Lazette Gifford's Blog, page 98
August 14, 2011
Project Report 2 Water/Stone/Light: The shape of their world
A talented writer with a gift for world building...
C J Cherryh
When she wrote that blurb for one of my short publications from Yard Dog Press (no longer in print, though the blurb also appears on Farstep Station), I felt both overjoyed and worried. I had been an ardent fan of Cherryh's work for decades. The mere thought that she would write the blurb had me dancing around the house for days.
C J Cherryh
When she wrote that blurb for one of my short publications from Yard Dog Press (no longer in print, though the blurb also appears on Farstep Station), I felt both overjoyed and worried. I had been an ardent fan of Cherryh's work for decades. The mere thought that she would write the blurb had me dancing around the house for days.
August 10, 2011
Zette's Take: Problems with openings
Openings are not set in stone
This is the first thing people need to realize when they start a book: Openings can, and should, change if they need to. I have often heard people saying how they can't possibly go on until they have the beginning of the story perfect. And some of them, of course, never go on. Others go on, then find all the work they'd done is useless because something drastic
This is the first thing people need to realize when they start a book: Openings can, and should, change if they need to. I have often heard people saying how they can't possibly go on until they have the beginning of the story perfect. And some of them, of course, never go on. Others go on, then find all the work they'd done is useless because something drastic
August 6, 2011
Project Report 1 Water/Stone/Light: Genre and Characters
I thought I might make a few posts chronicling the passage from idea to novel for a new work I just started. With luck, I will have all the pre-work done before NaNo. It's hard to say if I will get there. The more I work on this one, the more I see that I need to do. If I don't get all the pre-work done in time, then this might hold over to be my first novel of 2012.
Let's start with 'Where
Let's start with 'Where
August 3, 2011
Zette's Take: Try New Things
The problem of being complacent
Writers can sometimes get into a kind of rut they don't even see. They are enthralled with one or two genres and a particular type of character. Titles and names change, but after a while they run the risk of retelling the same story in new clothing. This is especially true for those who have purposely tied themselves to a single series, reusing the same
Writers can sometimes get into a kind of rut they don't even see. They are enthralled with one or two genres and a particular type of character. Titles and names change, but after a while they run the risk of retelling the same story in new clothing. This is especially true for those who have purposely tied themselves to a single series, reusing the same
July 27, 2011
Smashwords book sale - last week!
First, we have reached the last few days of the Smashwords sale. All my books are half price and the short stories are free. This means you can have five novels and five shorter works all for less than $5. Only a few days remain on the sale, though! Leap in and get them now!
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
I am coming perilously close to putting out the first ACOA print
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/vie...
I am coming perilously close to putting out the first ACOA print
July 23, 2011
Zette's Take: How outlines work and when they don't
Outlines are not for everyone
I won't tell you that every single writer needs to work with an outline. That would be as ludicrous as any other 'you must do this' rule that you've read about writing. However, at the same time, I don't believe anyone should say 'never' to some tool in writing. You never know when something that otherwise doesn't work for you is just the bit of help you need
I won't tell you that every single writer needs to work with an outline. That would be as ludicrous as any other 'you must do this' rule that you've read about writing. However, at the same time, I don't believe anyone should say 'never' to some tool in writing. You never know when something that otherwise doesn't work for you is just the bit of help you need
July 15, 2011
Books on my nightstand: Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour/1
Russ and I met in a bookstore where we had our first conversation while looking over a History Book Club catalogue.
We were doomed from the start.
My house is filled with books. They take up every corner where we could fit a bookshelf, and when we ran out of room, we bought the small house next door, where Russ moved most of his books and created his own office when he was still doing
We were doomed from the start.
My house is filled with books. They take up every corner where we could fit a bookshelf, and when we ran out of room, we bought the small house next door, where Russ moved most of his books and created his own office when he was still doing
July 12, 2011
Zette's Take: How (and why) #write100 works
From For Blog
For several years, I've been using 100 word leaps while I'm in chat on Forward Motion. I found these work best when I am enjoying the company in chat and still want to get some writing done. They also work very well when I'm doing other work, but have to wait for emails or such to come through.
Writing 100 words is not difficult once you get the knack of dropping into a story
For several years, I've been using 100 word leaps while I'm in chat on Forward Motion. I found these work best when I am enjoying the company in chat and still want to get some writing done. They also work very well when I'm doing other work, but have to wait for emails or such to come through.
Writing 100 words is not difficult once you get the knack of dropping into a story
July 11, 2011
The need for change
From For Blog
While Russ was home last week, we moved my computer and a few other things out of the back office that I love so well and into the larger, more open area in the dining room/living room area. There were two reasons for this. First, I had been staring at those same walls, bookcases, etc. for years now. While I would change a few things around here and there, the room is too
While Russ was home last week, we moved my computer and a few other things out of the back office that I love so well and into the larger, more open area in the dining room/living room area. There were two reasons for this. First, I had been staring at those same walls, bookcases, etc. for years now. While I would change a few things around here and there, the room is too
July 8, 2011
Zette's Take: The Middle of the Story
From For Blog
The dreaded middle
How often have you heard the horror of the 'middle' in tales from writers? They reach this hideous, deadly swamp where far too many stories die, wandering aimlessly through the muck and mud.
It isn't the characters who get lost, of course; it's the authors who lose their way. Worse, they head into the swamp -- the middle -- without a clue of where they want
The dreaded middle
How often have you heard the horror of the 'middle' in tales from writers? They reach this hideous, deadly swamp where far too many stories die, wandering aimlessly through the muck and mud.
It isn't the characters who get lost, of course; it's the authors who lose their way. Worse, they head into the swamp -- the middle -- without a clue of where they want
