R.L. LaFevers's Blog, page 16

Different Journeys

So I've been thinking a lot about the differences between male and female journeys, most especially since it was one of the factors that surprised me with my most recent project—the end and resolution stage went on longer than I thought—and not because I couldn't manage to wrap it up but because the heroine's journey simply wasn't finished yet.

It also occurs to me that labeling these different journeys by gender isn't the most descriptive or accurate distinction, so maybe different labels are...

A Very Un Zen Confession

I have a confession to make. I pretty much have a bi-publishing personality disorder. When I am actually doing the writing, I am very Zen and love the process to death and am fully immersed. Even when it is hard (and sometimes it is very, very hard) it is still what I would rather be doing than just about anything else. It is a very inward, creativity-centered, process-oriented, live in the now time.

And then I have to hand the manuscript off, whether to beta readers or agents or editors, and ...

Where Stories Come From Part Deux

I was thinking some more about stories and where they come from, and was struck by all the different reasons writers write; some to tell stories, some to communicate, some to wallow in words, some to explore human nature, others to explore intriguing ideas and what ifs. I found myself wondering just how much the WHY we write influences the FORM of what we write. I mean, I already talked about where the emotional juice for our writing comes from, but in addition to that, does the reason we wr...

Where Stories Come From

A couple of weeks ago on another blog someone wanted to know why people who weren't young adults would be interested in writing YA. It struck me as a bit of an odd question, because I've never had the sense that writers were only propelled by their own demographic for their stories. But it is also a legitimate question in a broader sense, and it got me to thinking about why we write and where our stories come from.

My own theory is that our richest, most authentic stories come out of our own t...

I'm a Geek!

Okay, that's probably not news to any of you who read my blog, but the fact that I'm a GeekMom is new.  I am very excited to be a contributor to this online community because I love the idea of all these moms who have such interesting passions and interests. Such geekiness, if you will. So if you are interested in parenting issues or in getting in touch with your inner geek, check it out. I will mostly be writing about my own personal geekiness, which centers around writing, research, history...

The Juggling Act

A week or two ago, back in the throes of finishing up the current WIP and juggling the newly arrived copy edits for Theo Four, Mel asked for details on how I juggled these tasks, so I thought I'd talk about that a little bit.

There really isn't a secret to it, and I suspect I used to be better at it when I was younger, but it's pretty much just a matter of compartmentalizing your day and your brain. Luckily, both the left side and the right side of my brain are pretty active. (Random Fact Aler...

Finished!

Well. I'm back. And what a ride that was! I can hardly describe the sense of elation I feel at having finished this manuscript. It has been four years in the making. I worked on the story for a year, getting my arms around all the elements and sifting through them to see which story path I wanted to take; then it took a year for my editor and agent to convince me this was really a YA at heart, not an adult book, which necessitated looking at the story through an entirely different lens. Then ...

BlogFail

I know, I know! My fifth straight week of blog fail. BUT--the end is in sight. I turn this sucker in on Friday, ready or not. No, no. It will be ready. Promise.

I also have about a zillion things I want to blog about, but I just can't get to them. After this week, though, I will be able to get back to blogging MUCH more regularly. Pinkie swear.

I was asked to write a Letter To My Younger Self over on Anna Staniszewski's blog. It's advice I would like to have given myself when I was just start...

Checking In Again

Aaaaand yes! My copy edits for Theo Four arrive just as I'm nearing the finish line of the current manuscript. Ergh. It should be an entertaining week as I split my brain in half and try to accomplish two very separate tasks (writing and copy editing) in two even more different worlds (1900 Egypt and 15th century France).

Which is probably as good a segue as any into this article I found online. I had read something similar about fifteen years ago and have not been able to find the reference a...

Quick Check In

Yes, I am still completely consumed, possessed by, and obsessed with The Manuscript That Will Not End. Actually, that's almost a lie. I did limp and stutter my way across the finish line, but there were huge bald patches so it didn't really feel like The End. And before I could write the REAL ending, I had to go back and do a sweeping polish/revision to get everything lined up right and give my subconscious time to figure things out. Two steps forward, one step back.

But dear God, this is one ...