writerly ways

[cornerofmadness]

I find twitter rather pointless but if you use it as a tool, it can be helpful. I've stuffed mine with a few celebrities just because everyone is doing it, a few actual friends so not to be rude and the rest are all publishing houses, writing bloggers, agents and authors. One of the ones I was quick to follow was Donald Maass, a prominient agent and author of a multitude of how-to articles/books for writers.

Lately he's been putting up 'break through' prompts, to help stimulate authors to a) write darn it and b) to explore their MC's more thoroughly.

here are two from the last few days that I really liked

#26 Whom is your MC afraid to let down? What is the sacred trust between them? What would cause your MC to break it? Break it.

#27 What secret is your MC keeping? Who is keeping one *from* your MC? Spill the truth at the worst possible time.

I can see me using both of these in the space pirate story which is where most of my efforts are being concentrated right now. I really do think this needs to be my last short story for a while, barring the one for help_japan because I need to get these novels done, both Splinters of Silver & Cold Iron and Until the Ice Breaks can easily be finished soon. Riding with Strangers is marketable, I'm pretty sure of that but it's only half done. I keep saying this is the year to finish something for like the last 4 years and I have failed.

I need to stop being so okay with that. Something will be sent to agents. Something will be read for Amazon's break thru novel next year. Something has to happen even if i have to say no more online time (this is my biggest distraction believe it or not, NOT fanfic or anything else.)

I will start with the progress bars next week I think. I'd do it today but the migraine is eating through my skull.

And if you missed it yesterday, i'm taking requests to be put on/removed from the original fiction filter provided it's working. I tried to post the first major scene in my pirate story last night but the custom filter dropdown wasn't working

Yearly Ofic count -

18369 / 125000 words. 15% done!

Comments

[seaweed-fma.livejournal.com]

if I am not on the fiction filter, can I be please?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'll go double check and add you

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I like those prompts. I'll have to figure out if there's a way to work them into my story.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

good luck

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Boy, those prompts DO make me think. I already have a scene in my mind where Matt has to break trust with Sean Patrick, but I have a real hard time thinking of any way Sean Patrick would break it on his side.

I suppose I ought to get of my butt and put Ring of Fire back together and try some more submissions. If I can whip Long Way Home into better shape I think it would do something, too, but where I really really fall down is the marketing of myself part. (It's like acting for me -- I'm fantastic in the part, but God, I hate to audition.)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

you might want to look him up on twitter if you already don't. These are good. He has others just as good.

Good luck getting going on all of this. I hear you, that's a great way of looknig at it. I'm not much on the audition myself.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

What's his @name again? Just @donaldmaass?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

DonMaass