Charlatan

Posted on September 20, 2016 by

So I’ve renamed Divided Amongst the Stars. It was a good name for the story, when it was a SF romance. But it’s not, now. I’m sure of that, even though I’m not sure of much else with it. Except I like it. I really do. It makes me smile.

Beginning the rewrite and taking it to the Breathe, my writers’ group. This while I rework Frozen Fire (again). Think I have the issues in my sights on that now. Hope so. If not, guess what? It’ll get reworked again. And again. I believe in this story. Though, I didn’t always. After I got 3/4 the way through, I fell out of like with it. Then, along came The Last Griffin. I didn’t even want Frozen Fire in the same room with me.

But, with this current reworking, I find I like the story again. And most importantly, as I said, I believe in it again, too.

Posted in Uncategorized

Another Round

Posted on July 20, 2016 by

Getting Frozen Fire ready for another round of submissions. Reprinted it to read aloud to the cats. In fact, Jake is sitting on top of it now, waiting for me to begin. Elwood will come once I begin…as long as it’s outside.

I always read my manuscripts aloud after every draft. If I’ve sent it out a few times and it comes back without a home, I again read it aloud and often end up reworking it. My writers’ group will see the problem pages again. And if I can’t figure out why it’s not being accepted, I bring my submission package to the group too.

I’d love to be the kind of writer who writes the story…once. Then it’s done. Publishers fight over it and my readers beg for more.

I’m not there yet, so until then, I’ll just keep reprinting and rereading. My cats never get tired of hearing the same stories over and over.

Posted in Fiction Writing Tips, Frozen Fire, Publication Tips, Submission Tips

Done!

Posted on July 18, 2016 by

Whew! I just finished the rough draft for “Birthright”, another of the Griffin Wars series (The Last Griffin). This story, more than any other, has felt like I’ve been pulling it through my fingernails with my teeth. I’m so thrilled to be done with it.

And yet, I know that this will be a good story. Often the most difficult ones to write are, because the writer has to work on it, where as an easier forming story often gets a lighter touch in the editing department because the story already “feels good”.

I feel a strange sense of melancholy. I’m saying goodbye to characters I’ve lived with for several months now. When I edit it, my focus will be on the words, the flow, and the emotion, not on my little pencil-written friends. And they have become friends. They’ve made me laugh, cry, and curse. Especially that last.

I also feel another spark starting to burn hot within me. A few weeks ago, I came up with a new YA story idea that I think will kick butt. It’s already written itself out inside me, I just need to move it to paper. So, I’ll be embarking on that journey soon.

For now, though, I just want to dwell in this moment, this goodbye to Fiera, Efar, Marie, Gwen, Captain, and the rest.

thelastgriffin

Posted in Birthright., The Last Griffin

Turning Real Life into Fiction

Posted on May 10, 2016 by

I get it all the time: “Where did you get that idea?”

I usually tell the person that I keep a journal and got it out of there. That’s the simple version. But, the truth is a bit more complicated. I usually combine a ton of things together for a story.

Example:

I’ve been thinking a lot about the fires in Fort McMurray. Specifically those videos where people are driving with the fire right beside them and sparks are raining down on their vehicles. So many writing possibilities here, both fictional and not.

I also know that sometimes frogs and fish fall from the sky with the rain.

I read an article about flying spiders.

 

There was a discussion a few years back about ousting Smokey the Bear as the official ‘Prevent Forest Fires’ icon.

These are ideas that could all join together very easily into a children’s story.

Or a few scenes from a thriller.

Or a poem. In which, I’ve already used the spiders.

THIS is why we writers keep journals. To keep little tidbits like the discussion about Smokey or the articles about flying spiders and about fish and frogs falling from the sky. I see so many possibilities here.

 

Posted in Fiction Writing Tips