Is it proof you're a writer when you get compliments from co-workers about the creativity of your reasons for needing a band-aid (or that one rare time...a tensor bandage) from the first aid kit?
Or is it just evidence that you hurt yourself....a lot and you get tired of putting "paper cut" as the reason?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Inspiration...I Gots It
The other day, for whatever reason, I was trolling through stock photos over on dreamstime.com.
I don't know why I paused on the photo. Or saved the sample pic to my laptop. Then proceeded to test out a few things on Photoshop. This is what I do as a practice run for any covers I see in my mind then refer back to it.
For whatever reason (I think it was the writing gods) I found myself thinking "What if the reflection in the water puddle showed her true self?" Then all of a sudden I turned the puddle blood red, even a bloodier red behind the heroine so now the sidewalk is kinda...resembling...hell. I added steam/smoke around the heroine and went:
"Ooooh. There you are again."
I love the nudge to my muse. I do. I just wish I had the stuff on the go finished so I can get back to that story. Now to find that notebook and make notes so I can finish something. Anything. Before tackling something else.
The woes of a writer.
I don't know why I paused on the photo. Or saved the sample pic to my laptop. Then proceeded to test out a few things on Photoshop. This is what I do as a practice run for any covers I see in my mind then refer back to it.
For whatever reason (I think it was the writing gods) I found myself thinking "What if the reflection in the water puddle showed her true self?" Then all of a sudden I turned the puddle blood red, even a bloodier red behind the heroine so now the sidewalk is kinda...resembling...hell. I added steam/smoke around the heroine and went:
"Ooooh. There you are again."
I love the nudge to my muse. I do. I just wish I had the stuff on the go finished so I can get back to that story. Now to find that notebook and make notes so I can finish something. Anything. Before tackling something else.
The woes of a writer.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Research: Too Much vs Too Little
It's a good thing to do.
I don't remember how we got onto the topic of badly researched vs awesomely researched books at the CaRWA meeting. We just did. One of those awesome random conversations that writers will land on.
I won't notice when a book has been awesomely researched, because it blends seamlessly. I will notice when the author researched so much then info dumped everything into one scene to prove they researched and researched well. And it goes on and on and on about how to know how the jade is real or fake or how it gets its striations. Just tell me it's jade and if it's real...or fake. I don't need the lesson. Though I suppose there are those who love research dumps like that. I don't.
I will, however, totally absolutely know when the author hasn't researched...about a topic I know. I once read a book about a magazine company and I was all "Hey, I know that terminology! Sweet!" as I worked in a printing company for ten years. I also, noticed, when an author hadn't researched.
At all.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Be True
Shakespeare said it best: This above all, to thine ownself be true.
It happened on the car ride home from another awesome CaRWA meeting. The realization that perhaps what I was doing was...
wait for it...
....
It happened on the car ride home from another awesome CaRWA meeting. The realization that perhaps what I was doing was...
wait for it...
....
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Love Comes
On Saturday I went off to the Calgary Public Library for their Writer's Weekend. My CaRWA peeps would host an awesome talk but that really wasn't the highlight of the day.
I attended with a friend who had stopped writing and I've been nagging at work for a good year now to get back into. This winter she rejoined RWA and is coming with me to the next CaRWA meeting where she'll be rejoining. Yay!
We got to talking about books and characters. Book stealing characters. And I mentioned Migs and how his story was the only completed book I wrote last year. I wrote how it was the hardest book I've ever written as I wasn't entirely sure he was going to make it in the end. Then Shelley asked the all important, moment changing question: "Why don't you just make it a stand alone? Maybe there is no series." I had mentioned how he was to be the second book in a series I never did anything with.
The question rolled about like a loose marble in my head throughout the entire day. So I reopened Migs' story and as I read it now, almost a year later I realize that yes...yes his story very much can stand alone. I may need to slip in vital information that was supposed to come from the (now dead in the water) book one but the end goal is to now get Migs' story out there. I heart him too much to let him collect anymore dust.
I attended with a friend who had stopped writing and I've been nagging at work for a good year now to get back into. This winter she rejoined RWA and is coming with me to the next CaRWA meeting where she'll be rejoining. Yay!
We got to talking about books and characters. Book stealing characters. And I mentioned Migs and how his story was the only completed book I wrote last year. I wrote how it was the hardest book I've ever written as I wasn't entirely sure he was going to make it in the end. Then Shelley asked the all important, moment changing question: "Why don't you just make it a stand alone? Maybe there is no series." I had mentioned how he was to be the second book in a series I never did anything with.
The question rolled about like a loose marble in my head throughout the entire day. So I reopened Migs' story and as I read it now, almost a year later I realize that yes...yes his story very much can stand alone. I may need to slip in vital information that was supposed to come from the (now dead in the water) book one but the end goal is to now get Migs' story out there. I heart him too much to let him collect anymore dust.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
30 Days of Secrets
I know amazing women. I know amazingly STRONG women.
I rejoined the Calgary RWA chapter this winter because of a few reasons. Their Bandit Creek books is one of them. I think this is one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed in a writing group. They are writing. More than that, they are publishing the books themselves thanks to this ever changing writing world we live in. I thought it was such a fabulous way to (a) get everyone writing and (b) earn everyone some publishing street cred. It is so awesome, so brilliant. I wish I had joined last year to participate.
And one thing my fellow CaRWAkians are doing is a blog tour on the Bandit Creek website: 30 Days of Secrets. If I hadn't known I was among strong women, I know so now with their honest stories they're revealing to the world.
Do yourself a favour: go meet my fellow authors and learn what is truly strong in a woman. Then buy some books be they are a-freakin'-mazing. Really.
I am so honoured to know these ladies.
I rejoined the Calgary RWA chapter this winter because of a few reasons. Their Bandit Creek books is one of them. I think this is one of the coolest things I have ever witnessed in a writing group. They are writing. More than that, they are publishing the books themselves thanks to this ever changing writing world we live in. I thought it was such a fabulous way to (a) get everyone writing and (b) earn everyone some publishing street cred. It is so awesome, so brilliant. I wish I had joined last year to participate.
And one thing my fellow CaRWAkians are doing is a blog tour on the Bandit Creek website: 30 Days of Secrets. If I hadn't known I was among strong women, I know so now with their honest stories they're revealing to the world.
Do yourself a favour: go meet my fellow authors and learn what is truly strong in a woman. Then buy some books be they are a-freakin'-mazing. Really.
I am so honoured to know these ladies.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Back in Time
In the process of cleaning I happened upon a red coil notebook. It's the first romance I ever wrote back in 1992. And it was...(inser drumroll) a medieval historical romance.
And it's bad. It's so bad.
Irony is that it's written in purple ink.
In 1992, my childhood best friend had come to visit me. She had, not to long before that summer, sent me a list of authors to read. All historical romances. The addiction began then. That summer we would blow up the air mattress, plunk it down in the front yard and both of us would tackle our historical romances.
It pains me how bad it is. Yes, it's reassuring to have come so far in 20 years but it's bad. I know why I kept it. It's the first novel. It's evidence of my journey but looking at it, attempting to read it, makes me realize I don't want to go that far back when I read my stuff. Cuz it's bad. Sooooo bad.
The journey started with the badly titled Tell Me A Story. But I'm not that kid anymore. And the world should be grateful.
Historical writer I am not.
I've come a long way. I love seeing that. Knowing I'm a lifetime away from a 19 year old writing with coloured pens.
And this journey is coming full circle as the woman who got me started writing romances back in 1992, is contemplating the keyboard yet again. Awesome.
And it's bad. It's so bad.
Irony is that it's written in purple ink.
In 1992, my childhood best friend had come to visit me. She had, not to long before that summer, sent me a list of authors to read. All historical romances. The addiction began then. That summer we would blow up the air mattress, plunk it down in the front yard and both of us would tackle our historical romances.
It pains me how bad it is. Yes, it's reassuring to have come so far in 20 years but it's bad. I know why I kept it. It's the first novel. It's evidence of my journey but looking at it, attempting to read it, makes me realize I don't want to go that far back when I read my stuff. Cuz it's bad. Sooooo bad.
The journey started with the badly titled Tell Me A Story. But I'm not that kid anymore. And the world should be grateful.
Historical writer I am not.
I've come a long way. I love seeing that. Knowing I'm a lifetime away from a 19 year old writing with coloured pens.
And this journey is coming full circle as the woman who got me started writing romances back in 1992, is contemplating the keyboard yet again. Awesome.