Happy New Ye... damn, It's February Already
As I’ve been writing (and rewriting) Conversations with Death, I’ve picked up a few things I haven’t exactly liked about it. So I had to step back from it. I hear writers do this from time to time and move on to other projects. But instead of jumping off it completely, I’ve been going over my method or my process of writing.
To be honest, I’m still working out my process. I didn’t have a solid one to start out with. I guess that makes me a bit of a pantser when it comes to writing. I have heard (and maybe you’ve heard) writers say, “Just start writing.” All the time I’ve heard writers say this. Doesn’t exactly give you a clear place to start. But that’s what I did. I had and idea and started writing it. Anytime I’ve written, this is how I’d do it. It’s no wonder I’ve rarely finished anything.
I love Broken Road because I finished it using this style. And I thought I’d get better when I jumped into Conversations with Death. But it’s not working out the same. CwD is a much bigger project. And I needed a different approach.
Here comes a bit more honesty from me. I’ve been wanting to really sit down and do the James Patterson MasterClass, but just haven’t. So, I decided now was the time. I’m stuck. Maybe James will help get me unstuck.
It hit me when I reached the outline lessons. My outline was a train wreck. Mine was nothing like his and I had never seen it done that way. My outline had roman numerals and capital letters, small 'i's and 'v's. His was… simpler. Simplified? Easier to understand. And I immediately adopted it.
Nothing I have written has been thrown away (which he does say can happen), but the outline has definitely gotten me to refocus and structure my story way better. Yeah, you heard me, an outline.
Woke up, outline. Word of the day, outline. Breakfast, outline. Take kids to school, outline. Go to work, outline. Lunch, outline. Leave work, outline. Picked up kids from school, outline. Dinner, outline. Go to bed, outline. Dreamt of… outline.
Do you get what I’m trying to say? And in my outline (as the one above) I had left out details that were important. Like get dressed, brushed my teeth, or cleaned dishes. And with that, Conversations with Death has started to get unstuck. I'm still working on it.
I still have plenty of work to do and it’s by no means finished. But every day I do get to work on it, the closer I am to finishing it. Oh, and I still have yet to finish James’ MasterClass. Secretly, I hope I get stuck again soon, but not too soon. Now let's go write something.
Post Summer Update
I still have print copies of Broken Road left. I will also be begging for email addresses looking for readers for Conversations with Death. Why don’t I do something here on the site? Because mostly I’m a writer and barely a blogger. If I can figure out how to imbed some stuff on the site, I may add a field to solicit proofreaders. But until then, I’ll mostly be taking email addresses at the festivals I attend.
Broken Road has also gone digital. You can pick up a copy at Amazon/Kindle, Barnes & Noble/Nook, and Apple iBooks.
I will also try to be a bit more diligent about letting you know where I’ll be next before the day before an event. I don’t have anything upcoming other that FIBF. I do need to do some searching, but really, I’m more interested it getting the rough draft done of Conversations with Death. So a lot of my writing time is spent writing or researching characters or reading about writing.
I’d like to say I made it all the way through MasterClass, but I haven’t. I will get to this and talk about it.
And I know it’s another short blog entry, but I need to get back to the writing.
Goals for the Near Future
Still writing. How about you? Now, I don’t have every minute of everyday to be able to sit and write. I barely have time in each day to block out thirty minutes. But, I am making it happen… somehow. What I am struggling with is what to do in those thirty minutes I do have. A multitude of goals, but how to prioritize them.
I don’t have a plan. My outlines are a better plan than what I have in place for myself. But, I do have deadline. Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival is coming September 29th. And here are the two main things that need to get done by then.
1 - Broken Road is going digital. It will be available on Apple iBooks, Nook, and Amazon Kindle. Need to put together advertising for this.
2 - Conversations with Death will be available to a select group of readers who will get to read an un-proofed draft of the first short story of the series and give feedback. This will only be available if you come to Fred Book Fest. I hope to see you there. (Will also need to put together links and advertising for this. I also need to expand and discovery other book festivals.)
I have watched a few more videos from MasterClass, but to be honest, I haven’t done a lot of the work. I have tried to implement some of that work into my writings, but again, I’ve only blocked out thirty minutes a day. I try and use that time as wisely as I can. I may just need to expand that time to forty-five minutes a day… I actually like that idea… a lot.
A short blog entry, but I’ve been busy between real life, researching, and writing. I really should get better and making a schedule so that each session is used to its fullest and my many boiling pots get just a little attention.
New Year, New...
Maybe you’re going through this too. And I have no answer for you. But I will go with what feels right for me. I’m going to take a class while working on a bit of existing material. The class though, I’m jumping in and taking James Patterson’s MasterClass.
I know, it’s been out for about a year now, but it’s my first time hearing of it. I did know about MasterClass, I just hadn’t considered it. You don’t get a diploma when its over. You’re not graduating from some elite university. But there is something cool about someone you admire or even respect in their respective field teaching you something about a craft or passion you share.
I think the popular one I see now is Ron Howard teaching you to direct (I’ll probably be looking into that one as well as David Mamet and Aaron Sorkin). But if you do decide to take any one these classes (there are some about acting, tennis, being a DJ…), I believe the biggest lesson they will all teach you is that you need to practice your craft. So now, I’m off to practice. Maybe that’s the answer for you too, go practice.