A writer's high

Hello Fellow Writers,

I've been busy working on a new story. I just love the part when a story idea goes from brain image to computer file, a writer's high.

On Monday night, I went to hear Greg Frost read from his fantasy novel at the Bellevue Library. Then Connie Willis talked about researching her latest novel set during the Blitz. She told us lots of great stories that she couldn't work into the book.

As for story consumption, I watched Nottinghill with the other members of my writing group last week. Awesome secondary characters! Last night, at midnight, no less, I went to see Eclipse with my teenage daughter. I think this may be the best of the Twilight Saga movies so far. I'm reading Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn and listening to Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks in the car.

Until next time,
Write on!

Irony!

Hello Fellow Writers,

Today was part two of the writing workshop with Connie Willis and Greg Frost. Connie taught about irony this morning and secondary characters this afternoon. Later, the participants had opportunities to ask lots of questions to this talented pair of writers. My brain feels very full of things to do.

Until next time,
Write on!

Learning the Elements

Hello Fellow Writers,

Today (and again on Sunday), I'm taking a workshop at Hugo House called the Periodic Table of Literary Elements with Greg Frost and Connie Willis. Today Greg taught about point of view, voice, distance, story, plot, and character. I did several exercises and now I'm going to practice in my own writing. My brain is filling very full.

Today, I'm reading Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy, and listening to Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. This last one may be aimed at kids, but has some awesomely funny comments on the process of writing. Don't forget to check out a few good stories!

Until next time,
Write on!

Starting up the blog again.

Hello fellow writers,

I've decided to start up the blog again. I've decided to reformat the blog to make it more useful to myself and hopefully to you. I'm including some info on how I'm consuming story, learning, and writing. Hope you find it useful.

I just got back from a terrific workshop on cliffhangers. Now, I have to practice them!

As for story consumption, I'm reading Unbound, a collection of short stories by Kim Harrison, Jeaniene Frost, Melissa Marr, and others. I'm listening to James Marsters read the Jim Butcher novels in my car, and to Nora Robert's Black Rose on the MP3 while running. On the telly, I'm catching Bones, and I just saw Get Him to the Greek on the big screen.

Until next time,
Write on!

Bright Ideas Book

Hi Folks,

This writer be has been working hard. Yes, I've been writing, but also lots of reading. I'm training myself to read outside my comfort zone. I normally consume lots of popular lit and nonfiction. Over the past month, I've been reading sci-fi, horror, mystery, biography, romance, and even alittle erotica. I'm really enjoying the mysteries.

One item that has been keeping me very busy is my bright ideas book. It's a small notebook, always with me, that I jot down story or poetry ideas, one idea per page. Then, when I have time, I expand just a bit on the original idea and stash it until I have time to develop it.

In other news, I helped judge a poetry slam. It was lots of fun and very difficult to choose a winner.

Now, that the sun is beginning to peek out less, I'll be writing more and exploring less.

Until next time
Write on!

Consuming story

Over the weekend, I consumed story! Delicious is the only word to describe Miss Meryl as Julia Childs in Julie and Julia. She steals the show. This one was fun to see how a blog turned book turned film. 3 pens up.

I also went to see 500 Days of Summer, a quirky story about love. This one had lots of fresh and inventive bits, also 3 pens up.

While at the gym, I finished The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I really liked the way she used characters with their own distinct voices in this story.

So a question, how do you consume tons of story on an ounce of budget?
1) Use your library for books, ebooks, books on CD and tape, movies, magazines, and anthologies.
2) Use your friends for the same. Start a story exchange.
3) Get to know when your local bookstores are having clearance sales.
4) And finally if a favorite author of yours has a new book out, just bite the dollar and buy it. (Your know you want it).

I also did a bit of advancing the craft over the past week by figuring out which workshops are a must for 2010. Here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, we have much to chose from. I finally settled on 5. After all, I still need some time to write!

Until next time,
Write on!

Advancing the Craft

Today, the WriterBe worked on advancing the craft. Advancing the craft is all the stuff a writer-to-be does to learn the skills of writing and the business of writing. This afternoon, I went to a writer's open house, featuring local authors in our area with newly published children's and young adult books. One of the authors was a former writing teacher of mine, Mary Jane Beaufrand, with her YA novel Primavera. I saw books about paranormal romance, stories of interracial friendship, poems for young children, and alternative universes. So how did this advance the craft? It gave me a chance to see what's getting grabbed for publication and to chat with the other authors about upcoming classes and workshops.

Later in the day, I went to our local used bookshop for a couple of reference books for background material for 2 in progress stories.

Until next time, read and write on.