Done and DONE!

Well, babies, I did it. I finished my Supernatural novella. It topped out at just over 40,000 words. And boy, did I learn a lot. I learned I should NOT be so ambitious with a plot, keep it more intimate and tight. I leaned I CAN write pieces of length, if properly motivated. I learned what Occam's Razor is (now, to apply that theory!), and I learned writing is hard.

Fanfiction is a helluva lot of fun! But it's addictive. I wonder if I could ever get so hooked on 'original fiction' at this point. The last series I got hooked on was Anne Rice's vampire series, which was 100 years ago. I'll probably have to wait until SPN ends, and even then...if they put out a movie...I'll be right back in the throes of addiction.

I guess until then, I won't worry about it. Life's too short to read bad books! :D Now I just have to learn to write good ones...

OH! If you want to read it, you can check out my LJ page (the art was done by a wonderful SPN bud of mine, Rebecca Johnson) which you can fine HERE. Enjoy!

Progress?

A recent visitor asked me if I'd made any progress on my Once and Future Urban Fantasy Novel. Er...not so much. BUT! Here's why:

Fanfiction. Okay, okay, before you roll your eyes and think me the most immature woman in her mid-forties EVER, hear me out. I restarted that damned novel probably 6 times. Kept stalling out. I LOVE the characters, but what was keeping me from any serious progress? Life? A crap plot? Willpower, or lack thereof? All of the above?

Who knows. I certainly didn't, but I was jonesin' to write so I took the plunge into the fan world of 'Supernatural' (the only television show I watch on a regular basis.) At least I was writing, yeah? I discovered there were some honestly great writers in the community, who share an obsession *Win-cough-chesters* and will give me honest, smart feedback if I only ask. So I've signed up for one of their annual challenges that involves writing a novella based in the SPN universe. Guess who's making a visit? My original characters from The Novel That Will Not Be Written. And as I'm outlining said challenge, I'm finding myself re-discovering my affection for those OCs all over again. This, dear reader, could be a blessing in deep disguise.

Seems what I was missing was inspiration and perseverance. Two biggies. So here's hoping this is my Dumbo feather, this silly fanfic thing! Whatever works, eh?

NanoWrimo, Once Again!

I don't know how many years I've attempted NanoWrimo, only to crap out at week...three, maybe? Well, here goes again! Same damned story, revamped considerably already. Yeah, yeah, I know...that's not how Nano is supposed to work but I figure the WIP has morphed so dramatically from last year, it's a whole new novel. Wish me luck! :D

OMG...I'm writing!

The story has officially begun, even though I don't have a word count. The kids and I are jockeying for position on the computer, so it's all in chicken scrawl right now. Teaser: it involves researching luxury yachts...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Thanks to my patient, secretly creative husband, I made real headway on 'The Plot Arc That Will Not Die' over the weekend. Sure, it still needs fleshing out and that dreaded Sagging Middle isn't so much 'sagging' as 'nonexistent', but it's actually a pretty slender middle as the outline is creeping inwards from both ends. Just gotta make 'em meet! Hopefully that will happen tonight. But now I'm wondering, how important is a 'happily ever after' ending? Hmmmm.........

Warm-up Work

Going out of town this weekend to plant a surprise garden for my mom's 70th birthday while she's gambling her little heart out in Atlantic City. Will take this chance to work on my fledgling novella in the car. Hopefully this will make me less gun-shy to commit to 'The Snowglobe Prophecy'! Tentative working title of the warm-up work: 'Violet's Hour'. See you Monday!

Still Arc-ing, I Swear!

Blech, this 'creating a plot arc' biz is more difficult than I thought. BUT! After working and reworking what I have so far, I think I've cooked up a much better first-half than originally conceived. Now, however, I'm running dry. I think I'll just get to writing and let the story and the characters yell at me. Or nag my husband; he's really quite brilliant at thinking out of the box...a great Ideas man.

I found that scribbling my existing scenes on note cards and spreading them out on the living room floor is a kick-ass way to mastermind a plot. You can shift things around easily and visualize lots of what-ifs. Just thought I'd share that wee germ of wisdom. And I do mean 'germ'.

Happy Humpday, my literary lurkers!

Arc Shmarck!

Okay, I actually sat down last night, notes and 'outline' on lap, and tried to create a plot arc to help me flesh out my wannabe novel. I didn't have as much juicy material as I thought I did! Not surprisingly, the middle of the book is flagging. Got my beginning, got my end, now...to bridge the two. I mean, how many books have we all read that contain this awkward, draggy middle bit? Too many. Gotta remedy that. This day is busy; art in the morning, laundry, weeding in the garden at some point, and major plottings in around making curry for dinner. Wish my DAY flagged a little in the middle! Anywho, off to the races!

Going to a con this weekend in Louisville, KY (one of my favorite cities, I must say.) ConGlomeration...a little gaming, a little art, a little writing. So I hope to get to some panels and revitalize my creative mojo. No, I still haven't done that effing story arc. What's wrong with me?! Oh, wait, that's right...I have three kids, an occasionally needy husband who's home all the time and 19 other 'hobbies' that pull me off in a gazillion directions. Might be time for Spring Cleaning...anyone want to borrow a male for a while? I'm swimming in them.

Monday Monday

Okay, so no post yesterday. Hey, it was Easter AND the family's weekly gaming day so I have a valid excuse or three, right? I didn't get the plot arc done yet either. I SO SUCK. Today, dammit, today! I swear.......honest..........

What's on the docket for today?

I think I'll do a plot arc today. I happened upon a 'how-to' in a book or on-line somewhere. (What did I do with it?!) I've got a well-expounded outline, but my fear is it's too ambitious. A lot I've been reading lately has been tighter, less plotty and more character driven, which frankly, is the way I like it. I enjoy the immersion, not flipping back every few pages to figure out who's that character or wait, when did they get here? (Apologies to G.R.R. Martin and Tolkein, but man, you guys really like to see yourselves type, don't ya?)

So, if anyone's out there, what kind of book do you like? I'll just leave that question flapping in the virtual breeze, just in case I get a follower someday. Off to the races...

And so it begins.

Okay, so I've had this novel, in outline form, for about three years now. It hounds me, nips at my heels like Paris Hilton's lapdog. This blog is my potentially sad little attempt at getting said novel into some sort of publishable state. I may find, along the trip, that I'm a shitty writer. Here's hoping I'll improve. If nothing else, it will silence that migraine-inducing yap I hear in my brain.

Baby steps. My first goal is to post in this blog every day, with the intention of making some progress, however small, on 'The Snowglobe Oracle' (working title.) The genre is Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Supernatural/Whateveryouwannacallit. It's inspired by a bunch of my on-line buds and our mutual attempts at storytelling. I owe them much. When I'm rich and famous, I'll throw a grand soiree and invite them all. Might even buy cars. ("YOU get a car and YOU get a car!" said, a la Oprah.) And no, it will not have sparkly vampires or a Happily Ever After ending. Fuck that noise.

As you might have already noticed, this blog will be a bit bawdier than my art one. It's purpose is not marketing or to inspire anyone but myself. It's to get me in the vibe of the book and discuss issues that will certainly arise. But hey, if anyone else happens to glean something from it, or has a cent or two to share, consider my bloggish door open and the beers ice cold. With lime. Yes, I fruit my beer.

And with that, we're off! Wish me luck, dear lurker...