Category Archives: Uncategorized

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NaNoWriMo for Awesome

So, I’ve got most of my NaNoWriMo novel plotted/sketched out. So far just up to chapter 12 or so, I need to spend some time focusing on the final action and wrap-up, but I think I’ll be able to get there pretty quickly. Then, I’ll just need to spend some time before go-time filling out a few scene descriptions, and fiddling with characters.

Uh, Dave

Yes?

I did read your sketches

And what do you think?

That story is going to suck.

WHAT!? Come on, they don’t go into characters or any detail, and it’s just the loose sketch, how could you know it’s going to suck?

First off, I’m in your head, so I know. Second, that story may have started with a strong cast, but the plot has no soul. 

What do you mean it has no soul?

I can tell just looking through your meandering scribblings that this book is going to wander around lost in the woods until you get near the end, where there will be a big battle, maybe a chase, then it’s over -happliy ever after and all that. To top that off, it’s so full of cliches and over-used ideas that I don’t even WANT to like it – See SUCK.

Alright then, smarty pants, what should I do with it?

Go back to the first chapter you wrote up and have a chat with the characters. Maybe pantster it a little bit. I mean it’s fine to apply over-used ideas, but they’d better be interesting ones that are well executed, your original sketch has absolutely no hint of compelling story telling.

So, I’ve got to start over? 

No. Keep some of your characters, dump a few others, make the story about the main character and her problems, not about the adventuring. To paraphrase Yoda: Focus on where she is, what she is doing. Nobody gives a rip about a queen in a tower somewhere, and you know what? your MC probably doesn’t care either.

So what if it’s not very good? This is just NaNoWriMo, it’s just like a super-challenging practice session right?

NO – you are doing this to challenge yourself and get better at your craft. You’re not going to get better by churning out crap that a 3rd grader could do in an afternoon.

You’re a real jerk, you know that?

I’m not a jerk, I’m you. Now, get your rear back to work, you’ve only got a few weeks to re-imagine this story into something that isn’t awful.

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It’s the equinox today!

equinox-edited

In Fairbanks today there’s a marathon, it’s been underway since half an hour before I started writing this actually. It’s a well known event here in Alaska. This year there’s more to it. Several runners, including some colleagues and friends are running the race to raise awareness and research funding for Usher Syndrome. I’ve been doing my little part help via social media. Today, being race day, is also Usher Syndrome Awareness day. I’m not personally effected by it, only personally know one person who is, but I can lend a hand here, it’s just one little piece and in order to make something big, you’ve got to have those little parts.

I didn’t make it up there to cheer everyone on. That would have been great, but for various and sundry it wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I’ll be cheering them all on in the virtual universe. If you have a minute, take a look a their website, consider sharing it with others you know. Not everyone has the resources to donate, but anyone can send out the call to say: Hey – did you ever hear about this? For an effort like this one, that’s quite as important as the fund raising. One goal is to reach out to folks and connect with those who do have resources to donate. So, anyhow, that’s my plug.

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Writers improvement hell: Building a duck coop

SONY DSC

I bet you’re asking what the hell building a duck coop has to do with writing. Nothing. But it has a lot to do with not writing. In case you’re wondering this is another one of those complainy posts about not having enough time. It’s true though, I don’t, and it doesn’t have anything to do with running every night for the own the equinox challenge this month to raise awareness for usher syndrome (sorry, I gotta plug this, people should know about it, and of course if you can contribute, that’d be great too.) Running is a small part of my day, and I’m glad to be doing it.

The bigger time-sink at the moment is correcting the horrible-awful job I did building the duck-coop the first time. It’s too small, the roof is collapsing and you can’t easily get in to clean it. It’s got to happen because I really don’t want to have another morning waking up to “all the ducks are dead, a dog got them, your son found them and is inconsolable.” That happened last year, but I didn’t have the resources to rebuild the duck house then. I do now.

I’ve got 2 real productive days for me in the week, one of which is devoted to preparing for the next week, and the other day is largely relegated to family stuff – mostly goofing off in whatever manner we’ve obligated ourselves to. So, where does writing fit in? I’m not sure right now. In that over-committed weekend I’m managing to carve out hours to build the duck-house, but not much else. I’m usually pretty good about writing it the evenings, but the last few weeks I’ve been tired and distracted – my version of writer’s block. I know that if I ever want to seem my stuff published I’m going to have to focus and actually spend the time, but it’s a fight even for someone like me who doesn’t do anything but work sometimes. For now though, I’m off to run some errands and gather supplies for this weekend’s crack at the coop. Then, of course, there’s the running.