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Posts Tagged ‘conflict’

Book 3 and Cover Art

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on August 27, 2014| 2 Comments »

Well, I think I’ve done about as much as I can with THE IGNORED PROPHECY until I get some reactions from beta readers. It’s down to 108,500 words, which isn’t bad. There may be a bit more I can cut, but not much.

So, it’s time to start turning my attention to a couple of other things:

  1. Cover art. Naturally, I’m going to want this to have some similarity to the cover of THE SHAMAN’S CURSE.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????I can find similar backgrounds with out much trouble. The trick is going to be coming up with a good central image.
  2. The map. If I’m going to include a map in THE IGNORED PROPHECY (and maybe go back and add it to THE SHAMAN’S CURSE, I probably should get that ready pretty soon.
  3. Book 3. Poor Book 3 doesn’t have a title yet. This is the book where everything falls apart. I need to settle the main outline of the plot. I’m a modified discovery writer. I don’t do a detailed outline, but I do find that having at least the main turning points as guide posts is helpful.  Also, without having a good idea of the plot makes it hard to know where the story starts, and I really want to include an excerpt in THE IGNORED PROPHECY when I publish that in December.

Meanwhile, of course, still working on my new writing space. I got the ceiling painted yesterday. Progress!

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Some Stories Grow Themselves

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , on February 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Last post, I mentioned that I’m currently working on a heavy revision of MAGIC AND POWER. It’s going well and I’m loving the changes.

This is the kind of thing that can happen when great beta readers spark ideas about what should have been in the story in the first place. Of course, if you were reading this blog this time last year, you’ll know that MAGIC AND POWER had a mind of its own and refused to do what I originally intended for it.

It was supposed to be a relatively simple story about a girl from a politically difficult background who feels she must choose between love and the work she feels called to do. Probably novella length. Then this other character popped up and forced his way into the story and suddenly I was writing my very first love triangle. It grew to about twice novella length. Like I said, mind of its own.

My wonderful beta readers pushed me to look at the story differently and shed those preconceptions I’d had for the novella. Two more things are expanding in this version. I’m significantly playing up the political intrigue and bringing it in much sooner. I actually had a couple of threads that only needed fleshing out to do a lot of this.Now they’re not just hanging out there; they’re part of the weave.

I’m also adding complications to the love triangle in the form of incompatible goals and a few annoying personality traits for all three characters. This story is going to be so great when I’m done with it.

Don’t forget THE BARD’S GIFT. I think that’s a pretty terrific story, too. And you can read it right now. Just click the pretty picture to go to Amazon of check the My Books page to find other retailers.

TheBardsGiftCoverSmall

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More Thoughts on Orphan Heroes

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , on December 1, 2013| 2 Comments »

Another reason for using orphan heroes, especially in middle grade or young adult fiction, occurred to me. Sometimes it means the hero has nothing to lose. This is certainly true for Harry Potter. Did anyone seriously doubt that Harry would go with Hagrid to Hogwarts rather than stay with the Dursleys? What did he have to stay for?

But isn’t it more interesting when the hero, like Frodo, has a real choice to make? When they are giving something up to follow the call to adventure?

Of course, there’s still another reason for using an orphan, abused, or misunderstood character–when it’s central to the plot. For example, I mentioned Menolly from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Song series in my last post. If Menolly hadn’t been misunderstood and neglected, she would never have been in that cave to find and impress the fire lizards and the story wouldn’t have been even vaguely the same.

Harry Potter, too. If Voldemort hadn’t killed Harry’s parents and failed to kill Harry, then Harry would not have been the chosen one who could ultimately kill Voldemort.

That, of course, is a horse of a different color. So, I guess the lesson is, if you’re going to use an orphan hero, don’t just use it as a starting point. Make it important to the story.

http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10567743

For another month or so, the omnibus edition containing both BLOOD WILL TELL and BLOOD IS THICKER is the same price as either one alone.

Also, another chapter of BLOOD IS THICKER is now available free on wattpad.

 

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Orphan Heroes

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , on November 27, 2013| 1 Comment »

Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving. Lots to do.

But, I’ve been thinking about something lately, so I’ll talk about it here. I’ve recently finished (yesterday, as a matter of fact) an interesting indie book (FLEDGLING by Nicole Conway). This made me think of the prevalence of orphan and/or abused and/or seriously misunderstood protagonists, especially in middle grade/young adult stories.

Harry Potter immediately comes to mind, of course, but he was far from the first. Anne McCaffrey’s Menolly in the Harper Hall trilogy. Taran in Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles. Even Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy. I could go on and on. The trope of the orphan boy or widow’s son who makes good goes all the way back to fairy/folk tales.

And it made me wonder. Why? Why do so many stories start with this kind of hero? I think there are several reasons.

For one, at least as far as middle grade stories are concerned, I think we all go through a period around those years when we believe no one understands us. It’s something the readers can relate to, at least as far as the misunderstood protagonist goes.

Another reason might be that it builds in some initial conflict while the story gets started. While the narrative is building to the inciting incident, the character already has something to fight against. And it can even be a further complication–something, perhaps, that makes the hero doubt himself–once the real story problem is in full tilt.

But sometimes I think it’s just done to build sympathy for the main character, like having him pet the cat. And that just makes me want to break type. Someday, I’m going to have to write a story in which the orphan is bitter and becomes the villain. Just because I can.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis...

The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Inspiration

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , on November 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Sometimes, it’s surprising what things will come together at the precisely right time to spark an idea. That might be the seed of a new story. Other times it might be the germ of what needs to happen to make an existing story better.

That happened to me yesterday. I was working through one of the critiques on MAGIC AND POWER (which may be retitled DESERT ROSE). Then I read this post on Adventures in YA Publishing, and everything started to come together.

I had a period early in my story in which my main character didn’t seem to be struggling enough. There wasn’t enough tension. Also, during that part of the story, the hoped-for love triangle didn’t have as much suspense as it needs because the “right” choice was a little too obvious.

Now, I’m going to give that “right” choice some drives based on his background that are at odds with the main character’s desires. Basically, he’s going to annoy the heck out of her, causing her to brush off her early attraction to him.

I think it will make the story so much better. And that’s the name of the game.

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Brainstorming

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2013| 6 Comments »

I’ve had the opportunity to have a couple of people who are very good at seeing the big picture take a look at the beginning of my Weird Oz Story. With their help, I’m beginning to get a clearer picture of what went wrong and how to fix it.

This story started when I’d read one too many novels in a row that featured a supposed female protagonist who sat around and waited for some guy to show them what to do. If you haven’t noticed already, that’s a really, really big pet peeve of mine. So, I thought of dropping a new “Dorothy” into a much more dangerous Oz–basically, the Jurassic Park version of Oz.

But it’s not working. I knew that, though I was too close to it to really figure out why. Now I’m starting to get feedback that helps me to understand why.

  1. In the interests of having my “Dorothy” make her own choices, even in a strange and unfamiliar world, I set her down alone. That won’t work. L. Frank Baum introduced Dorothy’s first companion, the Scarecrow, in Chapter 3. My character needs someone to talk to, someone to help her recognize the “she’s not in Kansas anymore” sooner. But not somebody to take over and tell her what to do. Most of all, another character who can provide some additional conflict. I’m working on an appropriate character for this–something or someone a bit ADHD who will be as much a hindrance as a help–more conflict. 
scanned from 1900 Wizard of Oz book

scanned from 1900 Wizard of Oz book (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  1. The first few chapters were a bit too frenetic. The whole novel can’t be just bouncing from one threat to the next. There has to be time to lay plans, reconnoiter, and take deliberate action. There have to be try/fail cycles in which “Dorothy” fails before she finds her way out. I have to throw enough at her to make it clear she’s in trouble, but I also need to pace it better.
  2. Writing it in first-person is turning out to be somewhat problematic for two reasons. The longer it takes to convince “Dorothy” that this really is Oz, the longer I’m actually shutting the reader out of the truth, too. Because the reader has to experience everything through “Dorothy” in first person, even while “Dorothy” is in denial. Also, I haven’t really hit on a likeable voice for “Dorothy”, probably partly because of her denial. I haven’t made a decision on this yet. There may be a way I can fix “Dorothy’s” voice. On the other hand, third person frees me to let the reader in on things Dorothy hasn’t figured out yet and, if I want, even to jump to another character for a chapter. That might be the deciding factor.

At any rate, I’m getting closer to getting back to this story.

 

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Weird Oz

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Only two chapters left to go in the current WIP, MAGIC AND POWER. My fingers are starting to get itchy to type that magical “The End”. That never gets old.

Last week I posted a few possibilities for what I might work on next. My terrific critique partner, Donna (whose debut novel A CHANGE OF PLANS comes out the first week in June. Trust me, you want to read this. I’ll be reviewing it here on June 5th to convince you of that) commented her preference for my “weird Oz story.”

What I’ll actually work on next will be some revisions. I’ve got a sequel to BLOOD WILL TELL that needs at least one more pass. My middle grade fantasy adventure, MAGE STORM, goes out to my critique group in June, and by then MAGIC AND POWER may have rested long enough to start the second draft.

However, while I’m doing all of that, I’ll be working on some of the development of my “weird Oz story.” I keep putting that in quotes because, while Oz is part of the inspiration for this story, the actual story may not have much or anything recognizable to do with Oz.

This story got started when I was frustrated. I’d read one too many stories in which the female protagonist sat around an waited for some guy to show her what to do. This earns a throw-the-book-against-the-wall reaction from me. So, I was thinking about under what circumstances it would be okay for the female main character to need this kind of help.

One thing that came to mind was dropping my “Dorothy” into Oz–a world in which all the rules are different than the ones she knows. In that case, she might need someone to get her out of the results of an honest mistake–once or twice. After that, she’d better be smart enough to either keep herself out of trouble or learn to deal with it herself.

So, Oz. But this version won’t have Munchkinland or even a Wicked Witch. What it will have are a lot of folk tale elements turned on their heads. What you think would be cute and fuzzy and safe, will be the most dangerous. And things that look spooky, might just be the only things you can trust.

Before I can start, though, I need to decide what kind of story this will be. Will it just be about “Dorothy” (that probably won’t actually be her name) getting home, like “The Wizard of Oz”? Or will it be about something bigger? And if so, what?

As always, new chapters of FIRE AND EARTH and BLOOD WILL TELL are available on wattpad.

And, before I close,

Happy Memorial Day

My father.

My father.

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Romantic Complications

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , on May 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I’ve just completed Chapter 19 in my current WIP, MAGIC AND POWER. I’m going to need a new title for this. And, yeah, at just over 63,000 words, it’s definitely going to be a novel. That wasn’t what I originally intended with this story, but, it is what it is.

I’ve just reached a point where my main character, call her “A”, is definitely done with one relationship, but hasn’t yet committed to another, with a character we’ll call “J”. The other character in that first relationship, call him “S”, hasn’t given up, yet, though. This is where I have to go carefully. My tendency is to cut off the old and start the new, but that would waste so much good conflict.

Besides, someone else, call her “M”, has set her sights on that discarded first love. And there’s a separation coming up where A will be physically away from S for a period of time. I have this awkward little scene in my head where A tries to convince S that it’s over and she’s now definitely with J at the same time S is trying to break the news that he’s now in love with M.

Oh, the possibilities.

First, though, I’ve got a dance scene to write. A is still mad at S and has decided he’s not what she wants. S hasn’t accepted that. J is in the wings, trying to get A to turn to him. I see some male dominance competition playing out at this dance.

Yes, I definitely need to string this complication out longer.

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Next week, the introductory pricing of FIRE AND EARTH will go up almost everywhere.

Fire And Earth Cover (Provisional)

Also, new chapters of FIRE AND EARTH and BLOOD WILL TELL are available on wattpad. The FIRE AND EARTH chapter is my favorite from that book.

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Switching Gears

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 15, 2013| 2 Comments »

This morning, I finished up the revisions to my middle grade fantasy adventure, MAGE STORM. Well, this round. I can set it aside for a while, but I’ll want to give it another read through before I hand it off to beta readers next month, just to make sure I didn’t create any new problems.

So, now I’ll be getting my head back into my work in process, MAGIC AND POWER. I left two of my characters really angry with each other. Well, one was spitting fire–not literally. It’s fantasy; I have to be careful about metaphors like that. Some people might take it literally. Her magic is with plants, not fire. Although, the other character might have gotten a clue that if he’s ever going to argue with her again, maybe he should find a place with fewer trees. The other character is more confused. He expected some push back to what he was asking, not the (figurative) face full of claws he got.

So, now I’ll read through that last chapter and get ready to carry the story forward. The fun is really just beginning for these characters.

Also, don’t forget about FIRE AND EARTH. The introductory pricing of $2.99 will go up to $3.99 almost everywhere next week.

Fire And Earth Cover (Provisional)

Also, new chapters of FIRE AND EARTH and BLOOD WILL TELL are available free on wattpad.

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Revisions (Again)

Posted in writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 12, 2013| 2 Comments »

My current WIP, MAGIC AND POWER, is on temporary hold while I work through a particularly difficult spot in the revisions of my middle grade fantasy, MAGE STORM. The tricky spot is because I’m taking a section that originally had only two characters and revising it to include three characters. There are so many more possibilities for a bit of conflict between the good guys when there are three of them rather than only two. I think it will ultimately work better, but that doesn’t make it easy. Especially when I’m trying to be very careful about adding too much to the word count.

I love MAGE STORM. Always did. Here’s the pitch (which will need more work):

Like everyone else, Rell believes that magic died along with its users at the end of the Great Mage War. All that’s left are the violent, semi-sentient mage storms made up of the ashes of the magic users killed in the war. Then he’s caught in a mage storm and infected with magic he doesn’t know how to control. Rell must find someone who can help him learn to deal with this gift for his own safety and that of everyone around him. If he can’t, that fire he accidentally started in the barn will be nothing compared to what the magic will do to him. If he succeeds, Rell could begin healing the damage caused by the war and ending the mage storms forever.

I’ve already got ideas for three sequels to this one, more trouble that Rell and his friends can get into.

Of course, that’s never all I’m working on.

Don’t forget FIRE AND EARTH. (I have to find time to do some more promotion for this one.)

Fire And Earth Cover (Provisional)

As always, new chapters of FIRE AND EARTH and BLOOD WILL TELL are up on wattpad.

Oh, and I finally figured out how to do the European 4 in 1 chain mail pattern:

European 4-1

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

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