I saw outside a restaurant and interviewed Dave Drake about writing, being A Writer, and how he became a writer and deals with criticism.

DragonCon this week!

 

 ISBW #48 - David Drake Interview [59:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (453)

00:01 I Should Be Writing #46: August 19, 2006 - One year!
01:30 Complaining and worrying doesn’t help. I’ve been busy. Finally.
02:34 Wrote a Slush Bomb story.
03:26 Let There Be Write, by Nancy Fulda.
06:50 Note from Chris.
08:18 Why I Should Be Writing?
09:45 For what it’s worth, yes I know smoking is bad for me, and I quit over 10 years ago.
10:24 Thoughts on the slush bomb, writing and loneliness.
19:00 Come say hi at DragonCon!
19:19 Note from Paul.
20:00 Changes coming to the podcast! Don’t fear the change!
21:50 Note from Jeremiah.
23:18 Note from Paul and Martha.
24:20 Note from Gabe.
25:50 Thanks for listening!
27:26 Note from Jack.

 

 ISBW #47 - Happy Birthday ISBW! [27:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (451)

Just in case you’re getting old episodes on the feed, I wanted to say that some of the older files were screwed up, and some dedicated newer listeners let me know. I fixed them, which means they may end up in your feed, and if they do, sorry…

This week I finished Season 1 of Heaven. It wasn’t a monumental achievement - only a 28,800 word work. What is that? Novella? But the relief I felt when I was done was amazing. I feel mentally done. I have other projects, of course, but when I am done with a big project I feel the need to take a slight break. The brain no longer wants to think about writing.

And sometimes that’s OK. Sometimes you need a break.

Just be sure not to make it too long.

You’ve heard me complain about the upcoming edits of my novel. Not only will my novel take a major turn around page 137, and i’m not sure where that turn will go, but a supporting character has to have a complete personality makeover. These thoughts put my revisions to a grinding halt.

When I had lunch with Jim Kelly at TrinocCon last month, he mentioned that when I went to Viable PAradise I’d want to workshop the thing I most wanted to publish- my novel. This prospect meant I’d have to rewrite the first 10,000 words. Ugh.

But no, thought I. If I have to rewrite it after the workshop anyway, why rewrite it at all? My wise husband put a stop to that real fast: why waste my valuable critique on stuff that I already know?

Hugo-winning author: “Mur, this character’s personality is too much like the main character’s. There’s no spark or conflict there.”

I know.

Locus-award-winning author: “Mur, your opening is too weak.”

I know.

Tor editor: “Mur, you have an infodump here.”

I know.

The deadline to get workshop material in is Tuesday (and I’m praying it’s a “postmarked by” deadline, not a “received by”). So yesterday I sat down with the wretched hard copy and my notebook, filled with notes as per Holly Lisle’s revision advice.

Once I got my butt into the chair, it actually went pretty smoothly. I added some spice to the bland character. I made the beginning more interesting. I injected info where some was needed, and removed part of an info dump. And when my newly made character zigged when she was supposed to zag, I just wrote it in. She wants to storm out instead of see the exciting thing that happens at the end of Chapter Three? All right. I’ll deal.

I edited the full 10K words down to 8,800 words in two days, and I feel really good about the direction it’s going. Sure, the workshop will likely rip it to pieces. And then this fall I’ll rewrite it again.

All I want for Christmas is a manuscript I’m proud to send to agents. That’s not too much to ask, is it? I mean, I’m not asking for an agent. I just want to be happy with my own work. Agents are the step beyond that.

Anyway, butt in chair. It works. Really.

00:01 I Should Be Writing #46: August 10, 2006
00:44 Magazine deadlines, rewrites.
01:04 Working on stories for the Slush Bomb and my submission to Viable Paradise.
01:30 We make our own stress.
02:06 Podcast back on schedule.
02:22 Pseudopod launches on 8/11!
02:40 Reading and its importance to writing. Read romance, like Kiki says, or read about food, Ruth Reichl’s books.
08:33 Lifehacker or Joe’s Goals might keep you organized.
10:04 Daikaijuzine launches next month - accepting submissions now.
10:28 Podcast for writers who want to know tech: Tech for Writers.
10:38 Horror writing competition for the Pacific Northwest.
11:00 Comments on last week’s show.

 

 ISBW #46 - Reading [13:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (448)