Links!
1. School restarting (a sad kind of event for me which reminds me that I do miss teaching)
2. Rachel Harrie's Campaign (Yay! I am overly and unreasonably excited!)
3. Christine Tyler's Sparkfest (Great inspiration!)
But, as usual, there were still quite a few posts on writing that really got my attention:
There were a variety of great posts on exposition and backstory:
Lindsay Smith on The Expository Opening
Elana Johnson on When you need backstory and when you don't
Tuesday Tip on Literary Rambles on Exposition
In other writing advice, Kidlit posted about Overwriting and Why It's a Problem
Writer Beware posted about Satisfying Your Reader without Being Predictable
Natalie Whipple wrote an interesting post about Writing When You're NOT A Reader. It is an interesting read, even if you are a reading writer.
And Nathan Bransford wrote about how there is no such thing as an Overnight Success. I love, love, love this post! It annoys me when people seem to think that Stephanie Meyer blinked her eyes and Twilight was written. Like Bransford says--it takes a long time to write a novel and for a parent, every sentence is a moment you could be spending with your children. This thought plagues me every time I write/critique.
WiP Update
I'm a little stalled. What do you do when you are stalled? I usually try and write though it, but that isn't working for me this time. Sometimes I set the story aside for awhile, but I'm really resistant to that because I only have 15K left--which means if I can get restarted, I can finish the story in a week. Any advice?
I'm finding this website to be awesome! I've met some wonderful writerly friends, and I am excited to see the forums grow. Especially the historical forum--historical writers are suck a small subset of the blogging/writing world, and we need to find and support each other! I'm usually resistant to these kinds of forums due to unwanted emails, ads, etc--but I've had no problems with Ladies Who Critique.
28 comments:
Thanks for sharing. I was stalled in my writing last night, but I manged to figure out what to change.
Yes, Ladies Who Critique is a great website.
ladonna--Glad you found your muse! If you run across mine, could you give it directions back to me? I'm always glad to see a new blogger!
I'm following the Ladies who critique blog, but I haven't looked at any forums yet. I shall have to investigate.
Is it the whole wip you're stalled on or just one specific part? If I get stuck on one little bit I write something in red like 'he does something stupid here' and then move on. I know I have to come back to it, but it helps the story move forward.
I signed up for the Campaign as well. Plus launched my own wupport group for writers. I guess I like the abuse.
I love the sparkfest and the platform building campaign but it's always great to get some other great posts out there. I have read some of them, but not others. I will have to check them out. Thanks for sharing. :)
There are a few things that usually help me. I talk to my husband about my story and where I am stuck and he generally has questions or insights that get me going again. I also find that turning my thoughts on my story while I'm in the shower, because the water has the effect of blocking out distractions, tends to give me lots of ideas and helps to focus on what I need to do next. Other than that, I just start working on something else until it comes back.
Great post with so many useful links. I am also a campaigner. This is my second time doing it and Ican't wait to get to know all the writers in my group.
I also stumbled onto Ladies who Critique a few weeks back. Amazing group of supporting writers there!
I was stalled on my WIP, then I went to my folder that contains all my character photos. Study them. It may start you back up again :)
Thanks for all the links. It's hard to keep up with all the info out there.
I'm just trying to catch up with all my fellow campaigners, so nice to meet you!
Oh, Heidi. I so <3 YOU.
I just got stalled on the WiP too. If you're a pantser like I am, you actually try to plot a little. Plotter or pantser, I always recommend a strong WiP playlist to get you going again.
Good luck!
Thanks for the referral to those sites! Very helpful.
I was stalled on my new WIP...and then I realized I didn't like the setting. I didn't want to BE there, if that make sense. So since I'm so early on - only 20K words - I'm changing it. And off I go. :))
Thank you for sharing the Nathan Bradsford link. I really like that blog.
To answer your question. No cell phone = no cost. Hubby has one, so I'm usually covered. ;0)
Hi, I am a fellow Campaigner. Looking forward to getting to know everyone. I will also check out the Ladies Who Critique link - sounds interesting. Thanks.
I will definitely have to check out those links. Thanks!
Ladies Who Critique seems really cool, but it might be a while before I put myself out there on that one. I get sooooo shy.
Hey Heidi, thanks so much for the link! Lovely blog you have here. :)
Heidi:
Got your comment on my blog for Contest Dates. I'd LOVE for you to spread the word! The last contest I ran didn't have a lot of entries and I just know that there are other writers out there who would benefit from these contests. I'd appreciate it!
Thanks!
Sorry it took me so long to get back to everyone! This weekend was a little on the exhausting side. I'm so glad it's Monday!
Sarah P--That is a good suggestion. Sometimes I get so caught up in doing things in order that I forget I don't have to!
Alex--You are always doing sooo much. When do you have time to write?
Sarah M--I like to think while driving. But it always doesn't work very well because I can be a rather distracted driver. The shower might be safer!
Trisha--Thanks for stopping by! See you around the campaign!
Las Vegas--That is a great idea. I don't have any character photos yet for this novel--maybe I should go looking for some.
Jeigh--Thanks for stopping by!
Leigh Ann--I so heart you too!
Melodie--Good plan. I've stuck with it before when I wasn't quite sure about a central aspect--and then I ended up dumping the whole novel after getting 60k. Better to restart early!
Dawn--It would be a lot cheaper. I have two--one for me and one for business--it adds up.
Claire--Thanks for stopping by!
Juliemybird--If exchanging stuff makes you shy--you don't have to do that right away. You can always just lurk in the forums. There are many writers there exchanging work for the first time!
Boheminne--Thanks for stopping by!
Lisa--Thanks! I will put it up later today. It is a long time away--but it takes a long time to write historical fiction!
I just found your blog through Ladies Who Critique, but I'm a fellow Campaigner as well. :-)
And oh man do I know a thing or two about writing a novel during naptime.
-Your newest follower. :-)
Hey fellow campaigner! Love your blog, I'm definitely following :)
Megan--Thanks for stopping by. Do you have a blog? I couldn't find the link on your profile.
Christine--Thanks!
Megan--Nevermind--I got it this time!
Hi there, just stopping by. I've got to check out these links. I loved Nathan's post about overnight successes as well!
Popping over from the Campaign to say hi and join up as a follower. I love seeing another historical writer out there!
Hi Heidi. Thanks for stopping by. You have an awesome blog here. I too have joined Ladies Who Critique, such a great site to meet others and for support. yay for us writers :)
Thanks for these great links! I especially like Nathan Bransford's blog post. I'm a fellow Campaigner, I write YA romances, it's nice to meet you!
Hello fellow Campaigner. I look forward to getting to know you better. I just checked out Ladies Who Critique really quickly, and I will definitely be going back again. Thanks for the link!
Hi there, fellow Campaigner in the Historical Fiction group just popping in to return the visit. Love this post! I can't wait to follow the links. :)
historical fiction has captured my mind lately - currently reading
"the lemon tree".
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