Stuart Aken's Blog, page 304

Writing: 4200 Words. Can it be True?

Three sessions on the epic fantasy today. And a total of 4,200 words added. And it's still going well. And I'm still enjoying it. Am I on target? I haven't done the maths; too tired now. I'll have to do a quick calc tomorrow and own up then. But we're moving and learning more about one of the protagonists and the new land I've entered with him. Great fun creating these imagined landscapes, people, customs and histories. Love it.
Have I done anything else? Well, a short walk with my wife to buy some new wiper blades for the car and a new beard trimmer, since the old one has a switch with a mind of its own. Tickets for the holiday arrived today: whoopeee!
Entered a short story into a contest. Something I have't done for some time. And dealt with most of the emails that came in; both inboxes are now almost empty. Until tomorrow, of course.
For those of you interested in epic fantasy, have a glance at the interview with Ian Alexander, posted below.
So, the bottle of Rioja has been left to breathe and should now be ready to sample. But I'll await Valerie's return from her bowls match before I fill a glass. In the meantime, I think a spot of relaxation on the sofa with some great music; classical or rock? I'll have to decide once I'm there.

Author Interview with Ian Alexander

Hello Ian. Please tell us something about you, as a writer.
Hello, Stuart! As a writer, I've always endeavoured to bring my readers a page-turning read that not only entertains, but challenges them to think and possibly re-examine their beliefs.  It's not an easy balance, but because it's something I enjoy doing in real life, it happens quite naturally for me when I'm writing.
I know you write epic fantasy; perhaps you'd you give us some insight into Once We Kings in a few sentences.
Once We Kings is an epic fantasy in which two warring kingdoms must be brought to unity, or face annihilation.  This task falls upon two unlikely young people from the opposing nations, who must first discover their true identities before they can put aside their own prejudices and save their people.
How did you come to write this particular book?
Prior to this book, I have written suspense and thrillers as Joshua Graham.  But my son, who was six years old at the time, asked me to write a book for him.  As he loved The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis—and admittedly, so did I—I could not refuse such a request.
Do you have a favourite character from the book? If so, who and why this particular person? 
That is like asking which of your children is your favourite.  :)  I especially identify with both protagonists, Render of the Western Kingdom, an escaped slave who finds a calling greater than he could ever have imagined, and Ahndien, a peasant from the Eastern Kingdom, whose love for her family launches her on a quest for destiny.  But I also enjoyed the acerbic wit of Branson, a character you love to hate.
What qualities does a writer need to be successful?
First and foremost, persistence.  If you cannot handle rejection, you are in the wrong field.  Second, a thick skin.  If you cannot handle negative opinions and reviews, you'd do best to flee with all haste from this profession.  And third, inspiration.  That is not as esoteric as it may seem.  I draw my inspiration from the study of Scriptures and prayer.  I also gain inspiration from  my muse and best friend—that is to say, my wife!
What's your working method?
Try to stay awake as long as possible.  Seriously, though, I try to conceive a book from the macro level and make my way to the tiniest detail.  It's much easier to make cosmic changes if you have a overall blueprint (outline.)  I also try to write chapters that are short enough to convey all I need to convey and propel the story forward.  The idea is to make it so my reader never feels the desire to put the book down.
What's the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?
Trying to avoid it.  What I mean by that is letting fear of writing poorly stop you from writing.  Bad writing can be corrected and improved.  You simply cannot improve a blank page by any other means than writing something on it.
To what extent are grammar and spelling important in writing?
Grammer an speling ar inportand four reezons that aer axiomatic.
How much do you revise your MS before sending it off?
As much as needed.  Every book is different.  I tend to make my revisions at the macro level, so that by the time I have completed the manuscript, significant revisions are not needed.
As a writer of fantasy, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
The fantasy genre is useful to the publishing world to a great degree, especially if fans continue to demand more.  The problem however, as someone so eloquently put it, is that it is getting increasingly difficult to write anything truly original in epic fantasy.  I think that it's more important to tell a great story, regardless of how many times the themes have been revisited.  As long as the story resonates, and will continue to resonate, it has value.
Many authors see marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal with it?
I am still learning to balance marketing and writing.  There are times where we must relinquish control over things of which we actually have none.  That takes faith.  And there are times we dare not sit by indolently in hopes our books will sell themselves. That takes wisdom.  In my life, I try to maintain a reasonable balance between faith and wisdom.
What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?
Marketing (see above), paying bills and other such nonsense!
What support, if any, do you receive from family and friends, or a writing group?
I receive incredible support from my friends and family.  One needs only look at the lengthy acknowledgements at the back of my book to understand this.  If not for the prayers, the encouragement, the constant cheering on of my close friends and fans, I would have been discouraged a long time ago and perhaps never have published this book.
Is presentation of the MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?
Absolutely.  Unless your book so resonates with the publisher reading your first five pages enough to make her overlook your typographical or formatting errors (and who really can predict when/if that happens), an acquisition editor is looking primarily to reject a MS and shave down the slush pile towering over her desk.  Don't give the publisher any reason to reject your MS right from the start.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
Anywhere from two months to one year total.Who or what inspires your writing?
My wife and children inspire me.  My friends and the Bible inspire me as well.  I often gain insights in prayer as to what I will write in my stories and novels.
Given unlimited resources, where would you do your writing?
In a dedicated library.
Where do you actually write?
My home office.
If there's a single aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?
My inability to write twenty books a month.  I'm working on that, though.
Is there a particular feature of writing that you really enjoy?
When a character comes to life and draws thoughts and feelings from the depths of my soul.  This is when I know they will do so for the reader, so I wait in anticipation of my readers experiencing this.
Do you believe creative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
It is both.  Though for me, as a gift it is anything but natural.  I consider it a gift in the respect that it was not earned, nor deserved, but rather, bestowed with a responsibility attached.  My hope is to be a good steward of this gift and use it to bless and inspire people.  But mostly, it is an acquired skill and discipline.  "Lack of Talent" is really just an excuse for lack of persistence.
What are you writing now?
A tie-in novella to Once We Kings.
Do you have a website or blog where readers can visit?
www.IanAlex.com www.Joshua-Graham.comOn facebook: http://on.fb.me/IanAlex

Where can people buy your book?
Currently, Once We Kings can be purchased in ebook format for Kindle, Nook, iPad, SONY Reader, Kobo, etc.  Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/jeio82 (Nook/Nookcolor)Amazon: http://amzn.to/iAWsMm  (Kindle)Smashwords: http://bit.ly/lUlOM8  (For all other ebook readers)Apple iBooks: http://bit.ly/k7F5ML
Look for the Hardcover Edition soon to be released.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Between or among

Image by stuartaken via Flickr
Between or among Between: preposition - reciprocal action or relation involving two or more as individuals, reciprocally, on the part of; motion or communication from each of two or more bodies, places, etc., to the other or others, to and from; confinement or restriction to two or more parties; in the interval separating two points of time, events, etc.; intermediate to, partaking of the nature of two qualities; in or through the space, line, or route separating two points, objects, etc. or bounded by; in the space bounded by two points etc., dividing, separating, connecting, uniting. Adverb - in or into an intermediate position or course, intermediately in amount, order, occupying intermediate space, intervening; in the interval or at intervals. to go to and fro as a mediator;Among: preposition - in the assemblage of, surrounded by and grouped with; surrounded by the separate members, components, or particles of, amid; in company with; in the number or class of, in comparison with; in the general practice or views of; divided between, shared by. Both words have possibly more meanings than most people appreciate. However, the confusion in usage arises only in certain circumstances: i.e. which should be used when referring to two objects and which belongs with three or more things. But this is to over simply the matter. The distinction doesn't rely on whether you're referring to two things or to three or more; it's whether you're referring to one thing and another, or to a collective or undefined number.'The gossip spread among the journalists faster than wildfire.' But, you could also write, 'The gossip spread between the journalists like wildfire.''A five bar gate rested between the gateposts.' Means something entirely different from, 'A farm gate rested among the fence posts.' In the former, we have a gate in situ with the posts at either side to support it. But in the latter, we have a gate as a separate item awaiting use along with some fence posts.There is also a question of the mood conveyed by the two words: 'The lovers walked among the bushes.' indicates a meandering stroll. But, 'The lovers walked between the bushes.' is suggestive of a more formal promenade with bushes at either side of them. One other aspect that needs a few words is the use of 'between' when used to measure something in relation to the objects the measured item lies between. So, the 'distance between the posts' does not include the width of the posts themselves but merely the space intervening. When something falls between two or more other things, those other things are not part of that something, but the defining boundaries of the space into which the something falls.
Zemanta could find no suitable illustration for this one, so here's one of my own, taken on the Wolds, near Bridlington.

Writing: 2500 Words This Afternoon

After a morning spent in the somewhat tedious occupation of earning brass, I came home to do some real work. Another 2500 words flowed from the fingertips and into the growing files. One of the protagonists justifying his attempts to grasp power and another fearing he is about to meet a watery end, in the desert! I leave you to ponder on that one.
An early post tonight as it's my evening for the writing group; a must-have stimulous for me.
Managed to schedule another few Word Spot posts and another author interview. Tomorrow sees Ian Alexander explaining his approach to the craft of writing epic fantasy. Certainly worth a visit, I think.
Now, I need a brief rest before I eat something and then travel the meandering English road toward the sea and my writing group. So I'll wish you all, 'Good night'.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Bowdlerize

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Bowdlerize: verb – (Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825) was an English editor, who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare.); to expurgate a text by removing or altering material considered improper or offensive, emasculate.Bowdler's numerous and often silly cuts and edits to Shakespeare have immortalized his name as another word for censorship.
'It seems some people never learn from history: Bowdler did his best to emasculate and sanitise Shakespeare and produced a laughable piece of work as a result. But others continue in his name and Bowdlerize many works, replacing evocative expletives with meaningless euphemisms and chopping out great chunks of text that fail to fall into their peculiar definition of what is or is not acceptable. Idiots; the lot of them. Perhaps these same folk would like to paint clothes on the numerous wonderful nudes? Certainly, there have been those who added fig leaves to classical Greek sculpture in order that 'ladies' would not be offended by the sight of carved genitalia. Such prudishness invariably declares more about the minds of the censors than about those they presume to protect from what they perceive, with their foul interpretations, as offensive or evil.'

Writing: A Mere 1000 Words

After a long and relatively demanding day at the office, only time and energy to write 1000 words tonight. None, of course, last night, as I was, again at the office all day and then dancing last night. But the story moves one and one of the heroes faces another challenge.
Tomorrow, I should be more productive. I must be, if I'm to reach my target. For the moment, though, a rest is definitely what I need.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Denouement

Image by National Galleries of Scotland Commons via Flickr
Denouement: noun - unravelling of a plot, situation or mystery; the final resolution of a play, novel, or other narrative.The denouement comes just after a story's climax, but before it actually ends and wraps up any loose ends the author doesn't want leaving unresolved.
'Elle was infuriated by the people in front of her in the queue for the movie, as they discussed in detail the denouement of the film she was about to watch.'
7 June 1811: James Young Simpson was born. This Scottish Obstetrician, who pioneered the use of anaesthetics in the UK, was born in Bathgate, West Lothian. Initially educated at the local school, his obvious abilities persuaded his father and brothers to pay for a college education and he entered the University of Edinburgh at only 14 years of age. He later became Professor of Midwifery (Obstetrics) there and was also Queen Victoria's physician . Although he finished his final examination at 18, he was so young that had to wait two more years before he was licenced to practise medicine. An early advocate of the use of midwives in hospitals, he was also consulted about gynaecological problems by many prominent women. His most noted contribution was the introduction of anaesthesia to childbirth.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Habitat

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Habitat: noun - natural environment occupied by a particular organism; area distinguished by the organisms occupying it; such areas collectively; dwelling place, usual surroundings, habitation.
'Many of the world's rarest creatures are facing extinction due to the disappearance of their habitat, often due to the encroachment of man and his activity.'
6 June 1961 – Carl Jung died Carl Gustav Jung  (26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961), Swiss psychiatrist and founder of Analytical Psychology, is thought by some to be the first modern psychologist to state that the human psyche is, by nature, religious. He's also one of the best known pioneers of dream analysis. He considered himself a natural scientist, not a theoretical psychologist, like Freud. Jung used deep observation followed by categorization instead of the opposite process of imagining what categories might exist and then looking for proof of these and deciding which was always correct. He was a practicing clinician, but involved himself in philosophy, sociology, astrology, literature, the arts and even alchemy.   

Writing: 3,600 Words Today, in Two Sessions

Image via WikipediaSunday, and the traditional time for a lie-in. So, naturally, I was up just after 07:00 and pounding the keys ten minutes later. No coffee, no reading of emails, no side-tracking. Just straight on with the writing of the epic fantasy. I completed around 1300 words before I needed to wake Valerie and Kate for breakfast; quickly prepared but eaten at a leisurely pace. Back into the study and a further 2300 words written, ending ch 35 and starting ch 36. Today, I watched my heroine dance in the desert sands and later present herself to the man who would have her as a slave. I protected myself with the hero against a sand storm; well, actually, I don't yet know how he'll fare there, since I haven't concluded that episode yet.
Lunch, and then into the garden to pot on a few plants whose homes were becoming too confining for them. And the removal of a small flowering bush, the name of which escapes me, which has succumbed to the drought and died. That is now in pieces in the recycling bin to be sent to be turned into compost.
Back into the study to complete 2 character profiles and work on a few more blog posts to be scheduled. Also, a lengthy piece on the organic growth of the English language for a guest spot on another blog. A few comments on some of the groups I belong to and some odd tweets just for fun.
The evening meal, followed by a constitutional and, once I've concluded here, a nice pot of Earl Grey before settling down to relax for what remains of the day.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Amount or number

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Amount or number Amount: noun - total to which anything amounts, total quantity or number; quantity or sum viewed as the total reached;  Number: noun - precise sum or aggregate of; abstract entity representing a quantity, used to express how many things are being referred to, or how much there is of something; an arithmetical value corresponding to a particular quantity of something; word, symbol or figure representing an arithmetical unit, a numeral; total, value expressed in figures, a statistic; arithmetical value; person or thing having a place in a series; any of a collection of songs or poems; a song, tune; girl or young woman; full count of a collection of persons or things.Where Amount usually refers to a mass, number generally refers to a quantity.
'An enormous amount of publicity surrounded the death of John F Kennedy.'
'The number of stories relating the death of Elvis Presley could be counted in thousands.'
'The pretty girl was a cute number, dressed in a stylish number, as she listened and danced to the latest number played by the rock band.'