Building a Fantasy World

     The Chronicles of Odde takes place on a fictional world, on a continent called Odde. Building a fantasy world sounds easy, right? That's not really the case, at least not for me. It takes a lot of work, research, and rearranging to get the detail just right.

     As a writer, my characters are already inhabiting their fantasy world and often I can literally see it in my minds eye, in rich and vivid detail. Problem is, my mental images, while colorful, aren't exactly architectural blueprints. That is to say, when I look at them logically, the don't always make sense.  

     Have you ever been in a dream, and walked through a house where the rooms switched on you, or entered some random room that didn't belong there. My ideas work something like that. When building a place, such as a castle, I have a general idea of its layout, the style in which it was built, the lives of its occupants, but the specifics are harder to iron out. That's why I draw a blueprint or a map. 

    Even a rough sketch can be helpful in figuring out the details of a setting. For example, I often find that I have a room that couldn't exist. While I know that one room is connected to another, when I get it on paper I sometimes find that floors don't match up, or there's an extra door down the hall that shouldn't be there. Most people might think, "why would that matter? The reader will never know." And perhaps they would be right, but as a proclaimed 'perfectionist' it comes down to a simple fact: I would know. And it drives me crazy!

     I have spent hours researching castle designs, looking up map making tips, random images and names of places, both real and fictional. All in the hopes that something will trigger some creative spark to bend the piece of information to my purpose. I put my personal stamp on what I find and add it to my collection to be used at just the right spot in my story. 

     Unfortunately, I amass ideas quicker than I use them. Being a 'perfectionist' also means that I won't settle for something that is 'okay,' I need just the right one. Like there is such a thing... and yet I sometimes find it. Truly, the 'Aha! Perfect!' moments make the endless hours worth it.

While many readers overlook the maps and appendices authors often insert into their works, you should know that a lot of time and effort go into their creation. You don't know just how much. So next time, take a moment to appreciate that map and enjoy the world they've built for you. I know I will!

Christmas Movies and Midnight Snacks

     Update: NaNoWriMo in full swing.

     Tonight has been a long night. I found myself watching Christmas Movies on Hallmark and eating snacks. I felt like eating everything in sight, and sugar was high on my list. I'm not recommending this as a way to write, but it was rather pleasant (for the most part).  I must say that I didn't write as much as I usually do, and it was touch and go around the distraction of my television, but I got it done. 

     Sometimes you just need to push through. Speaking of which, I think several people in my household are coming down with something. There are coughs coming from several different directions, mine included.

     On another hand, it's Time to Celebrate!!! Half-way to the 50,000 word goal. WOOT!!!

Word Count: 25,328!!!

Happy Dance!!

Happy NaNoWriMo, Write On!

Another word for said

     I am taking a break for novel writing to post this. I thought I needed to switch gears for a few minutes, but as I was opening the webpage I wondered what am I going to post about. I've wanted to talk more about writing, and not just status updates. I thought if only I had the words to say. And that moved to 'another word for said.' As a writer you can find yourself cutting corners on your first draft, especially if you are tired or sometimes when you are on a roll, the creative little quirks are spent on larger issues than repetitive diction. "Another word for said" is a popular handout I've seen on the internet, on sites like pinterest. It's just a list of words to use in place of said and that got me thinking about my own writing style. What are your writing quirks and bad habits?
    My friend, Ali who is kind enough to proofread for me and give me her opinion of my work, has threatened bodily hard if I didn't stop using 'and' at ever turn. On one page alone, she counted 18 'and's. Another time there were nine in a paragraph; it was a rather short paragraph. I've got a bad habit of run-on sentences and I like lists. I really like lists, where 'and' comes in very handy.
     So what are some ways to stop the repetitive word usage? Well, I have my trusty Thesaurus at the ready, but more often than not, I look up something in order to find that allusive word I can't get off the tip of my tongue. Not to find an alternative for more common words.
     Handy charts and lists can be found all over the web. Some creative thinking, some common sense and a good proofreader are very good tools to help get away from upsetting your readers. So here is my tip of the day, look at what you are writing and try to find another word for said. Here are two lists I found on the internet for 'said' and 'look.' I'm not sure who made them or where exactly they came from, but thank you word continuous person for creating them. You have made my writing a little better.

Thank you! And don't forget my motto for NaNoWriMo: Write On!

Look What I found!

    Not that it was missing, per say. I thought I'd share my sister's awesome cover for The Beast of the Ruin (aka My Dark Prince). The title change was after we had the proof printed, but it was really nice seeing it in print. Not just because every author wants to hold their book in their hands (yes, there is that), but also because a lot of things don't translate from word doc or website descriptions into book format. Sometimes you just need to see it.
     What, you might ask. Well, like seeing the number of inches your chapter title is from the top of the page. I notice that mine was too high on the page and that I needed more room between the chapter title and my first paragraph. Or the fact that my map was too small in the front of the book. Or the texture of the paper is different than i imagined and that white paper is really very white. There was also the fact that the cover was only printed on the dust jacket and not on the literal cover of the book. These things I would not have know if I hadn't got a proof first. Now I know and can prepare for the next round. I hope to be able to afford some professional help in the form of a self-publication package from lulu.com thanks to my supporters, via my campaign at gofund.me/g4zsek or look me up under my name and "Publishing My First Book" at www.gofundme.com

As for the cover art. Well, I leave that up to the professional (and very free) help of my sister, Melanie Brown.

 

Really? WOW!! She continually surprises me and blows my paltry skill with M.S. Paint out of the water. Thanks Sister!

Taking out the Trash, and other Real Life Interruptions

    There are some things that you can ignore in life and some of those things at your own peril. Like taking out the trash, and taking the can to the curb. Putting it off seems a good idea, letting someone else get it is even better, but then comes that moment of utter terror at seven o-clock in the morning when you're running outside in your p.j.s to get the can out as the garbage truck stops at the house next to yours. Yes, I am that person, but I don't have to be!
     I want to be the person that plans and acts, not reacts to the things in my life. I know that I can't plan for everything, I have not clairvoyant abilities, but some stuff, like garbage day, shouldn't catch me by surprise. To bring it around to the topic of this blog here is my to-do list. These are the things I need to do before I can focus on my writing and know that I won't be pulled out of my zone.

1) Take out the trash, and that also means putting away that thing I keep tripping over, or making my bed because it makes my room look instantly neater and I won't go insane and have to start cleaning everything when I should be writing.

2) Snack like a boss. Cool beverage, check. Popular children's snacks, check. All within arm reach, double check.

3) Prime the Playlist. Now, I'm a music junky, I have no genre allegiance and my song of the week can change with my mood. Right Now here is the playlist (in no particular order). Don't judge.
          1) Back to Life - 3OH!3
          2) Breath of Life - Florence + the Machine
          3) Returner - GACKT (A Japanese Artist. I don't need to know the words to like the song.)
          4) To Feel Alive - Iameve (is there a theme going with this Live/Life stuff?)
          5) Radioactive - Imagine Dragons (Gotta have the beats. I'm loving Dubstep.)
          6) Out Alive - Ke$ha
          7) Because I'm Awesome - The Dollyrots
          8) I Alone (New Edit) - Live (Classic)
          9) Hysteria - Muse (Rock anthem)
        10) Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart
        11) New Divide - Linkin Park
        12) Let it go - Idina Menzel (Yes, its that song from FROZEN)

4) Have my reference books, sheets, handouts, and/or webpages at the ready. That includes: encyclopedias, dictionary, thesaurus, name meanings websites (I prefer www.behindthename.com), and whatever other reference you like. I have recently discovered random generating websites that spit out everything from titles to magical objects, and character weaknesses to writing prompts. They are a kick in the pants and sometimes utter genius. Plus they can help with writer's block and are good for a laugh. Bonus!

5) Get Comfortable. This can mean pulling out the p.j.s and fluffy sock or stripping down to your whatevers or even just finding the right spot in the couch (you know the one).

Once all is in place the Writing can begin in earnest. Write On!

What do you need to write? Do you have a list of things you have to do, a ceremony or pseudo-ritual to get you in the zone? Can you start cold turkey and just bust out the word count?

If at first you don't succeed...

     NaNoWriMo has taken over. I thought I would have the energy to write and edit, but that is not the case. I am having more trouble writing this novel than the previous one. The Beast of the Ruin seemed to flow onto the page with little effort from me. The next book in the series, The Lost Prince, is not so forthcoming.
     I have to admit that I am not the sort who can just keep going when they meet with a bit of writer's block, though I have tried. There are several scenes, mostly dialogue, that are giving me trouble. I know what I want to happen but I can't seems to get there. More often than not I let the characters run the scene which can end up with some unexpected and wonderful things happening. It may take longer for my players to get to the next point on the map but they have always gotten there; not quite so, right now.
     Unwilling to stop writing all together, I switched gears and tried writing something else. I started brainstorming which moved into revamping my outline. I'm typing up handwritten notes, and researching a few fairy tales elements. I even started this post. I keep returning to my novel, moving forward a little and returning to those trouble areas. The scenes are slowly building, yet remain unfinished. I am confident that I will get there eventually.

     I often wonder how other writers deal with writer's block. I think my process is unusual. Not many people can switch between writing projects as I do. Then again, I don't know many writers personally, so I can't say for sure.
    NaNoWriMo has a bunch of ideas to combat writer's block, to inspire rises in word counts, and support for your writing process. The best advise I have found is to just keep writing. If we stop, if we give up, then we will never finish.

Good Luck to my fellow writers participating this year. Write On!

And so it begins... NaNoWriMo

     November 1st is the official start of Nation Novel Writing Month. To follow is a crazy month of writing and late night awesomeness. Last year I wrote The Beast of The Ruin, the first book in the Chronicles of Odde series. This year I am working on book too, The Lost Prince. I have to admit that I was a bit of a recluse for the month and my sister, who has promised to participate with me this year, made me promise not to be the smelly, computer obsessed writer I was last year. She said I only came out to eat and use the bathroom, and truthfully I usually took my food back into my room with me. She wouldn't agree to be my writing buddy until I promised and so I gave in and promised her to shower and take time out of writing so she could see me with her own eyeballs.
     II have to admit that I'm a bit of an over achiever. Always had been. I aim for between two to three thousand words a day, which dramatically reduce the days needed to reach the site goal of fifty thousand words. I, of course, surpassed that number and finished the complete rough draft of my novel in a little over two weeks. Yes, this is part bragging and partially an explanation for my siblings concern. This year has similar goals, but a lot more distractions and responsibilities. Right now I am also working on this blog, which I don't believe anyone but me is reading. It's more a lesson in self-discipline than anything else. I am proving something to myself, that I can stick to something for an extended period of time. I can fulfill my goal of writing every day, and perhaps amuse someone else along the way.

    Switching gears, I wanted to talk a bit about my writing processes. With the first book my process was very "fly by the seat of my pants," meaning I didn't really plan anything. The first day I wrote an outline and even brainstormed a bit for the series as a whole, but I didn't plan anything out in detail. In fact, a lot of the story's plot was developed as I worked at my part-time job. In the middle of cleaning, mostly during the monotony of vacuuming, I'd think about the next plot point and come up with the tasks my heroine would be facing. This year is a bit different.
    Since this is the second book in a series I am thinking more about connecting the novels, what character will reappear, what themes tie the novels together, and building the world of Odde! I'm also more interested in character development than I was before. I have several outlines and have been brainstorming for weeks before the month started. Overall, I am more organized and have more written down ahead of time, but there are still things that will be worked out during the writing processes. That's when the magic happens!!
     I love how things unfold as I write. I start out knowing that my character has to get from point a to point b, but the how or the why sometimes surprises even me.

Good luck to my fellow Wrimos! Write on!