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| www.layersofhappiness.com |
By Jax Hunter
As the holidays approach, I though I’d peruse my Wish Lists, my goals, and some of my favorite things.
3 things I want for Christmas:
- 1000 Readers for the Revive1775 Blog
- A movie deal for either of my series
- A blurb/recommendation from Diana Gabaldon
- Start saying “no” so I have more time for the stuff that really matters.
- Read more fiction. I truly believe that you learn more from reading fiction than by reading books on writing.
- Finish two novels in ‘15
- Story by Robert McGee
- Stein on Writing by Sol Stein
- How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James Frey
- Freemind - a mind mapping/outlining program - http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
- Free - open source screenwriting software at www.celtx.com
- Free post-its for your computer desktop at www.3m.com/psnotes
- Scrivener – not just for novel writing. I keep all my blog posts in Scrivener
- A “gift certificate” to one of Margie Lawson or Mary Buckham’s next online classes
- A subscription to the Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus - http://www.visualthesaurus.com/
- The Synonym Finder by J. I. Rodale
- The Enneagram Made Easy by Baron and Wagele
- The Complete book of Astrology by Caitlin Johnstone
“I just started in where I could sort of see something happening, and wrote. The next day I wrote some more. Then I couldn’t see any more happening there, so I wrote something else I could see. I kept this, and as I wrote tons of these little pieces, I got a sort of feel for the overall shape of the story, and could start to stick the pieces together and move them around.”
- Diana Gabaldon, whose first novel, one she wrote because she wanted to see if she could actually write a novel, became a huge best seller.
"One can feel sad or happy or bored or cross in a thousand ways: the abstract adjective says almost nothing. The precise gesture nails down the one feeling right for the moment. This is what is meant when writing teachers say that one should 'show,' not 'tell.' And this, it should be added, is all the writing teacher means. Good writers may 'tell' about almost anything in fiction except the character's feelings. One may tell the reader that the character went to private school (one need not show a scene at the private school if the scene has no importance for the rest of the narrative), or one may tell the reader that the character hates spaghetti; but with rare exceptions the character's feelings must be demonstrated: fear, love, excitement, doubt, embarrassment, despair become real only when they take the form of events-action (or gesture), dialogue, or physical reaction to setting. Detail is the lifeblood of fiction."
- John Gardner
"Scenes are what give the reader the experience of the action of the story and the perspectives of the main characters. Without scenes, the story would be heard and not experienced-- told but not shown. They are the generators of plot change and character development. And they're what the reader remembers long after she's forgotten the names of the characters or the details of the plot-the vivid moments of story captured in action."
- Alicia Rasley
1 Parting shot:
Challenges do not build character - they only reveal it. True for writers as we encounter obstacles that block our way. And true for our characters.
Until next month, BIC-HOK (Butt in Chair – Hands on Keyboard).
Jax
- Diana Gabaldon, whose first novel, one she wrote because she wanted to see if she could actually write a novel, became a huge best seller.
"One can feel sad or happy or bored or cross in a thousand ways: the abstract adjective says almost nothing. The precise gesture nails down the one feeling right for the moment. This is what is meant when writing teachers say that one should 'show,' not 'tell.' And this, it should be added, is all the writing teacher means. Good writers may 'tell' about almost anything in fiction except the character's feelings. One may tell the reader that the character went to private school (one need not show a scene at the private school if the scene has no importance for the rest of the narrative), or one may tell the reader that the character hates spaghetti; but with rare exceptions the character's feelings must be demonstrated: fear, love, excitement, doubt, embarrassment, despair become real only when they take the form of events-action (or gesture), dialogue, or physical reaction to setting. Detail is the lifeblood of fiction."
- John Gardner
"Scenes are what give the reader the experience of the action of the story and the perspectives of the main characters. Without scenes, the story would be heard and not experienced-- told but not shown. They are the generators of plot change and character development. And they're what the reader remembers long after she's forgotten the names of the characters or the details of the plot-the vivid moments of story captured in action."
- Alicia Rasley
1 Parting shot:
Challenges do not build character - they only reveal it. True for writers as we encounter obstacles that block our way. And true for our characters.
Until next month, BIC-HOK (Butt in Chair – Hands on Keyboard).
Jax
About the Author: Jax Hunter is a published romance writer and freelance copywriter. She wears many hats including EMT, CPR instructor, and Grammy. She is currently working on a contemporary romance series set in ranching country Colorado and a historical romance set in 1775 Massachusetts. She lives in Colorado Springs, belongs to PPW, RMFW and is a member of the Professional Writer's Alliance.
www.jaxmhunter@gmail.com and www.revive1775.com
A movie deal...yup, I want that for Christmas too. ;)
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