For the past three years, I have looked forward to an event created by and for writers. Writers in the Field (WITF) is an opportunity for writers to get inside the head of experts in all manner of disciplines without kidnapping, torture, and self-incrimination. Many of these experts are also writers (or are related to writers) so they understand the strange browser histories which put writers on various watch lists.
The first year was at the tail end of a true Texas summer--hotter than your oven on broil. Last year's event is fondly referred to as Writers in the Flood or Writers in the Mud since Mother Nature decided to dump a load on our heads, complete with tornado. But still we slugged our way to the experts as they did for us. A few didn't make it, including the food truck, but those that did were rewarded with fond memories of slogging through the muck, ruining our shoes, and going mudding in our cars (that was fun).
This year, Momma Nature made up for the first two years. For the past two days, the weather gave us lovely fall-like temperatures (which only last about 5 minutes in Texas). The rain came in early, leaving the ground only slightly squishing in certain places. Life is good.
So, off I went (with mi espouso and Myrtle the Younger in tow) with a clean notepad to attend WITF, intent on meeting like-minded people and experts, to discuss methods of murder and mayhem without threat of suspicious eyes and ears wondering just what the hell was going on out there. There sword fights, loin-girding, Renaissance dancing, lock-picking, blade-smithing, weavers, and dyers (to name a few) mix with experts from the FBI, Secret Service, police, and bomb squad to answer ALL our questions and insane ideas for our story lines. They offer suggestions on how to make our life--I mean writing--more interesting and realistic, while suggesting (gently) that perhaps that plot twist might now work the way we think it will (sigh).
So, why am I blue? Well...I dyed.
I know, it's shocking, but after years of vague ideas on how to make a tie-dyed shirt, I participated in several dying sessions and dyed my very own mustard-y yellow-y handkerchief. Over 2 days and under the watchful eye of Willoc the Dyer, six of us helped to dye a length of hand-woven, wool fabric a deep, rich blue-y purple or purple-y blue. I had the task of being under the wet cloth, dipping the cloth in the dye, ensuring it didn't get tangled on the turning dowel, and basically getting dripped on. One day one, my hands were red. Today, I was blue.
Very blue. As in Smurfette blue. And it DOESN'T COME OFF! (Pics on Instagram)
I'm blue.
T.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
What's Next?
I don't know about you, but I don't really enjoy short stories. I like to have a little more meat--which is also why I don't like ribs or wings. There's too much work to get so little to chew on.
Last time, I mentioned wrote a children's story. It started as an attempt at a short story, because the idea plopped its hindquarter into my head in its entirety. No additional meat necessary. When I completed the story at 1200 words, I figured I'd edit it to a 1000-word flash fiction because there are local flash fiction contests. (I haven't ruled out the possibility--just so you know.) As I worked on it, the visual of a picture book formed and I couldn't convince myself otherwise. Others agreed. However, I know NOTHING about writing, editing, targeting, etc. anything related to children's books.
Now what?
Well...Myrtle the Younger is my resident (literally) artist and oversees any and all artistic endeavors since I can't draw a stick figure to save my life. So, I figure I've got a built-in illustrator for my little story. She agreed and rendered some delightful concept art. At the same time, I get an invite to a workshop on writing children's books.
The workshop was today. Off I go with my lovely jug of hot tea. (Yes, I know it's summer in Texas, and it's roughly about 1000 degrees in the shade at 8am. You have your caffeine fix, I have mine.) One of the first things I learn is that this author has a studio less than a quarter mile from my mother's tiny-town home (by tiny, I mean about 300 residents). It's a small world, folks.
After about three hours, I have a couple of take-aways: 1) I have a children's story, and 2) I don't know what to do with it.
One of the recommended steps is to determine what age child my story is geared toward. I can honestly tell you--I don't know. I know my main character is a child. If you push me, I'd say he's about 7-8 years old--ish. Part of my problem is that I view this as a story to be read TO a child, not the child doing the reading. If that's the case, why does the character's age matter?
The next step is to plan, plot, and write said story. Done. However, current day children's books are between 300 and 800 words, preferably under 500. Mine sits at 1100 words. Now, I haven't worked with Myrtle the Younger yet to determine how much of the story can be illustrated, so 500 might be doable. Stay tuned.
A word about the illustrations--don't. This is a problem. The accepted wisdom is to have the agent/publisher pair the writer with an illustrator. If that's the case, then how am I supposed to get my work under 500 words and submit a complete concept without pictures? I'm missing something here. Along with not submitting illustrations, an children's agent or publisher apparently likes to have multiple story submissions to keep the cash flow going. Understood. (I have one.)
It's okay. I've got this. Right after another cup of hot tea.
T
Last time, I mentioned wrote a children's story. It started as an attempt at a short story, because the idea plopped its hindquarter into my head in its entirety. No additional meat necessary. When I completed the story at 1200 words, I figured I'd edit it to a 1000-word flash fiction because there are local flash fiction contests. (I haven't ruled out the possibility--just so you know.) As I worked on it, the visual of a picture book formed and I couldn't convince myself otherwise. Others agreed. However, I know NOTHING about writing, editing, targeting, etc. anything related to children's books.
Now what?
Well...Myrtle the Younger is my resident (literally) artist and oversees any and all artistic endeavors since I can't draw a stick figure to save my life. So, I figure I've got a built-in illustrator for my little story. She agreed and rendered some delightful concept art. At the same time, I get an invite to a workshop on writing children's books.
The workshop was today. Off I go with my lovely jug of hot tea. (Yes, I know it's summer in Texas, and it's roughly about 1000 degrees in the shade at 8am. You have your caffeine fix, I have mine.) One of the first things I learn is that this author has a studio less than a quarter mile from my mother's tiny-town home (by tiny, I mean about 300 residents). It's a small world, folks.
After about three hours, I have a couple of take-aways: 1) I have a children's story, and 2) I don't know what to do with it.
One of the recommended steps is to determine what age child my story is geared toward. I can honestly tell you--I don't know. I know my main character is a child. If you push me, I'd say he's about 7-8 years old--ish. Part of my problem is that I view this as a story to be read TO a child, not the child doing the reading. If that's the case, why does the character's age matter?
The next step is to plan, plot, and write said story. Done. However, current day children's books are between 300 and 800 words, preferably under 500. Mine sits at 1100 words. Now, I haven't worked with Myrtle the Younger yet to determine how much of the story can be illustrated, so 500 might be doable. Stay tuned.
A word about the illustrations--don't. This is a problem. The accepted wisdom is to have the agent/publisher pair the writer with an illustrator. If that's the case, then how am I supposed to get my work under 500 words and submit a complete concept without pictures? I'm missing something here. Along with not submitting illustrations, an children's agent or publisher apparently likes to have multiple story submissions to keep the cash flow going. Understood. (I have one.)
It's okay. I've got this. Right after another cup of hot tea.
T
Thursday, July 4, 2019
Something New...Now What?
Hello, all. It's been a while. A year to be exact. Sorry about that. It's hard to relate what I'm doing when I truly don't have a clue.
It's been a productive year, methinks. I finished the sequel to Healer and am in the process of editing and proofing. The book cover is...a work in progress? (She tells me she's working on it. Sigh.) My goal is to publish it soon. That's about as close to a commitment that I can muster.
My work-in-progress list has grown. I still have the two Daemon series additions, as well as the final two of the Spiritual Gifts series to finish, and I've begun a paranormal suspense series that I'm calling The Corona Chronicles. That's the one I mentioned in my last post. It's proceeding differently than my other works, so I can't wait to see how it comes together. I've now started two other pieces: one a non-fiction based on my work and philosophy as an occupational therapist, and the other appears to be a children's story.
The non-fiction is interesting. I do not consider myself an expert on much of anything, but this piece insisted that I was the one to bring it forth. For the moment, it's called Need and addresses basic truths about health. Writing non-fiction is different than writing a novel, so I'm on an interesting learning curve.
As far as learning curves go, the children's story is another level of What am I doing? The story was easy (and based on a true story), and I actually have a vision of the final product (for once), but I am clueless on how to proceed with editing because I need to gear the story toward an age or reading level. I attended a panel discussion of children's writers a few years ago, but my take-away isn't helping me now.
My primary thought during and after the panel was the focus on who would be reading the children's book. The writers assumed the child would be doing the reading. At the time, I had spent time with my brother as he sought books HE wanted to read to his daughter. Yes, he wanted her to enjoy the book, but he also wanted to have fun as well. He looked at books from the stance of What silly voices can I make up while I'm reading this to her? and How many times will I read this book before I want to throw up?
Mi espouso and I have two daughters (both grown now--not sure how they survived us). One of the stories their daddy read to them was Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. Mi espouso aspires to do voice-over acting and especially loved the many animal noises he could incorporate into reading this book. The girls thought he was hilarious and helped him out with each oink, moo, and bark. If that's not father-daughter bonding, I don't know what is. That's what my brother sought, but had difficulty finding.
Hmmm...that was a soap box, wasn't it. Okay, then. I'm done. Back to writing adultish stuff and figuring out what to do with this kiddie thing. (Suggestions welcome.)
T.
It's been a productive year, methinks. I finished the sequel to Healer and am in the process of editing and proofing. The book cover is...a work in progress? (She tells me she's working on it. Sigh.) My goal is to publish it soon. That's about as close to a commitment that I can muster.
My work-in-progress list has grown. I still have the two Daemon series additions, as well as the final two of the Spiritual Gifts series to finish, and I've begun a paranormal suspense series that I'm calling The Corona Chronicles. That's the one I mentioned in my last post. It's proceeding differently than my other works, so I can't wait to see how it comes together. I've now started two other pieces: one a non-fiction based on my work and philosophy as an occupational therapist, and the other appears to be a children's story.
The non-fiction is interesting. I do not consider myself an expert on much of anything, but this piece insisted that I was the one to bring it forth. For the moment, it's called Need and addresses basic truths about health. Writing non-fiction is different than writing a novel, so I'm on an interesting learning curve.
As far as learning curves go, the children's story is another level of What am I doing? The story was easy (and based on a true story), and I actually have a vision of the final product (for once), but I am clueless on how to proceed with editing because I need to gear the story toward an age or reading level. I attended a panel discussion of children's writers a few years ago, but my take-away isn't helping me now.
My primary thought during and after the panel was the focus on who would be reading the children's book. The writers assumed the child would be doing the reading. At the time, I had spent time with my brother as he sought books HE wanted to read to his daughter. Yes, he wanted her to enjoy the book, but he also wanted to have fun as well. He looked at books from the stance of What silly voices can I make up while I'm reading this to her? and How many times will I read this book before I want to throw up?
Mi espouso and I have two daughters (both grown now--not sure how they survived us). One of the stories their daddy read to them was Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. Mi espouso aspires to do voice-over acting and especially loved the many animal noises he could incorporate into reading this book. The girls thought he was hilarious and helped him out with each oink, moo, and bark. If that's not father-daughter bonding, I don't know what is. That's what my brother sought, but had difficulty finding.
Hmmm...that was a soap box, wasn't it. Okay, then. I'm done. Back to writing adultish stuff and figuring out what to do with this kiddie thing. (Suggestions welcome.)
T.
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