So I just wanted to post a quick update to go along with my regularly scheduled post. As of this morning, I reached the 20% mark towards my goal of 100,000 words for my current project. HOORAY!
HOORAY!
Style and Voice
Today I would like to spend a bit of time discussing style and voice. Two different topics when it comes to writing, but that are also linked very closely. First let’s start with style.
According to Wikipedia, style is “the manner in which an author chooses to write to his or her audience.” So does this mean that simply choosing to write is a style in and of itself? I would have to say no. For example, this blog post is written in what is commonly referred to as Conversational style simply due to the fact that use personal pronouns (I) and contractions (let’s). The other two prominent styles are Technical and Business styles. These two are very similar, other than the fact that Business style allows longer sentences than Technical does. Continue reading
Inspirations
Today I would like to talk about inspirations. Not so much people who have inspired me to try my hand at writing become a writer, but more on where I get inspiration for the things I write. One of those places is my personal life. In the first novel I wrote, Sky Islands, the main character is a delivery person who uses a zip line to get from one island to the next more quickly than waiting for the regular basket system to take her. There are at least three sources of inspiration for that sentence summary alone, so let me break them down. Continue reading
Curses!
Alright, I’m having a little bit of a problem. I really want to write a Western novel, and I have a basic idea for one, but every time I sit down and open that Word document, I cannot find any motivation to work on it. This is because I am way more interested in writing what I consider to be the sequel of this novel. I think for the idea I am interested in to work, I need to write the first story to flesh out the world a bit.
Has anyone else run into this issue before? I really would like some feedback on what people have done in similar situations.
Update: I didn’t want to just delete this post, but I have somewhat solved my problem. After posting on reddit in r/writing, I have decided to scrap the original story and write the second one, hinting at things that would have happened in the first. Also, as of this post, I will be changing my posting scheduling to a new post every Monday at noon, Eastern time. I am no longer posting parts of Sky Islands, and this will allow me to continue working on my current writing project as well as post things that are actually worthwhile. The first post on the new schedule will be here tomorrow.
Untitled Dystopian Story
Author’s Note: This is an untitled dystopian story, tentatively titled “Naughty and Nice”, I wrote for use as an extra credit assignment over the Christmas break in my class while we were working on our Dystopian Literature unit. I know it still needs a bit of work, but this is the most current draft. I hope you enjoy it!
Snow covered red and green lights started flashing as the sound of bells ringing cascaded from the bullhorns installed on every building corner. Corei looked at the lights for just a second before she dropped her shopping bag and bolted in the direction of her home. Posters of a shadowy face with glowing white eyes saying “He knows if you’ve been bad or good” covered the walls of the buildings on her way home, but they simply passed in a blur as she careened around a corner, seeing the door to her home at the end of the alley.
“Mandatory curfew is now in effect,” a voice boomed over the sound of the bells. Corei didn’t stop to listen, just tried to run faster, slipping through a patch of deeper snow, and seeing her younger sister, Katrine holding the door to their house open for her. Corei dove through the door just as the perforated steel plate slammed shut, Katrine barely having time to close their front door before it was turned into splinters. Continue reading
Under the Rug
Author’s Note: This was originally a story I wrote based on a photo from Harris Burdick titled “Under the Rug.” This was written for a class I took in college about teaching writing in a secondary classroom setting. I hope you enjoy it!
Greg was wondering why his chair had suddenly rocked back on him until he saw the coffee table pop up as well. After two weeks without incident, he thought the mysterious bump had finally left him. Before that, the longest hiatus had been only three days.
As soon as the bump would go down in one spot, it would instantly appear in another. Greg stood up and watched its movement, waiting for it to get closer. As soon as the bump came within reach, he stomped on it, only to have another rise under his other foot, throwing him face first onto the floor. Continue reading
200 Views!
So that didn’t take long at all. The blog is currently at 200 views exactly. I am unlocking the Dystopia WIP page, as well as posting two other stories. They will each post at noon, one tomorrow, and the other the following day (July 2 and 3).
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That’s All Folks
So that’s the end of my postings for Sky Islands. Chapter 10, just under halfway through the first draft, was uploaded three days ago. It seems like not many people have been following it, but those who have seem to have enjoyed it. Anyway, it feels good to have it out there.
However, the story’s journey is far from done. Not only do I have an idea in mind for a follow up story, as well as a shorter prequel about how the people moved up to the islands, but I still have a lot of work to do on this first draft. Which brings me to my request:
I need alpha readers!
I need people who are willing to read the entire first draft of the novel and point out plot holes and inconsistencies in the story. This is a huge help as I have a tendency to fill in the information that I know needs to be there. I may have mentioned this before, but I know of one major hole already, as well as a few missed opportunities. Also, I think the ending kind of sucks. I need to know what promises are being made in the beginning so they can be fulfilled in the ending.
I already have an old friend who has had the entire first draft sent to him and, I believe, has begun to read it. But one person is not enough. He knows me better than a lot of people, so he will know when I mean one thing, even though the text may not be saying it.
If you would like to help out in this endeavor, please reply in the comments and I will get in touch with you.
I thank all of you who reply in advance.
Teachers… WITH GUNS!
I’m not sure how many of you caught this, but Georgia has recently passed a law that would allow teachers to carry firearms in the classroom. Here is a link to the article in case you missed it. Go ahead and read it now. We’ll wait for you here. You read it yet? No? Okay, go do that now. Done? Good. Let’s move on. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? Before we go further, I want to make some things clear:
- I have fired guns before. I greatly enjoy firing guns, and I find it to be a perfectly good hobby.
- I do not own a gun, mainly for economic reasons. I do not have the desire to own a firearm. At this point, I do not want one in my home, as I would be concerned that one of my kids would get a hold of it.
- I do not think we should limit the types of firearms citizens can own within reason. I personally do not think a normal person needs an assault rifle, but if you want one, feel free. I have fired one before, and it is fun.
- I believe there should be more accountability with who possesses guns and how they are used. Even if you buy your gun from another private citizen, I think the firearm should be registered to you.
- George Zimmerman was guilty as hell.
K. James 