Tag: Writing

Writing

The Writing Of My Novel

carolyncordon

Today was Anzac Day, and my writing group held a Writers Lock In at the venue we meet at every week, the Prince Albert Hotel in Gawler, South Australia. Four of us got together when we could in the morning, and stayed until our usual group meeting time. We wrote, and wrote, working on whatever of our writing projects were that we wished to put a big effort into.

I had previously decided I would spend my time putting as many of my small bits of my novel-in-progress, a story with the working title of “Talloola Travails”, into the main file of that work. Last night I wrote down the current word count I had so far for the novel. it was nowhere near as high a number as I need, but there were all of my bits and pieces I have been writing at our group meetings, when we are given a writing prompt, and I have been thinking about my novel, and what my main character will do with that prompt …

I have many such hand written words, of around 150 to 300 words each, in various notebooks I have. If I put all of those words into the actual file of the novel I have on my laptop, and then add the bits I have on my phone, (in Notes), that will add many more words to my total. I did 1661 words today and there are probably at least twenty times that many words left to type up, and transfer …

So that’s 33220 plus the words already there – and that makes 47645 words in my novel, without writing anything new. Then there will be the words needed to join all of the pieces together, plus words to draw out the various plot pieces and sub plots, many of which exist only in my head …

If I add all of that together, I expect I will have around 60,000 words in total, and in this day and age that is enough words to make a novel, except for the genre this story is, I probably need to have more words than that. I’ll look that up now, while I’m thinking about it.

OK, so my book is a political thriller, of sorts, and the given word length for that genre is 70,000 to 90,000 words. Another word count, on another web page has given 75,000 words as the minimum count, with an upper limit of 130,000 words. I certainly can’t see this work getting to that high number of words, although who knows what might happen? The lower numbers are quite achievable I think.

I have been working on this piece since 2016, writing these small responses to prompts, using some of them to place written pieces inside of a plot outline, using the “Heroes Journey” format. This link gives a great description on what that format is, and if you want to write fiction with some kind of high level action to it, this classic style is a golden oldie, much used for exciting stories, both novels and movies.

I have a lot more work to do on feeding in and ‘fattening’ various subplots, and possibly will benefit from doing more work on each of my characters, so I know more about each of them. I think I can wait on that task until I’ve got the already written pieces slotted into the novel as it is now, first though, so it will be easier to see what I’m dealing with, in terms of things that need to be written still.

I hope you have found this look into how I am writing this novel interesting, I had a good time looking at some of the bits and pieces of what I’m doing. I realise it would be far more sensible to write directly onto my laptop. I’m not sure why I’d been hesitating about taking my laptop with me to our writers group in the past. There have been problems with internet connection at that venue in the past, but today, there was a good internet connection and none of us had any problems there at all.

I didn’t have my laptop until quite recently though, and I’m still learning about it, so felt pen on paper would be my best way to go, or writing notes on my phone … There are many ways to write a novel, and I am certainly exploring a few different ones! Being open to change, and using what is available are good ways to go in all of life, for sure.

I have no deadline for the completion on this novel, but I want to have a first draft done, and given to others to read for feedback. I’ve been reading my pieces at the writing group each week at meetings, and the other group members always seem to think it’s good, even though they haven’t read it in a connected narrative form just bits and pieces, from disparate sections of the story.

This story has been with me for three years now, and I am beginning to see an end to it all, where until our writer lock in today, I hadn’t really thought much about when this may end, and sometimes I almost decided to just forget about the whole thing. But then at the next writing group meeting, Meredith (my main character), would tell me what was going to happen, based on the writing prompt given by Alex. And I know members of the group would probably to actually like to read the full story to make sense of the scraps they heard from me over the past few years.

I’ve written the ending of the story, so I know what I’m heading toward, I just have to fill in the gaps to bring it all to that place …

If you have any ideas about good ways to write a novel, I’d love to read about it, feel free to leave a comment here.

Uncategorized, Writing

Marketing Books, Some Previous Thoughts

carolyncordon

Dig It! Gardening Tips for Dogs

The link just above will give some information about marketing a self-published book. It isn’t the only way to market our books, it’s just information about how I did it. It may be useful, I hope it is interesting.

That information is ten years old, and while some things have changed, certainly other things remain the same. I am still doing small print runs of the book talked about, “Dig It! Gardening Tips for Dogs”. I have a soft spot for that book which I still send copies of, every now and then, in fact I sold another copy just a week ago, at an event I participated in.

For me, having books available if I am out and about at things where at least some of the people present, are open to the idea of buying books, is always a good idea. I in fact sold, not only Dig It!, at that event last weekend, but I also sold the two books that come after Dig It! I put the price down low, but I didn’t mind that at all. The person I sold the books to is a friend, she is a dog owner too, and I have already sold enough copies of the books to cover my costs, so any further sales are profit …

So if you go and look at the link above, which is also here, you’ll see that I was pretty laid back in my attitude to producing books. I am still more or less like that. I have moments when I chastise myself about missing out on sales, opportunities and so one, but really, the most important thing is that I’m not sending myself broke with my bookish things, and that I am having fun with what I do.

And isn’t that a key to living a book life? Having fun, having enough money to do what you want to do. I’ve sold more copies of this simple little book with illustrations, than many big name authors, published by actual publishing companies, I think. I’m not sure on that, unlike those publishing companies, I don’t have any accounting types of people collecting the numbers for me.

The book mentioned in the article I link to, the one that I published through Lulu, has pretty well disappeared from my life. I no longer know my log in details for my Lulu account, and I barely even remember what that book I wrote said. I could look it up, if I really cared, I supposed, but my level of interest in it has just disappeared.

Oh well, such is life!

 

Writing

My Next Non-Fiction Book

carolyncordon

Today, instead of working on my blogs, or my poetry collection, my poetry chap book, my children’s picture book, my children’s chapter book, or my two novels in progress, I spent my (non-Social Media) writing time today, on my next non-fiction book.

I haven’t been keeping track on the number of words I’ve actually written of this book, but I know that today I wrote somewhere between 500-1000 words for it. I am happy with that, and I may well write some more words on it later on tonight.

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This book is about some of my thoughts about various things that are important to me – family, friends, spiritual thoughts, health, Nature and other things. These are all of the things I think about, when I am simply sitting and thinking, contemplating not much at all, or everything, depending on where my thoughts take me.

This book, hmm, who would want to read this book? It won’t be funny, like my “Buster the Dog” books, and it won’t be all about anything at all, it will be about little bits of many things. Because that’s what life is, isn’t it, little bits of many things. I realise my situation is not the same as many other people, having hours of my day to sit around doing not a heck of a lot.

Having my husband as my carer, who does most of the housework, as well as yard work, makes my life simple, and easy, and I thank him very much for that, often. Him doing basically everything for me should mean that I can do all of the writing I have on the drawing board, shouldn’t it? Sadly it doesn’t work like that. I let things slide by me, and they go on not being done.

And then , with bit of luck, I get on with things, and do a big few sessions with the writing, and get it all done, and then the book is there for me to send off to be published, or printed, depending on which way I’ve gone this time. Self publishing doesn’t scare me, I have more self published books than those published by an actual publishing business.

The important thing for me is that I have a book, a particular book ‘out there’ in the world. Books, words, writing, these are all important to me. One day perhaps I will write the next big thing in literature, with a mainstream publisher, and I’ll be out there, touring the country and beyond, doing author talks and book signings.

It would be lovely if that book is one of the two novels I’m currently working with, but I don’t have a feeling that is going to be the case … This non fiction book, that’s the one I’m liking the most at the moment. But things can change. I let my muse, my head, lead me to where I can get my interest levels up and I’ll sit down here in my writing spot at home, or sometimes at a particular hotel in Gawler, the Prince Albert Hotel, where my writing group meets every Thursday afternoon.

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I feel comfortable in both of those places, so the words can come, I feel creative with my pen, or my keyboard, when it’s going well, the words flow easily, and it feels exactly the thing I should be doing. One day, perhaps I’ll get organised better, and actually begin writing more often, normal working hours even, but I don’t feel that is the way it will work for me. Who knows though?

I have dreams of going away somewhere, where somebody will do everything, and all I have to do is work on my writing. Really though, I already could have that, if I really wanted it. Housework done for me, mostly, and all I have to do is let the dog out and back in again, feed her, lots of days, simple tasks. Our, help with doing the washing, sometimes, and always putting the washing away.

It embarrasses me really when I look at it like that, I should have these books written and sent out to get them published, it looks like I’ve been completely slacking off, doesn’t it? But living my life like this means I don’t feel stressed, and I know how I feel if I’m feeling stressed out, and it’s not a good thing, not at all. So I’ll keep cruising along in life, blogging, writing, engaging with my friends, my peers, my family, and books will come along in their proper time …

If you’re a writer, how do you manage your writing time?

Writing

Finding Meaning through Writing

carolyncordon

Life, it can be a trial at times, but of course it can also be a wonderful thing too. When the bad times are there though, it can seem like there will never, ever be those good times again.

Some of us have worse things come into our lives, than other people have.There should be no blame laid, without knowing all of the details in a person’s life, you can’t know how or why every bad thing happened.IMAG0576 (1).jpg

Sure, some of our decisions can be wrong ones, but sometimes it can be hard to see any other way or ways to go. Options aren’t considered because there needed to be an immediate decision, with no time to look around, just act right then, no time for thought.

If we do get the chance to look at life, and decisions, the important things, the things that matter the most, that’s when we can begin to make better decisions, ones that speak to the issues we actually care the most about, instead of making a rushed decision that may serve us ill in regards to what we truly want to happen.

Knowing what we want most, what we believe in, what makes our heart sing, what we most do not want to happen. These are things that will come out if we give ourselves time to think on them, write them down, explore them, and look at the consequences of what you do or don’t do. close-up-court-courthouse-534204

Through writing about our lives, we can get a better understanding about these important issues we have, what our beliefs are, what are the most important things to us, why we do what we do, what could we do differently, for a better result?

analog binder blank book
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Answering these simple questions, could have profound results, give it a try, surprise yourself …

writing exercise

Finding Inspiration Right Where You Are

carolyncordon

Whether you are sitting at home, at work, or out at a cafe or library, you will find inspiration and things to write about right there, where you are, no matter what. You have to hold on to attitude of wanting to write though, and have pen and paper (or electronic equivalent), so you will be ready when the words start coming.

I find coffee aids in my finding of inspiration, but it isn’t actually necessary, just nice. Having a comfortable place to sit is important, and as mentioned, something to write on and with. Whether you want to write a poem, a short story, an article, or something longer, you have to set your mind free, and just let the words come.

Getting some words written is the most important thing, when you are in the initial early stages of writing. You wake up your creativity, and you play with words! Getting it all neat and finished is the job of your internal editor, but we are a long way away from that stage.

Exercise One

  • Pick up a book, and turn to page 28. On that page, locate a noun, a verb, and write them down, then remember the first dog you ever knew in your life. Whether a pet, or some other dog, one on TV perhaps, write the name of that dog down too. We are going to write a flash fiction story in less than 150 words, using the three things you have written down.
  • In your story, that dog’s name is your character’s name. A story has a beginning, a middle and an end, but in flash fiction, the elements are stripped right back, and you get into the story Bang! straight away.
  • In my story, my character’s name is Lucky, the noun I’m using is forest, and the noun is sing. One, two, three, go:
  • Lucky trotted along for a few minutes, looking around, wondering, what would he find in the forest today? Then there was a sound, a high pitched Ahhhwoooo! Lucky couldn’t believe it, another dog, a howling dog, that sounded like it wanted a friend. Ahwooo? he called, and the other dog called Ahhhwwoooooooo! sounding like it was getting closer and closer as it howled.
    The dogs sang their howls at each other, to each other and then there they were, together. The howling stopped, and happy little yips of pleasure came from them both.
    Lonely dogs no more, both explored each other, sniffing, licking, reaching out paws, then they ran, and ran, and ran, leaping and running, running and leaping, yipping with pleasure.
    Lucky was finally not the only, lonely dog in the forest, he was the one of the two dogs in the forest, and they both had a friend now …

the end

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Wow, I had no idea what I was going to end up with there, but I quite like this little story,, a children’s story perhaps, maybe even a picture book! How did you go, did a story come out for you?

Exercise Two

  • For this second exercise, I expect a poem will arrive. It may be a fine poem, it may be the best ever written, it may be a load of not much at all,  but it will be a poem!
    So if you always say, I’m not a poet, but wish you could actually be able to call yourself one, read on!
  • Remember your childhood years, and write down the things you used to do that were fun. only a couple of things, will be enough, if you can remember lots of aspects of those things.
  • Use a new verse for every single ‘thing’ and put down as many emotions and senses in that you can remember, using a new line for each separate thought.
  • This is my list of ‘things’ I remembered when I did this exercise myself a few years ago:
    I remember riding my bike, with my best friend Wendy. One particular day, we rode from our homes in Klemzig all of the way to the Adelaide Zoo. We got in for free, using the zoo tickets my dad had, and spent ages sitting with the two dingoes that lived at the zoo. These dingoes, and male and a female, were very tame and loved being scratched behind their ears, just like any other dog likes. I was such a fun time, and we both felt almost blessed to have these dingoes feel so secure with us.
    Going to the Torrens River as a kid, with my brothers and their friends was always fun too, catching creatures and either keeping them or setting them free again. Yabbies were the main creature we didn’t release back to the wild, they came home with us, for dad to cook and eat.
  • Almost Dogs, and Yabbies for Dad
    Riding my bike with Wendy –
    best friend and I, off to the Zoo
    with Dad’s medallions, in for free,
    to see our zoo-time favourites
    the dingoes, a lovely tame pair
    blessing Wendy and me, they way
    those almost dogs loved ear scratches
    just like all dogs did!Down to the Torrens, our river
    almost every Christmas time day –
    my brothers and I, with their mates.
    Me, an almost accepted almost boy,
    & all having fun, in the water, and out –
    catching things, letting them go,
    but always bringing home for Dad
    the yabby “Catch of the Day”!
  • Can you see the way I stripped back lots of the initial words, cutting out what wasn’t needed to make the points I wanted to make about it all. I am happy with this new poem, and I’d love to know how you went with making a poem out of your own words.
  • Note also the casual way I bring the two stanzas of this poem together, through the mention of my Dad in them both.
  • This is a free verse poem, but with careful line endings, so that the important words gain prominence, by being first and last words in most lines.
  • Notice too that I don’t need to put in every single detail from the initial words written, only using what I felt I needed to make each stanza, and the poems as the whole, work.