Sunday, April 30, 2006
A day full
Today, I took my son to the San Francisco Zoo. When he was little and we were living in the City, the babysitter used to take him all the time. We even went with the family we shared the babysitter with. But he doesn't remember. So today was his first time at the Zoo. We had a great time, but I'm exhausted. Plus there was driving involved which I hate. Google Maps had crappy directions, the zoo's directions were great. I didn't even get lost! I don't get lost much in the City, though, I lived there too long and have been lost so many places there I can get myself just about anywhere with a minimum of fuss.
We came home and there was a lovely birthday cake for me, but the frosting was almost entirely red and I am allergic to red dye. So I scraped off the frosting and ate two pieces plus ice cream. My brother Mark called and he and the kids sang me Happy Birthday over the phone. Very cute. My sister got me a tulip tree, and my son made me a card, encoded, with easter candy taped to it. I am the greatest Mom in history (even though I wouldn't buy him an expensive stuffed polar bear at the Zoo gift shop) So, I had a good day, actually.
In writing news, I am editing DX. I've whacked a whole chapter. Didn't get much done today. Right now, I am feeling depressed and panicked about DX. I think it's boring and stupid and there's no sexual tension. Ack!. Not only that, this editing miracle tip I'm trying seems to have a flaw in it. The flaw being the writer who uses this method is obviously a better writer than I am. It's really not so much different from my actual method anyway, just more concentrated. I think I still need my iterations. But, I will say, it's made me even more aware of the dangers of leaving stuff in just because you hate to delete it.
I'm tired and going to bed.
We came home and there was a lovely birthday cake for me, but the frosting was almost entirely red and I am allergic to red dye. So I scraped off the frosting and ate two pieces plus ice cream. My brother Mark called and he and the kids sang me Happy Birthday over the phone. Very cute. My sister got me a tulip tree, and my son made me a card, encoded, with easter candy taped to it. I am the greatest Mom in history (even though I wouldn't buy him an expensive stuffed polar bear at the Zoo gift shop) So, I had a good day, actually.
In writing news, I am editing DX. I've whacked a whole chapter. Didn't get much done today. Right now, I am feeling depressed and panicked about DX. I think it's boring and stupid and there's no sexual tension. Ack!. Not only that, this editing miracle tip I'm trying seems to have a flaw in it. The flaw being the writer who uses this method is obviously a better writer than I am. It's really not so much different from my actual method anyway, just more concentrated. I think I still need my iterations. But, I will say, it's made me even more aware of the dangers of leaving stuff in just because you hate to delete it.
I'm tired and going to bed.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/30/2006 09:54:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Ahead of Schedule?
Today, I finished the draft of DX. All the chapters are now written, including the ending. I'm so close to 20,000 words that it doesn't matter. A couple of chapters need work, but now the torture is over and the agony of editing begins. I'm going to try a couple of new editing tips I've heard about. I will report back on the success. Or not.
In other good news, our California weather is back. It's been gorgeous the last few days. Spectacularly wonderful. Blue sky, slight breeze, 75 degrees. Ahh. The Bluebirds have shown up, along with a whatsicallit, a Grosbeak something, that is a really gorgeous reddish orange. Everybody's outside in their yard mowing down 4 foot tall weeds, except me because I am not in charge of outdoor maintenance. I'm tempted to throw discipline to the wind and haul a book or two out of my TBR pile and just read.
In other good news, our California weather is back. It's been gorgeous the last few days. Spectacularly wonderful. Blue sky, slight breeze, 75 degrees. Ahh. The Bluebirds have shown up, along with a whatsicallit, a Grosbeak something, that is a really gorgeous reddish orange. Everybody's outside in their yard mowing down 4 foot tall weeds, except me because I am not in charge of outdoor maintenance. I'm tempted to throw discipline to the wind and haul a book or two out of my TBR pile and just read.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/29/2006 05:26:00 PM Permalink
Thursday, April 27, 2006
And Now for Something Completely Different
Yesterday was the world's most boring blog post (not to mention the world's most obscure comment. Spammish, I'm afraid.) Today, well, the bar is very low. So, let's see if I can haul myself out of the basement of boring and at least onto the ground floor.
My Name that Hero contest is going well. I'm getting some great suggestions! Some are names I'm already using in the story, others I've used in the past, but I have several really good candidates. You can still enter, so go for it!
Elf sighthing two days ago. More arm curls before my admiring eyes. And now some sad news elf-wise. All indications are that I will be starting a new job in the near future, notices have been given etc. The job is in a different city and so I will have to change my gym time. I may lose complete visual contact with the elf and my imaginary broadsword for him.
D.X. is going well. I'm behind tonight because I fell asleep when I got home and didn't get any work done.
My Name that Hero contest is going well. I'm getting some great suggestions! Some are names I'm already using in the story, others I've used in the past, but I have several really good candidates. You can still enter, so go for it!
Elf sighthing two days ago. More arm curls before my admiring eyes. And now some sad news elf-wise. All indications are that I will be starting a new job in the near future, notices have been given etc. The job is in a different city and so I will have to change my gym time. I may lose complete visual contact with the elf and my imaginary broadsword for him.
D.X. is going well. I'm behind tonight because I fell asleep when I got home and didn't get any work done.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/27/2006 07:24:00 PM Permalink
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Rolling Rolling Rolling Keep Those Fingers Rolling
Rawhide! Thats what my fingers feel like. 17K on DX with two scenes to finish. I'll be doing some serious pruning, I think. I have paper copy to read. It's late, of course. Got to go get the laundry then read, if I can.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/26/2006 10:28:00 PM Permalink
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Random to Press Plagiarism Claims - 4/25/2006 - Publishers Weekly
So is this actual plagiarism? What is meant by "Mirroring"?? Words? Structuire? Tone of voice? Are they implying she's such a good writer that when she read McCafferty's works and then sat down to write on her own she inadvertently did some sort of perfect imitation? Or is it the much worse thing from the title? Given how "packaged" she was, this whole thing is sounding really fishy to me. Are they worried because this happened when she was in High School and presumably a minor? I'd really like the whole story. Can the woman write or not?
Read more at www.publishersweekly.co...
Read more at www.publishersweekly.co...
posted by Carolyn @ 4/25/2006 11:12:00 AM Permalink
Monday, April 24, 2006
The Evening Post
Early Edition! I'm posting now because I'm t i r e d and not sure how long I can keep my eyes open. It's totally my fault. I was reading last night and couldn't get to a good place to stop. Damn authors and their exciting plots! Got to 15K plus on DX, and I have one chapter to mostly rewrite and two scenes to write and then I'll be done and in the massively rewriting phase. I made some small but crucial tweaks in my heroine and that's made all the difference. Before, she was BORING and now she's not. Plus it turns out my hero is a terrible driver with a lead foot. So, actually, I'm kind of having fun right now.
We had a break in the rain for nearly a week, but today it's gloomy and wet again. But I remember sun, so I think I'm OK.
Also, I'm having a Name That Hero Quickie Contest! Check it out. Contest closes May 15 2006. My newsletter subscribers got the word first, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck.
We had a break in the rain for nearly a week, but today it's gloomy and wet again. But I remember sun, so I think I'm OK.
Also, I'm having a Name That Hero Quickie Contest! Check it out. Contest closes May 15 2006. My newsletter subscribers got the word first, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/24/2006 06:51:00 PM Permalink
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Help If You Can
Please do help this writer recently diagnosed with breast cancer. If you are in need of a crtique for your work, here's a thought: bid on a critique from some really fabulous writers, hey, bid on a couple, the more feedback the better...
Some of the fundraising items are critiques and autographed books, some are handcrafts, and I think there are some "goody bags" some people have put together. Jenny Crusie also offered up the signed galleys of DLD. The ebay auction is live today, and if you are interested here is the link to the listings:
http://tinyurl.com/rrts
(Or type in a search for "CherriesTMF" on ebay.)
For more information about Michele, the woman the fundraiser is for, follow this link:
The Michele Fund
There is also a link on the above which can allow you to make a direct donation to Michele, if you are interested. Note from Carolyn: not a bad idea, in case your bids don't win...
Please feel free to spread this news far and wide wherever you feel it might be appropriate.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/23/2006 10:47:00 AM Permalink
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Can I just say, Arghh!!
Worked away on DX today. Things went well. Did a read through and hmm. OK. It's flat. And just now I thought, Hmm. Maybe if I completely redo the style and write in the first person, that would be very interesting. I have about 13,000 words, which means that essentially the story is done, the rest of the word count should come with the conclusion plus filling in stuff. So, I think I have time to try. It's risky, though. I'd have to send it out way early, including probably to my editor, in case he hates it.
No elf sightings. Darn.
No elf sightings. Darn.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/22/2006 10:59:00 PM Permalink
Friday, April 21, 2006
going well
Worked on DX. Hit target + 7. I'm about half way done. Theoretically, should I maintain this pace, I will be done in 9 more days. But, of course, it won't be done. I'll be rewritting it and moving and changing and praying it doesn't suck too bad and trying to figure how to make that happen.
I've probably just jinxed everything.
I've probably just jinxed everything.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/21/2006 10:24:00 PM Permalink
Cool Contest !
Bruce Schneier is a prominent Security analyst and he has a great blog. He's running a Movie-Plot Threat Contest and I just think, who better to end up winning the contest but an author? I'm on deadline so we'll see if I have time to pull something good together, but what about you? Come on!
From Schneier's blog:
From Schneier's blog:
For a while now, I have been writing about our penchant for "movie-plot" threats: terrorist fears based on very specific attack scenarios. Terrorists with crop dusters, terrorists exploding baby carriages in subways, terrorists filling school buses with explosives -- these are all movie-plot threats. They're good for scaring people, but it's just silly to build national security policy around them.
But if we're going to worry about unlikely attacks, why can't they be exciting and innovative ones? If Americans are going to be scared, shouldn't they be scared of things that are really scary? "Blowing up the Super Bowl" is a movie plot to be sure, but it's not a very good movie. Let's kick this up a notch.
It is in this spirit I announce the (possibly First) Movie-Plot Threat Contest. Entrants are invited to submit the most unlikely, yet still plausible, terrorist attack scenarios they can come up with.
Your goal: cause terror. Make the American people notice. Inflict lasting damage on the U.S. economy. Change the political landscape, or the culture. The more grandiose the goal, the better.
Assume an attacker profile on the order of 9/11: 20 to 30 unskilled people, and about $500,000 with which to buy skills, equipment, etc.
Judging will be by me, swayed by popular acclaim in the blog comments section. The prize will be an autographed copy of Beyond Fear. And if I can swing it, a phone call with a real live movie producer.
Entries close at the end of the month -- April 30.
This is not an April Fool's joke, although it's in the spirit of the season. The purpose of this contest is absurd humor, but I hope it also makes a point. Terrorism is a real threat, but we're not any safer through security measures that require us to correctly guess what the terrorists are going to do next.
Good luck.
Post your entries, and read the others, here:
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/04/announcing_movi.html
Movie-plot threats:
http://www.schneier.com/essay-087.html
posted by Carolyn @ 4/21/2006 06:17:00 PM Permalink
Thursday, April 20, 2006
writing right along
I've been working on DX. At the gym today I figured out where the story was going and made some small but crucial tweaks that really tightens things up. I had to go over the other chapters to make those changes tonight. That way when I start the next chapter I'll be prepared. I'm about to go start that now. I'll have a good jumping off point for the weekend.
Also, I failed to mention an elf sighting two days ago. As Elvishly gorgeous as ever. And, the best part was he was wearing a tank top and did his arm curls practically in front of me so I really didn't have much choice except to stare at slightly golden skin over flexing muscles under the stress of free weights. Sometimes I just love the gym.
Also, I failed to mention an elf sighting two days ago. As Elvishly gorgeous as ever. And, the best part was he was wearing a tank top and did his arm curls practically in front of me so I really didn't have much choice except to stare at slightly golden skin over flexing muscles under the stress of free weights. Sometimes I just love the gym.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/20/2006 10:19:00 PM Permalink
WTF?
Title of the PW article: Simon Spotlight Goes Mobile - 4/18/2006 - Publishers Weekly. At first I thought, wow, S&S really seems to get some of this technology stuff. And then I read they intend to charge a fee. For sending cell users promotional material for books. (Um, isn't that ads??) Maybe this will work, but if I were a rabid enough reader that I wanted to read excepts and see cover art on my cell phone, why not (gasp!) surf to the author's website. As an author, makes me wonder if I shouldn't fire up some WAP enabled content and let people cell-surf it if they want. W3c Schools has a tutorial. Fun project!Read more at www.publishersweekly.co...
posted by Carolyn @ 4/20/2006 06:17:00 AM Permalink
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Progress, actually
I had to go to work for what was supposed to be a very short time tonight, but it wasn't as short as hoped. Damn misbehaving servers! So I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but I still slightly exceeded the minimum for DX. I have 9306 words with 20K the target, so I'm good there. I'm not used to working in this short a format so I'm freaking about the usual stuff plus worrying that I have too much plot or not enough. What else? Nothing new. Tired.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/19/2006 10:56:00 PM Permalink
Some Good Stuff Here...
Oh, not my stuff. Someone else's stuff. An interesting blog post from Joshilyn Jackson - Faster Than Kudzu: Ready, Set , BOOM! Check it out at www.joshilynjackson.com...
posted by Carolyn @ 4/19/2006 05:16:00 PM Permalink
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
MondayTuesday
'Nuff said. Except casual day is that much closer.
Today I worked on DX. My effective word count was pretty bad, well under goal, but I was rewriting a chapter and didn't keep very much of it at all. I actually wrote 1500 words (well over goal) but the chapter was 1067 (one year after the Norman Invasion of England) before I whacked it all, so the net gain was quite small. But all the words are new. I'm using the same strategy - write a chapter, go to sleep. Next day, go to gym and notebook the evening's chapter... So, now I'm at the go to sleep part.
Good night!
Today I worked on DX. My effective word count was pretty bad, well under goal, but I was rewriting a chapter and didn't keep very much of it at all. I actually wrote 1500 words (well over goal) but the chapter was 1067 (one year after the Norman Invasion of England) before I whacked it all, so the net gain was quite small. But all the words are new. I'm using the same strategy - write a chapter, go to sleep. Next day, go to gym and notebook the evening's chapter... So, now I'm at the go to sleep part.
Good night!
posted by Carolyn @ 4/18/2006 09:59:00 PM Permalink
Monday, April 17, 2006
The anti-Monday
Since my son's day care was closed today, I had today off from work. His cousin spent the night last night and they slept until 11:15 this morning. My nieces came over and drew pictures while they waited for the boys to wake up. Then the kids played outside most of the day because it's sunny today. They went down to the creek and when they came back, they were covered in mud. I hosed off my son's clothes so they'd be clean enough to put in the wash. In between mediating a few disputes I got some writing done. I've hit the minimum for D.X so that's good. Torture but good.
I went to Amazon and ordered Crimson Rogue and $25 of other books so I could get free shipping... Cuz you know, my TBR isn't three feet deep at all. But I have to have a complete Crimson City collection, right? Now I'll be able to harass the other authors for autographed copies.
I went to Amazon and ordered Crimson Rogue and $25 of other books so I could get free shipping... Cuz you know, my TBR isn't three feet deep at all. But I have to have a complete Crimson City collection, right? Now I'll be able to harass the other authors for autographed copies.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/17/2006 04:57:00 PM Permalink
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Two's Company
So, today I worked on The Rake, I think it's going well. I'll get some outside opinion and then it (hopefully) goes off to my agent again. I also worked on D.X. It's going OK. I'm in uncharted waters here since I have my solid as sand idea that rocks and then the writing that goes like this write write write [pretend that's actual writing] Then, Hey! I didn't know that! Like, my heroine had a past relationship with the vampire who's going to try to kill her. Like, my hero is Native American. Anyway, I have that oh-so-convenient sense of panic.
What else? Oh, I saw Thank You For Smoking Good movie. Lost it and yelled at my son for standing outside my door whining, bored, bored bored, after I had explained to him I have a deadline and that now that we were done with this one project thing were were doing today, I needed time to write without interruption.
I'm schizo after working on two completely different stories today and feeling bad that I yelled at my son. This is the first year that he doesn't want to do Easter eggs. Sniff. He's growing up. On the other hand, I can now convince him to see a better class of movie.
Back to writing.
What else? Oh, I saw Thank You For Smoking Good movie. Lost it and yelled at my son for standing outside my door whining, bored, bored bored, after I had explained to him I have a deadline and that now that we were done with this one project thing were were doing today, I needed time to write without interruption.
I'm schizo after working on two completely different stories today and feeling bad that I yelled at my son. This is the first year that he doesn't want to do Easter eggs. Sniff. He's growing up. On the other hand, I can now convince him to see a better class of movie.
Back to writing.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/15/2006 10:16:00 PM Permalink
Only Moments from Tomorrow
By the time this posts, it will be the ides of April. Have I nailed the proposal chapters for The Novel That Would not End? Maybe. I think so. Pending outside opinion. Still needs some work, but I'm happy. Until tomorrow, when probably I'll hate it.
I started working on the anthology again, which I am at the momemt calling D.X. Never mind why. I cut all of chapter 1 and started over with the new-improved idea. I'm feeling good about it because a few unexpected things happened that were pretty cool.
Now that it's tomorrow, I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
I started working on the anthology again, which I am at the momemt calling D.X. Never mind why. I cut all of chapter 1 and started over with the new-improved idea. I'm feeling good about it because a few unexpected things happened that were pretty cool.
Now that it's tomorrow, I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/15/2006 12:00:00 AM Permalink
Friday, April 14, 2006
Random Watching
I worked all this morning on The Book That Will Not End. It went OK. Then I went out to do some Easter shopping. I people watched while I was spending money. The plump lady in the See's Candy shop was wearing cute bunny ears. The very young man behind the counter at Deaf Dog was wearing eye makeup: mascara, some discreet liner and grey eye shadow. His eyes looked really nice but it was distracting in a Jack Sparrow kind of way. Very cute, but WTF? The even younger young man slumped on the chair behind me had a ring through his lower lip and looked so sullen I wanted to tell him that maybe some eye makeup would cheer him up. As I was walking back to the car, I passed a man who, I realized, was dressed EXACTLY like Bill Gates. Dockers and a nerdy sweater. Oh, geeky face, too, but I thought, hey, he looks nice (and rich?). Wonder if he's C# or Ajax? C# I bet. I saw a trim white-bearded man with a black standard poodle. He did not look like a poodle man.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/14/2006 01:57:00 PM Permalink
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Sunshine!
Today, we had sunshine. Blue skies, warm air, a very few fluffy white clouds. After so many days of nothing but rain, it was wonderful! Version 10 bazillion of the novel I'm getting frustrated with is going OK. I guess. The thing is that these changes materially affect everything else and well, whatever. Today has been a strange day. Teeter-totterish, I'd say. A few examples? OK.
I get to work (bad) at 5:50am (bad) but it's casual day (good) because we have tomorrow off (good). I check status of stuff (boring) fix a few minor things (good) and then continue trying to figure out how this application I am suddenly in charge of supporting works (frustrating) because the other guy quit (neutral). I also know that I have Monday off (Great!) and it's payday (Yay!) I buy breakfast at the company coffee cart (bad, involves money, but I forgot to bring breakfast). It is not raining (good). A crappy internally written bit of software is down (neutral for me, I don't support that app) But then there are reports that an application I do support is having issues (bad). I check it out and yes, it's hosed (bad). Then the SQL Server deadlocks (even worse than it sounds). Someone calls because he can't pull data into excel (why is he calling me?) I say I'll call back later (good). There's no choice but to stop the application and SQL services and bounce the server (fun). Monitor the boxes (boring but brief) test the application (dull) and email that it's back up. (good.) The new application, whose acroynm is BO (stupid!) is returning a permission denied error (bad). I get an email from my agent that the anthology is a done deal (Yay!) Deadline is June 1 (urk!) I never saw this BO server before yesterday and know nothing about how it works (bad). Discover the software was designed by morons (normal). I know the server Admin password was changed yesterday and suspect the password needs to be changed elsewhere too. (OK) But where? The application was written by morons and is 3 versions out of date (bad) and we have no support contract (normal). I call the guy who quit and find out he has a list of passwords (WTF?). With assistance because I do not yet have all the permissions necessary to administer the box (bad) we blunder onto all the places that need the password updated (irritating). I document (boring). I email that BO is back (good). I start investigating the server deadlock (interesting). Lunchtime (good!) I discover I have $10 not $5 dollars (good) and so I can go have Chinese with the rest of the DBA's (good) We walk out into the sunshine (fabulous!) We have lunch (good). I fix the guy's excel data problem (not my job, but I did it anyway). 2:30 arrives (yay) and I skip the gym (bad) to go sit at a cafe and work on The Rake (good) I get a double cap (good) and get to work.
So, that was my day mostly. I also wrote a paragraph about the anthology story so my editor knows what I'm planning.
And, in case the length of this post didn't tip you off, I am engaging in avoidance behavior in re The Rake because about half an hour ago I realized what's wrong with chapter 1 and fixing it involves chopping. I'll get to it shortly, delete key extra sharp.
I get to work (bad) at 5:50am (bad) but it's casual day (good) because we have tomorrow off (good). I check status of stuff (boring) fix a few minor things (good) and then continue trying to figure out how this application I am suddenly in charge of supporting works (frustrating) because the other guy quit (neutral). I also know that I have Monday off (Great!) and it's payday (Yay!) I buy breakfast at the company coffee cart (bad, involves money, but I forgot to bring breakfast). It is not raining (good). A crappy internally written bit of software is down (neutral for me, I don't support that app) But then there are reports that an application I do support is having issues (bad). I check it out and yes, it's hosed (bad). Then the SQL Server deadlocks (even worse than it sounds). Someone calls because he can't pull data into excel (why is he calling me?) I say I'll call back later (good). There's no choice but to stop the application and SQL services and bounce the server (fun). Monitor the boxes (boring but brief) test the application (dull) and email that it's back up. (good.) The new application, whose acroynm is BO (stupid!) is returning a permission denied error (bad). I get an email from my agent that the anthology is a done deal (Yay!) Deadline is June 1 (urk!) I never saw this BO server before yesterday and know nothing about how it works (bad). Discover the software was designed by morons (normal). I know the server Admin password was changed yesterday and suspect the password needs to be changed elsewhere too. (OK) But where? The application was written by morons and is 3 versions out of date (bad) and we have no support contract (normal). I call the guy who quit and find out he has a list of passwords (WTF?). With assistance because I do not yet have all the permissions necessary to administer the box (bad) we blunder onto all the places that need the password updated (irritating). I document (boring). I email that BO is back (good). I start investigating the server deadlock (interesting). Lunchtime (good!) I discover I have $10 not $5 dollars (good) and so I can go have Chinese with the rest of the DBA's (good) We walk out into the sunshine (fabulous!) We have lunch (good). I fix the guy's excel data problem (not my job, but I did it anyway). 2:30 arrives (yay) and I skip the gym (bad) to go sit at a cafe and work on The Rake (good) I get a double cap (good) and get to work.
So, that was my day mostly. I also wrote a paragraph about the anthology story so my editor knows what I'm planning.
And, in case the length of this post didn't tip you off, I am engaging in avoidance behavior in re The Rake because about half an hour ago I realized what's wrong with chapter 1 and fixing it involves chopping. I'll get to it shortly, delete key extra sharp.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/13/2006 09:15:00 PM Permalink
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Why We Archive
I don't know about you, but I archive every day's version of writing. Each book/project has a daily zip file named by date so that I can always revert to a previous version. Oh, you're thinking you'd like an example? OK, like if you were to discover that the massive changes you made in your MS, after a week's worth of work in which the words "shredded to pieces" would not be inappropriate, are a complete and utter failure and the chapters are beyond saving. Like that. If something like that were to happen to you, you'd be grateful for those zip files because you could put your MS back the way it was and proceed to Plan 9 From Outer Space.
Fortunately, Plan 9 jumped out at me this afternoon at the gym (I had the binder with me) while I was despairing and considering whether I should just give up on the freaking book. So now that I'm back from my son's Open House, I'm going to revert the chapters and start over and keep going until the chapters are more better.
Fortunately, Plan 9 jumped out at me this afternoon at the gym (I had the binder with me) while I was despairing and considering whether I should just give up on the freaking book. So now that I'm back from my son's Open House, I'm going to revert the chapters and start over and keep going until the chapters are more better.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/11/2006 08:20:00 PM Permalink
Monday, April 10, 2006
In Reading News
Oh, hey, I forgot to mention that at The Celebrate Romance conference last weekend I won, among many other goodies in the bag, an ARC of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Side of the Moon. It's a Dark Hunter novel. I read it Saturday, as soon as I got my hands on it. (I didn't check luggage, but Candice Hern was there and she was driving, and she was kind enough to drive my loot back.) Yes. I read the entire thing in one afternoon. There was a moment when, since I'd promised my son we'd go to the movies, that I actually put it down, but we were headed out the door when he remembered he had work to do on his Science Project. Yes! Reprieve! I managed to look disappointed but I may have nearly knocked him over on my way back to my room to finish it. I really enjoyed it. So, if you were on the fence about it, get off. I wish it had been longer.
And, no, I am not procrastinating. I am letting my ideas about fixing my chapter 2 percolate. I did find some stuff to swipe from another chapter and I think it works well. I should be done with an initial passs tonight.
And, no, I am not procrastinating. I am letting my ideas about fixing my chapter 2 percolate. I did find some stuff to swipe from another chapter and I think it works well. I should be done with an initial passs tonight.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/10/2006 07:33:00 PM Permalink
Pantsers Explained?
Study Skills Library - Academic Skills Center - Cal Poly. Hmm. I dunno. Is it really counterproductive or are the authors plotters who don't get an alternate work style? what do you think? I don't feel I've lost my freedom when I'm under deadline. I feel more like, Yay! I'm finally going to get this done! Plus, check out the "Characteristics" which read like a description of your typical author, except for the part that describes one of my brothers, who is never on time for anything. Laughing! Oh, my. Among the advice? "Remind yourself that great writers, poets, artists at one time or another completed their work." Uh, yeah, but some of them were procrastinating panters!Read more at www.sas.calpoly.edu/asc...
posted by Carolyn @ 4/10/2006 07:11:00 AM Permalink
Sunday, April 09, 2006
All this plus laundry
Ok, it's way too late. It's been a busy day, only not for writing. My son has a science project due tomorrow so I was helping him out with the display and trying to explain to him why taking shortcuts is a bad idea. Then grocery shopping and the like. I bought him a Weekly World News at the checkout stand because anything that gets him to read is good. Boy Thinks Out Loud -- For Real. Rodent Rodeo! Mermaid Cemetary Found! And then there were dinosours and the primordial soup. So, he's having fun with that. All this plus laundry means I had about 20 minutes to write.
I got my blimpo chapter 1 split in two, but then I needed to have a chapter in between them, which I started on because there wasn't anything I'd already written that could go there. I think it'll work out. But I'm tired and didn't get much done. Tomorrow is Open House at School, so I'll be busy tomorrow, too.
I got my blimpo chapter 1 split in two, but then I needed to have a chapter in between them, which I started on because there wasn't anything I'd already written that could go there. I think it'll work out. But I'm tired and didn't get much done. Tomorrow is Open House at School, so I'll be busy tomorrow, too.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/09/2006 10:47:00 PM Permalink
Wrestling match! Plus More
So, my new chapter one is now 18 pages. That is too long. I'm going to have to chop it in half. Plus there is a motivation issue I need to deal with. About half way through, it just doesn't feel right emotionally. Yet. Still, my heroine is shaping up nicely. I did the computer edit, paper-read, computer edit, paper-read thing 3 times yesterday. More today I suspect.
Yesterday, I went to my RWA local chapter meeting (San Francisco Bay Area RWA). Sue Grimshaw, National Romance Buyer for Borders Books, Inc. gave a presentation. Writing is a business, and Sue's presentation pointed that out. And yet she gave practical, wonderful and supporting advice about how best to promote and what things authors ought to try negotiating for. Number one: Cover Art. Unfortunately, authors have zero control over that. She has stepped in and gotten revisions for covers she believed would not sell the book, and she had some before and afters to show us. What covers are selling today: Hunky male torsos. Other interesting tidbits about Romance:
What else? If you have limited promotion money to spend, use it to send bookmarks to the Romance Experts 3-4 weeks prior to your laydown date. If you can't afford to send an ARC, then send a 1st chapter.
My take on this? As authors and readers know, covers are important. They get readers to pick up your book. Authors should try to negotiate coop money with our editors. Sexy is in.
Yesterday, I went to my RWA local chapter meeting (San Francisco Bay Area RWA). Sue Grimshaw, National Romance Buyer for Borders Books, Inc. gave a presentation. Writing is a business, and Sue's presentation pointed that out. And yet she gave practical, wonderful and supporting advice about how best to promote and what things authors ought to try negotiating for. Number one: Cover Art. Unfortunately, authors have zero control over that. She has stepped in and gotten revisions for covers she believed would not sell the book, and she had some before and afters to show us. What covers are selling today: Hunky male torsos. Other interesting tidbits about Romance:
- Historicals are 30-40% of the market, but sales are flat. She believes this will come around.
- Paranormals had 30% growth and she sees this continuing.
- Romantic Suspense had 10% growth and she believes that will continue to increase.
- Erotica and Romantica sales are increasing quickly, and other booksellers are missing the boat.
- Erotica/Romantica buyers purchase the sexy title and 5 other non-erotica titles.
- Romance buyers buy lots of other kinds of books, and usually spend $50-60 a visit.
- POD is proving to be a viable route to print publishing, mostly with Romantica/Erotica writers.
What else? If you have limited promotion money to spend, use it to send bookmarks to the Romance Experts 3-4 weeks prior to your laydown date. If you can't afford to send an ARC, then send a 1st chapter.
My take on this? As authors and readers know, covers are important. They get readers to pick up your book. Authors should try to negotiate coop money with our editors. Sexy is in.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/09/2006 09:40:00 AM Permalink
Friday, April 07, 2006
Gang aft Aglae
Probably I spelled that wrong, but anyway, I had a laundry issue, and had to put my clothes through another spin cycle so I made myself sit in front of The Rake (Villain) and work on it and my darn heroine kept saying this stuff that just was amusing and a bit flippant and I kept saying, no heroine! Plainly you do not understand what you're supposed to be like. And then I got tired of fighting it and let her have her way.
Oh.
Guess I should have done that sooner.
So, I think the chapters are fixed. And now I'm going to check my laundry and go to bed.
Oh.
Guess I should have done that sooner.
So, I think the chapters are fixed. And now I'm going to check my laundry and go to bed.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/07/2006 09:05:00 PM Permalink
zzzzz huh? I'm awake, I swear!
I'm going to try to go to bed extra early tonight. I can barely keep my eyes open. I had to leave work early yesterday to see my prof, so when I came in this am worried because the oil light was on, I checked email and saw that casual Friday was cancelled. Oops. So I had to go home and change, but first I stopped at the gas station to get some oil and figure out how to open the hood. Got back to work and things were pleasantly hosed up. "Hey, there's a database error, can you fix that?" Well, yeah, actually, I can, if you'll look at your code and tell me what server and database you're trying to hit. "How do I do that?" Argh! Of all the problems, only one was actually database related. These are the perils of being the early bird. All problems are by default mine to solve. I have access to the server room, so I spent my morning freezing in there (it's cold on purpose). Ick. Then someone wanted a trigger on a table to fire off an email on an insert, to happen upon some data entry that DOES NOT include a row insert on the table in question. "Uhm, you see, the database can't do anything in response to an event that hasn't happened. You'll have to change your business process if you really need to do this."
Argh! That's work talk! Oh no. But I'm too tired to delete it. Just skip that stuff. The writing stuff is below. Probably that's not interesting either.
I think I have a better title for The Rake -- Villian. What do you think? Dumb? I'm so sick of the title that maybe if I change the title the book will magically transform those sucky 1st 2 chapters. I can dream. I'm also sick of deciding everything sucks. Come on! It's better than it was, but now the heroine's not quite right. I really like her though. Anyway, on the other thing, I decided to totally change the characters and now it feels better. But I haven't worked on it except to notebook at the gym. Back to Villain. Actually, I'm going to get my laundry in the dryer and just go to bed.
Argh! That's work talk! Oh no. But I'm too tired to delete it. Just skip that stuff. The writing stuff is below. Probably that's not interesting either.
I think I have a better title for The Rake -- Villian. What do you think? Dumb? I'm so sick of the title that maybe if I change the title the book will magically transform those sucky 1st 2 chapters. I can dream. I'm also sick of deciding everything sucks. Come on! It's better than it was, but now the heroine's not quite right. I really like her though. Anyway, on the other thing, I decided to totally change the characters and now it feels better. But I haven't worked on it except to notebook at the gym. Back to Villain. Actually, I'm going to get my laundry in the dryer and just go to bed.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/07/2006 07:13:00 PM Permalink
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Insert Interesting Title Here
So, I've completely redone chapters 1-3 of The Rake [Note to self: still need new title]. The previous chapter one is gone with parts layered into the new chapter 1. And it's still not right. It sucks. It's horrible and awful and boring. Shoot. Why did I do this? Because I was asked to make it sexier, that's why. And when I re-read it, I realized the late chapter 1 wasn't very good at all. Ick. I do not have much time to fix this because I have this other thing to deal with.
I had to meet with my prof today and that gave me about an hour free before I picked up my son. Since I had paper copy with me, I went to a cafe and realized chapter 11 and 12 ought to be the new chapters 1 and 2, and so I took all the stuff that was good from the now dead and gone chapter 1 and stuck it in chapter 11, moved it to the number 1 slot, stuck 12 in the number two and left 3 alone. When I got home, I got the changes in the computer, re-printed, re-read and re-edited. I'll get those changes in tomorrow.
Sigh. Sometimes this is really discouraging.
I had to meet with my prof today and that gave me about an hour free before I picked up my son. Since I had paper copy with me, I went to a cafe and realized chapter 11 and 12 ought to be the new chapters 1 and 2, and so I took all the stuff that was good from the now dead and gone chapter 1 and stuck it in chapter 11, moved it to the number 1 slot, stuck 12 in the number two and left 3 alone. When I got home, I got the changes in the computer, re-printed, re-read and re-edited. I'll get those changes in tomorrow.
Sigh. Sometimes this is really discouraging.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/06/2006 09:47:00 PM Permalink
Interesting Facts - Useful for Writers
Schneier on Security: VOIP Encryption: The basics of phone tapping. Schneier is always interesting. Read about it at www.schneier.com/blog/a...
posted by Carolyn @ 4/06/2006 06:25:00 AM Permalink
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Still catching up
I got very little sleep last weekend and I'm still trying to catch up. I'm crashing really early in the evenings and I can feel it coming on now. Monday and Tuesday both I was up too late trying to catch up on other stuff. I'm blogging now because later, I know I'll be too tired. Getting some work done. Sort of.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/05/2006 07:57:00 PM Permalink
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Rudy and Linda, you Rock!
Now that my son is in bed, and I'm this close to crashing, I wanted to talk about the Moroccan Restaurant. Good food, yes. Great company. Jade Lee, Candice Hern and I went ahead to the restaurant because we were told they could take our party of 17 earlier if we arrived in 45 minutes. We get there about 7:30 or so, are seated and are eating appetizers (fabulous food!) when the waiter apologizes and says there was a mix up, we have to leave our table and wait until 9pm. He did let us finish our delicious appetizers, first, though. After some discussion and phone calls, we decide to wait. Candice, Jade and I are waiting in the entrance and chatting with a couple, Rudy and Linda, who are also waiting. It was Linda's birthday. They discovered (how did that happen!) we were writers. They confessed they do not read Romance. We passed out bookmarks etc and we talked about Romance. The rest of our group arrives, but we are no longer 17, there are now only eight, some of us are writers, some of us are readers. We wait.... and wait. We sing Happy Birthday to Linda.
When we get seated (some of us for the second time) we invite Rudy and Linda to join us. Rudy, by the way, is the only man in the group. They do. We now have a captive man, and the Romance writers and readers are burning to know the male point of view of certain subjects. When he's asked some very scandalous questions, one of which, I might add, came with a visual gesture as an aid, Rudy answers with charming candor. Yes, he says, if presented with a naked woman (relax, the gesture did not involve naked parts), men look at the parts, not the imperfections. "A naked woman is a gift." Linda got a birthday fez and somehow Jade got one too. I think she finagled it from the men at the table next to us. If she had a blog, she could tell her side of the story, but she doesn't so we may never know. There is belly dancing with audience participation. Someone told me they have blackmail pictures. Hah! Try it. We tell Rudy and Linda about the book signing the next day and make sure they understand what Romance is about and why they should be reading it. We had a great time.
Today, toward the end of the signing, who should walk in but Linda, wearing her fez, and Rudy! And they bought a couple of books, too. What nice people! And now they are set on a future of sexy Romances to read, too.
So, Rudy and Linda, you rock! I am very glad to have met you.
When we get seated (some of us for the second time) we invite Rudy and Linda to join us. Rudy, by the way, is the only man in the group. They do. We now have a captive man, and the Romance writers and readers are burning to know the male point of view of certain subjects. When he's asked some very scandalous questions, one of which, I might add, came with a visual gesture as an aid, Rudy answers with charming candor. Yes, he says, if presented with a naked woman (relax, the gesture did not involve naked parts), men look at the parts, not the imperfections. "A naked woman is a gift." Linda got a birthday fez and somehow Jade got one too. I think she finagled it from the men at the table next to us. If she had a blog, she could tell her side of the story, but she doesn't so we may never know. There is belly dancing with audience participation. Someone told me they have blackmail pictures. Hah! Try it. We tell Rudy and Linda about the book signing the next day and make sure they understand what Romance is about and why they should be reading it. We had a great time.
Today, toward the end of the signing, who should walk in but Linda, wearing her fez, and Rudy! And they bought a couple of books, too. What nice people! And now they are set on a future of sexy Romances to read, too.
So, Rudy and Linda, you rock! I am very glad to have met you.
posted by Carolyn @ 4/02/2006 09:24:00 PM Permalink
Home Sweet Home
I'm back from Celebrate Romance. It was lots of fun. I'm kind of tired so maybe I'll have a more coherent blog tomorrow. Turns out Marjorie Liu was in Long Beach for the Authors at Sea thing so Jade Lee and I went along with a bunch of others to the signing and got to say hi to Marjorie and congrats on her RITA nomination.
In a truly wonderful bit of synchronicity, for this short project I started on just in case, I wrote a scene in a Moroccan Restaurant. And at CR, a bunch of us went out to dinner (and I did not know the location ahead of time) at a Moroccan restaurant!! So, now I have to completely rewrite the scene, but now it's going to rock so majorly that it was completely worth the airfare and travel angst.
Also, I got an interesting comment on this blog post: Read it here And read my replies because I went back and added a second one. Sheesh!
In a truly wonderful bit of synchronicity, for this short project I started on just in case, I wrote a scene in a Moroccan Restaurant. And at CR, a bunch of us went out to dinner (and I did not know the location ahead of time) at a Moroccan restaurant!! So, now I have to completely rewrite the scene, but now it's going to rock so majorly that it was completely worth the airfare and travel angst.
Also, I got an interesting comment on this blog post: Read it here And read my replies because I went back and added a second one. Sheesh!
posted by Carolyn @ 4/02/2006 08:36:00 PM Permalink
