This blog has been combined into my other. ANything writing related will now be at http://jeanettehere.wordpress.com/

It has been awhile since I have updated. I haven't been doing any exciting writing ventures lately. I took on another site at BellaOnline.com Women's Lit http://womenslit.bellaonline.com I am loving it so far. I have been in contact with lots of publicists so that may play in may favor eventually. I did send my first book proposal this week, It is for the book I did during my first NaNoWriMo in 2004. We will see what happens!

Help me decide which plot to take on this year!!!!!

lcsdove.livejournal.com/260236.html

Posted by Chuck (not my Chuck)

Yes, I am writing this year. Yay! I guess lol Who else is in?



http://www.writersdigest.com/article/november-is-national-novel-writing-month/

Everyone please give me a round of applause! I FINISHED THE FIRST DRAFT OF MY FIRST NOVEL!!!!!! *bows* Yes I am very proud of myself. I typed like a mad woman for 3 days almost non-stop, pumped out 15,000 words and I finished last night!!!!!!! I am taking a few days off from writing and will begin the revision process!

wordcount widgets

I have to finish this novel now. I promised my Aunt Nancy she would be the first to read my manuscript and help edit the first draft. She passed away today on Thanksgiving. So when I edit it when I am finished, I know she will be there looking over my shoulder and guiding me to make it better.

Here is a game to play to get those creative juices flowing as we approach the end of NaNoWriMo for 2007!

Let's play Dictionary: Impossible.

Writers, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take out your dictionary and flip through it, then stop on any page at random. Write down the first word you see. Repeat until you have a list of ten words.

subculture
cemetery
excessive
steamroller
nag
cocktail
impute
underproof
borough
nonage

Level 1: Create at least three novel titles using only the words on your list (a, an, the, and other simple words can be added for style.) You have five minutes to complete this level.

Borough Cemetery
An Underproof Cocktail
The Nag
Excessive Nonage
Steamroller Subculture

Level 2: Create a story premise for the titles you've created from your list. If you get caught on this level, PBW will disavow any knowledge of you.

Borough Cemetery: Citizens of a fortified medieval city discover the victims of a strange plague won't stay in their graves.

An Underproof Cocktail: Farmer Bubba's miracle cherries were supposed to soak up the alcohol from the youngsters' drinks, not turn the teens into killer zombies.

The Nag: She knew he loved her; all he needed was a little half-hourly reminder to show it.

Excessive Nonage: How many times could one demi-goddess cheerleader turn sweet sixteen?

Steamroller Subculture: Homeboy heavy equipment operators battle a demon road crew paving the way to hell.

Level 3: Write an opening line for the title/story premises you've created. Should you decide to continue on with the mission, you have exactly thirty minutes to complete this level.

Borough Cemetery

The Baron would have blamed it all on the gravediggers, but theirs were the first bodies left in pieces outside the city's gates.

An Underproof Cocktail

Seein' pictures of that college fella usin' clay teabags to soak up poison outta bad drinkin' water were what gave me the original idear.

The Nag

She'd left him her phone number, written on his bathroom mirror in red lipstick along with a kiss-print and CALL ME LATER.

Excessive Nonage

"Diana Hunter made the squad?" Heather, who had not, turned purple under her crystal rose blush. "She only moved to town like two minutes ago."

Steamroller Subculture

Bodeen climbed down from the barricade truck and walked over to inspect the surveyor's mangled, bloodstained tripod. "Somebody let Julio back up the dozer again?"

Level 4: Write the story to go with one of your opening lines, premises and titles. You may take as much time as you need, but remember that any idea may self-destruct in as little as ten seconds.

Level 5: Write the stories to go with all of them, and you win Dictionary: Impossible.

I have used this since 2005 when doing NaNo. I promised to give this to Euphrates a few days ago but got busy. *Sowry Eu! Hugs* I thought I would share it with everyone else. It is pretty self explanatory. Enter in your goal at the top of the spreadsheet. Then fill in the word count and time spent writing. Each of the tabs at the bottom of the spread sheet is linked to different charts and graphs. I am such a geek/nerd I know LOL I am one of those Capricorns that likes organization and neat shiny things LOL

Here is the link to open it.
http://members.tripod.com/ravensilverwing/nanowrimo-report-card-2006.xls

If you have an problems using it, let me know.

Here are some tips that I found in an old email....

One of the most important things about NaNoWriMo is learning to write. Just write. If you're going to be a writer, you have to work on your craft and just like a singer going through the scales, just writing will make you a better writer. That is the real benefit of NaNoWriMo. Practicing your craft and seeing just how much you can really do.

To meet this challenge, I've developed some habits which are fairly effective. A few other winning NaNoWriMo participants have indicated they also do similar things in order to hit that goal. So what is this magic?

1. Write every day, no matter how you feel. In fact, don't think about how you feel or whether you really are in the mood to write or not. Moods are immaterial. Given the least encouragement, your moods will decide you'd much rather be sitting on the sofa eating Fritos (my personal favorite--you can have whatever you want) and watching the latest Freddie/Jason/Predator/Alien movie.

2. Plan the next day's work lying in bed, right before you go to sleep. This way, you're relaxed, so ideas will flow, and the next day, you'll know exactly what you want to write and just have to type it (or write it out longhand, if you prefer).

3. Change of venue. Okay, for NaNoWriMo, I can't really recommend writing long hand because you do want to get credit, and you'll just have to type it into the computer anyway, but if you can change where you write, that often helps creativity. Shockingly enough, writing in a public location, be it a coffee shop, library, or my personal favorite, the airport, really does help. Somehow, all that hustle-bustle makes you get down to work. I do like to write long hand when I'm stuck or my mood to write is flagging, because that does seem to inspire me, particularly using pretty colored inks in different pens, but this may not be effective if you're really going for that NaNoWriMo certificate. I generally only do that at other times of the year, particularly the summer, when it's hard to write at all because of all that enervating heat.

4. Write anything at all. This is really only for NaNoWriMo. If you're stuck, or your plot is not working out, just write any old junk. Treat it as a blog. Put in your opinions about life, the universe, and everything. I've never done this, but I know other participants who have, and it does work to hike up the word count. Remember, the goal is to write. Any writing is good writing--the more you write, the better a writer you will be--it doesn't much matter what you write, as long as you write. If you're a serious writer and want to actually do something with the output, then at least try to stick to whatever plotline you have going for you, knowing that you can always cut the junk out later and add more relevant parts. I find that killing off a character is a wonderful plot device, although maybe that's because I really like mysteries and think any genre could use a few dead bodies to keep the reader's attention straddling that razor's edge. Ouch.

5. More. I just can't think of them at the moment because my cat just leapt into my lap and attacked the keyboard.

I am so glad you asked! Yes I am NaNoing this year. The novel I started in the 2005 attempt is resurfacing but this year I am doing it from a different point of view. The original one that I started I did in 1st PPV (PPV is writer lingo for person point of view btw)(oh btw= by the way). To get a new perspective from all characters, I am doing 3rd PPV. That novel was based on an abusive relationship I experienced. Names have been changed to protect the innocent and not so innocent. I already have a publisher interested in looking at it. I sent the first 3 chapters too them and was told by a rep with a little work and polishing, it could be published. So I am finishing this first draft this month of the 3rd PPV and then I am going to squish them together like shuffling a deck of cards and *crosses fingers* I will have a manuscript to submit to them at the beginning of the year.

This weekend may be slow for writing for me. Tonight Chuck and I are doing our Friday family night out again. We are taking the kids out to eat then going to come home and possibly watch a movie or something. Tomorrow my final exam for my computer class will be available so I need to do that ASAP to get it done. I have a ton of stuff to list on eBay for the mother-in-law and text books from myself. Our friend Rochelle is supposed to come over sometime tomorrow to hang out. And to top the weekend off I have to go buy some winter clothes for the kids, grocery shop, and do laundry....so writing time will be probably pen and paper until I can type it all up on Monday.

How is everyone else doing with their writing?

Hey ya'all! I love Holly Lisle's site for writers. She is offering part of one of her e-books for free. It is about plotting and it is just in time for NaNoWriMo!! Here is a link to have a peek! Let me know what you think. Hey I am a poet today!

http://www.hearwritenow.com/writing/Lisle-Create-A-Plot-Clinic.pdf.pdf

I am doing NaNoWriMo again this year if any of you were wondering. I am thinking about starting over slightly with last years manuscript since I didn't get very far. I also have a few pages of another story I started about 2 years ago. I may post it here and get some opinions. My NaNo link is http://www.nanowrimo.org/user/82226 Anyone else playing this year?

I need to stay out of my email while at work LOL I keep coming across some really good websites with good tips. I have been implimenting some already. I am determined to get one of these manuscripts finished!!! I am going to have about 2 hours of time all to myself at home tonight while Coach Daddy takes both kids to soccer practices! Check out this site!



50 Tools that can Improve your Writing Skills http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/07/50-tools-that-can-improve-your-writing.html

Here is an example of the tips. You have to go to the site to click on each to read.



Writing Tool #1: Branch to the Right

Writing Tool #2: Use Strong Verbs

Writing Tool #3: Beware of Adverbs

Writing Tool #4: Period As a Stop Sign

Writing Tool #5: Observe Word Territory

Writing Tool #6: Play with Words

Writing Tool #7: Dig for the Concrete and Specific

Writing Tool #8: Seek Original Images

Writing Tool #9: Prefer Simple to Technical

Writing Tool #10: Recognize Your Story’s Roots

Writing Tool #11 Back Off or Show Off

Writing Tool #12: Control the Pace

Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell

Writing Tool #14: Interesting Names

Writing Tool #15: Reveal Character Traits

Writing Tool #16: Odd and Interesting Things

Writing Tool #17: The Number of Elements

Writing Tool #18: Internal Cliffhangers

Writing Tool #19: Tune Your Voice

Writing Tool #20: Narrative Opportunities

Writing Tool #21: Quotes and Dialogue

Writing Tool #22: Get Ready

Writing Tool #23: Place Gold Coins Along the Path

Writing Tool #24: Name the Big Parts

Writing Tool #25: Repeat

Writing Tool #26: Fear Not the Long Sentence

Writing Tool #27: Riffing for Originality

Writing Tool #28: Writing Cinematically

Writing Tool #29: Report for Scenes

Writing Tool #30: Write Endings to Lock the Box

Writing Tool #31: Parallel Lines

Writing Tool #32: Let It Flow

Writing Tool #33: Rehearsal

Writing Tool #34: Cut Big, Then Small

Writing Tool #35: Use Punctuation

Writing Tool #36: Write A Mission Statement for Your Story

Writing Tool #37: Long Projects

Writing Tool #38: Polish Your Jewels

Writing Tool #39: The Voice of Verbs

Writing Tool #40: The Broken Line

Writing Tool #41: X-Ray Reading

Writing Tool #42: Paragraphs

Writing Tool #43: Self-criticism

Writing Tool #44: Save String

Writing Tool #45: Foreshadow

Writing Tool #46: Storytellers, Start Your Engines

Writing Tool #47: Collaboration

Writing Tool #48: Create An Editing Support Group

Writing Tool #49: Learn from Criticism

Writing Tool #50: The Writing Process

by Karen Elizabeth Rigley

Voices. Do you hear voices when you write? Do you eavesdrop on imaginary conversations or receive orders from a person you thought you created? Do your characters exist on a mystical plane, allowing you glimpses of their world? Do they wait patiently for you to capture their lives on paper or do they clamor for your attention?

Do authors exist merely for them? Who is really in control?

No wonder ordinary human beings refer to authors as "crazy writers". Do you question your own sanity when part way through a story your character refuses to obey your commands? Can fictional characters alter a well-planned plot? Do you listen to your characters?

Imagine my dilemma writing WEB OF LOVE when Aloa insisted a man tried to drown her. Who? Where? Why? I admit it made a great mid-book complication.

In DISAPPEARANCE OF EMILY, my detective discovers Emily held hostage in an attic, instead of murdered in the woods as I had originally intended. It added a new layer to the mystery. The novel, SUMMER OF FIRE , evolved from only a title, but then the characters took over. Kalina announced herself as the heroine and introduced her legless brother Steven. Randy, the hero, appeared and claimed it was his fault that Steven had lost both his legs in battle. Suddenly, Kalina was fighting to save her business while dealing with two war-scarred vets against a background of flaming forests. Without determined characters who shared their story, that novel could have remained merely a title.

Collaboration with my frequent co-writer, Ann Miller House from West Texas, proves no protection from demanding characters. In COMANCHE MOON, old Will kept popping up in my scenes and Ann kept taking him out. So he transferred his attention to her, evenually carving out a role in the gun-smuggling and forcing Ann to create a spellbinding scene where Will recounts the Comanche Moon legend to Destiny. In another novel, we planned a chase scene through the underground tunnels in Houston. Instead our hero and heroine insisted on a shoot-out at sea. The tales go on and on, as I'm sure yours do.

Writers depend upon our characters to fire our imagination. It can happen in every novel and every short story. Sometimes, characters are content to let us write along, occasionally interrupting to set us straight. Sometimes they pester us. Always they guide our storytelling.

Authors expect characters to spark to life, to carry on conversations as if they were real and to display independent actions or startling responses. You needn't be alarmed when your characters come alive. Worry when they don't.

The thing to know about characterization is that it is difficult to learn it from someone who does it effortlessly. They tend not to know how they do it and they sure can’t tell you how to fix it because they’ve never done it wrong. You learn more from your mistakes than you’ll ever learn from doing it right instinctively.

So, where to begin? There are so many ways characterization can go wrong and hundreds of ways to put it right. I can’t cover it all and I sure can’t include all the ways to fix anything that may be wrong but here are a few tips. I've learned this the hard way and am still learning it.

Oh, and I’m going to put the bottom line right up front. Nothing, and I mean nothing is terminal. You can fix everything. You would be amazed at what a difference it makes to just add a single sentence or paragraph revealing the character’s motivations. Sometimes, that’s all that is necessary.

There are two main complaints culled from rejection letters that I’m going to detail here:

“I can’t get into or sympathize with your characters”

“Your characters are caricatures”

http://www.amypadgett.com/Remedial_Characterization.htm