Friday, September 23, 2011

It's All Love Hate with Writing

Okay... I've gone from love to hate to love to hate with this stinkin' manuscript. Now I'm bending around the curve back to love. It's not total infatuation yet, people, but definitely back up to lukewarm now.

I'd like to say it's not the characters, that it's just me. But no... I really feel like it's the characters. They were the ones who came to me in my sleep (my sleep, let me emphasize) and told me their story. Got me all excited about writing their journey.

With this excitement I spent all this time outlining their story. I thought I knew them. I thought I knew where they were going. I thought I... well, I could go on and on with all the crap I thought I knew.

The truth is, they tricked me. They always trick me.

The characters are always like, "Oh yeah, AR. Really this is my journey. It's not difficult, not complex. Just a straight story."

And I'm always like, "Really? That's great!"

Then weeks later the truth hits and the characters snicker evilly in my head, "Sucker!"

With this, I grumble, "Yeah. I know."

But by this time I'm all in. The story is driving my brain. Multiple people (fictional people, not other AR personalities... I'm not crazy, really) are yelling at me to "get it right". I fight to understand the true meanings and themes. I struggle to know the villain beyond just a corny vague monologue.

I quest to know their world.

I get so frustrated I want to scream... and then I veg out on the couch with a Star Trek marathon. The characters, nervous at the prospect of being tossed into the permanent "draft" folder, give me a piece of the puzzle.

Admittedly, at this tiny act of peace offering I ignore and continue with my vegging... maybe moving over to Star Wars (4, 5, 6, then 1, 2, 3, thank you very much). Hey, don't blame me. These fictional folks know I have a stubborn streak. I mean, they live in my head and have first hand visual of this characteristic and all.

Now my characters are panicking and release another piece and another until my juices are up again and I'm typing away.

This could be it, but no. This cycle lasts a good 4-6 months until a draft is complete.

And then the whole revision and editing hell - er - phase begins.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Out of This World Blog Tour: Diane Dooley Visits

Please welcome guest blogger, Diane Dooley!


I love the sight of a man falling in love. That slightly panicked and disbelieving look in his eyes is beautiful to me. It’s even better when they don’t see it coming. They walk into a restaurant, they find their seat on the plane, they meet their new customer and BAM – that ole devil called love smacks them right between the eyes.

It’s not always like that, of course. Sometimes love grows slowly over time. Sometimes it happens quickly over the course of a sweetly intense affair. But sometimes? BAM! You can chalk it up to sexual attraction, instant chemistry, a meeting of the minds, but still – BAM happens. I speak from experience.

I think that’s why I wrote Blue Galaxy entirely from the point of view of the male character, Javan Rhodes. The poor guy falls hard, instantly, irrevocably, and then spends an awful lot of time trying to talk himself out of feeling the way he does. He knows this can’t be love; he knows there’s no such thing as love at first sight. Nevertheless, the dude is totally bammed. Totally.

It’s a touchy subject, I’ve found. Early readers of the manuscript were almost equally split in their passionate belief or disbelief in love at first sight. I found this fascinating and would love to hear more opinions on this. So, what do you think? Do you believe in love at first sight?

Please mention in your comment if you’d like to be entered in a drawing for a free copy of Blue Galaxy and don’t forget to leave contact info if you do.

Bio: Diane Dooley was born in the Channel Islands and grew up in Scotland. After many years of moving and travelling she finally settled down in Upstate New York, where the summers are short and the winters just might just kill you. She lives with her best friend/husband, who can’t fix a damn thing, and two obstreperous boy children in a falling-down farmhouse in the sticks. She is very happy.

You can find her on her blog, on Facebook , on Goodreads and on her group blog, Contact Infinite Futures. She is a regular contributor at The Galaxy Express as her alter-ego, Agent Z. and also writes dark and twisted short stories.

Blue Galaxy is available from: Carina Press, Amazon Kindle Store, Barnes and Noble, Audible.com and other online retailers.


Make sure to stop by Melisse Aires' blog tomorrow, where Gary Starta visits

http://melisseaires.blogspot.com

Monday, September 12, 2011

Second Annual Out of This World Blog Tour

"They're coming! They're coming!" Oh, wait...I'm part of them, so, I guess it's, "We're coming! We're coming!"

Doesn't sound as good does it? Any-who.

The Second Annual Out of This World Blog Tour is kicking off on September 16th. Everybody's visiting everybody else and we'd love for you to join us bloggy swingers in our blog-o-party. We have a great group of authors who will talk about SF stuff and show off their upcoming and/or recently released books. Below is the line-up. I'll keep you posted if anything changes.

September 17

Diane Dooley at Amber Norris’ blog

http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/


September 18

Gary Starta at Melisse Aires’ blog

http://melisseaires.blogspot.com


September 19

Frances Pauli at Diane Dooley’s blog

http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/


September 20

Amber Norris at Greta van der Rol’sblog

http://gretavanderrol.com/


September 21

Lilly Cain at Anne Kane’s blog

http://www.annekane.wordpress.com/


September 22

Greta van der Rol at Frances Pauli’s blog

http://francespauli.blogspot.com/


September 23

Lisa Lane at Gary Starta’s blog

http://praisegods.blogspot.com/

September 24

Melisse Aires at Lilly Cain’s blog

http://www.annekane.wordpress.com/


September 25

Anne Kane at Lisa Lane’s blog

http://newsensuality.blogspot.com