Zara Altair's Blog, page 16

Pre-Order the Next Argolicus Mystery

The Peach Widow Available for Pre-Order Pre-order your copy of The Peach Widow for automatic delivery on August 30. Argolicus and Nikolaos Visit A Farm After Rome, before the Middle Ages, Italy belonged to the Ostrogoths.

A distressed widow. Greedy brothers. A huge farm dog. Argolicus unravels the threads.

When Argolicus, is asked by his mother to counsel a grieving widow on the laws of inheritance, he finds the law will serve her cruelly. Her stepsons want her out and there is no recourse.

When a field slave falls during peach harvest, suspicions grow when Argolicus and Nikolaos learn more about the family and suspect that the death may not be from natural causes. As they question the family, they discover greed and begin to distrust the stories they’ve been told.

History and mystery. Order your copy today.

​Zara Altair

Two New Stories in the Works

Editing & Writing I'll be publishing The Peach Widow soon. One editor was away and is now back working on the second half of the story. In one way, I'm enjoying the time to work on suggested edits before the next round appears. Rephrasing, augmenting, and rewriting is tedious work for me so I am grateful for the time.

Editors are the lifeblood of refining your story to be the best. Editorial comments temper that feeling of relief when the story is done. The reality is that the story is not really finished until critical eyes have read it and found those details that you, as the writer, have overlooked. Then the changes begin. Trust The Process: A Story Forms in the Middle of the Night The concept for the Argolicus mysteries is a series of 12, one for each month of the year. Although I have story notes for several, I was stuck on the story for January. While I was waiting for the edits on The Peach Widow,  I began another story.
I woke up in the middle of the night with the opening lines of the January story. I jotted them down in my bedside notebook (you have one, yes?) and the next morning started work on The Roman Heir.  This is the one story that does not take place in southern Italy. As Argolicus leaves Rome to head home, Boethius ask him to deliver a book to a young scholar in Ostia. 
​Here's what came to me in the middle of the night.
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“You see,” Boethius said, leaning toward Argolicus in a confidential manner, “Rome is a closed community. When someone like you whose family lineage is not from one of the great families of Rome and as a newcomer attempts to take on a centuries-old Roman position, you set yourself up for strife. You are wise to retire, go back to your provincial Bruttia and live as local nobility.”

Of course, I had to do new research about Ostia. How was the town laid out as a failing port city? What were the buildings like?
I like to know where I am with maps and floor plans and the like when the characters move around in the story.
Here's the floor plan that I found for the richest man in Ostia.
​ The Second Story: The Vellum Scribe As exciting as it was to finally have the first story of the series in my head, I had already begun another story for the series, The Vellum Scribe.
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In early spring wildflowers start to bloom in southern Italy. Argolicus' uncle Wiliarit arrives from Constantinople with a commission to create a manuscript copy of Dioscorides' dictionary of plants. Wiliarit enlists Nikolaos in his search for live plant specimens. As they wander the fields finding plant "models" for illustrations, they discover the brutally beaten body of a local merchant. 
I'm still working on the plot details for this story.

Call for Beta Readers If you would like to receive a free copy of The Peach Widow,  I'm looking for beta readers. If you are willing to read the story and post a review when the story is published, get on the Argolicus Street Team  and I'll send you the link. I love reader feedback.

​Zara Altair

Daily Writing Word Count

How Many Words Should I Write a Day?rWord count varies per writing session varies from writer to writer. The most important aspect of your word count goal is to set a reasonable target on a daily basis. Some days you may reach your goal, some days you may not reach your goal, and--the best days of all--some days you will exceed your goal.
​If you are new to setting your writing goal, make sure to set your daily work time and then experiment with your word count goal for each session. If you set your goal for 1,000 words per session and reach it, try pushing up the word count. If you do not reach your goal of 1,000 words consistently, set your count a little lower. Practice and Consistency Will Increase Your Word CountAs you continue with your daily practice, you will find that your word count increases. Always be ready to set new goals. 
Several factors contribute to this increase:Your body becomes accustomed to writing at your set time  so the transition from "life" to writing time becomes smoother and faster.As you write consistently, your flow increases.Daily practice makes you a better writer, including increasing your word count.​Trust your personal process. Push your goals. Keep writing.

​Zara Altair
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The Right Time to Write

Find Your Best Time to Write #wsite-video-container-852732515217709297{ background: url(//www.weebly.comhttp://www.zaraaltair.c... } #video-iframe-852732515217709297{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... } #wsite-video-container-852732515217709297, #video-iframe-852732515217709297{ background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; } @media only screen and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-device-pixel-ratio: 2), only screen and ( min-resolution: 192dpi), only screen and ( min-resolution: 2dppx) { #video-iframe-852732515217709297{ background: url(//cdn2.editmysite.com/images/util/video... background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size: 70px 70px; } } Each writer finds the best time to write. The key to getting your work done is consistency. 

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Two Steps to Your Ideal Flow New writers are often confused about the best time to write and how much to write during each writing session.Discover your best writing time​Continually commit to that time Find a time when your distractions are at a minimum. Turn off phones, social media, and any other personal temptations to interrupt that time. 
Test different times of the day--early morning, morning, mid-day, afternoon, evening, late night, really early morning--to discover which time of day works with your writing flow.

Some authors get up early in the morning before family and/or work calls them to other activities. Another group of writers find late at night, often into the early morning, works best for them. I'm one of the night into next morning writers. 

Once you discover your personal ideal time, enter it on your daily schedule and commit to that time as writing time. No excuses. Especially when you are starting out developing your writing routine, "one time" exceptions are easy to accept and interrupt your dedicated time.

After you have established your routine, you'll find it much easier to hold that writing time as precious and not allow any interruptions. 

The best reward for finding your writing time and sticking to it is you will see results.

Zara Altair

Beta Readers and the Story

Reader Feeedback and the Story The first draft of The Peach Widow is finished. Now for edits before publishng.
But along the way, when I took the next-to-the-last chapter to my Word Blenders writers group there was a hue and cry at the ending of the chapter.  Readers Get Invested in the Story Spoiler Alert
Readers love characters, even secondary characters like dogs. When the chapter ends with the fate of Pup in balance, members of the group said, "No! You can't let Pup die." And one member created a hashtag on the spot #SavePup. 
During the week I received little prompts in messages that read #SavePup, because they knew I was working on the final chapter. The members of the group are very professional giving solid critiques on story structure, scene, chapter sequence, grammar and the like. I was surprised when they responded so strongly. Characters die in stories all the time.
I had notes for the final chapter sequences. I revised the notes in response to the unanimous response of the readers. I know that one of my beta readers would have the same response. I had to rethink the ending of the story and because of the ending the sequence of stories in the Argolicus Mysteries.
The new ending was nothing like the original ending. 
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Beta Reader Feedback As a story writer, you may go along, whether pantser or planner, but beta readers will give you important feedback. When you receive the feedback you use your discernment and personal discretion to make changes they suggest. But when all the readers make the same comment, it's time to listen. 
Once your story is published and out there, your general readers may or may not give you important feedback. But, if they don't like the way the story goes, they may never come back.
Finding beta readers is an important part of the writing process when you are ready for publication. Treasure those readers, be grateful for their feedback. If you don't agree with the feedback, be grateful because every reader is a clue to how your story is received.

​Zara Altair
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Taking a Womble in the Writing World

Wander, Ramble, and Roam  Writers write. Sometimes I wander around in my head looking for a place where I can meet someone. A music loving friend, Dave Pipe, from Sussex, England, might call it a mental womble. I think about various places and visit them. I look around to see who is there. I meet them. Some people would call this a character exercise.
This free-form wander is not part of any current work in progress, it is simply writing "what I see." Essentially, the "visioning" is apropos of nothing. 
When I went to Chico, California, in my head, here's what happened. 
​ Country Art Chuck Maloney had that sandy-haired way of going everywhere in a rolling stride. I imagined him sleeping in his P.F. Flyers. But, I know better. I spent almost as many weekends at his house as I did at mine. He did not wear his shoes to bed the first time we camped out in his yard under the big black oak. He was eight. I had a month left of seven. We didn't talk much, just sort of did things together.
That month in age lead gave him the edge. As far as I was concerned, Chuck was a leader: introduced me to a million secrets.
I think it was the next summer we crested arrows. John Ringer, Chuck's next door neighbor, a mile down the road, had a hunting dad. Ever time I went in the high-ceilinged, dark-roomed house, I was mute in the presence of boar, goat, and buck heads mounted on the wall staring straight ahead into the void in the middle of the living room. John's dad was really a hunter. At nine, everyone's dad seemed possessed of unattainable skills.
Our fibreglass bows came after a lot of begging, pleading, and extra chores. Out of our allowance, we bought arrows from John's dad. He made his own. We stood rapt as he glued in fletching while he told hunting stories. We listened, but he was really talking to those shafts, encouraging them for the best kill ever. Well, every batch he made a few short ones just for us kids. He measured our draw and we got custom arrows. Of course, he didn't spend as much time on our fletching.
"Pretty soon," he said, "I'll teach you boys how to make your own bow. Show you how to mold fibreglass."
"Like on car bodies?" Chuck asked. His dad did a lot of body work at the garage.
"Yeah, kid. Sort of like cars but with more finesse."
We steeped ourselves in archery lore, read the history of the long bow and two versions of Robin Hood. We picked our paint colors for cresting, measured the spacing on the shaft. Not that we were in some competition. We just liked archery. But, we could walk right up to the target pinned up on that bale of straw out in Chuck's back yard and pull out our arrows instantly. Chuck's were painted blue and silver. Mine were red 1/16 inch, 1/4 inch space, green 1/16 inch, quarter-inch space, and then 1/16 inch yellow. I spent a lot of time painting those lines. They were never as neat as Chuck's. He had the knack, just like his dad: precision.
The Ringers moved to Grass Valley right before Christmas. We never did make those bows. Kind of lost interest after old man Ringer was gone.
Next year, as I remember, my dad taught us to tie flies. My dad took us fishing maybe ten times over at the Yuba. The rest of the time we fished local creeks, Chuck rolling along the creekside in his P. F. Fliers. I liked that early morning time, the privateness of the running water and the birds. Once, I caught a big daddy trout, I mean bigger than anything Chuck caught. Felt good. Mostly we spent those hot Chico afternoons tying flies. Fly tying is a way for boys to use color and design without losing face. I mean, in a country of plaid shirts and boots, boys just don't get mixed up with art. Men either, for that matter.

Freeing Your Writing from Requirements This exercise is very freeing for getting into a character's head. Because it is not tied to a current work in progress, there's no need to think about how it moves the story forward, foreshadowing, or how the passage relates to the other characters. Also, it is freeing because you don't have to worry about covering all the character points--description, back story, strengths or weaknesses, and the like. Simply meet your character and listen to what he or she says, and see where it goes.

​Zara Altair

The Flawed Hero

The Call to Battle Demons I'm a bit tired of heroes who seemed conceived to illustrate the author's genius in coming up with exotic reasons why the hero has a character flaw or emotional challenge or disability that he/she must overcome. Life offers up challenges for all of us. 
So, following my own guidelines, I thought about the shortcomings Argolicus carries with him throughout the stories.his wife by arranged marriage died in childbirthhe prides himself in logic but sometimes misses emotional cues from othersand, OK, I finally came up with a physical challenge: his fair complexion makes him subject to heat strokeIn the penultimate chapter of The Peach Widow  Argolicus hikes up a rocky slope on an unusually hot day, even for southern Italy, where he visits a dubious garum factory where the smell of fish is overwhelming.

​Amon gestured toward the horses and the cart. “We bring the fish up from the market.  In here,” he gestured to a large shed structure. The roof of the large shed structure covered various work areas. Some had tables and baskets, others had more baskets and stacks of urns, while the actual kitchen was in the center where numerous clay stoves held large cooking pots with utensils lined along the sides. In the nearest quarter, slaves pounded away in mortars. “We mash all the fish parts into a lumpy paste,” Ammon said gesturing toward the busy slaves. He led them among the work areas. “Then we take the mashed fish into the kitchen itself.” He led them forward to the center workspace of multiple fire stoves. “We cook in the early morning. We mix the mashed fish with salt and water and cook until the mixture is thick. This valley is like a natural bowl, we have our own water supply from the well over there.” He pointed to layered bricks covered with a board. “You notice, Your Sublimity, that the kitchen is quite clean and organized.”

Argolicus nodded. Everything was clean. The utensils had been cleaned and were set out neatly next to the fire pits. His head felt light. He felt as though he could drink another three bowls of water, but they were on the tour.

“In here,” Amon continued as they walked to another area of the work shed filled with woven baskets and large bowls, “The cooked mash is strained.” He reached a work table covered with basket strainers. He picked up two strainers. “First, we strain the liquid for large parts.” He held up one basket woven loosely with wide strips. “Then we strain again and again.” He held up the second basket which was finely woven.

The fish smell was overpowering. Argolicus felt queasy, and the kitchen seemed to rock.

“The liquid that comes out of the final straining,” he said, waving the finely woven basket, “ is stored in these urns.” He gestured to lines of urns stacked nearby. “Twice a week we pour the liquid into small vials which I take to market. We have one main stall at the market in town and…”
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Argolicus reached to support himself on one of the clay stoves but collapsed to the ground instead.

What are your thoughts about protagonist flaws? Do you search for exotic diseases, revert to alcoholism, or look for integral pieces from the character's backstory? Or something else?
Leave a comment.

​Zara Altair

Writing Experiments

Playing with Writing A writer who wants to write good stuff needs to read great stuff.  
Ursula LeGuin says in her book Steering the Craft: A 21st-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story.  The book is a guide for writers. Each exercise is prefaced by examples from writers followed by a writing exercise following the premise of reading good stuff.
I've read many, many books about the craft of writing most of them filled with exercises that did not appeal to my imagination. I tried a few exercises and they felt...well...boring. I'd rather be writing my story.
On the other hand, improving my craft is important to me. That's why I read all those books and took a stab at the exercises. I resonated with this book. If you are a writer, I highly recommend approaching your craft through the exercises. 
If you are a reader, you may like seeing the kind of work a writer does that never makes it into the story you read.
The first chapter is about the sound of words, sentences, syntax and calls for some playful use of phrasing and has two parts. The first exercise: Being Gorgeous Being GorgeousMoisture dripped from the leaves--ferns, vines, orchids, and the round leaves of the giant tree; filled the air and planted inaudible droplets on the skin--cheeks, forehead, arms, ankles--like an unseen jacket against the cool grey day. The flutterings, slitherings, jumping, and hopping among the leaves--flashes of blue, green, red and slow and fast movement crept, crawled and leaped sustained by air and water. In her lungs the air was soft; breathing a quiet rhythm, a secret music filled with the air around. Anna said, “You know that play The Steam Room? What if waiting for God was like this?”

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When he entered, what was left was things. He walked to her dressing table and touched each jar one by one. He opened one--Spikenard and something, an evening under the stars. He opened another and sniffed--faint earth in red powder. He opened them each, one by one and mixed all the contents on the table top. There was the white robe ready for the Christening hanging from the wardrobe. Her writing desk was clean except for a piece of thin vellum and a pen. He bent to look at the vellum: a quick note unfinished. Dearest Mother, I miss you. I feel alone. I am afraid. You said it would be like fire and joy...


He turned to look at the bed. The stripped mattress was covered in fresh bleached linen. He bent over and looked under the bed to see: nothing but the sunlight through the window lighting a bright spot on the floor on the other side of the bed. Not one piece of swaddling cloth. Not one drop of blood. He put his hands on the bed and raised himself up off the tiled floor. He put his face to the mattress; nothing of her. Nothing of a child. Nothing of a blue baby. Nothing of Julia.

Zara Altair

Five Rules Make it Easy for Readers to Post Reviews

The Five Rules for a Book Review
​ For authors getting book reviews is a big hurdle. Often even your loyalist fans who love your book are intimidated to actually post a review. Make it simple for them.
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Whenever you can, assure your readers that they don't need to be brilliant, or write a long review. Take it from the heart and say how you feel--how the book made you feel. That's really all they need to do.
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Every Review Counts One by one, they add up. As an author make sure you let your fans know that posting a heartfelt review is not intimidating.

​Zara Altair

Mystery Outline Template

Master Mystery Outline Template I am using Story Shop to create a master outline template for mysteries. The software is still in development stage with a generic outline. The developers have plans for outline templates in the future, but in the interim while the software is in beta testing, I decided to create my own format for mysteries.
Mystery stories have a number of false suspects and false clues. In the planning stages I like knowing what those false leads are so I can add foreshadowing. 
An important part of the outline for a mystery is each of the crimes. In addition to the overall mystery outline, I created an outline for the crime(s) with sections for:What appears to have happenedWhat really happenedWhy this crime matters to the sleuthThese are the crucial elements that create the mystery in this genre. I felt it was important to detail each crime in this manner as part of the overall outline.
Of course, I have the overall story outline from start to finish. Characters Every story has its cast of characters, and for a mystery the characters have a rôle in the story. The sleuth, the villain, the false suspects, the supporting cast all contribute to the story. I created a set of character qualities for each of these rôles to work in any story. Then, depending on the character rôle in the story, each type has a set of details. With these prototypes set up, I can easily begin a new story and add details as I think of them. For instance, as I work on finishing The Peach Widow I can begin notes on the next story. The story is still waiting for a title but I know some of the characters and details of the crimes.
I'll be curious to see how my outline compares to the outline the folks at StoryShop provide in the future. Beta Testing Beta testing has its challenges. Although the software is much more stable than it was at the beginning, there are still bugs. For instance, when I entered the  The Crimes outline everything was saved. But, when I entered the overall outline for the generic story the software was unable to save it. I tried several times, but no save. 
The developers warned us that things could be lost and that we should keep a backup of everything until the software was stable. Today I'm waiting for feedback on this problem. Overall, I'm delighted with the planning aspects of StoryShop and am enthusiastic about testing the software.

​Zara Altair