So, as I was taking a break from my LSAT practice test (hey, a girl needs to eat), I stumbled upon a show I'd seen advertised - Sci Fi Science. It's on the Science Channel and is hosted by Dr. Michio Kaku one of the most prominent physicists in the world. (He's also the author of Physics of the Impossible, if you want to delve deeper into your science research.)
I decided to take a few moments and share this resource with all of you Sci Fi writers out there. I know, as a reader, I want a story that takes me into another place/time/world, but I also want to believe it could really happen - no matter how slim the reality may be. Sci Fi Science shows you how some of our favorite imaginings can really come to be. Remember, the submarine began as the creation of Jules Verne's mind!
Unfortunately, you can't watch complete episodes of Sci Fi Science online, but you can view short clips and there are links to articles on subjects like - Is creating an invisibility cloak possible? (More so than you might think, actually.)
The Science Channel's main page contains links to dozens more shows, articles, and there are even some games. :-) Personally, I could spend hours there but don't have the time now. However, I encourage you to go in my stead. Go forth and explore my fellow writers. Feed your imaginations and don't forget to feed your stomachs on occasion too. ;-P
Showing posts with label helpful websites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helpful websites. Show all posts
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Bi-weekly "Site of the Week" -- Which Rules Aren't Made to be Broken.
So, some of you may have noticed that I've begun using a theme for the Site of the Week, since I haven't always had time to post each week. This week's theme, when not to break the rules.
When you're creating fiction, by all means break the rules of gravity, reality and even common sense if you want to. But when you begin submitting that fantastic work of fiction, that is when the rules aren't made to be broken.
Follow them.
Rule number one. In my opinion this is the most important rule -- do your research. Nothing sends your submission to the e-slush pile/trash can/file 13 faster than submitting it to the wrong market. There are so many sub-genres and blended genres out there these days you can't simply see "science fiction" or "fantasy" under the listing of acceptable submissions and assume your work is a perfect fit.
E-zines often contain free web content so you can get a glimpse of the type of stories they accept, give it a read. If you are submitting to another type of publication which doesn't have free online content, see if you can track a copy down at your local library, Amazon, or borrow one from your next door neighbor's cousin's best friend. You may even be lucky enough to find something on your local Freecycle network. If those options fail, and you really want to get published in that particular venue - buy a copy. I know that finding the extra cash can be tough in this economy, but you have to decide how serious you are. Do you really need that extra vente, double-caff, extra foam, caramel mochachino? ;-)
Rule number two. Read the submission guidelines thoroughly. Every agent, publisher, e-zine, etc. has its own rules of submission. These are published for a reason. Read them. Many of them will also include a link to what the proper formatting they expect looks like, so there is no excuse for submitting anything less than what they are asking you for.
An upcoming speculative fiction e-zine aimed at the YA market, Scape, uses this example which is the most widely used standard manuscript format. However, USE CAUTION, some agents, etc. specifically state what they expect a manuscript to look like and it is not this format.
Rule number three - Proofread before you click send. Spell check is handy. Automatic typo correction is my personal savior. But neither of them are a substitute for reading your submission and making 110% certain that you haven't made a mistake they won't catch - like a misused homonym. (This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Here is a link to a site of homonyms you can use to double check. And yes, I have posted this before, it never hurts to repost a resource like this.)
Rule number four - Proofread twice before you hit send.
When you're creating fiction, by all means break the rules of gravity, reality and even common sense if you want to. But when you begin submitting that fantastic work of fiction, that is when the rules aren't made to be broken.
Follow them.
Rule number one. In my opinion this is the most important rule -- do your research. Nothing sends your submission to the e-slush pile/trash can/file 13 faster than submitting it to the wrong market. There are so many sub-genres and blended genres out there these days you can't simply see "science fiction" or "fantasy" under the listing of acceptable submissions and assume your work is a perfect fit.
E-zines often contain free web content so you can get a glimpse of the type of stories they accept, give it a read. If you are submitting to another type of publication which doesn't have free online content, see if you can track a copy down at your local library, Amazon, or borrow one from your next door neighbor's cousin's best friend. You may even be lucky enough to find something on your local Freecycle network. If those options fail, and you really want to get published in that particular venue - buy a copy. I know that finding the extra cash can be tough in this economy, but you have to decide how serious you are. Do you really need that extra vente, double-caff, extra foam, caramel mochachino? ;-)
Rule number two. Read the submission guidelines thoroughly. Every agent, publisher, e-zine, etc. has its own rules of submission. These are published for a reason. Read them. Many of them will also include a link to what the proper formatting they expect looks like, so there is no excuse for submitting anything less than what they are asking you for.
An upcoming speculative fiction e-zine aimed at the YA market, Scape, uses this example which is the most widely used standard manuscript format. However, USE CAUTION, some agents, etc. specifically state what they expect a manuscript to look like and it is not this format.
Rule number three - Proofread before you click send. Spell check is handy. Automatic typo correction is my personal savior. But neither of them are a substitute for reading your submission and making 110% certain that you haven't made a mistake they won't catch - like a misused homonym. (This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Here is a link to a site of homonyms you can use to double check. And yes, I have posted this before, it never hurts to repost a resource like this.)
Rule number four - Proofread twice before you hit send.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Inspiration Needed?
For this week I'm revisiting a previous Site fo the Week, but in a different capacity. Some of you may remember my mention of Seventh Sanctum's name generators. This site has many other types of generators and so I've used their story generator with both a fantasy theme and a science fiction theme. The results are posted below. If you're going through a spell of writer's block, maybe some of these prompts will get your brain working again. :-)
And if you want to try the generators for yourself, I've added Seventh Sanctum to my list of Websites for Writers on the left side of the page.
FANTASY
1)The story is about a guild of shiftless scribes. It takes place in a war-scarred realm in a magical dimension. The story climaxes with destruction. A lost treasure plays an important role.
2)The story is about a bloodthirsty smuggler and an elementalist who is constantly annoyed by a jailer. It starts in a universe where space travel occurs by magical means. The story begins with someone going to sleep, climaxes with a promotion, and ends with an angry outburst.
3)The story is about a seer from a good family. It starts on our world after a disaster brought about the return of magic in a magical universe. The will of the gods is a major part of the story.
4)This is a comedy-of-manners with a focus on self-sacrifice. The story is about an aloof prince who must work with a pessimistic king. It takes place in a magical alternate universe. The story begins with a dream. The effect of magical races on business is a major part of the story.
5)This is an epic about giving in to destiny. The story is about a watchful wizard who has a mysterious admirier: a fisherman. It takes place in a storehouse in a desert fiefdom. An ancient prophecy plays an important role.
6)The story is about a treasure-hunter, a wizard, a wizard, and a knight. It takes place in a city-state in a forest realm. The return of ancient powers plays an important part in the story.
7)This is a satire. The story is about an actor and an unstable bandit. It starts on our world after a disaster brought about the return of magic. Recovering magical artifacts and knowledge is a major part of the story.
8)The story is about a farmer, an outgoing gigolo, a martial artist, and a dungeon delver who is mysteriously connected to a pompous shaman. It takes place in a legendary domain on our world in a new magical age. An important bloodline plays a prime part.
9)The story is about a shaman, a plain shaman, a vicious fortune-teller, and a rat-catcher. It takes place in a village in a religious land. An important bloodline plays a prime part.
10)This is a rags-to-riches story. The story is about a graceful scribe. It takes place on our world in a magical age. A powerful magical weapon plays an important role.
SCIENCE FICTION
1)This is a comedy-of-errors. The story is about a fearful doctor and a shiftless physicist. It takes place on a war-torn planet. The critical element of the story is the failure at a test. An accident in space plays a major role in the story.
2)The story is about a frustrated nuclear engineer, a video game addict, and a linguistics expert. It takes place in a dimensional warp. The speed of technological advancement is a major part of this story.
3)This is a story about travel and how man can better himself. The story is about a confident gambler who has a mysterious admirier: a sailor. It starts in a galaxy-spanning commonwealth. A spatial anomoly plays a major role in the story.
4)This is a tale about rebellion. The story is about a priestess. It starts in a galaxy-spanning confederation. The story begins with a sport being played.
5)The story is about a whiny plumber. It takes place in a galaxy-spanning technocracy. The differences alien societies may have regarding economics is a major element of this story.
6)The story is about an energetic baseball player, a biologist, and a committed servant. It takes place on an ancient planet. The crux of the story involves the taking of a test.
7)The story is about an acrobat who is in debt to an unpredictable scientist. It starts in an intergalactic syndicate. The difficulty of cross-species communications is a major issue of the story.
8)The story is about a secretary haunted by flashbacks. It takes place in an intergalactic federation. The blurring of the boundaries between man and machine is a major part of this story.
9)The story is about a rabble-rouser who is in debt to a park ranger. It takes place on a toxic planet. The crux of the story involves an accident at home. A rebellion against technology plays a major role in this story.
10)This is a crime drama. The story is about a CFO. It takes place in an intergalactic commonwealth. The story begins with an advice, climaxes with a murder, and ends with the paying of a fine. The effect of alien contact on business is a major part of the story.
And if you want to try the generators for yourself, I've added Seventh Sanctum to my list of Websites for Writers on the left side of the page.
FANTASY
1)The story is about a guild of shiftless scribes. It takes place in a war-scarred realm in a magical dimension. The story climaxes with destruction. A lost treasure plays an important role.
2)The story is about a bloodthirsty smuggler and an elementalist who is constantly annoyed by a jailer. It starts in a universe where space travel occurs by magical means. The story begins with someone going to sleep, climaxes with a promotion, and ends with an angry outburst.
3)The story is about a seer from a good family. It starts on our world after a disaster brought about the return of magic in a magical universe. The will of the gods is a major part of the story.
4)This is a comedy-of-manners with a focus on self-sacrifice. The story is about an aloof prince who must work with a pessimistic king. It takes place in a magical alternate universe. The story begins with a dream. The effect of magical races on business is a major part of the story.
5)This is an epic about giving in to destiny. The story is about a watchful wizard who has a mysterious admirier: a fisherman. It takes place in a storehouse in a desert fiefdom. An ancient prophecy plays an important role.
6)The story is about a treasure-hunter, a wizard, a wizard, and a knight. It takes place in a city-state in a forest realm. The return of ancient powers plays an important part in the story.
7)This is a satire. The story is about an actor and an unstable bandit. It starts on our world after a disaster brought about the return of magic. Recovering magical artifacts and knowledge is a major part of the story.
8)The story is about a farmer, an outgoing gigolo, a martial artist, and a dungeon delver who is mysteriously connected to a pompous shaman. It takes place in a legendary domain on our world in a new magical age. An important bloodline plays a prime part.
9)The story is about a shaman, a plain shaman, a vicious fortune-teller, and a rat-catcher. It takes place in a village in a religious land. An important bloodline plays a prime part.
10)This is a rags-to-riches story. The story is about a graceful scribe. It takes place on our world in a magical age. A powerful magical weapon plays an important role.
SCIENCE FICTION
1)This is a comedy-of-errors. The story is about a fearful doctor and a shiftless physicist. It takes place on a war-torn planet. The critical element of the story is the failure at a test. An accident in space plays a major role in the story.
2)The story is about a frustrated nuclear engineer, a video game addict, and a linguistics expert. It takes place in a dimensional warp. The speed of technological advancement is a major part of this story.
3)This is a story about travel and how man can better himself. The story is about a confident gambler who has a mysterious admirier: a sailor. It starts in a galaxy-spanning commonwealth. A spatial anomoly plays a major role in the story.
4)This is a tale about rebellion. The story is about a priestess. It starts in a galaxy-spanning confederation. The story begins with a sport being played.
5)The story is about a whiny plumber. It takes place in a galaxy-spanning technocracy. The differences alien societies may have regarding economics is a major element of this story.
6)The story is about an energetic baseball player, a biologist, and a committed servant. It takes place on an ancient planet. The crux of the story involves the taking of a test.
7)The story is about an acrobat who is in debt to an unpredictable scientist. It starts in an intergalactic syndicate. The difficulty of cross-species communications is a major issue of the story.
8)The story is about a secretary haunted by flashbacks. It takes place in an intergalactic federation. The blurring of the boundaries between man and machine is a major part of this story.
9)The story is about a rabble-rouser who is in debt to a park ranger. It takes place on a toxic planet. The crux of the story involves an accident at home. A rebellion against technology plays a major role in this story.
10)This is a crime drama. The story is about a CFO. It takes place in an intergalactic commonwealth. The story begins with an advice, climaxes with a murder, and ends with the paying of a fine. The effect of alien contact on business is a major part of the story.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Bi-weekly Site of the Week ;-)
Well, once again, time has slipped past and I have missed a Site of the Week. However, I have an especially informational/entertaining theme for this post. (Well, I thought it was interesting.) ;-)
Cautionary Tales - The search for an agent. :-O
We know the scammers are out there. We know we should do our homework and investigate before accepting any contracts. And we certainly know not to pay for editing services or "reading fees." However, there are more subtle ways the scammers can get to you. Don't be a victim. Learn from the mistakes of others.
Exhibit #1 - Quoth the Cabbage; what happens when a few writers get together with some extraordinarily bad writing and set out to catch the crooks? If you haven't heard of this story yet, read on. It's worth it. :-)
Exhibit #2 - You are paranoid, They are everywhere and They will do anything to get to you. I think the title gives you a pretty good idea as to what lengths some scammers will go to in order to dupe unsuspecting newbie writers.
And, just in case you haven't heard of them, please add Preditors & Editors to your favorites list. They have done a lot of work to help keep us all safe from the scammers out there.
Let me offer my sincerest wishes that you be successful in your writing endeavors. But please, be careful out there. :-)
Cautionary Tales - The search for an agent. :-O
We know the scammers are out there. We know we should do our homework and investigate before accepting any contracts. And we certainly know not to pay for editing services or "reading fees." However, there are more subtle ways the scammers can get to you. Don't be a victim. Learn from the mistakes of others.
Exhibit #1 - Quoth the Cabbage; what happens when a few writers get together with some extraordinarily bad writing and set out to catch the crooks? If you haven't heard of this story yet, read on. It's worth it. :-)
Exhibit #2 - You are paranoid, They are everywhere and They will do anything to get to you. I think the title gives you a pretty good idea as to what lengths some scammers will go to in order to dupe unsuspecting newbie writers.
And, just in case you haven't heard of them, please add Preditors & Editors to your favorites list. They have done a lot of work to help keep us all safe from the scammers out there.
Let me offer my sincerest wishes that you be successful in your writing endeavors. But please, be careful out there. :-)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sites of the Weeks - Rick Riordan and AutoCrit.com
Oops, I've gotten caught up in my CASA/LSAT studies and have once again fallen behind in my weekly helpful site postings.
Forgive me? ;-)
I've decided to dedicate this post to helpful tips on writing dialogue. I've read books where I could hear the characters speaking in my mind (Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Saga is top of that list. Hot guys with Scottish accents - need I say more?). And I've also read books where the dialogue is so stilted and/or outdated for the storyline it made me cringe (ok, maybe I didn't actually finish them). Writing realistic, engaging dialogue takes practice and intuition as well as an "ear" for it. In short, it's a skill that doesn't come easily for most. Yet fear not - help has arrived. :-)
First, some tips on writing dialogue from one of the most popular middle grade authors in the world - Rick Riordan of Percy Jackson and the Olympians fame. As any good author should, he keeps his advice short and to the point. Riordan has an entire section of advice for aspiring writers, including some information on how to navigate the wiles of the road to publication. His advice is sound, and at times stark, but well worth perusing.
The next site, AutoCrit.com, is not only a good resource for dialogue tips but on writing tips in general - the left sidebar has a variety of topics to choose from. However, for the purposes of this week's topic, check out two articles by Sandy Tritt - Avoid Creative Dialogue Tag Syndrome and its sequel, Breathing Life into Dialogue.
So, for those of you striving to find the delicate balance between realistic dialogue and mind-numbing tyrades that make your readers' eye glaze over - read on. ;-)
Forgive me? ;-)
I've decided to dedicate this post to helpful tips on writing dialogue. I've read books where I could hear the characters speaking in my mind (Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Saga is top of that list. Hot guys with Scottish accents - need I say more?). And I've also read books where the dialogue is so stilted and/or outdated for the storyline it made me cringe (ok, maybe I didn't actually finish them). Writing realistic, engaging dialogue takes practice and intuition as well as an "ear" for it. In short, it's a skill that doesn't come easily for most. Yet fear not - help has arrived. :-)
First, some tips on writing dialogue from one of the most popular middle grade authors in the world - Rick Riordan of Percy Jackson and the Olympians fame. As any good author should, he keeps his advice short and to the point. Riordan has an entire section of advice for aspiring writers, including some information on how to navigate the wiles of the road to publication. His advice is sound, and at times stark, but well worth perusing.
The next site, AutoCrit.com, is not only a good resource for dialogue tips but on writing tips in general - the left sidebar has a variety of topics to choose from. However, for the purposes of this week's topic, check out two articles by Sandy Tritt - Avoid Creative Dialogue Tag Syndrome and its sequel, Breathing Life into Dialogue.
So, for those of you striving to find the delicate balance between realistic dialogue and mind-numbing tyrades that make your readers' eye glaze over - read on. ;-)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Site(s) of the Week(s) - Elizabeth Crook, Vonda N. McIntyre, and Robert J. Sawyer
Ooops. Last week got away from me too. :-o I just started my CASA training and the first few chapters were a bit more intense than I expected. But, I've got until the 20th to finish up the material. Then I'll be sworn in as an official CASA volunteer in juvenille court - which is super exciting for me! :-) And after that, I get appointed to my first case.
Anyway, I've decided to do three sites this week to make up for (more) lost time. The first is elizabethcrookbooks.com. I stumbled across an article of hers The Seven Rules For Writing Historical Fiction, which is included on her site under the articles tab. Her insights were eye-opening for me, since I am still struggling with my historical fiction novel. Her voice is engaging and she's published three novels to date. One of her suggestions (which embarrassingly I hadn't thought of) was to contact authors of the books you use for historical research and see if they will let you pick their brains.
Up next is, Vonda N. McIntyre's site. Her article on the Pitfalls of Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy is both informative and filled with humor. There are also some short stories available on the site to read free of charge. I found her style a bit heavy on description for my taste, but her storylines were entertaining.
And lastly, Robert J. Sawyer's blog. His article Are the days of the full-time novelist numbered? paints a grim picture of the future of full-time authors, but one well worth considering when pursuing the "dream." Sawyer also has a very informative website www.sfwriter.com/ (which I may have highlighted already, I can't remember - oopsy.)
Anyway, I've decided to do three sites this week to make up for (more) lost time. The first is elizabethcrookbooks.com. I stumbled across an article of hers The Seven Rules For Writing Historical Fiction, which is included on her site under the articles tab. Her insights were eye-opening for me, since I am still struggling with my historical fiction novel. Her voice is engaging and she's published three novels to date. One of her suggestions (which embarrassingly I hadn't thought of) was to contact authors of the books you use for historical research and see if they will let you pick their brains.
Up next is, Vonda N. McIntyre's site. Her article on the Pitfalls of Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy is both informative and filled with humor. There are also some short stories available on the site to read free of charge. I found her style a bit heavy on description for my taste, but her storylines were entertaining.
And lastly, Robert J. Sawyer's blog. His article Are the days of the full-time novelist numbered? paints a grim picture of the future of full-time authors, but one well worth considering when pursuing the "dream." Sawyer also has a very informative website www.sfwriter.com/ (which I may have highlighted already, I can't remember - oopsy.)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Site(s) of the Week - Fantasy Factor and SFSignal.com
It's been a hectic day, but here I am (as promised) with my sites of the week. The first one is Fantasy Factor. (Which I belive to be a sub-site of FictionFactor, since that appears in the web address.) While the site as a whole has some fun stuff, I'm going to concentrate on an article aimed at creating flora and fauna for your fantasy world. There are some great links at the bottom of the article for research as well.
Personally, I LOVE to create new creatures and humanoid species to populate my fantasy stories/novels. :-) (One of my current novellas-in-progress is thus far populated with several different species of animal and the main character is of a humanoid race called the Nachtrodeur.) However, the article brings up some valid points about remembering to include more than just the fear-inducing, flesh-devouring predators that are hunting your MC at every opportunity.
As an example from the above mentioned novella, the spotted herten plays an important role in the survival of the MC. Not only in this novella, but in the next one of the trilogy as well. It's a deer-like creature, hooved and light of foot. (It's name is actually the German word for deer.) ;-) There are two main species of mount/pack animals, the jorens (think of a muskox and a buffalo hybrid that smells worse than a skunk) and the laveche (about horse size, with four horns and blue eyes, they emit a shrill whistle when alarmed). The only non-sentient predator this world has so far is the akidar, a large cat that lives in the mountains, has teeth similar to a sabertooth tiger and poisoned claws. (Fun Fact - SBT's have been theorized to have been scavengers because their long teeth may have prevented them from biting down hard enough to kill prey. Thanks Discovery Channel.)
But, I digress, the article is a fun read (just ignore that the author uses "you're" instead of "your" in at least one instance).
Fantasy Factor also includes a link to a list of mythological creatures at the bottom of the articles page - also highly recommended if you are looking for inspiration. I read the first listing for the Adaro (which I'd never heard of in my mythological studies) and was hooked. ;-P
Alrighty then, moving on to site number two - SFSignal.com, or more specifically their article asking well-known Sci-Fi authors about the best writing advice they've ever received. Fun read, and informative too.
For example; Patricia Briggs received her most valuable writing advice from a movie starring Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito. Huh, who'd a thunk it? ;-)
Ok, I'm losing focus. My stummy is rumbling because it's 8:00 and I haven't eaten dinner yet. Hope you enjoy the articles and exploring the sites of the week. :-)
Personally, I LOVE to create new creatures and humanoid species to populate my fantasy stories/novels. :-) (One of my current novellas-in-progress is thus far populated with several different species of animal and the main character is of a humanoid race called the Nachtrodeur.) However, the article brings up some valid points about remembering to include more than just the fear-inducing, flesh-devouring predators that are hunting your MC at every opportunity.
As an example from the above mentioned novella, the spotted herten plays an important role in the survival of the MC. Not only in this novella, but in the next one of the trilogy as well. It's a deer-like creature, hooved and light of foot. (It's name is actually the German word for deer.) ;-) There are two main species of mount/pack animals, the jorens (think of a muskox and a buffalo hybrid that smells worse than a skunk) and the laveche (about horse size, with four horns and blue eyes, they emit a shrill whistle when alarmed). The only non-sentient predator this world has so far is the akidar, a large cat that lives in the mountains, has teeth similar to a sabertooth tiger and poisoned claws. (Fun Fact - SBT's have been theorized to have been scavengers because their long teeth may have prevented them from biting down hard enough to kill prey. Thanks Discovery Channel.)
But, I digress, the article is a fun read (just ignore that the author uses "you're" instead of "your" in at least one instance).
Fantasy Factor also includes a link to a list of mythological creatures at the bottom of the articles page - also highly recommended if you are looking for inspiration. I read the first listing for the Adaro (which I'd never heard of in my mythological studies) and was hooked. ;-P
Alrighty then, moving on to site number two - SFSignal.com, or more specifically their article asking well-known Sci-Fi authors about the best writing advice they've ever received. Fun read, and informative too.
For example; Patricia Briggs received her most valuable writing advice from a movie starring Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito. Huh, who'd a thunk it? ;-)
Ok, I'm losing focus. My stummy is rumbling because it's 8:00 and I haven't eaten dinner yet. Hope you enjoy the articles and exploring the sites of the week. :-)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Site of the Week - Stella Cameron
Ok, so Stella Cameron is a romance writer (and I don't write "romance") however, I am a strong believer in seeking out worthwhile advice, both in genres I write, and those I don't. Stella Cameron has published over 60 novels and novellas. I don't care what you write, that is a huge accomplishment.
I actually stumbled upon her site through a list of resources for writers. Her article on developing your villians is very informative. I also recommend checking out her article on keeping the reader guessing. She uses this as a reference to a thriller/mystery plotline, but it's equally effective in any genre.
Never stop learning. Never stop creating. Never stop. Never.
I actually stumbled upon her site through a list of resources for writers. Her article on developing your villians is very informative. I also recommend checking out her article on keeping the reader guessing. She uses this as a reference to a thriller/mystery plotline, but it's equally effective in any genre.
Never stop learning. Never stop creating. Never stop. Never.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Site of the Week - NPR (Novel Ideas)
Once again, the week has flown by. My day planner is a mass of scribbles and moved deadlines for my study goals. Nothing that I wanted to do got done. However, I did begin a new short story tentatively titled "In Darkness." While it's still in the rough draft stage, I'll post the first section here after I wow and excite you with this week's site - NPR.
NPR? You mean National Public Radio? Yup. It's no secret that NPR promotes the works of artists and authors of all types. However, I found a page on their site that goes beyond asking the author about their current endeavor. This page features several very well-known writers (think Jodi Picoult and Scott Turow) and asks them how they write, come up with ideas, edit and overcome the nemisis of every writer - professional or otherwise - writer's block. *shudder*
While the interviews were done in 2006, the insights and advice these seasoned writers provide are timeless. After reading Walter Dean Myers' interview I was inspired to try something new. He creates timelines for his characters and the world around them before beginning his books. (He spends up to 6 months "pre-writing.")
I am working on an historical fiction novel and time frame is very important. I think creating a timeline for the era, as well as my characters and how they fit into the Roman world, will help me immensely! Currently, I'm keeping it all in my head - which can get a bit complicated, especially since I am planning to make this a family saga of sorts with successive books telling the stories of this main character's children and perhaps her husband's childhood as well.
So, after browsing the interviews, what inspired you?
NPR? You mean National Public Radio? Yup. It's no secret that NPR promotes the works of artists and authors of all types. However, I found a page on their site that goes beyond asking the author about their current endeavor. This page features several very well-known writers (think Jodi Picoult and Scott Turow) and asks them how they write, come up with ideas, edit and overcome the nemisis of every writer - professional or otherwise - writer's block. *shudder*
While the interviews were done in 2006, the insights and advice these seasoned writers provide are timeless. After reading Walter Dean Myers' interview I was inspired to try something new. He creates timelines for his characters and the world around them before beginning his books. (He spends up to 6 months "pre-writing.")
I am working on an historical fiction novel and time frame is very important. I think creating a timeline for the era, as well as my characters and how they fit into the Roman world, will help me immensely! Currently, I'm keeping it all in my head - which can get a bit complicated, especially since I am planning to make this a family saga of sorts with successive books telling the stories of this main character's children and perhaps her husband's childhood as well.
So, after browsing the interviews, what inspired you?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Site of the Week - Seventh Sanctum
Ok, so I've chosen a site this week that is just pure fun! :-) We've all been there, staring at a screen thinking "This character needs a really awesome name, but what?" Well, look no further than Seventh Sanctum. Their name generator page is a kick in the butt! Just as an example, I tried the extreme fantasy names generator and it came up with - Rose Runefinder. The evil-sounding names generator gave me Uglatha. Yeah, sounds like some sort of slug-like creature to me.
Anyway, give some of their name generators a whirl. You might not use any of them, but it will definitely make you smile and it might even spark an idea.
Anyway, give some of their name generators a whirl. You might not use any of them, but it will definitely make you smile and it might even spark an idea.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
SIte of the Week - MITOpenCourseware
It is time once again for the site of the week. With tomorrow being Easter Sunday, I figured I'd better get it done tonight.
I've gone off the beaten path for this week's site. I feel that in order to create well-rounded works that are believable and fantastical, you have to be well-rounded yourself. No, I don't mean go out and buy a couple gallons of ice cream and start chowing. I mean expand your mental horizons. One excellent way to do this is to take classes online where you learn at your own pace.
But, I don't have the cash flow for that sort of thing!
Fear not! MITOpenCourseware is a website filled with FREE classes that you can download to your hard drive.
There is something that will interest just about anyone; from Anthropology to Physics. Most of the courses include a list of textbooks to buy so that you can follow along with the lesson plan. You can choose to buy the books, or just learn what is available in the online content, depending on how deeply you want to delve into the subject. I have found some of their history courses to be invaluable to my historical fiction novel in progress.
So, expand your knowledge. You might find something that will spark an idea. :-)
P.S. There are many other colleges and universities that provide free online classes. Check your own alma mater, or do a google search to find more free learning opportunities.
I've gone off the beaten path for this week's site. I feel that in order to create well-rounded works that are believable and fantastical, you have to be well-rounded yourself. No, I don't mean go out and buy a couple gallons of ice cream and start chowing. I mean expand your mental horizons. One excellent way to do this is to take classes online where you learn at your own pace.
But, I don't have the cash flow for that sort of thing!
Fear not! MITOpenCourseware is a website filled with FREE classes that you can download to your hard drive.
There is something that will interest just about anyone; from Anthropology to Physics. Most of the courses include a list of textbooks to buy so that you can follow along with the lesson plan. You can choose to buy the books, or just learn what is available in the online content, depending on how deeply you want to delve into the subject. I have found some of their history courses to be invaluable to my historical fiction novel in progress.
So, expand your knowledge. You might find something that will spark an idea. :-)
P.S. There are many other colleges and universities that provide free online classes. Check your own alma mater, or do a google search to find more free learning opportunities.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Site of the Week - Writing-World.com
I have been very busy this week working on a story for possible publication. (As some of you who have been wheedled into helping me edit it can attest to.) ;-) So, imagine my surprise when I glance at my computer's digital clock and saw that it was nearly midnight on SUNDAY! Ack! I can't miss another Site of the Week!
Without delay I set about scouring the internet for a suitable site to feature. I was rewarded with the first click of my mouse. Writing-World's SF-Fantasy page is a gem in the dirt pile of "helpful" writing sites. The first article I read "Dialogue in Speculative Fiction: When Space Bugz Speakie Funnie and Other Problems" by Paula Fleming made me laugh out loud. (Good thing I'd already finished my cocoa.) Not only was it funny, it was full of truly helpful advice and ideas. :-)
Then I noticed Paula Fleming had also written an article about historical fiction - I was hooked. The SF-Fantasy page inlcudes articles from several different authors including tips for; Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror as well as marketing tips and interviews with published speculative fiction authors. There are a ton of links at the top of the page that cover other genres and aspects of the writing world. Hence the site's name, right? ;-)
I very highly recommend this site. You can never learn too much, or laugh enough. :-) I have added a permanent link to Writer's World to my Websites for Writers list.
Grr. The time stamp beat me. 12:01am. Monday the 29th. :-(
Without delay I set about scouring the internet for a suitable site to feature. I was rewarded with the first click of my mouse. Writing-World's SF-Fantasy page is a gem in the dirt pile of "helpful" writing sites. The first article I read "Dialogue in Speculative Fiction: When Space Bugz Speakie Funnie and Other Problems" by Paula Fleming made me laugh out loud. (Good thing I'd already finished my cocoa.) Not only was it funny, it was full of truly helpful advice and ideas. :-)
Then I noticed Paula Fleming had also written an article about historical fiction - I was hooked. The SF-Fantasy page inlcudes articles from several different authors including tips for; Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror as well as marketing tips and interviews with published speculative fiction authors. There are a ton of links at the top of the page that cover other genres and aspects of the writing world. Hence the site's name, right? ;-)
I very highly recommend this site. You can never learn too much, or laugh enough. :-) I have added a permanent link to Writer's World to my Websites for Writers list.
Grr. The time stamp beat me. 12:01am. Monday the 29th. :-(
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Site of the Week - Et in arcaedia, ego.
Well, I'm barely squeaking by, but I have delivered (as promised) a second site this week to make up for missing last week. :-)
I've chosen to highlight the agent blog written by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, Et in arcaedia, ego. Why? Because I found her voice engaging. The stats she provides on how many queries she recieves and how many partials she requests can be a bit disheartening, but I'm a realist deep down. Knowing that I not only have to be good, but slap-your-butt-flat-out-amazing, to get a nod makes me strive harder. (If being reminded that you have an ocean of competition isn't your thing, you'll probably want to avoid this site.)
However, Ms. Jackson gives a fresh voice to her (mis)adventures while slogging her way through the "query wars" as she calls them. She is straightforward about what authors can expect from her when submitting and provides reminders to those who choose not to follow the submission guidelines without being snarky or rude.
I recommend you pop in on her blog if you haven't run across it already. She accepts queries on all types of fiction. :-)
I've chosen to highlight the agent blog written by Jennifer Jackson of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, Et in arcaedia, ego. Why? Because I found her voice engaging. The stats she provides on how many queries she recieves and how many partials she requests can be a bit disheartening, but I'm a realist deep down. Knowing that I not only have to be good, but slap-your-butt-flat-out-amazing, to get a nod makes me strive harder. (If being reminded that you have an ocean of competition isn't your thing, you'll probably want to avoid this site.)
However, Ms. Jackson gives a fresh voice to her (mis)adventures while slogging her way through the "query wars" as she calls them. She is straightforward about what authors can expect from her when submitting and provides reminders to those who choose not to follow the submission guidelines without being snarky or rude.
I recommend you pop in on her blog if you haven't run across it already. She accepts queries on all types of fiction. :-)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Site of the Week - Pub Rants
Well, it's been a busy week so I'm getting this week's site out a bit later than usual. I am going to keep this short because my allergies are driving me nuts today and I've had a headache since I woke up. Ugh.
I decided to highlight Pub Rants because "Agent Kristin" has some recent posts that deal with ebooks and how they will effect royalties and contracts. My favorite bit was that she had a question about how to calculate the royalties for her client and the publisher told her that the author could put the manuscript on hold until they made an in-house decision on how they would handle ebook royaly payments.
WTF??? So after all of the waiting and wondering, now we're supposed to be expected to wait for the publisher to figure out how they're going to calculate royalties? Ridiculous.
Anyway, any of you who haven't been to Pub Rants, enjoy. The link will be in my Websites for Writers for future reference. :-)
I decided to highlight Pub Rants because "Agent Kristin" has some recent posts that deal with ebooks and how they will effect royalties and contracts. My favorite bit was that she had a question about how to calculate the royalties for her client and the publisher told her that the author could put the manuscript on hold until they made an in-house decision on how they would handle ebook royaly payments.
WTF??? So after all of the waiting and wondering, now we're supposed to be expected to wait for the publisher to figure out how they're going to calculate royalties? Ridiculous.
Anyway, any of you who haven't been to Pub Rants, enjoy. The link will be in my Websites for Writers for future reference. :-)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Site of the Week - Fiction Factor
As an aspiring writer you have a goal – PUBLICATION! And not just any old kind of publication; successful publication.
You research agents and publishers for the right fit for your novel. You perfect your query letter and novel synopsis. You polish your manuscript until it glitters like a flawless diamond. You tirelessly send it out and ignore the pile of rejection letters because you just know your book is fantastic.
And then it happens – your manuscript is sold!!
Now what? Just sit back and wait for the money to start rolling in, right? Wrong.
Writing is a business and you – not the publisher or agent – are the business owner. In the publishing world you are a lowly “NO NAME” author.
But wait, I have a name! It’s a great name, just ask my mom!
Unless it happens to be Jim Butcher or Anne Bishop it might as well be Hey You because your book will have zero publicity dollars. And if your book doesn’t sell enough, don’t count on the publisher asking for a sequel.
So, what are you going to do to make certain your business, your BOOK is a success?
Ummm, me?
Yeah, Y.O.U.
Marketing – it’s not just for buying groceries anymore. That’s right. You, the creative, go-with-the-flow writer has to get serious about promoting your book. It’s your baby and if you want it to make its way in the world you have to step up and help it along.
But how?
Well, I’m glad you asked. After taking a seminar on starting a business my eyes were opened to the just how crucial self-promotion is to your success. So, I started surfing the web for advice on how to apply this knowledge to my writing. And I found Fiction Factor. It’s an ezine dedicated to doling out advice to aspiring authors.
Their drop-down menu at the top of the home page has a wide variety of topics to choose from, but for the purposes of my topic select “Promotion, Publicity and Marketing.” (You have to scroll down to see it – that’s how much information is on this sight.) You will be given a list of articles written by experts in the business. The articles I perused were very helpful and got the wheels turning, so to speak.
Planning ahead is worth the effort. Those of us with blogs and memberships to writing forums are already working on self-promotion, but we have a lot more to learn. Why not let those who have been there before give us a few pointers?
You research agents and publishers for the right fit for your novel. You perfect your query letter and novel synopsis. You polish your manuscript until it glitters like a flawless diamond. You tirelessly send it out and ignore the pile of rejection letters because you just know your book is fantastic.
And then it happens – your manuscript is sold!!
Now what? Just sit back and wait for the money to start rolling in, right? Wrong.
Writing is a business and you – not the publisher or agent – are the business owner. In the publishing world you are a lowly “NO NAME” author.
But wait, I have a name! It’s a great name, just ask my mom!
Unless it happens to be Jim Butcher or Anne Bishop it might as well be Hey You because your book will have zero publicity dollars. And if your book doesn’t sell enough, don’t count on the publisher asking for a sequel.
So, what are you going to do to make certain your business, your BOOK is a success?
Ummm, me?
Yeah, Y.O.U.
Marketing – it’s not just for buying groceries anymore. That’s right. You, the creative, go-with-the-flow writer has to get serious about promoting your book. It’s your baby and if you want it to make its way in the world you have to step up and help it along.
But how?
Well, I’m glad you asked. After taking a seminar on starting a business my eyes were opened to the just how crucial self-promotion is to your success. So, I started surfing the web for advice on how to apply this knowledge to my writing. And I found Fiction Factor. It’s an ezine dedicated to doling out advice to aspiring authors.
Their drop-down menu at the top of the home page has a wide variety of topics to choose from, but for the purposes of my topic select “Promotion, Publicity and Marketing.” (You have to scroll down to see it – that’s how much information is on this sight.) You will be given a list of articles written by experts in the business. The articles I perused were very helpful and got the wheels turning, so to speak.
Planning ahead is worth the effort. Those of us with blogs and memberships to writing forums are already working on self-promotion, but we have a lot more to learn. Why not let those who have been there before give us a few pointers?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Site of the Week - The Knight Agency
As you are all aware, I am unpublished in the fiction realm. So as I go about increasing my knowledge and seeking out advice, guidelines and others who understand the feeling that you are standing on the edge of an abyss more than ready to swallow you whole, I believe in highlighting websites from unknown or lesser known people, agencies, etc.
While we have all heard of the BIG names in the agent world; Nathan Bransford, Janet Reid, Miss Snark(now retired) what about those agents who haven’t got the followings these bloggers do? Are their websites somehow less informative? Less realistic? Less inspiring? Or, like us, are they just waiting for the world to pay attention to their genius?
Let us see, shall we?
I did a Bing search for agent blogs and found a list. How convenient. :-) At random, I chose to check out The Knight Agency’s blog. And here’s what I found:
They like to publish romance novels(which is probably why I’ve never heard of them). While they do have a sci-fi/fantasy section, just from the “cover blurbs” posted, most of them are romance based. (Good news for any of you working on a Paranormal/Sci-fi Romance, not so good for the rest of us.) However, they do represent some well-known names in the paranormal genre, like Gena Showalter and Nalini Singh, so they know their stuff.
But when it comes to advice, I found a wonderful article Loving a Love Scene by Chris Marie Greene. I do not write romance, I find emotional scenes very difficult to write. This article has some great tips for the romantically challenged like me. My favorite was to keep in mind that a sex scene is a point where your characters should transform. It should be a catalyst for them. Unconsciously, I knew this, but to see it written out with examples and suggestions – it clicked. :-D
So, while Knight Agency does not specialize in the type of fiction I am writing, that doesn’t meant I can’t learn from what these professionals have to say. I encourage you to stretch out beyond the confines of your own chosen genre when seeking hints, tips and knowledge. You never know when you’ll find a little gem to make your writing sparkle.
While we have all heard of the BIG names in the agent world; Nathan Bransford, Janet Reid, Miss Snark(now retired) what about those agents who haven’t got the followings these bloggers do? Are their websites somehow less informative? Less realistic? Less inspiring? Or, like us, are they just waiting for the world to pay attention to their genius?
Let us see, shall we?
I did a Bing search for agent blogs and found a list. How convenient. :-) At random, I chose to check out The Knight Agency’s blog. And here’s what I found:
They like to publish romance novels(which is probably why I’ve never heard of them). While they do have a sci-fi/fantasy section, just from the “cover blurbs” posted, most of them are romance based. (Good news for any of you working on a Paranormal/Sci-fi Romance, not so good for the rest of us.) However, they do represent some well-known names in the paranormal genre, like Gena Showalter and Nalini Singh, so they know their stuff.
But when it comes to advice, I found a wonderful article Loving a Love Scene by Chris Marie Greene. I do not write romance, I find emotional scenes very difficult to write. This article has some great tips for the romantically challenged like me. My favorite was to keep in mind that a sex scene is a point where your characters should transform. It should be a catalyst for them. Unconsciously, I knew this, but to see it written out with examples and suggestions – it clicked. :-D
So, while Knight Agency does not specialize in the type of fiction I am writing, that doesn’t meant I can’t learn from what these professionals have to say. I encourage you to stretch out beyond the confines of your own chosen genre when seeking hints, tips and knowledge. You never know when you’ll find a little gem to make your writing sparkle.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Site of the Week - Alan Cooper's Homonyms
I have a writing pet peeve - the misuse of homonyms. You know, those words that sound the same but mean very different things. Homonym misusage is quite common and it never hurts to have a place to go and double check your word choices. Alan Cooper's Homonyms includes definitions to help you find the correct word.
It's an excellent resource for new and not-so-new writers alike. So the next time your debating on a word, make your final decision baste on this list. ;-) (Can you spot the homonym misusage?) LOL.
It's an excellent resource for new and not-so-new writers alike. So the next time your debating on a word, make your final decision baste on this list. ;-) (Can you spot the homonym misusage?) LOL.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Soul Shards
Ooops. I just realized that I forgot to post a link to Agent Query in my "Websites for Writers" section. It's there now. :-)
Oh, and BTW, I woke up at about 1:00am and this poem popped into my head. It's unedited, but thought I'd share anyway.
Soul Shards
I’ve sifted through the shards
of who I once was found anger, despair,
a tiny sliver of happiness.
But innocence is nowhere.
I left it with you, wedged between
the daylight and the darkness.
Layered with dust – forgotten.
In its place, a hole, jagged and tender.
Slowly filling with indifference
To keep me from the same mistakes
I made by giving my soul
into the care of an invalid.
Oh, and BTW, I woke up at about 1:00am and this poem popped into my head. It's unedited, but thought I'd share anyway.
Soul Shards
I’ve sifted through the shards
of who I once was found anger, despair,
a tiny sliver of happiness.
But innocence is nowhere.
I left it with you, wedged between
the daylight and the darkness.
Layered with dust – forgotten.
In its place, a hole, jagged and tender.
Slowly filling with indifference
To keep me from the same mistakes
I made by giving my soul
into the care of an invalid.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Site of the Week - AgentQuery.com
All right, I admit it; I was playing at the beach yesterday when I should have been doing research for my Site of the Week piece. So, I've decided to review a site most of you will probably already know about, but that I believe deserves (re)mentioning. It has been featured on the 101 Best Websites for Writers put out by Writer's Digest for the past five years. But, I'm still going to tell you why I like it. :-)
Agent Query is a comprehensive database of over 900 literary agents. You can quick search by keyword and/or genre (non-fiction and fiction) or there is also an option for a more detailed search. You are going to find agents who represent big names in the fiction world. While it can be daunting to think about sending your manuscript out to the same agent who represents your favorite author, isn't it fun to think about telling everyone you know that you share an agent with Diana Gabaldon? (You know, just as an example.) ;-)
So, why do I like it? Because it makes searching for the perfect agent not only easier, but more enjoyable. I love knowing in a quick snippet what genres the agent represents, who they represent and what books they have in the works. You want to make sure that the agents you submit your work to are currently selling books to publishers. So, while the site is helpful, please exercise common sense and caution when making your choices.
And they also have these handy little boxes along the top of their homepage that provide links to all sorts of useful information. For example click on "Beware of Scammers" under the Writers heading and you will find a Q & A about how to tell if an agent is trying to take advantage of you. Agent Query has researched the legitimacy of the agents they list, but I still encourage you to browse their agency websites and/or blogs to get a feel for how they operate.
I like to think of Agent Query a one-stop-shopping experience. It's sort of like Wal-Mart but without the bad business practices and freaky people wearing fox tails on their belt loops. Oh, come on; don't pretend you haven't visited that people of Wal-Mart website. ;-) Anyway, as an aspiring writer who has used Agent Query to submit her work to agents in the past, I give this site a 5 out of 5 keyboards.
Agent Query is a comprehensive database of over 900 literary agents. You can quick search by keyword and/or genre (non-fiction and fiction) or there is also an option for a more detailed search. You are going to find agents who represent big names in the fiction world. While it can be daunting to think about sending your manuscript out to the same agent who represents your favorite author, isn't it fun to think about telling everyone you know that you share an agent with Diana Gabaldon? (You know, just as an example.) ;-)
So, why do I like it? Because it makes searching for the perfect agent not only easier, but more enjoyable. I love knowing in a quick snippet what genres the agent represents, who they represent and what books they have in the works. You want to make sure that the agents you submit your work to are currently selling books to publishers. So, while the site is helpful, please exercise common sense and caution when making your choices.
And they also have these handy little boxes along the top of their homepage that provide links to all sorts of useful information. For example click on "Beware of Scammers" under the Writers heading and you will find a Q & A about how to tell if an agent is trying to take advantage of you. Agent Query has researched the legitimacy of the agents they list, but I still encourage you to browse their agency websites and/or blogs to get a feel for how they operate.
I like to think of Agent Query a one-stop-shopping experience. It's sort of like Wal-Mart but without the bad business practices and freaky people wearing fox tails on their belt loops. Oh, come on; don't pretend you haven't visited that people of Wal-Mart website. ;-) Anyway, as an aspiring writer who has used Agent Query to submit her work to agents in the past, I give this site a 5 out of 5 keyboards.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Calliope update.
Have you ever had a piece come to a screeching halt because you just couldn't track down that one tiny piece of information you were searching for? That little extra something that would make a good plotline great?
Well, Calli didn't exactly come to a screeching halt, but the book was limping along with a large piece missing. I had to skip over the entire voyage from Greece to Rome because I had no idea how long it would take to get there, etc.
But yesterday my mom saved me. Yup, you heard me right. My mom. She got an email, from AARP of all places, containing a link to free online courses taught by MIT. MIT? The MIT? Yup again. So I followed the link. ** Ok, here it is, I know you're wondering - http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm
Aaanyway, there are some really interesting sounding courses on there. One in particular that I thought would be helpful with Calli - The Ancient City. I wasn't expecting it to solve my particular problem of sea travel during ancient times, but it has a website listed in the syllabus that did just that. (http://www.ostia-antica.org/) (On an aside, every time I see Ostia, I laugh to myself. I was an exchange student in Malta. Ostia means sh*t in Maltese.) :-O
So, now I can go back and fill in the HUGE gap that was just sitting there mocking me. Of course that will mean changing some of what I've already written because there will be some things that have to be adjusted about Calli's attempted escape from Zeno, etc. But I finally have the knowledge to write it.
And today I got a pretty good start. I was working down in our bargain store (cool books, cheap prices - but dead as far as customers go once Christmas passes by) so I grabbed one of our mark down journals and started scribbling. I haven't typed it up yet, but I got a pretty good chunk of it written!
**SIGH** That's a sigh of relief all. Pure, sweet relief. I can now finish the rough draft of Calli by April as I've recently set that goal for myself. The final draft however, well . . .
P.S. Thanks Mom!!
Well, Calli didn't exactly come to a screeching halt, but the book was limping along with a large piece missing. I had to skip over the entire voyage from Greece to Rome because I had no idea how long it would take to get there, etc.
But yesterday my mom saved me. Yup, you heard me right. My mom. She got an email, from AARP of all places, containing a link to free online courses taught by MIT. MIT? The MIT? Yup again. So I followed the link. ** Ok, here it is, I know you're wondering - http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/courses/index.htm
Aaanyway, there are some really interesting sounding courses on there. One in particular that I thought would be helpful with Calli - The Ancient City. I wasn't expecting it to solve my particular problem of sea travel during ancient times, but it has a website listed in the syllabus that did just that. (http://www.ostia-antica.org/) (On an aside, every time I see Ostia, I laugh to myself. I was an exchange student in Malta. Ostia means sh*t in Maltese.) :-O
So, now I can go back and fill in the HUGE gap that was just sitting there mocking me. Of course that will mean changing some of what I've already written because there will be some things that have to be adjusted about Calli's attempted escape from Zeno, etc. But I finally have the knowledge to write it.
And today I got a pretty good start. I was working down in our bargain store (cool books, cheap prices - but dead as far as customers go once Christmas passes by) so I grabbed one of our mark down journals and started scribbling. I haven't typed it up yet, but I got a pretty good chunk of it written!
**SIGH** That's a sigh of relief all. Pure, sweet relief. I can now finish the rough draft of Calli by April as I've recently set that goal for myself. The final draft however, well . . .
P.S. Thanks Mom!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Embrace nature's beauty. It feeds the soul.