Kelly Swails's Blog, page 8

Inside the mind of an editor

 If you're interested in knowing how an editor thinks (and aren't we all?) take a peek at Paul Genesse's review of the Crimson Pact vol. 1 anthology he edited. This volume includes my story "Frankie's Girl" as well as other awesome stories by some pretty amazing authors. Check it out! 

Are you watching The Voice?

If the answer's "no," you should be. The concept for this singing competition was unique: during the audition rounds, the four judges had their backs turned while folks sang. If a judge liked what they heard, they turned around to see the singer, thusly adding them to their team. The judges--all well-known professionals in the industry--mentor their team members and help shape their performances. I really love the format. It's supportive while still being competitive. My current favorite is Xenia from Team Blake: 




She's really progressed past some stage fright in the past few weeks, and I'd love to see her go one to see what she's capable of. Vote for her, won't you? 

Exercise does a body good.

 A few weeks ago I dusted off the bike. Kicked the tires and noticed they were flat. Smiled winningly at my husband so he'd air them up. He did. I strapped on my helmet and went for a bike ride. A glorious, wonderful, heart-pounding, sweaty bike ride. 

I felt alive. 

Growing up I wasn't much for exercise. Sure, I did the required P.E. in school, and I did summer softball, one season of basketball, and a few years of softball in high school (if you can call warming the bench "playing ball"). But outside of that, nothing. In college I gained some weight. After I got married I gained some more. At some point I decided enough was enough and started tracking my calories and exercising three days a week. I lost fifty pounds. I did mini-triathlons. I rode my bike instead of driving. I incorporated fitness into my life. 

In the past several years I've traded exercise time for writing time. The trade-off was necessary, but now it's time to get back on the exercise horse. I've agreed to run a marathon relay next April, and so this seems like a perfect time to get off my butt and work up to running eight miles.  We only live once. Sneaking in a little bit of fitness into each day will help ensure that life lasts a little longer. If I try to talk myself out of my workout I will remember how alive and invigorated and capable I feel afterwards. That should work to get me out the door. Oh, and the promise of ice cream after. That should work, too.    

Do you read Wil Wheaton's blog?

 If not, you should. If you do, then you already saw this post about finding emotional resonance in technobabble dialogue. 

He wrote the post from the standpoint of an actor delivering a scene, but it applies to authors too. Find the emotion in any scene--even an infodumpy one--and you'll make it better. 

Rough drafts -R- us!

 So I have the rough draft of Stormy Weather done and off to a few readers. This is the first time I've rewritten a book I'd written before from the ground up, and I have to say it's an odd experience. Going in, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the characters so I thought it wouldn't be too tough. Once I got going, though, I realized I didn't know them as well as I thought I did. I delved deeper and stretched myself. Undoubtedly the book is better this go around, and it'll improve even more once I get feedback from some readers. It's good to see that I've improved in the past four years. Oddly, the writing itself hasn't gotten much easier--learning more about the craft means you are more aware of the pitfalls and such. You'd think that would make them easier to avoid, but that's not the case. 

Lest you think I'm resting on my laurels, here's what's on my plate for the next few weeks: 

Writing a few short stories
Reading/critiquing for a novel workshop in mid-June
Sketching out plot ideas for my YA World Domination novel
Knitting Christmas gifts  And somewhere in there I have to, you know, live a life.   

Pretty spot-on for a five-question quiz.

Dark Heart Cupcake

You are a Dark Heart cupcake - bittersweet chocolate cake with a 72% cacao square of chocolate baked into the center, topped by an espresso glaze.

You are a creative and smart idealist who prefers to be alone, rather than in crowds. You are often attracted to sad things, and you can be emotional and moody. Often, you observe others instead of participating in activities directly. You have a penchant for esoteric things.

Your preferred careers include poet, art therapist, philosopher, environmentalist, or activist.

What Kind Of Cupcake Are You?

Winds of Khalakovo launch party

 This weekend I was fortunate enough to attend Brad Beaulieu's launch party for his epic fantasy novel Winds of Khalakovo at Boswell's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

So. Much. Fun. 

Brad read a few great excerpts from his debut novel before signing books for his new fans. After, friends and family gathered at Cafe Hollander for a cake, prizes, and rapid-fire readings from myself, William Shunn, and Matt Forbeck. There was much eating and drinking and rejoicing and laughing.  I'm so happy for Brad, and I'm honored that I got to be there for the beginnings of what is sure to be a long, successful career.  

 

Scream 4--movie review

I love the Scream Trilogy. (Well, I love the first two movies. The third one is just ... meh.) When I heard they were filming Scream 4 last year, I got excited: "Yay!" then: "I hope it doesn't suck." In the weeks leading up to the release, I read lots of cast interviews and a few "Scream" retrospective-type articles. I had also read a few ambivalent reviews, but I chose to ignore those. A few nights ago I grabbed a girlfriend and a bag of licorice and headed to the theater. 

The movie itself was ... pretty good. It's set ten years after the last murders, and we see how the survivors of the original movies have healed--or not healed, as the case may be--from their physical and psychological wounds. Sydney Prescott comes back to her idyllic hometown of Woodsboro to promote her bestselling memoir. Slashing mayhem ensues.  In the tradition of the other movies, it's self-aware. It's a reboot of a franchise, and so Kevin Williamson sprinkled lots of references into the script.  The dialogue is snappy, and teenagers are all about cell phones, the internet, and partying (meaning, it's realistic). The older characters portray their angst well, and the younger cast members do a good job. (I think Emma Roberts, Erik Knudsen, Rory Culkin, and Hayden Panettiere are all actors to watch.) The violence wasn't over-the-top gory. Much like the other movies of the series, I found the death scenes to be incredibly intimate, intense, and scary.  I incorrectly guessed the killer's identity until the end. I found the very last scene to be unrealistic, but otherwise I bought what Wes Craven was selling.  I would watch this again.  A caveat: if you're a fan of the first films, be prepared to feel old. This movie was geared towards drawing younger fans to the franchise. Sydney is not the ingénue she used to be and Dewey is not a wet-behind-the-ears deputy. While the motives of the killings revolve around Sydney and her past, the stars are Jill, Kirby, and Robbie. This was an adjustment I wasn't prepared for. "Scream" came out when I was in college and very much the core demographic.  Having said that, I enjoyed the movie, and while I don't want to write any spoilers, I will say that older fans will have reasons to come back if they decide to continue the franchise. 

Someone slap me

So, yeah. Tonight's writing time was apparently sponsored by the Internet and Television. I'm hoping to make up time tomorrow night. This novel won't write itself, you know.  In truth I'm a little nervous about the next part. The Big Climactic scene is starting up, and I'm worried that I'm going to screw it up. Writer angst and all that, blah blah blah.  But.  If I screw it up I'll rewrite it. A blank page can't be edited.  So. Tomorrow night will find me in the den with the TV off, the tunes cranked, and the WIP in front of me.  
 

Zoom!

 So it's nearly the middle of April and yeah, it's gone by just as fast as I thought it would. Not nearly enough new words this month, but! I have accomplished other things. I've grown seeds that need to be transplanted to little pots. I have been to Vegas and back. I have helped to clean out two rooms in my mother's-in-law house. And I have a cold. Now that the chunk of the month's business is behind me, my goal is to finish the WIP by 4/30/11. 

Ack. 

Send luck. And Nyquil.