WIP Wednesday
The current story is darn near through the first draft–maybe by next Wednesday I’ll be done. 
Once the first draft is complete, I’m taking a few days to catch up with real life chores. After that, I’ll do all my favorite nerdy pre-writing exercises for the sequel to the paranormal romance I wrote a few months ago.
By the time I get through catching up with laundry, cleaning, and weeding, and plot the next tale–the third Enyo Chronicle will be ready for a second draft.
Getting the story on the page is frustrating or exciting, depending on how cooperative the characters are being. Polishing the raw product is a whole different kind of effort. It’s where the pages start looking less like demented ravings and more like a real adventure.
So, how’s your week going?
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
The other day, I was talking about how fictional people are different from real life people. As happens way too often when I’m chatting, I leave off a whole bunch of vital information. Or just plain forget what I wanted to say. This is why writing is better than talking. Even if it takes me days (and it does–sometimes weeks) to find the words I want, it’s still okay.
Eventually, I found a short explanation of what I’d wanted to say about story people here.
For a more in-depth character analysis read Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger.
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
Actually, most days are WIP days for me. I just don’t want to bore you all with mind numbing reports of added another thousand words, cut three hundred words, changed another couple of hundred words….
During lunch I play a game of chess and if the game ends before the food I pick up a book on writing craft. There’s always more to learn. Recently, my lunch book has been On Writing by Stephen King.
Stephen and I don’t have very much in common. However, I admire his craft and we like some of the same authors. On Writing is my second favorite of his works. It’s painfully true and contains lots of nuggets.
I’ve been considering his policy of cutting ten percent from the first draft during the second draft. While I bow to his process and results, I don’t think cutting the first draft is right for me. His first drafts are much more coherent than mine, I leave a ton of things out of the first draft. Not to mince words, my first drafts are bare bones. The story has to fill out before I can pare fat.
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
This writing business is a lot harder than it looks. 
One of the common threads of the less than stellar reviews of my stories is that they should be longer–a slower unfolding of the romantic relationships and more exploration of the special worlds and characters. Pretty much more of everything….
Personally, I love fast paced thrillers. Although, when there’s no transitions between action scenes it gets jarring.
The trick is getting the excitement racing through my mind’s eye on the page without jolting the patient reader completely out of the story.
Posted by Evanne @
6:18 am |
WIP Wednesday
A perfect day for me is one where I don’t have to go places other than the yard or walking the dog. Typically, I trot off for fun or duty several times a week. I usually have a great time. So why don’t I like to go?
It took me forever to figure out the problem. All interruptions to my nerdy routine disturb my connection with the special story world. Imagine dropping a pebble in a reflecting pond, the ripples spoil the image. The more pebbles, the longer it takes to recapture the picture. Real life messes up the fantasy. That’s the problem…
Posted by Evanne @
6:51 am |
WIP Wednesdays
Happiness is delightful in real life and sure sign the story is over in fiction. Once the story’s problems have been resolved there’s not much to tell.
However, endings have their own challenges. The end goal for every romance is a uniquely satisfying resolution. For me, this rests with the characters. Actually, the whole story depends on how well I reveal the characters.
The cast in my head is freakin’ brilliant. Successfully capturing them on the page is the elusive goal. Writing romance involves finding fresh ways to tell a beloved tale with myriad versions already written. What makes one love scene different from another (let alone better)? For me–it’s the characters who make it special.
Story people are created word by word. Their actions, attitudes, and emotions captured by infinitesimal telling details slipped seamlessly into the unfolding story. And just like real people–no two are alike.
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
The appeal of the alpha male never grows old for me. Whether reading or writing, this is my favorite flavor of hero. If he’s wounded and flawed all the better. What could possibly be better than an alpha? Why not two alphas…..
This is the appeal of the menage story. But, alphas don’t share. Hmmm. Hence the need for special circumstances to resolve this logic problem. The success of solution rests on believability, or at the very least the reader’s willingness to suspend disbelief. Which in turn rests on the fragile foundation of hundreds of details.
Recapping–stories need taut pacing, but not too taut. Honorable, sympathetic character, but they still need flaws. A logical, yet fresh and unexpected plot. Evocative, but believable settings. And a rich tapestry of emotion that keeps the reader riveted.
No problem :roll:
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
Beginnings are delicate, fragile things, fraught with traps for the hapless author. Middles are messy, needing a firm hand and taut pacing. Endings are snarly knots with myriad unresolved details requiring skill, discipline, and inspiration. In short, writing has no easy parts.
And yet millions (well, everyone I meet), wants to write.
Each of us has a story. The urge to share our personal adventure is part of being human. The tale doesn’t have to be the great American novel to have value. It doesn’t even have to be written or published. Oral histories, video logs, and journals offer alternative formats for the story teller.
So why write? Jayne Anne Krentz talked about this a while back. Paraphrasing, she said, “If you have any choice in the matter, pick a different career path.” Having worked at writing for a few years, I understand her advice better than I did when I first read it. Writing isn’t a practical career choice. But, practicality isn’t everything, if your heart tells you to write–go for it.
If you have babies to feed and bills to pay, keep your day job.
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
WIP Wednesday
The bright and shiny new story is a constant menace threatening to pull me away from the WIP. I’ve fallen for the siren call of the better idea too many times to count.
Currently, I’m resisting the lure of a new tale although the current story is in a painful stage. The characters (usually the male characters) refuse to disclose their deepest secrets. Bastards. How do they expect me to tell their story if they wont cooperate? It’s very simple, they don’t want their story told. At this point they’ve already met the woman of their dreams and they’re ready to leave my head forever.
I hold them hostage via an impossible conflict and they get bitter and clam up. I keep prodding them, from a safe distance–they are dangerous guys. Sooner or later, I’ll win because I have the woman they need more than they need to keep breathing.
And those new smoldering hunks taunting me from the edge of mind? They’ll be every bit as difficult once they’ve met their match. Or so I tell myself…. :roll:
Posted by Evanne @
4:00 am |
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Along with the arrival of Sam’s nemesis comes Karina, the one woman who can heal his wounded soul. What he doesn’t know may kill him. Because, the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter. 