Over at Word Flirts where I'm discussing the hero for my newest WIP!
April
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
I'm Writing I Promise...
Well, it happened just as I knew it would. My cp cracked the whip and got me writing again! Thanks, Cole!
Since she got home from her vacation, I was able to procrastinate another day or two, but by the third she had my number and was laying down the law.
Cole: What are you doing today?
Me: Oh, I'm extraordinarily busy.
Cole: With what?
Me: Oh, I have work... and then I've been SO tired so I need to go to bed early and... well, just all sorts of stuff. (Obviously I'm not very good at fudging)
Cole: Wow, that sounds really busy (she's not that gret at fudging either)
Me: Oh, it is! (Yeah, I'm not quick on the uptake either)
Cole: Just a quick question. Have you thought maybe, just maybe you're... procrastinating?
Me: What!?! No way! I'm just SO busy. Really! But I'm not procrastinating. I've been "thinking" about the story and working on "plot problems."
Cole: Why don't we discuss them and maybe that will help.
Me: *grumble grumble grumle* Sure, that would be great!
And then something great happened. I realized... *gasp* I HAD been procrastinating. I know, who would have thought that? But more importantly I figured out WHY I had been doing it. There *gasp again* really was a plot problem which was holding me back and being the wonderful cp she is, Cole helped me to straighten out my issues. Well, not MY issues... That's a job no sane person would take on, but she helped me steer my way through my plot issues and I'm back on track! Woo Hoo!!!
Now I'm going to go reward myself by critiquing the next chapter she sent me.
So has your cp ever had to get your butt in gear?
April
Since she got home from her vacation, I was able to procrastinate another day or two, but by the third she had my number and was laying down the law.
Cole: What are you doing today?
Me: Oh, I'm extraordinarily busy.
Cole: With what?
Me: Oh, I have work... and then I've been SO tired so I need to go to bed early and... well, just all sorts of stuff. (Obviously I'm not very good at fudging)
Cole: Wow, that sounds really busy (she's not that gret at fudging either)
Me: Oh, it is! (Yeah, I'm not quick on the uptake either)
Cole: Just a quick question. Have you thought maybe, just maybe you're... procrastinating?
Me: What!?! No way! I'm just SO busy. Really! But I'm not procrastinating. I've been "thinking" about the story and working on "plot problems."
Cole: Why don't we discuss them and maybe that will help.
Me: *grumble grumble grumle* Sure, that would be great!
And then something great happened. I realized... *gasp* I HAD been procrastinating. I know, who would have thought that? But more importantly I figured out WHY I had been doing it. There *gasp again* really was a plot problem which was holding me back and being the wonderful cp she is, Cole helped me to straighten out my issues. Well, not MY issues... That's a job no sane person would take on, but she helped me steer my way through my plot issues and I'm back on track! Woo Hoo!!!
Now I'm going to go reward myself by critiquing the next chapter she sent me.
So has your cp ever had to get your butt in gear?
April
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Minding Your P's & Q's
Thought I would share a wonderful online course my RWA chapter is putting on in April.
Lowcountry RWA presents their April Online Course:
April 2007 — Minding Your P’s & Q’s. Writing Queries and Pitches
Presented by: Robin Matheson
Dates: April 5-26
Deadline: April 1
Course description: Build pitches and query letters from the ground up!
Discover the 4 components that keep you focused on the big picture and save you time when it comes to writing a pitch or query letter. Learn the 4 pre-writing exercises to presenting characters; the 3 pre-writing exercises to synthesizing your plot; and the 3 story issues that will help you identify the unique features of your story. Review a fail-proof method for creating pitches that sell. Finally master the “ABC Formula” that allows you to compose any business letter in 3 easy steps. Honest! This is an intense workshop composed of a series of lectures and hands on exercises. “In class” critiques of the exercises will be made available by the instructor. In addition to the course material, students will also have an opportunity to receive a critique of either a pitch or a query letter.
Instructor bio: Robin Matheson’s debut release became a 2005 EPPIE Award Finalist. She since sold five more books. Robin holds a B.A.H. in Civilization and English from McMaster University and a Master of Education from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She’s taught Marketing, Business Writing, and English as a Second Language at college, overseas and, more recently, online courses on writing. One of Robin’s greatest passions is traveling. In addition to their home base, she and her family have also lived in South East Asia and South Africa.
For more information or to sign up, visit LRWA online at www.lowcountryrwa.com.
Lowcountry RWA presents their April Online Course:
April 2007 — Minding Your P’s & Q’s. Writing Queries and Pitches
Presented by: Robin Matheson
Dates: April 5-26
Deadline: April 1
Course description: Build pitches and query letters from the ground up!
Discover the 4 components that keep you focused on the big picture and save you time when it comes to writing a pitch or query letter. Learn the 4 pre-writing exercises to presenting characters; the 3 pre-writing exercises to synthesizing your plot; and the 3 story issues that will help you identify the unique features of your story. Review a fail-proof method for creating pitches that sell. Finally master the “ABC Formula” that allows you to compose any business letter in 3 easy steps. Honest! This is an intense workshop composed of a series of lectures and hands on exercises. “In class” critiques of the exercises will be made available by the instructor. In addition to the course material, students will also have an opportunity to receive a critique of either a pitch or a query letter.
Instructor bio: Robin Matheson’s debut release became a 2005 EPPIE Award Finalist. She since sold five more books. Robin holds a B.A.H. in Civilization and English from McMaster University and a Master of Education from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She’s taught Marketing, Business Writing, and English as a Second Language at college, overseas and, more recently, online courses on writing. One of Robin’s greatest passions is traveling. In addition to their home base, she and her family have also lived in South East Asia and South Africa.
For more information or to sign up, visit LRWA online at www.lowcountryrwa.com.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
It's Been Forever...
Well, it has been forever since I posted. Except for my brief PSA at Word Flirts. You know what they say... When the cp is away, the writer will play. Well, I haven't been playing per se... But I haven't been writing either. And now Nicole is back and I have to get on the ball!
In my defense things were nuts while she was gone. Really! But one really great thing did happen, Nicole and family made a pit stop on their trip and we got to go to dinner together. We had a terrific time and it was really wonderful to finally see in person, the person who has helped bring my writing further than I could have imagined. Plus she has the sweetest most adorable family around! :-)
So now I need to get back at it. I'm working on shifting over some of the online class duties I do for my chapter. That will be a BIG load off. And I'm so thankful for the volunteers we have to help! This month is a transition month, so I've had a bit more to do there. But hopefully once our new volunteer has everything figured out, I will have a bit more time to write.
I did come up with a name for my heroine. I know that seems trivial, but I wasn't happy with it and her name just struck me one night. So see, I have been THINKING about writing :-D.
How about you? How much writing have you gotten done?
April
In my defense things were nuts while she was gone. Really! But one really great thing did happen, Nicole and family made a pit stop on their trip and we got to go to dinner together. We had a terrific time and it was really wonderful to finally see in person, the person who has helped bring my writing further than I could have imagined. Plus she has the sweetest most adorable family around! :-)
So now I need to get back at it. I'm working on shifting over some of the online class duties I do for my chapter. That will be a BIG load off. And I'm so thankful for the volunteers we have to help! This month is a transition month, so I've had a bit more to do there. But hopefully once our new volunteer has everything figured out, I will have a bit more time to write.
I did come up with a name for my heroine. I know that seems trivial, but I wasn't happy with it and her name just struck me one night. So see, I have been THINKING about writing :-D.
How about you? How much writing have you gotten done?
April
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Can I Get A Cliche Please?
I have a cliche problem. And maybe this isn't the first time I've written about it. I'm too lazy to check the archives. But if it's not, then that tells you just how serious the problem is.
You hear it over and over again. Don't write cliches. But you know sometimes you need a metaphor. People say cliches. So if you have realistic characters, they're going to speak like real people. So I've always been told to change the cliche, make it that character's own.
The problem is... you have to know a blooming cliche before you can change it or alter it or make it your own. And I DO NOT have a good grasp of cliches. Really. The funny thing is that I already make up my own cliches, I just don't know it. And if I say them fast enough, most people don't know it either. Well, a few minutes later, I can tell they're computing what I said because they get this funny confused look on their face.
Worse yet is that I can rationalize why my versions are perfectly reasonable cliches regardless of if they are "correct".
Once while a friend of my hubby's was trapped in my car on a trip, I told him that he "shouldn't put all his apples in one basket." After about ten minutes he said, "Uh... It's not apples." He couldn't think of what it is because... well I have that effect on people too. But I promptly started arguing that you wouldn't want to loose all your apples because then where would you be? Appleless. And he agreed and said he supposed you could say that about anything... Even carburetors. I thought that was taking it a bit far. I mean at least I stayed within the food category (the right word is a food isn't it?) but I didn't push it because I had him seeing my way. And you never argue with someone who agrees with you. Even if they're being ridiculous.
I have gotten way off course. My point is that you can't very well change a cliche you don't know in the first place! And that's a problem for me. When my hubby is around I ask him if something is a cliche. Most times he says, "Only in your world, sweetie." And I get that he means I'm not saying it the "popular" way. But for all of my "creative" cliches, I can't purposefully be creative with one. I mean it's not that I try to make them up. They just come up wrong in my head.
So I'm having problems with knowing the "popular" version of cliches and then making up a new "creative" version. Argh. Am I the only one with this problem?????
Oh yeah, and the friend who feels his carburetors are so important... When hubby and I got married, we had a videographer and our guests left us personal messages. After rambling on a bit about some imaginary Dick who threw an imaginary Jane into an imaginary pool(we have creative friends), he looked into the camera and said, "And it's ok to put all of your carburetors into this basket. You've got a good, strong basket there and you won't have to worry about them in there!"
And to this day my hubby wonders what in the world it is about carburetors that makes me cry.
April
You hear it over and over again. Don't write cliches. But you know sometimes you need a metaphor. People say cliches. So if you have realistic characters, they're going to speak like real people. So I've always been told to change the cliche, make it that character's own.
The problem is... you have to know a blooming cliche before you can change it or alter it or make it your own. And I DO NOT have a good grasp of cliches. Really. The funny thing is that I already make up my own cliches, I just don't know it. And if I say them fast enough, most people don't know it either. Well, a few minutes later, I can tell they're computing what I said because they get this funny confused look on their face.
Worse yet is that I can rationalize why my versions are perfectly reasonable cliches regardless of if they are "correct".
Once while a friend of my hubby's was trapped in my car on a trip, I told him that he "shouldn't put all his apples in one basket." After about ten minutes he said, "Uh... It's not apples." He couldn't think of what it is because... well I have that effect on people too. But I promptly started arguing that you wouldn't want to loose all your apples because then where would you be? Appleless. And he agreed and said he supposed you could say that about anything... Even carburetors. I thought that was taking it a bit far. I mean at least I stayed within the food category (the right word is a food isn't it?) but I didn't push it because I had him seeing my way. And you never argue with someone who agrees with you. Even if they're being ridiculous.
I have gotten way off course. My point is that you can't very well change a cliche you don't know in the first place! And that's a problem for me. When my hubby is around I ask him if something is a cliche. Most times he says, "Only in your world, sweetie." And I get that he means I'm not saying it the "popular" way. But for all of my "creative" cliches, I can't purposefully be creative with one. I mean it's not that I try to make them up. They just come up wrong in my head.
So I'm having problems with knowing the "popular" version of cliches and then making up a new "creative" version. Argh. Am I the only one with this problem?????
Oh yeah, and the friend who feels his carburetors are so important... When hubby and I got married, we had a videographer and our guests left us personal messages. After rambling on a bit about some imaginary Dick who threw an imaginary Jane into an imaginary pool(we have creative friends), he looked into the camera and said, "And it's ok to put all of your carburetors into this basket. You've got a good, strong basket there and you won't have to worry about them in there!"
And to this day my hubby wonders what in the world it is about carburetors that makes me cry.
April
Thursday, February 01, 2007
All Talk...
I went to my local RWA chapter meeting this past Saturday. Sophia Nash was our speaker. And she was terrific. I learned quite a bit and it has really spurred me to work on my new story.
One word of advice Sophia shared with us was a recommendation she received from... I believe Jayne Krentz. She said when pacing is really slow, try writing the story as a screen play first. So there's just dialogue and a tiny bit of stage direction. Then go back and revise in the other stuff. But be careful not to add too much. It will keep the story moving at a faster pace.
I decided to try an altered version of this. I didn't write only dialogue, but I really tried to minimize the extra stuff and I found that I was pickier about the filler I used. While the setting was neat in my head, the reader could care less about how dark wood stain is when my heroine is asking the hero to take off his pants. Really.
Don't get me wrong, there are stories in which rich detail and setting are invaluable. But I don't think that's the case with where I am here and I have a tendancy to get really bogged down in all of these little details that I think give the story wealth, but when I get bogged down so does the story. So I decided to keep using this new approach and see how it works for me.
What about you? Ever get bogged down in the details?
April
PS The picture is just because I'm always looking for inspiration when I'm starting something new. Ok, I'm just always looking for inspiration :-) Enjoy and have a good weekend!
One word of advice Sophia shared with us was a recommendation she received from... I believe Jayne Krentz. She said when pacing is really slow, try writing the story as a screen play first. So there's just dialogue and a tiny bit of stage direction. Then go back and revise in the other stuff. But be careful not to add too much. It will keep the story moving at a faster pace.
I decided to try an altered version of this. I didn't write only dialogue, but I really tried to minimize the extra stuff and I found that I was pickier about the filler I used. While the setting was neat in my head, the reader could care less about how dark wood stain is when my heroine is asking the hero to take off his pants. Really.
Don't get me wrong, there are stories in which rich detail and setting are invaluable. But I don't think that's the case with where I am here and I have a tendancy to get really bogged down in all of these little details that I think give the story wealth, but when I get bogged down so does the story. So I decided to keep using this new approach and see how it works for me.
What about you? Ever get bogged down in the details?
April
PS The picture is just because I'm always looking for inspiration when I'm starting something new. Ok, I'm just always looking for inspiration :-) Enjoy and have a good weekend!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
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