tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59948040846908222282023-11-16T10:53:11.501-08:00The Indecent Exposure of C.E. SchwilkAmazing art is baring your soul. Anything else is indecent exposure. (somebody call the cops...)C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-30336550639651052342012-10-28T16:39:00.001-07:002012-10-28T16:39:30.989-07:00Come Follow me to WordpressSo because I really can't stand the hell that is Captcha, I've decided to swap over to Wordpress.<br />
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Come see my latest post: <a href="http://ceschwilk.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/exposed-sunday-birthdays-are-not-just-a-number/" target="_blank">Exposed Sunday: Birthdays Are Not Just A Number</a><br />
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Every Wednesday and Sunday! No waiting. Okay. Not much waiting, at least.C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-41955737170205673112012-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:002012-10-24T19:12:07.460-07:00Wednesday in Progress: My Complications to My MCI've been reading Roz Morris' <a href="http://www.nailyournovel.com/" target="_blank">Nail Your Novel</a>, well her book actually. Trying to get things in my own novel sorted out from her examples. One thing I noticed right away is that I don't nearly have enough plot/subplots to float the entire story arc. I have the main one covered and a few minor ones, but I'm now noticing how hollow it is - there's just not enough meat.<div>
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In fact, <a href="http://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/a-site-to-help-you-fill-the-gaps-in-your-story-outline/" target="_blank">her post on Sunday was exactly about this topic</a>. She brings up the insanely wonderful website <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage" target="_blank">TV Tropes</a> and you best be careful because you can lose <i>days</i> just going from link to link! It's dangerous time-suckage if you don't stay focused on why you're there in the first place. Visitor beware!</div>
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So now I've managed to take out some extraneous stuff regarding my main character, Gillian, and decided that she really needed a bully. In fact, it was the realisation/creation of the bully that helped further clarify what she looks like/how she dresses. I guess I'm taking the scenic route, but I'm learning that my characters can't possibly be boring. Real life is boring enough. If I want my reader invested, I really have to pull them into the world I have in my head.</div>
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There are other things I'm quickly learning about my characters and I'm trying not to overwhelm my novel with too many characters. However, that's what I say this week. Next week I could totally figure out that I have too few characters and need to make a few more. The joys of creating. Good times.</div>
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Still optimistic about this story, despite finding more problems with the story in general. I think the reason for my optimism is that I'm also finding <i>solutions</i> instead of just feeling like I'm drowning in quicksand. I can see a way out of this, even if it's not entirely clear. I have hope. I just have to complicate things for my characters a bit more so there's a fuller story. <i>I</i> may care for these fictional people because I have all this in my head, so I know them better - but if I don't share that with the rest of you, why would you?</div>
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<i><b>Your turn!</b> After writing your drafts, did you realise that your characters didn't suffer enough? Have you read stories where you just didn't care about those people in it? Have you <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=38763" target="_blank">done a Joss</a>*? Do you aim to do a Joss?</i></div>
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<i>*The reference is to Joss Whedon - brilliant writer/director who is notorious for killing off his characters in the most horrific ways and when you think all is safe, he ruins it by killing off more. He's an evil bastard and I wish my brain worked like his. I'm hoping "do/doing/done a Joss" will become A Thing.</i></div>
C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-59795400229737844592012-10-21T06:40:00.000-07:002012-10-21T06:40:13.689-07:00Exposed Sunday: NaNoWriMo - When You Gotta Write!I have been participating in <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">National Novel Writing Month</a> since 2003.<br />
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I have <i>failed to write 50,000 words for the month</i> since 2004. (yes, I won my first NaNo, only to lose every single year thereafter)<br />
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Yet, this still hasn't deterred me from writing/competing every year, though in the last few, I tend to bow out after my first week. I have <i>other writing</i> to do, usually, and I use the manic writing sessions to work on that, shelving my NaNo story idea for another day. Just as long as I write down my notes, I don't feel bad for it.<br />
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In fact, it was all because of NaNo I got a lot of my story ideas - ones that I'm using to actually springboard into a proper <i>writing career</i>. My ultimate goal is to get published, after all. It's that insane mindset of "don't think, <i>just write</i>" that seems to light that fire within me. Apparently, I need deadlines and quotas to function.<br />
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Once I thought I was a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pantser" target="_blank">pantser</a>. A dreamy, doe-eyed pantser that waited for inspiration to strike when the Muse was feeling generous. Of course, that was also before I realised just <a href="http://scottberkun.com/2007/how-to-write-a-book-the-short-honest-truth/" target="_blank">how much work writing a novel involves</a>. This is really <a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/06/20/25-things-you-should-know-about-writing-a-novel/" target="_blank">not an occupation</a> for the faint of heart. It takes stamina and you really have to shove your Inner Critic in a sound-proof box and leave them there until you've done your first or second draft, at least.<br />
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Outlines are my friends. Actually, they are (quite literally) my road maps. I don't have to keep to them - because wandering about here and there is good and you may find a nice place to eat - but having the map means I don't have to be lost forever. It means I <i>can</i> wander without ending up with 100 rambling pages of crap without any sort of hope to fixing that.<br />
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However, NaNo is okay with that. It's just NaNo, after all. Not only that, but amazing people like <b>Roz Morris</b> <a href="http://www.nailyournovel.com/" target="_blank">have tools that can help revive the mess that is your "novel"</a> (NaNo or otherwise) into something that resembles a proper story structure! Maybe even publishable! I love her book, for sure.<br />
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If you're looking at options, <a href="http://jamigold.com/2012/10/nano-prep-making-time-for-writing/" target="_blank">Plotting for a Pantsers</a> by <b>Jamie Gold</b> sounds like oodles of awesome!<br />
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Not everyone is cut out to do NaNo, although they may be hardcore writers, like <b>Kait Nolan</b> - <a href="http://kaitnolan.com/2012/10/12/noodling-nanowrimo/" target="_blank">she's not doing NaNo in the traditional sense</a>, but she keeps her finger on the pulse and uses it.<br />
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This will probably be my first year not doing NaNo "in the traditional sense" either. I have several books in the planning/plotting stage and in six months I'm hoping to be shopping around for my first book. I will definitely use the deadlines/manic typing energy to keep myself in-line and on course. I have a lot to write and a social life to keep cultivated, too.<br />
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The main thing for me is that, through NaNo, I learned that I <i>have</i> to write. Whether I participate, win, lose or never even get published is really not the point. I've awakened a (writing) monster. NaNo just helped give me the first solid kick in the pants to do it. <br />
<a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/add-word-count-why-dead-bodies-are-good-for-the-living/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/add-word-count-why-dead-bodies-are-good-for-the-living/" target="_blank">Remember to rest, too.</a> Good advice.<br />
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<i><b>Your turn! </b>You have <b>11 days</b> before it starts. Go! Or don't. Are you a pantser or a plotter? What are you doing for the month of November? I'll be writing. Of course.</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-25134879934606186942012-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:002012-10-17T08:34:06.941-07:00Wednesday In Progress: Excuses...Oooh Shiny!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xet47pF-et8cip_qw5ZN19n1uR80F0pYWlGsrO4YMb3Ak32BIW1qvanFppHo5Z_D9MP8c0Y31dFGlkw8L46M3HnuPvb07EszCRBCXMDMM01pPk_XXCgYbux26MmGcAjY213gtIB5DX4/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Xet47pF-et8cip_qw5ZN19n1uR80F0pYWlGsrO4YMb3Ak32BIW1qvanFppHo5Z_D9MP8c0Y31dFGlkw8L46M3HnuPvb07EszCRBCXMDMM01pPk_XXCgYbux26MmGcAjY213gtIB5DX4/s1600/kitchen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our kitchen, our hell</td></tr>
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This week has started off less than stellar. After our personal kitchen nightmare (water heater rusted completely out, manager of our apartment complex refused to do anything about it until 5 months after the fact - where our floor was about as thin as paper in some parts), the past 2 weeks most of our kitchen is sitting in our living room. I work in our living room, now surrounded by kitchen appliances and animals, all freaking out that there are strangers in our space, making crazy noise and we can't cook/live properly.<br />
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At least we didn't have dry rot or mold (which is what you fear here in Oregon).<br />
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One of our ancient cats seems to have caught the sniffles (worried since we can't afford to get her to a vet, either). To say that I've been distracted with household stuff is an understatement. Our I'm also dealing with a laptop that's given me trouble since Monday night. The plan is to get this looked at, but that won't happen until Saturday and the kitchen won't be sorted out until the end of this week (I hope).<br />
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So I'm really not sure what I will do for writing this week and I don't know how much I care. I'm sort of annoyed with myself for that, but there we are. Of course, this is also why I'm writing this blog post in the dead of night (when I really should be asleep). I finally have some peace and quiet.<br />
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I think I've done about two lines of text for my WIP this week, but I've started working on a short story that I had been thinking about for a while. I don't know how short it will be necessarily, but I know I don't want to drag it out for too long. I'd like to have it ready for viewing soon-ish, warts an' all. We'll see.<br />
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Right now, I'd just like to get my kitchen done and people out of my space!<br />
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I'm having a mini-meltdown, excuse me.<br />
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<i><b>Your turn!</b> How do you deal with outside/non-writing distractions? What do you do to keep writing/focused - or do you?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-16746041889515849252012-10-14T08:30:00.000-07:002012-10-14T08:40:32.158-07:00Exposed Sunday: The Trouble With Pen-names - or...Who Am I, Anyway?Hi, my name is C.E. Schwilk and I'll be your blogger for this...well, for this blog. Forever.<br />
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Seriously, though, how do you feel about pseudonyms? They all worked for O. Henry, Mark Twain, Stan Lee, Grace Monroe, Acton Bell - and there's just so many actors/performers who've hacked off bits, swapped names about, adopted family ones, or chucked out everything but a few letters, i.e., <i>moi</i>. (and a boat-load of other folks I'm sure we can all rattle off without much thought...)<br />
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Although I tried to get <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ceschwilk" target="_blank">my Facebook</a> to cooperate, I'm listed as Carlee E Schwilk, there - the "C.E." part of my name. This is also my pen name. The name I use in my non-writing life (the rest of my life) is my married name - completely different and removed from this and I like that. Lately, both my names are getting uncomfortably close for my liking, but I'm trying to not let that bother me too much. Does it matter? Not really. <i>C.E. Schwilk</i> is the one I've chosen to write under, at least for the science-fiction/fantasy work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjADZfeDYvdmEEt78XmoLtpi2mZyp1Qh75B9QtzDY5X0dYj1L2oazOMC1imErW_9z6Tsu_NmDWGfiQfzluLO6bEXsPEVyZvxIyEVFDK9Mv8H_bpuRhcomXv_lTt0oPebwEGX6c3kK4KQ/s1600/autograph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjADZfeDYvdmEEt78XmoLtpi2mZyp1Qh75B9QtzDY5X0dYj1L2oazOMC1imErW_9z6Tsu_NmDWGfiQfzluLO6bEXsPEVyZvxIyEVFDK9Mv8H_bpuRhcomXv_lTt0oPebwEGX6c3kK4KQ/s200/autograph.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">autograph currently in progress</td></tr>
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I don't just write that one genre, however, and I don't plan to use the same name. This decision has been long-standing and reinforced by other authors who've had ranging success in their own name-change-no-name-change - the most current one being <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Casual_Vacancy" target="_blank">J.K. Rowling's attempt at an adult book</a>.<br />
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So, was it a good idea to use the "J.K. Rowling brand" for something utterly different from the only other books she's known for? I don't think so, personally. I haven't read the book (yet), but the reviews are mixed. Many have given her a <a href="http://entertainment.time.com/2012/09/27/j-k-rowlings-the-casual-vacancy-weve-read-it-heres-what-we-thought/" target="_blank">great </a><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/27/the-casual-vacancy-review-j-k-rowling-cuts-loose-from-harry-potter.html" target="_blank">thumbs </a><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/books/features/review-jk-rowling-s-the-casual-vacancy-1-2549077" target="_blank">up </a><i>despite being associated with <b>Harry Potter</b></i> and some have <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/books/book-review-the-casual-vacancy-by-j-k-rowling.html?_r=0" target="_blank">panned </a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/books/jacketcopy/la-jc-jk-rowling-casual-vacancy-20120926,0,6505145.story" target="_blank">her </a><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2209165/J-K-Rowlings-The-Casual-Vacancy-review-Wheres-magic-tale-middle-class-monsters.html" target="_blank">completely</a>, <i>because it wasn't as good as <b>Harry Potter</b>.</i><br />
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Never mind all the rants and raves on Goodreads. You get the point. She set out to do a completely <i>different type of novel</i>. She had a different story to tell and what does everyone do? Compare it to her other work. I wonder if she had used a different name - a variant spelling, at the very least - would they (the reviewers, public in general) have tried to let the story stand on its own merit?<br />
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Although everyone knows Stephen King's seventy-five different names (O! hyperbole, how I love thee!) and that hasn't hurt him, has it?<br />
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Related to this, Kristen Lamb had a great blog post: <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/when-do-writers-need-multiple-blogs/" target="_blank">When Do Writers Need Multiple Blogs?</a> The whole concept of having a complete and separate identity (with blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) for each does seem horribly daunting. You'd need an army of personal assistants to keep up with that and that's just a little too insane for my taste. However, if I am extremely fortunate enough to get multiple books published, I'm still a fan of the idea of changing the name to fit the genre.<br />
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<a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2012/01/promoting-pen-name.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth S. Craig agrees with me, too.</a> I also agree with advertising both names - give folks that option if they <i>happen</i> to like cozy mystery <i>and</i> hardcore cyber-punk (and you happen to write both), they can hunt all your books down! Win-win!<br />
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Lastly, I give you the <a href="http://www.poemofquotes.com/tools/pen-name.php" target="_blank">Pen Name Generator</a> (for humor-purposes only)! You're welcome.<br />
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<i><b>Your turn!</b> Do you go by a pen-name? Did you ever consider it? What are your thoughts about authors who do it - or go by multiple names, depending on the genre/whatever?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-89548792190823142472012-10-10T06:31:00.000-07:002012-10-10T06:32:26.599-07:00Wednesday in Progress: Welcoming the Monsters InMeaning <i>my writing</i>, not welcoming you, the reader. Of course, I <i>am </i>welcoming you to read. Boy, that's getting confusing...<br />
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I like writing about monsters, particularly ones that (I hope) readers will like. I'm also intrigued by the monsters inside people. I even call myself a monster (but that's for another post).<br />
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So, here we are. Welcome.<br />
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<i>DISCLAIMER:</i><br />
<i>All excerpts within this blog are unedited, unpolished pieces of poo. I have no idea how much of it will be in the final draft, but the work is still mine - so I would like a polite and respectful request if you'd like to reprint something from here. Please ask first. I'm pretty accommodating.</i><br />
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<i>Secondly, as real as I'm trying to write this, it is still a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to those persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.</i><br />
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<i>Lastly, feel free to give your opinions, critiques, accolades, and fangirl/boy'ing - I'll take it all. However, I reserve the right to delete any comments as I see fit. Mainly, if you're rude and vulgar without any good reason, you will not be welcome here. Keep your shirts on and we'll all be good.</i><br />
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Okay! Onwards!<br />
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<b><u>Summary</u></b>: A rash of kidnappings. A race of magical creatures existing in secret. A young girl discovers the connection between them and aligns herself to save her fellow humans.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVAPzE-LyJoXQBt_f-EyUvfaY03_BDPFZAXvfoamIc84qK4v2P5IEgENA0LOsfin6ltplaLZtJ_8YTFsNYhyphenhyphenhL4dWRmKf3eJl4SRHfZEkqns1rx2B69isOmQXulJJRUXf5fy67OLBoaU/s1600/faerie+forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVAPzE-LyJoXQBt_f-EyUvfaY03_BDPFZAXvfoamIc84qK4v2P5IEgENA0LOsfin6ltplaLZtJ_8YTFsNYhyphenhyphenhL4dWRmKf3eJl4SRHfZEkqns1rx2B69isOmQXulJJRUXf5fy67OLBoaU/s320/faerie+forest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my monsters hide in daylight's plain view - waiting</td></tr>
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Initially, this was going to be a YA novel - but after the second book, my main character is going to be well past her teens. She does start off at the "tender age" of 14.<br />
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I don't necessarily think adults want to read about teen girls, either, but I don't want to get trendy and try and pitch this as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New-adult_fiction" target="_blank">New Adult</a>".<br />
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Of course, the words ring in my ears, <i>Just write it.</i> So I shall.<br />
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Currently, I have no title (and my working title drives me up the wall) but I have a lot of notes and snippets of the book already written. My first act has structure, but it needs a hell of a lot of work and I'm trying to duct tape the mouth of my Inner Critic shut so I can do that.<br />
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The plan is that on Wednesdays, I'll let you into my brain (scary!) as I'm writing - share some notes and insight, maybe how I go about creating my characters and scenes, etc., etc. Whatever puzzle I'm working out in my WIP, I will share. One Wednesday a month, I intend to give folks a bit of the actual manuscript - in <i>highly unpolished form</i>. It should be fun, eh? <br />
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<b><i>Your turn!</i></b><i> In this case, I would love your feedback or even just a "keep writing" sort of cheer. I'm not picky. If you like, please share your own work/links so I can have a gander at what you write!</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-37861174757963532152012-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:002012-10-07T09:12:38.832-07:00Exposed Sunday: Switching Gears for the ArtYou can thank paranormal romance writer, <a href="http://jamigold.com/" target="_blank">Jami Gold</a> for this one.<br />
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Last Wednesday, she did a wonderful guest post (for <a href="http://www.pwcreighton.com/surveillance-report/" target="_blank">PW Creighton</a>) regarding when writers get The Block: <a href="http://www.pwcreighton.com/surveillance-report/2012/10/3/intriguing-observations-creative-outlets.html" target="_blank">Creative Outlets - Giving Our Muse a Different Playground to Play In</a><br />
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This is something I've been doing for a long time. Some might say (particularly my husband) that I've been <i>distracted </i>with Other Things (always the capitals for such a monumental avoidance), but really, this is clearly just another trick to get my muse to think about Writing, once more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKzyzc7nTLqE1HLKKDZXCZVVKVZGq6bhHG0ih802tyf1jQ-bBlKWrGCuPTYMw_9AmJUoMB_vpYL4TzqRlkWYaz-Hra9HK4vududpxc5sXvWtNO8hwsq5_JTKKLGWPl9stOQDupJGyHA4/s1600/raining+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKzyzc7nTLqE1HLKKDZXCZVVKVZGq6bhHG0ih802tyf1jQ-bBlKWrGCuPTYMw_9AmJUoMB_vpYL4TzqRlkWYaz-Hra9HK4vududpxc5sXvWtNO8hwsq5_JTKKLGWPl9stOQDupJGyHA4/s1600/raining+joy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Raining Joy" mixed media</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As a child, I remember having a corkboard littered with sketches and free-handed copies of comic strips I liked (<i>Peanuts</i> and <i>Cathy</i> being my favourites, but I seemed to like the detailed illustrations of children's books the best; I was particularly proud of drawing I did of the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/134102.Hubert_s_Hair_Raising_Adventure" target="_blank">giraffe on the cover of this book</a> when I was nine or ten. I wish I had saved it). In school, I was the only girl in my grade who was known as the "artist" (normally, it was only the boys who drew). I sculpted with clay, once I learned how to sew I made doll clothes (poorly!), despite my serious lack of fashion sense, I rocked the 70's <a href="http://www.retroland.com/fashion-plates/#.UG23olGBxIg" target="_blank">Fashion Plates</a> like nobody's business. (I would later join the <a href="http://www.sca.org/" target="_blank">SCA </a>and make decent garb, huzzah!) I also sang, did backstage theatre work since college and I still putz around with photography.<br />
<br />
Years ago, I learned how to knit and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasserhexe/2704880297/" target="_blank">I </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasserhexe/2640011085/" target="_blank">love </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasserhexe/2979168805/" target="_blank">knitting </a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasserhexe/4388006429/" target="_blank">socks </a>- nearly obsessed at one time. I suppose I could return to that obsession easily, if I weren't up to my eyeballs in Other Things.<br />
<br />
My latest craze in other a-MUSE-ments (see what I did there?) is <a href="http://www.artist-trading-cards.ch/" target="_blank">Artist Trading Cards</a>, or ATCs for short. It's another medium that I can turn to when I'm not feeling particularly wordy. I actually stopped writing (gasp!) for <i>years</i> and kept to my knitting and ATCs, thinking I was never going to make anything out of it, so why bother? I could still be creative and do something.<br />
<br />
Funny thing when you tell yourself "I'll never do that (again)" - sometimes you have to eat your words. If you're lucky, it's something that you <i>should be doing</i> and the Universe slaps you around a bit until you drag out your notebook(s) and pen(s) and story ideas start bubbling up inside your brain, demanding to be paid attention to.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd1vDn5ryVHF_c8vILcFCONPe_GfVEhmnaCQlxv9X3yGxEozvdJYTcgSsj_ZovgDJa0FvkuHX8MpVE4Q2GFRh8UdFShaZn_oxHKPSVXpiCpdzB9_eG45Aarqrgo4oYpXgYwFZe6uwx4Y/s1600/two+by+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidd1vDn5ryVHF_c8vILcFCONPe_GfVEhmnaCQlxv9X3yGxEozvdJYTcgSsj_ZovgDJa0FvkuHX8MpVE4Q2GFRh8UdFShaZn_oxHKPSVXpiCpdzB9_eG45Aarqrgo4oYpXgYwFZe6uwx4Y/s1600/two+by+two.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Two by Two" collage/mixed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I couldn't write, however, dragging out my coloured pencils, fancy paper, random scraps (called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephemera" target="_blank">ephemera </a>by the ATC pros I traded with), beads and whatever else I had lying about to create "pocket-sized art" for my own entertainment was the way to go. They are simply cards made out of old playing cards, regular card stock, fabric, Plexiglass, wood - you name it - that are sized 2 ½ X 3 ½ inch (64 X 89 mm). They should fit this as close as possible, but I have cards that go over a bit, due to the embellishments added. The standard to keep them this size is to make them easy to store (like in baseball/collector sleeves). They are meant to be portable, of course.<br />
<br />
They are <i>trading cards</i>, which means there are groups all over the place who are willing - in some cases desperate - to trade with other ATC makers. <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=OnV&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1366&bih=598&q=artist+trading+cards+swap+groups&oq=Artist+Trading+Cards&gs_l=serp.1.7.0l10.290917.303766.0.309441.35.20.4.8.8.2.161.1502.14j5.19.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.EJAb50eS4O4" target="_blank">A quick Google search</a> gives you access to groups galore, explaining how to go about trading and what folks were looking for, etc., etc. It's great fun and I have a binder filled will cards I've traded with fellow artists from all over the United States, Canada and even some from Scotland.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3PbRSvQKIOSngAWeK_R6PmVu9mDjySGIiO4riOSOTiCE01UUzV3JSIpjAiUgykIHa78vpGkFrbLwTNPPHvl_7Bxgzn5VEPtX-LoB0fQHQJ_EodK_pZwt1ronhL4NefQMZ6hhd_FEpCQ/s1600/better+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3PbRSvQKIOSngAWeK_R6PmVu9mDjySGIiO4riOSOTiCE01UUzV3JSIpjAiUgykIHa78vpGkFrbLwTNPPHvl_7Bxgzn5VEPtX-LoB0fQHQJ_EodK_pZwt1ronhL4NefQMZ6hhd_FEpCQ/s1600/better+world.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Better World" I'm also a <i>Firefly</i> fan - Ni hao!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Long gone are my drawing days, but I do make the attempt every so often, as you can see. I mainly do collages/mixed media - anything to avoid drawing. I have done origami and abstract images, cutting and pasting pieces of paper with glitter and feathers and who knows what else! Somehow, words would creep into my ATCs and I would be moved by words, first - either as inspiration for the ATC I was working on or something to enhance the ATC overall.<br />
<br />
I have a series that I've been toying with for a few months (!) where I considered writing some flash-fiction on the ATC, itself. I'm not sure how far I'll get with those, particularly now with my focus being on actually <i>writing</i>, but I'm still interested in the idea. I just have to find that slice of time to allow for it to happen.<br />
<br />
The magic of this is that while I'm doing these Other Things, stories start to bloom in my mind and then I'm rushing to find me some paper and a pen before I lose the idea!<br />
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<b><i>Your turn!</i></b><i> What other non-writing hobbies do you have? How do you tease your muse out of Writer's Block? Have you learned how to channel your creativity down other paths? Has it helped and inspired your stories at all</i>?C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-60067585801846224832012-10-03T08:00:00.000-07:002012-10-03T08:15:19.060-07:00Wednesday In Progress: Late Nights, Open WindowsLast week I lost my job. Y'know, the one I always complain about on Twitter. I no longer have that problem, but a host of new and shiny ones - like, getting another straight job (preferably not in hell). I'm not homeless just yet - but I would like to avoid that scenario as much as possible.<br />
<br />
Strangely enough, this has given me ample amounts of free time to write (of course). What have I been doing? Well, household chores and job hunting - <i>and very little writing.</i> I am not as shocked with this revelation as I thought I'd be. Sad that I haven't made the time to write for the past week and a half, but not shocked.<br />
<br />
What I've also noticed is that I am less a morning person and much more geared to write during the nighttime. Then it's mostly quiet (the interstate is basically right outside my balcony, so there's always that subtle roar which - in my best attempts - I can turn into the sea crashing) and I don't have animals meowing in my face or whinging to get taken out to pee. Everyone (including the spouse) is asleep and I have the place to myself. Finally.<br />
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Oh, I'm tired. I've still tried to keep my schedule to what it was - up at five every morning, breakfast and lunch taken care of for both of us and then the rest of my day, whatever that means. Mostly, it means tending to our pets, making sure I job-hunt, and keeping up on the laundry and other cleaning so we don't look like we live in a hovel. Don't anyone ever believe the lie "housework isn't <i>real</i> work" because it's worse than that - it's demanding physical labour and you don't even get paid for it and vacation/sick leave is non-existent.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKlAKOEhfWAz_J_ra6D7ppQarMffkB3G_uxPi0oBsJ5b3Q7BeianNGrxGQGeWeTCSoqvOQBdS2AFKb4KP4qPThFCznO7WD7LifoYzOZtaBqjpWILNiqUYQi8LLPr53IXhhbusMh5dOFI/s1600/open+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKlAKOEhfWAz_J_ra6D7ppQarMffkB3G_uxPi0oBsJ5b3Q7BeianNGrxGQGeWeTCSoqvOQBdS2AFKb4KP4qPThFCznO7WD7LifoYzOZtaBqjpWILNiqUYQi8LLPr53IXhhbusMh5dOFI/s400/open+window.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't mind an open window to this; Trillium Lake at OMG o'clock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My husband told me Tuesday night that he wants me published. He wants me happy to fulfill my dreams. This is my chance - my open window - and not to waste it. I'm a little afraid as to what it's going to do to my sleep schedule (especially as I'm still trying to get a straight job) but I'm being productive, at least.<br />
<br />
So, here I am. Got my window open, listening to my faux-seaside and typing out my tale as fast as my fingers can fly across my keyboard. (now say <i>that</i> three times fast)<br />
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<b><i>Your turn!</i></b><i> When do you feel most productive? Have you been able to adjust your schedule or do you have a work-around? Did you learn how to change your schedule to fit your life/pursuits?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-20530486259524293702012-09-19T17:59:00.001-07:002012-09-19T17:59:38.740-07:00Wednesday In Progress: Soppy Over Scrivener (...And no, this isn't a paid ad or endorsement of anything. These are my own observations and opinions - and photos - as always. Take from it all what you will.)<br />
<br />
A while back, I mentioned how I was <a href="http://ceschwilk.blogspot.com/2012/09/techno-party-fashionably-late.html" target="_blank">always late to the party</a>. I really am.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0TLs2VzVKV_ZQP65RC4HaZWButLrS0hyphenhyphenciTA-ufPPuBhKh4DFgqdWBasEB3z6MN9rzh0aw3Ut4zMkzFLqRnk7NVEn19B_-8fgOXHNxy_MHZPZLxch0Pn6kYVm6DciV1YZgjyPNj_w-8/s1600/non+scrivener.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0TLs2VzVKV_ZQP65RC4HaZWButLrS0hyphenhyphenciTA-ufPPuBhKh4DFgqdWBasEB3z6MN9rzh0aw3Ut4zMkzFLqRnk7NVEn19B_-8fgOXHNxy_MHZPZLxch0Pn6kYVm6DciV1YZgjyPNj_w-8/s400/non+scrivener.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books probably <i>not </i>written using Scrivener - pity!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After years and <i>years</i> of hearing about this supposedly "awesome program for writers" called <a href="http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php" target="_blank">Scrivener</a>, I finally downloaded a 30-day trial. Yesterday. I think not having my own laptop, my <i>virtual writing and research space</i> (if we want to get fancy) contributed to my hesitation to try this out, but yesterday - in the middle of my utter frustration with my straight job dealings, the copious notes I have littering not only my trusty never-leave-home-without-it-notebook, this laptop (several Word documents, a few Notepad files and I also use Open Office), I decided I really need to consolidate this mess.<br />
<br />
I can't remember who it was on my Twitter feed, but someone mentioned how well they were able to organise themselves with Scrivener and bang out their story. Well, being that me without an outline is akin to me walking around town without pants (comfortable, though not appropriate and completely useless and distracting), I figured another tool in my writing arsenal wouldn't be a bad thing.<br />
<br />
So, I downloaded the trial version (30 nonconsecutive days of usage) and even though I've only used it for a few hours thus far, I think I'm in love. I have webpages of info, character sheets and snippets of story all in their variously useful places - and I can drag and drop if I find them a better place! I have house plans! Actual images so I don't have to remember or pour through my notes/text as to whether or not I put the kitchen in the south or west of the house (not that it will matter to my readers, but just in case). I still need to have faith with the importing of documents, though. I'm so used to things not working between programs (though advertised as if it were as easy as Scrivener makes it).<br />
<br />
I have 30 days to test everything out (but I'm probably going to buy it this Friday).<br />
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<b><i>Your turn!</i></b><i> Have you tried Scrivener? Like it? Hate it? Found something better? What writing tool can you not live without?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-30232798158590598122012-09-16T06:32:00.001-07:002012-09-16T06:32:56.294-07:00What Are You Afraid Of?So, I realise I'm a little early for Halloween - but it was actually <a href="http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=416154511777454&id=154882381238003" target="_blank">Michelle Muto's Facebook status</a> that inspired this post (So, thank you, Michelle)!<br />
<br />
Currently, I am writing/researching a project which involves monsters. Well, I'm writing about monstrous creatures in any case. A while back (as I was getting ready for bed), I was getting some ideas and sorting out scenes in my head, some of which involved these monsters attacking my main character in her bedroom. Naturally, that exact moment would be the perfect time for my brain to go into overdrive and imagine those monsters sitting in <i>my </i>bedroom, waiting until the lights were out to attack me. It took me about an hour before I could relax and stop scaring myself stupid.<br />
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When I was a child, though, I was <i>deathly </i>afraid of dogs. It was all my mother's fault, really. In order to coerce me into bed (and stay there throughout the night), she would warn me: <i>Don't get out of bed or the scary dog will get you</i> and my imagination would suddenly see two red eyes in the darkest corner of my room, just waiting for the chance to snap if I dared leave my bed. Only during the desperate bladder-bursting moments did I, too.<br />
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That fear of dogs went well into my adulthood (I'm actually a cat person). Didn't take me too long to overcome that fear, at least, knowing that my fear was really unfounded. Besides, how can anyone be afraid of this face?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYyGEksFxJnli0e-yNJxEf7EooPjgRYigZeaw2Zslerxw8j79_dcqChgUZhQe0dOo45WDrMbqh5uOUzeQ_ng_Ill9OT8Yn0UnYEL54fG900ibtkl-fWlTRHsY6YJVb9e7N5GHR1704Z0/s1600/bonny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYyGEksFxJnli0e-yNJxEf7EooPjgRYigZeaw2Zslerxw8j79_dcqChgUZhQe0dOo45WDrMbqh5uOUzeQ_ng_Ill9OT8Yn0UnYEL54fG900ibtkl-fWlTRHsY6YJVb9e7N5GHR1704Z0/s320/bonny.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A face <i>everybody </i>should love: our pirate dog, Bonny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm sure as I continue writing my monster story, I will have irrational moments where I may have to check under my bed/in the closets before going to sleep.<br />
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A few years ago when <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364385/" target="_blank">Ju-On</a> was playing in theatres, we went - despite my aversion to scary things. I had nightmares for an entire year. I'm hoping writing this story won't be as bad because, ultimately, I figure I will finish this story in five books. That's a long time to have nightmares. Yikes.<br />
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<b><i>Your turn!</i></b> <i>What sort of things scare you? Are they irrational fears from childhood? How did you overcome them or are you still afraid?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-86420652496466600972012-09-09T21:45:00.000-07:002012-09-09T21:45:22.419-07:00Techno Party - Fashionably LateLate to the technology party, as usual. I'm always late to any party, really.<br />
<br />
This weekend I got myself a new toy: 500GB laptop with a 17" screen and, boy howdy, is it beautiful. Bear in mind, I haven't had a personal computer since 2003 or so (maybe a little earlier). Oh, well, let's be honest: I have a beautiful green iMac that's been the best darned paper-weight and closet-stuffer since 2003. I probably could fire it up right now and use it, but not online. Well, I think the better half would have a stroke if I tried to drag that lump out of storage, especially with my new and shiny toy.<br />
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My iMac's CD drive is completely shot and it's more hassle to upgrade/deal with now, especially with my new and shiny toy. See the theme, here?<br />
<br />
I still don't own a cell phone. That may change next month, but we'll see. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYoR0Toma_DOg9T86CjbjVZbIE_6gqq0uTDrSVZ20LBSgOSeH7N9ySNc7tM9IN07xP3o7W7sl88dRNszpT3V0A-GZnfrWqxPxWjnLQ9roDi48onsY_sSHnwla8lqWcAcXB2HRxowjwLM/s1600/neohands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYoR0Toma_DOg9T86CjbjVZbIE_6gqq0uTDrSVZ20LBSgOSeH7N9ySNc7tM9IN07xP3o7W7sl88dRNszpT3V0A-GZnfrWqxPxWjnLQ9roDi48onsY_sSHnwla8lqWcAcXB2HRxowjwLM/s320/neohands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these hands know maniacal typing, the Neo knows pain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, this was all to facilitate better and easier writing and research on my part. Even now, the bulk of my writing will stay on my Neo (holy crow, <a href="http://vancefry.com/projects/red-neo/" target="_blank">someone's dyed theirs</a>...interesting) for ease and the negative distraction it has by comparison to the laptop which is my biggest issue with working on a laptop in general. Give me a wifi connection and I'm lost for <strike>days</strike><b> hours</b> doing <i>research.</i> Yeah. Research. I don't have that luxury on my Neo, so I can work.<br />
<br />
So, yeah - another step in my writing life. More tools; shiny, distracting tools.<br />
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<i>Your turn!</i> What tools do you have? What have you done to keep the distractions to a minimum? Are you late to the party, too, or are you usually hosting it? C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-44359753263537537642012-09-05T18:50:00.000-07:002012-09-05T18:50:16.734-07:00Wednesday in Progress: Short Stories Are GoldHoly moly. An entire <i>month </i>of being offline (PC decided to go wacky and then it was the Nightmare Best Buy commercial) and I'm going to try and figure out this "regularly blogging" thing. Bear with me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mMMY4vGRoUgBQhSP-vDghG0LhWHVw-tvPEoqkW6fMCPZpD8fNbCw4uqt9UwdfoJtHSouP8wTvXSwYO19ax3nybV2xTRm72MyS25e-ZB7VdlgEem_3atBqfAPWTawV14Uju46c7IXUtA/s1600/writer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mMMY4vGRoUgBQhSP-vDghG0LhWHVw-tvPEoqkW6fMCPZpD8fNbCw4uqt9UwdfoJtHSouP8wTvXSwYO19ax3nybV2xTRm72MyS25e-ZB7VdlgEem_3atBqfAPWTawV14Uju46c7IXUtA/s200/writer.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">me writing my masterpieces, duh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, we're going to try a new format for this blog. Wednesdays I'm going to share the wisdom of all those fabulous writers I follow on Twitter and Facebook and compile lists of helpfulness - if only for myself, but I think it will be generally useful to anyone out there reading. (I don't <i>hear</i> crickets over my streaming radio...)<br />
<br />
Currently, I'm up to my eyeballs in a lot of changes/upgrades. I'm hoping to move to my own webspace in a few months, I'm working on a massive story (that I'm hoping to write in a series of 5 books), and I have a handful of stories/story ideas that are being shuffled around and tweaked whenever I have a moment. That and there have been a few life-changes that have affected us, too. It's exciting, scary, hectic - you name it. Good times.<br />
<br />
Here we go:<br />
<br />
I like Ryan Casey's <a href="http://ryancaseybooks.com/short-stories-four-reasons/" target="_blank">Short Stories: Four Reasons Why You Should Write Them</a>. Especially with the ebook popularity and a number of <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120905/NEWS09/309050051/New-mobile-devices-on-way" target="_blank">new products hitting the market just in time for the holidays</a>, short stories are a fantastic medium for ebook formats. Take ten or fifteen minutes and you can have your literary fill with a nice, compact tale - in between waiting in a queue at the grocery, waiting for your next appointment, or even your lunch break (provided you don't spill your food on your eReader).<br />
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Kris Noel has great for advice on the <a href="http://ht.ly/cJwKp" target="_blank">Three Act Structure</a> - basics every writer should follow, regardless if you're writing a novel or a short story, or a movie script! It's a great little poke in the brain if you're having trouble with the pacing of your story.<br />
<br />
Lastly, a fun little video: <a href="http://youtu.be/VyQ1wEBx1V0" target="_blank">Vonnegut Advice: Short Stories</a> I personally really enjoyed <i>Slaughterhouse Five</i>, but I didn't get past that one book of his - and he's written tons of short stories! I think I'm going to have to devote one of my weekends to reading a few. Plenty of great, simple advice - but I like (and I need to remind myself constantly) of #4 <i>Every sentence must do one of two things - reveal character or advance action.</i> I also like #6 <i>Be a sadist.</i> Sweet.<br />
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My hope is in between all of my longer fiction, I will be able to share a few bite-size morsels that you can enjoy. There are dozens of starts floating about in this brain o'mine...<br />
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<i><b>Your turn!</b> I'd like to hear from you. What advice do <b>you </b>have to share about writing short stories? Do you write them at all? Have you tried? What was the last short story you've read?</i>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-17463414398441077732012-07-17T19:36:00.000-07:002012-07-17T19:36:12.735-07:00But Getting Paid for Fan-Fiction Is OKWell, I haven't died. This is good.<br />
<br />
I have been busy with Life (which mostly involves my straight job hell, which <a href="https://twitter.com/CESchwilk" target="_blank">I tweet about often</a>) and everything else that isn't Writing. Sad, I know.<br />
<br />
I had been throwing around a few blog ideas (because, y'know, I'm actually trying not to forget how to write - there is that fear) and <a href="http://io9.com/5926841/ron-moore-will-turn-diana-gabaldons-outlander-series-into-a-tv-show" target="_blank">when it was announced that Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series was going to be on TV</a>, I had a bit of a shock. She hates fan-fiction. Like, enough to <a href="http://kate-nepveu.livejournal.com/483239.html" target="_blank">rant about it for three separate posts</a>. Really.<br />
<br />
So, I think my question here is directed to all those who write - published or not - how could you give a "fan-fiction policy" and expect them to follow it? And not alienate your fanbase? I know I'm rehashing old stuff, but again - it's the fault of the news. Congratulations to Ms. Gabaldon and I hope the fans think Moore does the books justice (he/they probably won't) - but isn't this a paid form of fan-fiction? He at least got permission and not the rambly, hate-spewing, semi-paranoia she doled out.<br />
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I think if I ever get so popular to have fan-fiction written about my characters (though it may totally <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squick" target="_blank">squick</a> me out), I'm going to run with it. Count it as further evidence that I have inspired folks to be active and creative, instead of merely being a spectator. Those folks just watch TV.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Note: </b>If you're unwilling to click on the links, I must - at least - post her outrageous policy. She's entitled to her feelings and anyone with a shred of decency should respect her requests for not sending fanfic to her, and she should nail folks to the walls who try to make money off fanfic from her books. To equate fanfic with <i>breaking into her house</i> or - better still - <i>sleeping with her husband</i> goes off the deep-end. She doesn't have to read any fanfic - she doesn't have to read anything she doesn't want to, but to ban certain folks (she's not doing the adaptations for TV, that's going to be another writer!) from writing fanfic? That she thinks fanfic is illegal? Nuts. (I'd say "Loony Toons" but I don't want Disney after me, either...)</span><br />
<br />
<i>FAN-FICTION POLICY<br />You know, I'm very flattered that some of you enjoy the books so much <br />that you feel inspired to engage with the writing in a more personal way <br />than most readers do. Both for legal and personal reasons, though, <br />I'm not comfortable with fan-fiction based on any of my work, and <br />request that you do not write it, do not send it to me, and do not <br />publish it, whether in print or on the web. Thank you very much for your <br />courtesy and consideration.</i><br />
<br />
So, what do you think about fan-fiction? Do you think I'm nuts being willing for other people to mess with my characters? Would you allow it? Do you?C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-64267821482036214192011-12-29T11:23:00.000-08:002011-12-29T11:23:36.774-08:00Why I Keep WritingThat makes me laugh - "why I keep writing". I haven't written in a long time, although there is a personal blog post somewhere, and that was last week? I think it was last week. Anyway - "why I keep writing"... I've been listening to <a href="http://isbw.murlafferty.com/" target="_blank">Mur Lafferty's <em>I Should Be Writing</em> podcast</a>, trying to convince myself that *I* should be writing. Of course.<br />
<br />
I would say that <a href="http://epiphanytheatre.webs.com/" target="_blank">my theatre</a> has been taking up all my free time, but that would be a lie. It is taking a *lot* of my free time, but not all. I mainly come home from work (desk job, mind-numbing accts payable drudgery), have dinner and watch a movie (usually a documentary) and play a video game. Where's the writing time in that? Well, I suppose I could forego the movie and - if I wanted to be really hardcore, I could write and eat dinner at the same time (I've done it before).<br />
<br />
Although I also have a spouse that deserves my attention - and that's where the movie-watching and dinner-eating come into play. I only have so much time before my brain turns into toothpaste, and family time is certainly important to me. I have a finite amount of time that I've convinced myself Other Things need my attention - my writing? My writing can be done later. Of course.<br />
<br />
Yet, I'm blogging. My <a href="http://piratebonny.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Bonny blog</a> needs updating, my personal blog is probably getting the most attention because it's a nice brain-dump location. Not only that, but the several novels that I have "in progress" span nearly 10 years' worth of work and I don't even know if any of it is worth anything. I may end up trunking everything.<br />
<br />
Yet, I'm still writing. I still want to work on my stories - well, one story in particular that still continues to poke me in the ear or eye every so often. I know there are some serious issues with the story itself (I'm going to need an eagle-eyed historian, for one), but I really like this story - still. Even after all these months...years? Yes, I think it's now officially been two years. How did that happen?<br />
<br />
So, why do I keep writing? Even as sporadic as I do - I still want to tell a story. I would also like to have someone other than my spouse reading it. I need to be adored by the world...or at least, more folks who aren't my friends before reading my story. Once they've read my story, they can clamour for my friendship, if they like.<br />
<br />
I should be writing. You should be too. Or doing something that fulfills you, because that's what it's all about.C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-58204163219455726192011-11-03T20:04:00.000-07:002011-11-03T20:04:38.790-07:00I'm Still Runnin'...By the skin of my teeth. I am just making NaNo at an average of 2000 words a day. It's my little cushion so that one day I can go over and then give myself an excuse to be lazy, but I'm hoping I will be better than this and not be lazy - but go on to finish this...<i>piece of crap that I can't believe I'm writing</i>.<br />
<br />
Anyway, my story has now expanded a bit - yay! - with more random ideas to fill out as to why things are happening as they are. There have been some twists and turns that have appeared, which is doing wonders for my word count. Of course, I'll look at this in December (or, more likely, next NaNo) and wonder what possessed me to write this.<br />
<br />
Oh, that's right. NaNo. I'm still running. It's only Day 3 - but I'm still running.<br />
<br />
I found <a href="http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2011/11/writers-number-one-enemy.html" target="_blank">Jody Hedlund's blog entry "A Writer's Number One Enemy"</a> and it helped. Like I've said before, I'm a <a href="http://ceschwilk.blogspot.com/2011/09/embrace-your-bad-days.html" target="_blank">practising optimist</a>. I still have my default "negative" moments. More than necessary, in fact. I am pushing through - and I'm happy with myself, as happy as I can be with myself. I am cheering myself on more than bashing myself - honest!<br />
<br />
In other news - hubby made this great savoury juice where I threw in hot sauce. It gave it a nice bite and if we could have had alcohol, I would have been in Bloody Mary heaven.<br />
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Also, I have been eating <i><b>lotsa</b></i> carrots. I think my grandparents would be proud.<br />
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Word count: <b>6101</b>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-39273094340727954202011-11-02T09:12:00.000-07:002011-11-02T09:12:28.579-07:00I Bled The Turnip...& I Got Beet Juice!I haven't started Day 2 of NaNo, yet - and my first 2018 words last night (and the very <i>end</i> of last night, almost this morning) was like pulling teeth. I did it. I'm happy that I made it to 2k and I'm hoping to write another 2k today. I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with this schedule all month - especially when I go back to work next week.<br />
<br />
Also, my story that was originally planned as a "horror/supernatural" has become a Chick Lit story. At least it feels less scary and less supernatural - but it's early. I mean, I opened with a funeral...well, post-funeral - everyone is gathered at the house (of the deceased) and it's a party in there. Right now my main character is (was?) trying to defuse an argument happening in the kitchen.<br />
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That's another thing. Whilst doing NaNo, I've decided to do a month-long fast (health reasons, trying to purge myself of crappy feelings from the food allergies/sensitivities I have) so, naturally, what shows up in my novel? <b><i>Everyone's eating!</i></b> I don't describe the food in detail (although I'm sure that would help my word count) but my starting scene is in the kitchen, counters piled high with food and people stuffing their faces and here I am, drinking a vegan vegetable concoction. No solid food. Crap.<br />
<br />
The juicing hasn't been bad, honestly - but the cravings are interesting. I really wanted steak yesterday (that was my first day). Just had my morning juice and, overall, I'm full. We only had two meals yesterday - I was too full to even try for dinner. It's once we've done two weeks of the same thing - I wonder just how much I'll be wishing for a double cheeseburger.<br />
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So, not a bad start on either front - the juicing or Nano - but I totally didn't expect my story to take the radical turn it did and I certainly didn't expect myself to like the juice. It's early, though. Change happens. We'll see what this all changes into next week...once I'm surrounded by food.<br />
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Word count: <b>2018</b>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-14198316307014938882011-10-19T18:32:00.000-07:002011-10-29T11:53:42.291-07:00This is SO Not About NaNoWriMo<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's coming, y'know - if you aren't one of the 200K+ folks of the writing-mind who go crazy during the month of November to participate in <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a>, you may have friends (or relatives or coworkers or miscellaneous acquaintances who mysteriously have Too Busy Schedules and maybe don't surface for air until family holidays, distracted and clutch scraps of paper, stuffed in pockets, pencils tucked behind their ears as they mumble something about murder...</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe that's just me. Not quite sure. NaNo always gives me something new to write about. This year, I'm trying my hand at paranormal "quiet" horror. I don't know what the death toll will be necessarily, but I am hoping to achieve a creep-factor of at least 7 (10 being the highest).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But this isn't about NaNoWriMo.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you want to read about NaNo, there are plenty of blogs whirling about that - <i><b>scores</b><b></b></i> of them. A great blog with oodles of guest writers is <a href="http://wrimosftw.blogspot.com/">WriMos FTW!</a> (today <a href="http://twitter.com/write_me_happy">@write_me_happy</a> is guest blogger and after reading <a href="http://wrimosftw.blogspot.com/2011/10/success-win-or-lose-by-angie-richmond.html">her post</a>, you just want to stand up and cheer her on. At least, I do. Anyone willing to do this insane month-long-self-pat-on-the-back-for-doing-50K-words-in-30-days deserves a cheer - especially when you have a goal past "just writing 50K words of crap". It's a lofty (but possible) goal.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The key is preparation.</b></i> <a href="http://twitter.com/KristenLambTX">@KristenLambTX</a> has a blog for that. She has some fantastic posts to help you <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/structure-part-1-anatomy-of-a-best-selling-novel-structure-matters/">get</a> <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/structure-part-2-plot-problems-falcor-the-luck-dragon-the-purple-tornado/">yourself</a> <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/structure-part-3-introducing-the-opposition/">organised</a> and turn that 30 day frenzy into a <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/editing-meet-the-novel-killer-2/">respectable draft</a> - in order to edit and polish without wanting to rip out all your hair and/or leap from the tallest building. You may get that urge somewhere around November 10th (just a warning).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I still have an outline to finish. There is an ending that I was happy about 2 days ago which was immediately killed (deader than a doornail) and now I'm feeling little moments of panic because <i>how am I supposed to end this story I've concocted?</i> Eeep.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm also in the middle of getting our <span id="goog_127967766"></span><a href="http://epiphanytheatre.webs.com/">fledgling theatre<span id="goog_127967767"></span></a> off the ground - we're going to announce our first season in early December, but we still have a lot of prep work to do and my mind keeps spinning. I'm glad I'm not in charge of the super-duper important stuff. I think I might have a nervous breakdown. I might have a nervous breakdown anyway.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">November is a busy month (always is) and there are a lot of personal things (good things!) that I'm trying to accomplish then, too. Good gravy, only twelve days left before it starts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Somebody hold me.<br />
</span></div>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-47142097890629059772011-10-13T12:13:00.000-07:002011-10-13T12:13:42.438-07:00Inspired (Delirium) By Sickness<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been hopped up on meds since Monday night - still doing my straight job, still pulling a full day with mandatory overtime. I have those moments of woozy and woe and, like yesterday afternoon, I am in absolute danger of falling asleep at my desk and knocking myself unconscious as my head slams into my keyboard. Things can get rather exciting here in no time at all.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I really want is bed - or at least a few days where the most complicated thought is "Do I get up to eat now or wait until I feel more hungry?" I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, so I will continue to take the meds, rest as much as I can.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Along with my writerly pursuits, I am one of the founding members of a brand new theatre company (more on this in future posts - it's juicy stuff) - and we're looking to file Non-Profit status, so I'm up to my eyeballs in government literature as to how to do that without losing my mind. I don't know if it's worked yet, but I remain hopeful. Thank goodness we know a so many people who've already gone through this - and are willing to help!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lastly, I'm furiously banging away at my outline for <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNo</a> - because I'm determined to start this year's novel with an outline. I've done this enough times without one - and they have all ended in an unhappy mess. I always thought I was a good pantser, until I was hell-bent on <em>finishing something</em>. That meant I needed a clear idea of where my story was going to end and if I didn't have a rough map as to where that was going to be - <em>my story would never end</em>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't know if it's a personal philosophy (or just delusions from my being sick) but I was moved at a very young age with a dialogue from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084237/">The Last Unicorn</a>:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><strong>Molly Grue</strong>: But what if there isn't a happy ending? <br />
<b sizcache="1" sizset="191">Schmendrick</b>: There are no happy endings, because nothing ends. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nothing ends. I have <em>always</em> seen it that way and though I love a lot of different books and stories and movies and whatever - I never quite understood how they/anyone could just "end" things. It doesn't. People move on, things change, new stories develop - maybe with different characters, but nothing ever ends.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Maybe I got the flu. Doesn't feel like the flu, but I sure do feel crazy.</span></span></div>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-17310571350181089972011-10-07T17:25:00.000-07:002011-10-07T17:34:12.107-07:00My NaNo Makes Me Screeeeeeeeeeeeeam!<div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although, shouldn't it make you scream? I hope in a good way. Hmm.<span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">For the first time (okay, second time - but <i>that</i> first time it was more urban fantasy and you're supposed to love the monster, anyway...), I am attempting a horror story for my <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNo</a>. I have no idea what I'm doing. Ever. I can't even watch horror movies (example: we went to the cinema to see <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364385/"><i>Ju-on</i></a> and the way I watched it was through my fingers; fingernails digging into the arm of my better half - and I still managed to have nightmares for a year, oy). What the hell am I thinking?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Desperation, I think is the word. Well, no - not entirely. Some of it was inspiration. Honest. Stop laughing, out there!</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><b> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>My nano-pitch:</b> A young woman who's getting settled into life - new house, great new promotion, stable and healthy relationship(s), etc. - inherits a mirror from her favourite, loving aunt that does a little more than show her a pretty reflection.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I'm a tease and I hope it gives someone (besides myself) nightmares - or at the very least that creepy, crawly feeling you get when you think someone's watching you (especially when you are totally alone).</span></span></div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Being that I'm a total maniacal, obsessive, compulsive, perfectionist </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">(you really want more adjectives?)</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"> outliner - having only started my outline a few nights ago is making me a little crazy. Okay, so I'm crazy regardless, but that's beside the point. Right now, I'm trying to focus and get some sort of outline put together so I don't lose my marbles on Nov 1st. Right now, I think I'm missing a few marbles, but y'know...whatever!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I'm trying out the <a href="http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php">snowflake method</a> - so far, so good. Nowhere near done, but I haven't run screaming from the building yet. This is a win.</span></span></div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">What's everyone else writing about for NaNo? Got a method?</span></span> </div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Now for a cute dog photo (sorry for waking you, Bonny):</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg6CCVX4u5owkZcOo_sckwfcEx8eRHcEk7CKaWzYFl8V86g6aQruaJijzclUgSMXyGvhG9M1VCCHsNXU1S_rWk6FjDWnLcqka1KJvndTDvqVAM3AAMz1YHw7jThL7D05u7WJtw2qMUuI/s1600/bonnysleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFg6CCVX4u5owkZcOo_sckwfcEx8eRHcEk7CKaWzYFl8V86g6aQruaJijzclUgSMXyGvhG9M1VCCHsNXU1S_rWk6FjDWnLcqka1KJvndTDvqVAM3AAMz1YHw7jThL7D05u7WJtw2qMUuI/s400/bonnysleep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="yiv248334418MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></span></div>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-13247219149040147562011-10-05T11:59:00.000-07:002011-10-07T09:43:53.049-07:00The "Other" (Writerly) Tools?<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Okay, so I'm broken. Well, really my Canon-SX130-IS is the thing that's broken - and that's breaking me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I love this camera. I didn't love it when we first got it (a free gift! do we never appreciate free gifts or just don't appreciate them as much as something we've hoarded and slaved over to get?) but since the better half took what was meant to be the "family camera" as a tool for passion and livelihood (</span><a href="http://www.obscurevisionphotography.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">shameless plug here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">), getting this extra camera was great. Also, I could stuff this in my handbag while the "family camera" needs its own rucksack (with lenses, extra battery pack and various doo-dads that I barely know the full functions of). So, got this camera and it was portable, did all these neat functions (like video! with sound!) and it was now mine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Until some time last week when the memory card spring-loaded slot decided to stop functioning. Now I'm just getting error messages and I have no idea if it's fixable - or even worth it. In any case, I'm minus a camera that has helped me write </span><a href="http://piratebonny.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bonny's blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> as well as help feed me ideas for stories or remind me of what stuff looks like (again, to help me write). I know it's just a crutch, it's just a crutch. I've worked for years without a camera and we still have the "family camera" that I can borrow. It's just not the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I feel like I'm missing my favourite pen. I mean, I can still write (I don't even use a pen/pencil - I type on my </span><a href="http://www.neo-direct.com/NEO/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Neo, Inara-Jayne</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">) and still function just fine, but something is still missing. It's irritating.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anyone else out there have a unique "other" writing tool that isn't traditionally thought of as such? Y'know...like a cinder block that holds up your open reference materaisl just so, unlike anything else you've tried? Or maybe you don't write - but knit with chopsticks (the rounded ones are size 3 or 4 US, I think...) or your trusty roll of duct tape never leaves your side (ala <em>MacGyver</em>). I know folks who carry those crazy, multitool contraptions, but those are meant to service anything/everything. I'm all about the weird.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What nontraditional tools do you use for your life? Please share! I'd like to know how other folks have made use of things that they weren't originally intended for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Inspiration for this blog post: my broken camera & <a href="http://www.instructables.com/">Instructables - Make, How-to & DIY</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>updated 10/07/11: </strong>why didn't anyone tell me I wrote <em>cider block</em> instead of cinder? Oooh, boy, I'm funny...</span>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-39351359553261892182011-10-03T14:14:00.000-07:002011-10-03T14:14:09.841-07:00The Nanos Are Coming! The Nanos Are Coming!<strong>nano</strong> - a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute,” used in the formation of compound words (<em>nanoplankton</em>); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense “one billionth” (10 -9 ): <em>nanomole</em>; <em>nanosecond</em>.<br />
<em>(courtesy of </em><a href="http://dictionary.com/"><em>Dictionary.com</em></a><em>)</em><br />
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Of course, that has nothing to do with <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> - the month-long maniacal attempt to push out a word-count of 50K in a mere 30 days. It's insanity, I tell you.<br />
<br />
Unless you are (1) independently wealthy, (2) have no responsibilities (and I mean NONE - short of getting yourself to the toilet; adult diapers eventually need changing) and (3) have no holidays to celebrate (Eid & Thanksgiving come to mind - but I'm sure there are more hiding somewhere...) - oh, and (4) a hermit, NaNo can be tricky to schedule in between working, social/familial commitments, chores - y'know <em>daily life</em>.<br />
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Those of you smart-alecks who pound out several thousand words a day - shut up. This is for the rest of us.<br />
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Here is some motivation:<br />
<a href="http://epicwriter88.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/nanowrimo-motivation-pants-of-shame/">Wear your Pants of Shame</a>. These are literal pants and if you want to get in on the action (but have no time to knit/crochet/sew), go to your local thrift shop and find the ugliest pants you can afford; don't be afraid! You know they are out there, lingering in a bin because no one wants them. Really. Follow the rest of the directions in the link and you're set for Nano 2011!<br />
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You can knit/crochet/sew yourself a proper pair later - and really punish yourself.<br />
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Though I do feel that the definition "very small, minute" makes a lot of sense here - being that (on average) a novel can be anywhere around 80K - 100K, which means your 50K comes up a mite short. The actual writing process is also blasted out in a very brief span of time (again, those of you who can write novels in under 30 days, shut up). It just a coincidence, naturally, but NaNoWriMo stands for <strong>Na</strong>tional <strong>No</strong>vel <strong>Wri</strong>ting <strong>Mo</strong>nth. There ya go.<br />
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Another place (outside of the Nano forums) for fellow <strike>crazy people</strike>, I mean writers:<br />
<a href="http://nanowrimoftw.blogspot.com/2011/10/welcome-to-nanowrimo-ftw-site.html">Nanowrimo-For The Win</a><br />
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So, anyone else out there doing this? Every year I try, every year I lose - but I keep writing. That either means I'm a writer or I'm an idiot. Maybe both.<br />
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If you want to do some fun prompts to get you prepped before the big month, go wander over to <a href="http://curlyviking.wordpress.com/">CurlyViking's blog</a> and try out the writing challenges she's posted. I'm going to try the latest (1500+ words, use an element from the periodic table, 3rd person, extra points for a non-scientific story) and see what I come up with.<br />
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Of course, I still have that other story I started on Saturday that really should get pounded out quick...can someone please throw me a writing-life-preserver? Please?C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-34388198253283242142011-10-01T21:12:00.000-07:002011-10-02T00:26:27.636-07:00My Psychological Torture of Finishing a WiPOr, why I have three unfinished novels and a multitude of short stories languishing in obscure-writing-hell instead out there in the Big Wide World of Slush Pile Purgatory. Well, I have <i>two</i> unfinished novels, truth be told. My finished (3rd? 4th? 18th?!?!?!) draft of my YA urban fantasy is finished but I currently hate it and think it's a pile of weak, runny poo. Of course, I then <a href="http://samuelpark.com/2011/07/20/why-writers-irrationally-dislike-their-wips/">read this</a> and I laugh - but no amount of imaginary press and bling will make me think better of my WiP at the moment.<br />
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Oh crap, I forgot I started a sequel to the urban fantasy. I'm back to having three unfinished novels. Let's not talk about that sequel because it's pants and needs more outlining and figuring out.<br />
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Then I <a href="http://samuelpark.com/2011/07/07/it-doesnt-have-to-be-good-it-just-has-to-be/">read this</a> and I feel a little better about myself. Shocking, I know - because I finished <i>one</i>, at least. I can't wait until I can get it critiqued by fresh eyes and see if it can stand up to a reader and not flop about like some struggling fish out of water. That's how I'm feeling right at this moment. A little fish having just been ousted from the big pond by far more amazing fish. Guppy-Schwilk in a pond full of beautiful and deadly koi. Deadly, I tell you.<br />
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The way my brain currently works, I'm surprised I've finished anything! I <a href="http://ghenetwrites.blogspot.com/2011/06/finish-that-novel.html">read this</a> and I think it's dawning on me that (1) I am one of those irritating perfectionists (2) that is too hard on myself, (3) I also need firm deadlines because (4) I'm a lazy cow.<br />
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Numbers 3 and 4 bother me the most because I remember when I was at Uni, I was writing fiction all the time without any deadlines and lazy? I hate that word. I hate being associated with that word but I am. I come home from my straight job (which involves a lot of mindless typing/data entry) and though this would be typing for <i>pleasure</i> - my brain somehow convinces me it's still typing, therefore, something I can "do later".<br />
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(5) I am also easily distracted - I need to be in a room, <i>alone</i> to write. Didn't think writing in the same room as my spouse of ten years (who adores me and wants to see me published moreso than I do, I think) drives me batty. Even if I'm not interrupted, I still feel like I need to split my attention - so no people, no pets. Alone. I haven't tried the coffeehouse trick yet because I feel too self-conscious (y'know, pretentious "writer" in public vibe) and the last time I did that I was doing NaNoWriMo (2003) and that felt more social (but I'm doing NaNo this year, so who knows?)<br />
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What are your tricks about finishing your WiP? How do you make it past your personal hurdles? Where do you write? I'm curious. I'm desperate and, damn it all, I'm writing!<br />
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<b>UPDATED: More fun, related links</b><br />
<a href="http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/06/29/is-there-a-magic-pill-to-make-you-finish-your-novel/">Is there a Magic Pill...?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.lisatener.com/2011/08/how-to-write-consistently-and-finish-your-work-an-interview-with-the-organized-artist-samantha-bennett/">Interview with Samantha Bennett, How to Write Consistently & Finish Your Work</a><br />
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There is hope! I press on, stumbling, freaking out every so often.C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-84574997818593588042011-09-15T10:12:00.000-07:002011-09-17T06:48:57.227-07:00Embrace Your Bad Days!<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> If you don't already know, I am a natural pessimist - but a <i>practising optimist</i>. I do my best not to immediately select the worst-case scenario for what could potentially happen (although I'm never giving up my obsession with disaster movies, sorry).<br />
<br />
We all have bad days sometimes, I understand that. It's not the end of the world (hopefully) and if you focus on all the crap and lament your bad luck, things will only get worse. I get that. However, I find it silly that there are some people who are very clearly having a bad day and scream, wild-eyed, in response to everyone's well-meaning regards, "I'm just FINE!" as though that would convince even themselves.<br />
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Ooookay.<br />
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What's wrong with embracing the fact that you woke up late, maybe your laptop really is trying to eat the data that took you three horrific hours to compile and you've broken off the heel to your shoe? It's a bad day - not the end of the world. When someone wishes you a better day, suck it up, say thank you and move on. We do mean well and we sympathise with the crud you're desperately trying to ignore.<br />
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You're not fooling anyone.<br />
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Now, an appropriate video for your viewing pleasure:</span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fsHk9WC7fnQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">By the way, yes, I am having a good day today, thanks!</span></span>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-74105993422577839162011-09-13T04:52:00.000-07:002011-09-13T04:52:14.846-07:00I Got Nothing But Bad HabitsGoing on holiday does help unscramble the brains – as long as the holiday has moments of rest and reflection in between all the headless-chicken activities. This time, we had more rest which turned out to be a good thing. It gave me more time to realise that I give all my free-time away and I've run out of excuses not to write. That last one is more or less a revelation, because I always knew I gave my free-time to everyone else. It isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but it does mean that I put myself last in my laundry list of Things I Need To Do. <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iGcBQdcyHfqhHr_I83AEkXt0RoY126ik-U4_5Kc1kWEm-Chcd-6TkFAOkWGwz5OdwbzB-KnvbtbLR_ewSox6cZFOLca2XhdEGrnOje9ZC0LIApDONeli9upE_mcwSudFQKRM_5wr1Ag/s1600/justwrite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iGcBQdcyHfqhHr_I83AEkXt0RoY126ik-U4_5Kc1kWEm-Chcd-6TkFAOkWGwz5OdwbzB-KnvbtbLR_ewSox6cZFOLca2XhdEGrnOje9ZC0LIApDONeli9upE_mcwSudFQKRM_5wr1Ag/s1600/justwrite.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">There is definitely a need here – mostly a want, but as the year's gone by (two years?) the fact that I have no bulk of writing material at the ready for submission turns this into a desperate need. I have bits and pieces – a few one act plays, half a story or two (and a novel that makes my heart palpitate due to heady research needs and recent missed opportunities) – but I've gone a whole year (at least) without really working this passion I keep telling myself I have.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I am easily distracted and convince myself not to write. “I'm too tired,” I tell myself once I get out of my straight job. “I already get up at butt o'clock normally! I can't get up any earlier!” I say as all the popular writing blogs/people tell us to get up 30 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour before your day starts. Write then! “I'll write later, I need some 'me time',” my most notorious tagline as I spend way too much time in the soul-sucking universe that is Facebook.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Starting this week, I'm going to break my bad (writing) habits – at least one or two to start. Yesterday I couldn't convince myself out of bed, but here I am – Tuesday morning and writing! I had even managed to get up this early on Sunday and write a bit. There is always hope.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Who knows where all this bad habit breaking could lead? What are/were <i><b>your</b></i> bad habits and how are you/did you break them?</div>C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5994804084690822228.post-82603149713522348672011-07-25T22:35:00.000-07:002011-07-25T22:35:25.092-07:00Just Keep Writing! [link sausage]Not exactly the entry I planned to write, but perhaps that's the point?<br />
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I'm still trying to figure out a writing schedule and battle my procrastination (I swear, anything with an internet connection is <i>highly dangerous</i>. Just look at <a href="http://tvtropes.org/">TV Tropes</a>).<br />
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I think <a href="http://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/panic-writing">Kathryn Apel's post on "panic writing"</a> as well as <a href="http://www.allaboutthewriting.com/donna_j_cummings/2010/09/when-pantser-meets-plotter.html">this old post by Donna Cummings</a> - talking about Chris Baty and his "No Plot? No Problem!" approach to writing - say it better, but here I am, having the debate with myself and trying to figure out how I write; how to get the best out of myself with the minimum amount of pain.<br />
<br />
Currently playing with <a href="http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php">the Snowflake Method</a>, but not totally sold on it, outright. I realised that for about 3 of my WIPs, applying this method to tighten/revise/make better, I wanted to rewrite everything from scratch and radically change my story-lines. In one respect, I take that as a good sign - I'm not thinking my novel as "my (untouchable, perfect) baby" and am open to suggestions/changes and so on. In another way, my self-esteem is peering into the toilet because <i>I'm really considering to scrap about 10 years' worth of work</i>. Although it's not like I'm on a deadline or these stories were getting any other exposure anyway. Maybe I need the over-haul.<br />
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I'm trying not to count words; I'm trying not to get sidetracked with research (historical-esque fiction, go me!); I'm also trying not to bin all of my writing, which is getting harder to do as I attempt to make a serious go of being a writer.<br />
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Does writing on a schedule (what schedule?) help push you through your "non-creative moments"? Do you dare say "Writer's Block"? I used to switch gears - work on ATCs or music, theatre...something artistic, just not writing.<br />
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I get the sincere feeling I've been sabotaging myself for years.C.E. Schwilkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09069468237746684615noreply@blogger.com2