Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work I Go

Are you ready for some news?

This is probably the hardest post I’ve ever had to write, but as of Monday, I’ve gone back to “work.” Like Jack Sparrow, I’ve searched the oceans for treasure and found a job. Yes, most people would be super-excited about started a new job. I mean I am, but at the same time, I’m really disappointed that my writing career is screeching to halt. (BTW I’ve sprinkled clues at to my new employer throughout this post).

This doesn’t mean my dream of being a published writer is over. I have not LOST.

This is my plan.

Write on the bus. Read on the bus. Give up a couple iPhone games I love. Give up at least 1 of the 3 writing groups I’m in. Give up watching a bunch of TV shows I like. Give up going to the gym (kinda was forced to give this up anyways due to ankle issues).

What I’m not giving up:

• My dream of being a published writer with multiple published novels.
• The wonderful world of NaNoWriMo (won twice while working full-time)
• Steam Palace. I will publish this one way or another.

Give up yet on my new employer? Well it’s a small world after all, so keep your mouse ears on.

“What are you passionate about?”

I’ve received that question a few times lately in regards to some non-writing matters. But it got me thinking…what about writing am I passionate about?

I started thinking about things like Show vs Tell, character arcs, Hero’s Journey, scene structure, and the appropriate use of commas. Plot vs story, conflict on every page, tension, stakes, making every word matter.

Then it struck me. All those concepts are really ancillary to the real thing I’m passionate about.

I’m passionate about PASSION.

Not necessarily that romantic passion—though I have that too—but I’m passionate about writing characters who are passionate, who care, who fight and struggle whether for a good or evil cause.

I’m passionate about creating surprises, to challenge my characters past the breaking point, to have them fight to the last breath. To create wild twists and turns that drive the story to the conclusion.

I’m passionate about good writing, that creates worlds you can see, touch, and taste. Characters that you feel that you know, that care about the things you would if you were them.

So my stories are really stories about the nature of passion, and what passion can do to you. In Steam Palace, my main character Sophia even has a name for it—Mad Passion. She thinks it’s some kind of ethereal magic that causes her to make difficult decisions and face the truth of her situation. She thinks it’s a defect or some kind of special gift, but the reality is that she’s just passionate. Like everyone. And by driving her to the truth of matters, she can throw off societies’ norms and expectations and do what she needs to do.

Passion.

How do you use passion in your writing?

Hmm…that image I found gives me an idea for a blogfest……

PNWA Writer’s Conference Report

Nerves.

Exhaustion.

Drinks at the bar. (after pitching)

That pretty much sums up my PNWA Conference experience.

I was far more nervous pitching agents than having a job interview. And I couldn’t sleep, worrying about it. Yes, I’d love a job, but I’d die for a publishing contract. So I had 3-5 minutes to pitch some I’ve spent 2+ years on. No pressure.

I just spent the last four days working on and delivering my novel pitch (which I really didn’t change since WDC in January) and learning more about writing.But there’s one thing I learned more than any other lesson.

Write small.

I knew going in that my manuscript for Steam Palace was too long. I was terrified that they would hear that and not want to even hear my pitch. When they did ask the length, I said, “140K but I’m working on it,” with a smile. They replied, “well, I’d like to see it……after you cut it down to 100K.”

Gasp.

That’s a 30% reduction. I spent a lot of the conference asking authors or presenters about strategies on how to do this. I’ve come up with 4 main approaches:

1. Trim scenes. Start them later. End them earlier. Combine two scenes into one.
2. Cut subplots. Do we really need to know Aunt Beatrice had a crush on a guy 20 years ago and rekindles that relationship?
3. Cut characters. Thomas was supposed to be Sophia’s love interest. But her real “love” interest is Viola. (buddy/family love) So why have two love stories?
4. Line Editing. I figured I can reduce the ms by about 5% by removing extraneous then’s, but’s, adverbs, of’s, etc. This would be a final step once I get down to ~105K.

I think if I cut my ms 30%, I’ll actually improve it 100%. Less is more. I’ll concentrate on what’s important, leave out what’s not so important.

But once this editing is done and I send it out, it’s done. No more Steam Palace. Ever. Unless, of course, I get a publishing contract. Then it’s all Steam Palace, all the time.

Now to get out that axe and start hacking!

Pitch Contest

I’m posting the obligatory link to YAtopia’s Pitch Contest with Natalie Fischer.

http://yatopia.blogspot.com/2011/04/pitch-contest-with-natalie-fischer.html

It’s open ‘til April 21 or first 150 entries.

Good luck!

Okay, Well, Here It Is

Welcome to the new and improved “The WriteRunner”!

I’m calling this a “soft opening” as I still don’t have all the content moved over and categorized. I’m going to have some kind of “grand opening” at some point with a contest or blogfest (but don’t hold your breath).

But from now on, all new writing-related content will be posted here (and a helpful link to new posts will be posted on the old site).

Here is the main foci of this site:

• Writing advice based on my own experiences ranging from story construction to publication.
• Updates to what I’m currently working on and descriptions of previous projects.
• Writing excerpts including some full short stories.
• Guest bloggers.

So thank you for your interest, and I hope that you find this site useful, informative, and entertaining. Please feel free to add any suggestions or requests you have for the site.

Coming Soon: New home for The WriteRunner!

Currently it's at http://blog.dawnsrise.com
This will eventually be http://blog.writerunner.com

I think I need to define what this blog is for.
Blog.Writerunner.com serves 2 purposes:

1. This is where I can promote my writing. Excerpts, queries, etc
2. Offer writing and publishing advice.

blog.dawnsrise.com will now become Dawn's Rise

For everything else:

• personal posts about family and/or issues
• non-writing activities
• for-fun writing