Back to Business

Ok, I'm back for some more from the literary community. Finished my degree, had my eyes fixed up nice so I can shoot lasers out of them (well maybe not lasers, but I can see again!) and I've settled into my new house!

The stars have aligned and my literary side is begging to break free and be all it can be. So, I post these questions:

How've you been and what have you accomplished over the last year?

Is it where you expected you'd be?

Pompeii Lovers

If you aren't familiar with the story of Pompeii, go check it out on the Wikipedia. I wrote this love poem as if we were lovers in the time and location of the great Vesuvias eruption of Pompeii.

A faerie wing of burning light,
In sunless day like starry night.
We dance on dusk as daytime dies,
Embrace each other with our eyes.

The lupine children call our name
The lords of air they do the same.
We dance on dusk as daytime dies.
Embrace each other with our eyes.

Leafless root-worn grassless field,
Burning wind's touch does not yield.
We dance on dusk as daytime dies.
Embrace each other with our eyes.

Storybook love not false but true,
History will speak of me and you.
Of how we danced,
While others cried.

Locked in embrace,
Until we died.

Fantasy Friday

Ok, my earlier post stunk. It bored me to tears... Let's have a little more end-of-the-week fun.

Here's the scenario:

You've been shipped out to an exotic island, one where you'll have access to everything you need to write a novel. You have a deadline of 2 calendar years to complete it. Beyond the bare essentials, you are allowed to bring one person and one object. Here's the catch though, you and your mystery guest can talk ONLY about your novel. Nothing else! They are to be your idea sparker, your muse, your... you get the idea. As for the object, it can be anything, so long as it will help you write your novel successfully.

Who is the 1 person you bring?

What is the 1 object you bring and the reason it will help?

Eagle Eye

When I look at my art, whether sketches or paintings, I have something of an eagle eye. I can see the most minute problems from any distance. They stand out, they scream, "FIX ME! I'M RIGHT HERE!" Sometimes, they add character to the art, other times it really is an issue that needs to be fixed.

Writing is no different. Last night I had the opportunity to scan through a rough draft of a short story, that I needed to submit, and I saw the glaring issues. My eagle eye shot through all the bull and went straight for the kill.

Question: Is it easy or difficult to spot the trouble in your WIP? I'm not talking about grammar or spelling. I'm not even talking about formatting in any way. I'm talking about the story trouble. Those loop holes or issues that take a story from being sub-par to great.

Sheesh...Cut it out!

We spent a bit of time last week, in creative writing class, doing some edits to editing our short stories. It's often been said that "sometimes less is more," and this is certainly the case in writing. You can read a myriad of 'how-to' books on writing and find suggestions for keeping it straight forward and to the point, but nothing quite impacts you like reading a book and saying out loud, "c'mon c'mon, get to the point already."

If you've found yourself saying that, it's likely that the writer could have cut out some unnecessary words, sentences or even whole paragraphs.

So, what's the point!?

The point is pretty much summed up in that phrase. "Sometimes less IS more." Give it a try. Take a look at your WIP and see if there's anything you could reasonably cut out. You may be sharpening your story!

OUR Story

I went over to visit Megan Rebekah's blog yesterday and she had a progressive story going that seemed like some fun. I've seem em before and participated too, but haven't done anything like that on my blog. Sooooo, here goes.

1. I'll start the story.
2. You follow up and continue the story in the comment section.
3. Make sure to read the comments in order, so you know where the story's at before you add to it.
4. Have fun and let's see where this goes!

Three thousand years of walking the earth, pretending to be a mortal man and all I have to show for it are some lousy scars and a few campfire tales. The fire within me is growing dull and I've nearly forgotten why I was cursed to continue on like this. If only I hadn't ...

ok, your turn

Methods of Madness

We all have our unique style of....everything. In this case, I'm curious about your unique planning methods for novel writing. I'm well aware that creativity can't always be reigned in, but sometimes there is a method to our madness.

For me, writing a novel is a mix between planning and unbridled creative expression. Usually, I need a bit of a foundation laid before I can let loose and just write. For example, I will start most novel planning by filling in some of the following, very basic, information:

Title:
Subtitle:
Genre:
Sub genre:

Protagonist:
Primary Goal:
Occupation:
Alignment:
Character Trait:

So on and so forth for antagonist and other main characters. Then I'll do a little more of a detailed character study for each character to get more of a visual idea of just who they are.

CORE CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Role: (i.e. protagonist, antagonist etc...)
Character Name:
Nickname:
Age:
Gender:
Ethnicity:
Religion:

VISUAL CHARACTER INFORMATION
Height:
Weight:
Hair Color:
Eye Color:
Body Type:
Skin Color:

RELATIONSHIPS CHARACTER INFORMATION
Siblings:
Parents:
Love Interest:
Children:
Best Friend(s):
Unique Relationship:

After I've filled in some of this information, I have a similar method to filling out basic scene & plot-lining. All of these are simply what I like to consider the skeletal structure of the novel. They help lay a foundation for which, I can then let loose and just fill in the details. I make sure that I view this foundation as fluid, in that, things obviously are bound to change, but it at least sets me off in the right direction.

How about you? Do you have anything planning methods like this?

$eX $ells

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few hundred years, then you're probably keen on the idea that sex sells. I'm not talking about a $20.00 harlot, with bright crimson lipstick and mini-skirt, on the downtown street corners. I'm talking about the idea of it. The taunting illusion that somehow, a product or service will be coupled with sex in some way, shape or form.

I'm bringing this up today, because I was reminded at how powerful this concept is. Even in the literary world. I posted a very quick blurb yesterday about a tattoo'd author and when I went to look for a picture to post for it, I just grabbed one of Megan Fox with her tattoo showing. Within minutes of posting that picture and my blurb, I had a bunch of comments...

I have a lot of different questions that this brings to mind, but I'll only ask one.

Who would you choose, based on sex appeal, to sit with you and help promote your book. Assuming that you could have any celebrity for a day in promotion.

Your Literary Tattoo

I ran into an article that talked about an author who, after some success, made a point of getting a tattoo on himself that says "New York Times Best Seller."

This leads me to wonder, if you succeed as a writer, what would your tattoo say?

Or, is there anything wild or crazy you've promised yourself "if you make it?"

AHA!

I had an AHA! moment yesterday, and not the pop/rock group a-ha kind of moment either. It hit me out of the blue and while I was sitting there at work I literally said 'AHA!' got out of my chair, because I was excited and made my way to the break room so I could celebrate with a soda. My co-workers looked at me like I'd just lost it and I didn't quite want to explain why I was so excited so I said... "I have to go potty." Seeing as how I'm the clown of the office, they thought I was just being silly, which I was, and dismissed my odd behavior as nothing new.

So, what was the AHA about anyway?

I'm glad you asked.

I had a breakthrough on the direction of my WIP. I've been stuck with a character and what exactly she is doing. I know where I want her, but I didn't know how to get her there and I finally figured it out. I broke through the "writer's block" so to speak and now I know where to go. I have to backtrack for a bit of a re-write and drop a good 4,000 words or so, but since I'm so new into the novel anyway, I don't mind. At least I have a solid path now. Then again this morning, I had a total plot twist slap me in the face after I woke up.

How about you? Any AHA! moments?