Splurging

So the first month of the year has just about finished and with it comes the end of my January Challenge which was to write on something new. My goal was to write 5k words a week, which if reached, freed me to write other things for the weekend, (or even take the weekend off in one case, -because that’s how rebellious I can be.)

I had an idea that I wanted to play out, and launched into it without much of a plan, just a direction. I knew that I’d need to write more per day than I usually do, but also safeguard a little time (i.e the weekend) to write other things too.(There was sanity and refreshment to consider after all.) I haven’t finished it, so it’s clearly not a short story, but it is an outline, and today I’ve rolled over the 30K words mark. Don’t get me wrong, these aren’t perfect words – not even close; they are pure stream of consciousness splurge,- but they are the groundings for a first draft, if the story passes the Nagging Test, whereby it needs to play on my mind for the next while, as I focus on other things.

However as a result, I can see various things; I can definitely write more words a day and not faint. Also focusing on it like I have this month, I could effectively have a whole (veeeerry rough) YA story within three months, while still having seen weekends. That is useful information to have in my head, because I have long-since forgotten the time it took  to write the previous story. (It seems writing is similar to childbirth in that respect.) What’s more, if I had a clearer plan, with more defined scenes, I could possibly get even further. Ooh prospects!

Just as importantly, I have also now confirmed -with practical evidence,- that NaNoWriMo would make me miserable as hell. That’s a shed-load of pain saved right there. 

Result.

Book Crushing Again.

 I have a thing for the writing of Maggie Stiefvater. I may have mentioned it, oh a couple of many times. In addition to writing her novels, she used to post short stories on a site she shared with her two critique partners, Tessa Gratton (Blood Magic) and Brenna Yovanoff (The Replacement). The now defunct, (but still viewable) site is called Merry Sisters of Fate (and previously here.) It is well worth a browse.

How pretty is that cover?

Last year they published a selection of the stories in The Curiosities, the book that I am currently reading and crushing on completely. It isn’t just a collection of short stories. Oooooh no, it is sooo much more than that, because there are handwritten notes (and doodles) all over it from each of the writers. Additionally, there are commentaries on why they wrote the story, what they were trying to achieve, or what they loved about each others’ stories.

They’ve used the stories as testing grounds for new-to-them POVs, genres or attitudes and the deconstruction of each story is a fascinating to me as the story itself.  It means it isn’t just a book of stories, it’s also a book about writing as craft, and about short story as a form. It’s also a book about the relationship between three writers.

If you write for YA, this is a book you should have on your shelf. It's a how-to-improve book, with the most fabulous examples, but without being condescending or particularly seeking to teach. It makes you want to sit down and write a short story, it makes you want to expand your writing horizons and to improve your words. (Of course it is also deeply depressing when you read how well they write, so it is not one to be read during any editing periods.) But in terms of Inspirational, it’s bang on the money.

I haven't finished it yet (am reading it veeeeery slowly) and I cannot tell you how pleasing that is, as I don’t want it to end.

Gush over. Thank you.

Help!

How are the resolutions going everyone?

 I’ve been looking more at the “getting out there” plans, specifically considering conferences and forums.

On the conferences front, for the UK it seems that the main two are the SCBWI at Winchester, or York Festival of Writing. I don’t think attending both is an option for me. Is there anyone out there who has been to both and can tell us the pros and cons of each? Or have I missed a better one?

For the writing forums, the two I have come across are Authonomy run by Harper Collins and YouWriteOn which is affiliated to Random House and Orion.

Essentially they appear to be on-line writers groups linked to publishing houses. I believe the gist is that you post your writing, gaining you feedback and possibly a ranking according to how many people read them. Eventually you might make it to the top slots, where the publishers will take a peak.  Has anyone got experience of either, or again a better one? I’m guessing that this is a route which consciously cuts out the agent-seeking stage? I’m not sure that this is a route I want to take, but I’d appreciate any thoughts on it.

Yes, I need help (generally) but you know how it is; if you are going to use the time (and cash) on these things, you want to get the best one first time around, right?

Get out!

So as I watch the snow falling in the garden and the forecasts have virtually promised that I will be snowed in with the kids for the weekend (It’s OK, I have stocked the drinks cabinet. Care packages should hopefully not need airdropping in...), I was thinking about the value of getting out more.

It seems easy to hole up when working on a story. Writing during school hours necessitates making the most of the time I have, and so staying house-bound is pretty much the constant.

 However, last weekend DH and I ran away to Venice. It was cold, fairly quiet (accordion players in gondolas passing our window aside) and utterly brilliant. We walked for nearly three days solid, (with the exception of stopping in many bars – including with one of you!- for numerous Aperol Spritzes,) following Jonglez’s Secret Venice guide, which I recommend to everyone.

 And my head has come back buzzing with ideas, not necessarily about Venice – although some are- but just from having been out and about and seeing things that aren’t part of my daily view.

I think I’d forgotten how good a change of scene can be for the creative juices. I’d allowed the “need to stay at home to get the writing done” to eclipse the “need to look and see”. So that is perhaps another plan for this year; to go more places and take more photos.

And in the meantime, I’ll watch the change of scene outside the window. Perhaps I’ll be writing more snow scenes in the near future. Either that or imprisonment plots...



(PS; Two further Venice recommendations
Giardinetto, on Lido, just off the Vaporetto dock, to the left of the little church. Fabulous hospitality, in spite of us scoffing nearly all their crisps and being loud. Thank you!
 Cantina Do Mori,   429 San Polo (seriously, you'll only find it by following house numbers - but that's like an adventure, right?)   Ancient and tiny bar, full of character.  The bar that time forgot.)

Angels and Agents

For anyone who missed the Bakers Dozen contest over on Miss Snark's First Victim, there is another contest in the offing as I write. (Yes, that is indeed the same as saying I am late off the mark.) It's here at Cupid's Literary Connection.

I don't know much about this site, but it looks like the gist is that you enter your query letter and first 250 words for comments and perusal by agents. I suspect that they are US agents, but that might suit you, your writing, or indeed both.

Good luck if you enter!

It's OK.

 We all have authors whose books we love to read and authors, perhaps the same, where we especially admire their style of writing and turn of phrase. I have two in particular, possibly three since last year, who write in a lyrical and often profound way that I will never, ever, be able to emulate.

 I don't say this in a defeatist way, more as a sense of awareness about my own style. I think my style suits the stories I am trying to tell.  For a while though it stifled me, after all, if I can't write in the same awesome way that they do, then what is the point?

 But then I considered other books, in various genres and some were, IMHO, in the same realms as my writing league and whats more, they were published.  I remembered that there are hundreds of styles, tones and view points, all different yet all valid.  I will never write highbrow literary fiction and equally I won't write the deep ethereal stories either. And here is the thing; That is OK. 

For every different writer there is,  there is also a reader with different tastes too. I can write for some of them. And having identified other writers who write similar words to those that I write,  and seen that a publisher has liked their work, then theoretically, one day, a publisher could like mine too. 

I write because I love it and I need to, and if my words are good- and I can combine them with a cracking story, then they are valid. They'll still be different to those of my heroes but valid none the less and in with a chance.  

That's what I believe, because if not, then really what would be the point?

How annoying is this?

Driving helps me to come up with new writing ideas. That is to say that I come up with new ideas when on a long trip, not that I drive specifically to brainstorm. The notepad sits beside me when we go on holiday in the car. DH is now used to me suddenly plunging into the notepad, scribbling for a few minutes and then putting it away again without a word.  (Maybe I’m actually grading his driving. Or maybe I’m just being mysterious to keep him on his toes.  He’ll never know...)

Obviously holiday driving isn’t very regular, but there have been additions on the mulling and inspiration fronts. Recently I cracked a plot block on my MG thing while ironing. Blog entry ideas, like this one have started appearing during ironing sessions.

And last night an alternative plot structure revealed itself to me while I was.... *drum roll* washing the dishes.

Can anyone see a theme here? Yes, domestic tasks seem to help me write.

!!!!!

 Why can’t it be scoffing chocolate that gives me new ideas? Or necking a glass of wine that shifts the plot-block? Lounging in bed in the mornings does bring me new sentences, but staying in bed all day -appealing as that sounds- doesn’t really work with school-runs and family. All this strikes me as a very underhand way that the Universe has of getting me to face the domesticity.

So I’d like to hear what things get your creative juices flowing and if you have the same predicament. (That includes you lurkers out there who I would LOVE to get to know this year. Come on the Russian contingent, make yourself known!)

Am now eyeing the toilet brush with the hope that it will pay me back with a bestseller....

Hooking up...

I’ve mentioned my Lovely Crit Partner many times here and how much I get from having one, whether in critiquing/feedback or general support (aka butt kicking). We discuss all sorts, from potential titles, plot thread alternatives, acceptable words for genitalia in books, to the novels we love and genres we hate. We cover plenty of ground as you can see...

 She’s right over there in the members list looking like Hello Kitty. For all I know this is exactly what she looks like, as she lives a continent away and we have never met. In person that is. Writing wise, we met via a “Critique Partner Love Match” over on Maggie Stiefvater’s website nearly two years ago and we have been trading pages, gripes and experiences ever since.

 And while it is nice to sit and get all nostalgic and fuzzy about my LCP, the point of this entry is to flag up that on Monday there is another such hook-up event, but over on Miss Snark’s First Victim’s site. 100 entrants will have the opportunity to put their details up for others to consider a match. I’m getting all misty just thinking about it.

 If you haven’t got a critique partner I can only recommend one and urge you to either enter, or peruse the entrants and suggest a trade if some appeal. There is no obligation to continue after the initial swap; sometimes you just don’t gel – and that is fine.  Just give back the same amount of work as you get and no one should get upset.

Go on – you’ve absolutely nothing to lose. 
I dare you.....

Doing it.

Happy New Year!

I’m not really a fan of resolutions as, for me, they generally fall by the wayside within a month or two, but I do try to set a goal for the year with regard to the writing.

 Last year the plan was to get out there more.

 So I did the twitter thing. And this blog. Both of these things are huge advances for an Amish girl like me. Plus I started sending out my YA MS. I seem to recall agreeing to Lovely Crit Partner’s suggestion that we each write and e-publish something short. The very idea had me running screaming in my head, and I guess that might just be why I never quite got around to it....

 And what about 2013?

 Ideally it is going to more of the same, expanding my writing horizon and also working up an idea I really want to get my teeth into. There’s also an MG story which I’d like to see the light of day this year, so that needs revising. Again. Not to mention more of the Flash Fiction. And there are loads of books to savour. Not just the ones that are due to be published, but also the ones that have already found their way into my home, pesky things.

So it truly feels that there is shed-loads to be done, and having just embarked on a January Challenge with Lovely Crit Partner, I’m trying to tap the very most of the New Year energy. I’m hoping to have a new short story/outline written by the end of the month.

But at the very least, for 2013, I want to feel that I am doing it; making it happen. Because only I can do that for myself, and if I don’t make the effort, it is never going to happen, no matter how much I desperately want it to. Please remind me of that when I blog about not wanting to do the work and being blocked and frustrated with the whole process.

Anyone else got any plans?