Wednesday, Friday … just write

I discovered Write on Wednesday via Anno. And yes, I know it’s Friday.

1. Do you write fiction or non-fiction?  Or both?

I work as a technical writer, so depending where we are in the development process, I’m either writing fiction or non-fiction. Trust me on that.

I also write the (very) occasional article and the sometimes short story. Oh, yeah. And the books (fiction). I guess I write those too.

2. Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook? 

Yes and yes. I have various paper notebooks and computer files. I just downloaded Inspiration so I can manage the research I’m doing for a possible historical/historical YA novel.

3. If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing? Do you find books on plotting useful or harmful?

I do a lot of prep work and I like to have a “road map” for where I’m going. For novels, I also do extensive character “memoirs.” They’re not interviews, they’re not biographies/sketches, because I write the in first person. I don’t know what else to call them.

The one writing craft book I recommend without reservation (as my writing friends know) is Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

Despite all this, I’m totally open to changing things on the fly. I once threw out 7,000 words because I realized I was going in the wrong direction.

4. Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?

I procrastinate when something is wrong. Either I’m not approaching a scene correctly or I need some time to “walk around” a scene/topic before I tackle it. I used to freak when I did this; now I know it’s simply part of my process. Although, sometimes, I still freak. Just ask Darcy.

5. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?

Yes and yes. It depends on how much time I have.

6. Are you a morning or afternoon writer?

I can work either time, but I like to do things and mull things over in the mornings, then write in the early afternoon.

7. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?

I can write with kids/cartoons howling in the background, with one exception. That’s when I have the master manuscript on one half of the screen, Darcy’s edited version on the other half, and the markups from our editor in a document holder. Then, all bets are off.

8. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)

Yes and yes. Depends on my mood.

9. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?  Or do you let the story evolve as you write?

In general. See above where I say I have a road map. This, too, can change.

10. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?

Thing is, books coming out right now were bought anywhere from 12 to even up to 24 months ago. I do keep an eye on Publisher’s Marketplace, but then, I’m publishing news junkie, so what can I say.

And of course, the deals that come through on Publishers Marketplace are just those people feel like reporting. Still, you can glean things from there, like how next year, it will be the Summer of the Zombie in YA and so on.

11. Editing/Revision – love it or hate it?

I’m not sure how Darcy feels after our editing experience with Geek Girl’s Guide, but I still love it. I love have that second, third, twelfth chance to get it right.

Synchro and San Fran

If you ask my kids what they loved best about our San Francisco trip, they’ll both say: swimming and the beach. Seriously, I think they could have spent the entire time in the pool at my sister’s place and been completely satisfied.

True, Andrew’s a little unclear on the pointed toes concept:

This might be my favorite picture from the trip. It looks like she might end up doing a colossal belly flop, but she didn’t.

I love how she’s reaching for the sky.

Now that Geek Girl’s Guide has gone to copy edits (man, that sounds surreal), I’m back to working on The Fine Art of Holding Your Breath, AKA MacKenna’s story. In this pursuit I, of course, got sidetracked on YouTube, looking for synchronized swimming videos.

Because, you know, that’s really important for the writing. Also important, if you’re writing a book with a sport, make sure it’s one people like to mock (cheerleading, synchronized swimming, etc.).

Note to YouTube users: the video of your Cancun vacation where you’re clearly drunk and pretending to swim synchro? Not really funny. Trust me on that.

I’m hoping we get more good video from the Olympics. In the meantime, enjoy the following. Sure, they’re commercials, but they’re also pretty cool.

All I can say about the 0:39 point: Ouch.

You can see more of the “traditional” elements of synchro in this one:

I love the lift in this one.

I don’t know art …

This statue is in the Yerba Buena Gardens, which is right next to the Metreon. The kids spent several minutes inspecting it, much to the amusement of passersby.

I’m sure this statue contains much symbolism about our post-modern life. I’m pretty sure the way Andrew and Miss B reacted was not what the artist anticipated. I am willing to bet, however, no two other people have inspected this statue quite so closely.

This is the carousel at the Yerba Buena Gardens. No. It wasn’t moving. Yes. He’s being a big goof.

Yeah. Some people went to Chinatown. Others strolled on over to the Museum of Modern Art. I decided it would be fun to climb all over the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien. That’s Alcatraz in the background.

Behold, the published author!

No, not me, but Andrew:

We sent his “Funny in the Blank” into MadKids back in June and it now appears in the September issue. His is the one on the left hand side just below the dialogue bubble and it says:

I’d like to give a special shout out to Yogi Bear!

(Click on the image if you want to see a larger size.)

Yes, he thought of it himself (I’m not that funny). And yes, it’s entirely possible I’m way more excited about this than he is. I haven’t made it into a magazine with that kind of national circulation. I don’t understand why no one else finds that as exciting as I do. Hey, navigating the slush pile of a national magazine is no small task.

Although I think he is more excited than he’ll let on: he wants to show his best friends this weekend. And when he brought the magazine inside, he whipped through those pages pretty quickly looking for this one.

Yeah. I’d say he’s excited too.

Rooms with view

The view from my hotel window. Nice, no? You can’t really see it, but in the lower left of the photo, there’s a rooftop with a garden.

While waiting for that room with a view, we wandered over to the Metreon, which is right next door to the Marriott. This is Andrew in the arcade area of the Metreon. I think I’ve mentioned is claw machine affection, not to mention his mad claw machine skillz (he once won a Game-Boy). The arcade at the Metreon devotes one huge room to claw machines. Just how big? 

Here’s one half of the room. There was more. A lot more. 

Andrew’s comment: “Now I know what heaven looks like.”

In other views, Lee McKenzie posted a picture of the Noodlers at the Golden Network reception. I’m the geeky one (on the right) in front holding my “boot out” certificate (kind of like I’m not quite sure what to do with it). I’m totally rocking that farmer’s tan too.

The Geek Girl’s Guide to Fonts


You Are Andale Mono


You are a geek, pure and simple.You spend a lot of time online.

In fact, you probably love the internet more than anyone you know.

You are picky about design, mostly for readability’s sake.

You are the type most likely to be irritated by a bad font.

 

This is so appropriate for a technical writer. Never witnessed a font war? Good times.

In other Geek Girl news, the manuscript is official and accepted and off to copy editing. I think Darcy is officially taking a nap. I know she deserves one. I’m officially going to watch some synchronized swimming.

Tea for two

In case anyone was wondering, I went with the English tea service at the Samovar Tea Lounge. It came with a three tiered serving platter with a shiitake mushroom quiche, fresh fruit, and a scone with preserves and clotted cream. This last is no doubt one of the worst things you can eat. Bad never tasted so good.

I was also served a side order of sunburn. Being clever, I made this worse by walking all the way down Market Street and then along the Wharf.

In what is absolutely perfect timing, our editor (!!!) sent us (that would be me and Darcy) a few minor edits on the Geek Girl’s Guide revision we turned in a few weeks back. A few as in we can deal with this in email few. So nice. And so far, doable. After this, the manuscript is official and goes to copy edits.

What’s funny is while–yes–we’ve cut some things, the story grew again, by the tune of 5,000 words! More, we want more seems to be the order of the day. When it comes to conventional wisdom about publishing and Geek Girl’s Guide, nothing is conventional.

What a difference a word makes

So it’s entirely possible I shouldn’t blog, since I saw the headline about Russia attacking Georgia and misread it as Russia attacking Germany. Now there’s a world event I didn’t see coming. I had a full-fledged 80s flashback to when I used to brief the intelligence portion of the V Corps general defense plan along with everyone’s favorite two words: Fulda Gap.

Anyway, like I said: I’m probably too tired to blog. (And possibly Fulda Gap are just two of my favorite words.)

I’m sure everyone is expecting all sorts of insights from my time at the conference. Or not. There were a lot of good workshops and Bill Stephens Productions will be offering some (or maybe all of the recorded sessions, although not all were recorded) for individual download on the web. The RWA National site has a PDF with all the recorded sessions, so you can browse and get your iPod ready.

Where was I? Oh, yes, insights. Did you ever know something only to have someone else put it into words for you?

During Dr. Eric Maisel’s session on Creativity for Life, he talked about “loving” the work (meaning writing). Someone later on asked about the love part–what do you do when you’re in full-on hate mode with your current project.

Dr. Maisel clarified what he meant. It isn’t discipline that brings us to the page when we hate everything we’ve written since 1997. It’s devotion.

One little word switch and I had a light bulb moment. Of course. For years, people have commented on my discipline with writing. I’ve always hemmed and hawed and tried well, no it’s not really discipline … but I didn’t have a word for what it was.

Or to put it in middle school terms: I always like writing, even when I don’t like like writing.