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Monday, January 19, 2015

Update on Writing Life

I was driving home from church and realized it had been a long time since I'd just done a blog post updating people on my life and endeavors and what's going on with me. So I looked on my blog and lo and behold, it's been almost a whole year since I did one of those types of posts!

I guess that's because I've been doing pretty much the same thing for the last year. That, and I just have so many other posts about writing and reading and thoughts on life that I'd rather put up. But I know some of my followers follow me because they want to know what's going on with me, specifically.

Well, I'll be honest, a better place to find that info would be on my Facebook . . . but I've also become much less active on there too.

But that's because it's better for me to spend time on writing stuff when I'm at a computer!

Got some new pictures done for a Christmas Present.




Updates


Status of my novel: still editing--but I feel so good about the changes I've made to it! It's way too long, so I've been cutting and condensing and trying to make every line count, and seriously, I recently had a writing growth spurt that has kicked up the prose to be at least twice as interesting and entertaining than they were before! And I really need to revamp my novel description/log line, because with the changes I'm making--it does not give the right first impression of my novel, though it's a true description.

I've been mainly focusing on condensing and moving around scenes, character growth and character voice, and taking every snippet above being mundane to (hopefully) interesting and amusing. No, really guys, I've had a growth spurt. Which translates into "Watch out for the Writing Tip blog posts this year."

In fact, here are some I've been working on that you can watch for (titles may be different):
Writing with Cliches--When, Why, and How to Use them Right (Breaking Writing Rules)
Writing with Adverbs and Adjectives--When, Why, and How to Use them Right (Breaking more Writing Rules) (I'm just breaking everything around here)
Giant post all about writing humor, with (13, 14, 15?) techniques, and examples that will make you laugh.

Here are some that I haven't even started, but hope to:
Relationship as a Character--How to Create friend/sibling/coworker/romantic/anything Relationships that Audiences Fall for.
Taking Every Scene to the Next Level by Expanding, Deepening, and Creating Motion
Picking the Right Details

And I've got more that aren't much more than ideas. I want to pull apart The Hunger Games trilogy as my next Story Dissection, but that won't be up until the latter end of the year--if all goes according to plan.

As for writerly adventures, I'm skipping my usual writing conferences this year to go to Salt Lake Comic Con later in the year. They have a writer track that's basically like a writing conference. I'm even tempted to see if I could be a guest and turn one of my "nerdy" story dissections into a session. Probably like the Dragon Ball Z Writing Tips one. But I don't know, I feel like I need to have a novel out or else I'm not qualified to, you know? Even though I have other credentials. I've never been to a comic con, and frankly, never thought I would, but I've heard good things!

What else? Oh yeah! I got my first piece of physical fan mail. It was awesome!





Also, a big one: My sister-in-law's novel came out a few months ago! I don't think I mentioned it on here yet. I got to beta-read it (you can find my name in the acknowledgements. I feel so special.) I'm re-reading it, now that it's been published, and guys, I'm not just saying this because we're family, but she's a really great writer.


Seventeen-year-old Genesis Lee has never forgotten anything. As one of the Mementi—a small group of genetically enhanced humans—Gena remembers everything with the help of her Link bracelets, which preserve them perfectly. But Links can be stolen, and six people have already lost their lives to a memory thief, including Gena’s best friend. 
Anyone could be next. That’s why Gena is less than pleased to meet a strange but charming boy named Kalan who claims not only that they have met before, but also that Gena knows who the thief is. 
The problem is that Gena doesn’t remember Kalan, she doesn’t remember seeing the thief, and she doesn’t know why she’s forgetting things—or how much else she might forget. As growing tensions between Mementi and ordinary humans drive the city of Havendale into chaos, Gena and Kalan team up to search for the thief. And as Gena loses more memories, they realize they have to solve the mystery fast…because Gena’s life is unhappening around her.
If it sounds like your kind of reading, by all means, please go check it out.

As I read it, part of me is like, "Oh my gosh! Yes! She's so good! Yes! She's doing it!" and a tiny part of me is like "No! She's so good! Whyyyyyy"--and I mean that in a good flattering kind of way (and she knows because I told her). Haha.

I've picked up a little yoga--okay, really just the P90X video of it. And I ordered some new workout shirts that are totally awesome!



LookHuman has the cleverest workout clothes--Disney, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and just whatever.

Ummm... I think that's about it in the writing/reading/entertainment realm of my life! And even outside of that, life is great!


4 comments:

  1. I, too, love the P90X Yoga video, and the stretching video. I'm looking forward to Genesis Lee AND your book. Thanks for posting the writing lessons, I get so much out of them. You should consider teaching at writing cons... or at least doing panels.

    Good luck, and thanks for the updates!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks James! :D Glad you like my writing lessons.

      I have been considering it a little, so thanks for the feedback.

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  2. Thanks for the updates! Thanks for posting about the fan mail I sent you too, I'm glad you liked it! Congratulations on getting some more editing done on your novel. I look forward to picking it up once it is released. In the meantime, I will add your sister-in-law's book to my wish list. There are a bunch of books I have on my list to read this year. I also look forward to reading the writing tip blog posts you mentioned. I need to get back in the yoga groove as well, I felt so much better when I was doing it regularly. Those LookHuman shirts are awesome! I've added the "Training to go Super-Saiyan" and "King Kai Training Team" to my wish list. You would be awesome as a guest whether you have a novel out or not. Good luck and take care!

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    Replies
    1. Jake,
      Thanks for all of you comments and message and everything :)
      Yes, I really liked her book.
      Yay for yoga!
      I know, LookHuman is the bomb when it comes to work out shirts. The ones you got were awesome too. I almost got the one that said "Super Saiyan Mod Activate."
      Thanks for the positive feedback.
      Have an awesome day!

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