Deb Salisbury: Mantua-Maker, Magic Seeker

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Social Media Thoughts and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I wish you all peace and joy over the holidays.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog’s question for this month was:

How about social media confessions? Do you twitter, FB, etc besides blogging? Why or why not?

I should admit first thing that I’m not a social person. In fact, I’m a borderline hermit. So social networking does not come easily to me.

I didn’t join Facebook because their insistence on sharing all our information horrifies me. Admittedly, we can opt out – with some difficulty, I’m told – but they’ve overridden that setting in the past. I simply don’t trust Facebook.

Tweeting? I’m amazed anyone has the time to follow in Twitter. I certainly don’t have the patience to read reams of everyday chatter. If I want that, I’ll go visit my mom. (Hi, Mom!) (Did I mention I’m a hermit?)

Blogging. Le sigh. I usually forget to blog. I feel I don’t often have anything interesting to say. I do read my friends’ blogs, though it don’t comment as often as I should. And sometimes when I try, Blogger acts up.
More sighs. ;-)

How about you? Do you find the time to Tweet? Do you trust Facebook?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

I Survived NaNo

Better yet, I finished NaNoWriMo, though it was a close thing. Now I have a cute little badge for the blog.

I didn't manage to write every day, though that was my goal. Came down with a bug early on that laid me out for three days. Le sigh. ;-) I forgot to add words to the counter until the next day a few times. But overall I'm pleased with my output.

It needs editing of course, but first it needs finishing - I expect the first draft to clock in between 90,000 and 100,000. I'll need to cut or condense the boring stuff that currently contains nuggets I want to mine for characterization. I surprised myself with the information that popped out of my subconscious when my characters were chattering away. And that's one point of first drafts. The writer can't fix a story until it's on paper or in a file.

I'm a layered editor, so I know I'll need several passes to add description and internal characterization, to clarify emotions, and generally add the sparkle to the story. All of that has to wait for the completed draft and the cooling-off period. Getting to close to a work makes it impossible to edit.

For now, I'll breathe one sigh of contentment, and dig back into my novel.

On a different note, I'd like to remind you that today was Laura's post for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog: Social Media Confessions. This is a topic I'll need to think about!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog

Thank you again, Lydia, Laura, Danyelle, for inviting me to join the Sisterhood!

And my apologies to all my readers for disappearing – NaNo and holiday preparations are eating my lunch.

What was your favorite childhood book and why? (Is it still on your bookshelf?)

I have many favorite childhood books – I was a prolific reader early on – but the book I most clearly remember discovering was Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.

I must have been eleven the day I explored my grammar school’s library, a cramped, windowless room in the basement. I was desperate for something new to read when this odd book fell into my hands and changed my life. I’d never read anything like it! It was a fascinating story filled with science and fantasy, bizarre adults and strong parents who still needed their children’s help. It made me feel both empowered and overwhelmed.

That book sent me on a lifelong search for great science fiction and fantasy. Contemporary novels simply didn’t hold the strength of speculative fiction.

At some point I went out and bought my own copy (I didn’t steal it from the library; today I checked the inside to make sure). I still reread it every ten or fifteen years, and each time it impresses me differently. This book is truly a classic!

What is your favorite childhood book?

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday. The nights are getting cool – a bigger deal in Texas than you chilly-weather folk can imagine. The occasional tree has changed colors, and my sweetgum is a gorgeous shade of burgundy. Kids drop by in costume, begging for candy. I adore costumes, even the store-bought kind.

Only five children wandered so far out into the boonies this year, a record for this house. When I lived in town I’d get hundreds of Trick or Treaters, but a few miles on a dirt road discourages most callers. But I was pleased to see my youngest grand-nieces and nephew, who arrived as a sorceress, a princess, a cute little devil in a red dress, and Mrs. and Baby Santa Claus.

I have a bit of news – I’m honored to have been invited to join the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog. That means you’ll hear from me on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Thank you, Lydia, Laura, Danyelle, and the retiring Zoe – I hope you new endeavors go well.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo starts November 1, and I’ve decided to join in. The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month – about half a fantasy novel.

I have about half an outline at this point, and hope to have it finished by Halloween. The beginning is clear, but the ending is shaky. I’d rather have the final chapters settled before I start writing, but I know my current three possibilities have been done many times. I need to think up a twist.

Now my problem is my twists usually come from a detail that crops up during the writing. That makes it hard to plan an ending! Right now I’m keeping track of my lame endings (#1 was so lame it limped off a cliff) and I'm hunting for a better one. They say throw away your first ten ideas, so I have a ways to go. :-)

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Dealing with the Blues

I have begun that terrifying journey called querying. After a hundred versions – I could have written a novel in that many words – I have a query that embraces the heart of my story. It’s time to send Anchoring the Rain out into the world.

To distract myself from the sensation that my guts are slinking under the nearest carpet, I’ve started a new project, plotting a novel currently called Iron Core. I’m also working on deep revisions in Wizard’s Route. I’d written it as two books, but the story line became too weak. So I cut 80,000 words and combined several characters. Now I’m creating new transitions and hunting for scenes that no longer make sense or are out of order.

I must admit, I enjoy editing almost as much as writing, but I adore plotting.

Happy writing, y’all!