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Thursday, April 29, 2010
TGIF
Our resident bartender is still living it up, getting manuscript requests, chatting up important people, and possibly recovering from a hangover of Faery glitter. While we wait for her to return and tell us how to beguile agents and win over editors, I thought I'd prance out one of my parodies and ask for updates on everyone's writing. After all, that is what we're here for, yes?
Okay, so we're here for the hotties. Whatever.
Let's get everyone into the mood. We all love writing. Especially our writing. Sing along with me, guys:
All right, now we're all in the mood and happy with writing again. Bitch and brag. How's your writing been this week? Feast or famine? Mine: moderate buffet. I've starved more, let's just say. I don't absolute loathe my WIP this week (always a good sign)--could it be better? Of course. I think I'm avoiding writing a sex scene, and I'm currently trying to "recycle" chapters I previously cut when I thought the book wasn't going in the direction I wanted. I know some of you are editing/revising and some of you are writing like the wind to finish a first draft by June. How goes it?*
*If you don't want to share specific details about characters, please don't feel you have to. I know it's important to keep the magic contained. You can just say, "It's going great! I've written X pages/words/books!" or "I've written nothing because I'm being held captive in a dungeon!" That's fine.
Okay, so we're here for the hotties. Whatever.
Let's get everyone into the mood. We all love writing. Especially our writing. Sing along with me, guys:
Oh, listen, sister,
I love my manuscript,
And I can't tell you why.
There ain’t no reason…
Why I should love this prose
It must be something that the devil only know…
Phones gotta ring, emails gotta fly,
I gotta write this manuscript till I die—
Can’t help this crazy plot of mine….
Tell me it’s trite, tell me’s slow,
Tell me the dumb hero has got to go…
Can’t help this crazy plot of mine…
When I don’t write a line…
I near go out of my mind…
But when I sit with my pen and write—
That day is fine…those words do shine.
This plot can go to eternity,
Crazy and trite, I don’t care how it be.
Can’t help this crazy plot of mine...
All right, now we're all in the mood and happy with writing again. Bitch and brag. How's your writing been this week? Feast or famine? Mine: moderate buffet. I've starved more, let's just say. I don't absolute loathe my WIP this week (always a good sign)--could it be better? Of course. I think I'm avoiding writing a sex scene, and I'm currently trying to "recycle" chapters I previously cut when I thought the book wasn't going in the direction I wanted. I know some of you are editing/revising and some of you are writing like the wind to finish a first draft by June. How goes it?*
*If you don't want to share specific details about characters, please don't feel you have to. I know it's important to keep the magic contained. You can just say, "It's going great! I've written X pages/words/books!" or "I've written nothing because I'm being held captive in a dungeon!" That's fine.
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Captain's Quarters (Hellion)
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58 comments:
Hee, hee. No writing. Lots of fairy glitter, especially tonight at the fairy ball.
Sooooooo glad I got the Bo'sun to help me with my synopsis before I got here... Will be so much easier to send out materials without having to do those NOW! And end up delaying for a month or more. Yes, the Hierarchy of Avoidance!
Hel - I told a few people about Adam and Eve and everyone bloody person wants to read this book!
I have written notes on some new ideas...so I haven't been totally non-creative...
WhoooHooo! Chance!!! Sounds like you're rocking it up.
I haven't done much writing, not much at all. Some revising, a lot of pulling out my hair. But after that bit of a jingle I'm ready to get to work.
OK, I cannot pull up the song that parady is supposed to be sung to. Honestly, my memory is pure crap!
And I think I was just informed that I will write a blog on pitching by the Captain...
Yes, Captain, Ma'am, Sir!
;)
I admit it, the last month (or two) was pure crap for writing. I'm slowly easing back into a groove now, though. I've made my word goal almost all week and hoping to do just as well if not better for the weeks heading into RWA in Nashville.
I got back into the writing groove this week too. The last few weeks I've written but I haven't loved the two chapters. I need to rehit them again when I'm through this draft. They're transition chapters and well, I'm not sure they're transitioning.
But I started writing the first sex scene this week and I think it's going well. I hope to finish it today. :) Or at least the first phase of it.
Chance, you just made me my day, mentioning the Hierarchy of Avoidance like that!
And since you're doing all the moving and shaking at the conference (and not just for your OWN books!), you don't HAVE to write. :)
My writing has been more "structural stuff" this week, with a couple new scenes added in, and now that everything's in place, I've got to go back in and make it all beautiful. LOL So lots of revising for me the next few days!
I forget I watch "old" movies (musicals no less) that others may never watch. *LOL* You're missing out if you haven't seen Showboat. It's a weeper!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOyycNqiWA
And there's a secret baby! (But he totally didn't deserve to be told. He left her before she could tell him.) Don't worry though: there's a happy ending. (Not for Ava Gardner though...who's storyline is a complete cryfest.)
2nd: I'm glad the synopses are done--and you can't put it off. It sounds like you have real interest in these novels; and best of all, you have so many of them written. Those editors must be GIDDY. Most authors only have one finished manuscript to share (okay, a good handful of us have 6-7), and many, many more only have an idea or partially written manuscript written they pitch and get requests.
And let's hear it for the HOA!
Renee, hello fellow sister! Confession is great for the soul; and hopefully the Writing Muses will be with you today and you'll have some pages to brag about later this weekend or next week!
Yes, 2nd, you've been informed you'll be doing a full RT report; and how to perfect your pitch. No pressure! *LOL*
JK's got her GROOVE back! Huzzah! Excellent news; and we'll pour some more rum all the way around to coax the Writing Muses to continue being good. Here's to being on schedule and having something brilliant for Nationals!
Don't you love it? *I* am avoiding writing a sex scene (and therefore writing lots of transitional chapters)--whereas Marn is writing her sex scene and is having a great time with it! (I think that was a challenge, don't you?)
I think transitional chapters can be hard because it's almost like finding your groove with the beginning of a novel again. You have to share enough information needed for this part of the novel, but sometimes it's not as exciting as something blowing up or fooling around on the pool table.
*sniff*
Wish I was going to Nationals.
*huge bosom-heaving sigh*
Guess somebody has to stay and keep the ship afloat. I suppose I could get started on that training for the cabin boys that I'd been contemplating. . .
Donna, the Hierarchy of Avoidance is iconic (even at only a few weeks old)--it will be used everywhere. *LOL*
And I agree: since 2nd has had her happy ass out and about pitching books (even mine apparently, now I'm a wreck, thanks Chance), she doesn't have to write today. *LOL* She gets to just live it up. *LOL*
Glad to hear the revisions are going great; and the structural stuff is getting more sound. :)
I love hearing about all our pirates at varying degrees of the writing process! Keep it coming!!
Don't worry, Donna, I'm not going to Nationals either. *LOL* I think you'll find a lot more on this ship and with the Bo'sun in spirit...
Okay, Hellion -- you've made me feel better about not going to Nationals. (We don't have to spring-clean the ship or anything, do we? Cuz if so, then I'm sure I've got SOMETHING important I need to do then! LOL)
Iconic! I love that! I've made my mark on the world, although in a way I hadn't really anticipated.
You wenches will spoil the hotties and let them raid the bar too much! While Bo'sun and I are working out butts off in Nashville you'll be carousing about with the hotties.
Sigh.
Don't let them empty the bar and I don't care how drunk they get, the aren't to use the extra rum barrels as pisspots!
;) Yes, Hel...they want to read your book... I shall repeat it everyday... It isn't just the pirates...
Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Donna, weren't you paying attention to the Hierarchy of Avoidance?
This will be what we will be doing when they're at Nationals:
1.) Giving the hotties a bath
2.) Writing
3.) Boosting the morale of the crew
4.) Getting foot rubs from the hotties (they need practice)
5.) Drinking rum
6.) Napping
7.) Lining up the hotties for "muster" to make sure they look good. Thorough inspection. Very serious.
And a few more things. But no cleaning. Who cleans a ship? That's what the sea air is for.
Listen to 2nd as if she were the captain and had been dealing with the hotties from the get-go. Do you not think I know what to do with a bunch of hotties? Please, woman.
Well, they are completely uncontrollable when it comes to the bar... Maybe you should keep them sober... No sloppy footrubs that way...
Off to the madenss downstairs!
*bows*
Hellion, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy.
:)
No wonder you're the Captain! Now I can't WAIT to get rid of Bo'sun and Chance. LOL
I know it’s important to keep the magic contained.
Is it just me? Or does anybody else think that this would be a great ad for Trojans?
And writing …
“I’ve written nothing because I’m being held captive in a dungeon!” Which means that the World is a Safer Place for the Reading Public!
I think 2nd is confusing the hotties with the undead monkey. Which she is more than welcome to take with her to Nationals. *LOL*
Exactly, Donna, it's a HARD job we have, keeping the ship tip-top while Bo'sun and 2nd are gone, but someone has to do it. And it might as well be us. *grins*
It's only 9:30 east coast and there are over 20 comments. WTF???
I'll be back when I catch up. Sheesh.
Jules, I'm glad I haven't drank any soda this morning or I'd be spending the rest of my morning cleaning my keyboard. *LOL* Yes, it does sound like a Trojan ad.
And please, I don't think there is a dungeon in the world that could contain you, Jules. Kidnapping you and holding you for ransom would be like the Ransom of Little Big Chief! *LOL*
LOL, Julie -- it's the perfect Trojan ad!
I'm ready for duty, Captain! I'm sure the rest of the crew will appreciate our efforts once they return.
And Bo'sun, let me 'splain that "getting rid of Bo'sun and Chance" statement I made earlier. . . :)
Well, I'm definitely not going to make the June 1st deadline. LOL
Making a day during the week where I get out of the house with the laptop and actually get to sit down and think about my writing has helped a lot. Library Saturdays are where it's at. Hells, meeting up tomorrow?
First off, *blows her whistle* I am in charge of inspecting the hotties and all inspections will be done before I leave. Thoroughly done.
Donna - If you're nice, I might let you use my whistle while I'm gone. If for no other reason than to pester the Captain by blowing it every time she nods off.
So far this week I've written seventeen pages, 13 to go for the 30 per week goal. Cruising through the middle and getting really close to the love scene, which I'm trying not to stress over. LOL!
And I am so glad I'm no longer the only pirate to have pitched someone else's book. :)
Chance, glad to hear that you are having A Great Time. And Good luck with The Pitching!
Hey, Donna, look at that pretty bird up there? Look closer. Closer to the edge there.
*shove*
*splash*
*whistles*
*shakes fist*
Damn you, Bo'sun! Now I've gotten all my manuscript pages soaking wet. . .Oh look. Turtles.
LOL
Donna, you blow that whistle while I'm nodding off and you will not like where you find that whistle next. Just a friendly warning.
Congrats to the Bo'sun for being over the halfway mark for her 30 pages this week. It's been really awesome you've kept it up these last several weeks and been "writing like the wind"--very impressive! And we've all read your sex scenes. You have nothing to worry about.
Ooooh. Thanks for the whistle warning!
Sin, we're meeting up tomorrow, yes. 12:30, I assume. I'm thinking of hitting the library a couple hours today, after lunch/haircut.
I DO NOT want the whistle back if it ends up there. I'll buy a new one, thanks.
*tosses Donna a towel*
I realized the other night I'm only about 150 pages from the end. Which nearly gives me a heart attack and keeps me motivated at the same time. LOL!
So this week I haven't written a single word, but last week I finally got back into the grove and wrote about 5,000 words. Felt like I was excited about my characters again.
Why nothing this week? I've been working til about 7pm everynight. They let someone go at work and of course they needed someone to take over her work on a HUGE project - due before end of day today.
So, here's to hoping after today I'll get right back into the story!
If I did not have to work a full day today, I would meet you there for a few hours of quiet time.
Congrats to everyone hitting their marks!
Scapegoat, don't you hate that!? (It's our busy period at work, so I've been working until 6 or 7 on several nights because I can actually get crap done when everyone else freaking leaves! Nothing is more annoying than to be working on folders and the director asking you how the folders are going every other hour. Get out of my office! *LOL*) Here's to you getting the project done today and happy writing vibes for your weekend!! I'm excited that your characters are talking again and you're excited about it!
Bo'sun, you'll get it done in May--it'll be awesome! We'll have to celebrate! Woot!
Sin, if you were free, I'd love to write with you!
Okay, off to the first part of my day: pay car taxes. Be good guys. I probably won't be back on again until later tonight. Have fun and continue sharing and writing!
The Ransom of Little Big Chief?
Well … the last time someone tried to kidnap me was the last time they ever tried to kidnap anyone. All I’ll say is Mr. Carjacker pissed me off. He didn’t play by the Carjacker Rules. I was more than willing to give him my car. But when he wanted the car, me, and my kid? I got rather irritated. Actually I got Extraordinarily Angry. He tried to push me into the car, but I pulled a escape maneuver on him that I used to pull on my older sister. Then we had a lovely conversation (one sided of course) in which I explained my position on being carjacked & Kidnapped. Beginning with “I’m %$#%&!* tired of this shit! So if you’re going to blank shoot me then you can do it now!” Eventually he saw things my way. And he left … no doubt a little dazed … to meet
his destiny.
Any way … I’m off to my dungeon, aka my basement, where I am going trough boxes and stuff. But that’s another story. Not that I have any really …. Stories that is.
Love the song, Hellie! It's been straight up famine around here on the writing front for the past two weeks. I've been stressed out and overworked, and writing was (stupidly) the first thing to go.
But this morning I sat down and start re-writing my last few chapters, and maybe, just maybe, I can get going again in the right direction. Here's hoping!
(Donna, wanna share inspection duty while the Bo'sun is gone? I used to be a cheerleader -- I can wield a mean whistle *g* )
Hal, I would LOVE to share inspection duty with you! Although now I have this inordinate fear of whistles. LOL
And we'll put Julie in charge of any of them that get unruly. Wow. Talking about kick-ass heroines!
I admit, I have nothing to brag about for the story writing progress due to school work. I imagine my poor characters in limbo like a break movie set waiting on the next day's script that never comes. Last I checked, I think they are painting each other's toenails and playing poker. :)
Finals next week! It feels like I'm writing like crazy with all these essays, but that's writing of a different sort.
Now back to my lit class final essay topic I think is kind of cool: how traditional forms of support, such as family, religion or community, don't work for a character any more and cause a character to feel alienated.
I think that's an interesting way to think about conflict. My characters better enjoy their break because the next script will be revised to knock out their support system. LOL
Ugh. And hopefully in my essays I'll string my sentences together better and use things like punctuation and grammar. :)
Melissa, as soon as I hit "Submit Comment", all of the punctuation and spelling gremlins come out of my message to taunt me! LOL Good luck on the essays -- what a relief to be done with finals soon!
And I like the notion of the character feeling alienated without their support system -- which is kinda what happened with my current MC. Mmm. You got me thinking. . .
Melissa - I resemble your topic. LOL! I'm sure you're going to kick ass. On the essays, the finals, and the revisions!
Donna - You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow.
Quick, name that movie! LOL!
Um, Lauren Bacall. . .Humphrey Bogart. . .
Now I'm gonna have to go to imdb. Dang it. LOL
Might as well get the answer there since that's where I had to go to find the question. :)
They decided to have an impromptu cookout here at work. I am officially fool. I believe it's nap time.
"To Have and Have Not?" Or is that the title of MY life? LOL
I'm on my way to return overdue library books. Such an exciting life I lead. LOL
That's all it took to kill off the comments! I feel so powerful! LOL
Congrats to Chance on all the requests. That's terrific news!
I've written only 1237 words this week--510 for an argument scene in book 2 and 727 for a revelation scene in book 3. I have however read LOTS--Mistress by Mistake by Maggie Robinson, Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts, Never Less Than a Lady by Mary Jo Putney, Lit: A Memoir by Mary Carr, about 50K in a research book on disaster gypsies, and 100+ pages of Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick. I did write one blog and one review. Do they count?
It all counts, Janga. LOL! It must or none of would be able to live with ourselves. ;)
Are you writing books 2 and 3 at the same time?! My head hurts just thinking about doing that.
Donna - It's been a crazy day here at the ranch. Impromptu cookout and carpet cleaners and my VP stuck in traffic and bored so keeping me on the phone for an hour. LOL! Add that I know I'm going to have to temporarily move out of my office at the beginning of next week and I'm a little too overwhelmed to be witty in comments.
You're going to have to carry all the weight today. LOL!
Bo'sun, I can't take that kind of pressure! During the lull, I was actually at the library, getting a big pile of books to read, once I do some writing. AND I got some magazines while I was there because I need some research info on places I can't afford to go to, but my characters can, and will!
Janga, I feel like in order to spit words out, you need to take some IN, so all that reading just means you'll be cranking out the wordcount pretty soon!
Whew. I need to go rest or something now! LOL
Yep, Donna, The fate of this ship is in your hands.
God Help you!
I’ve busy this week too. Trying to keep my youngest from having a systems overload melt down. This week she had: Sunday they met at school for three hours to study for a college history course final. Monday on: May day practice at 6:oo in the morning, three soccer games, practice the rest of the days, Choir Concert on Tuesday, Wednesday was the ACT and final dress fitting, Thursday they had another college entrance exam, Today, Friday, is Athletes for Literacy and the May Day Pageant. An event that requires the junior girls (which my DD is) to dress in full length formals while they dance and twirl and weave ribbons in an intricate pattern around a very tall poll… in high heels. I don’t know about the rest of you but I have a hard time just walking in heels let alone dancing, twirling, and weaving! Saturday is soccer again , and she has to work at the school’s Greenhouse annual plant sale. Sunday is her birthday, unfortunately she won’t have uch time to celibrate as she has to go to school and study for her History final. Then next weekend is Prom. Sigh.
Maybe I should say God Help me? Hey I already made tonight’s dinner and I bought the DD some extra eyeliner ( three different shades ) and a tube of mascara. HA! I am Ready For Anything!
I can’t take that kind of pressure!
Yes You can, Donna dear! Look. I have eyeliner. and sparkly face powder. Don't worry about your worries ... Just concentrate ... on eyeliner ...
Hey. It works with the DD. Why not a Dear Donna?
Julie, after reading that schedule -- now I'm REALLY exhausted! Wow. I'm definitely too old to be a teenager anymore! But I'll just take that eyeliner and sparkly face powder off your hands. :)
Okay, I'm going to go write. . .for real this time. I've been doing research, but now I'm actually opening up a Word document. Ta dah!
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