All Entries Tagged With: "novel writing"
The End In Sight
Guest blogger J.R. Blackwell is a writer who believes that people can change shape, size and minds.
For some reason, the process of finishing up the first draft of a novel is proving to be one of the most creatively rich times I’ve ever experienced. I have ideas for photo-shoots and short stories and graphic novels that obsess me every single day. I’m about five to ten thousand words away from the end of my zero draft, and I keep thinking about other, really cool ideas.
But I’m not going to give up on this novel for another project, despite the fertile ground my brain is tilling around in. I try not to think too much about the Angel in the Sand, or the Nurse and the Doll in World War Two, or Dr. Mercury (though I am obviously failing there), or the phrase “First, a man named Henry had to die” which is the start of a flash fiction I am NOT working on because I need to finish this novel.
File those ideas away, brain, it isn’t time for them yet.
Today I woke up from a wonderfully vivid dream with a great set of characters and a vibrant setting which may be my next project but which I will not write a thing about now because I have to finish this novel.
So, what do you do, to keep yourself on task? How do you quiet your imagination to finish the thing that is so close to being done? How do you file away those good ideas for later without letting them distract you?
Or do you just let them distract you?
Speaking of distraction, the photo above and below are from my “Gods” shoot, which was a commission, and which features Jerry, Russell and Jared as Gods with the talent of Bunny Greene on makeup.
Dragon*Con!
I know I’m behind on podcasts, but I’ve spent all this week trying to get ready for DragonCon and finish up my edits for Heaven – which I did! The edited manuscript is on its way to my agent, and I’m wrapping up packing for DragonCon. I will edit some audio in the car on the way, so hopefully you’ll have something while I’m at the show.
My DragonCon schedule:
Title: The Life And Times Of Podcast Novels
Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: 204 – Hilton (Length: 1)
Description: How the podcast novel has evolved over the past five years, and the continued benefits of podcasting to promote your writing.
Title: Podcasting Tips for Working Writers
Time: Sat 02:30 pm Location: 204 – Hilton (Length: 1)
Description: A discussion with authors and podcasters who have turned the art of the podcast novel, into a formula for publishing success
Title: The 2009 Parsec Awards
Time: Sat 07:00 pm Location: Regency V – Hyatt (Length: 2.5)
Description: The Parsec Award is given for excellence Sci-Fi & Fantasy Original Content, and Speculative Fiction within the new frontiers of Portable Media.
Title: I Should Be Writing with Mur Lafferty
Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: 204 – Hilton (Length: 1)
Moderator / MC for panel
Description: Join the award winning author and podcaster, Mur Lafferty and special guests.
Hope to see you there!
Links and stuff. Pants. You know.
Pants report- not much pants on the weekend, spent time in sweatpants doing yardwork or being lazy with the family. It’s a weekend. I did pants up to go to a party, though. But today, I got up early to finish a freelance project, then worked out, then PANTS before noon.
Writing report- around 4000 words on a freelance project over the weekend and today.
Links links links! I’m too freaked with deadlines to make a big blog post, but these people have a lot to talk about:
- Good writing skills are taught. People forget this, which is why you have very intelligent PhDs with the inability to string words together in a paper or use a comma.
- Excellent basic novel writing breakdown. I will be bookmarking this. So should you.
- Much, MUCH more detailed info about novel writing.
- Start thinking about your first line.
- Lastly, query advice: More story, less you.
So much more to blog about, but I’m doing work today in little chunks. Soon, grasshoppers. Soon.
Writing prompt for July 13: A married couple of chefs who cook instead of argue.
ISBW #90 – Picking Up Where We Left Off
Now, I recorded this last week. If you’ve been paying attention, you know I have an announcement. I will be making the announcement via the podcast very shortly.
- Promo: Mur and PG Holyfield speak at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh this Saturday, May 17.
- I discuss how I’m getting back into the novel I put aside.
- Promo: Manic Mondays
- My equipment info
