Another week begins and with Easter and the bank holidays out of the way (and Mr Prue back to work) I've turned my attention again to writing.
HTTS
Mystery in Morocco still hangs round my neck but I'm focusing on short stories. I figure that these will be less complex to write than a novel and will allow me to concentrate on a few characters.
Lesson 3 resulted in three lightning flashes and ideas for three short stories, all romance with a hint of mystery. I feel excited by the ideas and have based them on things from my SSM. Lesson 4 beckons
Special Occasion
Before I get too carried away with the writing, I need to make sure we have something to eat tonight. Thanks to a friend sending a reminder, I now know it's our wedding anniversary. With all the concerns about Mr Prue's health for the past few weeks, it had clean gone out of my head!
So I'm off now for a walk to the shops in the sunshine in search of a card for Mr Prue and some flowers for us to share :)
Showing posts with label HTTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HTTS. Show all posts
Monday, 9 May 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Sunday Summary
Life
Life slowed down this last week because of a wonky knee. Resting it has done it good and now I can walk without pain. Being an active person, all the sitting around has reduced me to a dozy heap! It hasn't done a lot for the housework either :D
It was great to go out for a short walk yesterday, round the Cotswold town of
Chipping Campden The buildings are all made out of local limestone and date back hundreds of years.
Writing
You might think sitting around for a week would be a Good Thing for getting a lot of writing done but lack of activity makes me sleepy so I got less writing done than usual. I've nodded over my keyboard, fighting to keep my eyes open and often not succeeding :)
I've got through 40 scenes working out who know what in relation to the plot. It's slow work but reading through the revised ms is useful. Taking the ms through Holly Lisle's HTRYN has improved my work enormously. Yes, there are still a few plot holes to close up but I'm amazed at the difference. I feel a tingle of excitement and the realisation it may be publishable quality by the time I've finished.
Tomorrow I have a slot booked with my sister to talk over my 2010 NaNoNovel which won't be quiet and stay in the metaphoric drawer where I put it. It keeps floating through my mind, demanding attention. It's a potentially dark and scarey fantasy set in Iron Age Britain and it feels too hot to handle at the moment. How can I have thought up a book and be scared of it? Now that's a new experience :D
It was my second idea from Holly Lisle's How to Think Sideways course and I put it through NaNoWriMo as it wasn't the one I really wanted to write. I saved my favorite idea to take through HTTS but, strangely, this idea has dwindled to nothing.
Or perhaps what I thought was my second choice was actually the one my Muse really wanted me to write...
Life slowed down this last week because of a wonky knee. Resting it has done it good and now I can walk without pain. Being an active person, all the sitting around has reduced me to a dozy heap! It hasn't done a lot for the housework either :D
It was great to go out for a short walk yesterday, round the Cotswold town of
Chipping Campden The buildings are all made out of local limestone and date back hundreds of years.
Writing
You might think sitting around for a week would be a Good Thing for getting a lot of writing done but lack of activity makes me sleepy so I got less writing done than usual. I've nodded over my keyboard, fighting to keep my eyes open and often not succeeding :)
I've got through 40 scenes working out who know what in relation to the plot. It's slow work but reading through the revised ms is useful. Taking the ms through Holly Lisle's HTRYN has improved my work enormously. Yes, there are still a few plot holes to close up but I'm amazed at the difference. I feel a tingle of excitement and the realisation it may be publishable quality by the time I've finished.
Tomorrow I have a slot booked with my sister to talk over my 2010 NaNoNovel which won't be quiet and stay in the metaphoric drawer where I put it. It keeps floating through my mind, demanding attention. It's a potentially dark and scarey fantasy set in Iron Age Britain and it feels too hot to handle at the moment. How can I have thought up a book and be scared of it? Now that's a new experience :D
It was my second idea from Holly Lisle's How to Think Sideways course and I put it through NaNoWriMo as it wasn't the one I really wanted to write. I saved my favorite idea to take through HTTS but, strangely, this idea has dwindled to nothing.
Or perhaps what I thought was my second choice was actually the one my Muse really wanted me to write...
Sunday, 13 February 2011
New Link Added
Just to draw your attention to the Write a Book With Me link.
This link takes you to the WABWM blog where all writers are welcome.
There is a very generous Prize: Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle. A prize worth having. To see the details, head on over to the site.
I haven't done this particular course of Holly Lisle's but I have done How to Think Sideways (to write a novel) and How to Revise Your Novel (speaks for itself).
There are a whole host of other courses, reasonably priced and some freebies. Click on the link to Holly Lisle's site and have a look.
Holly's site is full of information. There are lots of tips for writers and links to other sites.
This link takes you to the WABWM blog where all writers are welcome.
There is a very generous Prize: Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle. A prize worth having. To see the details, head on over to the site.
I haven't done this particular course of Holly Lisle's but I have done How to Think Sideways (to write a novel) and How to Revise Your Novel (speaks for itself).
There are a whole host of other courses, reasonably priced and some freebies. Click on the link to Holly Lisle's site and have a look.
Holly's site is full of information. There are lots of tips for writers and links to other sites.
Monday, 10 January 2011
Persistence
On 15th December last year, I read LadyQ's blog and took her personal goal as a challenge for me: 500 words a day or bust! I wanted to make writing a daily pursuit and to change my attitude from 'writing is something to be done when everything else has been done first' to a more professional attitude.
Then I went onto the HTTS forum and posted my acceptance of the challenge. It was a pleasant surprise when a number of people joined me :)
Since then, I've written something most days. Sometimes it's been less than 500 words, sometimes it's been more. And I've kept that up five days out of seven (two days off per week) with a bit of a stumble during the long Christmas/New Year holiday.
Know there was a group of people all with a similar goal in mind has helped me stay focused on writing. I find it energising seeing others saying what they have achieved whether words written or brainstorming or the next lesson of HTTS. It's all good :)
My total words since 15th December: 19,500!
Persistence pays.
So does being part of a supportive group :)
Come and join us.
Then I went onto the HTTS forum and posted my acceptance of the challenge. It was a pleasant surprise when a number of people joined me :)
Since then, I've written something most days. Sometimes it's been less than 500 words, sometimes it's been more. And I've kept that up five days out of seven (two days off per week) with a bit of a stumble during the long Christmas/New Year holiday.
Know there was a group of people all with a similar goal in mind has helped me stay focused on writing. I find it energising seeing others saying what they have achieved whether words written or brainstorming or the next lesson of HTTS. It's all good :)
My total words since 15th December: 19,500!
Persistence pays.
So does being part of a supportive group :)
Come and join us.
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Crossing the Line
After being unable to write every day for this year's NaNoWriMo, I pulled out all the stops and managed a mammoth 5250 words on Friday! Never have I written anything near this amount in one day.
The secret?
I abandoned what I was writing and focussed on a scene where a main character gets swept out to sea and the tide takes him towards some rocks. There is a rescue attempt from the shore; someone swims out with a rope tied round his waist. It's during the Iron Age in Britain so no high tech methods available.
My fingers couldn't keep up with the pace of my thoughts. It was a blast to write, incredibly exciting and I lost all sense of time and place.
This year's NaNo was very different from last year's.
Since last year I took the NaNoNovel 2009 through Holly Lisle's How To Revise Your Novel course. And then I began her How To Think Sideways course.
I'm not sure I followed my Sentence to the T but I do have a series of scenes which have all the bits a scene should have. I derive a certain degree of satisfaction from that :)
Now that I've finished the 50,000 words there are so many writing options available to me so I don't feel so let down and flat as I did this time last year.
I downloaded Scrivener for Windows beta so tomorrow I'll load all my scenes into it and have a look at just what there is and what else needs to be added. It is disjointed at present and a few things need ironing out, stiching together and generally prettying up.
And next year...I intend to start planning for NaNoWriMo in July!
If you entered NaNoWriMo this year, how did it go for you?
And if you didn't, you might want to consider joining in the fun next November 1st.
The secret?
I abandoned what I was writing and focussed on a scene where a main character gets swept out to sea and the tide takes him towards some rocks. There is a rescue attempt from the shore; someone swims out with a rope tied round his waist. It's during the Iron Age in Britain so no high tech methods available.
My fingers couldn't keep up with the pace of my thoughts. It was a blast to write, incredibly exciting and I lost all sense of time and place.
This year's NaNo was very different from last year's.
Since last year I took the NaNoNovel 2009 through Holly Lisle's How To Revise Your Novel course. And then I began her How To Think Sideways course.
I'm not sure I followed my Sentence to the T but I do have a series of scenes which have all the bits a scene should have. I derive a certain degree of satisfaction from that :)
Now that I've finished the 50,000 words there are so many writing options available to me so I don't feel so let down and flat as I did this time last year.
I downloaded Scrivener for Windows beta so tomorrow I'll load all my scenes into it and have a look at just what there is and what else needs to be added. It is disjointed at present and a few things need ironing out, stiching together and generally prettying up.
And next year...I intend to start planning for NaNoWriMo in July!
If you entered NaNoWriMo this year, how did it go for you?
And if you didn't, you might want to consider joining in the fun next November 1st.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
The Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness...and NaNoWriMo
My head is so full of ideas and courses and writing exercises, I'm almost brought to a standstill. My blog is way down on the list of priorities; the main one at present being NaNoWriMo.
I'm using one of the 3 ideas produced on the HTTS course.
I managed more planning of the story than for last year's NaNo but not nearly enough - but hey! what is enough? I'm a pantser, preferring to let the ideas unfold as I write. I have my 30 word Sentence standing sentinel on the horizon; working towards it, I keep veering away from the path to explore interesting byways :)
Got off to a slow start and spent 3 days just thinking about the book, surfing for information and I found a lot of Celtic information, much of which is either on my Sweet Spot Map or needs to be (seasons, trees, different types of wood), the four elements. This has kicked my story onto a whole new level and I'm so excited about the concepts that it's difficult to focus on the characters and plot!
I'm catching up. At present I need to write about 1800 words a day to make the 50k by the end of November, so it's becoming much more do-able. I usually sit down around 10:30am for an hour and again at 2:30pm for an hour or so a few days a week. Then whatever I can manage in the evenings on the days I work.
I'm writing a sketch of a book again - skipping over the surface of the story and not worrying too much about depth. That can come later. Last night I left my Protagonist and her partner inside a stone circle on an isolated headland. The mist crept up and encircled the stones then a voice spoke...
Quite what that voice is going to say I'm not sure, although I know what will happen next to the Protagonist and her partner.
For those of you who are doing NaNo, have a productive and entertaining month.
For those of you who've never tried, or who've never heard of it, then go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano
I'm using one of the 3 ideas produced on the HTTS course.
I managed more planning of the story than for last year's NaNo but not nearly enough - but hey! what is enough? I'm a pantser, preferring to let the ideas unfold as I write. I have my 30 word Sentence standing sentinel on the horizon; working towards it, I keep veering away from the path to explore interesting byways :)
Got off to a slow start and spent 3 days just thinking about the book, surfing for information and I found a lot of Celtic information, much of which is either on my Sweet Spot Map or needs to be (seasons, trees, different types of wood), the four elements. This has kicked my story onto a whole new level and I'm so excited about the concepts that it's difficult to focus on the characters and plot!
I'm catching up. At present I need to write about 1800 words a day to make the 50k by the end of November, so it's becoming much more do-able. I usually sit down around 10:30am for an hour and again at 2:30pm for an hour or so a few days a week. Then whatever I can manage in the evenings on the days I work.
I'm writing a sketch of a book again - skipping over the surface of the story and not worrying too much about depth. That can come later. Last night I left my Protagonist and her partner inside a stone circle on an isolated headland. The mist crept up and encircled the stones then a voice spoke...
Quite what that voice is going to say I'm not sure, although I know what will happen next to the Protagonist and her partner.
For those of you who are doing NaNo, have a productive and entertaining month.
For those of you who've never tried, or who've never heard of it, then go to http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/whatisnano
Friday, 22 October 2010
Started!
HTTS:
600 or so words on the HTTS novel. No working title yet.
It's a fantasy/comedy but the first chapter isn't much fun...hmmm.
I've been wandering around feeling that I'm not ready to start, that I need to do more planning. Yet I know if I do too much, I'll lose interest. Could this be a touch of 'safe never starts'?
The ice is broken. I feel less than enthusiastic. What is bothering me is that a wonderful story being planned and kept in my head for the last year has suddenly 'woken up' again. I feel too inexperienced to start it. I want to do it well because it's a complex story. There's one scene which is not just a candy-bar scene, it's a candy-bar store!
Maybe I should try writing it...just that scene and get it out of my head. Or perhaps try planning the book, on paper. I know the beginning, some of the middle but as yet have no end.
Other Writing:
Yes, there is other writing. I feel amazed. I've been doing some work in the work group and have come up with a short story. A short story I rather like.
I hope you can hear the amazement in the above sentence :)
I don't read short stories. I don't like short stories - after connecting with the characters, I come to the end feeling like Oliver Twist, wanting more. That I should have written one is, well, bizarre.
Will look through the first part tomorrow and post it here. Yes. That's what I'll do. After making the red pepper jelly.
600 or so words on the HTTS novel. No working title yet.
It's a fantasy/comedy but the first chapter isn't much fun...hmmm.
I've been wandering around feeling that I'm not ready to start, that I need to do more planning. Yet I know if I do too much, I'll lose interest. Could this be a touch of 'safe never starts'?
The ice is broken. I feel less than enthusiastic. What is bothering me is that a wonderful story being planned and kept in my head for the last year has suddenly 'woken up' again. I feel too inexperienced to start it. I want to do it well because it's a complex story. There's one scene which is not just a candy-bar scene, it's a candy-bar store!
Maybe I should try writing it...just that scene and get it out of my head. Or perhaps try planning the book, on paper. I know the beginning, some of the middle but as yet have no end.
Other Writing:
Yes, there is other writing. I feel amazed. I've been doing some work in the work group and have come up with a short story. A short story I rather like.
I hope you can hear the amazement in the above sentence :)
I don't read short stories. I don't like short stories - after connecting with the characters, I come to the end feeling like Oliver Twist, wanting more. That I should have written one is, well, bizarre.
Will look through the first part tomorrow and post it here. Yes. That's what I'll do. After making the red pepper jelly.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Unenthused
I'm unenthused about most things at the moment. Life has taken a nose-dive. There have been many small losses of different sorts recently and they all seem to add up. Add to that a wonky knee and the inability to go for vigorous long walks regularly and here I am, in the doldrums. I've got the blues and they're a deep blue shot through with streaks of deep red. Not a pleasant combination.
What really gets to me is the way some (many?) people treat each other; as if people are of no value and to treat them inconsiderately and like shit is ok. I've witnessed many instances of that in the past few weeks and I wonder if it's becoming more common.
One good bit of news today though, amongst all the dross; a friend whose job was about to disappear has got her contract renewed for another year. Yay!
I need a pick-me-up. The only thing I enjoy doing at the moment is critting someone's writing. That perks me up no end. It's an exciting process and one which I'd like to do better on my own work!
What perks you up when you're down in the dumps?
HTTS: Is languishing.
Reading:
I'm gently going through Alexandre Dumas The Three Musketeers for the nth time. It's a delightful book. I notice my reading is influenced by memories of The Four Musketeers with Michael York as D'Artagnan, Oliver Reed as Porthos, Richard Chamberlain (?) as... and here my memory peters out. Must go and Google.
What really gets to me is the way some (many?) people treat each other; as if people are of no value and to treat them inconsiderately and like shit is ok. I've witnessed many instances of that in the past few weeks and I wonder if it's becoming more common.
One good bit of news today though, amongst all the dross; a friend whose job was about to disappear has got her contract renewed for another year. Yay!
I need a pick-me-up. The only thing I enjoy doing at the moment is critting someone's writing. That perks me up no end. It's an exciting process and one which I'd like to do better on my own work!
What perks you up when you're down in the dumps?
HTTS: Is languishing.
Reading:
I'm gently going through Alexandre Dumas The Three Musketeers for the nth time. It's a delightful book. I notice my reading is influenced by memories of The Four Musketeers with Michael York as D'Artagnan, Oliver Reed as Porthos, Richard Chamberlain (?) as... and here my memory peters out. Must go and Google.
Saturday, 4 September 2010
The Muse Awakes
With the arrival of full computer use, my Muse seems to have woken up! I desperately need to do so many things, not least is getting back to HTRYN and HTTS.
House:
After being ill with an energy-sapping fluey cold for the last few weeks, the huge population of spiders have been spinning webs everywhere. We're tidy people but the house has gradually become more and more untidy. So I've been spring cleaning. I know accepted psychological wisdom states that one can work effectively in an untidy environment - I certainly did at work. Here, at home, that just isn't true. And anyway, my desk is so covered in paper that I'm in danger of disappearing under a paper-lanche. Glad I don't have to do a Health and Safety risk assessment :)
HTRYN:
This is still on the back burner. This both concerns me - I want to get it finished - and it doesn't concern me because I'm learning new things with HTTS which means I'll do a better job of the rewrite. My excuse anyway. That and the lack of energy. Rewriting new scenes, of which there were many, was excruciatingly slow.
HTTS:
This is where the Muse woke up. I took my breakfast coffee back to bed this morning and actually opened my HTTS file. Lesson 4 - thinking about describing the protagonist (noun and adjective, both significant and snappy) and protag's need. My original idea I'd been so thrilled with seemed pedestrian and flat and more seriously, I was unclear about the protag's need. At this point, the Muse stretched, yawned and suggested making the antagonist the protagonist. Now that makes a huge difference; the protagonist's need is now clear - as is the new antagonist's. Thanks Muse :)
Gardening:
The Marmande tomatoes are ripening and we had the first two today. Years ago, the cookery writer Jane Grigson (Sophie's mum) wrote about this variety in a way which set this tomato above all others. We've been eating small tomatoes for a couple of weeks - and very tasty they are too - but it was the Marmande variety which I was waiting for. What a disappointment. Slightly mealy and with no more flavour than winter tomatoes bought in the local Co-op. Rats! I'll try cooking with them and see if that improves them any.
Prue's receipe for Cooking Tomatoes
Cut each tomato in half.
Heat olive oil in a pan big enough to take all toms in one layer - as little oil as possible.
Place toms cut side up in hot oil, over medium heat
Sprinkle cut surface with a little sugar and dried italian herbs (or marjoram, or your own mix)
After a couple of minutes, turn the tomatoes over
Turn heat down or sugar will burn
Cook until heated through and softenend.
The olive oil, sugar and herbs can make even the most tasteless tomatoes taste much better!
House:
After being ill with an energy-sapping fluey cold for the last few weeks, the huge population of spiders have been spinning webs everywhere. We're tidy people but the house has gradually become more and more untidy. So I've been spring cleaning. I know accepted psychological wisdom states that one can work effectively in an untidy environment - I certainly did at work. Here, at home, that just isn't true. And anyway, my desk is so covered in paper that I'm in danger of disappearing under a paper-lanche. Glad I don't have to do a Health and Safety risk assessment :)
HTRYN:
This is still on the back burner. This both concerns me - I want to get it finished - and it doesn't concern me because I'm learning new things with HTTS which means I'll do a better job of the rewrite. My excuse anyway. That and the lack of energy. Rewriting new scenes, of which there were many, was excruciatingly slow.
HTTS:
This is where the Muse woke up. I took my breakfast coffee back to bed this morning and actually opened my HTTS file. Lesson 4 - thinking about describing the protagonist (noun and adjective, both significant and snappy) and protag's need. My original idea I'd been so thrilled with seemed pedestrian and flat and more seriously, I was unclear about the protag's need. At this point, the Muse stretched, yawned and suggested making the antagonist the protagonist. Now that makes a huge difference; the protagonist's need is now clear - as is the new antagonist's. Thanks Muse :)
Gardening:
The Marmande tomatoes are ripening and we had the first two today. Years ago, the cookery writer Jane Grigson (Sophie's mum) wrote about this variety in a way which set this tomato above all others. We've been eating small tomatoes for a couple of weeks - and very tasty they are too - but it was the Marmande variety which I was waiting for. What a disappointment. Slightly mealy and with no more flavour than winter tomatoes bought in the local Co-op. Rats! I'll try cooking with them and see if that improves them any.
Prue's receipe for Cooking Tomatoes
Cut each tomato in half.
Heat olive oil in a pan big enough to take all toms in one layer - as little oil as possible.
Place toms cut side up in hot oil, over medium heat
Sprinkle cut surface with a little sugar and dried italian herbs (or marjoram, or your own mix)
After a couple of minutes, turn the tomatoes over
Turn heat down or sugar will burn
Cook until heated through and softenend.
The olive oil, sugar and herbs can make even the most tasteless tomatoes taste much better!
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