Hmm
Lot's of fake celebs on twitter...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/Fakers
And here are some real ones...
http://twitter.pbwiki.com/MinorCelebrities
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Cut 20,000 words? "Kill" big bad at end?
The title of this post says my next big challenges in editing my novel. I found out it's Middle Grade and MG books run about 75,000 words. Mine is 92,000.
It's 92 because I cut the Kidnappers scene and the Festival scene. Both have been in since the rough draft but both can be safety removed.
I thought last night that besides the add on scene with Tom from book 2, there was nothing else I could cut. This morn while walking the dogs I thought of 2 others. If done right, I could cut both tavern scenes. This means editing the witch and final battle scenes so Dale never appears and that means a new beginning on book 2, but it would be worth it. After all, I need to get THIS book off the ground.
First I need to completely rewrite most of chap 31 (the final battle) and fake Dominic's death. The tools are already in place to set that up, just need to rework it. I'll do that, then if I need to cut the tavern scenes, all the better.
This is hard!
More details to follow.
It's 92 because I cut the Kidnappers scene and the Festival scene. Both have been in since the rough draft but both can be safety removed.
I thought last night that besides the add on scene with Tom from book 2, there was nothing else I could cut. This morn while walking the dogs I thought of 2 others. If done right, I could cut both tavern scenes. This means editing the witch and final battle scenes so Dale never appears and that means a new beginning on book 2, but it would be worth it. After all, I need to get THIS book off the ground.
First I need to completely rewrite most of chap 31 (the final battle) and fake Dominic's death. The tools are already in place to set that up, just need to rework it. I'll do that, then if I need to cut the tavern scenes, all the better.
This is hard!
More details to follow.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Loved Twilight!
Thought it was a perfect representation of the book. I was OK with Patterson being Edward.
I actually liked the movie better than the book. But I always said books 1 and 2 had slow first halves.
Anyway, great movie. I would love to see it again. Can't wait for the DVD. And can't wait for New Moon!
I actually liked the movie better than the book. But I always said books 1 and 2 had slow first halves.
Anyway, great movie. I would love to see it again. Can't wait for the DVD. And can't wait for New Moon!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
novel sigh
Yes, I know the kids talk too old. I know you doubt my historical stuff (and maybe you're right).
So what do I do? Chuck it?
I've been at this for too long. Harry was ripping up the charts and I was trying. Now Edward is ripping up the charts and I'm STILL trying. Heck, Edward is from a Mormon author. A Mormon writing vampires? Wait. I thought that was me. But no. She was already finished with her story while I was still writing the rough draft.
Do I hate Twilight? Nope. I've read them. I own them. I'm catching the movie this weekend and yes, I like them. Do I resent Stephenie Meyers? Nope. We each have our time. Her time is now. In fact maybe she's opened a door for me. Maybe people will want Annabelle.
This really has nothing to do with Twilight. I'm just angry. Around every printed, handwritten red lined page is more bloody ink, telling me how this version is flawed. It wouldn't be so bad if her mark up was one of the first ten betas. But this is two years later. Two years!
Will I ever get it right?
"Not so much italics, let the reader decide what is stressed."
"Jorgantown sounds awfully Norwegian for Connecticut".
"Glorianna should have her hair up, not down. Woman never had it down in those days."
"Children wouldn't know about fairy tails because this is before the Grimm brothers."
"The Dunston kids should talk in a uneducated way. They should be dumbed down."
"The Foresights come off as rich. If they were, they would settle in the cities like rich people of the time did. Not come to start a new life."
"The first name Paige wasn't used back then. Change it."
"Dominic is too tall at 7'. No men were that tall during those times."
"The children don't talk like kids. Annabelle talks too old."
"Annabelle shouldn't be able to read. Kids cant read back then."
That's why her dad's a bookbinder! It's all there in chap 2! And the Dunstons point out that she talks funny. And the raven states Annabelle is an old soul. Now should I say she grew up fast because she helped her dad with the bookbinding?
Face it. It sucks. I suck. I get a dream and it sucks.
Stupid.
So what do I do? Chuck it?
I've been at this for too long. Harry was ripping up the charts and I was trying. Now Edward is ripping up the charts and I'm STILL trying. Heck, Edward is from a Mormon author. A Mormon writing vampires? Wait. I thought that was me. But no. She was already finished with her story while I was still writing the rough draft.
Do I hate Twilight? Nope. I've read them. I own them. I'm catching the movie this weekend and yes, I like them. Do I resent Stephenie Meyers? Nope. We each have our time. Her time is now. In fact maybe she's opened a door for me. Maybe people will want Annabelle.
This really has nothing to do with Twilight. I'm just angry. Around every printed, handwritten red lined page is more bloody ink, telling me how this version is flawed. It wouldn't be so bad if her mark up was one of the first ten betas. But this is two years later. Two years!
Will I ever get it right?
"Not so much italics, let the reader decide what is stressed."
"Jorgantown sounds awfully Norwegian for Connecticut".
"Glorianna should have her hair up, not down. Woman never had it down in those days."
"Children wouldn't know about fairy tails because this is before the Grimm brothers."
"The Dunston kids should talk in a uneducated way. They should be dumbed down."
"The Foresights come off as rich. If they were, they would settle in the cities like rich people of the time did. Not come to start a new life."
"The first name Paige wasn't used back then. Change it."
"Dominic is too tall at 7'. No men were that tall during those times."
"The children don't talk like kids. Annabelle talks too old."
"Annabelle shouldn't be able to read. Kids cant read back then."
That's why her dad's a bookbinder! It's all there in chap 2! And the Dunstons point out that she talks funny. And the raven states Annabelle is an old soul. Now should I say she grew up fast because she helped her dad with the bookbinding?
Face it. It sucks. I suck. I get a dream and it sucks.
Stupid.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Talking to the class III
BACKFLASH!
Things have been crazy here so sometimes I forget to put down important events. The following is one of them. I'm typing in very basic sentences to just get this event written down.
A couple weeks ago (on Halloween morn, no less) I spoke to a class of 8th graders. It was very different from the two times I spoke to 6th graders. Some in the audience seems really interested while a few were bored. I suppose that's the nature of the age.
I showed up early so students thought I was a substitute. LOL. Nope. Not me. This was Laura's class and she hates being embarrassed so I didn't do anything to point her out. It seemed to go OK for her. I was a teen a thousand years ago so I remember the silly fears.
Katie and her friend Anna showed up before class. I had my own grown up fears, sitting at the front of the class, scared they'll think I'm a boring nerd. Katie's visit really helped. Of course Anna wanted to talk about Heroes so my guard came down and I could relax a bit. Once the bell rang they left and it was time for Mr. Bryant to do roll and introduce me.
I explained what the book was about and gave a lead in to the chapter bit I was to read from. I read it and then asked if they had questions. No questions! (Very different from the 6th graders. Almost the entire class raised their hands.)
I then explained why and how I decided to become a writer. They seemed very interested. I hope it went well.
I was pleasantly surprised that he had one of those things where his computer screen appears on a view screen. If I had known, I'd have brought some pics of Annabelle and her brother.
I'm very grateful to Mr. Garret Bryant for this opportunity.
Things have been crazy here so sometimes I forget to put down important events. The following is one of them. I'm typing in very basic sentences to just get this event written down.
A couple weeks ago (on Halloween morn, no less) I spoke to a class of 8th graders. It was very different from the two times I spoke to 6th graders. Some in the audience seems really interested while a few were bored. I suppose that's the nature of the age.
I showed up early so students thought I was a substitute. LOL. Nope. Not me. This was Laura's class and she hates being embarrassed so I didn't do anything to point her out. It seemed to go OK for her. I was a teen a thousand years ago so I remember the silly fears.
Katie and her friend Anna showed up before class. I had my own grown up fears, sitting at the front of the class, scared they'll think I'm a boring nerd. Katie's visit really helped. Of course Anna wanted to talk about Heroes so my guard came down and I could relax a bit. Once the bell rang they left and it was time for Mr. Bryant to do roll and introduce me.
I explained what the book was about and gave a lead in to the chapter bit I was to read from. I read it and then asked if they had questions. No questions! (Very different from the 6th graders. Almost the entire class raised their hands.)
I then explained why and how I decided to become a writer. They seemed very interested. I hope it went well.
I was pleasantly surprised that he had one of those things where his computer screen appears on a view screen. If I had known, I'd have brought some pics of Annabelle and her brother.
I'm very grateful to Mr. Garret Bryant for this opportunity.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Busy couple of days! I actually have it off for once and so I've been running like a mad dog.
This year I couldn't really afford to dress out and I don't like how make up makes my face itch so there you go.
BUT I do love the holiday. Soon we'll be taking our monsters out trick or treating. Then we'll watch old spooky movies and relax.
Here's some pics to celebrate.
This year I couldn't really afford to dress out and I don't like how make up makes my face itch so there you go.
BUT I do love the holiday. Soon we'll be taking our monsters out trick or treating. Then we'll watch old spooky movies and relax.
Here's some pics to celebrate.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Rejected
The short story was rejected so Annabelle & Roland; Terror at Fun Land will not be in the anthology. They liked Ann and her brother, but felt Roxie was rushed.
I see their point. It was too rushed. I could build on it and add more meat but I'm currently working on the novel and honestly the short with Roxie could be folding into the novels.
So I'm shelving it for the moment. I can see my current goal finishing up. I'm almost done with edits. We're on chap 24. I have six more chaps to go then this round of edits will be done. I'll then go back and do some editing in the first few chaps to make sure it reads as well as the later chaps. Once that's done it'll be submission time.
So I'm disappointed but not depressed.
Onward and upward.
I see their point. It was too rushed. I could build on it and add more meat but I'm currently working on the novel and honestly the short with Roxie could be folding into the novels.
So I'm shelving it for the moment. I can see my current goal finishing up. I'm almost done with edits. We're on chap 24. I have six more chaps to go then this round of edits will be done. I'll then go back and do some editing in the first few chaps to make sure it reads as well as the later chaps. Once that's done it'll be submission time.
So I'm disappointed but not depressed.
Onward and upward.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
If you look to the right you'll see my Twitter updates. Most days I'm busy and so I forget to do daily posts here. On Twitter they are quick brief messages so it's just simpler. Watch that space because even if my blog messages don't update, that will.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Annabelle Foresight went to Fun Land!
I'm excited! A few months ago I sent a short story in. I'm hoping it'll get picked for an anthology.
Well I heard back and I made it through Round One! I t may still get rejected, but it passed the first level. I'll know within 90 days if it passes the next elimination round. I'm very excited!
I just want to get her out there into the world. Maybe this is the way?
Well I heard back and I made it through Round One! I t may still get rejected, but it passed the first level. I'll know within 90 days if it passes the next elimination round. I'm very excited!
I just want to get her out there into the world. Maybe this is the way?
Sunday, August 03, 2008
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