Tag Archives: writing

More on the 21 Days and other helpful podcasts

August 3, 2011 By in Writing Process Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

I started sifting through iTunes and the interweb for podcasts about writing. I was driving an hour each way to work and figured it would be a good way to work on my writing while I really couldn’t work on my writing.

I found the audio version of Stackpole’s “21 Days to a Novel” among other advice he offers here on his website (also available on iTunes):

Secrets Podcast

The other source of writing instruction, probably the best most comprehensive that I have found, is Writing Excuses (also available on iTunes):

Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses is the singular best source of writing instruction that I have found in podcast form. On top of being a great source of information, the hosts are interesting and personable. I cannot recommend this podcast enough. Start at the beginning and listen to them all – you will not be disappointed.

Eli Hardy… The Angry Young Man

August 2, 2011 By in The West Wind Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Eli has been an interesting character to develop….  Here’s a little bit more about him:

Eli Hardy is the only child of Jakob Hardy, the second richest most powerful tycoon in the western territories who will stop at nothing to become the singular richest and most powerful man in the western territories.

Eli has recently returned from studying abroad and is confronted by the real truth behind his father’s success– the brutal exploitation of his employees, the land, and its native population.

Eli is appalled and humiliated by his father’s various attempts to engage his participation in the family business.

The West Wind follows Eli as he struggles to reconcile the gnawing hatred of his father’s methods and the fear of what his life would become without them.

My first 21 Days

August 2, 2011 By in Writing Process Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Armed with the knowledge, and some pretty good notes, from Gen Con Indy 2010 seminar “21 Days to a Novel” I gave it a go.

My first major investment was a couple of back-to-school spiral bounds and a box of my favorite pens from Staples.  Total cost < $5.

What I liked about Stackpole’s approach was the focus on the character.  The opinion that readers like to read because they enjoy getting to know a character, feeling the conflicts of the character, identifying with the character.  In short, the advice given by Stackpole, and several others I have read or heard via podcast, focus on the character and write character driven stories.  Character driven stories sell.

I religiously started following the 21 days methodology.

2010 Gen Con and 2011 Gen Con

August 1, 2011 By in Writing Process Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Aw I am daft bugger.  I should have hit the post button before heading off to work this morning.  Sorry steamers, that means you a double tap of postings tonight.

Getting ready to head off to Gen Con this year (again) got me thinking about how I made it this far with my writing.   (queue the flashback effects)

Almost… a year a go I decided to get more serious about this whole writing thing.  I had always wanted to write a book but just didn’t know how to go about doing it.

I had been attending Gen Con for several years and had noticed an increase in the number of seminars for writers.  Either they were increasing or I was just paying closer attention, not sure which.  Most of the writing seminars were focused on writing for game supplements, but there were a few for writing longer works.

For $8 I took Michael Stackpole’s “21 Days to a Novel.”  This was going to be the seminar that would teach me how to do it!  I attended, took copious notes, and walked away with a kernel of knowledge that I needed to get going.  But still absolutely no idea what I was going to write about…

For those of you heading to Gen Con Indy this year, here is a link to the writer’s events:

Gen Con Indy 2011 Writing Events

 

 

 

 

 

Writing…

July 31, 2011 By in Random, The West Wind, Writing Process, Writing Projects Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

Next Chapter Bookstore & Bistro is my favorite place to write.   Yeah, sure, lots of people go to bookstores to buy books.  Not me, I go there to write books.  Just the kind of crazy hoot ‘n nanny that I am all about.  The right amount of distraction, endless supply of coffee and snacks combined with some of the nicest folks you will ever meet.

Easter Egg Alert – I have written Next Chapter into the epilogue of the West Wind.

And I finished a scene (3 scenes to a chapter… 1 & 1/3 to go!)

Writers Group

July 28, 2011 By in Meta, Random, Writing Projects Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

I was introduced to a new writers group tonight – some really great folks and a couple of old friends from writing class.  I enjoyed attending and hope that I get to spend more time with them in the future.

Quick progress update…. I have 1 & 2/3 chapter to complete the first draft.  I have to get it done before heading off to Gen Con next week.  Have to keep it under a year!

Ready for Gen Con?

July 23, 2011 By in The West Wind, Writing Projects Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Badges bought, hotel booked, almost ready to go.

I had hoped to have first draft done and a full revision before going to Gen Con.  Pretty good for a year of work it would have been.  Having never written a book before, I can see that I was suffering from unsubstantiated optimism.

I did finish a chapter this last week.  So the “two and a half” that I have been repeating for a while now is down to “two more.”  It was a long chapter and I blew something up.

Two more.