Yesterday I figured out why I was having trouble getting beyond the first few pages of D&D. Lack of preparation. I did my spa research. (And in a future post I'll talk about just how much I'd like to visit a few.) I did my character sketches for the main characters. I know who gets murdered and whodunnit. So what was missing?
My scene outline. I know a lot of writers just wing it. Or they can plot out mentally and be okay working from that. I have to have an outline in writing. It's not detailed to begin with, but I have to know where my "turns" are, as Jenny calls them. And it's nice to have a list of scenes I know I'll need. So yesterday I wrote the outline and made a list of scenes. I know I'll be adding as I go, but just having the basics down let me relax enough to prewrite two scenes.
Are there certain things you need to do before you can begin? Or can you freestyle all the way through?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Letting Go
I'm a bit surprised at how hard it was to let go of HM. The Pirates were great and seemed happy to have it. I still had a nagging feeling as I handed over the copies. I knew more description is needed. I knew I needed another subplot. But it was time to let other eyes see it.
Part of it may be how invested I got in the characters. A good thing. But I also want others to like "the guys" as much as I do. I guess we'll see.
One more week to go on The Artist's Way. I don't have much to add about the experience. I'm glad I did it. Even though I went in pretty much kicking and screaming. That tends to be the way with things that are good for us.
Which brings me full circle on this post. I didn't want to let go of HM. But it's probably a very good thing for me to step away for a while.
Part of it may be how invested I got in the characters. A good thing. But I also want others to like "the guys" as much as I do. I guess we'll see.
One more week to go on The Artist's Way. I don't have much to add about the experience. I'm glad I did it. Even though I went in pretty much kicking and screaming. That tends to be the way with things that are good for us.
Which brings me full circle on this post. I didn't want to let go of HM. But it's probably a very good thing for me to step away for a while.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Perspective
Deb visited a store called Beads Galore when she was in Phoenix. She came back bearing gifts. There are some unusual beads, colors I wouldn't normally pick but beautiful, and some great charms and pendants. I will post pictures when I get a chance.
The funniest thing to me is that she wants me to teach her to make jewelry. It's funny because I'm still very much a beginner. I feel I need to learn so much. Yet her argument is that I've made more jewelry than she has. True as far as it goes. Maybe we can take some classes together.
How does one go from thinking of oneself as student to teacher? I would be more comfortable teaching quilting than knitting. Even though I learned to knit a dozen years before I looked at my first quilt pattern. Teach writing? Probably not. Not yet anyway. I still have a lot to learn. I think with most things, especially the creative ones, we are always learning. Or at least we should be.
The funniest thing to me is that she wants me to teach her to make jewelry. It's funny because I'm still very much a beginner. I feel I need to learn so much. Yet her argument is that I've made more jewelry than she has. True as far as it goes. Maybe we can take some classes together.
How does one go from thinking of oneself as student to teacher? I would be more comfortable teaching quilting than knitting. Even though I learned to knit a dozen years before I looked at my first quilt pattern. Teach writing? Probably not. Not yet anyway. I still have a lot to learn. I think with most things, especially the creative ones, we are always learning. Or at least we should be.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Artist's Way Check-in, Week 10
It's amazing that I'm this close to the end. I've realized that it's a program I'll probably be doing in some form from now on.
Week 10 is Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection. I'm looking at the things that I tend to let interfere with my writing. Sometimes it feels like everything. I have been reminded of a question I came across in another book. "How does it serve you?" The book was about a woman's quest for self-discovery. She suffered from several chronic illnesses. When she talked to a healer, he asked her, "How does your disease serve you?" Her first reaction was anger. Naturally. Then she thought about it. She got a lot of sympathy from family and friends. She had a ready excuse for not participating in things. Etc.
I had forgotten about that question. Now I have a Post-It on my workstation. When I complain about something (or someone) infringing on my writing time, I'll ask myself the question.
Do you have something or someone who eats up your writing time? How does it serve you to allow it?
Week 10 is Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection. I'm looking at the things that I tend to let interfere with my writing. Sometimes it feels like everything. I have been reminded of a question I came across in another book. "How does it serve you?" The book was about a woman's quest for self-discovery. She suffered from several chronic illnesses. When she talked to a healer, he asked her, "How does your disease serve you?" Her first reaction was anger. Naturally. Then she thought about it. She got a lot of sympathy from family and friends. She had a ready excuse for not participating in things. Etc.
I had forgotten about that question. Now I have a Post-It on my workstation. When I complain about something (or someone) infringing on my writing time, I'll ask myself the question.
Do you have something or someone who eats up your writing time? How does it serve you to allow it?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Long Week
With Deb in Phoenix, I've been covering her workload, too. Of course, it's been busy. Not that I begrudge Deb time with her family. If she could somehow split in two and leave one of her here, that would be nice.
The good news is that I have been working on D&D in the evenings. I think it's starting to come together a bit. I'm not adding many pages. It's more that it's gaining weight. I have a better idea of what is going on. Maybe this weekend the word count will climb a little.
The good news is that I have been working on D&D in the evenings. I think it's starting to come together a bit. I'm not adding many pages. It's more that it's gaining weight. I have a better idea of what is going on. Maybe this weekend the word count will climb a little.
Friday, March 7, 2008
How Stupid Are Your Customers?
There has been an alarming trend in advertisements over the past few years. I first noticed it with "cable" ads. Not infomercials. They were for things like hair removal products or cleaning supplies. The person who needs the product apparently can't function in the real world without it. A new example is the digital recorder for people too stupid to write out a shopping list. "Milk, butter, eggs," the housewife says. Then she listens intently at the store.
Lately, this trend is moving to more mainstream products. Carl's Jr. and Popeye's are both running commercials with stupid customers. Beer ads have done this for years, but I think the wink and nod was that the guys are drinking. But now it's fast food and laundry detergent and cars. Why should I buy a product if it's meant for stupid people?
This also seems to be a trend with a lot of the books I'm picking up. I know cozies are supposed to be fairly easy to figure out. But I see it with different genres. The author waving his hand at the reader to say, "This is the clue." Worse, the long explanations of things. "Here's what I think is a hard word so I'm going to explain it ad nauseum, because I'm sure you don't know it and can't figure out how to look it up on your own."
Am I being overly sensitive/critical or are you seeing this too? Do you feel as if you're being talked down to? How do you avoid it in your own writing?
Lately, this trend is moving to more mainstream products. Carl's Jr. and Popeye's are both running commercials with stupid customers. Beer ads have done this for years, but I think the wink and nod was that the guys are drinking. But now it's fast food and laundry detergent and cars. Why should I buy a product if it's meant for stupid people?
This also seems to be a trend with a lot of the books I'm picking up. I know cozies are supposed to be fairly easy to figure out. But I see it with different genres. The author waving his hand at the reader to say, "This is the clue." Worse, the long explanations of things. "Here's what I think is a hard word so I'm going to explain it ad nauseum, because I'm sure you don't know it and can't figure out how to look it up on your own."
Am I being overly sensitive/critical or are you seeing this too? Do you feel as if you're being talked down to? How do you avoid it in your own writing?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Artist's Way Update
I am continuing with The Artist's Way, but will not be giving any more updates here. At this point in the program, many personal issues are being raised. As with most 12-step programs, I think anonymity is important now. I will finish it, though, as I'm feeling I am getting results.
Yesterday, in a flurry of free writing, I came up with three potential HM stories. Some are inter-related so they may end up in one book. Or they might be separate books that reward readers who have read the whole series.
So, no more AW updates, per se. But you will probably see them as I make progress with my writing.
Yesterday, in a flurry of free writing, I came up with three potential HM stories. Some are inter-related so they may end up in one book. Or they might be separate books that reward readers who have read the whole series.
So, no more AW updates, per se. But you will probably see them as I make progress with my writing.
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