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Story Inspiration Sunday

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May 192013
 

I also blog about these things over at Book View Cafe. Feel free to comment either here or over there.

My writing process has evolved and changed over the years. I anticipate it will continue to change.

Currently, I write everything out by hand, first, then type it up on the computer. Creating fiction using this process ensures that it starts as fun for me.

I have a day job, and I’m on the computer all day long. Therefore, somewhere in my head, I’ve equated “computer” with “work.” It doesn’t matter that I use a different computer, in different parts of the house (or at a coffee shop.) Computer equates work, to me, which is the opposite of creative.

So I hand write everything first. I draft either an entire short story, or a chapter, before I type it up. One of the good things about this process means I have pretty clean first drafts. At this point in my career, the percentage of what’s on the hand written draft that makes it into the typed draft can vary between 70-98%, depending on the piece.

So what does that have to do with inspiration?

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 Posted by at 10:30 am

Story Inspiration Sunday

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May 122013
 

I blog about inspiration both here and at the Book View Cafe Blog. Feel free to comment here or there.

A while ago, I took an online class about designing covers. (Full disclosure: I’ve created all but two of my covers, and am in the process of redoing all of them.) As part of the class, we were assigned a cover to create. Everyone had the same title and author. We had to go find the right artwork.

The title of the book was, “Knight on a Roof.” The author’s name was, “Major Fantasy Author.”

The artwork I found inspired me, as things are wont to do.

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 Posted by at 9:19 am

Once more, with feeling

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May 102013
 
Baker's Dozen

I’ve started working on the next novel, “Siren’s Call.” I wrote the first three chapters while I was in New Orleans, and for various reasons, stopped.

On first glance, I had assumed that I could use at least half of what I’d originally written.

I just finished redrafting the first chapter. And yes, much of it was redraft, that is, I would look at what was there, would say, “That won’t do at all. Delete. Delete. Delete.” And then wrote from scratch what should have been there instead.

I figure I only kept about 25% of what I’d originally written. If that.

So the first chapter is 800+ words longer, and oh, so much better. It’s about 4500 words long now. I anticipate I’ll do that with the next two chapters as well.

I’m so very pleased with all of it.

Story Inspiration Sunday

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May 052013
 

I also blog about this over at Book View Cafe. Feel free to comment here or there!

While I have a lot of pictures from fashion shows, these characters who walk the runway, I also get inspired by pictures of settings.

My favorite season is fall. I am a color junky. I go out and take pictures every fall of the colored leaves.

I particularly am drawn to trails, those paths leading out and beyond. What is there, just out of sight? As Tolkien said, “The road goes on and on.”

So here are a couple of pictures of settings that inspire me. The first is a picture I took at the Seattle Arboretum.

The trail

I understand the composition — the trees frame the stairs, and they’re an interesting element because of the way they curve. But even though I took the picture, I still can imagine that this is the stairway to someone’s large home. What type of person lives there? Is it a fake-Tutor style house, or more Victorian?

The following is a picture I took in Kashmir, India.

Valley of the Kings

In my head, I’ve always called it, “The Valley of the King.” I’ve always imagined that the valley here is an old, abandoned road, and just out of sight, in my imagination, I’ve always placed the ruins of a Mogul castle. I know there’s a story about this place. Someday, I may write it.

What kind of pictures of places inspire you? What types of scenes are you drawn to?

And as always, feel free to commit art, tell a story, or write a scene, based on these images. Ideas are a dime a dozen, and anything you do will be 100% different than anything I do.

Write the next line

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May 012013
 

Recently, Dean Wesley Smith blogged about writing a 70,000 word novel in 10 days.

It was fascinating to read how he did it, his attitudes toward writing, etc. A lot of it is apply butt to chair, trust the process, trust your writerly brain.

Dean writes into the dark, has no idea what the ending is of the project he’s working on. I usually know where I’m going, and have learned that if I don’t, it’s a mess. That’s just my process, which is different than his.

One of the things that really struck me and has stayed with me is the concept of “Write the next line.” From Dean, in the comments on Day 1:

William, do as I do when stuck. Just write the next line. Stuck means you can’t figure out something larger ahead. Stop worrying about that and just write the next line. Focus small and build with small blocks to get something larger.

Write the next line.

For the novel that I’m turning into the copyeditor on Monday, I’ve decided that I need to write a new chapter. I have a question to answer in this chapter, and it took me a while to figure out what the answer was. Now, while I may have a vague idea where I’m going, I have no idea how to get there. That’s very normal for me, how I usually write.

However, I do know the next line. So I can write the next line. And the next. And the next. And suddenly, there are over 2000+ words in this chapter. Still don’t know exactly how I’m going to finish it, but I feel confident that I will, and long before Monday.

Speaking of which…it’s time to go write the next line.

Story Inspiration Sunday

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Apr 282013
 
Prickly Waterlily

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. It wasn’t until I bought my house back in 2011 that I discovered that I really like gardening.

I have lots of books on habitation of different areas, like the plants and flowers of the Yucatan (which I used for “The Jaguar and the Wolf”). I have similar books for Japan and China. They’re all research books, which means the purchase was a business expense. I didn’t buy them just because they were pretty. No! Really!

Anyway. Imagine my delight when I found this site — Flowers of India.

http://www.flowersofindia.net/

Here’s one of my favorite flowers, the Prickly Water Lilly:

Prickly Waterlily

If you were doing a dark fairy tale, this would be the plant that would give you riddles to guide you, but only in the middle of the night, and only after you fed it a live mouse.

Or this one, the Sea Poison Tree:

Sea Poison Tree

All parts of the tree contain poison, saponin, which can be used to stun fish. The fruits are lantern shaped, and can float on the sea for up to two years. So what about the tiny creatures who use these pods as boats? They’re poisonous, but durable, and keep away the sea creatures? What kind of sea battles do the warring tribes have?

What kinds of nature inspire you? What flowers or trees or bushes show up frequently in your work?

As always, feel free to commit story based on these posts, if you get inspired. Whatever you write will be 100% different than anything I write.

Enjoy!

Unnatural Worlds anthology available!

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Apr 232013
 

Woo hoo!

The ebook version of the anthology “Unnatural Worlds” is available today!

Edited by Kristine Katherine Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith, “Unnatural Worlds” is the first of an anthology series featuring volumes that appear every two month.

“Unnatural Worlds” also features original stories by Devon Monk, Ray Vukcevich, Esther M. Friesner, Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Jane Yolen, and David Farland. I’m sitting in mighty fine company.

My short story “Sisters” is set during Tang dynasty China, about a girl trying to find a way to honor her younger sister, during a time when honor is only paid to those who are older.

Unnatural Worlds

The audio versions of the anthology will be available later this month.

To read more about the Fiction River anthology series, visit the website, www.FictionRiver.com.

 Posted by at 1:00 am

Story Inspiration Sundays

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Apr 212013
 
Dolce&Gabbana Fall 2013

True confession time.

I enjoy reading about fashion. I am a Project Runway junkie, and I religiously follow Tom and Lorenzo. (Their “Pretty of the day” posts are frequently inspiring!) I buy fashion books, and, okay, I sometimes even buy fashion magazines (special treat for when I’m sick and lying in bed and want to look at something pretty.)

However, if you met me, you’d never know it. I’m very much a jeans and T-shirt kind of gal. I may own a few pairs of high heels, but I rarely wear them. My clothes must be comfortable.

A lot of these posts are going to be inspiration from fashion shows. The designers are telling a story, and they have created many characters with their clothes and models. Not every fashion show is successful, and not every line tells a good story. Some are too repetitive, too focused on a theme. But even those will sometimes have a great character or two.

This picture comes from the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013 collection.

Dolce&Gabbana Fall 2013

Me, I see a young queen, just come to power. She’s young, untried, but determined. This is a character with great conviction, who is going to make fabulous mistakes, at least in terms of plot. I don’t have a name for her, or her backstory, but I see such a wealth of character and possibility in her.

What do you see? Could you write a story about her?

As always, feel free to use these images as inspiration for your own work. Whatever you create will be 100% different than anything I do.

Enjoy!

Dangerous days

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Apr 202013
 
Baker's Dozen

I’ve been really sick the last week. This morning, I woke up and finally felt better. Not well, but more like I’ve been running on empty for the last week, with no energy at all, and this morning, the batteries were half full.

Note: Not all the way full. Merely half.

So today, and probably tomorrow, are the dangerous days. The days when I want to push because I can finally do something (anything, really, besides just sleep.) The days when I finally have enough brain that I’m bored with being sick.

I’m forcing myself to rest today. I’m reading “God’s War” by Kameron Hurley, staying off the computer, and not doing anything.

I am not used to this sort of inactivity. But I need to get well, truly well. So I’ll drink my tea, read my book, and let the list of things I need to do pile up higher. This way, by Monday, I’ll be able to tackle that list with my usual energy.

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