Mari Collier's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing-how-why-genre"
My Writing Process Blog Tour
This is all Robynn Gabel’s fault. She invited me on this blog tour because she read one of my short stories. I’m not sure whether this is a compliment or punishment.
Take a look at what Robynn is doing. She has taking on the task of writing a historical novel based on the Vikings and the reality of those times. She has her blog at http://dupler.org/
Before I go to the question and answer period, I want to thank Robynn for inviting me and giving me this challenge.
What Am I Currently Working On?
At present I’m working on two different novels. Both are sequels to my current works. One is called Thalia Restored and the other is called The Return. Thalia Restored is the history of the Thalians restoring their planet after the disastrous losses to the Justines and the years of being guarded by the Krepyons and Sisterhood. Of course, there is still treachery and Lorenz and the Maca will fight to marry on this planet. The Return follows the ones that had gone to Thalia and return to Earth. It is to be a visit to the family member left behind and checking on the various enterprises. Everything they planned on doing will go wrong. Their Earth family has forgotten their origins and want to change the family corporation. I’m also trying to put together another anthology of Twisted Tales. This time all the stories are based in the Pacific Northwest.
How Does My Work Differ From Others of Its Genre?
Mine start with the premise of two different alien life-forms being stranded on Earth in the early 1800’s and being able to reproduce with the human species. One isn’t able to cope with the savagery and primitive living accommodations. The other learns to survive and live with Earth beings. He marries and starts his family and House on Earth. The storyline is embedded in the history of this planet and not an altered version. The people deal with flies, plagues, and Civil Wars. The short stories can be set in any time and/or place, but there is always a twist or twisted ending.
Why Do I Write What I Do?
That is difficult to answer. I love multiple generational stories. James Clavell did it with his stories. Even his first novel, King Rat, refers to the people in Noble House. Noble House wasn't produced until years and books later. Frank Herbert used that technique in his Dune series. Their stories captivated me over and over again. History I've always read, but I really don’t care for romance novels. Yes, there is love and marriage in my novels, but it is a natural thing that men and women do. The entire novel is not based on their attraction or aversion to each other. MacDonald’s Earth love doesn’t even appear until the twelfth chapter and there are a few more before they meet. As for the Twisted Tales, I assume that would be my skewed way of seeing the world and its inhabitants.
How Does My Writing Process Work?
I sit down every afternoon and write. The stories have been unfolding in my mind for years. I know how each of my characters act, think, and look. Those set in this country did require a huge amount of research. The year, the weather, the important people, the diseases, the clothes they wore, and the food they ate were all verified by my personal library or endless searching on the internet. The short stories with humor will pop up from every day events or from the things people will say. After the story or novel is written, I put it away for a few weeks or longer before I start to edit. If I do not, I will miss my errors for I know exactly what I said. I do not outline as it seems a waste of time when I know the words that need to be entered.
Now I’d like you to meet some writing friends of mine. One I knew when she was a delightful child interested in learning.
T. Tommia Wright has grown into an intelligent, articulate, young woman with a beautiful way of setting down poetry and writing. Here’s a bit about her in her own words.
A lifelong learner, writer, creator, believer and dreamer. Born and raised in the Cascade Foothills (minus a near-decade of daring in Denver), I've been surrounded by books, old and new, despite a book-buying ban. I am a member of SnoValley Writes! and one of the founding members of FreeValley Publishing. Fumbling through photography, I finally focused on going beyond the images in telling my stories in this latter stage of life. I love writing mysteries, short stories, literary fiction, poetry and fantasy. I have been blessed to be surrounded and supported by many artistic, creative friends and family.
Published works include: Leaves and Flowers, Volume 2, Fall Into Story (Nick, Knack, Knock), 3 is the Magic Number (Of Hills and Valleys).
Reflections on Water (Illiterate Illusions) http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Wat...
Other creative works here: http://www.tommiastablet.wordpress.com
Or follow on Twitter @ttwright07
I've met terrific writers online. One is Mark Hunter. You’ll find his Blog at:
http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
In addition to being an emergency dispatcher, Mark R Hunter’s humor column is carried in three Indiana newspapers, and he’s a volunteer firefighter who does publicity writing for some local non-profits. He lives in Albion, Indiana, with his fiancée/wife Emily (long story), a giant dog, and a cowardly ball python named Lucius. Mark’s first novel and a follow up short story collection, Storm Chaser and Storm Chaser Shorts, were released by Whiskey Creek Press, which this October is also publishing The Notorious Ian Grant. He’s also published a history of his local fire department, and this spring will release a YA humorous adventure, The No-Campfire Girls.
Last, I want to introduce, Anna L. Walls. I've met her online also and enjoy what she writes. Her Blog is called Anna’s Obsession. http://annalwalls.blogspot.com/
Now in her own words:
I grew up a rancher's daughter hoping to inherit the ranch and run a riding school for city kids. However, my brother bought the ranch from our parents in order to avoid an inheritance tax and I ended up joining the army, marrying my fisherman husband and moving to the wilderness of Alaska where I raised two wonderful boys. One of them gave me an old laptop computer and now I'm a published author. Go figure.
Be sure to visit their Blogs and see what they are doing!
Take a look at what Robynn is doing. She has taking on the task of writing a historical novel based on the Vikings and the reality of those times. She has her blog at http://dupler.org/
Before I go to the question and answer period, I want to thank Robynn for inviting me and giving me this challenge.
What Am I Currently Working On?
At present I’m working on two different novels. Both are sequels to my current works. One is called Thalia Restored and the other is called The Return. Thalia Restored is the history of the Thalians restoring their planet after the disastrous losses to the Justines and the years of being guarded by the Krepyons and Sisterhood. Of course, there is still treachery and Lorenz and the Maca will fight to marry on this planet. The Return follows the ones that had gone to Thalia and return to Earth. It is to be a visit to the family member left behind and checking on the various enterprises. Everything they planned on doing will go wrong. Their Earth family has forgotten their origins and want to change the family corporation. I’m also trying to put together another anthology of Twisted Tales. This time all the stories are based in the Pacific Northwest.
How Does My Work Differ From Others of Its Genre?
Mine start with the premise of two different alien life-forms being stranded on Earth in the early 1800’s and being able to reproduce with the human species. One isn’t able to cope with the savagery and primitive living accommodations. The other learns to survive and live with Earth beings. He marries and starts his family and House on Earth. The storyline is embedded in the history of this planet and not an altered version. The people deal with flies, plagues, and Civil Wars. The short stories can be set in any time and/or place, but there is always a twist or twisted ending.
Why Do I Write What I Do?
That is difficult to answer. I love multiple generational stories. James Clavell did it with his stories. Even his first novel, King Rat, refers to the people in Noble House. Noble House wasn't produced until years and books later. Frank Herbert used that technique in his Dune series. Their stories captivated me over and over again. History I've always read, but I really don’t care for romance novels. Yes, there is love and marriage in my novels, but it is a natural thing that men and women do. The entire novel is not based on their attraction or aversion to each other. MacDonald’s Earth love doesn’t even appear until the twelfth chapter and there are a few more before they meet. As for the Twisted Tales, I assume that would be my skewed way of seeing the world and its inhabitants.
How Does My Writing Process Work?
I sit down every afternoon and write. The stories have been unfolding in my mind for years. I know how each of my characters act, think, and look. Those set in this country did require a huge amount of research. The year, the weather, the important people, the diseases, the clothes they wore, and the food they ate were all verified by my personal library or endless searching on the internet. The short stories with humor will pop up from every day events or from the things people will say. After the story or novel is written, I put it away for a few weeks or longer before I start to edit. If I do not, I will miss my errors for I know exactly what I said. I do not outline as it seems a waste of time when I know the words that need to be entered.
Now I’d like you to meet some writing friends of mine. One I knew when she was a delightful child interested in learning.
T. Tommia Wright has grown into an intelligent, articulate, young woman with a beautiful way of setting down poetry and writing. Here’s a bit about her in her own words.
A lifelong learner, writer, creator, believer and dreamer. Born and raised in the Cascade Foothills (minus a near-decade of daring in Denver), I've been surrounded by books, old and new, despite a book-buying ban. I am a member of SnoValley Writes! and one of the founding members of FreeValley Publishing. Fumbling through photography, I finally focused on going beyond the images in telling my stories in this latter stage of life. I love writing mysteries, short stories, literary fiction, poetry and fantasy. I have been blessed to be surrounded and supported by many artistic, creative friends and family.
Published works include: Leaves and Flowers, Volume 2, Fall Into Story (Nick, Knack, Knock), 3 is the Magic Number (Of Hills and Valleys).
Reflections on Water (Illiterate Illusions) http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Wat...
Other creative works here: http://www.tommiastablet.wordpress.com
Or follow on Twitter @ttwright07
I've met terrific writers online. One is Mark Hunter. You’ll find his Blog at:
http://markrhunter.blogspot.com/
In addition to being an emergency dispatcher, Mark R Hunter’s humor column is carried in three Indiana newspapers, and he’s a volunteer firefighter who does publicity writing for some local non-profits. He lives in Albion, Indiana, with his fiancée/wife Emily (long story), a giant dog, and a cowardly ball python named Lucius. Mark’s first novel and a follow up short story collection, Storm Chaser and Storm Chaser Shorts, were released by Whiskey Creek Press, which this October is also publishing The Notorious Ian Grant. He’s also published a history of his local fire department, and this spring will release a YA humorous adventure, The No-Campfire Girls.
Last, I want to introduce, Anna L. Walls. I've met her online also and enjoy what she writes. Her Blog is called Anna’s Obsession. http://annalwalls.blogspot.com/
Now in her own words:
I grew up a rancher's daughter hoping to inherit the ranch and run a riding school for city kids. However, my brother bought the ranch from our parents in order to avoid an inheritance tax and I ended up joining the army, marrying my fisherman husband and moving to the wilderness of Alaska where I raised two wonderful boys. One of them gave me an old laptop computer and now I'm a published author. Go figure.
Be sure to visit their Blogs and see what they are doing!
