Tools of the Trade

Tools are important for any creative endeavor. Whether it is Painting, Sculpture, Fiber Arts, Design, even Writing, they all have basic needs.

Personally I keep it pretty low tech, unless you count my computer, but even then I'm pretty simple with programs. I prefer to have my notes in physical form so I can have them next to my computer as I'm working.  

My computer is my number one tool to writing. I have a MacBook Pro, and I love it. I used to have an HP laptop, but after 5 years in college it was on its last leg and finally was done. It was constantly having issues with viruses, and at the time my parents had purchased a MacBook Pro three years prior, and had not had ONE ISSUE. In fact, it's been several more years and they still haven't had an issue! (Neither has my computer, and I love how my phone and my computer automatically are compatible and update accordingly.)

In order to keep my projects separate and have plenty of room for each one I utilize different notebooks, or notebooks with multiple sections. My favorite brands are Moleskine and Five Star, though any notebook with enough pages or sections would work.

My favorite piece for keeping things organized with my Ryder Chronicles series is a large Five Star binder. It's not like a typical binder as it has a soft spine and is expandable. It has plenty of room for divided sections, hand drawn maps, character information sheets, and lots of extra loose-leaf for hand written notes.

Note cards. I could write a love ballad to my note cards. I use them as "scene" cards. Each card has which character I'm writing from, events or dialogue that has to happen, and what scene it is in the book (ie, 1,2,3 etc). This is especially helpful when I'm writing my fantasy trilogies. It helps me almost pre-write the book before I get started. I will also add notes that I need to keep in mind while writing, like scars, or abilities, or memories.

Paperclips! I use them with the scene cards. Each color corresponds to a different character so I know at a glance which character is getting "screen time". It helps to keep the viewpoints even and gives me a guide to how far through the story I am at any given time by moving the note cards to the back as I finish those scenes.

Earbuds are my next must have item for writing. I almost always have to write to music. It helps to keep my thoughts centered on the story I'm working on. I prefer the in-ear variety as I have nine earrings, and over the ear ones just push the back of the studs against my head. Not comfortable! Plus as an added bonus, they're small and easy to transport.



What are other writers must haves for writing? Anything you would add to my list?

Valentines Day- BONUS

In honor of Valentines Day, I have decided to share a bit of writing that I've been working on.
Recently I finished final edits on The Irish Baker. All that remains is a synopsis, blurb, and to start querying agents!
The other project that has its fangs in me is my Urban Fantasy story, which has a very strong love theme.
So without further ado, I give you the moment the two main characters meet in my current Urban Fantasy WIP.
Enjoy! :) 

           Ethan had never been one for clubs. Even when he was in the age demographic where clubbing was essentially mandatory, he was the outlier. Sure he had gone to a few; well, more what he would consider bars. The woods of Montana, where he grew up,  hadn’t been a hub of city life.

            The thumping of music felt like an intrusion to his thoughts. But his sister insisted. His parents, they suggested he go and enjoy spring break with his sister. More like watch his baby sister’s back while she drank and danced with complete strangers in Miami for a week.

            Thankfully it was their last night before she headed back home to Montana, and he to his small office at work, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky. Work was his passion. It never felt like work, except when he had to grade the term papers. Those made his eyes cross and his stomach clench. The college wouldn’t appreciate it if he just passed everyone. Might raise a red flag on his teaching.

            Ethan Donnelly, professor of Occult Anthropology had officially started his sabbatical.

            At least the club had some good whiskey. Not many places his sister wanted to go to carried the good brands. They mostly served vodka and rum mixed drinks. But daiquiris and “Slippery Nipples” weren’t his drinks of choice.

            The music intruded again as the DJ switched songs and tempos. Spinning on his stool, his back now to the bar, Ethan could lean back and keep an eye on his sister. Where he was dark in color, she was light. His dark hair was easy to miss in the club, but her naturally bleach blonde locks were hard to miss.

            He spotted her quickly dancing with her friends in the middle of the floor.

            That’s when he saw her.

            She swayed and moved with the music—her rhythm was perfect. It looked like the music flowed through her. Not too skinny, her curves filled out the dress she was wearing leaving her long, muscular arms and legs bare.

            Heels increased her already impressive height. Without them he estimated her height to be around five-foot-ten inches, tall for a woman. With the four-inch heels strapped to her feet, she still came up four inches short of his six-foot-five inch frame.  Red hair, curled loosely, fell to just above the middle of her back.

            She danced, like all women do, in a group of others. But something about her caught and held his attention.

            “Enjoying yourself?” Ethan was startled from his inappropriate staring by the words of his sister.

            He met her bright blue eyes, her eyebrow arching at his startled expression.

            “Huh, wouldn’t have thought you’d go for a woman in a club.” Reaching past him, she picked up another drink in a hurricane glass complete with an umbrella in the top. “Well, whoever she is, have fun!” Her tinkling laugh echoed in his ears before being drowned out by the music once more.

            Picking up his glass, he tried to be more casual about scanning the crowd for the red-haired woman. His heart dropped when he didn’t see her. Slowly he started to spin around to face the bar again when a voice made him stop.

            “Are you looking for me?”

            He finished the rotation of the stool to find the blue-eyed stare of the red-haired woman he had been watching. 

He was cute, she had to give him that. Cocking her head, she extended a hand to him. He met it, and shook it woodenly. He had dark hair—a bit shaggier than she was used to, but not too long as to lay in his eyes. His eyes matched his hair, and in the whirling lights of the club looked almost black.

Something in her stomach clenched, but in a pleasant way, and she coaxed the wolf that rose up at the sight of him, back down. That would be dangerous for more than just him if she gave her full rein.

“Ah, well, yes.” He stuttered to her. She smiled. It wasn’t that he was drunk, oh no, she had watched him as well. He sipped the whiskey, instead of downing it like any inexperienced frat boy.

“Good.” She sat on the stool next to him, and tapped the bar with three fingers. The bartender knew what she wanted, and quickly a bottle and glass were provided before the bartender moved away on silent feet. She poured herself a drink, and offered to top off his glass.

“How’d you get him to give you the bottle?”

She met his eyes, and smiled. “Oh, he knows me.”

“You come here often?”

“Well, now there’s a line if I’ve ever heard one.” She had to stifle a chuckle with a sip of the whiskey. It was deep, but with a hint of oak that she liked. Not as good as the stuff she got at home, but it was better than fruity drinks and vodka.

“I didn’t—I wasn’t—.” He paused, trying to gather his thoughts. Taking a deep breath he tried again. “I wasn’t saying a line. Just an observation.”

She waited a beat before smiling and saying, “I thought so. Just teasing you a bit.”

He smiled in relief and took another drink before turning to survey the crowd. “You don’t strike me as a club hopper.” She watched him watch her out of the corner of his eye.

“No, not usually.” She turned as well; two could play that game. “My cousin owns the bar, asked if I would come down for some extra help during spring break.” She paused taking a long pull from the nearly empty glass.  “This is my last night, thankfully.”

“It looked like you were having fun.”

“I never said I wasn’t having fun.” Carefully, she set her drink on the counter before turning to him, holding out a hand. Something inside of her told her to—she didn’t understand it. She wanted to dance with him. Well, if she was honest, the wolf inside wanted to do much more than dance. But dancing in the middle of a club should be harmless enough.

Surprisingly he took her hand, and she led him out onto the dance floor. Most of the clubbers had left, leaving a little bit of room near the DJ’s setup. She liked being near it. The speakers were to their left and right, and when the beat came through them, she could feel it in her heart.

It must have spoken to the primitive part of her that would have marched to the beat of a drum in her grandfather’s time. But this was no war, at least not that type. The only thing she had to overcome was the wolf inside.

 He had natural rhythm. Though not quite as fluid as she was, he could keep up with her. The wolf inside hummed in pleasure at having his arms around her, or his hands on her hips. Her head buzzed like she had been drinking too many coffees, but she couldn’t get enough of him. She thought about taking him back to her hotel room, but suddenly a hand on her arm pulled her away from his embrace, breaking whatever feeling she had.

She growled, and then realized it was her cousin Cyrina who had pulled her away to whisper in her ear.

“Are you mad? He’s not one of us. You could kill him!” Cyrina’s amber eyes bored into her.

“I know what I’m doing!” She hissed back.

“Right, and the last human you mated with was when, exactly?” Cyrina accused with her hands on her hips. Despite being only five-foot-nothing, and blonde, Cyrina could be intimidating in her own right. She had an inkling it had to do with her being mated to the Alpha of the pack in Miami.

Her wolf didn’t want to give him up, and she could feel him standing there, waiting to see what had happened. Taking a few breaths, she turned back to him being careful not to touch him again.

“I have to go. Something’s happened in the ladies room, and they need my help.”

He looked so heartbroken and sad that she almost couldn’t take it. Her heart ached, and she felt a howl crawling up the back of her throat as her wolf started to panic.

He swallowed twice before speaking. “Okay, I understand.” He glanced around. “It’s almost closing time anyway I should grab Abby before it’s chaos.”

Her wolf cocked its head as jealously started to gripped her heart. It didn’t matter who Abby was. She would never see this man again once she returned home to Chicago tomorrow.

She made to turn away, but electricity ran up from where he touched her arm. She felt her body shiver as she turned toward him.

“I never got your name?” He leaned in and asked where no one would overhear. A quiver ran up and down her spine when he did so, but not an unpleasant one.

“It’s Bryna.”

Why I love NaNoWriMo

Ahh, it's that time of year again.

The cool breeze, pumpkin spice everything, hot chocolate and cider, carving pumpkins, the changing leaves, Mosquitoes die in the cold pits of—oh there I go again getting away from myself.

It's fall! *canned cheering*

Which can only mean one thing for writer-ly types: NaNoWriMo approaches!!

This year will be the fourth time I have competed in the challenge and the second time I plan on writing two novels in 30 days. I have also participated in their summer program Camp NaNoWriMo several times.

There are so many positive aspects to this program, not the least is providing materials and support to schools and libraries across the USA. They have turned the month of November into a celebration of literary abandonment and the joy that is writing.

The concept is simple: write a brand new novel that totals 50, 000 words in the 30 days of November. So if you break that down, the daily goal is 1,667 words every day. Something that's a little more "bite sized", but at the end of the month you either have a completed novel, or at the very least, the start of one.

I will, of course link their website at the end of this post for curious clicking.

Below are just a few of the reasons that I really love, and support this program.


1.) It is a month completely dedicated to literary events that center around writing. It is one month out of the year that can give people the excuse to say "Not right now, I'm writing". Finding the time to work on your writing can be difficult for many people from many different walks of life. From the college/HS student, to the workaholic, to the stay at home parent. Finding even 30 minutes to yourself can be hard to find. But just once a year, telling your loved ones that you're concentrating on hitting a goal as lofty as writing a novel in a month gives credit to your efforts, and gives you a concrete timeframe.


2.) The challenge is fantastic for learning how to set a big goal, and break it down into smaller bite sized pieces. Most people, if not all, know that in order to attain a larger goal you should break it down into smaller steps. NaNo does that for people. It can be a stepping stone to working on other projects, both writing and non-writing related. You just wrote a book in a month, why not start that walking routine? Or saving money? Or eating just one more serving of fruits/veggies instead of the french fries? NaNo can be a spring board for other great habits, both with intangible and tangible rewards.


3.) NaNo brings together people in a way that I have yet to experience elsewhere. The site has the option to make a "region" your home location. Within that region there is a forum where people, anyone in the region, can start a "thread" or conversation. Other members can comment and even set up public meetings called "write ins". Usually Write Ins are held at coffee shops or libraries. They are events where the writers come, get food, drink, socialize, and best of all write! Writing can be such an isolating activity, NaNo combats that with the forums and local write ins. Writers now have a "built" in community of people who understand the ups and downs of writing. I met my entire writing group through NaNo, and they are honestly my best friends, mentors, and editors.


4.) One of the fantastic aspects to NaNo that I love is that it promotes writing to EVERYONE. Not just people who have been writing for years, or even went to school for it. But EVERYONE. That cashier at the local CVS? She has a story to tell. Your pastor? He has a story too. The Barrista at the local coffee place? The same. Creativity is not limited to people who have always been writing, it is for ANYONE who has ever had the thought "I could/should write a book." Writing is one of those activities where it doesn't matter your age when you start, unlike say Football. If you have a story in your mind, write it. NaNo encourages that.


5.) At the end of the month, whether you've written the 50,000 or 5,000 you have the feeling of accomplishment. You've attempted, or met a goal that not many people actually try to do. If you hit the 50k you'll feel like a winner. If not, even if you wrote 2,000 words you've still written 2,000 words that you hadn't before. No matter what happens during the 30 days, everyone who participates, who tries for this large goal, everyone can feel proud of themselves.

If you are a more serious writer, of course you could and should write throughout the rest of the year. But why not participate in something that is so exciting and brings so many different people together using the one thing they all love?

I for one plan on participating every year unless serious life events challenge that. But even then I'll probably still find a way to write extra during November. 



NaNoWriMo site:  http://nanowrimo.org/

Advice

What advice would I give an "aspiring" writer?
Well first off, I dislike the use of aspiring. If you're writing something, anything creative, you're already a writer. So let me rephrase the question.
What advice would I have to writers, especially those just starting on the journey.

First off I would say, welcome! Most other writers you meet are going to welcome you with completely open arms, and want to "talk shop".
There a few pieces of advice that I would like every person that is on the writing journey know:


1. Though writing is (typically) a solitary adventure, you are putting down imaginary characters from an imaginary world down onto paper, you are not alone. There are literally thousands of writers all over the world who are doing the same thing you are. Reach out, connect, cheer each other on, and commiserate when characters misbehave.


2. Practice. Practice. Practice. No one writes a perfect first draft. NO ONE. That is what the revision process is for. Every time you go through it your writing gets better. I promise.


3. If thinking about self publishing, get as many people as you can volunteer to read it before hitting that "submit" button. Yes, typos happen to the best of us (I've found several in traditionally pubbed books as well), but the more eyes you have checking, the less likely you'll have readers pointing them out later.


4. Develop a thick skin. Sadly, as much as you love you story and you characters, writing is still art. And art is subjective in nature. Not everyone who reads your stories will love them, or even like them. Learn to sift through for the gold nuggets of advice, and leave the rest alone.

So You Want to Write a Book? Pt 4

The very last question/topic for this series is almost the most important one, and the one I hear most frequently.


"How do you get started?"


This is both the simplest and most difficult to answer. It's like answering the existential question of "What does life mean?" There are numerous answers to both, and yet there is only one correct answer for each person.


Every person starts on this journey differently. Some will have similar paths, and some will have very convoluted steps.


But the most simple answer I can give is: just start wherever you are. If you feel like writing on the train, in the car, at the office. Grab some paper, or even your phone. And just start. Sometimes your characters will bug you until you write their stories. Others, you'll need to pursue and convince them their story is worth sharing. But the whole issue boils down to one thing.


You have to tell your inner editor, that naysayer, to shut up and take a back seat.


All the doubts, and negative thoughts telling you that your writing will suck, that no one would want to read your books, that people will hate your writing. Take those thoughts, bundle 'em up nice and tight with duct tape, and ship them off to the artic. Or Sibera, whichever is cheaper for your selected transit company.


You have to get those out of your head. Or even better, use them as fuel. Tell yourself that you're going to write despite or in spite of those negative thoughts. And if it's a person telling you those things? Cut them out. You or anyone else who is thinking of being creative definitely don't need that kind of negativity in your lives.


This is why I love what NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo stands for. It's just literary abandon at its finest. AND you have a group of like minded people surrounding, and supporting, your writing. Whether you make the 50K or you only write 10K. You did something that most people would never dream of doing: getting started.


So start today. Maybe just an outline. Maybe a character sketch. Maybe a piece of dialogue. Maybe an entire chapter.
Whatever it is, just start.


I'll just be over here cheering you on.

Tools of the Trade

There are many tools that writers utilize during the process of creating a book.
They can range from reference books, a library, a person, the software used to plan or write the book, hard materials such as notebooks/pens/notecards, to online resources like Pinterest and baby name websites.


In this blog post I'd like to talk about one that I have recently, really begun using more. That is the App, or website known as Pinterest.
Now, I have been a Pinterest user for several years; it definitely started after I got my first iPhone. At first I used it for the usual things like, jokes, cat memes, planting advice, house ideas, writing advice for both during NaNo and writing in general. (There's seriously tons on my boards, and it would take way too long to list everything!)


Then I found the geek tab, and I added more boards all about Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, House, Castle etc. From that board I started finding interesting fantasy posts and pictures. Any writing advice got pinned to the writing boards, but what was I to do with these inspiring and cool pictures that sparked my imagination? Well, create a board called "Inspiration"!


This "Inspiration" board has become a catch-all for anything that sparks my imagination, or reference materials for books. You will find things that range from types of weapons and armor, to plants and their medicinal (or poision) uses. From reference pictures of characters and clothing to snippets of dialogue or listings of medieval jobs. Anything that catches my attention goes in.


Later, or even if I know right away where that particular piece fits, I either add it to an existing board, or I create a new one. So now not only do I have an "Inspiration" board, but also a board for my first trilogy, "Incalescent", and for the romance trilogy I'm working on that's set in Ireland, "Irish Romance".


Lately I've been using it to save images of characters for a middle grade/young adult Christian Fantasy I've had brewing in the back of my mind. Which is a little odd. Before this I never actively searched for character references. But I have found that this is helping to solidify the characters and their traits more in my mind.


Have you used Pinterest before in your writing process? If you have, I'd love to hear about it!

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.

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!

So You Want to Write a Book? Pt 2

Springing off of last week Wednesday's post about inspiration, today is about how long it takes to write a book. This is one the Top questions I get asked.
Oy Vey. This one is both straight forward, and difficult to explain.


The best answer I can give is this: The time it takes to write the story is inversely controlled by how much time you have taken in preparing for the writing.


Confused? Me too.


I have found that the more work at setting up the novel: doing research, character sketches, imagining the places and scenes, even doing scene cards for plotting, the faster the actual writing time takes. Mostly I do this much intense prep for my fantasy novels, which I can write in 30 days during NaNoWriMo. As a control, I wrote a romance at the same time. For this book all I had were names, a general location, and an idea. That's it. I even had to make up characters, and places, and plot devices while writing. (This one, after a year, was still unfinished, and took a lot of work to get it into shape)


For me, the more time I spend prepping, the less time I need to spend writing a first draft. NOW this does not include re-writes, edits, and beta reading. Just the time it takes to sit down and write a rough draft.


To do the proper amount of prepping before writing, the time varies for everyone. But once you have done this, it is much easier to "see" and get into your story. Once this is happening consistently, you will find that the words just tumble over your mind and onto the keyboard without you having to force them.


If you have a well thought out idea, it won't stay shoved up inside your mind, it will beg to be released onto the page.

The Dreaded Writers Block

It starts slowly, the keys don't pound as quickly as they did, the pen isn't scrawling like it used to, and maybe that main character is looking a little boring. You sit at the screen, staring. Hoping by some magic that your book will write itself and you can curl up on the couch and watch Netflix all day.


You've hit the much feared Writers Block head on. Either you wish you could write and nothing happens, or you don't even want to try because fear has you paralyzed. But there is no reason to fear "writer's block", in fact it is an opportunity for growth!


Typically writer's block is an internal issue. A mental game if you will. Maybe you've spent too much time with this specific project, and you need some time off. Maybe you wrote yourself in to a corner and don't know where to go from here. Maybe you just have a fear of getting started on this epic journey called being an author. Writers block is something that must be dealt with immediately or it will fester. Whatever the case may be, I have complied a list of the techniques I have used to beat writers block.


1. Get up and go for a walk. Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery. Maybe even go to a new coffee place and bring your laptop.


2. Shut down the electronics, or notebook, and take a step back. This could be for ten minutes, an hour, or a few days. Take some time to clear your head, then think about what could be blocking you.


3. Work on something different. Just get words down on a page. Keep a journal, do a writing prompt, get a writing sprint buddy. As long as words are on the page, you're winning this thing. Get in the habit of writing SOMETHING daily.


4. Read. I know this seems counterintuitive, but most writers become writers because they love to read. Just because you're writing your own stories doesn't mean that you can't enjoy others! You may find your inspiration again!


5. Talk to someone who believes in you and your writing. Nothing is more inspiring than that.


6. Remember that you are only writing a rough draft. "Writing is where we make the words. Editing is where we make the words not suck." Believe me, having something down makes the editing and revising process much easier. No one sat and wrote a perfect rough draft, so you don't either!

Writers Conference!

As you're reading this I am currently attending the Madison Writer's conference!! *cue cheers*
I am so excited to be a part of this event again for the second time. Even more people from my writing group have decided to join in on the fun.


This year there are tons more talks on topics that pertain to me and my writing, such as: self-publishing, writing fantasy, marketing your book series, romance novels, plot and character development, and so much more!


My romance novel set in Ireland was not in shape fast enough to pitch. So I've decided to start the querying process later this summer and through next year if it doesn't get picked up right away. If it's not picked up by next year's conference, I might just pitch it here!


Next week's posts will be all about this weekend. Things I have learned, what I liked, and my overall experience.


So if you're here, give me a shout out on Twitter! @onadragonswing2 is my handle! :)

Writing to Music: Yay or Nay?

Ah the question that comes along whenever two people realize they are both writers. To write with music playing, or write without it.


Some prefer absolute silence, and some require it. While others like the sounds of music coming through headphones, or even just the noise of the everyday going on around them.
I fall on the prefer music side of the fence. Now, in some instances I do not write to music, as I do most of the time when writing blogs. BUT when it comes to my novel or short story writing, I much prefer the sounds of music.


Some people listen only to score music, or songs with out words. Some I know prefer listening to lyrics, and music style varies on the piece they are working on. If your story is set in the city, some upbeat hip hop style music playing the background may help set the scene. The same goes for writing a western. As long as the music helps to immerse you in the world you are creating, use whatever works.


For my Fantasy novels I typically enjoy lyric-less music such as scores from movies. A few of my favorites are:
Doom
Pacific Rim
Assassins Creed-Black Flag
Pirates of Carribean


Some of my other novels have been written to music that contains lyrics. When I was writing my romance set in Ireland, I worked to the soundtrack for Outlander. I also wrote to a playlist titled "Modern Celtic" that contains todays songs written and sung in Gaelic. It sets the tone and gets the words flowing. When writing on fiction, I have a more difficult time getting "into" the story without music.


What about you? What do you prefer?




And don't forget! My first novel Through the Mountains is currently on sale for Kindle for only .99! And book two Across the Sea and Hills is on sale for eBook as well, 1.99 this month only!!! Keep watch though...One of them will be free the weekend of the 22nd!


Click the link below to grab a copy today!!
http://www.amazon.com/Malinda-Andrews/e/B013YY7Z42/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1460552792&sr=8-2

Misconceptions about Horses in Books

So, you want to put a horse in the story you are writing? Congratulations! You've chosen one of the most loyal, useful, intelligent, and interesting animals to add to your story. They truly are impressive. From the large eventing bred horse, to the little backyard pony. All of them are magnificent and each has a story to tell. I have been lucky to have spent over a decade not only riding, but training, giving lessons, and caring for these wonderful animals. I even owned two of them and handled most, if not all, of their training.


When I read books with horses in them, often they are portrayed akin to a motorcycle. You pull it out, saddle it, ride around for untold hours, and when you're done it goes back. What writers often miss are the myriad of nuances that makes up horses, their care, and their uses.

The first thing I would like to address is that horses need a lot of care. They require trimming their feet, health checks, grooming, and the most time consuming of all: training. Even a good minded horse needs long rides and wet saddle blankets. They want to be around people as well. They need that connection as the rider or handler has replaced their natural herd order. Horses like to know where they stand in the herd, and need to be a part of one. Even if it's a herd of the horse and its handler.
Most often I read stories of people simply pulling the horse out for use, and not putting in an effort to care for them. In certain situations this makes sense, such as a horse that may be traded in every tavern for a fresh one. But they still, at the end of a riding day, require attention and care.


The second is that there are many different kinds of horses, and their characteristics often change based on where their breed originates from. An example? The Friesian horse from the Netherlands. These animals are large, with an impressively arched neck. They are usually jet black with a flowing mane and tail. Very athletic, built uphill, their movements are sweeping and large. These horses were bred for war, and could easily carry a knight in full armor. Opposite the Friesian horse is the Shetland pony. Shetland's hail from the very north of Scotland, standing from 28inches to 46 inches at the withers. They are small. Their feet end in tiny hooves, they have copious amounts of hair all over their body for warmth, and with short sturdy legs are built for packing or pulling heavy loads. You would not put a knight a Shetland. It just doesn't fit. Before placing a horse in your story, think about how they will be used, and then pick a breed or type that best suits those needs.


The third, and one that drives me crazy, is color. There are in fact "brown" horses. They tend to be rare, and some colors just don't show up in some breeds at all. Here are just a few of the colors a horse can be: black, bay, white, chestnut, grey, palomino, buckskin, dun, gruella, albino, blue or red roan, and brown. Within some of those "colors" there are further variations that set them apart. A horse's fur color is just like a person's hair. Color is a multi-gene controlled aspect, and as such there are large variations and distinctions. Which means that a horse breed, such as the Friesian listed above may not even be capable of being a certain color. I was reading a book that a horse was of Spanish origin and was described as a buckskin, but later was mentioned that she had a dorsal strip. This horse would actually be considered a dun because of this. Buckskins cannot have a dorsal strip.


The fourth, and last one that I am explaining today is usually the LARGEST misconception. A horse can not gallop all day. Even over grassy plains they can't let, alone galloping through a forest or mountains. In fact, if the ground is rocky and rough, the horse should go no faster than a walk or a trot to ensure the safety of horse and rider. If you ever watch a horse on uneven surfaces they pick their way carefully. It's not easy to get back up when you're over a thousand pounds, and it's worse if you have a hundred some pound rider and supplies on your back. Horses, just like people need rest. A person can't run all day, so why would a writer make a horse? They also need to stop to graze frequently. Horses do not eat three square meals a day. They are grazers, and need time to eat smaller amounts throughout the day and night. When going on a long trip to give the horse some rest and time to graze, have the characters stop for lunch. Or even walk alongside the horses on their way.


Horses are not machines, they are living breathing beings that operate in and obey our natural laws. Now, if the story takes place in some magical realm and there is a solid reason why a horse has attributes that one on our planet wouldn't, THEN EXPLAIN why. Otherwise do some research, talk to someone who knows and understands them. The extra time will be well worth it.

4 Challenges Writers Face- Negative Feedback

Oh, man. If a quiet audience can make you nervous, a negative review or remark can send ice through a writers veins. Your stomach twists, and you only hope that other people either do not find the same mistake, or they don't agree with a bad review.


My first ever two star review on Goodreads was actually from a co-worker. Before I saw what he had rated it, I asked him what he thought about the book. The words came out slowly, and he didn't meet my eyes. It felt like the floor had dropped out from under me. Before his review I had three 5 star reviews on Amazon. Other people had loved it, so why hadn't he?


First off, it wasn't that he didn't like it. He just thought that it was geared more towards a YA audience than an adult one. Okay, I could see where he was coming from, the characters are only 18,19, and 20. Another gripe was that he felt there wasn't enough emphasis on the world building like in other traditional fantasies. Hmm, well I had actually made it a goal to have this book be enjoyable and non-intimidating to those unfamiliar with traditional fantasy. And of course, he had found typos.


So why did this affect me so much? How can one negative review hurt my entire outlook on writing?


Because I took it as a reflection of my worth as a human. I took it personally. Honestly, it is difficult not to take criticism on your work personally. It takes untold hours to plot, craft characters, world build, write, revise, edit, and design a cover. Writers by default end up putting a lot of themselves into their work. On the one hand this is a great aspect to the craft, and on the other, well it kind of sucks. You feel like every person now has a say in your personal writing life. Often, I have seen people give up their passion for writing over one negative review.


I have found the best way to get over a negative response, is a multi step process.

Go ahead and cry. I said it! Cry. Get the frustration and sadness out. If you don't it will fester and show up in other aspects of your life, or even worse- your current project!


Commiserate with a friend or loved one. Preferably someone who has known what went into producing the book.


Pick yourself up by your bootstraps and keep on writing.


As hard as it is, with the passage of time and producing more writing, you grow a thicker skin. You also come to realize both in your head and your heart, that you will not make everyone who reads your book happy. And that is NOT your job. Your job is to write the story that only you can write. Art is a subjective medium, and writing is no exception.


I promise, it does get easier with time.

4 Challenges Writers Face- Quiet Audience

Everyone has that fear, that dreaded dream, where you stand up in front of a group of people and something goes awry. Either you're missing a piece of clothing, people boo and heckle, electronics fail, or the audience is completely silent, almost like no one is there at all. This is the worst fear of a writer who is putting their work out there. Will anyone like it? Will they share it with friends? Will they leave a review so that the book is easier to find for other people?


Let me tell you, this is a big challenge I face. Every week I put up two blogs, and once a month I post a book review. And every week I see the consistently high views and reads, but no one really comments.


I hear about people that are interested in my book, or have read it and liked it. But I don't see the same return on reviews. I often wonder, is anyone out there reading my work? Is it worth the time, money, blood, sweat, and tears it takes to put one of my books out there?


Despite the hardships, challenges, and doubts...my answer is a resounding YES.


Now, this does not mean that I am over the hills happy all the time. In fact I have to fight through the doubts when the audience is silent and the auditorium seems empty. The best piece of information I can give someone who is building their audience, is to not give up. Keep posting your blog. Keep tweeting and instagraming both personal and professional aspects to your life. Go to conferences, go to signings, host an author event- even if only a handful of people show up. Then it's just more intimate, and you can express and share things easier.


And when you do learn about someone who loves your work (almost) as much as you do? Cherish them! Re-read the good reviews and positive comments. Hopefully you have built your own cheerleading section, and surrounded yourself with people who not only care about your work, but also you. These people can and will lift you up when you are feeling down. They will be the ones to remind you that this is not a sprint, but a marathon. Lean on them. I can't even tell you how many times my husband has been my rock when things are quiet.


Just keep posting, keep putting both yourself and your work out there. The people will come once they realize you are active, that you respond to them, and that you continue to put out good quality books.


Stay the course, and keep on writing!

Write what you know?

The old adage for writers goes "Write what you know".
But is this really true? After all people write historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. So have they been to and lived in all the places they are writing about? What about a writer that lives in rural Minnesota writing about gangs in New York during the prohibition? How could they possibly have knowledge on that?


For me, that advice should be taken with a grain of salt. If everyone was pigeon holed into writing what they knew, we'd never have great epics like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Even Outlander and Game of Thrones. (pause for gasps) People would instead write solely about everyday life like getting groceries, checking the mail, and the commute to and from work. Not that any of that would need to be boring, it just would all be similar in locations.


Writing what you know can be a very fluid idea. Researching something thoroughly can make someone an expert. Especially if they use credible sources, or speak with an expert in that field. For myself in the Ryder Chronicles, I researched swords. I learned about the different styles, why they are shaped the way they are. How to find one that has the right balance for you, as well as a length and shape that matches your fighting style. There is a sequence in Across the Sea and Hills where there is a forging of two swords. I literally spent hours not only on the internet, but also in books. I hope it comes across in the book, the hours that were spent researching that one aspect. When a writer is equipped with knowledge, even if it isn't blatantly in the story, it bleeds through and creates a richness that the reader can pick up on. I always have more notes than what actually gets put into the stories. It helps me as the author.


One of the most poorly researched devices in fantasy novels are horses. I have found so many errors when it comes to the description, and use of horses in especially fantasy novels. Such as: describing the colors incorrectly, the breed, horses can't run all day and all night for days on end, most of them do not form close bonds with their riders over a short period of time-like any relationship it takes time and work to gain their trust.


So should you only "write what you know?" The answer is both yes and no. Take the time to research, really get in depth with something if you haven't had experience with it before. But also if you know characterization inside out and backwards- have the characters and their actions shine through!


As always, keep writing!

4 Challenges Writers Face- Feeling Overwhelmed and Anxiety

Welcome back! Or at least I hope that you decided to come back to my blog after last week's part one in a four part series. And if you're new, well an extra welcome to you! In part one I discussed the challenge of distractions, and in part two the topics are feeling overwhelmed and dealing with anxiety.


Sometimes during the writing and creating process we get so lost, that it can be jarring to have the real world come knocking at the door. Or even to realize just how much you have to get done before a deadline approaches. This is completely normal. Having a stress response is a natural thing. It's what makes us pay bills, have a job, buy groceries. But when that response goes haywire? It can really mess with your head!


So how do you combat it?


When I am feeling overwhelmed, I make a list of everything that has to get done. This is best done on paper where you can see it, but after doing it so long, I can do it in my head. Once you have that list, go ahead and rank the tasks with different levels of importance from A-C, A is the highest, C is the lowest. By putting everything out on paper you are making the intangible thoughts and worries tangible. In this manner you are better able to attack what needs to be done in the best and most logical way possible.


Seeing everything laid and seeing that, hey the dishes/laundry/anything else could wait another hour, brings a sense of peace. By having a "game plan" on how to attack the list of things that need to get done, I usually feel calmer. I know where to start, and know down to brass tacks what at the very least needs to get done. The rest of the list? I will get to the other items as soon as possible, but I attack the "A" items first and see how much time is left.


Sometimes even this isn't enough to ease my anxiety. At that point I will make a cup of tea, usually peppermint or spearmint. I literally give myself a time out. Most times I only need five to ten minutes, but use which ever amount of time you think will work best. During this "time out" I concentrate on my breathing, and focus only on one task at a time. I mentally outline how I will work on the issues or tasks one at a time. After my time is up, and  I am not feeling anxious or overwhelmed, I get back to work with clarity. Many times I can actually get though the task list much quicker after taking a "time out" as my mind is better able to focus.


What about you? How do you deal with feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed?
Please share them down below!

4 Challenges Writers Face- Distractions

Welcome to a new series! This will be a four part series outlining four challenges that writers face, and how I have learned to cope with them.


Up first? Distractions!


Distractions come in all shapes and sizes, and can be external or internal in origin. Most of the time I get distracted by either the internet or the TV. Since I don't have children yet, I don't have many tips of working around them. The only three I have is if they are younger work when they nap, a babysitter for a few hours, or if they're older institute a quite work time where they can color or do homework.


Many people I know use a program to turn their internet off. This doesn't work for me as I like researching things when I stumble across them in writing. I will also use playlists that are online while writing. How I get around the black hole that is the internet is to set myself time limits when writing and also time limits on how much internet time I can have. When I'm really in the groove I don't even care about spending time online, but when the writing is slower, it is much more of a distraction.


I subscribe to several YouTubers, and will often use their videos as a reward for writing for a set amount of time. I have similar constraints on the TV. My husband likes working in the living room with the TV on as background noise, but when writing it just seems to distract me. I get sucked right in to whatever show is on, and I can't get out. If this is also what happens to you, I have a tip.


Move. When he needs to be in that room to work, I leave. I love him very much, and enjoy our time together, but at that moment there is a big distraction when I want to get work done. Since I have a laptop, I move into the office. Most often I write in the living room on the couch, I know- it can lead to bad posture- but the office is always colder than the rest of the apartment for some strange reason.


When I really need to get some serious work done I will shut myself away, plug in the earbuds to drown out the noise from the TV, and get lost in the world I'm writing in. Often there are sweatshirts, blankets, hot tea, and even fingerless gloves involved. But sometimes you just have to set your time aside. After a set amount of time, or I hit the writing/editing goal for the day, I re-emerge usually much happier than before.


What about you? Any tips for dealing with Distractions?
Stay tuned for Part 2- Feeling Overwhelmed coming soon!

8 Lessons Learned- Self Publishing

1. There will always be 1 typo that gets missed by yourself, two beta readers, and an editor. It's gonna be alright, just take a deep breath.


2. Learn to distance yourself from your work. When people criticize your work, they are not taking shots at you as a person.


3. Build a good support system of fellow writers, and people who believe in you and your ability.


4.Give yourself plenty of time between drafts to clear out, and come back with a fresh perspective.


5. Breathe through the formatting section. AND TAKE YOUR TIME. Don't rush through it like I did the first time. You are not a professional formatter, you are a writer.


6. Do your best at marketing, but do not obsess. Again, your specialty is writing.


7. Give your artist at least two weeks if not a full month, of cushion before your drop dead date. Your stress levels will thank you.


8. Slow down, and enjoy the process. Forgive yourself for the things you don't know off the bat. It will get better. As with anything, practice is the only way to get better.

Bucking Tradition-Why I started my book with the character waking up.

One of the first pieces of advise writers hear is to never open a story by having the character wake up.
In my own writing, in my debut novel, I "broke" this rule.
Firstly the prologue is clearly a dream. The main character, Riona, is staring up into the summer sky imaging what it would be like to fly amongst the puffy clouds. Then she turns and finds that she is a giant white dragon. This scene does actually have great importance throughout the series, but I have to be careful not to spoil anything just yet!  After this we launch into chapter one. Riona gets shaken awake by her long time friend Damien.




Chapter One
"Riona! Riona, wake up!"
"Mmm, just let me sleep." She mumbled, making weak hand gestures at the man interrupting her sleep.
The man spoke again, "No, we have to go now."
Rolling over, she met fierce blue eyes. Damien. While rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands she wondered what he was doing all the way out in the foothills.
"Storm clouds are coming." His words helped her to clear her head of the fogginess left by her dream; it had seemed so real.
If Damien had found her to warn about a storm, then they needed to get out of the open. Damien's family was one of the oldest in the Rhydian Valley. They knew by trade, instinct, or otherwise, when the weather was going to be bad.


Instantly the reader is made to understand from context clues that this story is taking place in a world like our own, but is uniquely itself. There is an immediacy in his tone, and Riona realizes that and it forces the both of them into action.


I, scouts honor, have not come across one person who has read it criticize the opening. Not once has someone come up after reading and said, "you shouldn't open with her waking up." It seems that the "rules" of opening, closing, and even writing a story in general, can be broken. There is a clear reason why I chose to have the book open in this way. As long as there is a clear and understandable reason, and the opening of the story flows well, I say open it however you want!


It's your story. Tell it in the manner you think suits it best!