Easing the tension

Well, finally I got a couple of characters going, playing scenes, thinking their thoughts, getting on with activities.

That helps.

They haven't started talking to others yet. I haven't even spent a lot of time describing the surroundings for one of them.

I even have a couple of announced others, waiting in the wings.

I've kept the word count up, and now look forward to finding out what these characters do.

That helps a lot. G'night.

I don't get it

No, this year I have really no idea what I have set out to do.

• Year One: started as semi-auto-biography, only slowly getting brave enough to make stuff up, and end up with more fiction than fact
• Year Two: deliberately set out to break down into chapters, make everything up, not base characters on friends, or events on my experiences, etc
• Year Three: began to fall apart (thinking too much) and although I have several sections I enjoyed writing it never totally shaped up, and I have never re-written it (so much of it needs cutting)
• Script Frenzy: broke the pattern, having to write a 100 page script in a month - and I enjoyed it, plotted it, tried to give it structure and tension, etc.
• This year's NaNo will not get going. It seems so abstract. If this falls into the category of a 'novel' we might have to stretch the definition in all directions, from Tristram Shandy to Naked Lunch. I could do with, at least, a few 'routines' - and I could certainly attempt to use the self-referential, if it isn't going to go away. (sigh) Just keeping the word count up, and gagging and hoodwinking the inner critic...

Staggering along, but not yet despairing. Maybe this year I will dive into the forums (fora?) and ask for help.

Help!

Serious Literature

After all my recent dabbling in popular conspiracy thrillers I have enjoyed settling down with Zero History by William Gibson... He may not appeal to everyone, but I like the stretch I can feel in the brain cells, as he makes me work to understand...rather than spell it all out.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)

Whether or not I will spend November trying to write something a bit more swashbuckling than my previous high-speed novels remains a moot point. As in previous years I have already begun to feel the adrenaline rush anxiety about whether:

• I can sustain the writing pace in the face of other demands on my time
• I can stay motivated
• I can think of anything at all to write...

Two weeks to go... At least I have the bonus of telling myself I have managed to complete the challenge successfully three times already.

My profile at the NaNoWriMo site.

Pottering along

I recently discovered the Blog2Print site, and although it seemed great fun for the family it might involve a little too much expense for my own online writings.



To grab OM (Only Maybe) into PDFs (potentially to turn into hard copies) involved making two books. That covers about 4 years. I like having them as PDFs but doubt I will manifest them.



I suspect that to turn my main diary blog into book format could perhaps involve about 4-5 volumes. The PDFs don't cost too much, but making them into hard copies would cost more than my pride (or vanity) can afford.

• I have started a timeline, at least, for a history of NoFit State Circus, but it will involve a great deal of time and effort to compile a really good collection of posters, programmes, pictures and anecdotes...I wonder if I should try to set it up as a shareable document, or Wiki or something (initially) so people could add jottings. The shared photo album on Facebook has uncovered some gems.


• Then there's my own autobiography, which limps along...


• Will I do my 'thriller' for this year's NaNoWriMo challenge?

I have compiled a bunch of articles and stuff, which I hope to put on Lulu, but it will cost a bit to do it all in colour...we'll see.


Currently called 'Scattered Thoughts' although that may mutate to 'Thought Processes'.



I need some time off, both to think and to write...

[update Saturday 9th October 2010]
Well, if I want colour throughout, Lulu wants to charge £18.50 for an A4 edition of Scattered Thoughts. I will make one, as a test, and offer the PDF, but basically that's too expensive. I might try a Black and White edition...

TV Tropes

For viewers and readers, writers and creators - a quick riffle through the TV Tropes wiki can always stimulate thought!

This witty and informal wiki contains all kinds of references to clichés and stereotypes, of both plot and characterization, in the media.

For example, and at random: Magical Gestures

Showing, not telling...

Most writing books advise that you attempt to involve the reader by 'showing' rather than merely 'telling' the events and people, but not all how-to books agree with that advice.

I like this attempt to distinguish the two modes, and explain how they both have their uses - from the Advanced Writing website...

• Please note how much more efficient “telling” is than “showing.”
• Please note how much more vivid “showing” is than “telling.”
• Now here’s an important point: You want to “show” the interesting parts of your story and “tell” the uninteresting parts.

That seems like a very useful distinction, to me. Follow the link for more detail.

Welsh blog awards

This blog did not get submitted to the competition, simply because the writer had not even heard about the competition.

Maybe next year (sigh).

Wales blog Awards