Friday, October 30, 2009

The Chorus sings ‘Get back to writing!’


My Guest today is Eleni Konstantine. Welcome to my blog Eleni.


Hey there, my name is Zoe and I open and close gateways to hell. Yes, I know you haven’t heard of me because my creator has neglected me since June. I mean come on, I know I look like Miss Average but this is a remarkable gift…curse…whatever you want to call what I have. Surely she should be concentrating on me?




Hold on there a sec, Zoe. I’ve been around longer than you. I’m Alex and I’ve been around since June LAST year. Yep I started out great too with my story almost nutted out. You see I am a Dream Tamer. I don’t just walk in dreams I change them. And because of that I am a wanted woman. And my hunter is my true-mate. Don’t you think that is a story worth concentrating on?






Xeni here, well actually it’s Alexandra in our world, but I’m in another dimension and Alexandra isn’t a common name. Xeni makes me fit in. I’m a Finder or a Seeker. People hire me for all sorts of jobs, and that keeps the household running while I find out what my true purpose in this dimension is. Our creator has not even worked that one out yet. Surely mine is the best story so far?



My, you ladies have a different way of conversing. I am Tasean, Princess (though don’t say that too loud) of Arestia. I have been promised in marriage to the person who wins the tournament. I hate it, but my father is right (please do not tell him); our Kingdom is too small and powerless to fight a war on many fronts, hence why we need a marriage alliance. Still I was not at fault for stumbling across a dragon who has lost her tribe. A misunderstanding has occured and while I go with the dragon willingly, my father believes I am under a spell. Not to mention the travelling minstrel we have just encountered. While he seems harmless enough and reveres dragons, there is something about him I am not sure of. I have been waiting patiently since goodness knows when. Sofian (that’s my dragon friend) tells me to be patient, but it’s not easy. Creator come back and tell our tale.



Tasean, you think you’ve been waiting long? Well let me tell you, I have been running around the creator’s head for close to 15 years. Yes that’s right, you read right – 15 Long Years. Yes she jotted down ideas, but didn’t actually start writing my story until this year!! I mean sure let my story percolate but come on… I’m Mel or as I found out Melonia. I’ve lived in the Earth dimension all my life…or so I thought. Instead I come from Beyond World. And I really want to find out what the deal is. So Creator, where the hell are you?


Ladies, enough!! You are being very rude. We are here as guests on Sandie’s blog. The least you all can do is say thank you to her for inviting us here to talk about Eleni-fest.
(Sorry Sandie and thanks Sandie for having us here, the character chorus say).
Good now hush up you lot so I talk with Sandie.

(Grumbling in background from chorus)

Sorry about that Sandie. You see my characters are bothering me. This is only the girl contingent, the guys are even worse!! You see they are right, I have been neglecting them and letting them percolate. Partly because it’s my process. Partly because I’ve been concentrating on Irini’s story (Mel & Tasean – hey no fair, we were here first).

As I was saying, but also since July, I’ve been editing, getting ready for the conference, sending partials and this past month, Eleni-fest has been happening. That is near the end. It has been a blast (although exhausting), but I’m itching to get back to my characters.
(Hooray! – the chorus cries)

And from the answers from my guests, it’s going to be hard work and harder work when (like that when not if) I get published. I’m sure my characters will help me out as well as my support team of my CP and Bootcampers who look over my work.

As a person with CFS, should I be scared of this hard work?

Actually surprisingly it doesn’t scare me. This past month I’ve gone further than I have in a long time with anything ‘work’ related i.e. writing related without the actual writing. But I can do it – and Eleni-fest has been squeezed into a month period with not much prep time, so I have been laying down the tracks just as the train is on the horizon. I hope with my stories, that I will have a little bit more breathing room.

It’s been a draining month but my need to get back to writing has been intensified. I’ve truly missed it. So I need to rediscover my process in the next couple of months…or a routine that will suit me. This all hours at the computer is not a good thing (doesn’t help also we are renovating ATM, so life here is stressful on another level) and I need to watch my energy levels. So I’m constantly learning about my process and re-evaluating.

I’m mainly a pantser.
(yes we know, cry the chorus)

But I do have notes of the general direction I’m going. Though different things happen and new characters emerge. It’s fun playing around in my fantasy worlds – whether they are completely made up or my version of our world.

All I know is that I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with my stories and characters again, and learning more about the writing process. After all the philosopher Socrates said we are students during all our lives. And I agree – there is something new to learn everyday, to expand on, to work on.

Now, for your chance to win a mini-pack, please tell me which of the 5 stories above you think I should on concentrate next and why?

Zoe is from Gateway to Hell

Alex is from DreamTamer

Xeni is from Finder

Tasean is from The Lady & the Dragon

Mel is from Beyond World.

They are all jumping up and down trying to get your attention. Not very heroic you know!

LOL, Eleni, you characters sound like mine, so it's good to know I'm not the only one who has problems like this.

Eleni thank you and your ladies for dropping by today.
Sandie

Comments will be open until 4th November 2009 for your chance to win this gift pack.












32 comments:

Anna Campbell said...

Ooh, is there a Golden Adonis here too?

Eleni, lovely post. And I did enjoy meeting the girls. And I suspect I'd REALLY enjoy meeting the guys! These stories sound great - what a wonderful imagination you've got. Must say my favorite is the one about the tournament. That sounds right up my alley.

You've done an amazing job with Eleni Fest! It's been such a fun event - although as you said, you put an awful lot of work into it! Congratulations!

Now, get writing, girl!

Sandie Hudson said...

Hey Anna,
I agree Eleni has done a wonderful job this month with her Eleni-fest. Eleni how lucky are you that we start NaNo in 2 days. I;m sure your characters will be very happy to have you back writing.

Oh, I like the sound of Mel's story by the way. Well, I like the sound of them all really.

Sandie

AJ Blythe said...

Eleni, you definitely need to get some of these poor ladies out of your head - or it won't be CFS people think you have, lol!

I can't work on more than 1 ms at a time, so I jot plot notes down in my little book and then try (often not very successfully) to ignore them until it's time to start a new one.

As for the above... hard choice, there were a few that intrigued me.

The Lady and the Dragon reminds me of one of my fave series, Dragons of Pern.

And I feel sorry for Mel, I mean 15 years is a long wait for any gal.

But I think the the one you should drag out for NaNo is DreamTamer. Convincing her hunter he's her true-mate... yep, a hard task for any woman, she'd better get started!!

Good luck Eleni.

Mel Teshco said...

Hi Eleni,
Ooh I love them all, but I think I like the sound of the dream changer - something different which you could have go in a million different paths. Lovely!
Great to hear you'll be back to your writing very soon!!

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey everyone (and chorus). Thanks for making me at home. Sandie you've done a great job at setting out the blog, thank you.

While I'm keen to get back into it Sandie, will take a couple of days off for recovery otherwise I'll keel over. So it's going to be a mini-NaNo for me but it's still going to be fun.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Anna - sorry Golden Adonis is still back at the taverna. But I do have a couple of staff travelling with me. Leonides & Herakles. Will either of them do?

Aw thanks re the imagination - I just hope it conveys to paper. And thanks for your kind words re Eleni-fest.

Writing, here I come...um in a few days....let me catch my breath.

Oh thanks for popping in when you are all over blogosphere with COS!

Eleni Konstantine said...

LOL Anita - yes, it will be back away from that crazy woman muttering things about princesses, dragons, dreams, other dimensions....

Yes, I think my process is to work more than one. Well edit one story while writing another. Gives a bit more balance. Hopefully.

You know I have not read the Dragon of Pern. I had borrowed book one once but never managed to get to it. Been itching to get to it though....

As for Alex, she and James know they are true-mates and that is the conflict because they are on opposite sides. (Magical people just 'know' in my universe). Has been fun to write so far, just nutting out how they get out of this mess.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey Mel, yes it is a different story for me. Back to some short stories I did many moons ago with paranormal aspects. I've loved delving into that again...after so long with purely an epic fantasies.

So 2 so far for DreamTamer.

1 for Lady & The Dragon

1 for Beyond World.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Sandie - sorry forgot to add that yes, there are other people like you with many characters scrambling for attention. They're a pest.

(Hey, the chorus cries)

See I can't even do a simple blog post without them jumping up and down. Sheesh!

Sandie Hudson said...

LOL Eleni, I not looking forward to Sunday. I haven't written anything for a few weeks and i know as soon as I sit down and start to write they are all going to be pushing each other to get me to finish their stories. Too bad I'm writing something completely different this time.

Eleni Konstantine said...

So basically you are telling your chorus - back off! LOL! You enjoy writing your new story and do the 'la la la' with hands over ears trick for them. Good luck with NaNo.

Shayne said...

Wow! To be inside your head! Ir's a battlefield!

Amazing characters, fascinating stories.
Shayne

Eleni Konstantine said...

Definitely is...something Sandie understands ;))

Thanks for popping by Shayne and thanks for the compliment re my characters and stories :))

Christina Phillips said...

Oh my gosh Eleni. Well I hope you eventually finish ALL these stories because I want to read them!! I'm especially intrigued by the Dream Tamer one as well - I'm a total sucker for true mate stories and love the thought her true mate is also her hunter!

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey Christina - glad you want to read them. Yes I have a thing for true-mate stories - well durr, as you can tell. Each story is slightly different. Hence why decisions, decisions have to be made about which direction I'm heading in.

Cheryl Wright said...

Eleni, the stories all sound facinating. You need to finish them so I can read them!

Okay... hard to choose but I think the Dream Tamer appeals to me the most. (Why did you make it so hard?)



Cheryl - another pantser.

Sandie Hudson said...

Hey Cheryl, lovely to see you here. Eleni has sooooo much talent, and she did make it very hard to choose just one story. I think once she has rested for a few days after this her characters are going to drive her until she gets all the stories finished.

Sandie

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey Cheryl, glad you find all the stories fascinating. My characters do like talking themselves up. They will get done....eventually LOL!

Eleni Konstantine said...

LOL Sandie - Yeah these bitc...uh characters will drive me off the cliff soon. You're right about that. Soon my pretties, soon *insert evil cackle*

Eleni Konstantine said...

BTW - how sweet Sandie to say I have sooooo much talent. Grinning from the compliment. Ta lovey!

Nicky Strickland said...

Eleni I had to actually go away & sleep on this decision! Your poor brain, holding all those wonderful stories in there (it's why I have a book to jot down the premises & short fits'n'starts - or my brain would explode)!

But I'm going to lay down the vote with Alex, though I do really feel for Mel. Obviously her story needs a lot of mulling & time in the subconscious psyche (that's what I keep telling me were-animals anyway *lol*).

Sandie - I am completely with you over starting Sunday, er, I mean tomorrow. I haven't written anything since July. Now I'm going to juggle the writing new stuff & editing the other *GULP*.

Least the google group, sprints & company make it all worthwhile!

Eleni Konstantine said...

LOL Nicole... I do write things down...on the whole - except Mel's story. So my brain would have exploded by now I think.

Another Alex vote.

And yes I am in awe of anyone taking on the NaNo. Good luck to you all. And the group does help indeed.

Linda Henderson said...

I would like to read about Alex, the dream tamer. To be able to go into dreams and change them. WOW ! Look at all the possibilities.

seriousreader at live dot com

Eleni Konstantine said...

Linda - welcome to Sandie's blog. Another one for Alex it seems. She's one popular girl.

(Alex - yay me!)

Hold on Alex, the comments aren't closed yet. *wink*

(rest of chorus - yeah Alex)

Sandie Hudson said...

Hi Linda welcome.

Eleni, Alex is getting few fans here. You may have to crack her story open in a few days. LOL.

Just tell the other you're going to cast them as victims in a muder mystery if they don't behave. It's working so far for me. LOL.

Sandie

Eleni Konstantine said...

Good strategy Sandie - thanks, may have to do that!!

Did you hear that chorus?

(grumble, grumble from the chorus)

Nikki Logan said...

Oooh, 15 years is a long time to be patient... So I vote for Mel. She's earned her pagetime. Beyond World!

After a month of EleniFest you might find writing is a blessed sanctuary.

Eleni Konstantine said...

Hey Nikki, yes indeed Mel has been patient enough. I do feel for her indeed. I do have a soft for her and the Beyond World characters.

A sanctuary indeed Nikki. Though right now sick family comes first...and waiting on reno deliveries...and study...and....you get my drift ;))

Eleni Konstantine said...

Thanks everyone for being a part of this blog & thanks Sandie for having me here.

The majority have ruled for Dream Tamer. So I guess that's it - right now I can't make decisions for myself :))

As for chosing a commenter, my trusty random generator picked Anita Joy!

Anita, please email me your postal details. Ta.

Again Sandie, your place rocks!! And good luck with NaNo. You getting off to a flying start!

AJ Blythe said...

Wowzers, how exciting! Thanks Eleni for the prize and for a wonderful Eleni-fest. It's been fun, I hope you've had a chance to enjoy as well.

And look forward to hearing more about that DreamTamer of yours ;o)

Thanks Sandie for having Eleni as a guest here :o)

Sandie Hudson said...

WOOHOO, so cool that one of my bootcamper buddies won. Congratulations Anita. Thank you Eleni for including me as part of your Eleni-fest, it was a fantastic month.

Sandie

Eleni Konstantine said...

Sandie, it was my pleasure being on your blog and I had a blast here. Glad you enjoyed Eleni-fest.

E x