Cate Morgan's Blog, page 19

Tampa Bay Comic Con–DAY TWO (#tbcc)

 In Which 3 Million Truckers Can’t Be Wrong…

Well, one can already tell Con organizers have learned a valuable lesson from yesterday’s Mobfest. There were police directing traffic, and the crowds looked by far more manageable–or, at the very least, better managed. Score!

We got a late start to the Con today, but that’s okay–I had a panel with the witty and charming Hugh Howey, who talked about the Self-Publishing process. As a fun aside, Dust, the third book in his “Silo” series, made #7 on the NYT Best Selling list. So congratz, Hugh!

So I’m glad today was a low-key day. By the time we got home I was able to add “shin splints” to feet hurting and general Con exhaustion. Once again I found myself smugly proud of my fellow fans for thanking the nice police officer directing us across the street to the Convention Center. We really are a nice, well-behaved bunch!

2:30 pm: Waiting in line for Hugh Howey’s Self-Publishing panel. Now is the perfect time to get some costume pics in. There are a dashing couple of blokes dressed as Superman and Green Arrow. Also a well-done Katniss Everdeen pushing a flaxen-haired mite in a stroller. O.O
2:45 pm: Wonder Woman descends escalator, berating Superman and Green Arrow for getting started on pics without her. HA!
2:55 pm: A pair of what appear to be Steampunk Disney princesses exit current panel.
3:00 pm: Hugh’s panel attendees (politely) stampede in. Seems to be a nice mix of fans and fellow authorly-types. Hugh and Friend set up rather quickly, at which point Hugh jokes that the first rule of self-publishing is to do everything yourself. Immediately decide that I like him.

Cool Things I Learned From The Panel:

Hugh’s journey to publishing success sounds unique and fun. Wool started out as a Novelette he self-published through Amazon, and was going to be the only book he ever published until his reviews raved about it and wanted more. He tried the traditional publishing route at first, hated the process, and decided to self pub. That’s when NY started calling him, taking it for granted he’d be thrilled to hand over 15% of his sales without so much as a how-do-you-do. He told an awful lot of people “no.” It was only when uber-agent Kristen Nelson contacted him in regards to missed opportunities on foreign and film rights, and didn’t take it for granted he would want to sign, that he had considered signing. Then he got a kind of a-la-carte publishing deal where he retained electronic rights, but S&S took traditional, one of the few to do so.
Hugh talked a lot, and enthusiastically, about the democratization of publishing. There’s no longer one way, the only way, to get published. More control than ever is in the author’s hands, and their readers’.
Hugh proved to be easy-going and gracious, as well as funny. When someone’s phone rang he told them take to call, he totally didn’t mind; if he got a call from his wife, he’d take it and let us in on the convo. This sounds sarcastic, but he was serious and totally laid back.
Later he saw an attendee video-taping the panel  and he encouraged her to upload it to You Tube; he said “hi” to his mom, proving again he’s a proponent to offering his readers free stuff and deep discounts. Basically, make it easy for potential readers to get invested in your stories.
I love, love, LOVE that he emphasized the importance of revisions in the crafting process. He does eight or nine passes and then BETA tests a draft. Then he does several more passes before publishing. The first draft is the story in raw form–it takes revisions and feedback to craft the story into the best it can be.
Hugh talked about the “triangle” of Self-Publishing: The Kindle self-pub platform, Createspace, and AXD. The latter pairs voiceover artists with self published authors for self-publishing audio books. Someone threw out a number of something like 3 Million truckers who listen to audio books on their routes. When related to the Tech Monkey over dinner, he mentioned a bouncer we knew at a club we used to frequent who was a trucker, and at every stop he’d buy out all the audio books at the nearest Walden. Untapped market, perhaps?
Hugh is Adamant and Enthusiastic that everything publishing does now, you can do yourself, and he went through the publishing process with examples. He was a book critic, so he recommends gettings as close to as many aspects of the industry as possible.
Collective *gasp* of horror when he says that publishers actually pay someone to burn unopened crates of unsold books. Book nerds unite!
At one point I recognized one of the attendees, but couldn’t place him. It was only until much later he’s a friend of a friend I’ve exchanged witty quips with on Facebook. Whoops!

We concluded the Con with one final pass of the Exhibition Hall, which proved to be doable since most people had staggered home at this point. The Tech Monkey scored some graphic novels, and my finely-honed Geek sensors also tagged some Iron Man comics he hadn’t caught sight of. Unfortunately, the gentleman playing Thor was out of costume and looked Tired and Shagged Out following a Prolonged Con, so I didn’t have the heart to bother him. I then capped everything off by spending WAY too much money on dice sets, but it’s a local business so I feel perfectly justified.

Heard At The Con:

Small Child at catching sight of a yellow Camaro: “BUMBLEBEE!!” *facepalm*
Other Small Child to Younger Sister: “It was on the NEWS.The news doesn’t lie.” ROFL

A Few Vendor Links:

Flipside Creations: www.FlipsideCreations.Etsy.com
Jeff Dekal Art/Illustration: www.jeffdekal.com
Phineas J Legheart, Vampire Hunting Kits: www.mysteriouspast.com
Tytan Comics: www.tytancomics.com
Twisted Acres, Live Plants and Art Made From Recycled Materials: www.twistedacres.com
Armada Games: www.armadagames.com
CGC Comics, Comic Book Grading: www.cgcomics.com

Tampa Bay Comic Con–DAY ONE (#tbcc)

 Let me start off by saying this was my first convention in a REALLY long time. Like, since the last year Gen Con was in Milwaukee.

I loved every aspect of Gen Con. I’d spend all year planning my costume extravaganza (four days’ worth!), take off work, and then throw caution and sanity to the four winds and get my serious geek on with other very serious geeks indeed. I loved taking the time to talk to every single vendor, game developer, artist, and author, especially the independent ones. I’d spend my entire year’s worth of savings on Swag. I squeed at celebrities and cooed at the kiddies dressed up as their favorite characters. I hit all the parties I could and then, at the end, I’d pass out on Sunday night in full-on Con Coma made of Exhausted Geek Happy.

Needless to say, this means I was incredibly excited to jump back into the Con scene. I decided not to dress up this year, mainly because this is Florida in August, and who wants to pass out from heat stroke walking from the parking lot to the Con? I also bought our tickets well in advance, so score 2 for the Writer Monkey.

This was also the first time the Con was in the Tampa Bay Convention Center, what turned out to be a lovely venue. Parking is cheap, and convenient. Score 3!

Saturday

11:00 am: First impression is…OMG the people! The traffic in downtown Tampa is bumper to bumper, and the geeks are swarming over the Convention Center like freshly-hatched baby Aliens over an unsuspecting supporting player. Or an unannounced Nathan Fillion. *checks phone for updates* No. *disappointed*
11:15 am: We bypass the epically insane line crawling out the door of the convention center alternately sweltering and melting out in the Florida heat. HA! The Tech Monkey and I swan on in through the nearest entrance. After all, we’ve already bought our tickets. Approximately thirty seconds later we are halted mid-swan by another line, wherein we are told by an annoyed convention staffer that no, this is the line for everyone, we were just lucky enough to find the apparently Sooper Sekrit line out of the heat. We join the line snaking its way through a dark room until we end up at the opposite end of the center. Why did we bother purchasing tickets ahead of time if we’re still standing in line anyway? Am smugly proud of my fellow geeks–everyone is courteous and calm, and excited to be here. This is the perfect opportunity for photo ops with people in some really cool costumes. Lots of Doctors, always a bonus.
11:45 am: Oh that’s why we’re standing in line. It’s the line to get into line. We just came in from the opposite end of the sun-stroked masses finally making their way in from outside in yet another line to get into line. This is because convention organizers thought that one booth each for cash, credit card, and pre-orders would be sufficient. With two staffers working each. Two. Seriously, the crush in here has to be seen to be believed. Holy Wow, Batman!
11:55 am: Our booth staffer levels up to being my own personal hero by giving us two-day pass bracelets so we don’t have to go through this again tomorrow. Of course, a weekend two-day pass should have been an available purchase option to begin with. I had to buy two one-day passes for each day. By noon we’re in the Exhibition Hall. For some reason only one of six or eight doors is open for all the people coming and going. Expecting fans to arrive with a battering ram at any moment to crack this bitch open.
12:15 am: I spy my first Epic Convention Swag Find of the day–a primo edition of a Sandman comic, signed by Neil Gaiman and authenticated/certified. My desperate squees go unheeded as I am carried away by the floodtide. It’s soon clear that no one, including a lot of the vendors, were expecting this level of Epic Mob. And there were still thousands of people in line behind us. The stank up in here is going to be of troll proportions by the afternoon. There is very little room between the aisles, and before long an announcement on the loudspeaker assures everyone they’ve opened up another room so people have a place to sit out of the crush. Wait, they had more rooms available? Then why the hell aren’t we utilizing All The Space?
12:20 pm: The Stars of the Con are announced. Maisie Williams! Lauren Cohen! Chad Coleman! Rory McCann! Jason Momoa! W00T!!
12:45 pm: The lookalikes they have for photo ops are seriously good. Thor is a dead ringer, as is Jack Sparrow. Hopefully they’re here tomorrow.
1:30 pm: We’ve only made it through half of the exhibition hall, but we’ve hardly had a chance to see anything because the sheer Wall of Geek forces us past before we can quite stop. Manage to talk to a few people and collect a few business cards. One dude is showcasing hand-crafted Vampire Hunter and Wizard kits that are beyond Awesome. Complimented him profusely. Another group of guys crafts affordable weapons and other geek paraphernalia. They are displaying, among other things, some really well done Thor hammers for $80. The Tech Monkey and I decided to break for lunch before hitting the second half. Ask a staffer where there’s a decent place to eat because we have yet to spy a program–he has no idea. We venture out on our own, and end up at a packed bistro attached to the Embassy Suites. Even the manager is serving tables. *Quest completed!*
2:30 pm: We make our way back to the booth where I saw the Sandman Comic. On the way we spy the Official Convention Booth with Official Convention Programs. HA! again. Surely my comic’s  been snatched up by now? No! Apparently the Wall of Geek has worked in our favor. This time the Tech Monkey shoulders his way into the fray like a champion and waves it aloft as I follow in his heroic wake. It’s only $40! It takes us approximately ten minutes to find the guy running the booth as there’s no table with noticeably Vendor Type Person. Hand him a reasonable portion of my hard-earned birthday money. Swag acquired. *Quest completed!* We now hit the remaining portion of the Exhibition Hall.
2:45 pm: We find the DVD and Vintage Game Guy. You know the one–he sells professionally packaged fan films and parody porn among the swaths of mass marketed filmery, and you’re never quite sure if he’s legit or not. Usually not, but it’s still fairly high quality stuff. And what’s this? He’s even got live performances of Wicked and Book of Mormon! And…and…is that really what I think it is? Actually in the wild? YES! The 1978 Star Wars Christmas Special! EEE!!! Epic Birthday Swag Acquired!
3:15 pm: We finally make it to the artist booths, and BEHOLD! There’s room to maneuver in them there aisles! Also find the proprietors of one of our local game stores selling dice sets and a few games. Proprietor Guy is thrilled and much bemused at the turnout and the amount of merch he’s sold–he only expected to hand out flyers. Buy Official Con Dice, because I do at every con. *Quest Completed!*
4:00 pm: My feet are killing me. My back hurts, as does my bad knee, which are directly related. My head is swimming, and I’m out of water AND Kleenex. The Tech Monkey and I agree it’s time to go home to Rest, and return to our adventures on the morrow. On the way out we see places to eat and relax, which Con Staffer didn’t know about. No mentions of nearby eatery, drinkery, and official places of Rest in the program, either. HA! The Tech Monkey and I agree that Con Organizers need to recruit geeks to draw their maps and point out areas of interest. Especially for those of us whom Con Food does a number on.
4:30 pm: Arrive home. Collapse on couch surrounded by flyers and swag and Ninja Katz. Pass out in deep satisfaction and a severe case of Con Coma. *happy*

Author’s Log: It’s Our Birthday, Precious (#ROW80)

 To the person at Evil Day Jobbe who spread fear, discord, and, yes, GERMS last week, I want to take this opportunity to thank you. No, really. If it hadn’t been for you, I would never have gotten my first cold in two years the week of my birthday AND Comic Con. This is quite the coup, let me tell you.

I understand people have to come to work sick occasionally. I really and truly do. However, it’s also my understanding that most people’s mothers teach them to COVER THEIR MOUTHS when their bodies go into plague-spreading mode.  So be ye warned, whoever you are, because I will hunt you down like Buffy the Sneeze Hunter. I will find you. And I will mess you up with latex gloves and those surgical bio-hazard masks because obviously you cannot handle the membership responsibilities of civilization.

/rant

So, the anticipated birthday feast the Tech Monkey cooks every year is being put off until next weekend, because making me eat all my favorite things when I can’t taste them goes under Cruel and Unusual Punishment, not to mention Vile Mockery. The good news is, as you are reading this, I am at TAMPA BAY COMIC CON! W00T!! This is my first con in a really long time (since Gen Con left Milwaukee, actually,) so let’s assume at this point I am having a really awesome time, shall we? *has a geek happy*

 

Production Schedule (&ROW80):

Keepers #2 (In Production): All’s quiet on the production front. This is good, because this weekend I’m attending I a self-publishing panel in anticipation of Sooper Sekrit Projects 1 & 2, directly related to Keepers of the Flame. VERY. EXCITED.

Minstrel’s Daughter (Drafting): Rewrote the last chapter of Act I (aka Plot Point 1), wherein our stalwart heroes battle Minor Bad #1, to lead into ACT II. This coming week I get to introduce Minor Bad #2, a crafty and most malicious Assassin, certainly malicious enough warrant the capital A. I adore her. The idea of the first half of the novel is for Stalwart Heroes to battle all the weapons of Big Bad before he is revealed at Midpoint. Thankfully, careful planning has ensured that my foreshadowing is all in place. It’s all proving to be a delicate balance.

Keepers #3 (In BETA): Enjoying the respite of having Keepers #3 out of my hair for the moment. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I’ll have a better idea of what once The Stunt Monkey returns to me with notes. I’m too close to it again to have much perspective. Possible sub date is 9/30/13, which I believe to be doable. My goal at this point is to be out of BETA and polished all shiny for submission at the end of September.

So a little behind on my Production Schedule, but still getting a lot done so I’m fine with that. A busy writer is a working writer–and a happy one!

Author’s Log: Plot vs Character (#ROW80)

 Character + Plot = Story.

Pretty simple, right? Yet, this past month or so as I was burning my way through Waking Muse #1, I was reminded once again that there are a multitude of ways to approach story development. Notice I said “story” development, not “plot” development, though there are a variety of ways to develop plot, as well.

My Keepers of the Flame series, for example, are action stories set in an apocalyptic world, with a side order of romance. These stories, then, are plot-driven. This doesn’t mean I’m sciving off on the character development, oh no! But action stories are like action movies, so my approach to these is going to be vastly different than my approach to something like Waking Muse #1, which is character-driven.

For Keepers, I use screenwriting techniques to develop the story. I have character sketches, sure–in addition to back stories, props and wardrobe. I “cast” my characters. My plot points are mapped on a Plot Incline on a white board, with lists of settings, characters, and important objects. (I call it my Nouns List–people, places, and things). I look for concept art to describe setting, and research those settings until I feel as though I could travel there and feel fairly confident I know where I’m going, and what to expect. I use beat sheets to brainstorm and navigate my way from Plot Point to Plot Point. I decide whether the character arc layer is going to follow a Mystic or Heroic Journey. The major conflict comes from an outside source, which then drives character conflicts. Then I spice it up with a variety of special effects. For me, an action story unfolds visually, like a movie.

Waking Muse #1 was a whole ‘nother kettle of words, because it was fully character-driven. The external conflict came from other characters which then drives internal conflict. Because the character arc is the story, each of my protagonists follow their own journeys, the Male and Female. (Interesting to note: Both a plot-driven story arc and a character-driven one encompasses nine “blocks”–three Acts, with three sections apiece.) Both the Male and Female journeys drive, in each block, what has to happen to move the character, and thus the story, forward. It also guides the conflict and stakes. In a quieter story such as this, it can be tempting to think that nothing is happening–when in fact there’s quite a lot going on. There just aren’t any explosions to announce it.

I have to go all old school with something like this–spiral notebooks and legal pads and a really good gel pen that flows like brushstrokes. I have to sit in silence and let the music of the words come to me, because the story unfolds in the words themselves. Instead of seeing the story, I have to sit quietly and listen for it, and try to strike the right chords. An action story’s music is rock n’ roll, but a charcter story’s music is a violin concerto, or a string quartet.

In a character-driven story, the plot is the character journey, whereas in a plot-driven story, the plot drives the character journey.

It’s like the difference between Die Hard and The Hours, both movies which I really love, but which are completely different in so many ways for reasons other than just genre and target audience. There’s still character development in Die Hard, but the main conflict is external, driving the character arcs. There’s still action in The Hours, but the main conflict is between characters, which in turn pulls forward the interal conflict with self. The Hours is a really excellent study of character driven story built in a ripple effect, where the ripples reach through time from the core of a single character’s conflicts. Its resonance is breathtaking, yo. Even if it’s not your sort of film, if you’re a storyteller of any kind, I recommend it as a study resource.

Production Schedule (#ROW80)

Keepers #2 (IN PRODUCTION): No updates, I’m afraid. This is why I highly advocate working on another project while the first is on sub or in prod. There is a LOT of waiting involved, so it behooves the savvy Writer Monkey to be constantly, and consistently, producing something. That way you have a porfolio of works in the pipeline at varying stages instead of waiting months or even a year for something to hit the shelves. Always be writing, and always be working–that’s my motto!

The Minstrel’s Daughter (DRAFTING): a.k.a. “Big Dang Projeckt”–YAY, ACT II. I’m working my way from the aftermath of Plot Point 1 (“The Siege”) at the 25% mark to Pinch Point 1 (“The Fire”) at the 37.5% mark. This is a bit I’m quite looking forward to, as I get to introduce one of my favorite characters (a supporting bad guy) and kill off one of my least favorite characters (a minor antagonist, but not a bad guy per se). Sometimes I find I need to restrain myself from making these unlikable sources of conflict TOO unlikeable, if you know what I mean. It’s fun, but not neccessarily wise. There must be some redeemable quality about them so that their deaths can be felt without the mass cheering in the stands.

Keepers #3 (IN BETA): Keepers #3 is now in the capable hands of the Stunt Monkey. I give her a list of concerns, and she turns her discerning eye on my manuscript. I then ply her with copius amounts of banana daiquiri, because rum makes everything better. Once I have her feedback in hand, I’ll revise again. This may go back and forth a couple of times, until I consider the story is at its absolute best, at which point I submit to Editor Awesome. While the Stunt Monkey does her thing, I write the cover letter (same as a query, but really a cover because for a novella the entire manuscript is submitted, not sample pages), and the dreaded synopsis (2 pages single-spaced for Samhain).

Yep, I still “query” a new manuscript, even though it’s to an editor I have a relationship with, for a publisher I’ve previously published with. There is no guarantee they’ll take a new manuscript, even if it’s part of an existing series. I garner a contract on book-by-book basis, not on spec.

The pipeline gusheth!

How about you guys? How do you decide the order of your projects? Or do you play it by ear?

Author’s Log: It’s A Wrap! (#ROW80)

 No, not trap. Wrap. Wrap.

I now have two very worn, ragged legal pads full of frantic scribble-scrabble staring me dead in the face. I have a Book, which a capital Buh. In short, I have a Meditation, not-quite a rough, Draft of Waking Muse #1. Once I get it all into the computer and determine it’s quality as opposed to quantity, I will know more, such as word count and what all revisions are going to entail. I need to fix the Mum-not-dead epiphany in the first part, and then this puppy gets trunked until it’s ready for revisions.

I did end up shortening the end word count goal, because it became quite obvious that, despite being chock full of story and ALL THE FEELINGS, it wasn’t going to be quite as long as I originally anticipated. And I refuse to add filler just to get a longer word count. A story should only be as long as it needs to be. Thus the last chapter became an epilogue instead, and here we are.

I’m exhausted, but I’m reminded, yet again, why this gig is so, so worth it.

Today, if all goes as planned, I’ll finish initial revisions on Keepers #3 and have it sent off to the Stunt Monkey for her considered opinion and always invaluable advice. This means were are FINALLY into August’s production. And only a week behind schedule! W00T!!

Production Schedule (& ROW80)

Keepers #2 (IN PRODUCTION): We’re in a status of hurry-up-and-wait. But that’s okay, release isn’t until the end of April 2014. Of course, with Editor Awesome’s excellent sense of timing, I half expected to be smacked between the eyes with Editorial revisions the moment I finished my rough draft of Waking Muse #1, because that’s what happened with Keepers #3. But all’s quiet on the Editorial Front for the moment.

Big Dang Projeckt (Drafting): ACT II, here I come! I’ve got to get my merry band of characters from Plot Point 1, through the Big Reveal of Midpoint (which I’m quite looking forward to), and out the other side to Plot Point 2. From battle to battle, from siege to civil war. It should be an interesting ride. The goal, of course, is at least 1,000 words a day. I’ll most likely be carried into September, but that’s okay–I have a feeling ACT III will move rather faster than anticipated, as it will essentially be more or less all action.

Keepers #3 (In BETA): My goal is to add a certain layer of conflict throughout the first half of the story, and fix the overly-rushed ending and romantic storyline. I learned from Editor Awesome that my endings tend to feel rushed, which I know too be true. The adrenaline of being so close to the end carries me forward on a floodtide, and I tend to push, just to be done. This one is a mega-blitz, and needs to be fixed, pronto. This makes me slightly worried for my truncated ending for Waking Muse #1, but that ending feels…right. I guess I’ll have to trust my instincts on that score.

Your turn! What milestones have you reached lately?

Crushing Writer’s Block (#IWSG)

 It happens to every writer, no matter their level of craft. Whether you’re a Level 1 noob learning to string compelling sentences together about the Secret War Of The Bunnies and The One Carrot, or a level 20 Grand Master Poobah With Pointy Hat, we all get stuck from time to time. A writer who doesn’t is either probably doing it wrong or is about due for a big Karma Anvil over the head.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The craft of writing is hard, yo. It’s a wicked balance of character and plot to make Story, of planning versus creative highjinkery. Writing is like wine-making. There’s limited ways to make good wine, but a wild creative mixture of flavor and balance to be had. What makes good wine good is that it’s structured and balanced properly. Also, the process is long-drawn out and, frankly, agonizing at times.

What separates men from the Cheez Whiz, however (besides a handy crowbar), is how they handle getting stuck. Do they give up and decide it’s just too damn hard? Do they muscle through it? Or do they fall back on craft to get them past even the stickiest of wickets? Writer’s Block isn’t necessarily the sign of a bad writer–or even a bad story. It’s a symptom of something going clang or flapping loose in the story engine. Something that needs to be fixed. It’s the subsoncious storyteller (aka the Divine Muse) waving a flag, trying to get our attention.

When I was a teenage Writer Monkey, my parents sent me to a couple of different martial arts classes. My stepdad spent his formative years in Japan, so martial arts and oriental food (some good, some bad, some VERY VERY UGLY) figured much in my upbringing. I took both Tae Kwon Do and, later, Aikido. I was getting to about dating age, so self-defense was a must. In Tae Kwon Do, there were those ninja-like students who could crush through cement blocks and stacks of wood. The key to such Ninja Sooper Skillz, I observed, was a lethal intensity of focus, and a foundation of craft.

Here are some of the ways I attack Writer’s Block when it tries to ambush me from a dark alley:

Spinning Down The Page

This is a favorite go-to. First, I’ll review my story to try to pinpoint where, exactly, it started to go wrong. If that fails, I’ll start at the previous scene, section, chapter, or plot point milestone. In short-line snippets of action, image, and dialogue, I’ll start summarizing “beats” of the story from that point, writing fast down the page, leaving lots of white space. It’s half-summary, half-brainstorming wave. One of two things will have happened by the time I reach the sticky wicket. An “Aha!” moment will present itself, and I can continue spinning like a loose Ferris Wheel, crushing innocent bystanders, to integrate the solution and a good portion of story afterwards for good measure. Or, my brain won’t kick up a solution, per se, but I can spin to the point where I got stuck, jump to the next thing I know has to happen, and work my way around the issue with action/image/dialogue snippets until I find the center–the “Aha!” I’ve been searching for.

Elements, Dear Watson!

Every scene or chapter has certain baseline components in common. They all have a beginning, middle, or end. They also all have Setting, Action, and Dialogue. What is the purpose of this scene/chapter? What MUST happen, above all else? And, WHERE does it happen? Is it the first scene of a chapter? If it’s a scene, what’s that scene’s place within the story or chapter? What happens before or after? Can I extrapolate what’s missing from the information I have? I’m often still writing “beats” here–because beats have rhythm, and once started, are hard put to stop.

For a scene I’m having trouble with, I break it down into components and do a timed writing exercise. I’ll start with 10-15 minutes describing setting–time of day, weather, sensory elements. This helps ground me in the scene. Once I can taste, touch, and smell, I move on to sight and sound. I’ll spend 10-15 minutes describing action and image, as though it were a movie unfolding in my mind, all sight stuff. Finally, I’ll do 10-15 minutes on dialogue, just conversation, perhaps a few emotional “tells”. Line after line. This tags me into character.

What Do You Know?

When Writer’s Block crashes down on innocent Writer Monkeys, there’s a lot said Writer Monkeys don’t know, hence the Block. So I write down everything I do know–about character, about setting, about plot and story arc. I write down what has to happen, and why. I’ll continue to probe, asking questions, answering them, asking more questions, answering those. By making a list of all this, I’m pushing to fill in the blanks. I’ll even go so far as to write fill-in-the-blank statements, if necessary. “So-and-so does ____ because of Motivation A.”

Whatever your methods, the point is to push, to narrow focus–but not to force the blockage. The point is to cleave through with pinpoint accuracy, and crush that block.

Author Watch: August 2013 (& #ROW80)

 Here am I, splayed across the floor in a Dead Man’s Sprawl. Bring on the white chalk and crime scene tape. Why, do you ask (as you step over me on the way to the fridge)?

Over the course of this week I was struck by not one–but TWO–epiphanies. And they affect not one, but–you guessed it–two projects.

Sigh.

Don’t get me wrong–I love a good epiphany as much as the next word wrangler–but they do tend to mean a lot of extra work. And two…well, now I know the meaning of the term “embarrassment of riches”.

Epiphany #1 occurred whilst working on revisions of Keepers #3. I reached Midpoint (yay!) when I realized my Big Revelation would be ever more effective if the threat were established much earlier on as a central conflict in the first half. Then I could turn really turn everything on its ear. The idea of an Underground society was already there, but I realized it needed to be front and center. So now back to the beginning, without waiting for Vecini, as I have now located my Man In Black. Now to have fun storming the castle.

Epiphany #2 nailed me between the eyes while drafting Act III of Waking Muse #1. There I was, making with the scribble-scribble, writer’s cap firmly in Genius Burns position, when BAM! It occurred to me that for the sweet romance I was going for there was way too much death happening. She’s dead, this other person’s dead, that guy’s dying…etc. So instead of a dead mum for my protagonist, I’m bringing her back instead as a mum who deserted her family some years back to pursue her career as a concert violinist. This way I can raise the stakes exponentially in Act III and really bring down the house. Each plot point has to be a turning of the screws if this quieter work is going to, well, work.

Production Schedule (#ROW80):

Brighid’s Mark (in production): No new updates, I’m afraid. I’m still researching Shiny, New Mid-level idea, but I don’t expect to hear from Editor Awesome for awhile since Keepers #2 won’t be released into the wild for quite a while, so I should, theoretically, have time to line up some other stuff in the interim.

Waking Muse #1 (drafting): Charging ahead with Act III before I go back and rewrite/revise based on the ramifications that is Epiphany #2. Then I can trunk this puppy for awhile before official revisions. This puts me past my original production goal, but I should have a finished, relatively clean, first draft within the week. YAY!!

Keepers #3 (in revision): Going back to fix Act I and first half of Act II as dictated by Epiphany #1. Then to go all Beautiful Mind on Act III, which I’m almost afraid to look at, since I know that’s where the train wreck took place. It’s probably a lot less worse than I anticipate (hey, it might even be GOOD), I know there’s still work to be done. I’d like to have a draft in the Stunt Monkey’s hands by next weekend.

What this means for my schedule is that this weekend and next, as well as the evenings in between, are going to be spent in an informal Writer’s Retreat of One (or possibly Three, including Ninja Katz). But I anticipate being able to wrap up July in a nice red bow by the end. As long as Fate doesn’t conspire to thwart me (dodges lightning bolts)!

Author’s Log: Public Service Announcement (& #ROW80)

I will be attending the Tampa Bay Comic Con on August 24-25 (it starts on the 23rd, a Friday, but I won’t be able to get out of Evil Day Jobbe for the day–boo!!). Not an as Official Author Event (HA!! I am in no way cool enough for Officially Sanctioned Author Appearances yet). This is just for the sake of having fun in my non-authorly, real-life personae and being a public menace. If you’re  attending as well and feel like poking the Monkey with a stick, feel free to drop me a line and we can coordinate a totally spontaneous sighting.

With all the kerfluffle these days in the genre world in regards to reports of harassment at cons, I feel it incumbent to promise anyone else attending that if I see harassment or bullying or any kind of uncool behavior taking place, I will transform into a miniature version of She-Hulk and make the perpetrator a very miserable human being, indeed. I have two responses to such behavior:

The Wil Wheaton Response requires that people don’t be dicks. Therefore, if you are a dick, I will endeavor to make you feel like one.
The Firefly Response comes from the immortal words of Captain Mal Reynolds: “If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back.” Well, if I see you treating someone in a way that pisses me off I will piss you off right back. It’s only appropriate.

I have been fortunate that I’ve never personally experienced harassment or bullying at a con because I’ve been with my husband and/or a large and intimidating group of people that resembles an extras cattle call for Sons of Anarchy. However, I have been harassed and bullied in other areas of my life, and my response is always one of the two listed above. Nor will I stand by while it happens to someone else.

In other con news, I plan to attend the Self-Publishing panel on Sunday the 25th in preparation for a Sooper Sekrit Projeckt I JUST got the okay from Team Legal Eagle to pursue. Suffice to say it’s my way of saying THANK YOU, but will take much in the way of research before I can make any kind of headway. More to come soon! *evil laff*

Production Schedule (&ROW80):

Brighid’s Mark (ANNOUNCED): No updates as of yet other than getting the official okey-dokey on aforementioned Sooper Sekrit Projeckt, which is directly related to Keepers of the Flame. I did, however, get my official copy of my signed contract, which I will print and file when I have a mo.

Waking Muse #1 (Drafting): The Word Pool is working incredibly well. I have SO MANY WORDS in long hand (filled one legal pad, am now well into a second), but I don’t have an official word count to update yet–I’ve been so busy with the scribble scribble that I haven’t yet gotten to the typeity typeity. I can tell you I’ve reached Plot Point 2 and recently completed an absolutely devastating scene that wrung all the emotional energy out of me. *whew*

Keepers #3 (revisions): It’s a good job Waking Muse #1 is going so well, because these revisions are some of the most torturous I’ve ever encountered. I’m glad I gave this one plenty of room to breathe, however, because perspective makes all the difference in the world, lemme tell ya. It’s not that I don’t know how to fix the train wreck–I’m very clear on most of the Big Problems–but it’s a lot a work and at the moment I’m feeling a mite resentful for anything that takes me away from drafting. I know it’ll be good once I get there, it’s the getting there that’s proving challenging. I should be able to finish muscling through this weekend, more or less on schedule.

Your turn to weigh in! Going to any cons this year? Already been? Sounds off in the comments.

Author’s Log: To Sleep, Perchance To Dream (#ROW80)

 YAAAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNN!!

Y’all, I haven’t been to bed before midnight for at least a week. I’m cross-eyed. I’m drooling. I’m bumping into walls, the same walls, repeatedly. The Ninja Katz scatter in my wake in furry self-defense.

I feel like I need to slow down a little, especially since Evil Day Jobbe is picking up quite a bit, and I’m losing a team member at the end of July. But this draft of Waking Muse #1 is in no mood to pay attention to my manic stomping of the break peddle. It’s like trying to stop the Space Shuttle on a dime mid-launch.

Some stories happen that way. There are the ones that move along easy enough, at that nice balance between drafting and resting, at the pace of about a scene per day. Then there are the ones that struggle like a hamstringed Gollum after His Precious (of which I do a GREAT impression, btw, just ask my co-workers) that make it in fits and starts, not to mention blood, sweat, and vodka-tinged tears. This happened with Keepers #3, and explains why the rough draft is such a hot mess.

But some stories write themselves. Nay, they don’t want to stop being written. Waking Muse #1 is like that. Just when I think I’m about to have a problem figuring out What Happens Next, it goes and Happens on me when I’m not looking, all bright-worded and bushy-charactered. I’ve reached the point where I really wish it would let me sleep, because it haunts my dreams. Act I got drafted in a week. So did Act II. Y’all, that’s THREE chapters a week for a novella. Unholy Wow, Batman!

Am I complaining? Not really. But I may need a heftier seatbelt, and there’s smoke coming out of my laptop. Probably not a good thing.

 Production Schedule (& ROW80):

IN PRODUCTION: Keepers #2. No updates this week, although I did get hit between the eyes with an Epic Epiphany at 3:00 am one night this past week (which did nothing for my lack of sleep, as you can imagine). I ran it past Editor Awesome, who likes the idea, so now I’m waiting to hear back from Team Legal Eagle as regard to contract stipulations. Look, Ma–I’m a writer-entrepenuer now!

DRAFTING: Waking Muse #1. I officially have a began amount of wordage in my Word Pool at this moment, but that’s not for lack of production, lemme tell you. I’m writing in longhand before putting the words into my computer and logging them into my spreadsheet. I took a few days off at the beginning of the month to figure out some R&D stuff, so that’s affected my Word Pool, but I’m happy with the level of outpout, both the quantity and the quality. I won’t know what I’ve got until I get to The End, but for now I’m good. I feel…strangely calm. It helps to know Keepers #1 wasn’t just a fluke, that I’m in this for the long haul. This is turning into a career, slowly but surely.

REVISIONS: Keepers #3. Due to the Madcap Drafting that is Waking Muse #1, I haven’t come anywhere near revisions on Keepers #3, but I anticipated getting to these at somepoint during the last week of the month. I don’t see myself submitting by August 1 as I originally intended, but that’s okay–sometime in August, for definite, if only to give Stunt Cate the time she needs for her usual eagle-eyed read through. Leave no manuscript behind!

 

Author’s Log: Before The Devil Knows You’re Gone ( & #ROW80)

 Confession time, kiddies: I like to mess with my Infernal Editor. Really, really mess with him. Like, as soon as he reaches for the door handle I zoom off leaving him in the street. It may be evil, but it’s FUN. And lawdy knows the little twerp deserves it.

One of the pitfalls of having an Infernal Editor is he’s the twisted little repository of my geek complex. He’s the side of me who likes to arrange, and organize, and keep things in their neat little cubby holes. This is why he’s so good at seeding doubt during the creative process. “What are you doing? Don’t do that. It’s wrong. WRONG, dammit!”, etc.

He has his place, but it is definitely not in the creative realm. He’s much better suited for the revision and editing process. (Personally, I prefer his place to be in my rearview mirror, but that’s just me.)

I mess with him by letting him think I begin my writing process for the day by engaging in a neat, logical little exercise. He’s as OCD as a vampire and loves him a good list. He also likes categorizing things and putting them in their proper places, and is driven insane when I try to write anything out of order.

Beginning with the scene I need to work on for the day, I’ll start with what The Weekend Novelist  calls “Spinning Down the Page”. I’ll jot down Action/Image/Dialogue in one-line, abbreviated snippits, leaving lots of white space. I like to use a steno or legal pad so I can flip pages quickly. The Infernal Editor thinks I’m still planning at this point. HA! Silly Infernal Editor.

Then something magical happens, like a Patronus Charm against the Ringwraiths Dementors that are Infernal Editors everywhere. Before I know it, I’m no longer able to keep to snippets. The dam bursts. Suddenly the Divine Muse is cooking on all eight cylinders and I’m forming whole sentences, paragraphs, pages. CHAPTERS.

The next day, before I begin any drafting, I settle myself into the right mindset by typing what I wrote the day before into the computer, and then I begin the process all over again.

Y’all, I completed Chapter One for Waking Muse #1 in a matter of hours doing this. I finished Act I in ONE WEEK. During the week I usually manage a scene a day or so, but I’ve been on a serious roll–on Monday I was up at 1:30 am, still going at it. On Tuesday it was 12:30 am. Spinning down the page is an effective, unobtrusive shift from brainstorming specifics for a scene to the actual writing. Even if you force yourself to keep to snippets, you still have a workable outline on hand. (Imagine doing this for a whole book before beginning the drafing process!) My Infernal Editor doesn’t know what him, but he’s willing to bet from the tire marks on his face that it was a Ferrari.

 Production Schedule (& ROW80):

IN PRODUCTION: Brighid’s Mark (Keepers #2)–I recently received my production packets from Publisher Amazing, so I completed and returned them to Editor Awesome. This is one of my favorite parts of the process. I get to provide character intel/reference material, cover art ideas (*FLAIL*), and jacket copy with series information. It’s when I get to spill all the development work I did prior to drafting. And yes, I get to include pictures and links–in fact, the more the better. Squee!

*Note to my fellow Word Wranglers who HATE doing queries and synopses: it’s not so bad when you know this stuff is going to get used. Your query blurb gets used for jacket copy and your synopsis gets sent to Publicity & Marketing and the Cover Art department (and the cover artist themselves!). So, yeah–you end up using this stuff beyond your query packet. An agent will use this stuff to submit to editors on your behalf.

Drafting: Waking Muse #1–The word count is coming along nicely, as indicated above. There’s no reason that at the rate I’m going that I shouldn’t be able to finish a rough draft by the end of the month, though I remain cautiously optimistic. I found myself writing after midnight earlier this week without realizing what time it was–it was 1:30am on a work night before I crashed and burned. All longhand–I didn’t get on the computer once. SCORE!!

Revisions: The rough draft for Keepers #3 is indeed rough, y’all. Really, really rough. As in OW OW OW CHARLIE HORSE! So I have my work cut out for me to get a serviceable draft in to Stunt Cate, Beta Reader Extraordinaire, before too long. That way I can do a cleanup pass before submitting to Editor Awesome in August. Eep!

General Housekeeping:

I’ve now added a “Contact Cate” page to the roster up top, in case you’re interested in getting on my ARC/Book Blogger list, want me for a guest blog (what are you–crazy?!), or just want to ask me a question or leave a comment. There’s a contact form and everything. It’s shiny.

So them’s the deets, folks–how’d you do this week?