Research, I've been researching for weeks now for my November novel 'Chains of Love' and guess what? I'm still have no idea where I'm going to start this darn novel. My original plan was to have my hero and heroine come out on the second fleet. So I started my research into the second fleet and conditions on the ships. Of course I thought this would be great because the colony was already partly developed. Well, that was changed to them being transported out with the first feet.
Now I'm madly researching everything and anything I can on the first fleet. Wouldn't you think that they would have given me this little bit of information sooner. Okay so I've had a couple of weeks, but still I decided to write this darn thing months ago. I tell you heroes can be such pains in the butt at times. Yes I'm putting all the blame on him because he started it, oh and he also wants to start it off in LONDON. Says it's not much use giving half the story. I mean what the?
I am now armed with a mile of books from the library, DVDs that I've bought and hired and ready to kick this thing in the butt. (Yeah I'm in a butt kicking mood.) I'm sure I'm going to have square eyes before this thing starts. At least I'll know heaps about the founding of our county. LOL.
So how is your planning for NaNo going? Are your heroes and heroines throwing you any curly ones? Or do you have nice characters that say yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. If you do let me know where to find them. Do not let anyone tell you, you control the story. It is all a pack of bull, the characters their the one that have all the say.
Just to mix things up and because i had nothing better to do (yeah right) I watched 'Made of Honour' today with Dr McDreamy himself Patrick Dempsey. Ahhhhhh my shoot of the McDreamy. Now it is back to research and other important DVD watching.
Showing posts with label characters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label characters. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
I Need A Hero!!
Characters and how to find them:
Now when I'm about to start a story I usually have a character in mind and a situation. Say a oceanographer and tectonic plate tearing (EarthFall) or Secretary torn between two war time lovers (Time to Dream) or Girl finding out her dad's a Selkie and she is one too! (The Same Skin). And Girl Pirate in Alternate Space Reality.... well that's the working title right now so lol let's just go with it.
I usually do a quick scroll through pictures to find one that looks like the character I have in mind, say for instance Gwen from EarthFall:
or Jack Coyle from EarthFall
oh okay I'll give you another of Jack, just coz I'm noice...
So why do I need pictures? Because I'm a visual girl, I like to see who my people are, imagine they way they'd walk/talk/interact with others. It helps me when I need to write facial expressions or how the hero/heroine fit together that sort of thing.
For Time to Dream I actually saw a young electrician in my local super market and I followed him around for a few minutes watching how he moved, what he did, etc etc... No it was not strictly classified as STALKING... I w
as researching, and yes I did receive looks from strangers as this weird woman pushing a twin pram around the aisles ducking in and out as she tried desperately not to be seen by the electrician. It's something I did in the name of my art... Hubby advised me not to do that sort of thing again, apparently you could get arrested.
My hero for The Same Skin looks like this:
Ronan Beaumont.... he's actually got a few secrets of his own that Jane eventually finds out about...
So these pictures help me formulate ideas and movements, and generally help me get to know my people. Another great resource I use when I'm working out who the story is about is Lynn Veihls The Novel Notebook which helped me flesh out The Same Skin in three days and I wrote it in NINE... yep 50,000 words in 9 days... it can happen. She takes you through working out who the story is about and how your different ideas will affect not only them but those around them. It does help tremendously.
Even if you're not a plotter having a detailed character description can't hurt.
Anything that helps November roll around smoothly is worth the effort I think.
And you can call all that time spent drooling I mean searching for Heroes as research time and kick everyone else off the computer while you go look.
What does your hero/heroine look like? Do you have a favourite real live person that you base characters on... oh note to self: do not allow the other girls to get hold of the latest Hugh Jackman pictures, it'll just get too steamy around here.
Now when I'm about to start a story I usually have a character in mind and a situation. Say a oceanographer and tectonic plate tearing (EarthFall) or Secretary torn between two war time lovers (Time to Dream) or Girl finding out her dad's a Selkie and she is one too! (The Same Skin). And Girl Pirate in Alternate Space Reality.... well that's the working title right now so lol let's just go with it.
I usually do a quick scroll through pictures to find one that looks like the character I have in mind, say for instance Gwen from EarthFall:
or Jack Coyle from EarthFall
oh okay I'll give you another of Jack, just coz I'm noice...
So why do I need pictures? Because I'm a visual girl, I like to see who my people are, imagine they way they'd walk/talk/interact with others. It helps me when I need to write facial expressions or how the hero/heroine fit together that sort of thing.
For Time to Dream I actually saw a young electrician in my local super market and I followed him around for a few minutes watching how he moved, what he did, etc etc... No it was not strictly classified as STALKING... I w
as researching, and yes I did receive looks from strangers as this weird woman pushing a twin pram around the aisles ducking in and out as she tried desperately not to be seen by the electrician. It's something I did in the name of my art... Hubby advised me not to do that sort of thing again, apparently you could get arrested.My hero for The Same Skin looks like this:
Ronan Beaumont.... he's actually got a few secrets of his own that Jane eventually finds out about...
So these pictures help me formulate ideas and movements, and generally help me get to know my people. Another great resource I use when I'm working out who the story is about is Lynn Veihls The Novel Notebook which helped me flesh out The Same Skin in three days and I wrote it in NINE... yep 50,000 words in 9 days... it can happen. She takes you through working out who the story is about and how your different ideas will affect not only them but those around them. It does help tremendously.
Even if you're not a plotter having a detailed character description can't hurt.
Anything that helps November roll around smoothly is worth the effort I think.
And you can call all that time spent drooling I mean searching for Heroes as research time and kick everyone else off the computer while you go look.
What does your hero/heroine look like? Do you have a favourite real live person that you base characters on... oh note to self: do not allow the other girls to get hold of the latest Hugh Jackman pictures, it'll just get too steamy around here.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Mid Week Blog; So How ya Going?
Hi All,
Well it’s Wednesday again, hump day, just three more days to the weekend YAY. First off I’d like to congratulate you all on a fantastic effort so far. You are all doing so well, especially the ones that have small children. Each and every one of you should give your selves a pat on the back for a job well done.
So how are things going? Are your characters playing nice? Is the story flowing as well as you had hoped it would? Are you finding new and exciting surprises each time you sit in front of your computer? If you have an answer to any of these questions come and tell us.
I’ve had no real surprises this week. I think my characters are just glad to be out of the holding pattern I’ve had them in for the last few months. I’ve learnt a few things about a couple of the secondary characters that are going to have their own stories which was interesting. The things you learn when you least expect it. Oh and I also found out that my heroines dead husband married her because he didn’t want her having what he couldn’t the hero. What a snot nose. So glad I got to kill him off. Anyway my aim this week is to finish this WIP, which will than give me three finished manuscripts ready for editing in July. With just another nine WIP to work on.
Now at the weekend I did a little blog hopping at the weekend and when I came to one of the blogs I was so impressed with just how much she had achieved during the week I told her she should be our pin-up girl for the week. So each Wednesday I’m going to announce who I think my pin-up girl is for putting in such a great effort during the challenge. So my first PIN-UP GIRL is… drum roll please… da-ta-ta-da NATALIE HUTCH. Natalie has worked so hard this week, (well everyone has worked hard) but Nat has twins, a three year old (by the sounds of it going on 33), teenagers (I think that’s right) a hubby not happy because the house was a mess (he did clean up for her so I’ll let the unhappy bit pass), plus she has kept us entertain from time to time with her witty emails and post. So there you have it that is why Nat got my nod this week, so nip over and visit her blog (just click on her name) say hi, and have a read of her first chapter (which I still have to do). But truthfully I think you are all pin-up girls.
Also at the weekend there was some discussion about the rules or the spirit of the challenge. Should we be sticking to the rules of the NaNo or do we do our own thing? This is how I see this challenge, while basically we are working at getting 50ks written in 30 days we have to remember that not everyone works to the mould of NaNo. Some are set in their ways they know what works for them and what doesn’t. If editing and fine turning their work as they go then that’s fine, if they only write 10k or 30k during the month but it is the first time they have ever written 10k or 30k in a month then they have achieved something. To my way of thinking this is about being there to support each other, to give a cheer when needed and a shoulder at other times, to help each of us do the best we can with our time.
The lovely Diane Curran will be updating the word meters this week, so please have your totals in by 8pm on Sunday night or you may miss out on having your word meter updated. Diane has a day job as well as taking the time to update the meters and fit her own writing in. Don’t forget we need your total for the WHOLE CHALLENGE.
Okay I’m off my soapbox now. Enjoy the rest of your week I hope you achieve whatever goal you have set yourself this week and happy writing.
Hugs
Sandie.
Well it’s Wednesday again, hump day, just three more days to the weekend YAY. First off I’d like to congratulate you all on a fantastic effort so far. You are all doing so well, especially the ones that have small children. Each and every one of you should give your selves a pat on the back for a job well done.
So how are things going? Are your characters playing nice? Is the story flowing as well as you had hoped it would? Are you finding new and exciting surprises each time you sit in front of your computer? If you have an answer to any of these questions come and tell us.
I’ve had no real surprises this week. I think my characters are just glad to be out of the holding pattern I’ve had them in for the last few months. I’ve learnt a few things about a couple of the secondary characters that are going to have their own stories which was interesting. The things you learn when you least expect it. Oh and I also found out that my heroines dead husband married her because he didn’t want her having what he couldn’t the hero. What a snot nose. So glad I got to kill him off. Anyway my aim this week is to finish this WIP, which will than give me three finished manuscripts ready for editing in July. With just another nine WIP to work on.
Now at the weekend I did a little blog hopping at the weekend and when I came to one of the blogs I was so impressed with just how much she had achieved during the week I told her she should be our pin-up girl for the week. So each Wednesday I’m going to announce who I think my pin-up girl is for putting in such a great effort during the challenge. So my first PIN-UP GIRL is… drum roll please… da-ta-ta-da NATALIE HUTCH. Natalie has worked so hard this week, (well everyone has worked hard) but Nat has twins, a three year old (by the sounds of it going on 33), teenagers (I think that’s right) a hubby not happy because the house was a mess (he did clean up for her so I’ll let the unhappy bit pass), plus she has kept us entertain from time to time with her witty emails and post. So there you have it that is why Nat got my nod this week, so nip over and visit her blog (just click on her name) say hi, and have a read of her first chapter (which I still have to do). But truthfully I think you are all pin-up girls.
Also at the weekend there was some discussion about the rules or the spirit of the challenge. Should we be sticking to the rules of the NaNo or do we do our own thing? This is how I see this challenge, while basically we are working at getting 50ks written in 30 days we have to remember that not everyone works to the mould of NaNo. Some are set in their ways they know what works for them and what doesn’t. If editing and fine turning their work as they go then that’s fine, if they only write 10k or 30k during the month but it is the first time they have ever written 10k or 30k in a month then they have achieved something. To my way of thinking this is about being there to support each other, to give a cheer when needed and a shoulder at other times, to help each of us do the best we can with our time.
The lovely Diane Curran will be updating the word meters this week, so please have your totals in by 8pm on Sunday night or you may miss out on having your word meter updated. Diane has a day job as well as taking the time to update the meters and fit her own writing in. Don’t forget we need your total for the WHOLE CHALLENGE.
Okay I’m off my soapbox now. Enjoy the rest of your week I hope you achieve whatever goal you have set yourself this week and happy writing.
Hugs
Sandie.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Ladies, You Are All Fantastic!!!!
Well ladies we have had a great start to the challenge. Most of you have exceeded your daily goal. The numbers are looking good and the word counts are growing.
Just remember while you’re writing away each day, this month is about getting the story out there. You can always go back and edit next month. You can add more or take parts out later. Don’t stress if you come to a road block in a scene, move on to another scene and go back later. If you write something and you’re not sure it’s working but it in brackets and deal with it later.
Some of you will find that your character have minds of their own and will lead you on a merry chase. Let them you can always change or move things around at the end of the month. It really isn’t much use fighting with them because they are like children who just whinge and moon until they get their own way.
So we are heading into day two, some are just starting for those good luck, let us know how you’re day finishes up. For those writing for their second day, at least there are words on the paper to follow now.
Here’s a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald:
‘You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say.’
Well I write because my characters won’t shut-up until I do write.
Happy writing everyone. May the Word Fairy sit on your shoulder whispering words of encouragement all day. And here’s hope Miss Procrastination stays locked in the cupboard for the month.
Don't forget next word count update is at the weekend, up to 8pm (EST) Sunday. RC will have a post for you to add your word totals in the comment section from Friday. She will also have a post on Wednesday if you want to drop by and have a whinge, brag or just say "hi" so drop by for that one.
Hugs
Sandie
Just remember while you’re writing away each day, this month is about getting the story out there. You can always go back and edit next month. You can add more or take parts out later. Don’t stress if you come to a road block in a scene, move on to another scene and go back later. If you write something and you’re not sure it’s working but it in brackets and deal with it later.
Some of you will find that your character have minds of their own and will lead you on a merry chase. Let them you can always change or move things around at the end of the month. It really isn’t much use fighting with them because they are like children who just whinge and moon until they get their own way.
So we are heading into day two, some are just starting for those good luck, let us know how you’re day finishes up. For those writing for their second day, at least there are words on the paper to follow now.
Here’s a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald:
‘You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say.’
Well I write because my characters won’t shut-up until I do write.
Happy writing everyone. May the Word Fairy sit on your shoulder whispering words of encouragement all day. And here’s hope Miss Procrastination stays locked in the cupboard for the month.
Don't forget next word count update is at the weekend, up to 8pm (EST) Sunday. RC will have a post for you to add your word totals in the comment section from Friday. She will also have a post on Wednesday if you want to drop by and have a whinge, brag or just say "hi" so drop by for that one.
Hugs
Sandie
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