For the past couple of weeks I was working off and on on the account of my trip to Guatemala back in June. It took a while because I started it as a personal journal, then turned it into a journal that I was going to post for public consumption. Because of this, after writing the thing, I had to go back and do a few revisions and edits. It's now been published on another blog dedicated specifically to it, so I'm back to working on First Sight.
I got a few scenes done last week, but since I haven't spent a full week working on it, I am waiting to resume my regular blog posting until I do. Sorry for the delay, but I'd like to have something to actually write about when I post my next blog.
I'm planning for that to be next Monday, so hopefully it will be. Until then, you can always head over to my Guatemala blog and check out my adventures there.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
A Little Longer with the Break
I know I've been gone for a bit. I was in Guatemala for a week so it got in the way of my writing. Since I've been back, I've been working on another project. Once I get that finished, I'll get back to my normal schedule of posting and writing.
Also, when I finish that, I might have some stuff to write about Guatemala, so bonus.
Until then.
Also, when I finish that, I might have some stuff to write about Guatemala, so bonus.
Until then.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Character Ideas: Part III
I know I promised to post this last week, but as I mentioned Monday, I was having hand trouble. Still am, so this may be short.
Anyway, I'm sure you are all dying to know where I get the ideas for my male leads and non-MCs.
Most of my main male leads come to me as part of the idea process. Well, their personality does. They start out as a list of things that I feel like that character needs to be. In Mathan's case (that's the lead for Alana) he needed to be dark, mysterious, a bit older than her, and skilled in using the magic that Alana has to learn to use.
In Raelin's case, Keller needed to be a bit more hostile. He is kind of Raelin's opposite. That's pretty much all I knew other than he and Raelin didn't get along at first.
Other than that, I didn't have too much of a clear picture of who my male leads were. That didn't develop until I actually go into writing the stories. It was only then that I really got to know who they were as characters, more of what their personalities felt like.
As for my secondary characters, those ideas basically just come from what ever pops into my head when I need the character. Usually I think about what the character needs to do in relation to my main characters then go on from there. Either that or I think about what the character needs to accomplish. That's pretty much it. Everything else gets fleshed out as I write.
Next week, I'll conclude the series about character ideas by talking about where the ideas for my antagonists come from.
Anyway, I'm sure you are all dying to know where I get the ideas for my male leads and non-MCs.
Most of my main male leads come to me as part of the idea process. Well, their personality does. They start out as a list of things that I feel like that character needs to be. In Mathan's case (that's the lead for Alana) he needed to be dark, mysterious, a bit older than her, and skilled in using the magic that Alana has to learn to use.
In Raelin's case, Keller needed to be a bit more hostile. He is kind of Raelin's opposite. That's pretty much all I knew other than he and Raelin didn't get along at first.
Other than that, I didn't have too much of a clear picture of who my male leads were. That didn't develop until I actually go into writing the stories. It was only then that I really got to know who they were as characters, more of what their personalities felt like.
As for my secondary characters, those ideas basically just come from what ever pops into my head when I need the character. Usually I think about what the character needs to do in relation to my main characters then go on from there. Either that or I think about what the character needs to accomplish. That's pretty much it. Everything else gets fleshed out as I write.
Next week, I'll conclude the series about character ideas by talking about where the ideas for my antagonists come from.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Drafting Update (Sort Of)
So I didn't really get much written last week. My hands were seriously bothering me. That, combined with the holiday last Monday and you can understand why I didn't post any blogs. But I'm back this week, though the blogs will probably be shorter.
In a couple weeks I may have some non writing related blogs to post. Next Wednesday I leave for a mission trip to Guatemala, so hopefully in a few weeks I'll have some stuff to talk about from that.
Come back Wednesday for my weekly list.
In a couple weeks I may have some non writing related blogs to post. Next Wednesday I leave for a mission trip to Guatemala, so hopefully in a few weeks I'll have some stuff to talk about from that.
Come back Wednesday for my weekly list.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Character Ideas: Part II
This week, I'll tell you where I got the idea for Raelin.
I actually kind of hate the story of where I got the idea for Raelin because it's a little similar to the story of another author of a rather well known set of books about sparkly undead creatures. (Yes. I'm being vague on purpose.) If that doesn't tell you where I got the idea, well. I don't know. Keep reading. Actually, keep reading anyway.
So the idea for Raelin came to me (cringe) in a dream. This is, in fact, the only time in my entire life this has ever happened. Which is a little odd since I have rather vivid and strange dreams that I remember long after I've had them (I still remember dreams I had when I was 10). Despite my propensity for strange dreams, I had never gotten a story idea from one. Until I dreamed about Raelin.
Since the dream was rather different than the ultimate story, I'll go ahead and tell you about it. In the dream there was a girl who kept having visions about another girl she was searching for. She was accompanied on this search by a guy that she was both annoyed with and attracted to. The majority of the dream took place in a tavern where the girl and her guy companion were being attacked by people who didn't want them to find the person they were seeking. There were green laser beams and over turned tables involved. After a while, I woke up.
I'm not sure, but I think I immediately knew that I could use this dream as a starting point for a story. It was obviously going to be from the searching girl's perspective. A lot of the details changed, and in the final story there are no green laser beams. But the bones of the story are there.
That is I got the idea for Raelin. She literally came to me in a dream.
Next week I'll talk about where I get ideas for non-MCs, like love interests and minor characters.
I actually kind of hate the story of where I got the idea for Raelin because it's a little similar to the story of another author of a rather well known set of books about sparkly undead creatures. (Yes. I'm being vague on purpose.) If that doesn't tell you where I got the idea, well. I don't know. Keep reading. Actually, keep reading anyway.
So the idea for Raelin came to me (cringe) in a dream. This is, in fact, the only time in my entire life this has ever happened. Which is a little odd since I have rather vivid and strange dreams that I remember long after I've had them (I still remember dreams I had when I was 10). Despite my propensity for strange dreams, I had never gotten a story idea from one. Until I dreamed about Raelin.
Since the dream was rather different than the ultimate story, I'll go ahead and tell you about it. In the dream there was a girl who kept having visions about another girl she was searching for. She was accompanied on this search by a guy that she was both annoyed with and attracted to. The majority of the dream took place in a tavern where the girl and her guy companion were being attacked by people who didn't want them to find the person they were seeking. There were green laser beams and over turned tables involved. After a while, I woke up.
I'm not sure, but I think I immediately knew that I could use this dream as a starting point for a story. It was obviously going to be from the searching girl's perspective. A lot of the details changed, and in the final story there are no green laser beams. But the bones of the story are there.
That is I got the idea for Raelin. She literally came to me in a dream.
Next week I'll talk about where I get ideas for non-MCs, like love interests and minor characters.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Listy Wednesdays: Places to Go
This week I'm going to get a little personal in the list and give you a list of places I want to visit. I'm not sure how long it will be, so we'll see when it's done. As usual, in no particular order, just as I thought of them.
1. London
2. England in general
3. Ireland
4. Italy (again)
5. Greece
6. Spain
7. Paris (mostly just the Louvre)
8. Saint Petersburg, Russia
9. Australia
10. South Africa
11. Jerusalem
12. Japan
13. India
14. Jamaica
15. The Caribbean in general
16. Los Angeles
17. San Fransico
18. Washington D.C.
19. New York City
20. Florida
21. Hawaii
22. Alaska
23. Cancun
24. Chile
25. Brazil
Oh look. I actually made it to 25. Guess it's a good thing I mixed cities and countries together into a single list. ;)
1. London
2. England in general
3. Ireland
4. Italy (again)
5. Greece
6. Spain
7. Paris (mostly just the Louvre)
8. Saint Petersburg, Russia
9. Australia
10. South Africa
11. Jerusalem
12. Japan
13. India
14. Jamaica
15. The Caribbean in general
16. Los Angeles
17. San Fransico
18. Washington D.C.
19. New York City
20. Florida
21. Hawaii
22. Alaska
23. Cancun
24. Chile
25. Brazil
Oh look. I actually made it to 25. Guess it's a good thing I mixed cities and countries together into a single list. ;)
Monday, May 19, 2014
What's Going On with My Draft
This past week I don't think I got as much written as usual. Once more my wrists were bothering me, so writing was difficult. Still, I got a little done each day. My word count is now at 23k. That's 4k words last week. Not bad for bad wrists.
I'm deep into the middle of the book at this point, which is really my least favorite part. Although, currently I'm working on one of my favorite moments between my MC and her mother. It's actually the midpoint of the novel, so a new major revelation is uncovered. Actually, two. One that changes my MC's understanding of her life and one that changes her understanding of the mystery she's working to solve. I can only hope that it comes out as well as I hope it does.
I'm still not utterly in love with the story as a whole, but I'm feeling a little better about it this draft than I was with the first. I think finding Raelin's voice really helped. I'm still worried about the overall plot, but for the most part, the story feels pretty good at this point. We'll see if I still feel that way next week.
I'm deep into the middle of the book at this point, which is really my least favorite part. Although, currently I'm working on one of my favorite moments between my MC and her mother. It's actually the midpoint of the novel, so a new major revelation is uncovered. Actually, two. One that changes my MC's understanding of her life and one that changes her understanding of the mystery she's working to solve. I can only hope that it comes out as well as I hope it does.
I'm still not utterly in love with the story as a whole, but I'm feeling a little better about it this draft than I was with the first. I think finding Raelin's voice really helped. I'm still worried about the overall plot, but for the most part, the story feels pretty good at this point. We'll see if I still feel that way next week.
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