Virgil Allen Moore's Blog, page 2
April 25, 2018
A Barrage of Words
Every since I was a child, I've always been very good at talking. Public speaking, oral presentations, even book reports were easy for me.
During college, I had a report due in which the teacher didn't require a written paper, only the speaking notes you brought to the podium. I remember preparing at my desk while the others went, running over the things I would talk about. When it was my time, I stood up and told them an overview of the medical pathology I was going to cover. In doing so, I told the fastest joke that soared so quickly, I didn't realize I had delivered it. "Today I'm going to talk about the pathology if the intestines. Necrosis, diverticulitis, ect. And I may even out pouch to pollops if there's enough time." It sent half the class into a roar. Neither the teacher, nor I was laughing, but for different reasons. She didn't think it was funny, and I didn't realize I had told the joke. It was just one of the things I was trying to cover in the overview.
Words have always come easy to me. The first draft of the long version of Demon Vampire was 273,000+ words. And the very first incarnation of the story was still 49,000+ words for my only attempt at that point of going full length on a story. So to me, words have never been a problem, except that I rely on them too much.
In conversation, I generally have a calming effect on most. I can stun someone with the shear volume of information I can give them in very little time. Most people tune it out, and I have to repeat myself, but I've gotten used to that. Probably a little too well.
Instead of explaining with avid detail what an environment looks like and moving onto the action. I tend to maintain the same level of detail for length. And when I've cut things short, I generally cut them off at a point that is confusing. Leaving a reader with little or no connections as to what's going on.
I've only recently been made aware that I use words to convey emotions, instead of actions. Mainly, I've done this because I was told at a young age to use my words to describe how I felt. I, as a child, took this to heart, and as an adult, I never had anyone give me reason to think it was flawed in some applications. I know now of course that it is.
Actions can convey many points of view and emotions. Unfortunately, I'm not used to letting them in life or on page. I've focused on what I've said instead of what I've tried to get across. Even this post could be condensed into, "Actions tell more about personal character than words. I just now learned that." But of course, that wouldn't be a decent post, and I haven't gotten that good at it yet.
It's been 14 years since I first dreampt of Zack and Kyli. It's been about a year since I've last asked how they would do this or that in my story. If I'm going to keep them alive as characters, I'll need to start writing consistently again. And hopefully, after I pass a major test for my career next week, and after I can stop worrying about my mother's situation, I will return to asking them not what they would say, but how they would act.
January 28, 2018
Consistent Work
It's been a few years since I've written. I've had a few things happen, but mostly I've realized that I'll never be a full time writer. I have too many hobbies and too many other obligations to make it a career. On top of this, I am not good at editing my own work.
I of course blame myself, but if I had to explain why I murder grammar the way I do, I'd have talk about R.L. Stein's The New Girl. I loved that book growing up. I've read it about four times now and each time I realized more and more how bad his grammar is as an example to young readers. I took a lot from his cadence, patterns, and delivery. Although I added bad spelling to the mix, it still ends up the largest influence to how I write.
I started writing about Zack and Kyli in mid 2005. I envisioned them as the tragic couple at odds with their world. I formed them above all else and soon I had a very clear visage to work from when writing their story. I could hear them. See them. Talk to them. I knew how they felt and how they would react. As I got to know them, my writing continued. Unfortunately my editing skills did not. I am quite proud of my creative ability, but I am equally ashamed of my technical failures in literature.
With each new chapter and incarnation of the story, I got better and better at defining my style and inventive quarks. But I did nothing to improve myself as a writer that can actually write well. I liken it to a painter that can see exactly the vision of what they want to paint, but lacks the skill to show others how it appears to them.
I know now what I need to do to proceed if I intend to. I have got to take a college course on writing. I need to put in the time. Otherwise, my writing will always be considered amateur and be dismissed.
I also know that taking that class for a semester would be nearly impossible in the foreseeable future. There are too many current obstacles. I know in time they will be gone, but for now, I know the truth. They are not going to disappear. I'll have to remove them. And that I know will take time in itself.
So in the meantime, I've taken to writing new short stories on inkitt and blogger using my phone for convenience. Because it does come down to that final fact. The easier it is to do, the more consistent I can be in my writing. And that's ultimately what it comes down to.
So for now, enjoy the writing when it comes maybe once a year. Outside of that we'll both have to wait until I'm able to devote enough time to become a better writer.
Sincerely,
Virgil Allen Moore
June 2, 2016
Chapter Three of Reciprocity
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May 9, 2016
Chapter 2 of Something Better To Do
April 23, 2016
Find My Novels On Inkitt.com/virgil
I've just uploaded two new stories to inkitt.com/virgil
These are exclusive to inkitt and they are both on going novels. I won't be posting them here, so follow the link to read.
The first is Reciprocity. A tale of a strong choice to fight back at what attacks you with all the malice it deserves.
The second is the novel I've mentioned a few times on this blog, entitled Something Better To Do. A guy meets a girl speed dating to find people to kill. Righteousness meets the moral line of revenge in this gritty story of smooth talking death and torrid sex. It's a choice to walk the line and which side to walk it on.
Find both on going novels at inkitt.com/virgil
Sincerely,
Virgil Allen Moore
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April 4, 2016
Book One is Live, Vote Now
You can find the link to vote on Demon Vampire here on Inkitt.com
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I'm releasing Seven Books, Free.
I have had a long history of trying to edit the Redgold Series over the years and that's effectively stopped me from releasing anything further than what would be considered book three or four in the timeline. I've come a long way in my writing, but my typos and misspelled words have always embarrassed me as a writer and held me back from letting anything else out so far.
That's going to change this week.
There are about 14 books that I have planned in The Redgold Series. I've actually written seven of them to date. For years several of my die-hard fans have wanted to know what happens to Zack and Kyli and this week they will know.
Last week I was invited to enter a writing contest in which the readers vote on and review the stories they like. I smiled and felt very flattered when asked. Then I immediately wanted to know if I could enter several books instead of the usual one. As of this writing, I'm still not sure. But I've at least found a way around that.
I'll be posting all seven books into either one entry, or I'll post them individually if allowed. So yes, that's all seven books for you to binge read at your leisure.
All Free. All I ask is that you vote and that you give suggestions for what you want to change in the book. That's right. I'm actually asking my readers to tell me what they liked, what they didn't like and what they want to read to make it a little better. That means that you will shape this book.
I've always taken into account the reviews I've had of the book in the past. With each new version of the book that I've released, I've updated things, changed things, and cut things that readers have suggested over the years. I want this to be a truly great vampire novel that was shaped by everyone that wanted to enjoy it.
As I mentioned, I'll be posting all seven books this week. So keep an eye open for the link. When it drops, I'll be expecting a large response of votes and reviews in the form of suggestions for the books.
Sincerely,
Virgil Allen Moore
demonvampire.com
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December 12, 2015
More of Something Better To Do
It's been a few months and Something Better To Do is coming along nicely. I'm already into chapter nine. The story had been surprisingly easy to write and the concept is very compelling as to get a great response from every person I've shown it to.
The characters and the direction of the story have been very easy to write as well. I'll keep you all posted when I get a few more chapters written and I may even post a few online as well.
For now, be patient. I'm taking my time with this book to ensure the flow is quicker and easier to read from the start. No more character descriptions that last for pages. No more dialogue that drones on and overtakes each chapter. This time the focus is the action and the suspense that leads up to the action.
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October 10, 2015
Something better to do
I started writing a new suspense book this week. I wanted to try something different and it seems to be working. It's general suspense, no paranormal or vampires at all.
I'll be paying the first chapter here in time to see what everyone thinks, but so far the response has been very positive. I've even gotten several hearts pounding while reading. Always a good sign.
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September 12, 2015
Author Pathway Program
Progress has been slow on the Kickstarter finding for editing. So I've decided to move in a new direction and set up a team of English majors to help edit the book.
That means I will be searching out three interns overt the next few weeks. I've already received several emails about the positions and now have four leading candidates.
I plan on teaching these three on the full process to becoming an author. Through query letters, agent submission, story direction, character creation, style refinement, and more, I will be teaching them the steps to take in order to become a published author.
Outside of these three I will be offering my help to others through an Author Pathway Program. This way I can help guide others through the hurtles I've faced over the last eleven years writing Demon Vampire.
Feel free to email me at virgilallenmoore@live.com for information on the program.
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