Musically Delicious

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     I'm going to steer a bit off topic with this week's blog because, well, it's my blog and I can do that.  

     I come from a family of creatives, each in our own different way.  My daughter just turned 13 yesterday and we are having a party for her this coming Saturday.  The theme she chose for her party is music.  Like me, music is a huge part of her life and our radios, mp3 players, laptops, nooks, tvs, or phones are constantly blaring out something.

     My mother, The Crazy Craft Lady, as she has been dubbed, took on the task of coming up with the invitations, decorations, cake and goodie bags.  As always, she thought outside of the box and came up with some unique ideas that my daughter was extremely happy with.

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     Now, the rest is up to me.  You would think coming up with a menu wouldn't be too difficult, but I hate doing the same old tired thing.  Sure it is a bbq party, but does that mean I have to stick to the usual stuff.  I'm going to do the burgers and hotdogs for the start of the party, but I'm not satisfied with the usual chicken, ribs, steak, kebobs, potato salad and macaroni salad that we have every year at some bbq or another.

     For some reason, dessert ideas come quite naturally to me and we have come up with a few musically inspired ideas for the snacks, but I need to feed people.  Looking for inspiration, I did what I always do; I took to the internet.  What I found, a big fat NOTHING!  Thanks, but I don't want to feed people Elvis' fatty sandwiches and clog up their arteries.  Has no one ever before done a music themed party?  And if they have, have they never thought to carry the theme to the menu?

     I LOVE theme parties!  And a big part of throwing a themed party is to have fun and unique food.  For instance, take my Halloween party last year.  Dinner consisted of Mummy meatloaves, Swamp creature mac and cheese and bone shaped bread sticks.  The snack spread: ghost shaped cream cheese covered toast, pretzel and fruit by the foot witches' broom sticks, brain shaped pink tembleque, frozen fluff covered banana ghosts on a stick, eyeball cake pops and candy corn infused caramel popcorn balls.  I had a few other ideas, but not enough time to execute them so I still have a few tricks up my sleeve for my next Halloween party, whenever that might be.

I need a few!
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     So here I am, trying to put together a grocery list so that I can have everything delivered tomorrow and prepared by Friday and I still have no clue what I'm doing.  I think my next step will be to go through my daughter's favorite songs and see if any of them can offer some inspiration.  There's nothing like a little time crunch to get the creative juices flowing.  Hmm, speaking of juice...

The Craft

     Oh no!  How did this happen?  It seems another Wednesday has crept up on me and I was caught unprepared.  I had a topic in mind for this week's blog, but things have been so incredibly insane that I didn't get a chance to put any real thought behind it and get it written.  So instead, I will share with you another poem that I wrote about a month and a half ago.  This poem epitomizes my "adventures in novelizing".

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The Craft

Up all night burning the midnight oil.

Tap, tap, clickety, clack, the sound of my toil.

The screen fills with a sea of words

Ideas chirping away in my mind like little birds.

By day I don't live up to my potential

Slowly but surely going mental

For someone else I slave away

Just to earn a meager pay

I work tirelessly to hone the craft

Unsatisfied living life in rough draft

The thought of it makes me cringe

So all night long, on words I binge

The Big Picture

     

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     When I come up with a concept for a series I typically have a broad overview of the story.  Think of it like looking at the earth via a satellite image.  You get the big picture, but you really need to zoom in to see the details.  The very make up of the planet is virtually invisible until you take a closer look. This is where I encounter problems when I sit down to write.

     I have yet to come up with a concept that I feel would fit into a single book.  Each concept I have come up with spans a minimum of four books.  So I know how the series will begin, I know how it will end, and for the most part, I know the major conflict that my MC will overcome to get from point A to point B.  What I struggle with, are all of the "molecular" details.  A series can't consist of just one high level conflict.  And stretching a single conflict out into four books would be overkill on the reader without giving them something more.  That would be like giving someone a 20 oz bottle of water and sending them off to spend a week in the desert, during the peak summer months, with nothing more to sustain them.

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     This is where subplots come into play.  Rather than rushing through a story that spans several years in a single book or painstakingly plotting every minute detail to bulk up the four (or more) books, it's all about finding that right balance.  Subplots can help drive the story forward or help take it in a whole other direction when needed.

     As I write this blog and research subplot creation, it brings to mind something else that contributes to my struggle.  Often you hear that outlining is essential to novel writing.  I have attempted this before, but it has never panned out and the story tended to go running in the opposite direction causing me to abandon all the prep work I had done.  But perhaps this is because I have a very limited view on how to outline.  In school, I was taught to outline in chapters.  The story should be broken out into chapters and for each chapter, you write a brief description of what will be discussed in that chapter.  This technique has never worked for me.  Picking apart a story, chapter by chapter, makes more sense than building one that way.  I know, it sounds crazy, but until I actually sit down and start writing, I have no idea how many chapters my book is going to have or what each of these chapters will consist of.  My brain refuses to cooperate in this fashion and prefers to tinker and rebuild whenever possible.

     But after doing some reading on subplots, the concept of the arc (and no, this is not the first time I've heard of an arc) got me to thinking.  Perhaps instead of trying to force myself to do this chapter outline that seems to be the bane of my existence as an author, I could try doing a sort of graph outline, one that plots the main story arc and each of the sub plot arcs.  It would seem that this is where my Accounting and Finance background will actually help my writing, something I never thought possible since I write fiction and none of my characters work in related fields.

     I am now excited to boot up Excel and toy around with graphing out my story lines.  I

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can already see how this will help me with my newest book, the first of four books in a coming of age series.  Aside from the main arc of the MC's development, there will be several subplots that explain how she becomes the person she does.  Each book will focus on a different stage of her growth, but the subplots will be the driving forces behind these stages.

     If this works out well, I will give it a shot with the Eye of the Vampire series that is still a WIP.  Maybe it will help me get past some of the hurdles that are making it difficult for me complete the edit of the first book and complete writing the second and third books.

     Off to the drawing board I go.  Wish me luck!

Timing is Everything

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     After working on my vampire series for a little more than three years now, I am still only about 60% done with the first book in the series.  The story is done, but it still needs a good amount of editing before it is anywhere near ready for publishing.  The second book is only half written and I have about a quarter of the third book written.  But after all this time, I'm starting to feel like I might have missed the window of opportunity where this series was relevant.

     With the frenzy generated by the Twilight saga now over, are readers over the latest

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vampire fad?  The thing with fads, you need to catch the wave at just the right time or you're sunk.  Did I miss my wave?  Or is it possible that if I work hard to get these books written, edited and published, that I will be just in time to hop on at the start of the next wave?  Or even be the catalyst that creates the next wave?  Which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, because I don't want my series being viewed through the Twilight microscope.

     I also have to consider the fact that this is not a classic series.  It is not something that will stand the test of time.  So when the time comes that I am ready to finally publish, I have to make sure that references to technology are up to date so that it doesn't feel old when it is hot off the press.  I need to make sure that the story is still relevant.

     Then there is my other series.  A coming of age series that compares growing up with one of nature's transformation processes; think along the lines of the ugly ducky becomes

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swan, only I'm not writing about a "swan".  The idea for this was conceived long before the vampire series but for some reason I had difficulty getting started.  This series is much more classic, focusing more on experiences and feelings that readers of any generation should be able to relate to in some form or fashion.  A month or two ago, ideas for the series were beginning to become something of a whisper in the wind.  Now, they are practically screaming at me, thundering in my head so loud that I can't ignore them.  Whether I like it or not, my focus has now shifted to this series.

     I'm following the advice I have heard time and again and just getting the writing done, whatever it may be.  Instead of fighting to stay focused on the vampire series, I am doing the work for which inspiration has struck.  So many times, we look to our muses for inspiration, so how can I ignore it when it comes just because it wasn't quite the inspiration I was looking for?

     My fear with all of this jumping around is that I will never complete a project.  How many novels will I start but never finish?  How many will I write that are left unpublished due to lack of editing and polishing?  

Beware the Purple Prose

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     "Purple prose" is a term that I've recently become acquainted with over the last few months.  Naturally, with purple being my favorite color, I immediately thought this was a good thing.  But after reading a few reviews, I quickly learned that whenever purple prose was mentioned in a critique, it was most definitely not a good thing.  So, being the inquisitive person that I am, I went searching for the meaning.

     What exactly is purple prose and why is it such a bad thing?  The answer to this question will vary based on whom you ask.  In general, purple prose is a term applied to overly verbose writing, or as some call it, "flowery writing".  It is when an author uses large words, for the sake of seeming more intelligent or goes into far more detail than necessary, coming across as melodramatic.  The term applies to any prose that pulls the reader out of the story and causes them to focus on the "offending" imagery.

     Have you ever been reading something and been completely rapt in the story only to come across a phrase or sentence that has your mind tripping over the words, completely breaking the spell?  If at any time you have found yourself saying "wait, what?", you have been a victim of purple prose.  But because everyone's mind works differently, what one person might view as purple prose, could be viewed as a vivid description by another person.

     So how can I, as a writer, avoid purpling my prose?  As I've mentioned several times before, the best way to improve your writing is to be an avid reader.  Think back to a book you were reading where you couldn't help but roll your eyes and say "oh please!"  Or a time where you were yanked out of the story because the author unnecessarily used a word that is not commonly used and it did not offer any added value to the story.  Once you can identify these things, you can avoid making the same mistakes in your own writing.

     Another way to avoid purple prose is to remain true to your own voice.  Are you writing something that you would never be caught dead saying in real life?  Putting made up sci-fi or fantasy vocabulary aside, do you actually use these words in your day to day life?  Or are you just using it because you want your readers to view you in a certain light?  More often than not, readers can sense when an author is not being genuine and the last thing you want is for your readers to feel like you are putting on airs.

     So, a term that I once thought of as pretty, has taken on a whole new meaning.  Now when I think of purple prose, I can't help thinking of the song "Flying Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley.  It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater...  Anyone else remember the movie with Neil Patrick Harris?  

Beware the purple prose!

Running on E

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     Sometimes I sit down to write and the words just come pouring out of me.  Other times, try as I might, I just can't seem to get the words to come together.  So what changes from one session to the next?

     A few days ago, I read some notes that I had written for one of the series that I am working on and I got my answer.  When I write based on pure emotion, that is when I do some of my best work, when the words flow so effortlessly.  Is it technically perfect?  No.  There is always editing work to be done and punctuation and I have a bit of a love hate relationship.  But the content has more depth, allowing the reader to get lost in that emotion.

     Those times when I find it difficult to write are usually when I need to build a bridge connecting one swell of emotion with another.  The transitional passages are my weakness. The origin and the destination are both great, but the journey between the two leaves something to be desired.  The entire time I'm writing, my subconscious is asking "Are we there yet?" and the writing becomes robotic and lifeless.

     I think this is why I have been writing so much poetry lately.  Poetry, or at least my poetry, is all about emotion.  It is about laying my soul bare on the page for all to see.

     What is the driving force behind your writing?  What fuels you to write with abandon?

Naming Convention

How do you name your characters?  

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     It is a question I have seen quite a few times, so I've decided to share my process and hopefully get a few tips from you in return.  

     Some characters may come to you fully developed and knowing exactly who they are, name and all, simply looking for a voice to tell their story.  For those characters that are waiting to be born and molded, naming them can be as complex and intimate as naming a child.  In essence, these characters are your children, they are your brainchildren.   Here are a few methods that I use when naming characters:

1.  I know you: Sometimes characters can remind us of people that we know; be it their physical description or personality traits.  When this happens, I play on the name or nickname of the real person that I know.  For example, if a character reminds me of my neighbor "William", I might name them "Bill" or even "Liam".  

2.  You mean...: If a certain character trait stands out to me, I might surf baby name websites looking for names that fit those traits.  If my character is the leader of a group in the story, I might name them Aleph, Fallon, or Harlod depending on their gender and which one "speaks" to me most.  A more obvious and literal example of this is the seven dwarves from Snow White.

Dopey

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3.  You look like: There are times when I can see the character's "image" clearly in my head.  When I get a sense of things like nationality, complexion, eye color and/or stature, I might do an image search online for actors/actresses or models that fit the mold.  If I find someone that undeniably resembles the image I have in my head, I will either use that person's first name or play on the name the same way I do in #1 above.

4.  Randomize me: When all else fails, I will use Scrivener's name generator.  It is a great tool that allows you to narrow the results based on things like gender or nationality.  You can also choose whether you want only first names, surnames or a combination of the two.  It even gives you the option of using alliteration or setting the obscurity level.  Do you want a basic name or something off the wall that fits perfectly in a sci-fi novel?  If I am looking for a full name (first and last) I tend to mix and match the results rather than using a name exactly as generated.

What are some methods you use to name your characters?  Are your methods similar to mine or do you have a few tricks of your own?

My Weight and Me

Oh my goodness, is it Wednesday already?  With so much going on, I nearly forgot to post this week's blog.  While I haven't been working on the edit like I should be (I know, I know, shame on me), I have been writing everyday.  So, rather than blathering on or slapping something together haphazardly, I'll share with you a new piece that I wrote just yesterday.  

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This tale is not a love story

It’s the ongoing saga of my weight and me

My weight and I, we go way back

We fuss and we fight but not matter what,

We stick together, through thick and thin

We have our ups and our downs,

But my weight, she’ll never leave me

No, really, I can’t get rid of her

I think she’s stalking me

I’m telling you, she’s crazy

I’ve tried everything I can think of

But she’s hard to shake

Diet and exercise,

Yeah that’s all well and good,

But one wrong move

And she’s all over me again

She’s a tricky little thing too

I caught her hiding in my spare tire

So I girded myself, ready to deflate it,

But when I wasn’t looking

She hopped into my trunk

Where she stayed out of sight

Until one day I noticed,

My jeans were rather tight

Hold on a second,

This isn’t so bad

She’s starting to compliment me

So how can I stay mad

Now my weight and me,

We’re on better terms

I’m still not too happy with her

And I’ll keep her in my sights

But for now she’s alright

So long as she’s got my back