Musings of a Hopeful Author

One of the things I've always enjoyed the most in writing stories, but also agonized over the most, is naming my characters. I think names are powerful, they project energy, perceptions, and any number of other things. At least they do to me. That's why I don't take naming my characters lightly. It's also why I've spent the last couple of weeks going through notebook after notebook trying to find where I might have jotted down some names I've already agonized over so I wouldn't have to do it again.  Unfortunately, I did not find any names in those notes. I did, however, reorganize several notebooks and rekindled my imagination regarding several different stories I've started dreaming up over the years. Alas, they shall have to wait. Our focus is now space, or at least it will be until I get feedback on my revised Angel story chapters. When I get that feedback, my focus will shift to the Angel story for a time to finish out that story before returning onc...

 I can't help escape the irony that I just picked up again on a story I've been thinking about for years a month or so after reading Dune. The irony is instead of feeling inspired and in awe of what many have said is the greatness of Dune, I just hope mine is more interesting. Felt like Dune was a lot like the famous film Lawrence of Arabia... too much sand not enough plot/character interaction. And for the record, how inconvenient was the time jump in Dune? Like they couldn't have sped up a few days in the beginning of the book where they plan to go to the Arakis FOREVER, but they jump over crucial years of Paul becoming a crucial member of the tribe, etc. And then just picking up where everyone just already knows his status but you. not cool. I guess maybe at that point Herbert was just trying to get the story moving along at last.  Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Dune for what it did for the genre in terms of world building, etc., but as far as it being a well writt...

 So, I am taking a momentary break from my Angel story to allow for a friend to read through the newly revised opening chapters. No point in carrying the changes through the rest of the book of they aren't worthwhile, am I right?  Well, since I am now in a holding pattern on that story, I thought I'd make the best of my daily "writing block" to look at another story I have been thinking about for a few years. I opened the first chapter I had started writing and DAMN. Haha. It's so mean, haha. It starts off in a meeting with people - or more specifically a single person - giving status updates. The POV we're seeing this meeting through has apparently had enough of meetings and of this individual. I am now trying hard to think of who might have inspired this hate filled meeting. I think maybe my description of the meanness isn't enough. So, here's a brief glimpse into the opening.  Cecil continued to drone on about God knows what for what felt like the t...

 So, believe it or not, but I have actually worked on writing every single day since my last post. Shocker, I know! It's not been all fun and games, though, since I am in the process of editing and rewriting my Angel story. I've given it some time to breathe since I last sat down to look at it with a critical eye, and I think the break has done us both some good. Time has given me some distance and time to ruminate on some of the feedback I got from early readers (aka. friends and family who I begged to give my first draft a look). Now for diving in and getting it done! Well, a week into the process and I've gone over the prelude chapter and the first three chapters of the book. I feel like I've fixed some language that didn't flow like I would have liked, hopefully rounded out some back story points a bit better, and helped flesh out some of the driving forces between one of the main romances. I think there's still more to do in each of those areas, but at leas...

 So, yeah, still alive, just haven't been that productive on the writing front. I will say, though, in some small defense I have moved to another state, taken on a new job, bought a house, and got a puppy, so haven't been just sitting still. That said, I have had spare time, so no real excuse for not getting some writing done. But here's hoping I can get back into the swing of things (something I am being held accountable for thanks to a friend who also needs someone to shame her into doing some hobbies she oft ignores).  What's new? Well, funny you should wonder. I am in the rewriting phase (finally) for my Angel story so that I can take the feedback I was given and incorporate it into the story to make the characters a bit more rounded and the plot a little richer. It's taken me this long to get enough distance to be able to absorb the feedback and get to a point where I can actually start making some updates. It was hard to think how to even go about it until rec...