Thursday, September 30, 2010
Dive, Write, Sleep: Things I miss about England
Dive, Write, Sleep: Things I miss about England: " In the absence of a real blog post I thought I’d list all the things I miss about Britain. I ..."
Pimp My Novel: Banned Book Week Review
Pimp My Novel: Banned Book Week Review: "Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut Is anyone really surprised? I think not. I think that, to some extent, Cat's Cradle lives in the shadow of ..."
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The Cre8ive: Currency redesign
I ran across this site and thought you'd enjoy seeing some of the new currency design idea being considered : The Cre8ive: Currency redesign
You're Write. Except when you're Rong.: Writers PSA
You're Write. Except when you're Rong.: Writers PSA: "Please watch. Spread the news on your blog, facebook, twitter, and at the local bar so that everyone pays attention to this important cause..."
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Unfollowed Way
I marvel at the act of writing. The different stages of coming to a story. Forming characters and plots to a point where there becomes an overwhelming need to chronicle the mental outline in written form.
The tentative first page, written in a flash, yet contemplated during the entire manuscript's creation.
Stumbling blocks of timeline and substance, stand only as long as the author wills them exist. I say "wills them to exist" because a author writes "to fit" when an awkward passage appears. The author resists backtracking or deleting what has been written.
So the greatest moment of the writing process happens: Bridging a scene to another scene's timeline or event. If you say you have never had this epiphany moment, you have never put your creative mind to the test. Which means you have a HUGE problem waiting on the horizon. You'll call it writer's block, but it's the bridge that is out and you have no way across.
Just ask any writer what it's like, when they are tens of thousands of words into their manuscript and they have to bridge two powerful scenes that are not in perfect parallel. Ask them how satisfying and tenuous those moments are and what it's like when the challenge is overcome. Honestly, it makes you KNOW you can write, that you are truly an author, whether published or not.
A story, for an author, is about the WAY the story flows. Hitches or blockages along the path of a story are what divide the long story writers from successful authors. Welcome the challenges that come your way as you write and travel the unfollowed way, the inventive way, to make your work extraordinary.
The tentative first page, written in a flash, yet contemplated during the entire manuscript's creation.
Stumbling blocks of timeline and substance, stand only as long as the author wills them exist. I say "wills them to exist" because a author writes "to fit" when an awkward passage appears. The author resists backtracking or deleting what has been written.
So the greatest moment of the writing process happens: Bridging a scene to another scene's timeline or event. If you say you have never had this epiphany moment, you have never put your creative mind to the test. Which means you have a HUGE problem waiting on the horizon. You'll call it writer's block, but it's the bridge that is out and you have no way across.
Just ask any writer what it's like, when they are tens of thousands of words into their manuscript and they have to bridge two powerful scenes that are not in perfect parallel. Ask them how satisfying and tenuous those moments are and what it's like when the challenge is overcome. Honestly, it makes you KNOW you can write, that you are truly an author, whether published or not.
A story, for an author, is about the WAY the story flows. Hitches or blockages along the path of a story are what divide the long story writers from successful authors. Welcome the challenges that come your way as you write and travel the unfollowed way, the inventive way, to make your work extraordinary.
Followers button
If anyone out there knows how to fix my followers button, let me know......PLEASE!
Thank you for the comments on the fact it doesn't work. I have sent a note to the good Google people, but have yet to hear from them.
Update: It seems the Follower button gods have fixed the problem....Thank you!!!
Update on Update...... Follower button only working on individual posts... #@&%*!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the comments on the fact it doesn't work. I have sent a note to the good Google people, but have yet to hear from them.
Update: It seems the Follower button gods have fixed the problem....Thank you!!!
Update on Update...... Follower button only working on individual posts... #@&%*!!!!!!!!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Blog as Rorschach
One of the sites I visit two or three times a week is bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/. A recent post by Jessica Faust seemed to add to the number of things that can effect an author's chances of finding representation.
As I read the post, it occurred to me that the amazing Jessica was telling people what to write on their blog, and what not to... Holy Censorship Batman!!! Don't express political views if you ever want to be the next Rowling or Brown... Not really. The article was about how a literary agent may decide the views offered on a blog could indicate a potential "problem child", or someone that is more trouble than they are worth.
Writer's have known forever that agents have a "stop reading here" line. That they apply this standard to their research into a potential client shouldn't shock anyone, though it is sort of sad. People are deeper than any page or line of dialogue. Agents just don't have the time to... Life is a query letter?
There is a decision that has to be made between career professionalism (which we can not just show, but prove on our blogs) or social expression, when we create our blogs.
It comes down to the purpose you have for writing and posting. If you are hoping that a blog can be a sort of living resume of who you are and what you think, fine. If your intention is to use your blog to further your career (not just in writing, but any profession), you may want to remember that the audience you are hoping to attract may not need to know your views on "the grassy knoll" or Roswell aliens. They want to see organized and well worded thoughts you have on a chosen field of endeavor.
The thing I always remember, especially when politics rears it's ugly head, is a quote by Kierkegaard: "If you label me... You negate me." Allowing a label to be attached to you, through innuendo or by decree, you are saying you discount the value of those that would turn away from you, just as idiotically as those that would read a political view of yours and discount you in total.
We all don't think the same, interpret the same or write the same. One man's prose is another man's blather. I believe you should always write what you want, just remember that there can be a hidden cost, one you cannot conceive as possible when you hit the POST button.
BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: Do Political Beliefs Impact Representation
As I read the post, it occurred to me that the amazing Jessica was telling people what to write on their blog, and what not to... Holy Censorship Batman!!! Don't express political views if you ever want to be the next Rowling or Brown... Not really. The article was about how a literary agent may decide the views offered on a blog could indicate a potential "problem child", or someone that is more trouble than they are worth.
Writer's have known forever that agents have a "stop reading here" line. That they apply this standard to their research into a potential client shouldn't shock anyone, though it is sort of sad. People are deeper than any page or line of dialogue. Agents just don't have the time to... Life is a query letter?
There is a decision that has to be made between career professionalism (which we can not just show, but prove on our blogs) or social expression, when we create our blogs.
It comes down to the purpose you have for writing and posting. If you are hoping that a blog can be a sort of living resume of who you are and what you think, fine. If your intention is to use your blog to further your career (not just in writing, but any profession), you may want to remember that the audience you are hoping to attract may not need to know your views on "the grassy knoll" or Roswell aliens. They want to see organized and well worded thoughts you have on a chosen field of endeavor.
The thing I always remember, especially when politics rears it's ugly head, is a quote by Kierkegaard: "If you label me... You negate me." Allowing a label to be attached to you, through innuendo or by decree, you are saying you discount the value of those that would turn away from you, just as idiotically as those that would read a political view of yours and discount you in total.
We all don't think the same, interpret the same or write the same. One man's prose is another man's blather. I believe you should always write what you want, just remember that there can be a hidden cost, one you cannot conceive as possible when you hit the POST button.
BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency: Do Political Beliefs Impact Representation
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Dive, Write, Sleep: My favourite books!
Dive, Write, Sleep: My favourite books!: "I have just spent the morning (procrastinating) updating my blog by adding Shelfani - a great widget for adding a bookshelf of favourite bo..."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Pimp My Novel: Dan Brown-ed Up
Pimp My Novel: Dan Brown-ed Up: "Friday is both round up day and Eric's day of rest (he gets very cranky without breaks). Thus, as always on Fridays, Laura (cue sweet tunes)..."
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: You Tell Me: Who Has the Worst Job in Fiction?
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: You Tell Me: Who Has the Worst Job in Fiction?: "For some reason I got to thinking this morning about how innkeepers in fantasy novels really have it made. Everyone always seems to have a g..."
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: What Platform Means for Writers
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: What Platform Means for Writers: "Thanks so much to the organizers, faculty, and attendees of the Central Coast Writers Conference for a fantastic weekend! It was such a grea..."
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Handling Writer's Block
Imagine a huge offensive lineman standing in front of you, snarling "You ain't gettin' by me!" Passing this obstacle will lead you to a clear field of view, Freedom.... To do what?
Gettin by physical or emotional obstacles won't let your mind roam freely so writing can begin anew.
Characters or Plots hanging in the air, in their imperfection? You staring at your computer screen, knowing what must be done but not doing it? Taking a break is the usual advice given,"Put it away for a while..."
Don't do it!!!!
The problem lies in your innate "self honesty" and lack of willingness to beleive that there is a problem in your work. The tug of war between what you know to be right, and disbelief, that what you have created is somehow wrong or incomplete.
Cure?
Try these two things:
1\ Take one character at a time out of your story and put them in another situation that somehow mirrors the type of charater you want he/she to be. Use a movie charaCter or TV show, and insert your character there. Pay attention to how your character would deliver a line compared to the actual actor. Look for hitches in you characters style of delivery, moment that you thought were strong enough to work will unveil themselves.
2\ Read a classic novel that is nearest to your plotline or character. Most Novelist base parts of their characters on reading experiences of their pasts. They fell in love with characters that they want to see more of, or feel they could be molded into a modern image. Reading a Classic or favorite novel will give you a mirror to place your character in front of, see how they stack up.
One of my favorite novelist, Patrick O'Brien, must have read every C.S. Forrester novel. He based his writing on a more accurate portrayal of Horatio Hornblower, which gave rise to Captain Aubrey. He saw a need to add the intellectual balance of Stephen Maturin and 19 amazing novels found their way to us. Master and Commander, which was made into a movie, is an incredible example to follow if you wish to see near perfect narrative voice and distance.
Find a source for intellectual drive, don't wait for it to just pop into your head or you could be waiting a very, very long time
Gettin by physical or emotional obstacles won't let your mind roam freely so writing can begin anew.
Characters or Plots hanging in the air, in their imperfection? You staring at your computer screen, knowing what must be done but not doing it? Taking a break is the usual advice given,"Put it away for a while..."
Don't do it!!!!
The problem lies in your innate "self honesty" and lack of willingness to beleive that there is a problem in your work. The tug of war between what you know to be right, and disbelief, that what you have created is somehow wrong or incomplete.
Cure?
Try these two things:
1\ Take one character at a time out of your story and put them in another situation that somehow mirrors the type of charater you want he/she to be. Use a movie charaCter or TV show, and insert your character there. Pay attention to how your character would deliver a line compared to the actual actor. Look for hitches in you characters style of delivery, moment that you thought were strong enough to work will unveil themselves.
2\ Read a classic novel that is nearest to your plotline or character. Most Novelist base parts of their characters on reading experiences of their pasts. They fell in love with characters that they want to see more of, or feel they could be molded into a modern image. Reading a Classic or favorite novel will give you a mirror to place your character in front of, see how they stack up.
One of my favorite novelist, Patrick O'Brien, must have read every C.S. Forrester novel. He based his writing on a more accurate portrayal of Horatio Hornblower, which gave rise to Captain Aubrey. He saw a need to add the intellectual balance of Stephen Maturin and 19 amazing novels found their way to us. Master and Commander, which was made into a movie, is an incredible example to follow if you wish to see near perfect narrative voice and distance.
Find a source for intellectual drive, don't wait for it to just pop into your head or you could be waiting a very, very long time
Friday, September 17, 2010
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Character and Plot: Inseparable!
Nathan Bransford - Literary Agent: Character and Plot: Inseparable!: "As promised, today is when I'm going to talk about how character and plot are inseparable. Truthfully, yesterday was going to be the day I ..."