Lea Carter's Blog, page 4
April 7, 2013
Silver Sagas
Ever wondered what would happen if fairies weren't "stuck" in adolescence? If they didn't spend all their time preparing to paint flowers and spread frost? Read Silver Sagas! It's my first ever attempt at publishing, so I apologize for any rocky bits, but I hope there enough gold in the grit to be worth your while!
March 6, 2013
Between Tinkerbell and Twilight
Fantasy, where you make the rules. Too bad there's not a rule that I can't put myself in an impossible spot. I had the standard story perks, bad guys, good guys, happy (hopefully) ending. And then I added - fairy dust. At first it magically solved a problem (in Silver Majesty), but now it's created one in (Silver #3).
I have a substance so powerful that pirates want to steal it and use it for their own evil purposes - and so rare that only one of the four tribes is even able to cultivate it. Now that the battle is here, I'm stuck.
How can a substance that powerful in the hands of the good guys leave a credible bad guy to be overcome? If it's not that powerful, why would the pirates risk their lives and plans for it?
Most importantly - how do I not burn the toast? In a way, fantasy is like toast. Different people like it at different shades of brown. Is it possible to create a realistic scenario using the paramenters I've set where things stay somewhere between "Tinkerbell" and "Twilight"?
Well, back to work...
I have a substance so powerful that pirates want to steal it and use it for their own evil purposes - and so rare that only one of the four tribes is even able to cultivate it. Now that the battle is here, I'm stuck.
How can a substance that powerful in the hands of the good guys leave a credible bad guy to be overcome? If it's not that powerful, why would the pirates risk their lives and plans for it?
Most importantly - how do I not burn the toast? In a way, fantasy is like toast. Different people like it at different shades of brown. Is it possible to create a realistic scenario using the paramenters I've set where things stay somewhere between "Tinkerbell" and "Twilight"?
Well, back to work...
February 21, 2013
Amateur ;-)
Writing Silver #3 (can't pin down a title yet) is turning out to be a challenging new experience for me. Silver Princess essentially wrote itself, and the challenge was to type fast enough to keep up with it. Silver Majesty was a bit more of a struggle but the plot twists still managed to take me by surprise.
Now that I'm working on Silver #3, I'm not completely sure what's going to happen. By that I mean that I don't have a vivid image of the ending in mind. I usually write, mentally at least, from both ends of a story. A character leaps to mind and I know him/her instantly. The setting builds around them, with a crisis of some sort to overcome. I have a strong concept of the ending in mind and just have to keep things from derailing (too much backstory on an unimportant character; stalling in general; etc.).
Silver #3, well, I know three things for sure about the ending and what has to happen before we get there. But I guess I'm still an amateur, because the best descriptions for what I'm doing are procrastinating and writer's block. Now that that's said, I'd better get to work! ;-)
Now that I'm working on Silver #3, I'm not completely sure what's going to happen. By that I mean that I don't have a vivid image of the ending in mind. I usually write, mentally at least, from both ends of a story. A character leaps to mind and I know him/her instantly. The setting builds around them, with a crisis of some sort to overcome. I have a strong concept of the ending in mind and just have to keep things from derailing (too much backstory on an unimportant character; stalling in general; etc.).
Silver #3, well, I know three things for sure about the ending and what has to happen before we get there. But I guess I'm still an amateur, because the best descriptions for what I'm doing are procrastinating and writer's block. Now that that's said, I'd better get to work! ;-)
February 12, 2013
Why Fantasy
Silver Princess began as an attempt to record something that had happened to me, personally. As I wrote in the third person, I accidentally created a character with her own distinct personality and story to be told.
I found myself working in fantasy because it was easy for me to mold and shape. Most genres require a certain deference to existing rules, like gravity or time. Fantasy, on the other hand, is an absolutely blank canvas to be filled with the story as it is created.
I should probably admit that I rarely worry about describing what a character is wearing; in fact, I usually don't know. In general, my characters are wearing modest, sensible clothes that suit the occasion - a dress for a dance and slacks for riding. Right, moving on. ;-)
As a reader I find myself far more interested in what the character is doing and why than in what they are wearing. My style of writing reflects that preference. Silver Majesty was almost a teaching exercise for me. I still spent most of my word count on events rather than clothes and furniture, but I began to enjoy adding a little color and depth to Princess Rebecca's world.
I look forward to finishing Silver Sagas with the third story, whose title I'm still searching for. I also look forward to trying a new genre for me, science fiction. I have written a few short stories in that genre but nothing I was really satisfied with until lately. More on that later. :-)
I found myself working in fantasy because it was easy for me to mold and shape. Most genres require a certain deference to existing rules, like gravity or time. Fantasy, on the other hand, is an absolutely blank canvas to be filled with the story as it is created.
I should probably admit that I rarely worry about describing what a character is wearing; in fact, I usually don't know. In general, my characters are wearing modest, sensible clothes that suit the occasion - a dress for a dance and slacks for riding. Right, moving on. ;-)
As a reader I find myself far more interested in what the character is doing and why than in what they are wearing. My style of writing reflects that preference. Silver Majesty was almost a teaching exercise for me. I still spent most of my word count on events rather than clothes and furniture, but I began to enjoy adding a little color and depth to Princess Rebecca's world.
I look forward to finishing Silver Sagas with the third story, whose title I'm still searching for. I also look forward to trying a new genre for me, science fiction. I have written a few short stories in that genre but nothing I was really satisfied with until lately. More on that later. :-)
February 9, 2013
Ready, set, go!
Ok, I've got the completed manuscript and the cover photo. After I put them together and fill out Amazon and Bowker, I can upload Silver Majesty to the Amazon Kindle website.
Best of all, I will give Silver Princess one last free day (2/14/2013) in honor of Silver Majesty's Kindle release. :-D
Best of all, I will give Silver Princess one last free day (2/14/2013) in honor of Silver Majesty's Kindle release. :-D
January 25, 2013
Cover art
I'd like to use a photo for the cover of Silver Majesty, but that takes things in a whole 'nother direction.
If I purchase the awesome photo I found online (for use as electronic and print covers), that's $90. If I try to crop and paste several photos together to make one whole photo, I run the risk of encroaching on somebody's copyright.
I had a blinding flash of insight when I began researching the state capitol building that's right next door. Then - I found out that there's a fee for taking a photo to be used for commercial purposes. lol... Ok, fine, I have to pay a fee. Now to figure out how much of a fee! At least a photo should be simple. Pay for it, take it, save a few copies of the photo, upload it and use it as much as I like!
If I purchase the awesome photo I found online (for use as electronic and print covers), that's $90. If I try to crop and paste several photos together to make one whole photo, I run the risk of encroaching on somebody's copyright.
I had a blinding flash of insight when I began researching the state capitol building that's right next door. Then - I found out that there's a fee for taking a photo to be used for commercial purposes. lol... Ok, fine, I have to pay a fee. Now to figure out how much of a fee! At least a photo should be simple. Pay for it, take it, save a few copies of the photo, upload it and use it as much as I like!
January 21, 2013
January...
Well, it's a new year again. I've finished writing Silver Majesty and am sooo close to having it edited. If the weather and my schedule will just settle down, I should have it finished in the next week or so. Which would be great because I'd like to have it copyrighted in time to put it on the market by Valentine's Day. And the copyrighting process takes at least 2 weeks.
I am happy to report that Silver Princess has at least paid for it's own copyright. ;-) Now I'm debating, though, as to whether or not I should try some paid advertising. I wouldn't want to start anything until I'd at least submitted Silver Majesty for copyright, but then it might be worthwhile. I don't know. I've no experience with advertising and no real desire to dig into a new learning experience just yet. lol...
I am happy to report that Silver Princess has at least paid for it's own copyright. ;-) Now I'm debating, though, as to whether or not I should try some paid advertising. I wouldn't want to start anything until I'd at least submitted Silver Majesty for copyright, but then it might be worthwhile. I don't know. I've no experience with advertising and no real desire to dig into a new learning experience just yet. lol...
December 5, 2012
Scribbling...
I'll scribble notes on 'most any piece of paper, the smaller the better. I'm not sure why writing on the last empty space on an old envelope is so much better than getting out a brand new sheet of paper and starting over, but it is. Today as I was sorting through some of those small, folded pieces of paper on my nightstand, I noticed that some of them had notes about the sequel on them. "Edward reminds Rebecca of their first day of kindergarten." "Rescue Edward, not Helen. Can't let the pirates know we're on to them." It's amazing how rarely inspiration/realization strikes when you actually have the book file open! It's usually while I'm standing at a bus stop or riding an elevator. lol. Thank goodness for scraps of paper!
November 29, 2012
Progress!
I've reached Chapter 29 of the sequel, Silver Majesty! And, I got my Christmas presents mailed today!
