tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90060871666458133292024-03-04T23:32:08.574-06:00Wandering-QuillA place to express my thoughts on writer's woes and joys. And some of the goal posts and projects I set for myself. Enjoy my musings!Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-63308897732767334182012-06-14T22:10:00.001-05:002012-06-14T22:10:11.117-05:00Release News -- Ishtar FluxIshtar Flux is now available for your reading pleasure. Those of you that adore my work, now you can have a little piece of it all to yourself. And if you have always wanted to sample it, well, here's your chance.
It's available as an e-book through Kindle for 99 cents and has a page on goodreads as well, right here. Don't forget to leave a review, if possible. Good or bad, it can only Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-36912513433287380302012-03-28T12:18:00.002-05:002012-03-28T12:18:55.717-05:00Snippets From The WIP: Nidus
It's time for sharing!
I've been hammering out some of the details on this current WIP (which unfortunately lacks a permanent, snappy title as yet) Fractured Wings is a high contender though.
This is just a taste of the first chapter, which includes shifters, winged people, and dragons. What's not to love?
Comments are of course, highly appreciated and Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-89058912254625794442012-02-03T08:37:00.002-06:002012-02-03T08:37:44.545-06:00Predictability: Two-Edged SwordThis tickled my thoughts recently during one of my "feeding" sessions.
That is, during a time when my current WIP (or WIPs as the case may be) is roiling in my skull but not passing through my fingers. I "feed" my muse by devouring books or movies that line up in some manner with the pesky project. This usually pushes my muse into cooperating again.
As it happened, I was watching the Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-33507182989608079782011-12-29T07:09:00.001-06:002011-12-29T07:09:30.185-06:00Rewriting Is A PartyDon't believe me, do you?
I am currently in the middle of a major series rewrite. After writing one and a half novels with one MC, but fighting to keep the spotlight off a secondary character the whole way, my muse finally slapped me to my senses. Secondary character is now my MC, and MC is now secondary, along with a POV change. (Limited third to close first)
Which means both the finished and Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-38635257350436150452011-12-02T02:27:00.001-06:002011-12-02T02:29:27.516-06:00Guest Post Alert--And NewsJust popping in to let everyone know about my guest post over on The Sharp Angle. My favorite CP (critique partner) and bestie-writer friend Lydia Sharp graciously allowed me to babble about love triangles on her blog. Go on over there and say hello.
In other news, as you can see, it's been a while since I posted. I actually have a good excuse. Yes, I do.
See, I got offered a chance for some Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-21451853006460462672011-08-19T18:36:00.000-05:002011-08-19T18:36:56.569-05:00A Writer's "Just Desserts"
My apologies if anyone gained ten pounds looking at that picture like I just did. Today's topic is not going to be about the pros and cons of choosing a good dessert--though that is one of the most important meals of the day. In my personal opinion, every writer has a voice, a way they present their prose and stories that is distinctive to them. This "voice" is developed over years. Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-54138553815652910712011-05-27T17:35:00.000-05:002011-05-27T17:35:55.095-05:00Flogging FridayAs has been mentioned in my fellow writer friend (and regular friend) on her blog, Sharp Angle -- today at the Writer's Digest forum we have a special guest.
The editor, Ray Rhemey, of the website Flogging the Quill. He is going to be answering questions about writing, publishing, and everything in between. Also, he is going to be flogging (that is critiquing as he does on his regular website) Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-13022129381526899982011-05-16T22:43:00.000-05:002011-05-16T22:43:26.223-05:00Mind of BabesI and many of my fellow writers are afflicted with a terrible disorder: writer-side-stuck-onia. That is, the inability to shut off the writer half of their brain in any situation--be it serious like a funeral or mundane like a hard day at work.
Raise your hand if you've ever caught yourself dissecting a book's plot, a movie's plausibility, someone's conversation as Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-58925075155198540822011-04-04T23:18:00.000-05:002011-04-04T23:18:47.383-05:00Timing Is EverythingThis topic has been ruminating in my mind recently after attempting to read a book by a normally good author. It was also brought up in the writer's forum I frequent as an annoyance by other readers.
Namely, the way an author introduces graphic content, or topics of more sensitive nature. This could and likely would include torture, rape, child abuse, experimentation of any kind, gore, severe Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-27175095498331019532011-03-21T13:16:00.000-05:002011-03-21T13:16:24.694-05:00Book Rave: Wise Man's FearI've been awaiting--eagerly awaiting--this second book in the series called the Kingkiller Chronicles. Some of you may remember my guest book review of the first book, Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, here.
The day the second one, Wise Man's Fear, was released, I bought it. And believe me, I do not do that easily. And I was not disappointed.
The second book delivers just as good, if Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-50348368481685574662011-02-15T18:01:00.000-06:002011-02-15T18:01:46.509-06:00Dragon DayToday has been a hectic day for me, and I've got several stories yearning for my attention. So, rather than give detailed reviews today (though I will later on this week) I'm going to list a handful of my favorite books.
More specifically, those centered around the theme or featuring my favorite fantasy creature. Dragons.
And check out the awesome cover art.
Dragon's Blood: Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-17172489288163715572011-02-09T13:12:00.000-06:002011-02-09T13:12:48.570-06:00Book Rave: Shadows and Light Anthology IITaking a break from the "Sargas Chronicles" to applaud some hard work by Pill Hill Press.
I have always had a love/hate relationship with anthologies. Typically, in my experience, an anthology combines a plethora of bad to terrible stories, intermixed with a scant few good stories. I'm happy to say this anthology was the reverse.
When a writer friend of mine, Lydia Sharp, suggested I try it Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-73121549715396297282011-01-17T04:43:00.000-06:002011-01-17T04:43:54.492-06:00Avoid This Contest and Publishing HouseI'm not even going to compose much of a post, as Janet Reid states much more eloquently than I can all the wrong things going on with First One Publishing's new contest.
Other blogs, such as Enigma Inklings, have also mentioned it. Please, spread it around and post it if possible where other aspiring writers might be lurking. This contest is nothing more than a way to rip-off money and ALL Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-32260297514618240912011-01-15T15:39:00.001-06:002011-01-15T15:40:45.789-06:00Sargas Chronicles: Part 3The Pay-Off
As has been discussed in previous posts on this blog, the creation of your villain is as important as the creation of your main character/hero. And, just as your hero should have his finale, your villain should have the pay-off.
Once you've created a suitable villain, allowed him to rampage through the book/story, and nearly defeat your hero, it's time to unveil his ultimate defeat.Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-26502565431766341772010-12-28T22:30:00.001-06:002011-01-15T15:10:10.015-06:00Sargas Chronicles: Part 2 Villain Character Arc
First, a quick refresher of the three main definitions I'm working with.
Protag/Hero: The one with the most to lose -- the main character (Frodo, Will Turner)
Antag.: Oppose the Hero -- supporting characters to the villain (Gollum, Norrington)
Villain: The Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-28556005888383819392010-12-18T00:14:00.002-06:002011-01-15T15:09:41.231-06:00The Sargas Chronicles: Part 1 Define "Villain"
As some of you may be aware of already, I am currently working on a second major rewrite of the science-fiction novel, Phoenix Rising. I'm not far off from my goal: finishing it by the New Year.
My focus, at the moment, is tightly on this novel. And, in the process, on the final chapters that deal with one of my favorite characters--Sargas. I've received from most of my Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-37613158047851253102010-11-19T18:36:00.001-06:002010-11-19T18:44:26.485-06:00Book Rave: FireStorm #1 of Dragon Orb SeriesWith the temperatures around my house hovering at 28 degrees, I've had plenty more time to work on my to-be-read pile. And of course, that means more reviews for you. Isn't that great?
Today is a special treat. I stumbled across this set of books on pure accident. While browsing writing.com, I found a snippet from UK author, Mark Robson's stories, read them, and adored them.
(writers, take noteWandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-34815161795367900672010-08-09T19:02:00.001-05:002010-08-09T19:05:51.067-05:00On The Value of Valueless ContestsHow is that for an oxymoron?
What I'm referring to are contests in which you don't win publication, or money, or even a signed book by Stephanie Meyers (I wonder if she uses glitter pens....)
Seriously though, I've found from the experience of my writer friends and other testimonials that these seemingly unworthy contests can help out your platform and your writing career. Take, for instance, Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-29300302545994419762010-07-05T00:31:00.000-05:002010-07-05T00:31:51.982-05:00Check This Out!A new anthology, called Eight Against Reality, by Panverse Publishing.
Many thanks to Lydia Sharp for revealing an anthology that works with novellas. (not a very common format in an anthology)
I am definitely intrigued by the idea, and hopefully will have my current fantasy novella edited/revised enough for future submissions possibly. We shall see.
In the meantime, I think it's awesome Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-73390090875546110172010-04-21T23:47:00.000-05:002010-04-21T23:47:03.599-05:00Comment ModerationUnfortunately, due to a few spammers posting links to very inappropriate conduct on my blog, I've enabled the strict comment moderation. It's the only way I can see to keep such spammers away. My apologies to anyone who has to wait for me to approve a comment before it shows.
Ah, technology.Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-50934606408182948282010-04-10T21:02:00.002-05:002010-04-10T21:02:55.657-05:00Guest Post: Jennifer RobersonCheck out my guest post on one of my favorite authors hereWandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-29778510526833922662010-04-04T15:33:00.000-05:002010-04-04T15:33:44.235-05:00Video Games: 101Note:
My apologies for this belated blog post.
I had something prepared for Saturday about video games linked into starting a story. Unfortunately, I had an awful migraine most of Saturday afternoon and evening. Those of you who have them, likely understand my inability to handle the lights of a computer screen (or anything luminous for that matter)
End note
Video games--theWandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-72350410100883224042010-03-28T08:33:00.000-05:002010-03-28T08:33:35.322-05:00Blog Face LiftIn case you haven't noticed, my blog has received a lovely face lift. Many thanks to the Blogger Tech Team that has made some new templates and options, thus allowing the double-sidebar and other nifty features. More room for gadgets that way.
Just kidding there. I won't go crazy with the gadgets and things. Promise. But it certainly does make the blog look a little neater. And perhaps a Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-34226155677265878032010-03-20T23:49:00.001-05:002010-03-20T23:49:40.712-05:00C. J. Cherryh Pacing the FloorAt the moment, I am continuing to enjoy my "author kick" as I like to call it, where I devour any and all books by a particular author that I enjoyed. For now, I'm going to focus in on two aspects of the book Hammerfall that were done very well. Pacing and Information Control.
Can anyone guess what today's topic is?
In the book, one of the larger, overhanging plots was the journey. Much Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9006087166645813329.post-88067319411462164282010-03-12T21:50:00.000-06:002010-03-12T21:50:00.083-06:00Unofficial Blog Post : Jane Austen Out of the normal scheme of things, but I was browsing some blogs and found this short little quiz on Christine's blog.
Here's what I ended up with. What about you?
Take the Quiz here!Wandering Quillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00266421632383661293noreply@blogger.com3