Brainstorming

Stephen King's On Writing compares writing a story to unearthing a skeleton (like a dinosaur). The first step would be knowing where the skeleton is, then carefully taking away enough of the dirt to know what kind of skeleton you've got. As you work, more detail emerges until at last, you're flicking away the last pieces of dirt with a toothbrush. (I paraphrase)

Of course, not everyone writes the same way, but the method described by Stephen King really fit the way I like to write. I don't have to have the entire outline or the entire idea to get started. If I have one thing - an idea, an image, a character - I can build around it, picking up more detail as I go.

With the current story I'm working on, I have a lot of holes to fill (we'll say I still don't know where some of the dinosaur bones are). So I've written down everything I know about the story (characters, situations, basic plot points), and a list of questions of things I want to know about the story (why a character did such and such, what the consequences of blank are, etc.). It's a lot of fun when I'm doing something boring (like dishes or laundry) to think about my story and ask a lot of "why" and "what if" questions, because those questions lead to new pieces.

A sort of update on my previous project, The Morning After: I've written a query letter for it and submitted it to one (1) literary agent. So far, I haven't heard anything back, but in all likelihood I won't hear anything on my very first try. We'll see.

Again!

At last, my second publication is out! Read A Similar Fate here.

I've been working on my next big project, sketching out characters and plots. I've had to recycle a previous novel I worked on a few years ago. I was so excited about it then, working on it every single day (to the dismay of my family members who wanted to use the computer as much as I did). But when I re-read it, I found myself cringing way too much. Even when I tried to edit it I realized it would take a complete overhaul to make it readable (and then I remembered all the people I subjected it to ... ugh).

So, an overhaul is what it needs, that's what it got. I changed the angle of the narrative, started it basically at the end instead of the beginning, and scrapped all the characters.

After a while ...

So I should probably put a direct link to my cautionarytale.com story, as after a few days it will be off the front page. Here it is: A Body in a Seat.

My next story should be coming out soon in Tiny Lights - they said October, but no luck as of today.

It's been a little dry for me lately, writing-wise. I haven't come up with any good short stories. In fact, I got a rejection note the other day that said my story was unacceptable for X number of reasons (which was actually really cool - they don't usually make the rejections personal). I have a few ideas for longer works, all of which I'll have to discuss later since I'm currently employed and at my workplace (but it's lunch time, so it's ok).

It's Official!

It's up! It's on the website like it knew what it was doing! My revenge has come to fruition! Ha! HAhahahah .... BWAhahahahahHAHAhahahahaaaaaaa....

::ahem::

sorry.

check out www.cautionarytale.com to read my published story! It's called "A Body in a Seat", on the front page.

A little research...

It seems like I'm finished with this novel I've been working on the past 2 years. Oh, the thing was a mess when I started and I almost abandoned it completely; then I went to Starbucks with a chick from my building and needed something to make me look busy while she studied for a test. Lo and behold, if a comment of hers didn't make the rest of the story fall right into place! I wish I hadn't lost contact with her ...
Anyway, I'm trying to determine how much is enough editing. It could go on forever if I let it.

So I'm doing a little digging around to find out how to best get myself a literary agent. Turns out, it seems like it comes down to following the guidelines, not being a butt, and actually being able to write well. And after doing all that, taking a rejection notice gracefully is good. Or you can do what I do and forget about them. I realize the odds are against me. I also realize that it does happen for some people and that they didn't get where they are by sitting on their hands.

I added some links for blogs written by literary agents ... I was actually really surprised by some of the things I read in them! So the tips they give to the fledgling writing community (to which I belong), I will heed.

Yes, again

Well, kiddos, that's the second one this month: Cautionarytale.com liked my rewrite and they're putting a very fictional, made up story of mine into their September edition. So check it out. Just remember: The pen is mightier than the sword.

Published again?

I appear to be on a bit of a roll, here. Instead of a rejection or an acceptance note, I got a "rewrite request". Interesting! Of course, I'm going to do it. This job is awesome ...