Category: Writing

Updates March 07-11

Hello,

Thanks for the likes and follows. Please leave a comment if inspired.

This is a late edition. I planned it hit a goal and I missed. This is a no-fault miss. I am working on accepting days like this. Overall last week went well. I feel odd typing that because I know that was not the case for everyone. I am sending positive thoughts and encouragement to everyone that needs it. By all means, readers pay it forward to anyone else.

Last month in the first quarter. I should be able to see a path to a better writing process and improved business strategy. I have notes and we will see how things go. It is also Women’s Month and all I have done is make an all-woman music playlist. The next four quotes in the QFW will be by talented, intelligent women. Even though I believe these events are important I think that we should be celebrated and supported all the time.

Last week ProWritingAid had a free Fantasy Writers Week. It was four days of webinars and virtual networks. It was fun. I plan to get subscribe to the service. I have Microsoft Word and Google Drive, Scrivener, Reedsy, and other tools, each one has helped develop a different story. When given the chance I will subscribe to ProWritingAid. I learned a lot from the people they invited to speak. I didn’t always agree with everything said but I understood where they were coming from. Some might say I don’t have a right to disagree with these authors and creators, but they are not icons and what works for them will not work for us. It doesn’t mean we, the unpublished or unrecognized writers, are wrong on more than one occasion, there were writers typing in the chat that they were tanking their whole book, based on what the speaker was saying. I don’t think they were serious but could’ve been. I also don’t think the speaker meant that their way was the only way. There were questions from writers, that were in a tone of asking permission. Overall the speakers were positive on all the questions and encouraged the fledgling fantasy writer to go forth and build vast luxurious worlds and intriguing characters. What I learned most from the week of webinars is that “all was permitted, it is the execution that is important.” Yes, I borrowed that from Assasin Creed, where I heard it first.

In writing news, Connection Lost, I started talking about it so I must continue. I like the idea of writing small stories to connect to a larger saga. As part of the conflict I will be introducing some characters who will have more influence later on in another story. What is the conflict? This is question has stumped me many times, there are so many possibilities. What can happen to a seeming magic-less person in a supernatural world? There is a window of exploitation. If that is possible, why can’t she rely on family for protection? Connection Lost’s conflict will have something to do with her passive ability. The resolution will have something lost and something gained. I don’t know which one will be better for the character. Sorry if this sounds confusing. This is why execution matters. I don’t want to share a story that has plot holes wide enough for an 8-lane highway.

This is a late edition, typed this morning. I know what I wrote previously, I will do better. Writing goals for this week, are to come up with a believable conflict for Connection lost; decide what will be gained and what will be lost. There will be no word count goal this week. But I will be writing and that is a good thing.

Again I hope everyone who reads this post is doing well. Let’s try to be kind to everyone when it is possible. Be open for positive change and great opportunities. That is all for now.

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Updates February 28 – March 04

Hello

Thanks for the likes and follows.

Today is the last day in February, 2/3rd of the first quarter is done. I am trying to feel better about my lack of productivity. I want to say that I experienced something like a mini-burnout but I don’t know if I am allowed to have something like that happen to me when I don’t have a lot to show for it. I muddled through it and I actually feel better. In spite of the state of the world.

In the last update, I mentioned that I would be reading my works-in-progress. I had several in mind but only really worked on two. I have been reading newsletters by other writers and am convinced I must be doing something wrong with these updates. Some talk about their writing projects in various stages other don’t. I am considering writing more about what I am working on. With that in mind, the story I did the most work on last week is called Connection Lost. The title and idea came from Reedsy writing contest # 264. Reedsy is a writing platform, where you can find people and tools to help you complete a writing project.

I have been developing a character and her world for years. When I read that prompt my mind went to this character. The story was paranormal and my character came from a large magically mixed family. She is a middle child with an odd ability. What do I mean by magically mixed? In this case, her father follows one kind of magic and her mother follows another. Their styles are unique and the abilities have developed in their children differently or not like my character. She does have an ability, but it is passive. She is not Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto. Her immediate family has tried to make her feel normal but her lack of ability has affected how people in the community have treated her. This lead her to a situation that resulted in supernatural jail and similar to what has been done in Suicide Squad is done to the supernatural inmates of the facility. This character for her protection had a familiar and her imprisonment buffers the connection to the creature.

Connection Lost was planned out to be a short story of about 3000 to 5000 words. I was thinking two or three scenes and close. I have come up with short stories and novella ideas featuring this character. A part one of the story is on Wattpad, that working title is called Lucky Thirteen. It is mainly about a younger version of this character acknowledging that she is not going to be like her siblings and accepting herself the way she is. I like to write the best things about my characters, it is extremely difficult for me to kill my darlings or give them a hard time. But this character is one of the few that does bad things and has consequences for it.

I don’t know when it started but the story kind of petered out. I am in the doldrum middle and that has annoyed me, a little. Fortunately, I have no intention of waiting for inspiration. I will be working on this story, reading the other projects, and making notes this week. I have to make a new book review list. There are several audiobooks that I have started that I will attempt to complete this week. I also need to post something this Wednesday.

I have nothing else to write for the week. I hope you all doing well and continue to find positive opportunities. Remember to be kind to each other.

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Updates February 20-25

Hello,

Thanks for the likes and follows.

This is a late edition and I really have no excuse. Time got away from me and my energy was low. This has been my struggle for many years. There are times I have actively fought against being unmotivated and then there are times I let the feelings win. I don’t know if those are signs of burnout or what but that was how last week was for me.

I watched two episodes of the Legend of Vox Machina on Amazon Prime Video. I didn’t pay much attention to the commercial about the series. My initial thoughts about it were that it was a Dungeons & Dragons, Rat Queens mash-up and drawn a little better than Disenchantment on Netflix. Then I find out later that it is a D&D-based story. So my bad. I like the animation. It is a lot gory, similar to Invincible also on Amazon, it is a little cliche since we all know the story of the ragtag losers who could do better when they are determined. It is still entertaining.

I also watched the first episode of Naomi on the CW app offered by Roku. I don’t know what to think about it. I might wait until the season is complete and binge-watch it, once it is on HBOMax or Netflix. Naomi is based on a DC comics character Naomi. I have the comic series on my TBR and I think I should take time to read it before I give my opinions on it or the show.

This week’s writing goals are slightly different than usual. Last year I stated that I wanted to incorporate short stories into this blog. Then I started to have thoughts about copyright issues and I realized I needed to clear that up before I post. I know I am the smallest of fries in the writing world. However, over the years I have come across so many plagiarism horror stories. Many are fought and won with copyright. I do believe that WordPress is safe for intellectual property but I will feel better once the copyrights are taken care of. Instead of writing, I will be reading my fiction. I have several short stories in various stages that need work. That is what I will be working on this week. Yes, I am writing this for accountability.

I hope this update finds you all doing well. Please remember to be kind and leave a comment if you feel inclined. Have a great week and be open for positive opportunities.

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