Here’s this week’s post from Julia’s place. The words “the notes from the piano,” need to be included in a 100 word story. Enjoy.
“Look at this, Jones,” said Captain Micks.
“Huh. Can’t believe it survived.”
“I know. You’d think when this whole place came down it would have been crushed.” Jones stepped forward and struck a chord, the notes from the piano were crisp and clean. The sound resonated off of the skeletal structures and permeated the vacant rubble strewn avenue.
When I have a conversation with an acquaintance that turns personal, this question usually surfaces – “So what do you like to do for fun?”
At times I think about skirting over the question, with – “I like hockey, or I like to read.” However, I have come to learn the value of writing friends and the bond that
Top row (from left): Leo Tolstoy, Dmitry Grigorovich, Bottom row (from left): Ivan Goncharov, Ivan Turgenev, Alexander Druzhinin, and Alexander Ostrovsky
writing builds. I understand that I might get occasional sympathetic nod from the person I am talking with, or a few raised eyebrows and “good luck with that.” Or, maybe, just possibly, a fellow word loving comrade.
Since I started on my novel several years ago I have had the benefit of many writing friends, or friends that are kind enough to read my work and encourage me in my novel. They’ve been with me through many drafts and thankfully I don’t think I have ever been given the look or feeling that I should probably do something more productive with my life.
So where am I going with this long rambling post? Perhaps this is a thank you to all of you who keep asking me, “So how’s it going?” as I stomp through the sludge of my latest draft, and it is. But, also, if you are a new writer or a writer who is struggling to find their way, writing friends are the best and sometimes the only remedy to help you to carry on in your quest to become a published author.
As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.
Every once in a while I like to pretend that I’m handy. I can limp along on some construction projects but, for the most part, I don’t have the patience for them. (I know. I see the hypocrisy. Unable to build a table because of a lack of patience, but willing to work on the same book for 8 years)
This was until I received a gift from my parents for Christmas, (kudos to my wife for the assist). It was money toward transforming my bleak writing hole into a useful and inspiring writing space.
This space is essential. It has to be a retreat, though located about 100 feet from my bed and the chaos of a living room dominated by my lovely children. Thus, I have the following pictures of my new writing space (I apologize in advance for the poor lighting).
Photo 1 – All that can be seen in the built-in is the desk and one flimsy shelf that I dared not set any of my precious books upon.
Photo 2 – Main shelves in place.
Photo 3 – Side shelf in place.
Photo 4 – Finished for now (paint to come later).
Now my inner writer has a place to call home. Time to get to work.
Confession. Unlike last year, my yearly reading list is, admittedly, somewhat embarrassing. I hate not to report what I have read because there were several great books in there (which I have made bold in my list) but not as many as I would have liked.
I Hope this year contains more books, and more submissions.
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – JK Rowling
The Emerald Atlas
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – JK Rowling
I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith
Humilitas – John Dickson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling
An Extraordinary Education – Trenton Lee Stewart
The Princess and the Goblin – George MacDonald
Wonderstruck – Brian Selznick
Half-Moon Investigations – Eoin Colifer
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (again I know. This was enough of Harry for a while!)
After the Christmas presents and cookie eating is over many of us will hunker down and create a list of things we want to accomplish over the New Year. Be it a level of weigh we’d like to slim down to, a mountain we’d like to climb, walking every day or… maybe even write a novel.
Indeed it is refreshing when another year comes off the books and there is a chance to start again. However, most of you know these goals sputter and fade within a few weeks — if they get started at all. The reason for this post today is because I was doing something all writers and goal makers do from time to time – telling myself the perfect time to write is just around the corner. I have done this again and again before realizing I’m going nowhere.
I have excuses a plenty. My daughter is just getting used to sleeping through the night and wakes up crying, sometimes for hours, before settling down again. Three naps of two hours does not help. My work picks up this time of year, and I detest getting up and rushing to the computer screen, and my family and I are just plain busy.
There, I’ve got them out. I’m done complaining. I’m writing.
As we approach the holiday season I start to think of books. Books that I would like to read which remind me of this time of year.
My ideal time for reading would be late at night, snow is on the ground, all is quiet in the house and the room is solely illuminated by the lights of the Christmas tree. I remember doing this while I was young and still enjoy it now, only I drink coffee.
While I peruse my bookshelves I am reminded of several books that I would consider “Christmas reads”. Either because they are popular this time of year or because reading them gives me a sense of the season. My scant list is below. Please feel free to add your own favorite holiday reads in the comment section below.
A Christmas Carol – The season just does not seem complete without Marley’s ghost, Ebenezer Scrooge and the lot. I try to read this every year. It’s only a hundred pages or so.
The Chronicles of Narnia (NOT the films) – Winter is a constant in Narnia when Peter, Edmond, Susan, and Lucy step through the wardrobe. The world is
Marley was dead to begin with…
never the same. I am starting with book one of the seven book children series in hopes of finishing by the New Year. Short and entertaining, a classic already.
Luke chapter 2 – from the Bible. I remember my grandmother would recite this from memory just before we opened presents to remember why we celebrate this day and why it is important. I plan to do the same for my children keeping her tradition alive.
Frankenstein – I know this looks like a typo. This is a Christmas list right? The myth is that Mary Shelley wrote this while cooped up as a vicious storm blew outside. Also, the book starts in the far north, during winter on a sailing vessel. For some strange reason I am reminded of Christmas.
Anything Dickens really – this is broad but my favorites this time of year are, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and David Copperfield.
My list is short, but this time of the year tends to be busy and I have to sneak in what I can. How about you? What do you like to read this time of year?
On February 8th 2013 two of my writers friends and I are launching Jot a mini writer’s conference. I have a fifteen minute segment as a speaker to address the attendees. I wasn’t sure what I was going to discuss. I have been writing for a while and have learned many tips along the way.
So, in my search of a topic I decided to talk about things I wish I knew before I started writing. Things like – the longer the novel the more likely it will not be published, don’t waste time on silly things like font or spacing or page format, writing is best done alone but you need other writers for accountability, and so on.
I’m still debating the topic and wanted to reach out to my audience here and ask what they would like to hear about if they attended. Also, if you have attended writing conferences before, why did you attend? What did you learn there and why would you go again?
Please fill out the poll below or suggest one in a comment.
Editing can be an intimidating process. After months or years of slaving over your novel, going back through it again (at least for me) can be debilitating. I think the hardest part of writing is that you learn so much through the process of a draft that by the time you are done and go back to view the beginning, it can be unsatisfying. Not because the novel was unfinished, but because I’ve come to realize it is only a small percentage of the work that lay ahead in the wild dream of publication.
So here I am carefully editing like one would analyze a game of Jenga. There are parts that are poor and plot points that need to be removed. The key is knowing which ones to remove. If I kill one which zigzags through my story like a stray bottle rocket, I lose the continuity of the others. And if these unnecessary plot points are not cleanly removed, they will sit like a resplendent spiral staircase to nowhere. Oh the joy!
To get through this editing crucible I’ve developed a plan. Though it has been a slower process than I expected, I am gaining traction. I hope these tips will assist in editing more efficiently to help you get through the rewriting blues.
Write a list of your plot points. Find out which ones are maintained through the book and which ones you no longer need and cut them out. If needed, sprinkle them in so they stay fresh in the readers mind.
Look at each chapter and make sure it is necessary. A beautiful snowy vale or slow walk on the beach has to mean something, it cannot a spectacularly scene of literary drivel and not advance the plot.
If you have not already done so make a list of characters and be sure they behave how you intended them to behave. Keep them in character. Don’t have the villain help someone up or notice a sunset, unless that fits, etc.
Now, you have three large chunks evaluated: Plot, Chapters, Characters. So,
Review each paragraph. Make sure they can be understood by themselves. Especially watch the pronouns in scenes where multiple characters appear.
Examine your work for repetitive phrases. See if you have said “Oh my!” a hundred times. Or perhaps you use Verily, or the same descriptions, rewrite or cut them out.
Grammar. I left this for last – intentionally. If I focus on this as I edit I loose… well – focus. I’m not an accomplished multi-tasker. It is best for me to print off my chapters, double spaced, and find a quiet place to read them aloud. I take my time to try and catch any and every mistake. Also, if it is helpful, keep a grammar book nearby. The book will help with coma usage, which or that, and other common misuses.
Lastly, don’t worry about font or page numbers. Most of the technical things are left to the publisher’s discretion. Also, you’ll just end up reformatting anyway because each agent/publisher/acquisitions editor will have their own submissions process and guidelines.
It’s been a while since I participated in the 100 word challenge from Julia’s place. It feels nice to get back into the swing of things. I hope you enjoy the post eruption mini below.
Title: After the Storm
“Gary, how long will this last?” Clara asked staring out the window.
“No idea. The radio’s gone silent again. This time I think it’s for good,” her brother replied slapping the device again.
“Do you think we should leave?” Clara watched a car race down the road. Outside, it was growing cold.
“No, I think it’s best if we stay inside. In time, things will clear up. We’re outside the blast radius. I don’t think we’ll be affected.” Clara nodded, but did not believe a word he said.
As the grey ashes fell, Clara knew her world had changed forever.
I’ve been editing for some time now. It has been nearly three weeks since I started the process of cutting and manipulating seven chapters of the latest draft of my novel in order to submit it. I’ve found so many mistakes and plot lines that either needed to be removed or drastically accentuated that I am shocked I thought this draft completed in the first place.
This has caused me to do some serious reflection on what a draft is. I used to think that it was another step in the right direction, but a lot of times it is not. Lately I’ve deleted more words than I have kept. I’ve probably been more frustrated with writing through this process than I have ever been. However, I feel as though I am breaking through to another layer of writing that will make me that much better because of all of the toil I experience now.
The main question I wrestle with is, when do you know when a draft is done? You can have friends read it, have them pick over it and give their assessment, make changes based on those assessments, and then redraft. But at some point you have to get it out there. It might sound silly but at times I feel like I am coaxing a little bird along the edge of a branch preparing to push it off so it can take flight. The problem is I cannot be sure this little bird is ready to fly. I know I am ready to move on, but I don’t want to commit a novice mistake and get a rejection just because it is not ready.
I suppose it comes down to believing in your story. That your voice will shine through, and that the editor or slush pile surfer will forgive any inconsistencies that you missed. Hopefully, by the end of the week, I will pluck up the courage to push this feathered little manuscript out into the world. I just hope it flies.
PART-TIME NOVEL 