Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Writing Questions for Josh
Josh wrote: "Leave it for now. A better name may occur to you as you work."True, just my neurosis kicking in.
It seems like, if you're a fascist org, you wouldn't name yourself something the other side has been calling you. That's sort of like naming yourself Hello, Evil Fascists Here.
This isn't turning out as light as I thought it would, but I'm liking it. Didn't check in last hour. I plotted out the middle of the book in more detail, I'm up to more than 2,000 words for the day, and I entered a bunch of stuff into my wiki.
Yay!
Next up: I have to make a chart diagramming some organizational structures so I can keep them straight in my head. And I'll probably write more, too.
One full chapter that I am actually satisfied with. Woot!Next Up: Cooking time, then revisions
I feel so smart -- I figured out how to load images into my wiki. Now I'm going to make some more.
I'm almost finished rewriting another scene that originally happened later in the book, but that I pushed forward because I needed to put more emphasis on some stolen items err artifacts :)So, in theory I just wrote two new scenes today, but most of it has been copying and pasting and a little adding and rewriting.
Still, I'm thrilled to have been working on it and that some things have finally slid into place :)
Still plenty to write and rewrite.
Anyone still having fun?
I feel I've worked hard enough for today (don't want to risk dreaming about my story ... that never ends well)I have a new chapter One that I think works well.
I'm looking forward to starting Chapter Two, though that consists mainly of old scenes from Chapter One, that only need editing. It's going to have to wait until Monday, though, because a good friend of mine is visiting me tomorrow.
Good night everyone :D
This was fun, even though I normally don't get much time to write on Saturdays (I've been neglecting the laundry). Maybe we should do this more often
Oops, lost track of time. I always do when I start doing graphics stuff. I think I'm done for the day. I got almost 3,000 words and my wiki is much farther along. This has been a really good day.
Marie wrote: "Merith wrote: "Cleon wrote: "How many hours until the writing start?"I hope you all have fun today... I would love to be part of it, but have a long established commitment to watching Eurovision ..."
The twinnies are great! There really was no one stand out group. And a LOT of political voting (always). But still fun.
Mod
I agree, Blaine, we need to do this more often! I think Anne and I were talking about doing something perhaps monthly? It's a great way to get stuff done!
Okay, so I'm really done, now. I just had to add a moon to the header of my blog.... I'm done. I'm loopy, but done.
Very productive day. Time to let the brain rest and do other stuff.We should do this more often.
Mod
I think doing this was a great idea!
Anne, yeah, I feel a little loopy too. I think I'm going to make some spaghetti (my favorite food in the whole universe) and find a good movie to watch. I just don't know what to watch yet... more decisions! lol.
How are you guys doing? I just woke up. lol. I will write today on my own to cover for it. Hopefully.
Taylor V. wrote: "Very productive day. Time to let the brain rest and do other stuff.We should do this more often."
I totally agree. We should probably come up with a better place to check in. I feel bad usurping Josh's group (not that I don't hijack it regularly....). Maybe by next month. Jordan and I were talking about trying to do this monthly.
Jordan S. wrote: "yay! I'm glad you guys got a lot done too! Congrats! I think doing this was a great idea!
Anne, yeah, I feel a little loopy too. I think I'm going to make some spaghetti (my favorite food in th..."
Making stroganoff -- one of mine! :)
Cleon wrote: "How are you guys doing? I just woke up. lol. I will write today on my own to cover for it. Hopefully."Cleon, if you want to check in, I'm home for the rest of the night and I'll respond if you like. It's 6pm here.
Thanks! I'll write as much as I can.
I am back to writing too. At least for the next hour.
I think I might write more, also. Tomorrow I have to go to my parent's house, so I may as well get more done while I feel like it.
Mod
I did 2600 -- and then worked on the booktrailer for Come Unto These Yellow Sands.
So good job everyone! Maybe we should try this more often?
Back to it today for me.
Mod
I did some editing too, but I was able to finish one Chapter and write another scene by the time I called it a day. Today I am trying to finish a second chapter, but words are not flowing as easily, I'm afraid.Thanks Jordan for pointing out the mistake!!
Mod
I would be writing today, if I didn't have to work, and crit stories I said I would read this weekend. One story out of three done, so progress is being made.
Oh, speaking of getting stuff done and doing this again, here's some suggestions for doing a massive action day again, hopefully on a regular basis:
-Creating another goodreads group, or thread specifically for it. I personally liked using the thread more than a chat group, because it let me log off to get work done and come back easily to check in when I needed to, and we didn't need to meet at a specific time, just incase my internet crapped out on me in the middle of the day like it likes to do sometimes.
-Finding a good time to do it, even though all of us are around the world, like every third Saturday, which would help me plan for it in advance since I do work at least two Saturdays a month, and Sundays too.
-If we create a group, who do we let in? Do we want it to be a small group, or anyone, so long as they're a writer? I have writing friends who don't write or read m/m who might want to do it again. Of course, we can gather in one spot and I can post for them if we were to just create a new thread for it rather than a whole group. I doubt my friends would care about that.
-Ummm... I think that's it. If anyone else has suggestions, or thoughts, or questions, I guess, just post here and let's see where this goes, yeah?
Jordan,Thanks for pointing out the mistake. I totally skipped a word. I think I am doing better now, as I wrote 1,000 words in the last hour.
I agree we should do this more often. I found it motivating and highly invigorating. It was a good idea to just check in every hour as opposed to be in a chat room, as it allowed us to focus on the writing, but a thread dedicated to only this would be better. That way we can follow it easier and we don't bother the members that are not participating in the challenge.
Mod
I'm in favor of a group thread rather than chat -- sometimes the end of one person's hour varied quite a bit from the end of another persons.Ooops forgot: I'm okay with it being anyone, not just this genre, but I'd like to be up front about the fact that a number of the participants are writing M/M
I think a thread would be easier to follow as well, no matter at what time you enter. If you use a chat program, you'd have to log in at the right time to be able to read all the comments, and browsing through a chat is never as easy as browsing through a thread here.I'm all right with anyone joining, as long as they can handle us writing m/m :)
Taylor V -- in times past, people were more devout than they are today so when I created my vamps for What Rough Beast, I felt very strongly that at least some of my vamps would still be quite devout. There are two (or three?) Scripture quotations in What Rough Beast. You can do it, but it has to work for the character and for that scene. The last thing you want to do is give readers the impression that you're preaching at them. For me, it illustrated the story world and my character's view of it so beautifully, though...It worked. Nobody ever took issue with any of my quotations anyway.Re the challenge, I wasn't here, but I was working. No idea how many words I did, though. Functioning on 2 hrs sleep due to perusing pics of hot men for cover art form. (I love my job. LOLOL) Extremely glad for the binge write. M/M Romance Group is doing another free read event pairing up readers who post pictures with plot bunnies & us writers to do the stories for them & one pic was PERFECT for the story that has been making me crazy so snagged it...
Uh...My train of thought derailed. *blinks*
Oh yes. I was merrily binge-writing away, just wasn't here to check in. LOL
Mod
Kari wrote: "Taylor V -- in times past, people were more devout than they are today so when I created my vamps for What Rough Beast, I felt very strongly that at least some of my vamps would still be quite devo..."*Some* M/M is one of the few places you can get away with laying out your arguments re: the biblical basis for discrimination (or not) agains homosexuality. I've read stuff where it works, but I would do it very carefully.
@Kari -- yeah, I saw the one you grabbed -- kudos. I keep surfing them but nothing's come up yet that I wanna tackle. Let me just take a moment to complain about the people who put all the restrictions on the story they want. OK, complaint over.
Jordan S. wrote: "Ok, cool. A whole new thread. Josh, what do you think? This sounds so exciting! lol, I can't wait for the next one."Sorry, Jordan, ignore that email I sent you. I thought we were talking whole new groups
Semi-urgent question:What's the deal with friending? I've always ignored random people asking to be my friend in the past, but as a new author...? What if they are clearly a new author, too?
Second question:
I know I should have checked this out already, but what can I expect in a book chat? I've never done one as a reader, and I've got one looming at Literary Nymphs this weekend.
Mod
As for random friends... that's a good question. For the most part, I only friend those people I know, like you guys, or friends I see in person. Other than that, I don't, but it's mostly because I'm more of a private person online. Of course, this is my penname, and that makes a difference too.
My Twitter account is open to anyone to friend me, and I'm ok with that, but this seems a lot closer than that. I guess I just need to get over that. But I haven't had anyone ask to friend me on here that I don't know yet... I think. If I did, I probably said no. Once I get officially published though, that will change things too.
Jordan S. wrote: "Once I get officially published though, that will change things too."Yeah, but technically I'm not yet, since the short doesn't come out until June, and this smacks of HIS self-promotion. It's a privacy issue, but since it's my pen name....
Mod
I'm okay with whatever you guys what to do. We can definitely set up another thread here. And if people want to write in groups with others, that's fine. It doesn't have to change what we're doing on line.
As I see it the idea is to write as much as you can and be held accountable (in a loose sort of way) by your on line friends -- which means checking in every so often to let them know you didn't wander off to play darts.
:-D
Mod
What's the deal with friending? I've always ignored random people asking to be my friend in the past, but as a new author...? What if they are clearly a new author, too?
S..."
I friend anyone who friends me. And unless they spam me, I leave them as friends. That's my basic tactic.
Mod
What's the deal with friending? I've always ignored random people asking to be my friend in the past, but as a new author...? What if they are clearly a new author, too?
S..."
Is it just you or is it a group of authors from a particular publisher or blog?
Basically you'll post excerpts at various intervals and comment on other people's excerpts (do try to do that because it makes for a much better, interactive spirit if people take the time to comment on each other's work).
You'll chat -- sometimes to what feels like ringing silence -- about your creative process or...the weather. Whatever. And you'll respond to other people's comments.
Sometimes they're active and sometimes they're not, but they're usually pretty easy.
Josh wrote: "Jordan S. wrote: "Ok, cool. A whole new thread. Josh, what do you think? This sounds so exciting! lol, I can't wait for the next one."I'm okay with whatever you guys what to do. We can definite..."
I am definitely guilty of falling asleep this time. lol. Well, I definitely learned my lesson. I will start much earlier next time because of time zone. Nodding off in front of my laptop is definitely not good for creative mind. Being accountable with some friends definitely helps giving me a push to write.
I am in favor of creating another thread so we can concentrate on writing/publishing questions here.
Mod
I won't be available that day, but I wish I was.
Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Semi-urgent question:What's the deal with friending? I've always ignored random people asking to be my friend in the past, but as a new author...? What if they are clearly a new ..."
Anne, have a friend either do the chat with you or show up during your slot. I've done chats that were excruciating and did the one last week with fellow writing buddies Rachel Haimowitz & Aleks Voinov that was all kinds of fun. It helps to have contests worked out ahead of time (if you're going that way) to stir things along & act as convo starters.
Re friending...I friend everybody who sends me an invite, but when I accept a friend request, there's that little box to check or uncheck to make that person a "top" friend? My top friends are people I know pretty well or writers I'm stalking (ahem...*cough*Josh*cough*...LOL). Those show up on my status feed update thingie. When I have time to check the status update feed thingie, that is, which lately hasn't been much because I was busy selling myself into slavery but that and the content edits for IO are in so I'm hopeful I'll have more time now. <--famous last words
Finally, I LOVE!!! my picture! And the plot bunny that went with it worked rather well with the story that was gnawing at my brain during the challenge so with judicious tweaking, I've already got a good head start. I should post a pic/prompt for you out of the pics I was eyeballing last night. Just because I can't use them for trailers or beg plaintively for use in a cover doesn't mean they aren't, er, inspiring. ;-)
Josh wrote: "Is it just you or is it a group of authors from a particular publisher or blog? Basically you'll post excerpts at various intervals and comment on other people's excerpts (do try to do that because it makes for a much better, interactive spirit if people take the time to comment on each other's work). "
Okay, that sounds doable. It's a group, and my piece in the anthology is short -- just under 9,000 words. What size excerpt am I shooting for, here? I have about 775 words of it up on my blog -- so, that excerpt multiple times or....?
Thanks re: the friending. I forgot I can choose to block later.
Kari wrote: "Josh wrote: "Anne wrote: "Semi-urgent question:What's the deal with friending? I've always ignored random people asking to be my friend in the past, but as a new author...? What if they are cle..."
Ugh, as far as I know, I have no slot, I'm just supposed to spend as much time as possible on there the whole freaking weekend. My daughter's dance teacher called and asked if she would be able to perform this weekend, and I said yes, thinking "Oh, good excuse to get off-line." I better start asking questions -- or actually check the publisher's Yahoo group.
I picked a photo -- completely freaking hot, but I have no plot. I think the photo was put up by Deanna. Minor panic attack, now....
Anne wrote: "Ugh, as far as I know, I have no slot, I'm just supposed to spend as much time as possible on there the whole freaking weekend."Ew. I've only ever done this on a schedule and although yeah, I usually show up way early to get a feel for who's there and maybe stir things up so the room's warm when my time's up (I know, but AFAIC, promo is part performance, LOL, & it's far easier to be fun & funny when people already have their party hats on)...I love my job, but I'm 100% positive I'd never in a million years agree to monitor a whole weekend.
I picked a photo -- completely freaking hot, but I have no plot. I think the photo was put up by Deanna. Minor panic attack, now....
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeep breathe. ;-) You've got all the time in the world (more than we had last December), no word count requirements to meet...Relax! If flying without benefit of editor makes your nerves shriek, shoot me an email and I'll swap beta reads with you. Just remember to have fun! That's what the event is about--fun for readers, but also fun for us authors to play like giddy schoolchildren. :D
Kari wrote: "Anne wrote: "Ugh, as far as I know, I have no slot, I'm just supposed to spend as much time as possible on there the whole freaking weekend."Ew. I've only ever done this on a schedule and althoug..."
Actually, I just went over the info I have on it, and all they ask is for me to 'drop in'. I sent an e-mail saying I would be there both mornings for no more than a couple of hours.
You are so on -- now you have to be my beta reader, and I will happily be yours. I also scrounged up a reader who's a former cop and into D/s, so I have some support from her.
It seems like having restrictions often pushes me (and others) into better work.
LOL, you got it! My next one, I OMEGA, is kink-tastic BDSM shifters so no fear of squick. :D
Mod
I'm looking to do it already, I just have to go hunting through the pics! Maybe I can find time tonight! Ooohh, the thought makes me excited!
Jordan S. wrote: "I got that email last night about the Christmas thing, and I'm loving the idea! I just didn't know if any writer could do it, or if you had to be published already. I'm looking to do it already..."
If you want to write one, you have to pick one that someone else put up with a 'dear author' letter. If you just want to put up a 'dear author' letter and a picture, you have until the 31st, I think. It looks like a ton of fun.
Kari wrote: "LOL, you got it! My next one, I OMEGA, is kink-tastic BDSM shifters so no fear of squick. :D"Kewl. :)
Mod
When I get home tonight, I'll check over that list!
Jordan S. wrote: "Anne, yeah, I might at least go through the letters. I don't know if I'll have time, but I think I want to make time. It would be fun! And it would get my name out there, and be one more title to a..."You'll have to lurk a while, possibly. Letters/pics get snapped up fast. It was a little frustrating, since the ones that get left are often not really what I was looking for.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Go for it, I agree with Blaine.