Realizing I wanted to be a Author

Many writers can tell you the story of when they first wanted to be a real "author". For me I grew up writing stories. I think my mom still has some of the earliest pieces tucked away somewhere safe. Eek, let's not look at those! I excelled in the writing and English classes throughout school, but there was a moment in middle school when I knew something had shifted.


I was in 7th grade, and was reading Terry Brooks Elfstones of Shannara for the first time. My father has a love of fantasy, so when I was looking for more books to read, he jumped at the chance to share his love with me. (I was a voracious reader, and it was at this time I also started reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the Lord of the Rings trilogy by Tolkien, as well as The Mists of Avalon.)


While reading Elfstones I fell in love with the entire mythology and world that Brooks was able to build. His characters made me laugh, cry, and love them with each chapter. The mysteries of the world and magic as well as the races intrigued me. I distinctly remember sitting in a study hall reading, and realizing that not only did I want to write something like I was reading, but that I COULD. There was nothing stopping me from trying, and if I hated it, I would never share anything I wrote with anyone else.


With all the heart and brain power my little 13 year old body could muster, I started writing longer, more detailed stories. Often for projects I would turn in something that was supposed to be only ten pages, but would be closer to 20. This really came to a head when I was 16 in high school. During a creative writing class (It was a new class for the school, and I was so excited) for a short story, my mind just would not stop going. I thought of back stories, names, new geography, new languages, and even new creatures. Enter in my love of all things fantastical, including dragons! For that "short story" I turned in the first 25 pages (single spaced), of the very first draft of Through the Mountains.


Now, a lot has changed since those first few pages, but what I try to hold on to is that passion. The spark that says that I can do it. The spark that drives me to write. I will never forget that realization in study hall. It changed my life forever.

BONUS!

A little while ago on Twitter I put out that if I hit 405 followers I would post some new writing.
Well, it took a few weeks...but I finally hit it! I know it seems trivial, and maybe it kind of is, but still. I said I would, so here is a segment from one of the short stories that will be released in the early fall!

This is a short story that centers around one of the secondary characters, Yaretzi. The story is "meant" to be read between books 2 and 3, but really can be read any time as it gives background or extra, information on the characters and world.


Blue Seas

Slap, slap, slap.

Yaretzi’s scandals slapped the stone beneath her feet with every step. Her hair had been swept back into an intricate braid that had taken her only half a bell. Most women would have needed half the morning for such an elaborate design. But growing up in a royal household had helped her, even if she didn’t feel that way often. If she chose her footfalls would be silent; but not this day.

Slap, slap, slap.

She had woken early. Risen with the sun in fact; like she had every day before during her trial period. Today would be different. Today she would receive her marks. The swirling marks that all members of her tribe bore—all the adult members anyway. Her task had been fairly simple, diving to the bottom of the lagoon to retrieve a rare sea plant. An affair only witnessed by the elders.

Slap, slap, slap.

Yaretzi’s chambers were far from where the ritual would be held. Though she had left plenty of time before she was required to arrive, her strides carried her swiftly through the hall. The thin, white fabric of her dress fanned out behind her in her wake. None of the servants or people in the halls approached her. She could have that effect on people. All except two it seemed. Footsteps echoed her own, approaching fast.

A hand rested on her shoulder for a moment before she grabbed the attached arm. Twisting mercilessly, she forced the person against the wall.

“Easy!” The voice came out muffled from the white-haired man shoved against the white stone.

Yaretzi growled in her throat and released the man. Backing up a few steps, she placed her hands on her hips. “What do you want, Chimalli?”

“I came to walk with you.” He rubbed at his wrists and arm. “Where did you learn that?”

She quirked an eyebrow. “I have my secrets.” Turning, she resumed her journey.

“Hey!” Yaretzi didn’t stop for him. She didn’t have time for his antics. Unfortunately his long-legged strides overtook her, and soon he was matching her pace.

Under the cover of her lashes she looked him over. He looked like he had gotten dressed in a rush. As part of the elite warriors of their people he didn’t have to be awake at a certain time. She had heard the rumor; he loved drinking and the company of beautiful women. Half his head was shaved to display the black swirling patterns of his own marks earned almost a year past. Chimalli was always trying to talk to her, though she wanted nothing to do with him once they became adolescents.

It was one thing to have close male friends as a child, but as not only an adult, but the future Chieftess? That was not acceptable. Besides, a smile crept across her lips, he didn’t want to be just friends with her anymore. Her hips may have swung out a little more at the thought. If she desired, she could use that; for what she wasn’t sure, but she could think of something. His voice interrupted her musings.

“…excruciating. Your mother may have them give you something for it while the elder finishes.” He paused and gathered more air. “Hopefully he doesn’t choose your face. That would be a shame.”

Yaretzi silently agreed. There had been a girl two years back that had gotten hers across her cheek and brow bone. She had cried when the looking glass was held for her before promptly fainting. Inside her stomach turned, but Yaretzi didn’t show it. Somewhere on the edge of her mind Chimalli was still talking, and she let him continue. It helped to keep the other people milling about away.

They neared the small hallway that would take her the rest of the way. Coming to an abrupt halt, she forced Chimalli to face her.

“I am continuing on alone.” His blue eyes were darker than the other Insulons. She could see herself reflected in them, right down to her purple eyes. “They are waiting for me.” Without another word, she shifted and strode down the hallway. This time he didn’t follow her, and she moved undisturbed on silent feet.

This was not a place that one went loudly through. This was for reverent silence. On both sides stood statues of the leaders of her people, forever captured in stone. The newest would be at the end of the hall, and though she knew what waited for her, her breath caught in her throat when she saw them.

The carver had truly been a master of the craft. Captured in perfect detail, her brother and father stood staring down at her with soft expressions. Traditionally it was only the Chief or Chieftess remembered for all time in this hall, but her brother had died not only alongside his father, but countless others. This was a memorial to everything that had been lost on that fateful day when the Ryders—who had been their friends and allies—attacked.

Yaretzi had been young, but she was old enough to remember the large winged beasts spouting flame, and the screams of her people. She knew that it wasn’t the dragon’s fault, but her skin prickled at the memory of claws, teeth, and fire. The Ryders had been their contact with the outside world, without it they were completely isolated.

She reached up and placed her right hand on her brother’s foot, and her left on her father’s. Their brows and jawline were the same, but her brother lacked the broad shoulders and muscular arms that their father had. Shaking herself, she turned to the doors. Wiping away a tear and straightening her shoulders, she pushed the large doors open.

So You Want to Write a Book? Pt 3

Welcome back to my series "So you want to write a book"!
The first post covered the inspiration part, and the second went over how long it takes to write a novel. This post is all about "Finding the Time" to write that book of yours.

I purposely put "Finding the Time" in quotes on purpose. There is no such thing as finding time. Whether it is for working out, crafting, or writing. You will never find the time to do something new. Even something that you love. Finding is not what you're going to have to do. If you want to accomplish anything you're going to have to "Make" the time.

There will always be something (and often times multiple somethings) pulling for your attention. Kids, spouse, work, friends, other hobbies. Everything suddenly needs your attention as soon as you decide you want to learn something new, or to finally sit down and work on a long overdue project.

I get it, I have balanced work, writing, friends, family and working out. It is NOT easy. But then again nothing worth having in life is. If I haven't scared you off yet, below are some of the tips and tricks that I have learned over the years at balancing everything.

1. Utilize breaks at work or school to their fullest. I mean it! If you get breaks and a lunch at work, that's just bonus time! Even if you only get a 30 min lunch, take 15-20 and write, brainstorm, daydream. Just take that time and use it to work on your work. Do you commute on a bus or train? Great! Once again there is extra time, use it to its fullest potential!

2. When you do have time to work on writing, focus. Tune out your surroundings, however you can. Go into a different room, use music with personal earbuds, or sit at a different table in the lunch room. Make sure that when you sit down to work, you're focusing on work.

3. Tell people about your goal, and set a deadline. By telling people you have set this goal, you are creating people that will hold you accountable. Heck, you might even find people who want to do the same thing. You need to find support anywhere you can. Join a writing group, join the NaNoWriMo site. NaNoWriMo is held every year in November. It is when thousands of people around the world band together and agree to spend the month of November writing a novel. It's a great organization that has wonderful communities.

Bringing it Back

Here's a random thought for you:
If you could bring back a TV show from when you were a kid, what would it be?


There are several answers I could give, but the one that popped out to me immediately was the show Zoids. I have no idea why, but lately I have been wanting to watch this show again. I remember it playing on weeknights after school, and begging my mom to let me finish just one more episode before dinner. (This was pre-dvr'ing capabilities, and we only had one VCR and it was the adult TV that had it) She usually gave in because thankfully this show only ran a half hour at a time.


If you don't remember what Zoids was, I don't blame you. I don't think it was a very popular show. The show centered around these giant robots called - you guessed it!-zoids. The zoids are essentially a large machine robot in the shape of an animal. Most being based on designs of lions, tigers or even dinosaurs.


From what I can remember these robots or Mech were not only used as transportation they were used for battles. Mainly between warring factions. It might be more 90's/00's cartoon/anime crap, but from what I can remember I loved it and would often draw, design, and write stories about my own "zoid". This and a few other series really helped to cultivate my creativity, and sometimes I miss these older shows.


What about you? Was there a TV show that you would bring back if you could?

How to Prep for writing a novel

The title is a bit misleading as different avenues and strategies work for different people, so I will outline what I have found that works the best for me.


When it comes to my books, I have a method to the madness.


Usually it starts out simply. Just getting out some character sketches and personalities. This is done using a form that I actually created myself. I tailor it to each project. But the basics are there: Physical appearance, typical dress, who their parents/family are, where they're from, current address, magical abilities, bonded dragons, past injuries/scars, etc. This I fill in as best as I can at the beginning, often times I find out more as I'm writing and will add notes in later.


(IF this is a historical novel, all of the research of time period comes first, and is much more in depth)


Next, once I have all of the major, and quite a few of the minor, characters sorted I move on to the plot. Typically by this point I've worked through the large plot of the story. The main quest or goal. The plotting comes in when I need to figure out how to get to said goal. I start by filling in what the "bad guy's" plans are. This may or may not be revealed in the book to the reader, but it helps me to understand their motives and how they are moving people around. It shapes how my hero's will react.


I have my point A and B, and now I need to get the characters to point B. So I go through and envision what events, conversations, or deaths would compel my characters to point B. This is usually where the scene cards come out. If the larger plot note is my roadmap, the scene cards are my sign posts. They keep the story moving toward the end goal. I can go "off script" and add in scenes or even characters, but the cards keep me directed to the end. I usually end with between 25-40 scene cards per novel. Again, within the structure there is a lot of lateral movement and freedom.


Between getting the characters sorted, the scene cards, and actually writing, I spend a lot of time daydreaming. And I don't just mean staring aimlessly out the window, although that does happen. Nope, not what I do at all. I will take each scene card and focus on what could/should happen. I literally play it through my mind like a movie. By doing this you are keeping your story in the forefront of your brain. It is MUCH easier to dive into the story when you've already sat down and understand what has to happen next.


And then there are those people where none of this works for them, and that is fine too. Some people do a bit of both. Play around, see what works best for you!