Story Flow

Sometimes it flows and sometimes it doesn't, which I think I've mentioned before. I have quite a few projects I have started and have struggled to get more than a few chapters in. I'm amazed I have actually managed to finish some of my books. But I do, even if those starts get left unfinished for a while.

A new book I started a few days ago, is going better than any of my previous 'starters' I feel inspired to just keep writing, and writing. All the while wondering if it going to be good enough.

I have to have a little more confidence in my abilities, with each story I start, I feel the learning curve happening, my work improving.

I'm proud to say I wrote over two thousand words yesterday, a whole chapter and a bit, I know it's only one chapter, but I had to keep going back over it to make sure it sounded right. Slow and painful at times but it gets the desired result in the end. A good story.

Editing Learning Curve

It's amazing what you can pick up after leaving your manuscript alone for a few days. You can stare at your work, and miss all those flaws, crutch words, purple proses and other things that shouldn't go near your work.

I haven't written a word in the last few days as I've had my head stuck in editing smoothing and polishing 'Blue-Fire' at the publishers request.

It's been a fantastic learning curve, it also means my next book 'Dangerous Moonlight' will be better and more thoroughly polished by the time I come to submit it.

The dreaded synopsis is getting there... hopefully gonna send it off to little critics team for evaluation, I know they are gonna rip it to pieces. But through the fire comes the most precious of metals... ooh gheehs talk about metaphors! eeek.

Sigh

I'd better get back to it, there could be plenty of hours in the day if I wasnt required to sleep!

Battle

Some stories flow naturally, and some have to be dragged out kicking and screaming. I'm having that problem with my new book 'Falling Dragons'. I have my characters, I have my plot, I have my conflicts. I have had to beat out the first chapter with sheer will and determination. I sat up till 1am determined to finally finish the first chapter. It's rough around the edges, but edits can come later when the whole book is done.

I am going to have to start sleeping with my computer! As my best ideas often come in the early hours of the morning while I'm half awake, half asleep in that dream state. As I said before it's a pity I can't wire up my brain at that hour.

The battle will continue today as I attempt to hammer out chapter two.

Year Mile Stone

I have loved reading and stories ever since I can remember, when I was twenty I struck upon my first full novel idea 'Dragons Blade' and spent a whole winter thumping it out. But more than likely will never see the light of day. The main point of this little story is I proved to my self I could write a book from start to finish even if it wasn't any good.

Life unfortunately gets in the way of ambition some times, it wasn't till 13 years later that I picked up the pen or the keyboard and started writing again, inspired by some of my favourite current writers.

It has been a year since I started Blue-Fire and now that dream idea, and story plot is being published. It is a thrilling experience to have your dream come true, I am going to continue to working at that dream, with each publication that dream is one that will continue to come true.

What Counts?

Word count, I've been told that you have to write every day in order to help keep up your writing skills, but I'm not so sure about that. Although I finished edits on 'Dangerous Moonlight' I found my self going over it again and again to check for my crutch words, purple prose and anything else I could think of to make sure it is punchy and not flat.

As for actual writing I started on a synopsis, of course I'd rather be pulling teeth, but hey Some times you just have to do it, and you might as well try to do it well.

I am going to force myself to leave it alone today, and do some actual writing, only dilemma I have is what do I work on first, I have four books on the go at once, and some times just don't know which one I should get stuck into. Ennie, Mennie, Minee, Moe?

Bouncing

Right! I've been neglectful again of my house, I'm surprised my poor family even get fed when I'm in writer mode, which is nearly all the time!

I'm determined to get my house all sparkling, and clean then I can go get lost in my writing labyrinth once again. Mainly so I won't feel guilt! Yes, guilt can be a powerful motivator.

I am very close to finishing the self-edits on 'Dangerous Moonlight' then it can be professionally glanced over. It's amazing how many mistakes you can miss in your own work, cos' you stare at it for too long. Once that is done I am going to work on the dreaded Synopsis. but you know what they say practise makes perfect.... I'm soo dooomed!!! LOL

Crazy Mind

My fingers can't seem to keep up with my mind, so many ideas so little time to write them down.
I'm thinking maybe I need something like Stephen King wrote in one of his books where a little machine takes the thoughts strait from the characters head and it types it self out... hahah would that be the easy way out. Not that it would make up for all the bad spelling and grammar ha!

No one said that being a writer was easy, it's darn hard work, and the most frustrating for me is patients. I have very little, I want to see all my ideas out and all my books written. But like the old sayings go... "Patients is a virtue and Good things come to those who wait.' I think in my case is good things comes to those who persevere.

I'm so bad with my writing, I was even sitting in church today jotting down plot notes for one of my new books 'Shadow of the Wolf.' getting the right twists and turns to keep it interesting isn't easy. I've never been good with conflict in my own life, so it makes it difficult for me to create them in my books. I hope I over come that little trait. After all you are only limited by your own imagination.

First Blog

I'm not much of a blogger, but under the advice of a few people they suggest it would be a good idea one to keep track of my general and writing progress. So hopefully I can make the random entry.

Had my birthday yesterday, it was a quiet event, I think after you get to a certain age birthdays become less important, and anti-age wrinkle cream becomes the priority. It was bad enough that I found my first grey hairs the other week.

I have been working sporadically on my book 'Dangerous Moonlight' in between house work and looking after the kids. Just in the editing stage I went over the 50,000 word count and it seems to be climbing, at this rate I'm going to have to add another chapter to fit all the changes in.

At first I was worried about my ending, but then inspiration hit me for a story for another book that will proceed. Sooo.... I will have two book that will proceed 'Dangerous Moonlight' but I've yet to figure out what order they will go into.
http://sites.google.com/site/angelacastlewriter/w-i-p/dangerous-moonlight