They look pretty neat:
Monday, August 13, 2012
I hate...
...re-reading my work sometimes. No, make that most of the time. When I do I always cringe and call myself a talentless hack. If it wasn't on my computer I'd crumple it up and throw it at the wall. But my budget isn't set up for 'Extra laptops in case the last one was thrown, crushed, or set on fire'.
*Sigh*
I guess the only solution is to get better and re-write, re-write, re-write!
*Sigh*
I guess the only solution is to get better and re-write, re-write, re-write!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Something I've been noticing lately...
I've been reading through several indies lately, books that is, and I noticed that something just didn't seem right. And for a while, I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. But I think I may have just figured it out.
What seems to be missing from most of these books is: description.
Now, I'm not saying I'm the best writer in the world. In fact, I feel I am far from it most of the time. But when I read through some of these books, I sometimes have a hard time picturing just what something looks like, like the setting or the mood or an object. Plenty is given about how the characters look, sometimes. I'm not asking for things to be overly described. That would be a total snooze fest. Just give me enough to form an image in my head, and I'll do the rest. I'm creative. I can do that.
Maybe it's just me, but I like having rich descriptions. It makes the world and the story feel whole. More real. Like I'm watching a movie in my head.
Fantasy stories are the worst culprit, however. If you make something up, I believe you have to describe it. For example, if the author mentions something like, oh I don't know, 'Elf Fire', and leaves it at that, I really don't know what that is. Don't just tell me, show me.
I know what it's like, trying to toe the line between too much and too little description. But I think most writers are too scared to include hardly any in their stories, afraid that they broke some sort of rule. It's been hammered into our heads for awhile now, after all. 'No long descriptions or you will bore your reader!' Usually at the cost of the story. Good descriptions can be short and work with your story. Stephen King is the master of this, I think. Go read one of his books and you'll know exactly what he's trying to show you.
This is all just a rant of mine. Take from it what you will.
What seems to be missing from most of these books is: description.
Now, I'm not saying I'm the best writer in the world. In fact, I feel I am far from it most of the time. But when I read through some of these books, I sometimes have a hard time picturing just what something looks like, like the setting or the mood or an object. Plenty is given about how the characters look, sometimes. I'm not asking for things to be overly described. That would be a total snooze fest. Just give me enough to form an image in my head, and I'll do the rest. I'm creative. I can do that.
Maybe it's just me, but I like having rich descriptions. It makes the world and the story feel whole. More real. Like I'm watching a movie in my head.
Fantasy stories are the worst culprit, however. If you make something up, I believe you have to describe it. For example, if the author mentions something like, oh I don't know, 'Elf Fire', and leaves it at that, I really don't know what that is. Don't just tell me, show me.
I know what it's like, trying to toe the line between too much and too little description. But I think most writers are too scared to include hardly any in their stories, afraid that they broke some sort of rule. It's been hammered into our heads for awhile now, after all. 'No long descriptions or you will bore your reader!' Usually at the cost of the story. Good descriptions can be short and work with your story. Stephen King is the master of this, I think. Go read one of his books and you'll know exactly what he's trying to show you.
This is all just a rant of mine. Take from it what you will.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
The Fantasy Feminist
The Fantasy Feminist
An excellent article about all those pesky strong female character stereotypes. Just cause she is a warrior, doesn't automatically make her strong.
An excellent article about all those pesky strong female character stereotypes. Just cause she is a warrior, doesn't automatically make her strong.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Work in Progress
A Picture of the cover design I did, first sketched with pencil, then copied and traced with black ink, then scanned into the computer. It was a long process, but I think it turned out quite well!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Why I decided to wait...
...until I was done writing my book to tell everyone.
Here’s the deal folks, in order to become a writer you have to do one thing above all: Write.
When I first started writing, I didn’t tell a SOUL what I was about to do. And in the end I think it helped me. It helped me to discover that writing could be a passion of mine, that I do it to tell stories, bring characters alive, to go on adventures. Even now only a select few know that I have written a novel. (And thank you guys for all your help and feedback!)
You see, it’s not so much that I didn’t want anyone to know, it’s just that I believe that if you start telling someone you are going to write a book, then writing itself becomes a chore. If you tell someone, then it becomes an expectation. It’s a trap I think many writers fall into. And if writing becomes a chore more than a passion, then they don’t write. And in order to become a writer, you have to write. In order to get good at writing, you have to write. Notice a pattern here?
Now I’m not saying that all of this is fact. It is just what I believe and it’s the realization that I’ve come to as to why I never told anyone. If writing becomes a chore, then you give up before it can become a passion.
The first book is hard. Believe me. If it was easy, then everyone would be doing it. If you want to write, then write. Write, write, write. Write until you find your voice. Write until you find your soul, your characters, their feelings. Write until it becomes good, and if it’s not, write some more.
For the longest time I was afraid to tell anyone. But now I think I can confidently say: I am a writer.
Here’s the deal folks, in order to become a writer you have to do one thing above all: Write.
When I first started writing, I didn’t tell a SOUL what I was about to do. And in the end I think it helped me. It helped me to discover that writing could be a passion of mine, that I do it to tell stories, bring characters alive, to go on adventures. Even now only a select few know that I have written a novel. (And thank you guys for all your help and feedback!)
You see, it’s not so much that I didn’t want anyone to know, it’s just that I believe that if you start telling someone you are going to write a book, then writing itself becomes a chore. If you tell someone, then it becomes an expectation. It’s a trap I think many writers fall into. And if writing becomes a chore more than a passion, then they don’t write. And in order to become a writer, you have to write. In order to get good at writing, you have to write. Notice a pattern here?
Now I’m not saying that all of this is fact. It is just what I believe and it’s the realization that I’ve come to as to why I never told anyone. If writing becomes a chore, then you give up before it can become a passion.
The first book is hard. Believe me. If it was easy, then everyone would be doing it. If you want to write, then write. Write, write, write. Write until you find your voice. Write until you find your soul, your characters, their feelings. Write until it becomes good, and if it’s not, write some more.
For the longest time I was afraid to tell anyone. But now I think I can confidently say: I am a writer.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Weapons and Inspiration
Make this a dagger and I think I found the weapon(s) of one of my main characters.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Inspiration
It usually strikes at the worst times. Early in the morning when I can't sleep, or late at night before falling asleep. When I wake up and try to go back to sleep. (Notice a pattern here?) Now, late night writing sessions aren't unusual. It's when I get most of my writing done, even into the wee hours of the morning when all the world's asleep and there is no one to disturb me. But it's those times when I just want to switch off, that I just casually start to think about a scene, or a character, etc. that ideas come flooding in. Dialogue starts to form. Actions play out. Introspection is realized. I try to tell myself that I'll remember it tomorrow, or when the time comes for me to actually write the scene. However, I know that's not the case. I will forget.
This is why I keep a notebook and a pen next to me in bed. My sheets are filled with ink stains. (Finally got rid of that pen.) I now have several notebooks filled with scenes and ideas and late night scribble that I can't decipher.
Maybe this is why I am tired all the time. It's the price I have to pay for this madness. But I will pay it gladly.
This is why I keep a notebook and a pen next to me in bed. My sheets are filled with ink stains. (Finally got rid of that pen.) I now have several notebooks filled with scenes and ideas and late night scribble that I can't decipher.
Maybe this is why I am tired all the time. It's the price I have to pay for this madness. But I will pay it gladly.
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