Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Terri Kett on August 5, 2012 at 3:50am

Hi everyone! Right now I'm working on editing my first novel. I think I've finally come up with a good summary for it ;)

"Cascade" is a historical fantasy set in a fictional world, which is reminiscent of the Three Kingdoms era of China. Follow Bai Jiang of Li from oppressed child draftee to famous warlord. Are his alliances and strategic genius enough to overcome the tyrannous Li family?

It looks like this is going to turn into a series of three books, plus one accompanying novella, mostly written from a POV favouring one of the supporting characters. I shouldn't ever be bored over the next few years.

Permalink Reply by Julia Kyle on August 5, 2012 at 6:35pm

I'm pretty terrible at introductions but I'll give it a go. I'm currently working on far too many projects, a hazard of being a student in a writing course, but one of my main projects is a murder-mystery and there two cases for my Detective to solve. A well-respected doctor found murdered on the grounds of the University (or learning) Hospital he works at and his wife's kidnapping, which happened on the same day. My detective knows the two are connected but he can't prove how, especially with the wife recently admitted to a psyche-ward. 

As for names, all of my characters have significant names. I look through my naming dictionary until I find one that fits my characters. I can't begin my story until I have given the majority of my main characters a name. 

Permalink Reply by PrincessFitzgerald on August 6, 2012 at 11:12am

Hello, Julia.

In regards to finding meaningful names, I like to do the same thing, either with a name that has a relevant meaning, or a name whose sound encapsulates the feeling and personality of the character. Have you tried using the online site babynames.com? It's really useful since you can do advanced searches specifically for meaning, gender, syllable length, and nationality. I'm curious what the name of your main detective is, what with how much effort you put into each character name :)

Permalink Reply by Colleen Leonardi on August 6, 2012 at 12:05pm

Hello-

I'm writing about a single mom and her son, ghosts and the difference between thinking thoughts and acting on them. I don't want to share too much because I have the fear that revealing it will curse it to some extent. Does anyone else have that? Regardless, lovely to be here sharing and happy to reveal some of what I'm writing about these days.

Cheers,

C

Permalink Reply by Julia Kyle on August 6, 2012 at 7:43pm

Hey Colleen Leonardi, 

I know exactly what you mean, i feel the same way about my stories, but if you ever want to get your book published, you're going to have to learn how to talk about it. Knowing the ending of a book is one the first things a publisher asks for

Permalink Reply by Colleen Leonardi on August 8, 2012 at 6:02am

Hi, Julia:

Thanks for your thoughts. It's true. A balancing act for me, to be sure, of revealing and then turning inwards to listen some more. It's my first novel, so I'm learning the ways that work for me as I go. Nice to connect with you here!

C

Permalink Reply by Julie Pickerill on August 12, 2012 at 7:58pm

Hi Colleen, I agree with you though about not sharing too much-- at least too soon. Lots of famous authors have advised not to share thoughts about a story--- at least till you have the whole first draft down on paper, it's like letting the air out of a balloon especially if who ever you share with even gives you non-verbal signals that they don't like your idea. I find even if they love the idea it can take the wind out of my sails, it just takes the glow,,,, somehow having that idea just in your head and only sharing the idea with your characters or your pen is ... magical I guess you could say, --- there is energy in it and I think it feels disrespected (if you will) if you share it with anyone else...   I know that maybe seems unreal, but it's happened to me.   Anyway, have fun with it no matter what...  :)  Julie

Permalink Reply by Julia Kyle on August 6, 2012 at 7:41pm

Hey PrincessFitzgerald,

Yeah, I'm a little obsessive when it comes to my main characters, but I figured that was the same for all writers (it is, right?). I did use a lot of websites before,but the baby name book I have has a huge cultural range of names and I often find myself distracted by the enormity of name definition websites. However, if it works for you, keep using it. The name of my Detective Nigel Foster

Permalink Reply by Amy Koko on August 7, 2012 at 9:24am

Hi All!  I am taking my blog and turning it into a work of fiction based on reality.  My novel is called "Divorce Doggie Style" and it about a 40 something,  Boca Raton country club wife, who is left in the dust by her husband of 25 years.  Due to circumstances beyond her control (all her fault) she ends up taking shelter in her famous, emmy winning sisters' NYC apartment while sis goes off to Africa for a year to film a documentary, in return for taking care of her two dogs, Roxy and Valentino.  We watch her go from rich, pampered, country club wife to city dweller and dog walker to the stars.  Trust me, it will be funny.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on August 7, 2012 at 5:02pm

Hi, Amy!

I love the title, and I like the short summary.  I would definitely look to download something like that on my Kindle.  Is it available yet? 

Permalink Reply by Amy Koko on August 8, 2012 at 9:26am

Hi regina!!

A work in progress but moving along!  WHat about you?  What are you working on??

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on August 8, 2012 at 7:11pm

Hey, Amy!

I'm working on a revision of my first book, The Other Side of 30, originally published (indie-pubbed with a POD publisher) in 2010.  It's doing moderately well, and the revisions are coming along slowly.  It's been with the editor for months, because I just haven't made time to finish the work.  Life and more life stuff keeps getting in my way. Ideally, I'll get it out for a 2nd edition release by Christmas.

It's about a young woman who upon the arrival of her 30th birthday, gets herself caught up in an affair with a married man, an ex-boyfriend, and tries to steal him from his wife.  After making a life of career-first choices, and finding herself unmarried with no children and no prospects, her biological clock is chiming loudly, and she thinks that she's getting too old for love and happiness to find her own its own time.  Then, she accidentally meets, and later makes friends with the man's wife, and gets all kinds of re-conflicted about her choices.  It's set between 1998 and 2001, shortly before and immediately after September 11th.

I also have a few ideas in my head brewing, hoping to produce shorter works.  My first book was over 300 pages.  I think it could have been shorter and still been a good book.  I don't plan to publish ANY new books over 100,000 words, but I'm shooting for short novella-style works in the neighborhood of 50,000 words or fewer.  Still can't believe I got so carried away with that first one.  :)

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