And so, while I keep piling up notes and resources for my new roleplaying game project (the thing is getting huge), I also started working on my new novel1.
The outline’s done – I’m letting it cool off, and tonight I’ll send it to the publisher, and barring strong objections and possible redesigns, I’ll slot the outline in Scrivener, and I’ll start jotting down the first draft.
In the meantime, I’m also mind-mapping the setting and the characters2. Continue reading
Painting by Bertha Lum
According to some unconfirmed rumors, between the (virtual) pages of The Ministry of Thunder hides a fox woman.
So, what about her?
Why not try and tell her story?
Plans are made to be changed – and so my finely defined writing and publishing plan for 2015 is undergoing some radical redesign.
On the other hand, somewhat unexpectedly, I’m outlining a new novel – the pitch, based on an original request I was sent, is currently being evaluated by my publisher, and while I wait for a (hopefully) positive response, I’m thinking ahead and mapping my story.
My current modus operandi for fiction is more or less like this…
One of the fun bits of writing my novel (yes, it’s been a while since last we talked about it) was finding out how my characters speak. The speech-patterns, grammar errors and lexical quirks are something I can use to define and get to know my characters.
Really, I need to listen to them speaking to truly get the characterization right.
And It’s something that has to come naturally – I have to write dialogues, and see what happens, what they’ll come up with.
Get to know, them. Continue reading
“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live” ― Henry David Thoreau
Now that’s hard.
Because you know, it sometimes feels wrong, sitting in a room writing when we could be out there doing something else.
Like, I love walking in the rain – so sue me.
And yet, sitting in my room while the storm rages outside, and me all warm and cozy, with my cup of tea and biscuits, writing on my old keyboard…
In the end it’s a matter of choices.
Reading feels the same – why am I sitting here and reading this (excellent, by the way) book, when I could be writing my own stuff, or take a walk under the rain (or anything else, really)? Continue reading
Everything’s better with pirates.
This great picture by Ryan Pancoast certainly provides plenty of inspiration.
Karavansara 