Crazy Is As Crazy Does

Who in their right mind books into doing a workshop when they are going to be camping in the back of a horse truck for almost a week? Probably the same idiot that booked into three workshops the same week she was going to be camping in the back of said horse truck. Yes, that would be me! Actually I have a whole month of workshops lined up for May.

I'm doing another Margie Lawson course this month, Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More. It is a follow on from Empowering Character's Emothions, I'm learning so much. I may even learn to like the editing process. Lecture One and I can already see changes in the way I'm approching editing and where my WIPS need the most work. COOL!!! I am going to be very Margiezied by the end of the month.

I also did a four day workshop with Savvy Authors - Defining Erotica - Primer for Authors of all Genres. Now that was an interesting few days. I'm sure CC is going to be very pleased I took part in that workshop.

Tomorrow, that being Saturday - I'm doing another two, one day workshops with Coyote Con: Brainstorming the Future of the Novel and Stepping Lightly: Historical Fiction. Of course both of these workshops have a good chance of clashing with Hubby's show events. The workshops are held in chat rooms. All I can hope is that the Workshop and Show Gods are going to be nice and let all fall into place.

Sunday I have another two workshops with Coyote Con, these workshops run every Friday Saturday and Sunday during May (or in my case Saturday, Sunday and Monday). Get this, my first workshop for Sunday Search and Destroy: Passive Verbs, starts at 4am (that's Aussie time). Then at 6am I have Settings: The Medieval Workd. At least these are before the show starts on Sunday; of course I also have to drive home later in the day. I think I may need an early night Saturday night.

Monday I have: Artificial Interigence and Sexuality, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Fiction and Writing the Series Character, with Coyote Con.

Tuesday I start another two, month long workshops. With Savvy Authors I'm doing: Todd Stone Presents: Character(s) and Conflict - More is More and More is Better, and with OCCRWA I'm doing a workshop with Terry Blain - Another Time Another Place.

As you can see I really an CRAZY!!!!!

Sandie

A Writing & Life Update

As you know, I am doing Margie Lawson’s Empowering Character’s Emotions. Today I have spent the day printing out all my finished and partially finished manuscripts. Yes, it has taken me all day, well on and off getting things ready for hubby to go away. Food to cook, clothes to iron etc.
The one thing I am looking forward to is seeing how my writing has changed, because some of these manuscripts I wrote a few years back. Yes, I know I am slack for not editing them before now. Well I did do some editing, but that was before I knew what I was supposed to do, not that I know it all now.

Margie’s course is still going well, except that I am a bit behind on my assignments.

I had a few days out with my Mum last week, she had a fall at the nursing home, and cut her let pretty bad, today we found out she also broke one of her toes. It is hard to watch her at the moment, she is very scared, cannot understand what is happening to her. She knows it is because of the Huntington’s, does not understand why she cannot control things better. All we can do is hold her hand and be there for her. Life sucks sometimes.

Okay enough whinging for me, back to my editing, first I have to make hubby a cup of tea, because I said I would. LOL.

Until next week.
Happy writing.
Sandie.

Working with Margie

Empowering Characters’ Emotions with Margie Lawson is going well. Of course there are gaping holes in my writing, too much yellow highlight, not enough body language. Too much tell, no enough showing.

The joys of being an aspiring author, I have no idea why I thought the writing was the easy part. LOL. On a bright note, I am really enjoying Margie’s course and think I’ll do the Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More in May. I can see a lot of work in front of me as I rework my way through my WIPs I’ve already started to edit.



I’ve had to have a rethink of my Regency romance, the English law pertaining to inheritance due to women. Nothing like having your great idea derailed. With the help for the RWAus Historical loop girls and some research, I think I may have an answer to my heroine’s dilemma, however I will have to do some rewriting when it comes to my subplot. At least words are being added to ‘Lady Mounthall’s Lover’, unlike ‘Having Her Best Friend’s Baby’.

It’s not that Lexie and James’ story wasn’t working, it is more a case of hours in the day. I’m editing one complete novel, as well as writing and editing another as I go. I’m testing out my CP, Heather Brown’s, idea of writing one day and editing the next, to see if that will help when I come to the end of the novel.

I’m still reading Paula Roe’s blog each week, to stay on top of her ‘A Novel in 3 Months’, as I’m using some of her writing techniques with ‘Lady Mounthall’s Lover’, it is all good. Of course, I am still finding out things about my characters, especially my Hero, The Duke of Chesterfield. I discovered the other day he has alternate motives to pursue heroine, Lady Josephine Mounthall.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how “Lady Mounthall’s Lover’ is progressing, I’ll be posting an update on my Novel blog later this week. For now, it is time to organise dinner for my hubby.

Catch you next week.

Sandie

Margie Lawson - Empowering Character's Emotions & Other Things

I am starting Margie Lawson’s ‘Empowering Character’s Emotions’ today, (well later tonight). I’m really looking forward to this course and hoping to be able to put the needed emotion into my characters and novels. There are a few Aussies doing the course with me, Diane Curran (who was the one to give me the push to the course on line), Suzanne Brandyn (Suz is one of my fellow NewMait members), Natalie Hatch, Shayne Collier (Shayne is a fellow Bootcamper), Chris Weston, Louise Ousby and Lesley Smith, I think that’s all of us so far.

Diane has set up a separate loop for us to be able to discuss the course between us, as well as talk about homework set down by Margie.

On the writing front, I’m moving forward slowly. I’m enjoying Paula Roe’s ‘A Novel in 3 Months’ and have managed to get myself into some form of routine. Writing a plan for each scene before I start writing each day is helping, so hopefully by the time I’m finished the editing won’t take too long in future.

‘Having Her Best Friend’s Baby’ is delivering a few surprises, like the parents from hell for my poor heroine. No wonder Lexie has issues. As for my hero, well he has enough on his plate trying to avoid his new step-mummy who has her sights set on him (this I did not see coming).
With my Regency romance, I’m really enjoying this one. Except for the fact that the heroine has changed her name three times LOL. H/H have had their first meeting and she is not impressed, he on the other hand has already started to work out ways to get the newly widowed Lady Mounthall into his bed.

I have the outlines with GMC and character charts on my novel blog if you’re interested.
Well that’s all my news for now.

Sandie

The Editing Merry-go-round

Okay editing is not one of my strong points. I am too easily distracted. When I’m writing my first draft, I’m focused, nothing can drag me away from the computer when the words are flowing. So why, when I have all the words before and I know that they need work, a lot of work, can’t I sit still long enough to get the thing done?

I am also fighting the urge to start something new, yes; a new story has started to develop in my head. I should be making notes, but I know the minute I do that, I’ll start writing, I won’t be able to stop myself. I have no will power in that area. Maybe I need to join a ‘New Story Anonymous’ group or something. Arrrrrh, I hate this!

I’ve edited the same pages three times, Margie (see previous post) is doing my head in. I’m dreaming of power words. I don’t think my opening is strong enough even after the re-writes. I’m doing it all on hard copy hoping I will connect with the characters, that they will once again lead me in the right path. Something is missing and for the life of me, I can’t put my finger on it.

Okay, I’ve had a nice long bath and took some time to think. Here’s my decision. It I read each scene and make notes, like you would if you were plotting the novel from scratch, then I might work out what’s missing. It should also tell me if the conflict is strong enough for each character. You see, I think the conflictis there for the hero but maybe not so much the heroine, she needs work. Yes, that’s what I’ll do, it can’t hurt, and anything is better than going around on the merry-go-round I’m on at the moment.

Shall let you know how I go next week. Now I’m going to bed.

Happy Writing
Sandie

Editing: Do Not Disturb

For the next seven months I’m editing. I’ve put a ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign up at my Head Motel, so far all is quiet. CC is happy because at least two of her novels will be the first to be edited, that should keep her at bay for a month. So why seven months of editing? Easy, I have at least seven or eight novels finished sitting there waiting and I sure as hell won’t get published if I don’t edit what I’ve written. I also need seven months so I can work my way through Margie Lawson’s lecture packs.

I’m starting with ‘Empowering Characters’ Emotions’ and ‘Deep Editing: The EDITS System, Rhetorical Devices, and More’ you can also do these and others as one of ‘Margie’s Online classes’. I’m already feeling better about this editing thing and my even learn to like the process.

Since Tuesday, I’ve edited seven pages of ‘SMU’, now this is a novella, so I’m hoping to have this finished by the weekend. Then I’ll do some more work on ‘Rich Man’ and aim to have that finished by Christmas. I’m working very hard at being good and only working on one project at a time. None of this jumping from one story to the other. I have a plan and I’m going to stick to it even if it kills me. Yes, I have my calendar all filled in with which novels I work on and when, not jumping ahead. I wrote them in with a pen so I can’t rub them out if I change my mind.

Okay, this is not getting my editing done today. I’ve been updating our Horse Stud Site with the latest news. But now it’s my time, I’ll let you know how I’m going in a day or two.

Happy Writing
Sandie