A Novel Experience

YAY

2007-04-06T10:12:00.000+09:30

After a HUGE amount of time without doing anything on my story a burst of creativity came to me over Exam time - I believe this is a result of stress and its not realy creativity, but insanity. - I have done the following things.

- Written the entire plotline in point form. I was so happy about this. I have now managed to find a way to tie my complication and resolution together in a plausible manner. It also means I know EXACTLY where the story is going and how it will end.

- Created chapter and scene outlines. Im up to chapter three outline now. I cant belive I didn't do this before, it is so helpful. And as a result I have all dialogue ready before I write the description. (Dialogue being a main technique in forwarding the plot at this point in time)

- As for the prologue, prequel and backstory? I have decided that having a prologue and/or a prequel is irrelevant. For my story, all required backstory will be reveiled in flashbacks from the perspectives of all the main characters. Just seeing different peices of the past that the reader can put together themselves.

-Chapter One is completed! I completely re-wrote what I had written previously. Its 3000 words long and has taken on some techniques similar to what Dan Brown uses; I have ended the chapter with a cliffhanger and began Chapter Two in the lair of the 'bad guy'. The difference is that instead of having to wait until Chapter Three where the scene returns to the 'good guys' the cliffhanger is resolved in Chapter Two. This allows me to skip tedious description and dialogue while creating suspense.

So thats what Ive done, all in the space of a week. Exiting hey? Now I'm going to post the difference between the new chapter and the old chapter. Its a huge difference and Im glad I did re-write it.

This is what I posted before:

"Thud. Katherine groaned through gritted teeth as she hit the ground. How far must she have fallen? It seemed like forever as she sat up rubbing the back of her head while looking around in front of her. Everything was pitch black. She held her hand up to her face, but couldn’t make it out. She stood up and looked about herself fully. Thinking all the time, where am I?"

This is the current version:

"Katherine hit the ground; the impact jolted her to consciousness. Squinting at the darkness around her she noticed the pain in her back where she had landed. One thing was certain to her; she wasn’t lying in her bed. No, there was a solid, dusty smelling, rock hard surface beneath her and the air carried a chill that would have normally been warded off by her doona. Katherine felt herself to ensure that all of her was present, arms, legs, torso, most importantly, head. That was a relief to her, though the matter of being in a completely alien place dressed in only her pyjamas brought a hot lump to her throat and seemed to make the temperature of the air drop significantly. Shivering madly, with fear, anxiety and cold her eyes darted to different points of the surrounding blackness as she sat up, feeling the air in front of her, hoping to grasp some comforting reminder that she wasn’t too far from home. "

Quite an improvement, hey? I hope it will only get better.

Oh well, lets hope it keeps comming.

Tash.

2007-04-03T19:03:00.000+09:30

50 Random Questions

1. Where were you 3 hours ago?

School

2. Who are you in love with?

No one *heart breaks*

3. Have you ever eaten a crayon?

nup

4. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

yes XD

5. When is the last time you went to the mall?

today

6. Are you wearing socks right now?

7. Do you have a car worth over $2,000?

nup

8. When was the last time you drove out of town?

ummmm i live out of town

9. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days?

10. Are you hot?

HELL YES

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?

Cola -damn generic brand-

12. What are you wearing right now?

short shorts and singlet

13. Do you wash your car or let the car wash do it?

i dont own a car

14. Last food that you ate?

bread roll

15. Where were you last week at this time?

here

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week?

yes.

17. When is the last time you ran?

... begining of exams ... and never again

18. What's the last sporting event you watched?

Taekwon-do Grading

19. What is your favorite animal?

Rat

20. Your dream vacation?

Egypt and or Ireland

21. Last person's house you were in?

Mooses cottage. damn that was a good party

22. Worst injury you've ever had?

I scraped my knee

23. Have you been in love?

nup.

24. Do you miss anyone right now?

yeah...

25. Last play you saw?

Priscilla! QUEEN OF THE DESERT

26. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?

hmm, maybe i should get me one of those

27. What are your plans for tonight?

SOR assignment

28. Who is the last person you sent a MySpace message or comment?

cant remember. SO long ago. (deleted my bebo in a rage)

29. Next trip you are going to take?

bus in the morning. to school

30. Ever go to camp?

yeah. a couple. my favorite one was the UNSW mining engineering summer school. lol now thats a camp! (we stayed in a 5 star hunter valley resort)

31. Were you an honor roll student in school?

nup

32. What do you want to know about the future?

something good

33. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?

yup

34. Are you due sometime this year for a doctor's visit?

yup

35. Where is your best friend?

at home? - Gaming most likely -

36. How is your best friend?

Tinsel is the typical tortured soul destined to do great things. once she gets off the computer

37. Do you have a tan?

yup

38. What are you listening to right now?

nothing.

39. Do you collect anything?

Books!

40. Who is the biggest gossiper you know?

OH, so hard. nup. no idea :S

41. Last time you got stopped by a cop or pulled over?

never

42. Have you ever drank your soda from a straw?

yup

43. What does your last text message say?

do you want to meet outside?

44. Do you like hot sauce?

nup

45. Last time you took a shower?

this morning

46. Do you need to do laundry?

yes

47. What is your heritage?

Something western european

48. Are you someone's best friend?

i hope so.

49. Are you rich?

of the soul? yes.

50. What were you doing at 12AM last night?

sleeeeeping

Best Myspace Surveys

Hathor

2007-01-28T15:19:00.000+10:30

Saturday, I travelled with my family to Canberra to see the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities that are currently on loan to the National Gallery of Australia from the Lovre.

Its an absolutely wonderful exhibit!

I was rather inspired by it and (even though this has nothing to do with my novel) Ive decided to complete a series of artworks using charcoal and watercolours, here is my favorite of the sketches Ive done so far, this is of Hathor in the form of a cow, 19th-20th Dynasties. Ive drawn it with charcoal and coloured it with pencil.

Another project I managed to complete is my folder for school this year. Its painted in acrylics on a binder folder, I was just looking for something a bit individual.

Indeed...

I have been doing absolutely nothing, save a few hours at work and I have to go back to school on wednsday, which is a shame because I havent read the two plays and three novels I needed to for english. I havent done the chapter for maths, or the tests that my tutor wanted me to do. Havent picked up Studies of religion at all. And disasterously I havent designed my thesis for History Extention! The only real thing I have done is syllabus notes for Physics.

Oh well, ill get over it.

Some Art of Mine

2007-01-07T19:17:00.000+10:30

Ok, so I havent been writing for a few days. Being sick and all. So, while I prepare my Prologue to be posted. Here are some of my drawings and paintings I have recently done.

This is my lady with one eye. Its charcoal I just greyed everything and then used a rubber to remove the charcoal and add light. I did black out the background, my art teacher said it looked better before I did that as it put the moon in the distance but I inadvertently brought it forward.
This was me just mucking around on the last art lesson of the year... No one was really feeling like doing much, so I just mucked around. Again, its done in charcoal but I havent used a rubber to create light this time. After I finished my teacher and a visitor, who happens to teach at the TAFE got together and decided I should start drawing from life insteard of my imagination. I think i'll try to have a healthy combination of the two.

For the nerds in the Audience, I treat you to black mage. You will have to tilt your head in order to comprehend his greatness (what with me being not the greatest photographer in the world and all) This was done in Acrylics with a palette knife, and took me oh...about an hour. This is the comic that inspired me.

So that is my post. Until next time...Toodles

Prologues and my story's development...

2007-01-02T17:08:00.000+10:30

Ok, so I have done a little bit of research involving the use of prologues and I am also updating on the progress of my novel.

Prologues

For those who are unsure, a prologue introduces the reader to the history (or backstory) that is required to explain certain plot and character motivations. A Prologue is most commonly used in Science Fiction and Fantasy to introduce the reader to a world thats often far different to their own. This is a short exerpt from Marg McAlister's article on the prologue, which I highly recomend and includes an example.

A prologue should reveal significant facts that contribute to our
understanding of the plot. It should be vivid and entertaining in its own right
(who wants to read a boring prologue, no matter how much of the background it
explains?) It should make us want to read on.

I have also come to understand that quite often prologues that are often included in the writers manuscript are never published because the writer can fit the same information into the first chapter or through using flashbacks later in the book.

My Progress

Ok, a few days ago I ran into a problem. I had (still have) a good complication and a resolution, but no way for it to play out in a plausible manner. This was when I got the idea that I would include a prologue into my story. After writing the backstory to the current plot I unwittingly developed a prequel that I think I would be better off concentrating on. Whats even better about this plot is that its a tragedy, disasterous ending, the bad guy comes off best and everybody dies. Kinda morbid but I think its more distinct than the other 'underdog hero saves the day', which was what my first idea was. Still deciding if I should share the plot however, wouldnt want to ruin it for anyone.... (ha)

The stats are the same. I havent moved forward with the actual writing for ages.

Signing off for now,

Tash

Examples of my Work: The First

2006-12-29T16:13:00.000+10:30

Ok so, here I am with an update on what I have actualy completed. Not the process of how I've done it.

Remember the sketchbook I told you about before? Well, now that I have a visual representation of the scene I can describe it:

"The great winged beast bowed in greeting to Sophia as the others watched on. The long shadows produced by the creatures enhanced their features, Sophia was sure that these beasts were powerful, she was sure they would help her cause."

I dont know, I just like the idea of it as an interesting writing aid.

Now, the peice of text below is what I have for the current opening paragraph.

"Thud. Katherine groaned through gritted teeth as she hit the ground. How far must she have fallen? It seemed like forever as she sat up rubbing the back of her head while looking around in front of her. Everything was pitch black. She held her hand up to her face, but couldn’t make it out. She stood up and looked about herself fully. Thinking all the time, where am I?"

I am not sure about the description in this paragraph. I have decided that it is my scentence structure. Hopefully I can get that sorted out.

Whatever it is however, I have read enough books to tell me that this description is in someway stagnant, more of a recount of, she did this, then she did that, while she was thinking this. It seems to me that the little something that makes a story 'magical' is missing.

Day: 7 Wordcount: 1245 Chapters: Just under one.

CRAZY BIG SCARE!

2006-12-28T20:53:00.000+10:30

Well a problem came up with yWriter, well, essentialy it was a problem with me. I must have been playing around with things that i shouldnt have. I lost 99% of everything i had written. After trawling through every possibly connected file I gave up and started re writing it from the hard copy i had (luckily) printed out the day before. I only lost about 400 words and three scene descriptions.

The thing I have learnt from this is: if you dont know EXACTLY what the button does. dont press it.

The other thing I have noticed today is how little chance I have of getting published. I work at a Kmart store, and was looking through the fantasy books we stock in the book section. Of almost half an aisle worth of books, there were only about five different authours. It must be hard to break into the buisness.

Well it is late, tomorrow I will be looking closely at what I have written, providing exerpts and such. Also any other headaches that cross my path.....

Commitment

2006-12-27T21:22:00.000+10:30

Well, considering i have made a commitment to this story idea, and that i have made a commitment to this Blog, I had better follow through with it.

Ok, so when I got my story idea I did a few things, firstly, I jumped on the net to check out some sites that authors and people have written that might give me some insight into how I should go about getting my novel written.
Here are some of the sites I found to be helpful:
http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/the_snowflake.html
http://peacecorpswriters.org/pages/depts/resources/resour_writers/100daysbook/bk100da.html
http://www.justinelarbalestier.com/blog/?p=398

i hope you find these useful also.

So, what method have I taken up in writing my novel?
I have my handy dandy notebook, my sketchbook and my writing software. This is possibly the best combination of equipment i have used so far.

before i began writing the actual plot, i first designed the 'univerese' that my characters would interact in, my universe is fantasy, so i have had to re-design some laws of physics. But the level of work that your universe demands will vary depending on what you need it to accomodate within it. In creating my universe I include a few things:
- Places, (as you develop plot, and find you need more, you can add them as you go.)
- Species, (what type of animals will i come across, what do the aliens look like that are bout to land on earth. etc.)
- The rules of this univeres. (physical laws, barriers etc. i dont think you need to go to extent of a mathematical explanation such as einsteins, but a general feel for it will help you familiarise yourself. and make your story more realistic)

I then begin to design the plot. I set a goal and a starting point, then I fill in the middle of the story. usualy this is a dot point summary. I generaly list the other complications that can be included in sub-plot. If you are going for a good guy/bad guy scenario. design two parallel plots, one following the protagonists and the other folowing the antagonists. then meld them together into one as you are writing the story.

It is at this point i downloaded yWriter. A free software generously provided by Simon Haynes on his software website http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html this software provides character sheets including a biography and a motivation textbox. Its now time for you to design your characters, if you were worried about your plot being stale and narrow (just like i was) once you design your characters you will see your story go from being a story to an adventure.
make your characters diverse, kinda like sticking an elderly couple, a stately buisnessman and a mother with three screaming children in an elevator to see how they interact with each other.

Now. Start writing! enjoy the experience.

I have found a purpose!

2006-12-26T09:52:00.000+10:30

I really think i have to congradulate myself, i have found a purpouse for this blog, namely, following my progress as i write a novel.... the genre is fantasy.

Now that ive decided to write it. I get a few tools ready, a notebook to carry around where the computer isnt available, A sketchbook and stick of charcaol to sketch any ideas down. (charcoal is the best medium if, like me, you dont have the best luck with drawing the human form and other complex scenes and objects.) But drawing my ideas down gives me a feel for the ambience of the scene im writing.

A new distovery i only just made a few days ago and have only just had a chance to test out properly is the free writing software yWriter that you can download from http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html The programmer that designed this software is Simon Haynes who himself is an author of a number of science fiction novels and has some really brilliant articles about writing and getting published here: http://www.spacejock.com.au/Articles.html

This software is great because it allows me to organise my characters and Chapters however it does clash with my writing style as i like to design the 'universe' that my story is going to take place in before i begin writing, and this software doesnt allow me to organise that information, I have to do it in seperate documents.

Well, im going back to my writing, toodle doo.