Putting Off Procrastination.....

....is what I really should be doing. 

I have made a cup of coffee, updated my calendar, checked future travel plans (hello, WLT retreat!), did a load of laundry, made another cup of coffee, sent some text messages, Edmodoed my students and updated my Facebook status.

It was about beer-had some fun at a local brewery this weekend-but it should have been an excited post about how I was soooo close to finishing my manuscript I can taste it. But it wasn't, because I'm not. Close that is.

http://www.thewriteratwork.com/site/archives008.asp

I can taste it-kinda like a sour bile at the back of my throat.

I thought I was close. Like, two chapters to go close.

Then, I had the brilliant idea to outline my story arc for each of my characters and realized I have some gaping holes to fill in.

Why didn't I do this earlier? Did I not learn that making an outline was VERY important in the planning phase?

Well, yes, I did learn that. And I did make an outline. It's just that when I went back to really analyze my characters, I realized that their climaxes are not strong enough. OR maybe its that the 'costs' are not clearly established.

BHA! Either way, I am face with taking a good look at the details of my story and making sure that what is important is thoroughly explained, examined, existentialised-whatever!

This hurts. But, its a good pain. Once I am done, by book will be that much stronger and I will have an even better grasp of the characters and the story.

This way, once its published and I'm famous and people are dying to do interviews with me, I will have some really clever, in depth, awe-inspiring answers for my readers!

The Traps in the Pages

Apparently, there are just so many things agents can tolerate before they put your pages away, and out of their minds, forever. They have been so kind as to share the most irritating openings with us, the authors. 


Lan and I have compiled a few of the 'traps' that we are diligently avoiding in our first pages. We do NOT want our stories to become casualties in the trash file.

NO dreams-this offers the reader a fake sense of the reality of the book an they can feel cheated when the dream ends and the story begins.

NO mirror contemplation- "I looked into the mirror, toothbrush hanging from my mouth, and was horrified to see that I had a black eye. My normal glowing complexion was marred by nicks and scratches. My sky blue eyes were dulled to a meager grey and my long silky tresses were missing. I was completely bald."

Which leads into NO getting up in the morning. No one cares that the character hits the snooze button or needs coffee right away.

Do NOT characterize by using items of clothing-either holy, or expensive, promiscuous, or tame. 'She pulled on her *insert expensive shoes here* and click clacked out the door.'

Absolutely do NOT write a prologue. Make it the first chapter if it really has to be there, otherwise cut it. I found I have to do this. I tend to write the first chapter for myself anyway-just to get the ball rolling. It doesn't really belong in the book.

NO long drawn out explanations-if the facts must be presented right now, then find a way to do it through action or dialogue. 

No one cares about the weather. Ever.

NO common characters-give them someone who is uncommon.

Do NOT start out 'on a sleepy little town where nothing ever happens' because there is no story there!

But, do NOT use tricks and scandalous actions just to get attention.

What the Heck is the Difference Between Tone, Plot, and Theme?

Tone is what the author wants the reader to feel.  This means words usage, grammar, voice, and interactions between characters.

Wistfully-It was the last chance I would have to travel with my family, gone, in the blink of an eye. It was fate that drove us off that bridge. It was death who took them from me.

Guiltily-They died that day. It was my f-ing fault. I wish above all else that I had only taken better care when coming around the curve. I could still hold my little boy and kiss my wife. But I ruined it all.

The tone of the book can change

You have a character who was down on his luck through the whole book, noting went right.  He lost the house, his car was repossessed, his wife left him and took the kids. Now he lives with his mother. Then, he  he spends his last 5 dollars on a winning mega million lottery ticket. The tone will change from sad and depressing, 'why am I living', to hopeful with a new start.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plotmountain.jpg

Plot is driven my the motivations and actions of your characters-what they want to accomplish throughout a story, what the characters do to make their desired goals come true.  Plot is the exchange of high and lows which drive a story and the changes in the characters.

Try this plot generator just for fun.

The theme of a book is the over arching idea of what the writer wants to purvey to the reader.

• love concurs all 
• heroes journey
• revenge in not the answer (dig two graves, one for them and one for you), 
• blood in thicker/family ties