Yvette Keller's Blog, page 24
August 26, 2017
Melanie Marttila: The Writing Excuses Retreat, part 2
Occasionally, the beauty of travel is that it makes you appreciate what you have at home. Like when you travel 5,603 miles to Copenhagen Denmark to see the same statue – literally the same design – that sits about 33 miles away from your house.
Here she is in Copenhagen:
Copenhagen 
Copenhagen Our guide told us she is one of (only) three. The exact same design. Wikipedia seems to think that number is thirteen. In Denmark she guards the harbor with a view to the sea. She is very popular with...
August 25, 2017
Finnemore Friday: The New Edition Sketch
I traveled this summer, asking a lot of people I had just met if they were John Finnemore Fans.
“Who?” Was the most frequent reply.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!Everyone should be listening to John Finnemore. Unless you have listened and didn’t like him, in which case, I ask, “Are you sure? Really sure? Go on, have another go.”
It is possible that if you don’t find at least 80% of John Finnemore’s work hilarious, whether sketch comedy like Souvenir Programme, or his series, Cabin Pressure, or especi...
August 22, 2017
This Is My Stop
Stop Request My husband and I took the U Bahn out of Vienna to a friend’s home in the suburbs. Figuring out transportation abroad can be a tricky puzzle. Careful observation of locals’ behavior and familiar hints like a word that starts with “halt” helped us figure out that this button was a “Stop Request,” before having to ask Google Translate.
In my writing life, I’ve decided that I’ve reached a stop where I want to get off and spend some time. But to do that, I have to press the button. T...
August 19, 2017
Melanie Martilla: The Writing Excuses Baltic Cruise, part 1
Melanie and I began in different places, but after our different planes landed in Hamburg, we were pretty much waiting the same lines, riding the same busses, and for sure in the same boat. Her experiences will give you a clear idea of what I was up to in the same places and at the same time.
August 18, 2017
P.S. Newman: The WXR Tribe – How Introverted Writers Turned Into Social Butterflies
It will be a little while before I can process my own bloggerish thoughts, feelings, and ah-ha moments from the Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR). Technically speaking, it was only 18 days of my life, but it encompassed Cruise, Castle Tour, and Cronies Take Worldcon adventures, any one of which might inspire dozens…hundreds? Of stories.
In the meantime, I’m pleased to introduce you to my new writer friends who are quicker to type thoughts on the page.
Pia and Sven with our ship, MSC Fantasia, in...
The WXR Tribe – How Introverted Writers Turned Into Social Butterflies
It will be a little while before I can process my own bloggerish thoughts, feelings, and ah-ha moments from the Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR). Technically speaking, it was only 18 days of my life, but it encompassed Cruise, Castle Tour, and Cronies Take Worldcon adventures, any one of which might inspire dozens…hundreds? Of stories.
In the meantime, I’m pleased to introduce you to my new writer friends who are quicker to type thoughts on the page.
Pia and Sven with our ship, MSC Fantasia, in...
August 17, 2017
Arabella of Mars Book Review
When I can hear the swell of theme music from words on a page, and happy tears jump to my eyes because the heroine is triumphant in both her quest and her wholly requited romantic inclinations, that means I’ve read a damn fine Steampunk Adventure Regency Romance Novel. Of which I think only this one may exist (along with its successors) written by David D. Levine.
The order of description I gave is no accident. Arabella of Mars has more in common with Horatio Hornblower novels and Treasure I...
July 12, 2017
Final Narration Techniques
The last bit of The Body in The Bathtub is happening this week and I’m also recording industrial training narration. The corporate narration is great because the clips are short and I get feedback immediately. I still get to practice all of the tips I’ve written about before here, and here (plus two new ones at the bottom) but evaluating the impact is quicker.
To Review:
Tip #1 – GESTURES – in this case, less about a movement for each character, and more about using my whole body to be en...
July 10, 2017
Competence Strikes Again!
One year ago I wrote the following content. Now that I have a bona-fide website and blog, I am revising and sharing it here.
I am feeling a little competent about something and want to share:
For each character I “voice” (meaning I change my voice slightly in some way to distinguish between characters) I lay down a track with their name on it in a separate audio file. My audio mentor, Phil Mayes taught me to do this so that when the character shows up later in the book, I can go listen to wh...
July 3, 2017
Santa Barbara Writers Conference Outcomes
Some people go to conferences to study specific topics, focus on particular things. The 2017 SBWC didn’t hold any targeted interest for me. I don’t have a manuscript to pitch, a Work In Progress (WIP) Novel to workshop, or even something I think I’m terrible at that needs rectifying.
All I need is practice.
So my time at the conference was spent emphasizing the generative aspect of writing. In my head, writing has three components:
Generate Revise FinishMost days, if you ask me, there is...
