Rejection. Not just for writers

Think only writers have to deal with rejection? Not so! And there's a new book out by Bill Shapiro featuring 'some of the most infamous, and meanest,' rejections out there.



Can't see the video above? Check it out here...


Here's a link to the book if you're interested:




(And in the spirit of full disclosure, yes, that is an Amazon affiliate link, so I'd get a commission if you bought the book through the above link.)

900 words & Koontz Video Interview on his Writing Process

Daily Word Goal: 500
Yesterday's Total: 900 or so

My weekly night out writing & coffee date at B&N was fruitful last night. I managed about 900 new words and made it through the climax of the scene that had been such a struggle for the last several days. Go me!

Of course, I cringe at how bad it stinks, but I'm trying to follow the advice of one of my writing pals who's mantra is, "F*** it, I'll fix it in rewrites."

I am trying to live this mantra but it's suuuuuppperrrr hard for me. I don't know if it's because I'm a perfectionist (I am) or whether it's the writer's equivalent of body dysmorphic disorder. 


Or maybe I'm just like Dean Koontz, who can't let a draft alone either. Koontz says:

I don't write a quick draft and then revise; instead, I work slowly page by page, revising and polishing.

In fact, he's so meticulous, check out this video; about halfway through he talks about how he 'inches through' novels, revising each page until it's perfect:



However, since I'm NOT Dean Koontz, I think I might need to figure out an easier way to get through my first drafts, or else I'll never finish anything--novel length anything that is.

This weekend is devoted to art commissions, and I have a big delivery of beads and beading supplies arriving. Hopefully I can fit writing in as well.

-k.

Baby steps & I Write Like

Current WIP:
I've got some art commissions that are eating up my spare time right now, so I've only been able to tack on a couple hundred words to the current WIP, and I have a couple hand written pages of scrawled scene action, but things are moving slow over here. Plus there's been shower repairs and other domestic issues that have been pulling my focus away from creative endeavors.

I Write Like...

Some writer friends were posting this amusing site on Facebook today. It's called I Write Like and you basically put your manuscript text in, and it analyzes your writing and tells you what famous author your work is most comparable to. My result? Stephen King. Must be because of all the swear words. :D

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I don't know what it would say if you tried a rhyming picture book... hopefully one of my SCBWI mates will have a go and let me know.

-k.

Onto something?

Daily Word Goal: 500
Today's Count: 768

So, I've switched gears yet again, trying to find the story that is right for me to tell at this point in my hectic life, and I'm just working on a scene from my paranormal/urban fantasy that's sort of at the beginning of the book. I'm not worrying about starting on chapter one, page one. Just writing, trying to feel out the character and her world.

I've already managed to get 768 words out on e-paper today, which is more than I've done on any other project (in one day) in the last several months. Not only did I exceed the goal, I feel like I can KEEP writing, instead of it being torture.

I'm hoping it's a sign that I'm finally on the right track and my muse and I are on the same e-page.

-k

Secrets and lies

Today I'm working on a character bible and some notes for one of my stories. Specifically on the minor characters that my MC will interact with on a daily basis. Because they are minor characters, I'm trying to boil them down into just a few details - short descriptions, what they do for a living, what they like, what their goals are and what they fear. But lastly, I'm including a category that's called "Secrets."

I can't remember where I heard this - or read it - but there's this bit of advice on character creation that is sticking in my brain. I think it was from Joss Whedon, from when I was watching the "Buffy" DVDs and geeking out on the extra bonus material.

The gist is, when creating your characters, you should give them a secret goal, weakness, or secret trouble from the past. That way, if an actor leaves the show and you need to kill them off, or you need a new plot line filled with angst and mayhem, you've got it already built into your characters.



For example, in Season one, Giles wasn't always the upright Watcher that he seemed to be on Buffy. When he was a young man he dabbled in the occult, and was a bit of a bad boy. His past comes back to bite him in the butt when a demon possesses his girlfriend, Jenny Calendar (the computer science teacher). And Miss Calendar had a secret of her own - she was secretly sent to watch Angel, because her clan was responsible for cursing him decades ago.

Just look at any of the characters in Buffy, and you'll see a weakness or secret that Whedon and his writers were able to mine for TV gold. Spike always was a romantic. Buffy's boyfriend Riley wasn't just a college student - he was a secret government agent. Anya could never get over her hatred and distrust of men. Wesley was always fighting the shadow of his father. When Cordelia's family lost all their money she'd rather die than let anyone know it.

I'm sure you could pick out other examples. Perhaps you don't like genre fiction or TV and find these examples broad or corny. But the principal is sound. Especially if your goal is to write a series. Plot arising from character is always a great way to write.

So, back to my character bible. This particular story (an urban fantasy type thing)  is standalone, but I'm layering in details now that won't necessarily be revealed in this book -- juuuuuuust in case this one book turns into three or more. :D

photo: James Marsters as 70s-era Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 


And here's some Spike and Buffy love, because you know you want to see it. Oh, how I love Spike!




k.