Killing your story before you really begin…

That is how I feel lately. I have been trying for almost a year now to re-write my YA novel. I was in a critique group that over-critiqued to the point where I cut half of my novel! I put it away for more than a year and then took the brave step on working to “fix” it. And why not? It only took my nine years to write it (including all the research)! I get an idea of how to tweak it, get really excited, and then…wham! Today, I had an idea and started working through it how I might change my work to fit the new scenario and in just over an hour I had thoroughly and completely thrashed the idea into oblivion. So, I have two choices: 1) get a new idea and work it to death before even writing a word, like I have been doing, or 2) take the wonderful idea I had and start all over. Throw out the world that I lovingly created–all five races (complete with religion, politics, and culture)–all seven major characters (including protagonist and antagonist). I think it’s time to run away from home (the one in my head) and start fresh. I need to learn to clean out the cobwebs in my creativity and just go for it. What do I have to lose? Well, besides 11 years…but in the end, I think it will be worth it. Don’t you? Maybe I need to have a funeral and bury all my drafts, notes, maps, etc in the backyard (figuratively anyway–I can’t mess up our new yard!). Being a writer certainly isn’t for the faint of heart!

Carwynnen: A Monument Like No Other Re-Blog

Living history is truly intriguing and helps us to keep in touch with where we come from, and hence, to connect with what we are. Great blog.

The Heritage Journal

A guest post by Pip Richards, of the Sustainable Trust.

The Sustainable Trust’s archaeological investigations at Carwynnen Quoit have produced a tantalising look at life in Neolithic times. Run as a community archaeology project and reported by Jacky Nowakowski and James Gossip of Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment, the excavation revealed the full extent of the original footprint of this megalithic monument. Massive socketholes for the three principal granite uprights were discovered. Members of the Cornwall Archaeological Society were among the team whose major discovery was a largely intact and well-preserved artificial chamber “floor”.

This paving was made up of two elements, one of which was a narrow strip of compacted small stones which formed a hard- standing surface arranged in a doughnut-like circuit.  This circuit wrapped around, and contained within, a pavement made up of larger stones. Both surfaces would have been protected by the suspended capstone when it was…

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Re-Blog world building

A great blog and explanation of the creation of worlds. Fantastic!

Brian Rush

The art of fantasy storytelling is in its main points just the art of storytelling, where characterization and plot and style are the elements of a good tale. But what makes fantasy fantasy instead of some other sort of storytelling is the fantastic elements, and in the art of world-building one can (but need not, necessarily) go hog-wild.

Normally, one doesn’t. Most fantasy worlds start with some historical world as a canvas (or the present-day world) and add some fantasy elements in a controlled, moderate way to differentiate it from the historical reality. One can easily recognize the template of Medieval Europe in Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, for example, even though Europe in the Middle Ages didn’t have dragons, icy Others, or weirdly elongated seasons.

In some, maybe most, fantasy world-building, this is the format: the strange and fantastic is subtle. But here are some examples of…

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Digital Map of Rome Link

I stumbled onto this link via FB, believe it or not! This is an amazing site for those, like me, who are intrigued by the Roman Era.

Enjoy ❤

http://pelagios.dme.ait.ac.at/maps/greco-roman/

Photos illustrating my novel…

Many of these I have found over the years researching and are inspiration for my novel. There are also pictures that Neil Basconcillo created for me that demonstrate the 5 different races within the novel. I hope you find these interesting and peak your curiosity!

Check out my Media links and the Gallery I have listed…I’ll try that. I may have to another post or edit this one and add each picture here, but I I’m trying to avoid that 🙂

How To Write Killer Flashbacks in 3 Steps

Great advice, especially for those writing a first novel. But, experienced writers can always “touch” up what they know!

San Diego Professional Writer's Group

by Tim Kane

Flashbacks are a perfect way to establish back story or wrangle with some key emotional issue. How to achieve that is easy. It takes only three simple steps.

Step 1: Set up the flashback
You can get the reader ready for the flashback with verb tense. Most writers who write in past tense will use past perfect to set up a flashback. Say what? Okay, maybe you’re not a grammar geek. This means you use the “had” verb in front of your normal past tense.

Simple Past Tense: Yesterday, I ate some ribs.

Past Perfect Tense: Years ago, I had eaten ribs, and it changed my life.

Notice the difference? The had (which uses eaten rather than ate) tells us that the event is farther back in time than the standard past tense of the story. Basically, the had is the same as those wavy lines you…

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Journey of Self-Discovery and Acceptance

I am so excited about the direction my novel has taken! Who knew it would be a character-driven novel about the journey of self-discovery and acceptance of one’s “fate”? I look forward to sitting down with Rian everyday and see how she has changed since the last time. I hope my readers enjoy it just as much 🙂

Blessed Writings Everyone!

Rules of Writing

I love Pixar; I can’t lie. And Brave has become one of my favorite of all time. I think some of the advice given in this post is quite helpful; however, I’m not sure I can do it. For example, coming up with the ending first. As the blogger states, I would find myself faced with a changed ending. Instead, I “discover” the four major plot points: the end of the beginning, the half-way mark, the turning point, and the climax. From there, the ending always seems to come naturally, albeit late in the process. I never have a firm grasp on what the ending is going to be until I actually write the ending. But then, I have trouble with the beginning also! I hope this helps.

The Everyday Epic

Happy (slightly belated) Independence Day! Here’s to the men and women who risked their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor and forever changed the course of history.

And now onto the topic of day…

Thanks to my friends and family, I’ve become an avid user of Pinterest. While most of what I find are new ways to braid my hair and alter my clothes, I always keep an eye out for writing inspiration. And this morning, I was rather surprised to find some.

From what I understand, Emma Coats (who worked on Brave) posted some lessons she’s learned from working with Pixar. It’s a fascinating list filled with some advice I learned long ago and new ideas worth noting. Below are a few of my favorites.

#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.

A huge challenge for…

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How to write a blurb

For those of you who have finished that amazing novel and are now ready to move to the next step, this blog post walks you through the process of creating that “blurb” on the back of the book. This is an important step as it can also be the first paragraph of that all-important query letter. I found the letter to be almost as hard as writing the novel–almost. This blog is a great help!

The Jane Doe Novel Experiment

If you stopped breathing out of panic, or gritted your teeth in frustration, relax. I’m not going to tell you what you already know: what a book blurb is and what it is suppose to include. Ok, I will start with that, but the goal of this post is to give you ideas on how to get your creative juices following to actually write your own.

What does a book blurb do? It sells your book. It sells your book because it sparks your potential readers’ interest enough to take your book to the cash resister (or download) so they can read how your blurb develops inside of the cover.

What to include:

1) The main character(s)

2) The plot

3) The (main) challenge

4) Possible bump in the road

 

What to aim for:

Read this carefully:

Rule 1: Tell no more about your story than it takes to capture your readers’ interest.

We know…

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Review: Conflicts and Suspense, James Scott Bell

I found this book to be a nice supplement to Alderson’s book on plot development. Bell goes into much more detail and helps the writer to flush out and develop gripping material for your reader. If you are having issues with developing exciting material for your work, no matter the length, this book is for you!

http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Fiction-Writing-Conflict-Suspense/dp/159963273X