So, here's the thing...

I found this new toy...

I know, we've all found new toys before, myself included, but I have a rule about new toys (guidelines really), and the rule is that if it goes over 10,000 words then it's a wip (work in progress). In the case of this new toy, not only has it gone over 10K, I've actually been writing at a rather amazing pace: 5,000 words a week! That's like four times what I usually manage!

So. I've come to a decision. I'm going to throw myself into this little endeavor wholeheartedly and see how long my muse will stay. That means I won't be posting this month (I know, so sad), but it doesn't mean I won't be visiting. I've been lax on that front lately which is another reason to skip posting in favor of visiting.

So that's the plan for December. Meanwhile I'll look forward to your posts and the return of First Impressions in January (January 3 to be exact), in which Dianne Salerni and I critique someone's first page. Maybe a NaNo project, or perhaps something new and shiny you found. Interested? It's easy as pie, just send the first page of your complete or incomplete novel (about 300-400 words) to marcy@tidewater.net or dksalerni@gmail.com.

meanwhile, back at the farm ...

"Old Farm Buildings" by William Henry Hunt

I believe I have chosen my next project. It's one I already have partially outlined, which I discovered during the Lightning Flashed Blogfest. I am currently doing some character interviews and asking some questions like:

Are the characters ordinary?

What isn’t being seen?

What’s the most important question?

What’s dangerous in this world? 

Where in this world is there unexpected grace? What is beautiful? What needs to be saved?

When/How will the character (s) defend, explain or justify their actions.
How is the plot’s main problem larger than it looks?

Is this story about uncommon events?

What setbacks have the characters had?

What in this story is timelessly true?

What’s mc’s lucky charm? 

Can we create a situation where the mc is unprepared? In over her head?

This is how I begin to write a story; I discover an idea, I do a little outlining to see if I might be able to write an entire story from this single idea, I name my mc, and I start asking questions.  How do you start?

I’m giving myself permission

 courtesy of Publish or Perish

So, some of you have heard me mention my new toy, which I’ve been outlining and plotting and making lists and asking questions of my characters. And it’s been interesting doing things this way rather than just jumping in and swimming toward some intriguing half-seen island in the fog. But now that I actually have a whole chapter written I find myself wanting to spend a little more time with it.

See, I was trying to spend more time revising THE WAY TO DENDARA because I’d really like to get it in shape to query in January/February. But now I’m feeling that pull between the two and rather than fight with myself I’ve to decided to allow myself (and yes, I'm one of those people that has to establish rules guidelines for herself) to work on whichever one I want. Either way I’m writing.

Anyway, the new toy is called LONG WAY HOME and it was inspired by the picture above.When I first saw it I thought, what if someone fell from there?

What are you working on? Care to share?