Amanda Frederickson's Blog: Musings
January 3, 2017
Thank you very, very, very much
To everyone reading these words, to everyone who has read any of my previous posts, and most especially to anyone who read my short stories and/or Keystone, thank you so, so very much. It is literally the world to me.
In our technology fueled lives there are so many words competing for our attention that it becomes overwhelming, and somehow you not only stumbled upon mine, you then chose to take the time to read them.
Thank you so much!
In our technology fueled lives there are so many words competing for our attention that it becomes overwhelming, and somehow you not only stumbled upon mine, you then chose to take the time to read them.
Thank you so much!
February 24, 2016
Everybody Dies
"You need a good death. Without death there'd only be comedies." - The Doctor, Silence in the Library
Just shy of fourteen years of friendship, my best friend declared that she wasn’t speaking to me anymore. Granted, it didn’t last very long, but for a while she communicated in fuming text messages. My crime?
She discovered I was planning to kill a character she likes. Two, in fact.
Unlike real life, readers know exactly who to blame for every tragedy that befalls their beloveds. Joss Whedon, J.K. Rowling, Steven Moffat, and George R.R. Martin walk into a bar and all your favorite characters die. Feel free to add as many author names to that list as you please.
All too often, it feels like those deaths or heart-wrenching dramas were painfully pointless. But when an author is actually doing their job right, the tragedy is inevitable.
Establishing the threat means that at first the villain needs to win.
(Spoilers!)
In Silence in the Library and its second half, Forest of the Dead, the Doctor and his companion Donna visit the universe’s largest library, but find when they arrive that it has been infested by Vashta Nerada; essentially meat eating shadows, concentrated in the library because their trees were cut down to make the books. The library is their forest now.
The episodes begin with six archaeologists plus the doctor and companion, but their number is cut down one by one. The Vashta Nerada strip the flesh from their victims, leaving only skeletons and space suits behind, then attach themselves to their next victim like an extra shadow. Throughout the episodes, each death becomes a countdown. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four.
Funny story related to these episodes.
My college campus had a lake with a bridge, and one night I was crossing it on the way to my dorm when I looked down and noticed that I had an extra shadow. There were lampposts spaced along the bridge, and logically each shadow should have belonged to a separate lamp.
I stopped and looked. There were only two lamps. There was no light source for the shadow in the middle, the third. There was no moon that night and no way a passing headlamp could cast a shadow on me in the middle of the lake. I looked down. Checked the angles again. Looked back at the shadow.
It was gone.
I had just finished my evening shift at the library.
Would you feel a chill if the Vashta Nerada hadn’t eaten their way through four archaeologists?
Hey, who turned out the lights?
Just shy of fourteen years of friendship, my best friend declared that she wasn’t speaking to me anymore. Granted, it didn’t last very long, but for a while she communicated in fuming text messages. My crime?
She discovered I was planning to kill a character she likes. Two, in fact.
Unlike real life, readers know exactly who to blame for every tragedy that befalls their beloveds. Joss Whedon, J.K. Rowling, Steven Moffat, and George R.R. Martin walk into a bar and all your favorite characters die. Feel free to add as many author names to that list as you please.
All too often, it feels like those deaths or heart-wrenching dramas were painfully pointless. But when an author is actually doing their job right, the tragedy is inevitable.
Establishing the threat means that at first the villain needs to win.
(Spoilers!)
In Silence in the Library and its second half, Forest of the Dead, the Doctor and his companion Donna visit the universe’s largest library, but find when they arrive that it has been infested by Vashta Nerada; essentially meat eating shadows, concentrated in the library because their trees were cut down to make the books. The library is their forest now.
The episodes begin with six archaeologists plus the doctor and companion, but their number is cut down one by one. The Vashta Nerada strip the flesh from their victims, leaving only skeletons and space suits behind, then attach themselves to their next victim like an extra shadow. Throughout the episodes, each death becomes a countdown. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four.
Funny story related to these episodes.
My college campus had a lake with a bridge, and one night I was crossing it on the way to my dorm when I looked down and noticed that I had an extra shadow. There were lampposts spaced along the bridge, and logically each shadow should have belonged to a separate lamp.
I stopped and looked. There were only two lamps. There was no light source for the shadow in the middle, the third. There was no moon that night and no way a passing headlamp could cast a shadow on me in the middle of the lake. I looked down. Checked the angles again. Looked back at the shadow.
It was gone.
I had just finished my evening shift at the library.
Would you feel a chill if the Vashta Nerada hadn’t eaten their way through four archaeologists?
Hey, who turned out the lights?
November 2, 2015
Writing to the Map
My grandmother recently sent me a link to an article about J.R.R. Tolkien’s maps and sketches, which are seriously awesome by themselves. But there was also a quote that stood out to me. “He ‘started with a map, and made the story fit (generally with meticulous care for distances),’ adding that its reverse, ‘to compose a map from a story’ is ‘weary work.’”
I’ve loved fantasy maps forever. (Or regular maps, for that matter.) I’ve been drawing my own since I was a kid, but only in just these last few years have I taken a more serious interest in doing more than just vague scribbles of “city goes here, river something like this. Mountains!”
You can see my working map of Satora on my Facebook page (and a pretty edition!). I made those maps for my revision/rewrite of Peasant Queen (re-titled Blood Queen), but my new map for Satora isn’t the same as the original one I scribbled in 2004. (Wow, was it seriously that long ago?) Originally, the two kingdoms in conflict were separated by a small sea. For the new edition, Satora is now on one long continent with a deep bay called Demon’s Run. Changing the map changed the dynamics of the story in ways that I didn’t anticipate, and in some ways changed the nature of the story itself. It made the conflict between the kingdoms much more up close and personal, becoming more of a civil war than the original clash, and part of why Blood Queen has been on pause for a while is that I had to stop and decide the ramifications of these changes. I wouldn’t have even considered these differences if I hadn’t drawn the map first.
For the sake of keeping my gushing over maps to a minimum, I’ll just say this: if you’re planning to write a book, any book, draw a map. Even if you don’t think it’s important, even if your setting is a small town in the middle of nowhere and your characters aren’t going to travel anywhere else. You’ll find things that you didn’t expect.
I’ve loved fantasy maps forever. (Or regular maps, for that matter.) I’ve been drawing my own since I was a kid, but only in just these last few years have I taken a more serious interest in doing more than just vague scribbles of “city goes here, river something like this. Mountains!”
You can see my working map of Satora on my Facebook page (and a pretty edition!). I made those maps for my revision/rewrite of Peasant Queen (re-titled Blood Queen), but my new map for Satora isn’t the same as the original one I scribbled in 2004. (Wow, was it seriously that long ago?) Originally, the two kingdoms in conflict were separated by a small sea. For the new edition, Satora is now on one long continent with a deep bay called Demon’s Run. Changing the map changed the dynamics of the story in ways that I didn’t anticipate, and in some ways changed the nature of the story itself. It made the conflict between the kingdoms much more up close and personal, becoming more of a civil war than the original clash, and part of why Blood Queen has been on pause for a while is that I had to stop and decide the ramifications of these changes. I wouldn’t have even considered these differences if I hadn’t drawn the map first.
For the sake of keeping my gushing over maps to a minimum, I’ll just say this: if you’re planning to write a book, any book, draw a map. Even if you don’t think it’s important, even if your setting is a small town in the middle of nowhere and your characters aren’t going to travel anywhere else. You’ll find things that you didn’t expect.
September 28, 2015
Soap Box
There’s a lot, a lot of “follow your dreams” encouragement, which is great, but not actually practical. Hope is an essential flame to keep alive, but feeding it shouldn’t be the full time focus.
A lot of the writing career advice dished up wouldn’t hold up if it were applied to any other career, so why are writers expected to eat it? You wouldn’t feel very safe if a nursing school’s approach to patient care was to throw the students at the patients without any training. Yet in writing there seems to be a general attitude of “just submit to publications in your genre and eventually you’ll get in,” rather than teaching how to tell a story. In my own college experience, I learned more from one screenwriting class than all of my other creative writing classes together.
If someone is trying to learn a second language, they aren’t told, “just speak it.” They’re taught vocabulary and grammar. They’re given basics. They certainly aren’t fluent yet, and they shouldn’t be treated as such. There’s a lot of complexity in learning a new language, just as there are worlds of complexity in learning to write well in your own.
There is any number of articles on how to approach editors and agents and the traditional path to getting your work in print, but to find solid advice on honing your actual craftsmanship feels like searching for a white elephant. Worse, a lot of the advice selling itself as “craft improvement” is more about a personal pet peeve.
More and more, lately, I’ve been thinking there simply isn’t enough solid guidance for writers who want to build a career, not a rainbow.
(/rant)
A lot of the writing career advice dished up wouldn’t hold up if it were applied to any other career, so why are writers expected to eat it? You wouldn’t feel very safe if a nursing school’s approach to patient care was to throw the students at the patients without any training. Yet in writing there seems to be a general attitude of “just submit to publications in your genre and eventually you’ll get in,” rather than teaching how to tell a story. In my own college experience, I learned more from one screenwriting class than all of my other creative writing classes together.
If someone is trying to learn a second language, they aren’t told, “just speak it.” They’re taught vocabulary and grammar. They’re given basics. They certainly aren’t fluent yet, and they shouldn’t be treated as such. There’s a lot of complexity in learning a new language, just as there are worlds of complexity in learning to write well in your own.
There is any number of articles on how to approach editors and agents and the traditional path to getting your work in print, but to find solid advice on honing your actual craftsmanship feels like searching for a white elephant. Worse, a lot of the advice selling itself as “craft improvement” is more about a personal pet peeve.
More and more, lately, I’ve been thinking there simply isn’t enough solid guidance for writers who want to build a career, not a rainbow.
(/rant)
June 23, 2015
Updates
First of all, thank you everyone who entered Keystone’s giveaway and congratulations to the two winners! The signed copies of Keystone will be in the mail soon.
For those who are wondering how my kitty is doing, Pippin is feeling much better. The vet did put him on a stronger antibiotic, which he loathed as only a cat can loathe, but it did the trick. For the moment he’s also on the special urinary health food, which he also loathes but finally caved in to eating. His poor little patches where they shaved him for his IVs and such are starting to get some fuzz back so he’s not quite so pitiful-looking.
The heat has made for some very lazy cats, but I can tell Pippin is feeling more himself because he’s not cuddling so much anymore (sigh) and is back to chewing my toes in the mornings (with a vengeance). His newest favorite trick is jumping onto my headboard, knocking everything down onto my head (in Jamie’s memory, no doubt) and then leaping full force onto my stomach.
The joys of owning a cat. :p
For those who are wondering how my kitty is doing, Pippin is feeling much better. The vet did put him on a stronger antibiotic, which he loathed as only a cat can loathe, but it did the trick. For the moment he’s also on the special urinary health food, which he also loathes but finally caved in to eating. His poor little patches where they shaved him for his IVs and such are starting to get some fuzz back so he’s not quite so pitiful-looking.
The heat has made for some very lazy cats, but I can tell Pippin is feeling more himself because he’s not cuddling so much anymore (sigh) and is back to chewing my toes in the mornings (with a vengeance). His newest favorite trick is jumping onto my headboard, knocking everything down onto my head (in Jamie’s memory, no doubt) and then leaping full force onto my stomach.
The joys of owning a cat. :p
June 2, 2015
Tinkerbell Syndrome
Tinkerbell Syndrome: the inability to feel more than one thing at a time.
I feel numb. My brain is so tangled don't know which way to turn.
We lost Jamie. He had another blood clot and the vet said he would probably develop more, so Mizu decided to let him go. Days later we lost Skippy, the dog who had been my parent's "house guest" since I was in high school. Two days after that I caught Pippin trying to pee outside the litter box, except nothing was coming out. I took him to the vet. They said it was a UTI and put him on antibiotics. Then, I got a phone call from our landlord. Somehow we missed a rent payment and now owed them two months. Due June 1. The next day, Pippin started throwing up everywhere and didn't want to do anything but curl up at my feet. We rushed him to the pet hospital. They said he was now completely blocked and should be admitted for IV fluids and a catheter. I went home in tears with an empty crate. I wouldn't be able to bring him home for another three days. Three days that would cost a month and a half of rent.
Pippin did well at the hospital. They said he was hyperactive and talking to them a lot. It made me laugh. When I went in to pick him up, I was nervous they would bring out the wrong cat. But there he was, ear tufts and all, wide eyed and unhappy about being crated yet again. He was such a car veteran at this point that he barely fussed at all on the way home. He had three different meds to take and hated them all, but finally finished them yesterday.
This morning I caught him peeing blood.
The vet said he probably needs more antibiotics. That it isn't an emergency. I don't even know what to think anymore. The wires have been cut.
It feels like a very small thing, after all that's been going on, but I decided to do a giveaway for two print copies of Keystone. The end date is June 21st, which is when I had hoped to release Kingstone, but it's definitely looking like that isn't going to happen right now. But by hook or by crook, the next giveaway I do will be advance copies of Kingstone.
Here is the giveaway page: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
I feel numb. My brain is so tangled don't know which way to turn.
We lost Jamie. He had another blood clot and the vet said he would probably develop more, so Mizu decided to let him go. Days later we lost Skippy, the dog who had been my parent's "house guest" since I was in high school. Two days after that I caught Pippin trying to pee outside the litter box, except nothing was coming out. I took him to the vet. They said it was a UTI and put him on antibiotics. Then, I got a phone call from our landlord. Somehow we missed a rent payment and now owed them two months. Due June 1. The next day, Pippin started throwing up everywhere and didn't want to do anything but curl up at my feet. We rushed him to the pet hospital. They said he was now completely blocked and should be admitted for IV fluids and a catheter. I went home in tears with an empty crate. I wouldn't be able to bring him home for another three days. Three days that would cost a month and a half of rent.
Pippin did well at the hospital. They said he was hyperactive and talking to them a lot. It made me laugh. When I went in to pick him up, I was nervous they would bring out the wrong cat. But there he was, ear tufts and all, wide eyed and unhappy about being crated yet again. He was such a car veteran at this point that he barely fussed at all on the way home. He had three different meds to take and hated them all, but finally finished them yesterday.
This morning I caught him peeing blood.
The vet said he probably needs more antibiotics. That it isn't an emergency. I don't even know what to think anymore. The wires have been cut.
It feels like a very small thing, after all that's been going on, but I decided to do a giveaway for two print copies of Keystone. The end date is June 21st, which is when I had hoped to release Kingstone, but it's definitely looking like that isn't going to happen right now. But by hook or by crook, the next giveaway I do will be advance copies of Kingstone.
Here is the giveaway page: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
May 4, 2015
Defying Gravity
So, I didn't manage to meet my word count goal for April's Camp Nanowrimo, but I did accomplish my primary goal for the month. It occurred to me a while ago that all the short stories I've put up are on the older side, one way or another. Even Apples and Onions was a concept from high school. So, without further ado, something new.
Defying Gravity
In a world ripped apart by monsters, an underground citadel struggles for life, supported by Summoners who can call mythical creatures from a parallel dimension.
Esil has felt the resonance that marks a potential Summoner for her entire life, but it takes more than a strong resonance to pull another being across dimensions. It’s time to put her training to the test. But the world is a much more challenging place than Esil ever realized. What do you do when the defining moment of your life falls through?
Currently available for pre-order through Amazon and Smashwords, with other retailers coming soon.
(And I have to say, the Amazon page looks absolutely awesome!)
By the way, May the fourth be with you. ^_^
Defying Gravity
In a world ripped apart by monsters, an underground citadel struggles for life, supported by Summoners who can call mythical creatures from a parallel dimension.
Esil has felt the resonance that marks a potential Summoner for her entire life, but it takes more than a strong resonance to pull another being across dimensions. It’s time to put her training to the test. But the world is a much more challenging place than Esil ever realized. What do you do when the defining moment of your life falls through?
Currently available for pre-order through Amazon and Smashwords, with other retailers coming soon.
(And I have to say, the Amazon page looks absolutely awesome!)
By the way, May the fourth be with you. ^_^
March 19, 2015
Spring Reading
I don't know about you, but here it's calling for snow on the first day of spring, just in time for my birthday coming up. So, I decided to do my birthday celebrating a little early.
If you visit my Smashwords page pick up Keystone for half price ($1.50) with coupon code SSW50, and Moon and Shadow, Apples and Onions, and Ever Dream all free with coupon code SW100. These will be good all week. ^_^
If you visit my Smashwords page pick up Keystone for half price ($1.50) with coupon code SSW50, and Moon and Shadow, Apples and Onions, and Ever Dream all free with coupon code SW100. These will be good all week. ^_^
March 7, 2015
Broken Wings
Ta-da! Broken Wings is now available for pre-order through Smashwords.com. It will also be available through other retailers shortly.
Broken Wings is my closest brush with fame thus far, having been a Writers of the Future quarter finalist. I decided it deserves to finally see some sun.
The release date is 3-14-15. 'Cause, you know... pi.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Broken Wings is my closest brush with fame thus far, having been a Writers of the Future quarter finalist. I decided it deserves to finally see some sun.
The release date is 3-14-15. 'Cause, you know... pi.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
March 6, 2015
New Toy!
I have a new e-reader! Ok, new to me; I picked it up at 2nd and Charles. It's a Sony, a slightly older model, but I'm loving it.
I'm notorious for not getting along with touch screens (ask anyone in my family), but for once I've found one that doesn't hate me. It helps that it's not exclusively touch screen - it has navigation buttons too. The battery power on this thing is awesome. I was eyeing it for several weeks before getting it, and the battery was only at half power. It hasn't run out yet, charging only when I plug it in for transferring books. It also lets you "write" on the screen, which I may or may not have gone a little scribble happy with. (Can you tell I'm in love?)
The thing is, I haven't done as much reading on it as I thought. I've been using it more as a revision tool. It's been surprisingly effective, too. So now my workflow is looking something like this:
Scribble in notebook ->Type into Word and/or Scrivener ->Export to e-reader -> Scribble revisions/corrections in notebook with e-reader in hand ->Type -> Rinse, Repeat.
It's also been helpful in checking for formatting errors as I'm getting ready to publish another short piece. Which one?
You'll see....
I'm notorious for not getting along with touch screens (ask anyone in my family), but for once I've found one that doesn't hate me. It helps that it's not exclusively touch screen - it has navigation buttons too. The battery power on this thing is awesome. I was eyeing it for several weeks before getting it, and the battery was only at half power. It hasn't run out yet, charging only when I plug it in for transferring books. It also lets you "write" on the screen, which I may or may not have gone a little scribble happy with. (Can you tell I'm in love?)
The thing is, I haven't done as much reading on it as I thought. I've been using it more as a revision tool. It's been surprisingly effective, too. So now my workflow is looking something like this:
Scribble in notebook ->Type into Word and/or Scrivener ->Export to e-reader -> Scribble revisions/corrections in notebook with e-reader in hand ->Type -> Rinse, Repeat.
It's also been helpful in checking for formatting errors as I'm getting ready to publish another short piece. Which one?
You'll see....
