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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Charlie vs. The Navigation Bar

Anyone know how to make it show? (Rhyme intended.)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Crawl of the Short

The Equist Story is coming along slowly—definitely not hitting 1,000 words a day (given I’ve only been working on it for two days). But ratio wise I’m doing super great! XD I don’t have as solid a direction with this story, perhaps that’s why. Perhaps it’s because I’m discovery writing the characters and a lot of the setting, whereas I’ve always been a staunch outliner. Maybe it’s the newness of it all. (If I haven’t mentioned it, this is the first medieval fantasy I’ve ever written. TOS was steampunk-wannabe, CSH was Roman, and Weirs is more Victorian-esque.)

I’ve drafted a couple of pitches for query letters and the like for Weirs—won’t get too serious into those, yet. I got a PowerPoint from an author (was she an agent once?) about pitching that I’d be happy to email to anyone, just let me know.*

So… yeah. I really want the Equist Story to be something, so it will undergo a million of revisions. Just have to finish it first. :D (If I could do 1,000 words a day, I could finish it in under 17 days!)


Excerpt of the day:

Her father scoffed. “Hardly. It will only end in war, I fear. The bastard and the duke are ready to pull knives, and now the king’s sister insists her stepson is the rightful heir! If the debate had been settled, Moi, Sanchelle would have lost his courage.”
Equist Story



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*I’m not violating any rights or agreements, no worries.

P.S. Happy birthday Misha!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Weirs Wordle and Soundtrack

(My computer and I got into a fight, therefore the picture is not size to fit nicely in the blog.)

Photobucket

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Saturday, February 19, 2011

LTUE and GUESS WHAT

LTUE has been really good this year. The short story panel has been my favorite so far. It provided really helpful insight for the short story I'm going to write. I also had a nice long chat with Brad R. Torgensen, who won this year's Writer's of the Future contest. He was very friendly and very helpful, and he made me feel good about where I am with writing.

Speaking of said nameless short story*, I'll start working on it ASAP. Why, you ask?

BECAUSE I FINISHED WEIRS.

That's right! I finished it in the car before James F=Dashner's main address started. IT IS FINISHED.

Chapters: 22
Words: 110,000
Time taken to complete: Roughly five months

I already know I have to rewrite chapter 2 and 3, and I'm positive my writing group will point out many more flaws. But it's done!

Now I have to go pick up my Medieval book from the library. Library hours = crap.


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*I think for now I shall call it the "Equist Story."

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Valentine's Day

I have this scene I am dying to write, and it keeps getting pushed back! Granted, I could just WRITE it now and go back to the scenes before it, but that just feels wrong, somehow. But this scene is one of my big reveals with one of my favorite characters and it’s driving me nuts that I still haven’t gotten to it. (Whilst writing today I realized I needed to add another scene into chapter 21 to make the story work, so I probably won’t get to said-awesome-scene until Tuesday.)

In non-writing related news, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and since I’m married I actually give a crap, so I’m excited. :D I always loved V-day in elementary school, but from junior high to age 20 I didn’t care for it. What’s the point if you can’t decorate card boxes* and mooch candy off all your peers? (Or if you don’t ever seem to have a boyfriend come February? XD)

So yeah. Exchanging gifts (won’t say more in case husband reads this before tomorrow) and going out to a restaurant that doesn’t do reservations, so here’s hoping there isn’t a huge line.

Also, excuse the excessive amount of emoticons in this blog. I feel empty without them.


Excerpt a la day:
(This is from a short story that didn’t turn out how I wanted it to. My attempt at writing third-person objective.)

Mark asked, “So what does it do?”

“It’s a pain-killer, loosely speaking,” the doctor explained. “Though it’s closer to an anti-depressant. It triggers receptors in the brain, calms the emotional stress that builds there. Capacium is focused mainly towards those suffering with post-partum and stress onslaught—conditions considered to be temporary.”

Mark scoffed.

“If you’re interested, I have a questionnaire for you to fill out. Then there’s an interview, an in-depth checkup, and a 24-hour brain monitoring session. Based on what I know about you, Mark, you’re a valid candidate.”

As Prescribed, page 1



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*BTW, in 5th grade my handy-man dad helped me make an “ATM” machine for my V-day cards. It had a hand crank and two foaming rollers that would suck the card into the box. I was totally the coolest kid in class that day. :D

Friday, February 11, 2011

The End is Near . . . or is it?

Wow, thanks for the comments, guys.

The end of this novel is so close, yet so far away. A chapter and a half to go. Really, like a chapter and half of a very long scene. That’s the problem with finishing this book—the LONG scenes. The end is so near, but I swear it’s still a million words away.

Come to me, my precious. I won’t hurt you, just finish you, and then torture you with revisions. ;)

It’s become clear to me through writing group that some of my beginning chapters need some tummy-tucks and face-lifts. I’m not quite sure what body part to start on, but that’s probably because I have yet to devote much time to thinking about it. MUST FINISH BOOK.

And I have an awesome reveal coming up that keeps getting pushed back by the scenes that NEVER END.

But even if they don’t, this blog post will. :D


Excerpt of the day:

Pressing her face to the cold stone, Teague wept without tears. Kitsy, she thought. They did this to her, too.

The small water bowl in the corner had been filled, but Teague didn’t drink. She held still, willing herself to disappear into the stone. If she didn’t move, it didn’t hurt as much. The cuts, the slashes, the burns, the bruises. She had cried. She had screamed and pleaded, but she hadn’t said a word. She knew little about where Scire and his child hid in the mountains, but she uttered none of it, and for that she was proud.
Weirs, chapter 20

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Ebook Domination

Had a long talk with Joe (see sidebar) about the future in e-publishing. He's really excited about it; I'm very skeptical. Call me a traditionalist. The thought of ebooks being the dominant form of publication--especially when so many of them are self-published*--worries me.


Here's a bit of the Gmail convo:

Joseph:
if you look at the biases of the new media, it is all slanted toward the author
for anyone who wants to write books, this stuff is extremely good news
it puts things in our favor
for those who want to make a living ripping off authors, it's extremely bad
or for those whose business is built on the work of writers
it's like the mp3 revolution
it killed the record labels and helped out the struggling artists

[...]

me: There are thousands and thousands of people who want to be published, only a fraction of them are Really good. The pubilshers/agents weed out the bad ones, and the good ones get published
but with ebooks, now all those thousands and thousands can publish their books
and it floods the market
and 29 out of every 30 ebooks sucks


Not to mention that the author now takes on advertising costs, but Joe makes a good point that, unless you've written the next best-seller, the publisher won't do much to promote your book, anyway. Needless to say, I'm convinced I need to learn more about the publishing industry, and am more fervent than ever to publish before ebooks take over the world.

What are your thoughts?






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*Come on, when was the last time you read a good, self-published book from a new author?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Determination

I really want this.

So I'm doubling my daily word count.