Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 70

Shades of Critique

I recently read a novel manuscript for an experienced novelist; this novelist has turned the manuscript in to the editor, but it's not yet in its final version. That made me think about critiquing, and all the different shades of critique depending on what the author needs.



How deeply do you read? What aspects of the story do you focus upon?

First and foremost, I tailor the critique to what the author has asked for, which is often related to the state of the manuscript. In this case, it's ...

Writing About Writing When You're Writing

I hadn't been writing for a while when I started up again a week or so ago. There are a lot of reasons, among them needing a break, coming up with my next big project (still working on that!), and achieving distance from a project so I could rework it into another form.



All those things take up a lot of my backbrain, which means that I haven't been consciously thinking about writing very much, lately. Which is why I haven't been writing about it much lately, either.

It's hard for me to...

Siegfried Sassoon, "The Heritage"

The Heritage

Cry out on Time that he may take away

Your cold philosophies that give no hint

Of spirit-quickened flesh; fall down and pray

That Death come never with a face of flint:

Death is our heritage; with Life we share

The sunlight that must own his darkening hour:

Within his very presence yet we dare

To gather gladness like a fading flower.

For even as this, our joy not long may live
Perfect; and most in change the heart can trace
The miracle of life and human things:
All we have held to ...

Edgell Rickword, "Winter Warfare"

Winter Warfare

Colonel Cold strode up the Line

(tabs of rime and spurs of ice);

stiffened all that met his glare:

horses, men and lice.

Visited a forward post,

left them burning, ear to foot;

fingers stuck to biting steel,

toes to frozen boot.

Stalked on into No Man's Land,

turned the wire to fleecy wool,

iron stakes to sugar sticks

snapping at a pull.

Those who watched with hoary eyes

saw two figures gleaming there;

Hauptmann Kalte, colonel old,

gaunt in the grey air.

Stiffly, tinkling spurs...

Philadelphia Fantastic – Victoria Janssen

The Philadelphia Fantastic Authors and Editors Series invite you to join us to meet author Victoria Janssen reading from her latest erotic novel, The Duke & the Pirate Queen, published by Harlequin

Spice.

Friday, January 28, 2011

7:30 PM

The Moonstone Arts Center

110 A South 13th Street (13th and Sansom Streets)

Philadelphia, PA

Signing of the work will immediately follow the event.

Come escape the winter doldrums and join us as one of the most exciting authors in the field of romantic fantasy ...

How to be a Good Panelist

I recently wrote a couple of posts about moderating panels at conventions and conferences, one on preparing and one on procedures. I realized I should say something about being a panelist, as well.



1. Prepare.

At the very least, read over the panel description and decide how you would answer the questions it poses. If the description asks for things, such as a list of recommendations, it helps me to write them down. I can't always remember book titles and the like once a discussion...

5 Ways to Start Your Writing Day Right

1. Start writing first thing.

Okay, I eat first, and brush my teeth, things like that. But I don't give myself a chance to see that the laundry needs to be done, or remember that I was going to buy groceries. If necessary, I leave the house so I won't be distracted by those things. They can wait. Writing can't.



2. Prepare to start writing first thing.

For this, you need a time machine. Or, failing that, every time you stop writing, give a little thought to where you will begin the next ...

"Mama Tried" and Story Structure

One of my favorite songs as a kid was Merle Haggard's Mama Tried, which was released in 1968. Recently, I listened to it again. And again. And realized how the complex structure of the song helped to tell a story with a lot of depth.



Since I'm always looking for new ways to think about plot, I thought I'd share my analysis.

First, the narrator sets the scene: the way he does it tells us this story is about memory, and the memories are going to be poignant.

"The first thing I remember...

Current Writing Playlists

I tend to have a lot of different playlists. This is the one that, right now, says "writing" to me.

1. "This is the Life," Amy Macdonald
2. "Heroes & Thieves," Vanessa Carlton
3. "The Garden's End," Sarah Blasko
4. "There Is No Light," Wildbirds & Peacedrums
5. "Have You Got It in You?" Imogen Heap
6. "Window," Fiona Apple
7. "Seamstress," Dessa
8. "So-Called Chaos," Alanis Morissette
9. "Choking the Cherry," Poe
10. "So What," Pink
11. "Consider This," Anna Nalick
12. "Hard," Rihanna
13. "Dance or...

Siegfried Sassoon, "At Daybreak"

At Daybreak

I listen for him through the rain,

And in the dusk of starless hours

I know that he will come again;

Loth was he ever to forsake me:

He comes with glimmering of flowers

And stir of music to awake me.

Spirit of purity, he stands

As once he lived in charm and grace:

I may not hold him with my hands,

Nor bid him stay to heal my sorrow;

Only his fair, unshadowed face

Abides with me until to-morrow.

–Siegfried Sassoon, The Old Huntsman and Other Poems, 1918