I have one link for you today. I'm behind on reading blogs because this week has been all about teeth--the six that my son is getting in all at once. So really I'm just lucky to be able to type coherently.
But I enjoyed this video of Kurt Vonnegut on the Shape of Stories at Writer's Digest.
I enjoy a lot of the articles posted at Writer's Digest. But every time I pull up the website, I gets sucked into memory-ville. You see I interned at F&W--which does Writer's Digest, Writer's Market and a number of other craft publications. I worked on the 1999 Writer's Market and Novel and Short Story Market. I edited listings. Let me explain how exciting this is. I was in charge of the fax campaign. So when a new fax came in, I would compare the new listing to the old listing, marking any changes on hard copy. Then I would take it down to this room where editors insert the changes into the electronic copy. I would then double check the electronic copy. After that--I went back to the fax and stared at it until a new listing to came in. I did this for three months. It was very Office Space.
But! But I loved being around all those writers. Because most of the people who work at F&W are writers, even if they are editing listings or managing faxes. Since my short time at F&W, I've never had another job where I was so surrounded by writers. Even teaching English--many of my co-workers were readers more than writers. That is why I love blogging so much--being surrounded by all you lovely writers!
There are a few other interesting stories from my time at F&W. Like getting robbed (twice). But that will have to wait for another day because you've already hung in for enough of my babble. Thank you for that.
WiP Update
I've put off my current draft, which I'm now calling Carbry for lack of a better title, for a short while to do some outlining for the next novel (which will be number five--craziness!). If I don't have something to work on right when Carbry goes out to alpha read, then I will start to stress about it. And I'm not sure what I want to work on next. I've got two dystopian ones, both dealing with mind alteration, a fairy tale retelling (that I think is just going to be for fun), a stranded on an island idea, and the one that I always come back to but never finish: Aria, my ancient Roman gladiatrix.
And I'm still toying with the idea of re-writing a legend. I don't have any idea which one or how that will work. But that's always how ideas start, right?
What's a girl to do?
8 comments:
Whenever I'm having an issue trying to decide which to work on next I ask myself three questions.
1. Which one do I have the clearest picture of.
2. Which one has the clearest and most thought out characters
And most importantly 3. Which story just won't sit on the sidelines.
Usually these point out which one of my ideas is trying hardest to be written and I go from there. :-)
Those are some good thoughts Megan.
I usually do the one that is hanging over my head the most.
I just need to finish my edits so I can send them to CP.
Wow, you are a busy girl! Those all sound very interesting. Just go with what your muse if pulling you the most to. I've tried fighting mine before, but she won't have it. You have to go with her or she'll make things difficult!
Have a good weekend! :)
I hope all those teeth settle down soon - I think you're probably all suffering!
Six teeth at once! You have my pity. We're trying to wean our little girl. I say "we" because weaning means I hold her at night until she stops screaming for Mommy, while Mommy sleeps somewhere less demanding.
So I feel you on the incoherent typing. I feel jet-lagged today.
I'm in the same spot - caught between two wips. For me it's going to boil down to which setting I want to spend time in.
I must say your Roman gladiatrix sounds intriguing...
I don't have a particularly hard time picking which idea to write next because there's always one that's been clamoring in my mind to be written for the last half of my last WIP. Right now my next project keeps taking up space in my brain, space that my current WIPs need! It's so selfish and greedy...
Ooo, I want to hear your stories from F&W. I would've loved that job too, for the environment alone. I love being surrounded by writers.
Hello Heidi, it's nice to meet you. I came over from my good friend, Lisa Regan's. I'm a new follower of yours, too. You have a very interesting background. I'm so jealous you got to work around all those writers.
And you have so many stories in the works, as well. Again, jealous. I'm having a hard time getting started on my second novel while querying for the first.
I must say, though I don't read much YA, that Roman gladiatrix sounds intriguing. I love gladiators!
Anyway, come on over to my place sometime. I'd love to receive a comment or two. I put all my followers on my blog roll so I remember to come back and comment myself.
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