Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump

Catherine Schaff-Stump writes fiction for children and young adults. Her most recent book, The Vessel of Ra, is the first book in the Klaereon Scroll series. She is currently working on its sequel, as well as penning the middle grade adventures of Abigail Rath, monster hunter.

Revision Continues

Working my way through description in chapter 2. As I’ve done this, the purpose of the book, what I think has been missing, has hit me alongside the head like a Schwarzenegger wallop.

Substance of Shadows has ALWAYS been a book about an abused boy, and how he did or didn’t cope, regardless of the choices around him. It is still going to be that story. I’ve been too wrapped up in what’s around him. F*** that. That’s changing too.

Catherine

Revision?

Revised 10 pages of chapter one yesterday. It really wasn’t very descriptive, sort of abbreviated. No one told me. Hmmm.

Maybe I need tougher readers. 🙂

At any rate, I’m happier with it now. Much.

Catherine

Urgh

Typed in about 14 pages of Chapter 3 of Blood is Thicker than Water, bringing the grand total to 25. Have about 7 to finish, most likely tomorrow night, but have to go teach today.

Transcription makes you blurry. Also have to do web research for some good links for each story. Before Friday? Might have to send those along later….

Web Sites and Affirmations

Almost ready for Mark the intern on Friday. Need to make a links page, and need to type a chapter of Blood into the Computer. Since that’s vaguely secretarial, I’ll do that first. 🙂 Very soon. Now? Well, very soon.

Something that came my way today via Shirley Karr. I’m going to try to remember it each day as I write.

Write, revise, submit. Repeat as needed. And write the kind of stories you most enjoy reading – your passion and pleasure will communicate itself to the reader, and elevate your story-telling skills. This is a tough business, so do everything you can to enjoy the journey, the actual process of writing.

Catherine

We Interrupt Our Book…

With chapter 4 now finished, I have 98 pages, and I’m about 1/4 of the way through this project.

This week I have to take some time out to work on some biographical materials, and decide what should go up at my website, which a graphics intern at Kirkwood is working on for me. That means I need to type some scenes from Blood into the computer, so he has some of that, and focus on marketable things…

I also need a decent picture of myself. Something tells me I may have to make some arrangements to get one of those.

Also plan on finishing that last scene of the outttakes soon, and then on to chapter 5, and the tale of the homonculi children. Not that you heard that here…

Catherine

Weekend Progress

Polished the Klarion Scroll scene, decided to close chapter 4 with a short scene, and have come to some plot revelations about ways to handle Isolde, who will most likely be keeping her identity somewhat secret throughout the book , so there will be a nummy bit for the readers later.

Also did some plotting in regard to that nummy bit and a major subplot in the book.

It’s sure nice to have a helpful muse!

Catherine