Plotting In A Corner

Find what you're looking for

2011-04-01T15:54:00.000+08:00

So, I revamped the tagging system on this blog after developing one I quite liked for my other blog, Dots n Dolls.

Inspiration - for posts about ideas and inspiring things
Preparation - for posts about outlining and other planning activities
Education - for posts about how to write
Initiation - for posts about starting stories
Continuation - for posts about continuing stories
Completion - for posts about finishing/finished stories
Submission - for posts about submitting stories and waiting on submissions
Publication - for posts about getting published
Competition - for posts about competitions, including NaNoWriMo
Fascination - for posts about interests other than writing
Information - for posts about what's going on in my world
Observation - for posts on life and the universe
Procrastination - for posts about everything

Loving books for their looks

2011-04-01T14:20:00.001+08:00

I've been discovering that my love of books is not merely related to my love of the written word. I love writing. Or shall I say: I miss writing as I don't do much of it outside the realms of university. I often feel compelled to write something down, not leave it floating around my head. I've also been finding excuses to write people good-old-fashioned letters more and more often.

However, words aren't my only love when it comes to communication. It all began come out when I worked on my church's e-newsletter. I loved it. I loved finding great combinations of fonts and colours and shapes and images. And while rearranging my collection of RSS feeds, I've developed a longer list of design/font/brand related feeds than I have writing feeds. (On that note, if you have any good writing related blogs or sites you follow, please do make a recommendation!)

There's nothing like capturing action, imagery and emotion in a precise collection of perfectly-picked words. But the satisfaction increases when those words are written in the ideal font with a delicious colour scheme that sets of the right amount of white space with maybe some inspiring images or eye-catching shapes.

To that end, check out my other blog Dots n Dolls where I explore the visual side of my communication fascination along with other stuff I love such as needlecraft and baking!

So back to this love of books. I love having something tactile full of words and information and the visual aspects are the icing on the cake.

Dry Inspiration

2010-09-15T15:30:00.002+08:00

It's been rather quiet on the writing front for me lately. I wrote some lyrics to a song last night but no fiction has come out of my head onto paper in the last month or so. Come to think if it, no fiction has come into my head.

Anyway! I did have an idea for a writing exercise which I'll try the next time I have a spare 10 or 15 minutes. It goes like this: pick two words, one describing an emotion and one describing a place or object. The challenge is to write a scene/story/15 minutes of something incorporating that emotion and place or object.

Have fun!

- Lol

Social Networking Person

2010-07-27T09:16:00.003+08:00

This is going to be a rather short post because it's only a post because it's too long to fit on twitter.

You know how everyone things social networking is bad because people can be 'fake'? Well, social networking has also created a new (fake) grammatical person. I dub it "Facebook person" and it is when you start a sentence in third person and end it in first person. The use of the Facebook person helps deal with the awkward challenge of always making your status update a proper sentence starting with your name.

For example, my recent status update:

"Lauren Surname has 15 hours before my first flight out of the state."

as opposed to third person:

"Lauren has 15 hours before her first flight out of the state."

or first:

"I have 15 hours beforemy first flight out of the state."

Okay, so that post wasn't so short. But it amused me.

- Lauren

Useful random generators

2010-07-18T14:28:00.002+08:00

Here's a collection of a few generators I've found. They're great for keeping stories moving or starting them off. Have fun!

Plot Twist Generator - http://nine.frenchboys.net/plottwist.php - Gives you a random event to keep your story moving

Short Story Ideas - http://shortstoryideas.herb.me.uk/index.html - A site with various generators for characters, scenarios and other things

Random Word Generator - http://watchout4snakes.com/creativitytools/RandomWord/RandomWordPlus.aspx - Trying to somehow involve a random word into your story gives you a problem to get your creativity going

Seventh Sanctum - http://www.seventhsanctum.com/ - Large range of generators for silly and serious ideas

- Lol

False Hope of Spring and It's Relationship with Words

2010-07-16T10:27:00.002+08:00

For some reason--maybe the blue skies, maybe playgroups meeting outside, maybe colleagues walking around in caps and shorts--I keep feeling like it's spring. The stuffed sinuses might contribute as well!

Anyhow, this is significant because it's really inspiring me to write. Perhaps that's because the number one writing event on the Internet happens in Australia's spring: NaNoWriMo. Excitingly, this semester's exam period finishes mid-November so I might be able to participate in the 50k sprint this year. Especially if I get early exams.

For now though, I haven't actually been translating this mysterious inspiration into words--although I laid down a few sentences for Miss Galaxy last night--but it's a good feeling.

Over and out, chums.

- Lauren

2010-06-16T15:03:00.003+08:00

I wrote a story today called Mim's Painting. It wasn't very long and it was a bit more parable than fiction but it was satisfying to write (and finish!) a story. I wrote it longhand which is another thing I haven't done in a while.

Next semester, I'm only going to study 3 units, instead of 4. Hopefully I will have some spare time to do more writing. Maybe I'll even finish Miss Galaxy.

- L

2010-04-09T14:14:00.001+08:00

This is not technically to do with writing but I'm just as passionate about it...

God desires:
truth in the inner being (Psalm 51:6)
Mt Zion to be His dwelling place (Psalm 68:16)
love and goodness and the knowledge of God more than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6)
to eat Passover with His disciples/apostles (Luke 22:15)
those given Him to be with Him and see His glory (John 17:24)
that all turn to repentance (II Peter 3:9)

What does this mean for us? That is something to think about.

...Lauren

2010-01-22T16:37:00.004+11:00

So Australia Day is just around the corner and I'm not even close to 40k. But I did start a handwritten short story which seems awfully depressing and the characters have too many shouting matches. But I think I'll see it out to the end and see what happens to them.

I haven't written more of Miss Galaxy but I reread what I've got and I enjoyed it. I think my pitfall is trying to make the murder-mystery too complicated. If I aim for a lower word count I can preserve the premise. I think I might be trying to stretch it over too many words. Then I get nervous and think "If I make that happen now, then there won't be anything to happen in 2000 words time." And that stops me from writing anything at all! Better a short story than no story.

Two side notes: I'm changing jobs mid-Feb and I'm off to a leaders retreat this weekend. My last day of data entry with the Education Department is the 12th. I'll be starting as a receptionist for my church on the same day lectures start for uni: 15/02/10. Should be exciting!

2009-11-30T19:11:00.005+11:00

I haven't written all that much lately, having only just finished exams. Then I went straight into two weeks of working 30 hours a week. I wrote a quick 360 word story on the 25th but that's about it.

I haven't looked at Miss Galaxy yet although I do mean to do so. I fear the charm may have gone. But you never know.

I'm not sure writing 40 000 to 70 000 words of short stories in two months is going to be (not to mention polishing said words) all that feasible although NaNoers (who finish up today, you go guys!) may protest. I'm going to just write as I feel I can and if I come to Australia Day with some half decent stories totalling the right number of words I might send of a submission to Affirm Press' Long Story Shorts.

~Lauren

2009-07-17T16:21:00.002+08:00

I'm now past the 3k mark with Miss Galaxy and still enjoying spending time with the characters. I have another idea for a story of sorts--a collection of letters written by one person throughout her life right from a primary school pen pal to writing to her grand-children. It will be titled "All My Love". For the record, the title came before the concept.

The main reason I came to post today, though, is to make note of a new opportunity I've stubled across. Aspect Press in Melbourne is aiming to publish a series of 6 single-author anthologies under the title Long Story Shorts. Check out the info here.

I think Miss Galaxy may have potentional, and maybe even All My Love. I estimate that I need about 5 stories of 8000 words each. I thought I could throw in a few shorter stories as well, to bring it more between the 40000 and 70000 needed.

So there's the goal. Let's get to it.

~Lol

2009-07-14T15:04:00.001+08:00

I wrote 1515 words today and it was very satisfying! It's the most I've written on a fictional piece since November, pretty much. Yesterday, I wrote an article for Helium about investment writing, which I'll post when I put it up on Helium. But there's something exciting about writing fiction.

I'm working on a story called Miss Galaxy, which currently stands at 1888 words. It's a story about an intragalactic beauty pageant on an abandoned space station orbiting Pluto. Mystery sci-fi, I hope!

Thank you, God, for the inspiration to bang out 1.5k words.

~Lauren

2009-04-29T08:13:00.004+08:00

I'm interested to see how this changes after I've posted it on the blog...

The Blogalyser reveals...

Your blog/web page text has an overall readability index of 12.

This suggests that your writing style is conventional
(to communicate well you should aim for a figure between 10 and 20).Your blog has 20 sentences per entry, which suggests your general message is distinguished by verbosity
(writing for the web should be concise).

CHARACTER MATRIX

male		female
self		world
past		future

Your text shows characteristics which are 56% male and 44% female
(for more information see the Gender Genie).
Looking at pronoun indicators, you write mainly about yourself, then the world in general and finally your social circle. Also, your writing focuses primarily on the present, next the past and lastly the future.

Find out what your blogging style is like!

P.S. It only changed my average sentences down to 19. BTW, I'm a writer. I'm bound to be verbose!

2009-03-03T11:55:00.004+08:00

I thought I'd post an update on my current WiPs for whoever's interested.

Wizards of Dianthus: Adventures of the Wizard, the Apprentice and the Ghost
(WoD:AWAG) previously 'Overdue Fees'
I've written the first draft but the story is incomplete. I've reread it and am part way through making plot cards for editing it. I'm hoping to get a proof copy printed at CreateSpace for free because I participated in NaNo. But I'd have to be done by June (I think).

Wizards of Dianthus: Night Magic
(WoD:NM)
This is still unfinished. I last worked on it in early February and wrote about a paragraph. I think the sequel AWAG turned out a lot better plotwise. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with this. I hope to finish and I suppose I won't really know what potential it has until I do.

Reinsforde School of Special Arts: The Harbinger
(RSSA1)
I've still got the unfinished draft of this on my HDD. However, I've been having a lot of new ideas regarding the story and magic system so I think a near complete rewrite will be required.

Renae
I was sorting out my hard drive just before uni started and came across this short story I wrote for the Women's Weekly and Penguin Books competition. I know why it didn't win. It had a lot of holes and weak spots that were nearly holes. However, I think it dealt with an interesting plot line and I hope to rewrite and expand it into a chick lit novel.

Laters,
Lol

2009-01-20T08:34:00.003+08:00

I probably should mention that I ended up winning NaNo in 11 days. With 20 minutes to spare. W00tcakes!

Now I'm editing up my story, Wizards of Dianthus: The Adventures of the Wizard, the Apprentice and the Ghost (aka AWAG) in hopes of getting a respectable free proof copy through NaNo and CreateSpace.

I'm currently reverse outlining. This means I'm going through and figuring out what each scene I've written is about and then I'll turn these descriptions into an outline which I can rearrange and otherwise edit. It'll also show me where I skipped scenes in my mad rush to the finish.

I want to have the whole editing process done by June or July (can't remember which) to get the free proof. I also want to take advantage of the 07 offer with my original Wizards of Dianthus (even though I wrote that in 06... shhh, no one needs to know). That's due the month before 08. I haven't even written The End on that story though.

Ta-ta,
Lol

Split Ends by Krisitin Billerbeck

2009-01-06T14:26:00.002+08:00

Sarah Claire Winowski knows there's more to her than being the town barfly's daughter. In a fit of short-lived courage she moves to Beverly Hills, but when Hollywood success doesn't yield the results she expected, Sarah Claire is left to wonder about the girl she left behind and whether God will ever give her the validation she craves. - TheNile.com.au

Sarah Claire's tale will draw you in and push you to find out what happens in the end. However, those looking for an super intelligent read won't find what they're looking for. (Hint: chick lit isn't the best place to start anyway!)

Kristin creates interesting characters in Split Ends. However, this novel falls down a little in the development of the relationships so crucial to most chick lit. There are almost too many plot lines to handle--for reader and author both--and I was left confused about which one could be classified as the main plot. If you can get around a few moments of awkward wording and "Where did this come from?" I'm sure you'll get involved in Sarah Claire and her friends' lives.

The story is filled with entertaining scenes and great lines even if sometimes the glue between them isn't quite sticky enough. A light read, it will keep you entertained to the end--even pull a few tears if you're in the right mood at the right time.

My recommendation: Read it. You may love it; you may be ambivalent like me.

This review also posted to TheNile.com.au.

2008-11-19T15:42:00.001+08:00

NANOWRIMO!!

'Nuff said.

2008-10-08T10:45:00.003+08:00

Recording some inspiration:

I've been browsing Picture Australia for my history unit and came across this photo of a mower part. At first glance it looked like some wacky aeroplane. Then I thought it could be some sort of mech/insect thing. Anyways! Save that in the memory bank.

2008-10-03T15:54:00.004+08:00

I have my exam dates.

13-Nov is AFM112 Introduction to management accounting (or some such)
17-Nov is ECON102 in the morning and HIST151 in the afternoon
19-Nov is COMP100
20-Nov is NANOWRIMO 2008!!!

I'll have 11 days to write 50 000 words about Rebella Foxglove the... 3rd? Wizard of the 12th Order of Wizards. I'm pumped. But obviously not pumped enough to come and share the news on the day I actually got said dates. I've had them for a while. I've just been battling with assignments.

Bring on November!
Lol

PS. You'd have heard this sooner if you followed me on Twitter. Look for Rapunzel247

2008-09-23T14:45:00.009+08:00

Hello from Kalgoorlie!

I'm having heaps of fun. Liss and I have done some cooking, scrapping and piano playing. We had a games night on Friday night and then one of their friends' 4-year-old had a birthday party Saturday. After church we went to a park with some of their friends. I saw emus, cockatoos, kangaroos and peacocks.

I've been thinking a bit about NaNoWriMo. My exam period is pretty much smack bang in the middle of November. I've got about a weekend after exams are over to write a novel. Unless I'm really lucky and get early exams.

If I do manage to write my 50k it'll mostly likely be a sequel to my (still unfinished) '06 NaNo or a story about shipbreakers. The sparse ideas I've had for the sequel include the MC being Rebella, one of Lez's co-wizards, the plot would revolve around a possible loose end resulting from Night Magic and there would be some interesting developements in the lives of some of the most loved (by me mostly) characters from Night Magic. I'd call it... um... I don't know. Coming up with titles is fun and annoying in even parts.

Oooh. I really want to think up a title... Plot keywords: Rebella, Moose, wedding, ghost, Prince of Wales... Ahaha! I looked over some notes about this sequel and came up with a working title (secret project name?): Overdue Fees.

I think I'll almost certainly write WoD2 if I can. It'll be easier to write in a weekend than the more serious shipbreakers story.

Argh. I can't wait to get my exam dates.

Till later,
Lol

2008-07-25T12:02:00.004+08:00

The following is the abridged version of a short article I wrote on Helium. It's doing quite well (5th out of 38 articles). See the complete article here: http://www.helium.com/items/635580-writing-problems-to-avoid-five-things-that-kill-good-writing. If you would like to join Helium, let me know and I'll send you an invite!

Writing problems to avoid: Five things that kill good writing

I am convinced that there's more than five things that will completely ruin an otherwise great piece of writing. That much is obvious. However, the following lists outlines the five top things that will make me pull out my bookmark and throw aside your book.

1. Cliched characters.
2. Disappointing conclusion.
3. Over-using phrases and words.
4. Over complicating phrases.
5. Weak writing.

2008-06-10T14:03:00.005+08:00

Hooray! It's time for another random update from me.

Bahram Jones was born this week. He's a narkity British Jewish steampunk/world war airship pilot who hates just about everyone but still acts like a gentleman--generally. His stories won't be serious as such. He'll go around fighting for the Associated World Trade Office with a bunch of Germans (I think. The story changes every two seconds.) and thwarting mecha beasts while acting as a vent for my frustration and something fun for me to write.

Lez and company are still waiting. They are top priority once exams are over. 19th of June, watch out.

Hannah from RSSA is likewise not doing much. I made a realisation at some point between my last post and now how I can finish the NaNo plot perfectly so that I can begin the next book with the very first scenes I ever concieved for little miss Hannah Lee and her familiar Pollery. Which is awesomesauce.

For now, microeconomics review calls. As do alarm response invoices. Woo-hoo!

(You can cut the sarcasm with a knife... interestingly so, because that's what sarcasm means: to cut someone. Which begs the question, why do I let myself be so sarcastic? Maybe this is something Captain Jones and I will investigate while battling flying pirates.)

Until the future,
Lol

2008-04-28T14:40:00.008+08:00

Bloggity blog.

I updated my LJ too. Whee!

Okay, so firstly: Book-in-a-Year

The year will be up in just over a month. (What? You're kidding.) Unfortunately, the first draft isn't even finished. A little thing called UNIVERSITY happened. As I kinda thought it would. Perhaps I'll give it another short in 2012 once Uni is done with.

Most of the writing I've been doing recently is to do with uni. I've recently submitted a history document essay about the Proclamation of Martial Law by Governor Brisbane in NSW in 1824 and an archaeology literature review about the Lindow Man in particular and bog bodies in general. However, I just started poking at RSSA again yesterday after completing my microeconomics assignemnt. I discovered an awesome paragraph early in the story which has given me hope for the overall health of the piece. I shall repost it here for the fun of it:

Suddenly the pair came upon a bulge in the valley. The banks stood tall on either side, mostly just sheer drops. Actual water poolled in a smaller gully within the valley. It trickled down from the cliff face and onto a series of natural stone steps into the pool. Grass, trees, shrubs and vines filled the area overwhelmingly with green and let off a variety of interesting scents. However the two most striking features were man-made: a tall grey tower, perhaps once part of a castle, with greenery crowning its bulwarks and bursting from its tall, empty windows. Opposite this was a tall wall holding back the earth dug to form this little cove. It too was over taken by growing things.

Now, it's by no means perfect. But I love it because I vividly remember being rather worried while writing that particular paragraph. I wanted to capture a specific photograph in words. And I'm very pleased with it these couple of months on.

A small note about WoDNM: I also poked at this and tacked on a few extra words. I figured out a bit more of the plot. Including a bit where everyone in the whole world DIES. Except the MC and one of his sidekicks (but it isn't Moose!)

Lastly, I've been reading Vindie's (of NiH fame) blog recently and she's posted up two brilliant story ideas. They make me want to write my own stories so much (not to mention read hers) but financial accounting calls...

Love and kisses,

Zaphod
Lol

2007-10-11T19:26:00.001+08:00

Hmm. Haven't posted in a while. I've nearly forgotten how to post on blogs.

However, here's an update on my Book in a Year Project.

I've named my story the Reinsforde School of Special Arts: The Harbinger. It now has some sort of a plot and I'm halfway through an outline. November is coming and I'll soon begin writing.

I'm quite pleased with how this is turning out, although I do say so myself. I didn't manage to develope a language before I really had to get on to planning the novel but I did make an alphabet, new sounds and started some sort of a grammar.

My goal system sort of vanished and now it's more do what you can when you can to finish writing this puppy by January. But it's going well and I think I'll be ready for NaNoWriMo.

2007-07-16T11:38:00.001+08:00

Bah, so I'm sitting here staring at this blank page trying to write up a post. I cannot get Blogging Writer's Block!

Basically what I came here to say is that I have begun a project that I've christened the Book-in-a-Year project. I have planned out, step-by-step, what I will need to do to complete a novel, revise it and send it off to at least one publisher/agent within a year.

It begins with choosing a book, which I have. It's titleless and completely plotless at the moment. All it has is a genre (fantasy) and a world (this one... sort of).

Now I have three and a bit months of brainstorming, making characters and plotting till I begin writing in November with NaNoWriMo. The brainstorming will include, hopefully, creating a language and drawing maps.

After November, I'll continue writing through December and January, though at a slower rate most likely. I should be finished by February. I'll lay it aside for a week or two and then begin a four step editing process including having someone else's eyes read it. Finally in June I will track down appropriate publishers and agents and by the 9th of July--exactly one year since I began--I will send it off to the first name on my list.

Now, the hard parts will be to stick to the plan and to not get sick of the novel during the year.

Needless to say, Night Magic is being put on hold. Also in other news, there's only about nine days till I find out who won The Competiton. The August issue of Woman's Weekly comes out on the 25th and it will contain the winner's name and story. It seems both a very long time and no time at all since I entered that story.

Hopefully I'll drop by here more often to keep you updated on the Book-in-a-Year project.

BOOK-IN-A-YEAR Update
Goal: Research/brainstorm to find a plot
Date Begun: 9-Jul-07
Target Date: 30-Jul-07

2007-06-15T10:34:00.002+08:00

And now for a ScriptFrenzy report.

Title: Conveniently Missing
Words: 2552/10000
Mood: Freaking out

Ah the joys of piles of school, work and other committments. I came into the June, 20k word script writing challenge knowing full well that I might not be able to finish. But I didn't think it was going to be this bad. We're exactly half way through the challenge and I'm no where near 10k. Some serious writing will have to be going on to get there in time.

I'm writing a crime/mystery about a gangster and a waitress. Thing is, it's not planned out super well so I'm kind of dawdling at the marriage scene, hoping I'll get a burst of inspiration. And it's come... in a way.

You may have noticed they played Ocean's 11 recently, what with the third movie coming out and all. Well, I watched it so now I've seen both 11 and 12. And it's got me thinking that I could write my script, Conveniently Missing, a bit like them with huge, complex thefts. So, what I'm thinking is the murder victim will have betrayed his pals twice (a different set of pals each time). The main character will be from the second set of pals and the antagonist from the second set. Now, either the MC or the antagonist killed the victim. I know which one but I won't spoil the plot in case my script ever becomes a million-dollar blockbuster.

Now, CM won't involve a complex theft because... it's too complicated. It'll be about the MC running away from the antagonist and the cops. Now, I still haven't figured out a few things such as setting (from where they ran and to where they're running), climax (the big, crunch point) and ending (where everyone lives happily ever after... or not). All of which are extremely important.

Now you see why I'm scared... very scared.

2007-05-29T11:46:00.001+08:00

Random Word Brainstorming
And here it is! It looks fantastic. I think I shall go and brainstorm the idea about radioactive parrots killing Hitler now to see if there's enough to write a whole screenplay about.

Laters, m'dears!

ADDENDUM: I used this to help me flesh out my gangster/waitress plot (Conveniently Missing) and it was quite handy. I did use it for the parrot plot too and I actually got a bit to work with so I might write it later... maybe as a comic or something.

2007-05-29T11:26:00.001+08:00

Merlin's Cave ~ The Land of Arthur King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table

The whole site that is linked to up there looks extremely interesting but that page gave me a spark of inspiration. I just went to 'The Land' and picked the first location in the list on the right that jumped out to me and it happened to be one called 'Merlin's Cave'.

This is the first time I've heard of this cave. I mean, I didn't even know that some legends said Merlin found Arthur on the water (oh, so Moses!).

Anyways, down to business. My idea is in reference to the scuba divers that visit the cave now days. I was thinking something along the lines of Merlin's reincarnation or bones or something. And there would be this big danger for the world that some how the scuba diver's discovery could help advert.

But, ta-ta for now. I'm off to find the brainstorming site that my sister, Caitlin, found a while back. I might blog it if I find it.

2007-05-29T11:18:00.001+08:00

So... I've changed ideas completely for Script Frenzy. I'm now going to write a crime screenplay about a gangster and a waitress who marry to give themselves alibis for a murder. The people over at ScriptFrenzy have been absolutely fantastic in helping me brainstorm out this plot but special thanks go to Tias42, Little Wing (who gave me the idea in the first place), PFMoi and TwistedFirestarter.

Despite this, I'm now not feeling like I'll have the time to write a script in June. I'll be studying lots, I have my SAT on the 2nd and work is beginning to pick up (read: I actually have work to do). I also want to get my Ls.

Then I weigh all that against the fact that I only have to write 20k words, which will take 10 days if I go at NaNoWriMo rate. I only have to write 667 words a day to win with 10 extra words thrown in.

Blargh. I'm not sure. Maybe I'll just start and write whenever I've got spare time and see if I win or not. I'd just love to be able to say I took part (and won) the first SF ever.

Laters,
Lauren

PS. The following posts are two that I meant to post earlier this month but Blogger was acting up.

2007-05-14T11:13:00.001+08:00

I'm sitting here at work with little to do. I've had a couple of story ideas while working last week and today. Not nearly as many as when I'm studying.

The first is a bit wild. It's about a man who suddenly finds himself able to understand what birds are saying just as a tree full of rosellas or something starts squawking about the end of the world. And strangely, just this Saturday I was at www.scriptfrenzy.org and on the random plot generator, I got another wild plot this time involving radioactive parrots.

Speaking of Script Frenzy, to interupt the broadcast, it looks really interesting with a very snazzo site. I'm tossing three options: do it and write a movie about radioactive parrots trying to kill Hitler, do it and write a more serious screenplay about three blondes in Paris (serious?!? I hear you scoff) or not do it. Option 2 would involve a lot more research than the other two and there's not really much time as it starts in June. Also, I do my SAT on the 2nd of June and that might pull me behind. Plus I'll be starting school again on either the 5th or 6th of June and with my job as well, time might be a little... nonexistant. Anyways, if you have any opinions or suggestions or anything, hit me with a comment.

Now, back to my ideas. The next one is the only one that has come from my actual job. I was entering an offence which involved a Year 3 teacher and her assistants' bags being stolen with witnesses from a next door classroom. I thought maybe a mystery story/series about two Year 3 students who solve schoolyard mysteries would be interesting.

And lastly, just today, I had this idea about a cleaner or random who is a serial killer attempting to wipe out all women. One of his attempts involves gassing them in the toilets. Freaky and disturbing, I know, but there it is.

An update on WoDNM:
Work was really slow on Friday and I was pratically finished by lunch so I used Google Docs to work on WoDNM a little. Still unsure of word count as I have bits and pieces all over the place but Lez and friends are just trying to escape from beneath the deck of the Duchess.

Anyways, I'd better go get some work done.

Laters,
Lauren

2007-05-04T12:51:00.001+08:00

So, wedding plans have been dominating my time this week. Yesterday (Thursday) saw the wedding rehersal without a best man, the person doing the readings or the musician but it still went well. I'm not feeling a bit more relaxed and yet excited and nervous about the whole thing. The most stressful thing is probably the speech at the reception.

But! Despite the fact I did write the speech, this blog isn't about weddings and whatnot so back to writing:

I haven't been updating here much (or checking my email) because I have been writing stories on the Pocket PC I mentioned in the last post. I've been working on Night Magic and I've also concieved a few new ideas.

Firstly we have a cheerleader story. It's about an injured international ballerina who is employed at a school by her brother. She wants to teach ballet but said brother doesn't know if she still has the skill to make a ballet class worth the expenditure so he challenges her to take on a different class to prove she's worthwhile. When the cheerleading coach has to go on maternity leave just four weeks before the interschool championships, he tells his sister that if she can take the cheerleaders to the championship and win, he will get her her ballet class. The main characters are the ballerina and the captain of the cheerleading squad.

Another idea I had is called Blondes in Paris. It's about three different blondes who meet in a New York airport/aeroplane and travel to Paris together. One is trying to earn a scholarship, one is escaping her family to meet her Internet beau and the other is running from her employees.

And just today in fact I was messing around with Publisher (on a real computer) when I came up with an idea for another story called Knights of the Crow. It's about a girl who discovers an order of knights in the 21st century.

As our network is acting up (as it likes to do), I can't get an update on Wizard's of Dianthus but I'm at about 58k and they're still all on the pirate ship.

In other, almost writing news, I am now employed and am looking into buying a laptop which will make writing a lot easier and funner! At the moment, I like the sound of a convertible notebook like the Gateway CX200X.

Laters!

2007-04-07T21:28:00.001+08:00

Wizards of Dianthus: Night Magic Progress
Written: 55779 words
Quote of the moment: The stench of sealife—blood and rum and death and stomach contents—rose from it.
Mood: Enjoying it!

Yep, I'm here with another writing update. Unfortunately Lez couldn't join us this time (read: I was too lazy to write in his voice) but I'm sure I will suffice.

Currently, Lez and his friends--Moose, Acjahal, Acmahal, the Old Man Who Randomly Gives Away Plot Points and Ytili--are about to stowaway aboard a pirate ship called the Duchess, provided Ytili and Lez's investigations of it prove favourable. A new character possibly will be introduced and an old one will make an 'appearance'.

Finally, after a while of boredom with the story, plot and characters, I'm back into writing Night Magic. I just wish I had a laptop or small PC to write it on the way to church and stuff like that. Maybe I'll have to ask if I can borrow my sister, Melissa's. As she now has a new phone/pocket PC I'm sure she won't mind!

Anyways, I hope you're all doing well. Provided anyone is actually reading this. If it's nobody, I suppose he can do well as well but ya know.

With love,
Lauren

2007-03-23T18:29:00.001+08:00

Will Write for Shoes by Cathy Yardley:
Will Write for Shoes
Hardback · September 5, 2006
Thomas Dunne Books
ISBN: 0312358997

Based on years of teaching about how to plan, plot, write and market commercial women’s fiction, romance and Chick Lit novels, this non-fiction book is designed to help you get that novel started, keep it going, and sell it once it’s finished. It also includes a list of agents and publishers who publish Chick Lit, as well as online resources."

Ahh, how handy is that little "Send to Blogger" button? So here I am blogging about this wonderful writing how to book I just finished reading. By Cathy Yardley, it's all about writing Chick Lit, which is the written sister of the Chick Flick. It is actually quite an amusing read, especially as an author myself. It's written in a tone similar to what you expect to find in an actual Chick Lit fictional work and is full of handy tips. And those tips, luckily, can be applied to many different genres--not just Chick Lit!

First, it takes you through all the important elements of a story: characters, plots, premises, settings, etc. It even inculdes an interesting section on voice. Then it talks about selling your manuscript with information about the functions of editors and agents and some words about critique groups. The appendixes include sample queries (for both an editor and an agent), a sample synopsis, a sample outline, agent contact details (though most of them are based in America) and editor/publisher details (again, American).

I would definitely recommend you check it out and give it a read. Though I would suggest the female demographic would enjoy it somewhat more than the males... but you never know.

*mwa*
Lauren

PS. No update on The Competition or Night Magic tonight... maybe tomorrow (if there's anthing to up date on! ^_^)

2007-03-22T14:15:00.001+08:00

My, my, my. I haven't posted in a while, ay? Not long ago I started typing up another post but I left the computer (to eat tea or some such event) and forgot to save the post. Me in all my scatterbrained glory, forgot to return to the computer and complete/save the post. So the computer got shut down that night and I lost the post. T_T

However! This isn't just a lost-data-misery post. And here's hoping you won't get many of those posts because me plus lost data to the power of story equals unpleasant. So onto more relevant topics.

Women's Weekly and Penguin Books competiton (hereinafter referred to as The Competiton)

No news on the fate of my little story, Reflections, as of yet. This is as expected because the winners aren't published until the August issue which comes out late July. I'm still quietly confident of winning a prize but the excitement has worn off somewhat. Which leads me to the next relevant topic...

Wizards of Dianthus: Night Magic Progress

Written: 54289 words
Quote of the moment: However it was Ytili that Lez spoke to and so she answered. “Prince Porcupine.”
Mood: Disenchanted and still need that 'motivation'.

Yes, as the excitement has worn off, I am no longer all that enthusiastic about Night Magic. So, all enthusing vibes will be very welcome. And pokes. And proverbial kicks in the rear end. And offers of million dollar book deals. You get the picture.

NEW! Lez's Sporadic Plot Update

Hello, my name is Lez. A few things about me: I'm a wizard and I am a fan of sarcasm, satire and sardonic undertones. I feature as the main character of WoD: Night Magic and the Author has asked me to do a little plot update every now and then to keep you lot up to date with the plot (naturally).

Firstly, we will begin with something quite popular among television shows such as Lost, Heroes and The Bill.

Previously on Night Magic...

With the intention of eradicating the hags, I accidentally cast Night Magic over my home country, Dragonhook, causing a lot of ill side effects. After hiding for 200 years as the Dark Wizard, I was caputured. I soon escaped and met up with Mother Nature. Another accident later and Mother Nature was asleep.

Next I made my way, unintentionally, to the Realm of Darkness with my companions Moose the irritating mouse, the Child of Prophesy whose name speaks for itself and the Old Man Who Randomly Gives Away Plot Points. Recieving advice from the Lord of that realm, I made my way to Port Ssenkrad where the Child of Prophesy... passed away, Moose and I were imprisoned and the Old Man Who Randomly Gives Away Plot Points vanished.

After an escapade involving pixies and murder, Moose and I plus our new found companion Ytili started on the quest laid out in the Lord of the Realm of Darkness' advisory book. In the Very Dry Desert, we were joined by two new questers: Acjahal and Acmahal. Both were reputed to be reincarnations of the same man (though one was female).

The first step was to perform a magical spell which would take over Mother Nature's duties until she could be woken. With Acmahal's help, that was completed. Then we made our way to the small land of Ardut where we picked up the first ingredient for the waking potion we were to make. From there we went to Port Nial to wait for a boat heading to Panda Island but while there we met up with an old associate of mine...

And that is where we pick up the update for today. Moose, Ytili, Acmahal and I were in the middle of questioning said old associate: the Old Man Who Randomly Gives Away Plot Points when Acjahal reported that a group of soliders had come to our in searching for a 'Dark Wizard'.

And so, currently, along with giving you a plot exposition, we are lowering the Old Man Who Randomly Gives Away Plot Points out a window and weighing up the costs of being charged with stowing away to being charged with Malicious Magic and aiding a Dark Wizard.

Signed,
Lez

Hmm, and now I spent all that time typing up a plot synopsis for all you lovely readers out there, I had better get back to writing the actual story so one day you might be able to catch up with Lez in non-synopsis format! No, wait... I'd better apply for that job that closes in seven days first...

With love,
Lauren

2007-01-24T16:41:00.001+08:00

So in my last post, I wrote about the Women's Weekly and Penguin Book competition which you may be pleased to know, I have officially entered. I sent off my story, Reflections, with an entry form Thursday just gone.

Anyways, you may remember I mentioned that part of the prize was having a finished manuscript assessed by Penguin Books for publishment. This is probably the part that I find the most exciting. Sure, it doesn't garuntee that my manuscript will get published but it appears that my manuscript will by-pass the usual pile of queries and manuscripts. And all I need to do is write a manuscript that will make the editor want the book and get it published! Simple... Riiight.

Anyways, at first I thought I'd finish the novel I'd just started when I discovered the competiton: a horror/fantasy/mystery called The Engraver's Shop. But that only has about 7k words done on it and I'm not sure I could have it ready in time. And then, my friend, Sinead, who I'd given a copy of my unfinished NaNo 06 manuscirpt told me that she was loving the story and had even read the first bit to the rest of her family because it was so funny.

So I decided to take another look at the story: Wizard's of Dianthus: Night Magic. I began reading it again and it amazed me, though I do say so myself. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the crazy jokes and antics that I'd stuffed in there mostly as word padding to get myself to the word count. And I quickly decided: this was the one. I would finsih rereading it to get my orientation again and then finish it and edit it in time to be my manuscript for assesment if I did win.

So here I am, with only about 10k words left to read before I start writing it again. Please feel very welcome to shoot me an email or bug me on MSN or otherwise nag me into reading and writing this thing. And eventually I will be looking for proofreaders so if you're interested in reading a fantasy comedy with a slightly sarcastic lead, let me know. The more beta readers the better.

Catchya later,
Victory

2007-01-12T18:18:00.001+08:00

I'm just sitting here plotting. Not evil-genius plotting. Not even particularly genius plotting. Just plotting.

Anyways, this blog serves one purpose: it is my online writing journal blog. In other words, here I will be reporting on anything to do with my writing and (hopefully) writing career. But of course, there may be a tangent or two here and there.

So, I've been doing creative writing since I was around five. I've been doing it as a hobby since ten at the latest. I've grown to absolutely adore it and it's beginning to take over my life. Despite the fact that school, getting a job and friends are all fighting to keep it in it's place.

The first major thing I remember writing was a story called Jake North about a man and his brother. He becomes a sailor and the brother a taxi driver and various other not-so-interesting stuff happens. I entered it in the Mary Durak Award for Young Writers in two seperate years. I also entered the same award with different stories two other years.

Since I moved from my old house and could no longer participate in the Mary Durak Award for Young Writers, my writing hasn't really been making it past my own house. And it sort of dwindled as a whole during 05 and 06 apart from entering NaNoWriMo (http://www.nanowrimo.org).

But in the last few days of 2006 I discovered a competition being run by Women's Weekly magazine and Penguin Books publisher. The challenge: write a 3000 to 5000 word story centred around a woman. The prize: the story published in Women's Weekly, $10,000 and Penguin Books would look at a completed novel manuscript to assess it for publishing plus two runners up would win $5,000. The competition closes on the 2nd of February and the winners will be announced later this year.

I quickly set about writing a story to enter. Originally titled Mirrors, my story Relfections is about a lady named Renae Byrd who discovers she is pregnant though it seems that is impossible for her and meets a mysterious woman who knows something about her past. It is just a smidget under 5000 words and my attitude toward it went up and down during the course of its creation. One moment I loved it and thought it was a sure win and the next I hated it and wanted to tear it apart. By the time I'd finished it, I was convinced it was the worst piece of trash ever to come from my mind. But my mum took it and read it and proposed deleting a plotline which she felt was firstly, unnecessary and secondly, not morally good.

At first I was a tad upset but I did what she suggested and deleted it. Almost immediately I began to feel good about the story. And I realized that it wasn't that I thought my writing was bad but rather something inside me was fighting against the iffy theme I'd introduced to the story. Now that I'd taken away that, I felt good about what I'd written on all accounts.

At the moment that story and another I thought could be a contender are being read by a friend and then after that, the story I choose to enter will be ready to send off. I'm very excited about this competition as I feel it may be a part of a promise God made me mid last year and the beginning of me stepping out into the calling I found last year. Perhaps in another post I'll tell you more about it but at the moment I don't feel like going off into a Spiritual tangent.

Until next time...
Lauren means Victory