Toward the End

Today’s from the armchair topic is toward the end. What does that mean? It means I’m in the finally stages of getting to the end of the third book of a sci-fi series. For me, what makes this interesting is after finishing the second book, I continued on writing the third. The flow was there and I wanted ensure that how I described events and things were consistent throughout the last two books. The challenge I find is in describing what the characters are going through that makes sense. I go into areas that I hoping not to lose readers which why the finale is becoming more difficult to compose taking extra time. Going through this I had to wonder what other writers do to overcome this hurdle. Whether they take a break and do something else or just keep writing. I find that I’m even dreaming how to overcome or build the bridges between different points where the story is going. On a side note, the dreaming I have found interesting, as some of my conundrums have been satisfied and then I find myself dreaming of other possible stories in other genres. For example, last night I dreamt the plot for a mystery novel that I am considering writing.

Anyway, I have blogged less as every possible moment is used to complete the third installation of the series. Then the editing portion can start which I know will take some time as my editor, Bren, has to go through 225,000 words. So, I can see the end but I know its still a ways off. I am also excited about which one of the next four novels to start and to get going on those projects.

Keep smiling.

What Is a Bucket List and Why Do I Need One?

What Is a Bucket List and Why Do I Need One?

Today I have a guest blogger, Melanie, a contributor on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog who has graced me with the concept of the Bucket List. I like what she has to say on the topic.

Thank you Melanie.

Did you see the movie “The Bucket List?”  It is a wonderful movie about two men who are faced with life threatening health situations.  They each create a list of things they want to accomplish in their life even in the face of terrible circumstances.  For many people who are faced with health issues, such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, mesothelioma and others, a challenging prognosis can be the inspiration to take their life into their own hands and make their life goals a reality.

Make Your Own Bucket List

Regardless of what challenges you face, you can create your own bucket list of things you want to accomplish in your life.  A bucket list does not need to be some elaborate list of things that are impossible to ever accomplish.  It can be made up of both large and small things that you want to see happen in your life.

Start with small things.  Make up a list of small everyday things that you want to accomplish.  If one of your challenges is conquering simple daily activities, then include those things on your first small list.  For example, you can make it a goal to walk around the block without stopping or maybe you want to be able to go grocery shopping without assistance.  Include activities that you really want to be able to do, they may be a little challenging but you can realistically accomplish.  This way, when you cross them off your list, you will feel a sense of satisfaction and achievement when you accomplish those goals.

Make a list of medium things that you want to accomplish.  This bucket list could include things that you might not want to do every day or even with regularity, but are milestone activities.  For example, maybe you want to go see a local tourist attraction that you have never been to, even though it is local to you.  Include some activities that you can accomplish entirely independently on your own and some things that you can share with other people.  You may find that as you work your way through the list and cross things off, you also add other activities and goals that you look forward to accomplishing in the future. You also may find that the level of difficulty or challenge of your bucket list activities is changing as your abilities improve or you accomplish more things.

You can also make up a bucket list of major things you want to accomplish in your life.  This list can include things that you have only imagined you might accomplish or are life-achieving goals.  Examples include things like walking your daughter down the aisle at her wedding, see Paris in the spring, or write a novel or perform at a comedy club.

Writing down a bucket list gives you an actual list of things to accomplish, whether they are large things or small things.  Even in the face of illness and physical challenges, there are things you can accomplish.  As you mark things off your list, your sense of self-fulfillment and achievement will most likely improve your self-confidence and improve your mood; all good things in life, overall.

Publishing Woes

My armchair reflections on ebook publishing!

There is much debate on the publishing of an authors work, publishing house verses self-publishing. Those from the traditional publishing world do not like the idea of authors self-publishing and those on the other side don’t like the nearly impossible task of getting traditional publishers attention. We have read the stories of authors who could plaster an entire wall with rejection letters. Is there some right of passage from the traditional publishing side that if you can survive the rejection process long enough and eventually get noticed, then you have proven yourself? I don’t count those authors who ooze natural talent that they strike it off right away. If you are exceptional, then you will shine.

I get it that the traditional side needs to protect its business interests and only select those who they feel can generate a profit. Then money is the only driving factor behind selections. If that is the case, then the publishing houses should have no issue with those self-publishing.

Technology has given writers options to choose from. The complaint I often hear is the self-published work is not of the same calibre as what a publishing house can produce. That is a valid point and I believe self-published authors can do more to ensure their work is the best it can be. I also believe that it should not be the only deciding factor against authors who self-publishing. The problem as I see it for the new author, is the sending a manuscript to a publisher has the same chance of making it through the process as purchasing the winning lottery ticket.

Now being able to self-publish in itself doesn’t guarantee success. I just think that at least you can reach the next level and have a better chance. It is easy to get a publishing deal with a traditional publishing house if you have already sold a million copies on your own. My final thought, I believe both can survive and should.

I am curious as to what your thoughts on this matter are.

The Writing Distraction Symposium

With a show of hands, how many of you writers get distracted while writing? Okay, you out there that don’t live in a mansion or have a west wing, or a study, and don’t go into seclusion, again with a show of hands, how many get distracted? A lot more hands up this time. Perhaps we should list the types of distractions.

1)      Phone calls.

2)      Kids (fighting, screaming, hungry, wanting something, just have to say something, upset, unhappy, fixing their bike, a changing of a diaper, complaining about their brother or sister, etc.)

3)      A knock on the door or the doorbell.

4)      An appointment.

5)      Flood.

6)      Hunger.

7)      The bathroom.

8)      Computer popup messages.

9)      Meteor.

10)   Household chores.

11)   Loss of power.

12)   Spouse.

13)   Fire alarm.

14)   Sleepy.

15)   Thirsty.

16)   Black hole.

17)   Earthquake.

I understand that some of these distractions will occur rarely while others, more often. The point is what do you do. It is obvious that you have to deal with them in one way or the other. How you deal with them can be crucial in how quickly you get back to writing. For example, if children are fighting, and you need to get involved to settle the dispute, can you return to your writing? Can you pick up where you have left off? Depending upon how bad the dispute was, the answer could be yes or no. It can take a few moments to re-collect your thoughts on what you were writing. I know a couple of times that when I was distracted, I lost the train of thought completely.

It can be challenging to carve out time to write. First, examine your routine and put aside those quiet times where distractions are minimized. As you begin to write on a regular basis, you will discover the times when your creativity is at its best. It could be early in the morning, mid-morning, afternoon, late afternoon, evening, or late evening. You will also find that the optimum times may not always be your best. Those optimum times will reveal themselves to you as to continue to experiment with writing at different times of the day. For example, when I worked in the corporate world, I performed my best starting early in the morning until mid-afternoon. I figured with writing it would be the same. Not so. I could work, problem solving, reading, etc, but the creativity portion was not there in strength. To my surprise, later in the evening, words flowed easier.

Of course, you will get those times, when the words flow like water. Take advantage of those times.

Keep smiling.

Overcoming Writer’s Stuck

Has anyone heard of writers block? Yes, almost everyone. Okay, how about writers stuck? Not so many hands up this time. Writers block can be quite serious for those authors that are so blocked, they can’t get beyond it. And some never get over it, which I find is sad. This article will not tackle the more severe case of writers block, but the less severe situation where you are stuck on where to take your story. Here’s what I have found during writing, that when the story is developing and following a mapped outline, that you reach a point where the story could go in a several different directions. Some directions so different that it changes the whole story. The other side of that coin is that nothing comes to mind that makes sense. I would be curious how other writers handle this situation or am I the only one? You get to a place in the story and you feel that more of the story should be developed but no convenient way comes to mind. The analogy is that of a bridge that takes one from one scene into another while introducing those elements that complete the bridge. I call it bridging the gap. You don’t want the story to just fall off a cliff and die.

What does one do then?

1. Think about it.

2. Keep writing and fix it later.

3. Cry.

4. Give yourself a break.

5. Have a lovely cup of tea.

6. Brainstorm ideas and write them down.

7. Call your mom.

8. Go for a long walk.

9. Re-read a few sections prior to the stuck point.

10. Sleep on it.

Some of these suggestions will be useful, while others, not so. The point of becoming unstuck is to realize that you are in fact you are not stuck. The thought or idea that completes the connection will come to mind.

Keep smiling.

Help? Does Anyone Know What People Are Reading?

I can’t be the only one wondering what people are reading these days. What genres are popular or even the type of story within the genre. For example, if you pick fantasy, then is it romance fantasy, comical fantasy, dark fantasy, combat fantasy, or some combination of these. The New York Times, Fiction Best Sellers list for today has:

COMBINED PRINT & E-BOOK FICTION

PRIVATE GAMES, by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

Genre - Fiction - Mystery - Suspense - Crime

KILL SHOT, by Vince Flynn

Genre - Fiction - Thriller - Spy - Political

I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER, by Sophie Kinsella

Genre - Fiction - Romance

DEFENDING JACOB, by William Landay

Genre - Fiction - Thriller - Legal - Domestic - Mystery - Psychological

THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett

Genre - Fiction - Southern fiction - Historical - Sociological

Does this best sellers list point a direction of the readership at least for fiction? Probably not! Mystery and suspense appear as the areas of interest for this period of time, again for fiction. The popularity non-fiction titles have done well recently. As the population ages and famous people have their stories told either before or after death, there is an interest in those stories. That of course really doesn’t help a new writer, himself unless they are writing about famous or infamous people.

  I have chosen the genres that I like to write and will continue to do so. My sense is that the readership is looking for a good read and is not necessarily locked into any particular area. I get the feeling that romance mixed with the genres are popular too many coupled with a sense of mystery and intrigue. I would like to know how the blog readers feel about this and their thoughts. Please add your comments.

Keep smiling.

The Passive Language

This blog blurb is about the use of passive voice in writing. What is passive voice? Is it really bad? Below are examples of its usage.

The pen is being held by me. - This is in the passive voice.

I am holding a pen. - This is the active voice.

Use of the passive voice is not a grammatical error. It's a stylistic issue that is related to clarity. There are times when using the passive voice can prevent a reader from understanding what you mean.

Now when I considered the above when editing the first draft of my first novel, I felt it important that my readers to understand what I was saying in the active voice where possible. Actually, I wanted my readers to understand the meaning and clarity of what I was writing for them to enjoy the story. As I continue to read the passive and active voice, I began to see the subtle differences in the voice. The next part of this discussion is something I found I was over using.

The use of to be is considered passive voice that you can’t always avoid. What I discovered in my writing, to my amazement, is that I used to be more than I had realized. With that in mind, when I wrote something and fell into only using to be, I would stop, look at what I was saying, and change it, when possible, to active voice.

I think I understand the basic concepts of the passive vs active voice and I continue to read about it. I know I still need work, because I’m not ready to teach it. I talked about it here in this blog in order to bring attention, more to myself, and to those grasping with this structure.

I would appreciate comments from anyone on this subject and how they dealt with it.

Keep smiling.