Wow! That worked!

Image via WikipediaSunday of last weekend (the 1st of May) I set out to do some writing and research.  (Often times research gets done more than writing, but it is a necessary step for a full story.)  When realization--inspiration from God-- struck!  But I had to get the idea down so I would not forget or lose even an iota of what I wanted to capture.  So I wrote down about five bullet point sentences for the prologue, each a point that had to be hit in a chronological order.  Then I began to fill in the blanks before the first sentence and so on. Once my story reached a goal, I deleted that sentence and continued the story to the next point/sentence.  Each day this week I added 2-4 pages and now the prologue is complete!  (I wrote in between activities and while multitasking.)  I found this made it so easy to stay on task; I did not lose track of where I was going or how I was to get there--which I do often, actually, as I am a very detail orientated person and sometimes lose sight of the big picture.

My prologue simply needs editing now, but I will save that for a day when I am not in the "mood" for writing or when I am done and it is time to clean up my work for submission (that will rock!).

What I will do with the chapters I have already written (about 3 -4) will be to go straight to the end and write the bullet point sentences of what needs to be accomplished in that chapter.  Then, once that is complete, I will go through what I've already written and see if I managed to stay on point at all.  Where there is issue I will correct and add what may need to be added.  I think a good thing to do with the sentences is to add what emotion is to be experienced by the character or even the reader.  Are the emotions coming through the narrative as the story aims for the goals?  I sure hope so....

Now back to writing!

Different Methods

Image via WikipediaI began writing in earnest about 8 years ago.  At that time I was given a plethera of different methods to help move  my writing along.  The snowflake, notecard, outlines, free form, "envelope" etc.  What I have found however, is that I tend to use all of them at different times.  SOmetimes, I simply need to get the ideas down, so the envelope is the most practical.  Or I may need to remember where I am and where I am going, so I will jot down a revised outline.  Other times I will simply sit down and write whatever comes to mind.  I think that what the most important factor is is that I use whatever will keep my story moving forward.

Work and Not

Image via WikipediaRight after my last post, about 9 months ago, I came down very ill, was diagnosed with Lyme's disease and had very very very hard time recovering. Recently, it was discovered that not only do I not have Lyme's disease, I have never had Lyme's disease. This does beg to question: what is wrong then?

But this is only important information to understand why I didn't get anything done for so long.

Now, I have begun a new sci-fi/fantasy. I am very excited despite the lack of progress. On a much brighter thought, and one for which I am extremely happy, my daughter, who finished her first manuscript last fall, has been editing the project. Today we wrote a bio/resume, a synopsis, and a query letter and it was submitted, via email! We only sent it to one so far, being far too tired to continue tonight. Tomorrow we will sub some more and print out the snail mail versions to be mailed on Monday.