Marissa De Luna's Blog, page 9
May 30, 2013
Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head...
“Each writer is born with a repertory company in his head. Shakespeare has perhaps 20 players. … I have 10 or so, and that’s a lot. As you get older, you become more skillful at casting them.”
—Gore Vidal
So I have started reading Only The Innocent by Rachel Abbot which I must say is, so far, a good read. It got some great reviews so I am sure it will be page turning till the end. I also like that it is set in places I know. I think that people really resonate to places they know which are repl...
—Gore Vidal
So I have started reading Only The Innocent by Rachel Abbot which I must say is, so far, a good read. It got some great reviews so I am sure it will be page turning till the end. I also like that it is set in places I know. I think that people really resonate to places they know which are repl...
May 24, 2013
Your intuition knows what to write...
Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.”
― Ray Bradbury
Sorry for not having blogged in a while. Everything is manic at the moment. Whilst I struggle with Under The Coconut Tree (Albeit the first draft is now complete) I have been completing an Author Questionnaire requested by my publishers. At this point I would like to say what the questions are etc. But I am not sure exactly how much I can say. And really I don’t want to p*** anyone off. So I’ll give you the gist of it....
― Ray Bradbury
Sorry for not having blogged in a while. Everything is manic at the moment. Whilst I struggle with Under The Coconut Tree (Albeit the first draft is now complete) I have been completing an Author Questionnaire requested by my publishers. At this point I would like to say what the questions are etc. But I am not sure exactly how much I can say. And really I don’t want to p*** anyone off. So I’ll give you the gist of it....
April 18, 2013
It's all about the detail - In a Nutshell
It’s all about the detail. – In a NutshellA couple of blog posts back –I talked about the Killer Diller details as highlighted in The Complete Guide to Novel Writing edited by Meg Leder (Which, may I add, is an amazing book and must be read). Anyway the article in the book suggested that you keep a little note book where you can write down description and day to day detail that you see and then you can dip into this book when you are looking to say… describe a snow scene – I have a lot of wea...
It's never ending...
It’s never ending…
Today I feel slightly overwhelmed. By nature I like researching stuff. When I decide I want to do something I research everything I can about it and immerse myself in it in order to achieve my goal. I am a determined person and I am sure many authors out there do the same. I often look at writing blogs and websites to find juicy snippets about the publishing world, self publishing, books to read about novel writing, novel writing tips etc. And more often than not I post some...
April 12, 2013
Guest Blog Post by Luke Murphy: From professional Hockey Player to Published Novelist.
From Professional Hockey Player to Published Novelist - Luke Murphy
From a family of avid readers, even as a child, I always had a passion for books. Whether it was reading novels on road trips or writing assignments in school, literature was always part of my life.
In the winter of 2000, after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing professional hockey in Oklahoma City, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new hobby emerged.
I didn’t write with the intent...
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From a family of avid readers, even as a child, I always had a passion for books. Whether it was reading novels on road trips or writing assignments in school, literature was always part of my life.
In the winter of 2000, after sustaining a season ending eye injury while playing professional hockey in Oklahoma City, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands, and a new hobby emerged.
I didn’t write with the intent...
April 11, 2013
Fiction is about stuff that's screwed up.
Fiction is about stuff that’s screwed up.
- Nancy Kress
So another guest post has made its way onto The Coffee Stained Manuscript! This time it’s from Hockey player turned published novelist (international bestselling author), Luke Murphy. I think guest blog posts are great for getting your work out there and I am seriously considering a blog tour to coincide with the release of The Bittersweet Vine. Like I have said before I don’t know if blog posts and blog hits relate to sales. I certainly h...
- Nancy Kress
So another guest post has made its way onto The Coffee Stained Manuscript! This time it’s from Hockey player turned published novelist (international bestselling author), Luke Murphy. I think guest blog posts are great for getting your work out there and I am seriously considering a blog tour to coincide with the release of The Bittersweet Vine. Like I have said before I don’t know if blog posts and blog hits relate to sales. I certainly h...
April 5, 2013
Fiction is the truth inside the lie
“Fiction is the truth inside the lie.”
― Stephen King
So today during my lunch hour I decided to have a look through some writing blogs/websites as opposed to reading through ‘A brief History of Art,’ which has been staring at me on my desk for at least two months! I am living in hope that it will make me more intelligent.
So the first web blog I clicked on was Copyblogger and basically I didn’t have time to look at anything else. It is my new fave writing site. It is jam packed (and I mean b...
― Stephen King
So today during my lunch hour I decided to have a look through some writing blogs/websites as opposed to reading through ‘A brief History of Art,’ which has been staring at me on my desk for at least two months! I am living in hope that it will make me more intelligent.
So the first web blog I clicked on was Copyblogger and basically I didn’t have time to look at anything else. It is my new fave writing site. It is jam packed (and I mean b...
April 3, 2013
Half my life is an act of revision
Half my life is an act of revision.
- John Irving
So as part of my new years resolution is all about adding colour to my life. I have to admit it's proving difficult – especially when the closest people around me are anti-colour. But I have been adding pops of colour here and there. I think I am going to rev the colour up for April though. H&M seems the best place to start with coloured vests and cardigans that can go over or under the fail safe black!
Anyway enough of that! I hope eve...
- John Irving
So as part of my new years resolution is all about adding colour to my life. I have to admit it's proving difficult – especially when the closest people around me are anti-colour. But I have been adding pops of colour here and there. I think I am going to rev the colour up for April though. H&M seems the best place to start with coloured vests and cardigans that can go over or under the fail safe black!
Anyway enough of that! I hope eve...
March 26, 2013
Matador Self Publishing Conference 2013
So on Sunday I attended the Matador/Troubador Self Publishing Conference in Leicester. Yes I battled through the Spring Snow and arrived at 9:30 just in time for the first talk.
It was a great experience and well done to Matador for not making it too like they were trying to sell their self publishing stuff. I have to admit the day itself was a bit daunting if I hadn't already self published I would have been scared. They made it sound like it was a mammoth task - which in a way is good I sup...
It was a great experience and well done to Matador for not making it too like they were trying to sell their self publishing stuff. I have to admit the day itself was a bit daunting if I hadn't already self published I would have been scared. They made it sound like it was a mammoth task - which in a way is good I sup...
March 20, 2013
Creating Characters
Creating Characters - In a Nutshell!
So today I am not going to rant about my writing I am going to share what I have learned about creating characters through my extensive reading about characters. How to make them three dimensional, fully rounded, loveable and hated. I think I am going to make this a new feature of this blog. Occasionally compressing all what I have learnt in the last five years into one blog post on different topics. I am going to label these blogs ‘In a Nutshell’ – which i...
So today I am not going to rant about my writing I am going to share what I have learned about creating characters through my extensive reading about characters. How to make them three dimensional, fully rounded, loveable and hated. I think I am going to make this a new feature of this blog. Occasionally compressing all what I have learnt in the last five years into one blog post on different topics. I am going to label these blogs ‘In a Nutshell’ – which i...
