Writer Tamago

As of today, I'm driving this book. I just spent the last hour plotting the book, and I know everything that happens. Who's doing what, where the emotional stuff fits in, all of it.

Although the alternate title could now be Teen Elf, I'm still pretty pleased. It's definitely a YA book. The end of the book is the culmination of romance that develops over the series of the adventure. Sure, there's heartache and there's a tone of bittersweet for some of the characters as well.

And interestingly, it sets itself up for a Decorah sequel.

At any rate, now the plan is to write all this into reality. I have an entire week off next week, and I will spend it working on this book.

It feels so good to have a map, finally.

Off to read some other people's work. I have a full manuscript (about halfway through that one) and a couple of short stories in the hopper, so I'm excited to do it.

Catherine

I know that writing is a lot of unglamorous hard work. Yes, yes. It can be hard and frustrating during those fallow times, or when the writing isn't going where you want it to, or the words seem particularly insipid to you as you pen them. I've been there. And I know edits and suggestions can just make you tear your hair out!

Right now, I'm in that whole 'nother place, one of the big reasons I keep coming back to writing in the first place. The happy place.

I'm back on the troll story pretty much in full force, and after discovering that what I've already done mostly works, I'm feeling very encouraged to move forward. The way before me is not clear, and I know I'll throw away more stuff before I keep it. I'm clearing a lot of debris out of my brain by zero drafting. Then the real stuff shows up, and I sketch it down, then flesh it out.

The plan is to get the plot and action, smooth out the glitches and add the transitions, look at what the characters are thinking, and add the emotional veneer over the top. Very structural and work oriented, yeah?

Except now I am in the spot where I realize that this story is about someone and something.

Sometimes my stories are not about anything. Sometimes they are about everything. Substance of Shadows is both about life as an abused child, yet at the same time is a love affair with my husband, because one of the characters reminds me of him, and I'm sharing him with the world, in a sense.

The Winter the Troll Danced with Old Nick is in part my way of exorcising issues with my mother, but it is now turning into my love affair with my friend Lisa.

Lisa and I were almost inseparable at one time. We spent a great deal of time together, as much as we could, and enjoyed each others friendship very much. We still do when we get together.

But...life happened. We were entirely swept away by becoming too busy to see each other, except on occasion, the way these things work, whether you're far away from each other or closer to home. The fade away was both easy and hard for both of us, as these things are.

Part of this story encapsulates that. There's a close friendship between the two new characters in the story that's almost painful, yet is incredibly close. They're at an awkward time, but deep down there is closeness and concern, a sort of friendship that can be rewarding at its best and painful at its worst. It takes me back to times that were not always easy, but were most often rewarding, and I hope it will do the same for my friend when she reads it.

I'm not trying to make a statement about friendship or love. I'm trying to portray what they are like, as true in my experience. It makes me feel good when it feels that there is more to my writing than moving words around on a page. It makes me feel like my writing has a soul.

Do you find yourself drawing on your life experiences as you write, and in what ways?

Catherine

Sarah Prineas wrote a pet story today, and asked us to share ours. Right now, we have two wonderful cats: Sekhmet, war princess of the upstairs, and Bastet, the queen of all cats. In the past we have had Michael, god emperor of the yard. All 3 of these cats filled or have filled our lives with warmth and softness, hauteur and love all at the same time.

There's always a special one, though. Toby died at the end of 2006. He was the victim of the poor pet owners across the street and Urinary Tract Infection. This is the story I wrote when he died. It still makes me tear up, because he was that well-loved. My apologies to those of you who have seen it.

Yellow Cat and the Man

(more...)

I'd like to draw attention to this response to my post earlier. Sylvia Rachel makes some strong points that I feel are exemplary.

***

Tonight I've written about 1200 words. Sure they're sketchy and not well-crafted, but they're new. I'll take it.

***

I understand that a box of Hulk Hercules: Professional Wrestler books will be ordered for me on Friday, and I should get them as soon as they are printed and shipped. I will let you know when they are in the house. I'm playing this low key, but it'll be nice to have them.

I gotta go clean the kitchen. Because that's the way I roll.

Catherine

This has been on my mind for a while, and I think the ideas about it have coalesced at the crossroads of Jim Hines's entry about rape victims pressing charges and watching the Academy Awards last night, and seeing Mo'nique win her well-deserved best actress award.

I've been public about my experiences as a sexually abused child for some time, inasmuch as I'm not afraid to talk about being a survivor. My hope is always that somewhere being public can help those who are still living with the big secret to realize that there is a world outside of their victimhood.

I'll probably cut this about here, because this might not be something all of you want to read, and I can respect that. I'm going to talk about Mo'nique's portrayal and why I believe that we've got to encourage children of abuse to make that first step. This is a very different kind of post than Jim's post because I am talking about children.

(more...)

Artistic notes to self.

1. While the film was as uneven as Tim Burton films often are, Alice's champion armor from Alice in Wonderland is first rate, and I can see my frost elf girls dressed similarly.

2. Scott Lynch has me wanting to read the rest of Red Seas under Red Skies after a mere four pages. That's writer power, that is.

3. Resubmitted Empress Dark, now out at Flash Fiction Online. Got over the sting of the rejection for The Make-Over and sent it out to Fantasy Magazine.

For writing stuff, that's it today. I hope to get some words down tomorrow.

Catherine

I believe that Mark Twain's Daughter is done, and will soon be away. Thanks to all of you who gave me valuable feedback and insight.

***

As it's March and all, this means it must mean it's time for the writerly update.

Appearing Soon Somewhere Near You

Hulk Hercules: Professional Wrestler: The last I heard, we are a go for April. I plan on reading from it for the first time ever at this year's Wiscon.

Still Out There

Crystal Vision: Currently at Swill. It will keep making the rounds.

Empress Dark: Currently at Strange Horizons. It will undergo a tightening and revision when it comes home, and then will go back out.

Mark Twain's Daughter: Almost currently at tor.com. It will keep making the rounds.

What I'm Working On

Viable Paradise Profiles: Yup. Got the raw data for the first one. I'll be cobbling that together soon.

The Winter the Troll Danced with Old Nick: I'm going to be hitting this hard for the next two months. I'll be playing and letting the story find out what it really wants to be, then doing some judicious pruning. I would like it to be ready for agent roulette early May. We'll see. I've failed every goal I've set with this one.

*rolls up sleeves* Tomorrow is another day!

Catherine

Tiffany Trent wrote a great journal entry about the ideas she keeps returning to as a writer. The idea fascinated me, so in the great tradition of ripping off another writer, I decided I might also elaborate on this theme.

I've written quite a few stories and some books over the years. Yes, many of them are staying hidden where they belong, but these are the things I find myself returning to over and over.

1. The abused kid who makes good. This young hero or heroine starts life in less than auspicious circumstances, perserveres, and comes through as a worthwhile person, if a little broken. Gee, I wonder where this theme comes from? In addition to trying to work out my own demons from a rotten childhood, I've read waaaayyyy too much Dickens, who was trying to do the same.

2. The character whose origins are not what they seem. More melodramatic action from Chuck Dickens coupled with my hope as a child that I was an abandoned alien or one of those Witch Mountain Kids.

3. The character reversal. I love it when characters have surprising depth, and they take off in a direction I didn't expect. It raises them above simplistic morality and makes them complicated.

4. The complimentary stalwart. If I can work a gentle big guy or a really decent sort into stories, I will. The story I'm working on sort of has one as the main character, even.

5. Witches and/or faerie godmothers. Much more interesting to me than princesses, I tend to tinker with themes of wisdom and age.

6. Folklore variations. I love doing research and learning about the myths and folklore of other cultures. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, because I have a tendency to insert knowledge to show off, rather than when it relates to the story.

7. Spunky YA and MG leads. You can almost always count on a funny, spunky kid heading up the cast in these kinds of books.

8. Literary reference. Read a lot. It's bound to happen.

What do you think you continue to write about and revisit? Why do you think you return to certain ideas and things?

***

In closing, here's another wonderful, tongue in cheek muse reference from Sandy Ackers.

Catherine

And here we are at the end of another day, writing a quick plug. Julie Rose, my writing buddy who made it pretty far in the Amazon Writing Contest has a story, Spitfire at Expanded Horizons.

Jools writes a quasi-mystic, historical flavor of fantasy that I predict will make her a lot of lovely money some day.

Enjoy. I'm off to have some sushi.

Catherine

Just like that, it's 12:35.

It has been a very busy morning. I had to squeeze a trip to the doctor in. I don't want to get TMI on you, but we think the Tea Rush of the Yukon has caused some unusual topology. I've been ordered off caffeine for a while (mmmm...Sprite Zero), and there will be blood drawn, and magnetic imaging. No one is very concerned, but it did mean I lost the hour I'd use to write this exciting blog today.

***

Now, for some real content. Julia Rios has a story out in I Do, Two, an anthology in support of gay marriage. Proceeds go to Lamda Legal.

Off to teach,

Catherine