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100 Word Challenge From Julia’s Place – A World Without Music

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized10 Comments

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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.”Destruction_in_a_Berlin_street

“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.

“Don’t do that again,” Warned the Captain.

“Sorry, I didn’t think it would work.”

“Yeah well, that curiosity could get you killed.”

“You think we’ll hear music like that again?”

Captain Micks sighed.

“Not sure. Maybe someday.”

Cheers,

Bob

 

 

 

My New Writing Space

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized8 Comments

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.

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Photo 2 – Main shelves in place.

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Photo 3 – Side shelf in place.

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Photo 4 – Finished for now (paint to come later).

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Now my inner writer has a place to call home. Time to get to work.

Cheers,

Bob

My Shamefully Small Reading List of 2012

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized5 Comments

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.

  1. Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – JK Rowling

    The Emerald Atlas
    The Emerald Atlas
  2. The Help – Kathryn Stockett
  3. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – JK Rowling
  4. I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith
  5. Humilitas – John Dickson
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – JK Rowling
  7. An Extraordinary Education – Trenton Lee Stewart
  8. The Princess and the Goblin – George MacDonald
  9. Wonderstruck – Brian Selznick
  10. Half-Moon Investigations – Eoin Colifer
  11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (again I know. This was enough of Harry for a while!)
  12. A Voyage Long and Strange – Tony Horwitz
  13. The Magician’s Nephew – CS Lewis
  14. The New Testament – NIV Translation
  15. The Emerald Atlas – John Stephens
  16. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

Keep Reading/Writing.

Cheers, and a happy belated New Year to you all.

Bob

Don’t Wait Until The New Year

On By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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.

Cheers,

Bob

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joshmosey's avatarJosh Mosey

It has a name.

After conducting a poll to determine which of the names were most popular (the most popular category was Other, as in, other than the names we liked), the Weaklings decided to throw all previous names out the window and start fresh. Thus was born Jot: The GR Writers Mini-Conference.

So, for those of you who value putting events in your calendars, jot this down. Jot will be happening February 8th from 7:00 – 11:00pm at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI.

Baker Book House's new event areaNow that we have a name, a date, and a venue, we need to market this thing. And to do that, we’ll need your help. In order to market effectively, we need to create some graphics for the conference. And so, we are having a Jot Logo Contest. Think you have an eye for graphic design? Send us a logo! Make…

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Use Dialogue to Advance Your Plot

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized5 Comments

When I look back on the first draft of my novel, I cannot help but cringe. I would liken it to a child’s first drawings, but I was not a child when I wrote it. Since that time I have tried to learn the technical parts of the novel while reconciling those rules with the nuances of the craft.

There are things I know: make sure your verbs agree, watch perspective, add a comma at the end of dialogue. However, there are rules I am familiar with that are much harder to learn. Showing and not telling is a perfect example.

Recently, I stumbled upon something that I should have known years ago:  Advance the plot through dialogue.  When I started writing all those years ago I penned what I thought was a nice beginning:

It was terribly early in the morning, before the sun had even bothered to stretch its rays over the sleeping city of Calelleth and Custos was already dressed, sneaking past his snoring roommates, and ambling down the stairs of the Hall of Arx. The reason for his waking before dawn was twofold. First, because it was harvest time and Custos was a farmer, though many who were to join him in the fields had yet to wake and boil water for their morning teas and coffees. Second, because it was still dark and he did not want anyone to notice his going.

Sadly, I thought this was good at the time. It continues for about four pages before someone else happens upon the scene. However since stumbling upon this tip I have crafted something I think is a bit better:

Custos slipped on his clothes in the dark. He dug his work boots out from under a pile of stinky clothes and a pungent waft of day-old sweat assaulted his nostrils. Custos gagged and stepped backward knocking a chair over. It fell to the floor sending a reverberating crash through the silent room. Custos froze. He listened. His roommates were all breathing heavily, save for one.

“And where do you think you’re going?” asked his best friend Comitis while stifling a yawn.

“Nowhere,” Custos replied while pulling on a boot. “Go back to bed.”

“I’m in bed. You’re the one going somewhere.” Custos rolled his eyes and thrust on his other boot.

“I’ll see you in the fields,” Custos said. Comitis rolled over, groaned and then flopped out of bed. “Um, what are you doing?”

“Going to the woods.” Comitis replied.

“How’d you…”

“I followed you the other day.” Custos was glad his friend sounded somewhat ashamed. “I’ll come to the edge, no further.” Comitis said as his head popped out from the top of his shirt.

“Calm down, I’ve never actually thought of going in.”

“Sure you haven’t.

Though I feel like this is an improvement I will leave it up for you to decided. Please comment in the section below.

Thank you.

Cheers,

Bob

My First Mistake

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When I started my novel, all those years ago, I thought ‘Wouldn’t it look cozy next to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy?’. Or ‘maybe I could nestle it between David Copperfield and War and Peace?’. I honestly had no idea what I was doing. This was my first mistake, a terribly aimed goal. I did not believe that my work was as good as a classic, nor should any writer. Everyone must find their own path and write what they love and know and let their book be what it is. However, I think a lot of beginner writers have a few presuppositions about big novels.

The main reason I wanted to write something long was because I thought 100,000 words was the magical number I had to see in my word count. And I did. But I did not know that Dickens was paid by the word as were most writers back then. Of course he could have tangents and funny anecdotes but that is how the publishing world worked back then. Not so today.

I recently heard an acquisition editors say that they train their slush pile surfers to toss manuscripts over 80,000 words. I am not saying this is a rule but something to think about. I realized now that 100,000 words are nice for Harry Potter, but that is not for me.

My practice now is to cut out as many words as I can to strip my story down. Chapter 1 was cut by 1000 words and chapter 2 by 500+. My goal is to create a streamlined story. One that is clear and concise and to the point. I my aim is not to get under 80,000 words just because. However, I am doing my best to kill my darlings. I hope you do as well.

Cheers,

Bob

A One Night Writer’s Conference

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized4 Comments

I recently attended a part of the Breathe Writer’s Conference. I was left with a taste for more. Meeting writers, gathering some encouragement, and coming to the realization that there are more than three people in the Grand Rapids community that are in pursuit of publication were grand things indeed.

Thus, my three brave comrades and I decided to throw a writers conference of our own: A one night writing conference. We have the venue selected (the soon to be new and improved Baker Book Store) and the date (Friday, February 8th 2013). There are a lot of things to be worked out. However, I can tell you that it will be a wonderful time. The schedule provides time for three brief presentations, discussion, insight into the writing life, as well as time to mingle and write. Also, the conference is free so you don’t have an excuse.

The topics of discussion are still up in the air but will most likely include:

  • Using Social Media
  • Flash Fiction
  • Encouragement (or swift kick in the writing pants)
  • Marketing
  • Writing in the cracks of life
  • What happens after your novel gets to the publisher

I will update you as those topics become more solid. Josh, Andy and I hope that the connections, instructions, and encouragement you receive will propel you toward your publication dreams, whatever they may be. For now, mark it down on your calendar that you already have plans on February 8th. You’ll be at a writer’s conference. Keep writing my friends.

Cheers,

Bob

The Lives of Characters

On By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized8 Comments

The last few weeks writing has been replaced with meticulous editing. I will send chapters off to friends shortly and that goal is a marker that helps me stay focused. However, there are many instances that I run out of steam and I find it hard to come back to the chapter again. After nine revisions of one single chapter, the thrill of finishing is long gone. It is replaced with a long laborious haul. Writing is hard work.

When I started writing my novel I knew that it was the beginning of a series. During the planning process I wrote out the lives of each character. Some would die, some would mature. Some would fall in love, and others would search for loved ones and give up hope. These are the things I am excited to share with my readers and why I decided to write in the first place.

At this point of the editing process it is not the thought of completing the book that drives me.  Rather my character’s dreams and hopes that pull me onward and cannot be silenced. They push themselves to the forefront of my mind and interrupt my day. I think of them while driving or walking of spending time with my family. They are in the driver’s seat begging me to continue, for they want to live.

I write this post because many writers have said at some point characters begin to write themselves as if alive. I thought it hogwash and some silly artist nirvana. Now I understand. Custo, Hailea, Sapien, Maero, Comitis, Nimrodur, Elidur, Lenis, Camilla, and the rest of you. I will finish. Be patient with me.

Cheers,

Bob