't been reading the Maven's blog, then you are missing the new CYOA. The line of authors writing each day's mini chapters is amazing and this is a fun story. Each day you read the new installment and then vote on what happens next. Fun, Fun!!! :D
I know it seems I have been MIA for the past week and in truth, I have. I've read/lurked, but my schedule has been way too crazy to post or even leave comments for the most part.
The retreat was great! Michael Hauge gave us much to work on in our current and future wip. His Identity to Essence is amazing. Funny thing is, I vacillated between my characters and myself.
If you have not heard him teach this, then his DVD is something I highly recommend. I was there, took tons of notes, and still bought them.
We had a full agenda starting with a TARA mixer on Friday night, which was so much fun. Having the time to talk with other members that you don't always have the chance to at the monthly meetings was fun. We learned things about each other and heard of new sells, (Yay Ellisa!!!). There was also some down time for those who did not want to participate in the Saturday afternoon functions. Time to walk on the beach or go shopping. A girls gotta love that. :)
Saturday night we had the pj party and watched the movie Sideways. Michael was speaking on it on Sunday morning. Most of us had not seen the movie, and truth be known, we couldn't really see this as a romantic comedy. Yes, there was laugh out loud moments, but the romance as we romance writers think of romance wasn't really there for most people.
Still, for me the movie was great. The dialogue was funny, yet there was depth to the words. More often than not with a much deeper and different meaning than what was actually said. Favorite part??? Okay, I'm with everyone else, when she hit the guy with the helmet, over and over again. He so deserved it.
Anyway, we had prizes, fun, food, drinks, and a great time. Hopefully this is something we will do again next year.
Now to check in. Not so much writing this past week. I did do edits on the hard copy. I'm in chapter 11 right now. The synopsis has 3 more paragraphs in it, all or most of which will probably be tossed, but I'm writing it. :)
The rest of last week was final prep for the retreat.
This week, finish edits on the hard copy and finish the first draft of the synopsis.
So, how was your week? Did you meet your writing goals, or come close? Oh, the new pic is from the retreat.
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
What Do Your Characters Eat?
A friend sent this to me and I loved it. I thought I'd share it with you.
The Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all..
One is Evil.
It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good.
It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Not only does this apply to us it applies to our characters. What are you feeding them? Does your H/H struggle to be good or perhaps your Villain, does he/she feast on evil or struggles to maintain the evil inside?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
The Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all..
One is Evil.
It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good.
It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Not only does this apply to us it applies to our characters. What are you feeding them? Does your H/H struggle to be good or perhaps your Villain, does he/she feast on evil or struggles to maintain the evil inside?
WW's and PD's,
Vicki
Friday, October 26, 2007
Who, What, When, Where, Why and How???
Who are you as an author? What made you decide to write? When and Where do you write? Why do you do it? How bad do you want it? The last question may well be the most important question you’ll ask yourself in your writing career.
The Encyclopedia, The Free Dictionary online has this to say concerning the definition of an author.
An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article, or the like, whether short or long, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, technical or literary.
Who? As an author you are the one to pen/type your words, create your world, and introduce us to your characters. It’s your job to make them come to life for the reader. To so submerge them into this world you’ve created, the reader will sigh as they close the book not wanting to leave their new found friends.
So, what made you decide to write? Or this could simply say why do you write? You can read the post on why do you write, in its entirety here.
Or maybe it’s one of the ones below.
Is it because:
a. You’ve read 1000 books and decided, “Hey, I can do that.”
b. This years lineup on TV just aren’t doing it for you and your bored
c. Everybody’s writing something, besides it’s pretty cool to tell people you’re a writer
d. Because the damn muse will not shut up. You’re character won’t leave you alone. In fact they’re pretty much demanding you write their story or forfeit all thoughts of sleep and a normal life.
Depending on “Who” you are, you may pick any one of the above. For me, it’s definitely the last one. I go to sleep thinking about the book and wake up thinking about it. I have notepads everywhere in case they speak to me and I’m not near the computer. Trust me, if I don’t write it down I might just forget it. My muse knows this, but she a stubborn one. I pretty sure she feels like once she tells me it’s my job to get and remember it.
When and Where do you write? Are you a morning person, like C L Wilson, who loves to write at 4:00 AM or are you an late night person, like Anne Marie who prefers anywhere from 11:00 pm until the dreaded 4:00 AM? Me, I’m neither of those. I write when I get home from the day job. Regardless of when you write the importance is that you write. You will never see the end if you don’t have HOKBIC (hands on keyboard, butt in chair). Where you choose to write should be the place that most inspires you. If you need absolute quiet then sitting in front of the tube with the kids/dogs playing all around you probably won’t work. If that doesn’t bother you and your creative juices flow between commercials then by all means do that. Basically what I’m saying it pick what works best for you and to use Nike’s phrase Just Do It.
Okay, you’ve answered the who, what, when, where, and why’s. There’s just one more question to ask. This, in my humble opinion, may be the most important question to answer in your writing career.
How bad do you want it? Are you willing to give up television at night in order to write? If you work a day job are you willing to make this your second job to get it done? This is your career and it’s up to you how fast or long it takes to reach “The End”. But if you’re serious about wanting this as a career you must make time to write everyday or almost everyday. How much time you devote will differ from day to day and also depending on your life. But time devoted is the only way you’ll finish the book.
If this is to be a career then yes, it’s your second job until the day comes you can make it your one and only job. How long will it take you? That’s your decision and yours alone. For me, it’s working on it everyday when I come home from pay the bills job. I’ve heard that in order to achieve the things you want most you should act like it’s already a done deal. That means writing deadlines and finishing the book.
So your turn, do you have any Who, What, When, Where, Why and How’s going on in your world? Have you decided this is your career and created a career path for yourself? Or are you simply writing as you have time just for the joy of writing a story?
Oh, any by the way, if you haven’t been to the Maven’s this week for the Choose Your Own Adventure, what are you waiting for. You’ve got several days to read and then choose the next. It’s a writer’s Halloween party going on over there. :)
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
The Encyclopedia, The Free Dictionary online has this to say concerning the definition of an author.
An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article, or the like, whether short or long, fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, technical or literary.
Who? As an author you are the one to pen/type your words, create your world, and introduce us to your characters. It’s your job to make them come to life for the reader. To so submerge them into this world you’ve created, the reader will sigh as they close the book not wanting to leave their new found friends.
So, what made you decide to write? Or this could simply say why do you write? You can read the post on why do you write, in its entirety here.
Or maybe it’s one of the ones below.
Is it because:
a. You’ve read 1000 books and decided, “Hey, I can do that.”
b. This years lineup on TV just aren’t doing it for you and your bored
c. Everybody’s writing something, besides it’s pretty cool to tell people you’re a writer
d. Because the damn muse will not shut up. You’re character won’t leave you alone. In fact they’re pretty much demanding you write their story or forfeit all thoughts of sleep and a normal life.
Depending on “Who” you are, you may pick any one of the above. For me, it’s definitely the last one. I go to sleep thinking about the book and wake up thinking about it. I have notepads everywhere in case they speak to me and I’m not near the computer. Trust me, if I don’t write it down I might just forget it. My muse knows this, but she a stubborn one. I pretty sure she feels like once she tells me it’s my job to get and remember it.
When and Where do you write? Are you a morning person, like C L Wilson, who loves to write at 4:00 AM or are you an late night person, like Anne Marie who prefers anywhere from 11:00 pm until the dreaded 4:00 AM? Me, I’m neither of those. I write when I get home from the day job. Regardless of when you write the importance is that you write. You will never see the end if you don’t have HOKBIC (hands on keyboard, butt in chair). Where you choose to write should be the place that most inspires you. If you need absolute quiet then sitting in front of the tube with the kids/dogs playing all around you probably won’t work. If that doesn’t bother you and your creative juices flow between commercials then by all means do that. Basically what I’m saying it pick what works best for you and to use Nike’s phrase Just Do It.
Okay, you’ve answered the who, what, when, where, and why’s. There’s just one more question to ask. This, in my humble opinion, may be the most important question to answer in your writing career.
How bad do you want it? Are you willing to give up television at night in order to write? If you work a day job are you willing to make this your second job to get it done? This is your career and it’s up to you how fast or long it takes to reach “The End”. But if you’re serious about wanting this as a career you must make time to write everyday or almost everyday. How much time you devote will differ from day to day and also depending on your life. But time devoted is the only way you’ll finish the book.
If this is to be a career then yes, it’s your second job until the day comes you can make it your one and only job. How long will it take you? That’s your decision and yours alone. For me, it’s working on it everyday when I come home from pay the bills job. I’ve heard that in order to achieve the things you want most you should act like it’s already a done deal. That means writing deadlines and finishing the book.
So your turn, do you have any Who, What, When, Where, Why and How’s going on in your world? Have you decided this is your career and created a career path for yourself? Or are you simply writing as you have time just for the joy of writing a story?
Oh, any by the way, if you haven’t been to the Maven’s this week for the Choose Your Own Adventure, what are you waiting for. You’ve got several days to read and then choose the next. It’s a writer’s Halloween party going on over there. :)
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
Friday, October 5, 2007
You've Written 'The End' and It's Time to Begin The Next WIP
So you’ve written ‘The End’. Your baby’s polished and out the door to face the world of agents and/or editors all alone.
There you sit, staring at the blank screen or pad of paper before you, knowing full well its time to begin the next wip.
Oh you’ve got plenty of ideas brewing. You may even have a short outline. But now you’ve got to interview the next set of characters. Get to know them. Their likes, dislikes, and omg their conflicts. Maybe you’re on deadline. You’re fingers sit on the keys waiting and still you stare, no longer at the blank screen / paper but now off into space wondering…
Speculating how is Sam (insert your hero’s name here)? Or asking yourself, what is Abby shopping for now? (you know the drill by now, insert heroine’s name)
You see, you’ve been with them for months and for some of us years. Going through every happy and sad moment right along with them. You wanted to kill Sam when he forgot Abby’s birthday and then had tears when he made it up to her with a surprise trip including rose petals lining the pathway. (One of mine really did do something like that only it wasn’t a forgotten b-day).
The thing is you miss them. They were you’re comfort. If you had to you could write scenes out of order during this book. Some that wouldn’t happen for several chapters since you knew them so well. And now their gone.
Should you write a sequel? They could visit in. That would be lovely. No, their book really didn’t leave room for another. Besides, it’s time to let go. But how do you do that?
Take a couple of days to read, paint, watch a movie, or clean house and do laundry. All the things you’re characters didn’t let you do while writing their story. Refresh your mind. Then begin that new wip. Allow yourself to write POS (forever grateful to Nora Robert’s for that one). You can fix it later. The important thing is to write.
Look through magazines find out what/who your hero and heroine look like. Maybe go to the mall have lunch and people watch. What are they doing? Take notes as you watch their quirks; perhaps hear a snippet of conversations, and anything else that make you smile.
In other words do whatever it takes to get you into that new work. You’re muse may have stubbornly stepped out when Sam and Abby’s story was completed, but not for long. In all actuality she is just as curious as you are about the new couple. Oh, she won’t tell you that at first. No, she likes to be in charge of what words hit the paper.
In no time you’ll be back in the swing and a new story has emerged. Lives are taking shape; conflicts are getting in their way, danger, sexual attraction, odd things happening, and love / hate begins to blossom.
You sit back and smile. Once again you’ve got a new world building and new lives to get to know.
Shaking out your fingers, cracking your knuckles, and stretching your neck from side to side you back you begin typing as words pouring out. Your muse is back. She didn’t go far and she’s ready to work. You grin as the screen / page is no longer blank.
The race to the end of the book is back on with a new set of friends and family. A new baby is born.
So, what do you do when you’ve finished your book? Tell us how you get started on the next one.
On Sunday I’ll announce this week’s winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
There you sit, staring at the blank screen or pad of paper before you, knowing full well its time to begin the next wip.
Oh you’ve got plenty of ideas brewing. You may even have a short outline. But now you’ve got to interview the next set of characters. Get to know them. Their likes, dislikes, and omg their conflicts. Maybe you’re on deadline. You’re fingers sit on the keys waiting and still you stare, no longer at the blank screen / paper but now off into space wondering…
Speculating how is Sam (insert your hero’s name here)? Or asking yourself, what is Abby shopping for now? (you know the drill by now, insert heroine’s name)
You see, you’ve been with them for months and for some of us years. Going through every happy and sad moment right along with them. You wanted to kill Sam when he forgot Abby’s birthday and then had tears when he made it up to her with a surprise trip including rose petals lining the pathway. (One of mine really did do something like that only it wasn’t a forgotten b-day).
The thing is you miss them. They were you’re comfort. If you had to you could write scenes out of order during this book. Some that wouldn’t happen for several chapters since you knew them so well. And now their gone.
Should you write a sequel? They could visit in. That would be lovely. No, their book really didn’t leave room for another. Besides, it’s time to let go. But how do you do that?
Take a couple of days to read, paint, watch a movie, or clean house and do laundry. All the things you’re characters didn’t let you do while writing their story. Refresh your mind. Then begin that new wip. Allow yourself to write POS (forever grateful to Nora Robert’s for that one). You can fix it later. The important thing is to write.
Look through magazines find out what/who your hero and heroine look like. Maybe go to the mall have lunch and people watch. What are they doing? Take notes as you watch their quirks; perhaps hear a snippet of conversations, and anything else that make you smile.
In other words do whatever it takes to get you into that new work. You’re muse may have stubbornly stepped out when Sam and Abby’s story was completed, but not for long. In all actuality she is just as curious as you are about the new couple. Oh, she won’t tell you that at first. No, she likes to be in charge of what words hit the paper.
In no time you’ll be back in the swing and a new story has emerged. Lives are taking shape; conflicts are getting in their way, danger, sexual attraction, odd things happening, and love / hate begins to blossom.
You sit back and smile. Once again you’ve got a new world building and new lives to get to know.
Shaking out your fingers, cracking your knuckles, and stretching your neck from side to side you back you begin typing as words pouring out. Your muse is back. She didn’t go far and she’s ready to work. You grin as the screen / page is no longer blank.
The race to the end of the book is back on with a new set of friends and family. A new baby is born.
So, what do you do when you’ve finished your book? Tell us how you get started on the next one.
On Sunday I’ll announce this week’s winner.
Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,
Vicki
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