My weekly word count for this Sunday is 42,715 up from 34,370 last week marking it the most productive week of writing to date. That's 8,345 words.
I crossed the boundary of the first major conflict of my story and have moved on into the middle part. I had originally targeted 90,000 words but I'm looking at closer to 110,000 at this point. My goal is to have the first draft complete sometime in August.
I've added the 2nd and 3rd pov characters one of whom is the antagonist, and I have all the plot lines underway.
On a side note, I find I'm being pulled into my writing emotionally. As in I experience sadness, exhiliration, elation, etc. while I'm writing. I don't know if that's good or bad but it feels right to me and I'm using it.
When I'm experiencing the emotions, it seems as if the words come flying out. That's when the writing is the easiest. Ultimately the quality of the writing will be up to the reader.
I feel like I've made real progress. I look back at my first pages and see how far I've come in a short amount of time.
One of the more interesting blogs I've read this week is one of a series written by Dean Wesley Smith regarding re-writes and the creative voice vs. the critical voice. It's an older series but new to me. I enjoyed it so I'm passing it along.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
I Write Like...
So I pasted a few different scenes from my current work in progress into the I Write Like... analyzer and it says I write like H.P. Lovecraft.
I can't speak for its accuracy but that's pretty cool! Anybody else want to share?
I can't speak for its accuracy but that's pretty cool! Anybody else want to share?
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Learning to write is like training for a marathon
When I first started running several years ago, going just a a few feet was a monumental effort. I had made a promise to myself. A promise to lose weight. Running would consist of the exercise portion of my plan.
Based on my previous life failures with running and my absolute hatred of it. I decided I would run, but if I felt any pain whatsoever I would walk. The pace at which I ran would be slow and plodding. My entire session would be thirty minutes long. I would run 5 minutes. Walk for ten and repeat this cycle a second time.
The first day was very tough. By the time 2 minutes passed, I was already staring at my watch willing the next 3 to be over. I found even the slowest plodding horribly difficult. Then the 10 minutes of walking seemed to fly by.
But through sheer will and determination I persevered. I ran three days a week a week for the first 3 weeks. Each day I worked to lengthen the time I ran and decrease the time I walked. My progress came fast and by the end of the first month I was filling the entire thirty minute session with all running.
I eventually worked my way up to a marathon over the next couple of years. But as I run now, I notice that my progress is slower. My goals today involve shaving a few seconds off a pace or a personal record.
As I commit now to writing daily, or at least six days a week, I see many similarities. The first time or three I tried to write it was hard. The words came in fits and starts and the words were slow to pile up.
With writing, like running, I've made goals and I've kept them or at least put forth the very best effort I could to keep them. I decided to start with 250 words and pushed hard to meet that the first few times. When I wrote, I wanted my best effort. My fullest commitment of time and effort. I didn't want to just write random junk to fill a page. When I reached my goal, I wanted the work to have value.
After a week of doing that, I found it a lot easier. I moved to 500 words, 750, and then a thousand a day. Its getting easier but just like running it involves me setting a goal and maintaining discipline.
I raise four kids and I work a full time job. Finding the time to write is very tough which means I set my alarm for 4:45 AM Monday through Friday. I get up and I try. There are morning when it just doesn't happen. I'll end up writing 250 words by 7:00 AM as I struggle with a scene. This means I find time later in the evening to get as many words in as I can. I'm finding the 1000 easier and have been pushing for 1250.
I am so grateful for my time spent the last several years working towards both weight loss and running goals. It's set me up for what's in front of me now. Learning the skills necessary to commit myself has been crucial for me so far. Setting goals is the key.
I'm about a third of the way through my first draft. My current word count is 34,370. Looking back to last Sunday's post that means I've written 6,658 words this week.
Based on my previous life failures with running and my absolute hatred of it. I decided I would run, but if I felt any pain whatsoever I would walk. The pace at which I ran would be slow and plodding. My entire session would be thirty minutes long. I would run 5 minutes. Walk for ten and repeat this cycle a second time.
The first day was very tough. By the time 2 minutes passed, I was already staring at my watch willing the next 3 to be over. I found even the slowest plodding horribly difficult. Then the 10 minutes of walking seemed to fly by.
But through sheer will and determination I persevered. I ran three days a week a week for the first 3 weeks. Each day I worked to lengthen the time I ran and decrease the time I walked. My progress came fast and by the end of the first month I was filling the entire thirty minute session with all running.
I eventually worked my way up to a marathon over the next couple of years. But as I run now, I notice that my progress is slower. My goals today involve shaving a few seconds off a pace or a personal record.
As I commit now to writing daily, or at least six days a week, I see many similarities. The first time or three I tried to write it was hard. The words came in fits and starts and the words were slow to pile up.
With writing, like running, I've made goals and I've kept them or at least put forth the very best effort I could to keep them. I decided to start with 250 words and pushed hard to meet that the first few times. When I wrote, I wanted my best effort. My fullest commitment of time and effort. I didn't want to just write random junk to fill a page. When I reached my goal, I wanted the work to have value.
After a week of doing that, I found it a lot easier. I moved to 500 words, 750, and then a thousand a day. Its getting easier but just like running it involves me setting a goal and maintaining discipline.
I raise four kids and I work a full time job. Finding the time to write is very tough which means I set my alarm for 4:45 AM Monday through Friday. I get up and I try. There are morning when it just doesn't happen. I'll end up writing 250 words by 7:00 AM as I struggle with a scene. This means I find time later in the evening to get as many words in as I can. I'm finding the 1000 easier and have been pushing for 1250.
I am so grateful for my time spent the last several years working towards both weight loss and running goals. It's set me up for what's in front of me now. Learning the skills necessary to commit myself has been crucial for me so far. Setting goals is the key.
I'm about a third of the way through my first draft. My current word count is 34,370. Looking back to last Sunday's post that means I've written 6,658 words this week.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Use the Active Voice
The best source of training material I’ve found in my quest as an aspiring writer is Dwight Swain’s Techniques of the Selling Writer. The book was first published in 1965, but so much the lessons are timeless making it very much worth the time and effort to read. I’ve seen many of the lessons regurgitated in other books but not with the depth Swain provides.
I’m currently on my second read through of the book. I’m picking up even more nuggets this time around. I’ve spent a lot of time actually writing this past month, and, as a result, a lot of things are popping for me now. I’d thought I’d take some time today to share one of the many techniques that stood out for me and is helping strengthen my craft. It relates to the passive voice.
Write with verbs that are active. Especially avoid the verb “to be” in all its forms.
Active verbs paint a picture. They are action words that do more than paint a picture in a readers head. They play movies in a readers mind. They engage.
Why avoid the verb “to be” including all its forms. (is, are, were, am, was, be, been, being, will) To quote Swain, “the verb to be is weak, in all its shapes and forms and sizes. Why? Because it describes existence only – a static state. Your story stands still in any sentence that hangs on such a verb. Nothing happens.”
Can you ever avoid using it? I’m not sure, but if you hunt them down in your own writing, at the very least, you’ll think about the sentence, and maybe a stronger sentence will jump out a chance at a stronger sentence emerges.
You can use Word to find all the forms of the verb “to be” in a section. Use the advanced find feature. Type the word “be” (without quotes) in the search box. Next, select the “Find all word forms” check box under the button labeled More>>>. Depending on your version of Word, you can highlight all the words at once. I’m sure other programs have this feature, but I have Word installed on my computer.
I just did this with one of my first scenes in my current work in progress. Its 2517 words long and I found 53 instances of the verb in my scene. The first 500 words are lit up like the veritable Fourth of July. I’m picking some text at random to chop up. I’m including the preceding sentence or two for context.
I look at this now and can’t believe I wrote something this weak and wretched. How about we spice it up? It’s describing how a hidden door works. How about I write something better and more engaging. In fact, there is a lot of telling in that whole passage capped off by the highlighted “was”.
I’m much happier with the re-write and I rid myself of the pesky word “was” and all its passiveness.
An update on my as of yet untitled work in progress:
I’m learning more with every word typed, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride. I told my fourteen year old this week. “I get to watch a movie nobody’s seen yet unfold before me every day. I have a front row seat at the premiere. Even I’m not sure what’s going to happen next.” The last part caught her off guard. “What do you mean Dad? Aren’t you writing it?” That made me smile. I love that kid.
My total word count is 27,712. I wrote about 5,700 words this week. My plot line is just about to pass through the first gate, the point of no return for my main character.
I believe my edits are going to take some time as witnessed by the passage above. But, picking apart writing and making it better is infinitely easier, for me, than creating it in the first place. I’ve avoided reading 95% of my work so far. I fear the urge to re-write will be so strong I’ll lose my momentum.
By the way, I know this post has many forms of the verb “to be” peppered about. Go easy on me folks. It’s tough to snuff them out.
I’m currently on my second read through of the book. I’m picking up even more nuggets this time around. I’ve spent a lot of time actually writing this past month, and, as a result, a lot of things are popping for me now. I’d thought I’d take some time today to share one of the many techniques that stood out for me and is helping strengthen my craft. It relates to the passive voice.
Write with verbs that are active. Especially avoid the verb “to be” in all its forms.
Active verbs paint a picture. They are action words that do more than paint a picture in a readers head. They play movies in a readers mind. They engage.
Why avoid the verb “to be” including all its forms. (is, are, were, am, was, be, been, being, will) To quote Swain, “the verb to be is weak, in all its shapes and forms and sizes. Why? Because it describes existence only – a static state. Your story stands still in any sentence that hangs on such a verb. Nothing happens.”
Can you ever avoid using it? I’m not sure, but if you hunt them down in your own writing, at the very least, you’ll think about the sentence, and maybe a stronger sentence will jump out a chance at a stronger sentence emerges.
You can use Word to find all the forms of the verb “to be” in a section. Use the advanced find feature. Type the word “be” (without quotes) in the search box. Next, select the “Find all word forms” check box under the button labeled More>>>. Depending on your version of Word, you can highlight all the words at once. I’m sure other programs have this feature, but I have Word installed on my computer.
I just did this with one of my first scenes in my current work in progress. Its 2517 words long and I found 53 instances of the verb in my scene. The first 500 words are lit up like the veritable Fourth of July. I’m picking some text at random to chop up. I’m including the preceding sentence or two for context.
Quinn moved away from his door and sprinted toward the back of his room. He opened his closet door and shut it behind him. This was the only way the hidden door worked.I look at this now and can’t believe I wrote something this weak and wretched. How about we spice it up? It’s describing how a hidden door works. How about I write something better and more engaging. In fact, there is a lot of telling in that whole passage capped off by the highlighted “was”.
He wheeled and sprinted toward the back of his room. He ripped open the closet door, lunged inside, and slammed it shut behind him.
Beyond his hanging trousers and coats, he heard the spring of the latch pop from the dark confines. A whoosh of air glided over his face greeting him like a friend.
His breath came in short bursts and his mouth went dry. He knew that sound mixed with the musty aroma. It meant the hidden door in the back of his closet stood open. Thank Elan something worked right.
I’m much happier with the re-write and I rid myself of the pesky word “was” and all its passiveness.
An update on my as of yet untitled work in progress:
I’m learning more with every word typed, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride. I told my fourteen year old this week. “I get to watch a movie nobody’s seen yet unfold before me every day. I have a front row seat at the premiere. Even I’m not sure what’s going to happen next.” The last part caught her off guard. “What do you mean Dad? Aren’t you writing it?” That made me smile. I love that kid.
My total word count is 27,712. I wrote about 5,700 words this week. My plot line is just about to pass through the first gate, the point of no return for my main character.
I believe my edits are going to take some time as witnessed by the passage above. But, picking apart writing and making it better is infinitely easier, for me, than creating it in the first place. I’ve avoided reading 95% of my work so far. I fear the urge to re-write will be so strong I’ll lose my momentum.
By the way, I know this post has many forms of the verb “to be” peppered about. Go easy on me folks. It’s tough to snuff them out.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
What Makes a Good Fantasy Story?
I've read many fantasy novels over the span of my 44 years. During that time I've developed some filters for what I like and don't like in fantasy novels.
I can tell within a page if the book is one I definitely won't like. Here are some of my personal first page killers.
If I make it past page one, the author has managed to avoid the items above. I'll stay for the first chapter and see where the story leads me. Some of my favorite fantasy tropes no matter how many times I read them are:
What turns me off in story lines:
Lots of people don't like elves, dwarves, or dragons and I get that. They are over used tropes loaded with assumptions the reader will make that may be impossible to overcome. I don't have a problem with them if the story and the characters are good. If we find out 20 pages in that the main character is an elf that's okay if I'm already hooked on a good plot line.
P.S. - I'm 22,000 words into my first draft of my yet to be titled book. I'm hoping to avoid the bad things listed above.
I can tell within a page if the book is one I definitely won't like. Here are some of my personal first page killers.
- Character or location names that are not easy to pronounce. For example, if I see a character name Zyaloysi on page one I'm gone. I love fantasy stories, but hard to read names kill the immersion.
- If half the first page contains flowery description for the sun, sky, rain, trees, etc. I fade fast. I understand the need to anchor a scene but if I wanted to read poetry, I'd pick up a book of poems.
- Excessive exposition. Please don't info dump me on page one. Mix it into the story. And writing the exposition in italics only makes it worse. The story is not moving and the characters are not changing while the exposition grinds everything to a halt. If you need to give me this information, wait until I can anchor it to the story and its characters. It will mean much more to me then.
If I make it past page one, the author has managed to avoid the items above. I'll stay for the first chapter and see where the story leads me. Some of my favorite fantasy tropes no matter how many times I read them are:
- The hero's journey. This is why we all love fantasy right? It's the embodiment of the genre.
- A cool magic system always grabs me. Mix that in with the hero's journey and its as good as buttered popcorn.
- The mentor. Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars, Kelsier from Mistborn, or even Moiraine Damodred from Wheel of Time.
- The "quest". I love a group of characters working together to attain an epic goal of some kind.
- I like fantasy books where the author forgets he's writing a fantasy story. The way Jim Butcher writes the Harry Dresden books, Patrick Rothfuss, or pretty much anything from Brandon Sanderson fit this category.
What turns me off in story lines:
- A passive hero. The world happens to this guy not the other way around. It's okay to start out this way but please don't leave him there the whole book. That's boring.
- A hero that has little to no change. Stories where the author, for whatever reason, wants to leave the main character in a position of stasis for 400 pages frustrate me. Sometimes it seems the author's intends to write a series of books and wants to drag the characters evolution over 6 books.
- A hero that becomes powerful only during the very end of the book. He gets his ass kicked for 90% of the book, gets his power at the end, and defeats the villain in a blaze of glory. We see little to none of his powers in action throughout the story. All the magic flying around from characters other than the hero make for a passive hero. Let the main character get enough power to be active in the plot line early on.
Lots of people don't like elves, dwarves, or dragons and I get that. They are over used tropes loaded with assumptions the reader will make that may be impossible to overcome. I don't have a problem with them if the story and the characters are good. If we find out 20 pages in that the main character is an elf that's okay if I'm already hooked on a good plot line.
P.S. - I'm 22,000 words into my first draft of my yet to be titled book. I'm hoping to avoid the bad things listed above.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)