I should be working on the new story right now but I'm not. I'm reading the blogs of fellow writers and literary agents. I don't think this counts as progress. But, then again, at least I'm reading about writing.
It's really easy to get lost in message boards reading about other writers' ups and downs on the publishing front.
There's a major plot point I have to figure out with this new story and I'm hoping it will just pop into my head. I doubt that's going to happen. I need to open the file on my desktop and stare at my notes and try to formulate some kind of conflict and motivation.
I don't really outline. I've tried, but I find it hard to do. I just wing it and see where it takes me. Sometimes I have a general idea, a tattered road map with destinations, but things change along the way. That's the joy of the journey, right?
Hmmm. Ok. Now I'm in the frame of mind to tackle it for a few hours. Just typing this out has helped. This blogging really is a cheap form of therapy.
First Draft Done
The Glimmerlings & the Book of Sleep is sitting on my desk. Draft one complete. I'm having a hard time not picking it up and perusing it, eager to make more changes. I have to let it simmer for a while and then look at it anew.
I will be sending it to a few people to get their responses. A few youngsters, I hope. Kids are a rarity in my circle but a few friends have friends with kids, so maybe I can get them to be my beta readers. I'll also send to my brother, who, like me grew up on a diet of fantasy and sci-fi.
I'm starting another novel, while letting the Glimmerlings marinate. Tentative title: The Last Tribe. Here's the newspaper headline that opens the novel:
"TRIBE" OF WILD CHILDREN FOUND IN WOODS
SEEKING PARENTS OR ADULTS WHO
MAY KNOW THEIR IDENTITIES
Curious?
Still have to discover where it's going, but I have a general road map, just need to fill in the details. Must go run errands now. Later.
Third Person, Past Tense
I just learned that my novel is written in third person, past tense. It's the most popular form for stories, originating with novels of the 19th century.
Example:
Max Hollyoak stood at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
This is the opening sentence of my novel.
I'm sure lots of writers already know this, but for me, it was a revelation. It has always been the voice I've been most comfortable writing in. I knew I didn't want to write in first person:
I stood at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
Or second person:
You stand at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
The only novel I can think of written in second person is Bright Lights, Big City.
I also read some things about narrative distance, which is the voice of your narrator. My narrator is invisible. You won't read things like: "Now, dear reader, you may be wondering why the Baudelaire orphans were in such a bad spot..." Lemony Snicket.
My main character, Max, is also joined by his two best friends in this novel. Which means I (narrator) will also be seeing through their eyes and reading their thoughts. So I have to be careful that I don't head-hop too much: jumping from different points of view too often. I'm trying to keep the focus on Max so readers will connect with him and have an emotional tie with his experiences. So the title of this post should actually be Third Person, Past Tense, Omniscient Point of View. If I just stayed inside Max's head it would be third person, limited pov.
Are you asleep yet?
Anyway, I've learned a lot in the past year that I've been writing. I'm pretty much self-taught, although I am a professional ad writer by day (groan).
And although I have read and tried to write fiction my whole life, I have never taken any courses on fiction writing except for a small workshop here in Chicago called the Writers' Loft.
Example:
Max Hollyoak stood at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
This is the opening sentence of my novel.
I'm sure lots of writers already know this, but for me, it was a revelation. It has always been the voice I've been most comfortable writing in. I knew I didn't want to write in first person:
I stood at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
Or second person:
You stand at the edge of the frozen lake, staring at a brown leaf on the silver surface.
The only novel I can think of written in second person is Bright Lights, Big City.
I also read some things about narrative distance, which is the voice of your narrator. My narrator is invisible. You won't read things like: "Now, dear reader, you may be wondering why the Baudelaire orphans were in such a bad spot..." Lemony Snicket.
My main character, Max, is also joined by his two best friends in this novel. Which means I (narrator) will also be seeing through their eyes and reading their thoughts. So I have to be careful that I don't head-hop too much: jumping from different points of view too often. I'm trying to keep the focus on Max so readers will connect with him and have an emotional tie with his experiences. So the title of this post should actually be Third Person, Past Tense, Omniscient Point of View. If I just stayed inside Max's head it would be third person, limited pov.
Are you asleep yet?
Anyway, I've learned a lot in the past year that I've been writing. I'm pretty much self-taught, although I am a professional ad writer by day (groan).
And although I have read and tried to write fiction my whole life, I have never taken any courses on fiction writing except for a small workshop here in Chicago called the Writers' Loft.
43,000 Words and Counting
Haven't blogged in a while. Holidays and all that. I'm now at 43,000 words and feel pretty good. Some of the stuff I mentioned in earlier posts has been ironed out. Still needs some tweaking, but overall, I think it's in good shape.
Emailed some Chicago writing groups I found on Meetup.com, but have yet to hear back.
Emailed some Chicago writing groups I found on Meetup.com, but have yet to hear back.
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