New Title For Everyone To Check Out!

For those of you who want to learn how to structure your novel into a more exciting and well paced manuscript, you might like to check out K. M. Weiland's Structuring Your Novel.

I bought this book from Amazon.com for $2.99 (Kindle edition) just a few days ago and already I'm finding better ways to add to the outline I've been creating for my latest story.

Not only does Ms. Weiland teach you about plot points and where to put them, she explores the entire structure of the novel, using famous titles as examples. So far, I've been able to learn from these examples and am able to see where my own plot points need to be.

But that's not all she offers. Since I'm not finished with the book, I can't say how the rest of her book plays out. If it's as good as the first part, I expect to learn some valuable key points. The main thing I've taken away so far is that these are suggestions that can help turn your book into an excellent manuscript. I'm all for that!

I hope you check out this title! Enjoy your writing!

Excerpt: The Chameleon Effect # 18

I'm presenting The Chameleon Effect for your reading enjoyment. Unfortunately, the summary is getting too long to add all the details. After this episode, I may start a new page so you can read as much as you want, when you want. Depending on reader interest, of course. Enjoy the story!

Chavez works for The Agency and has been assigned to rescue Kira Rostropovich and return her to Vega Minor, where she resides with her parents. After being in prison and being 'bought' by Chavez in an auction, Kira is not happy about being searched by Chavez. But he finds a tracking device on her right before a mercenary, Captain Maddeson, finds them and demands that Kira be turned over to him. Chavez immediately makes a sudden jump across the galaxy, much to Kira's surprise! Kira continues to have nightmares and is haunted by the fact that her life is in danger. She demands to go back to Prison Planet 452, but Chavez has someone to add to his crew complement first.
Kira's dream keeps coming back. Is it a warning? All she knows is that her destiny lies intertwined with the prison planet. Will Chavez understand? It is six hours away from rendezvousing with Dr. Winters, who will attempt to help Kira with her problems. But Captain Maddeson is on an intercept course to capture them and return them to the warden. Will they escape? Dr. Winters has diagnosed Kira with the Chameleon Effect and in an attempt to halt its progress, he will use Chavez's DNA. But Kira has other plans and escapes off Chavez's ship, without a word to anyone. Chavez decides to go after her. Kira remembers that her sister is being held hostage and she must return to the prison planet in order to barter for her freedom. But before she can get there, she is captured by Captain Maddeson, who is demanding payment for her return to the warden. While she was fleeing, Chavez fights off an Orgarian boarding party who shoot Dr. Winters. He urges Chavez to go after Kira before he dies. Captain Maddeson has captured Kira and is planning on turning her over to the warden. Chavez is devastated and goes against Agency urging to wait for reinforcements. Is he becoming a renegade? But before he can attack the warden, Kira escapes the planet with her sister, and she's looking for Chavez.

Kira set an intercept course for Chavez’s ship. Her shuttle was originally from an Orgarian ship, so she would have to convince Chavez that she was not hostile. She opened a channel to his ship, but he didn’t answer. Kira began to get worried. What had happened to Chavez and Dr. Winters after she left? She tried the channel again.

“Chavez, if you can hear me, it’s Kira. I need your help. Please allow me to dock my shuttle and come aboard.”

Chavez finally answered. “Kira? Is that really you? Are you all right?” Kira thought his voice sounded muffled and slightly garbled.

When Chavez appeared onscreen, Kira was shocked by his appearance. His face and lips were swollen and purple bruises dotted his eyes and brow line. She now knew why he sounded so different. He had been beaten so badly that it was difficult for him to talk.

“What happened to you?” She said as soon as his plight registered to her.

Demishia let out a startled gasp beside Kira. “I know what happened. I’ve seen it a thousand times over the years I’ve been here.”

Chavez stared at Kira’s echo in the woman sitting beside her. “Who’s this?” he asked.

“This is my sister, Demishia. She was kidnapped when she was three years old. The warden has been doing chromosome experiments on her all this time. She’s dying and I don’t know where else to turn. Can Dr. Winters help me, please? I know I’ve spent a lot of time running away from you, but it was to get back to the planet and get my sister. It’s a long story and I’ll explain it all to you, now that I have my memory back.”

Chavez didn’t wait to answer. “Dock your ship. We need to talk.”

After they were docked, Chavez led Kira and Demishia to the garden on level one across from the engine room. It was the best place he could think of where they could relax and talk. He could see the distress on Kira’s face about her sister, but he had news of his own that would add to the problem. Before he could talk, Kira looked around, concern on her face.

“Where’s Dr. Winters? I need of him.” Her eyes glanced over to Demishia and then settled on Chavez.

Chavez’s jawline tightened as his muscles clenched and he took a deep breath. “Dr. Winters is dead. He was killed by Orgarian mercenaries while he was trying to protect me.”

Kira’s face fell and she expelled all her air. “What am I going to do? Demishia is in a desperate condition. She’s the product of their failed experiments and now the warden has turned her loose so she can go die somewhere else.” Kira’s eye’s flashed hot and her hands clenched shut.

But Demishia turned to her. “It’s alright Kira, at least we’re together. I’ve been dreaming about this day all my life.”

Kira shook her head. “No, it’s not alright!”

Chavez waved a hand in the air. “Let me speak, okay?”

There was a pause where the only sound was the bubbling of water from the fountain among the ferns. Chavez waited a moment longer, trying to decide how to explain his dilemma.

“Dr. Winters managed to make one dose of an antidote. It needed to be administered within a certain amount of time to have the full effect and the time is up.  Now, it will only stop the chameleon effect, but won’t reverse it. The problem is, it was made for Kira, not the failed experiments Demishia had. I recommend that it be given to you, Kira, since that’s who it was made for. Then we can take Demishia to another geneticist, along with Dr. Winters’s notes.”

“There’s no time to wait.” Kira said, “My sister is weak and dying. Give it to her, even if it doesn’t have the full effect, maybe it will help some.”

But Demishia shook her head. “Absolutely not! It was made for you and that is who’s going to get it.”

“Sorry, I won’t let him give it to me.” Kira announced.

“Okay, hold up the arguing. It was bad enough with one Rostropov on board. Now I’ve got two hard heads. Listen, if I have to, I’ll play Solomon and split the baby in half! So decide amongst yourselves. You have one hour.” Chavez sauntered out of the garden and left the girls alone. He had to get back to the bridge. They were in hostile territory and he wasn’t about to be boarded again.

To be continued...

IWSG Two Year Anniversary

Today is Insecure Writer's Support Group's two year anniversary! The group is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh and you can visit his blog HERE. If you are interested in becoming a participant in  this group, the sign up list is HERE.

September’s co-hosts are:

Chemist Ken http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/

SL Hennessey http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

Michelle Wallace http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/

Joylene Nowell Butler http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/

I've met a lot of wonderful people who are members of IWSG and on the first Wednesday of each month we post. The list of members is available each time so you can visit others who have joined.

New news: I sent off a query letter to an agent last week. That's a first for me, since I've been self publishing for the last year. I needed to explore my options before releasing my next story, Call of the Dragon: A Dragon Stone Trilogy Book 1. Self publishing has had many advantages for me, but I would like to see if my book could possibly get published non-indie. We shall see. Until recently, I wouldn't have had the courage to query an agent, but I'm growing and learning as I go.

Where are you in your evolution as a writer? What are your goals and how are you realizing them?

"Perhaps it is just as well to be rash and foolish for a while. If writers were too wise, perhaps no books would get written at all. It might be better to ask yourself 'Why?' afterward than before. Anyway, the force of somewhere in space which commands you to write in the first place, gives you no choice. You take up the pen when you are told and write what is commanded. There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you."
~Zora Neale Hurston from Dust Tracks On A Road~  

Big Screen Movie Magic

Since I'm working on Fantasy books right now, I've focused in on other Fantasy stories to help keep the creative juices flowing. But seeing Fantasy on the big screen not only helps my brain think up new and exciting adventure, it embeds it in my mind with larger than life pictures.

I had the time to go see Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters on Saturday. It was a story about going on a quest, but with problems, foul-ups and your basic bad guy to boot. Although it wasn't what you'd call an epic film, it had its good points as well as its bad. But this isn't a movie review.

This movie was chalk full of imagination. Of course, I thought the kids always had easy rescues from their situations, and with their super powers, the only real fight was with the big guy at the end. No spoilers. But it gave me ideas and insight into my own story and a new clarity as to just how easy or hard situations will be, depending on how you let the characters get out of trouble.

I decided to go for broke and let my characters climb up the mountain and slide down the other side, rocks and all. That means, the problem will be tough and the resolution tougher.

What about you? Have you seen any inspiring movies lately?

Splitting Infinitives

Have you had a grammar lesson lately?

I was doing a little reading this morning and discovered I have a bad habit. I like to split infinitives. What it that? Infinitives are words starting with to, for example-. To go, to run, to walk. When you split them, you generally add an adverb between the to and the word-to boldly go, to quickly run, to slowly walk. The most famous one comes from Star Trek, To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before.

Over time, the rules bend and change about grammar. Originally, English rules were taken from those of Latin. And since an infinitive was not split in Latin, it was carried over into English. That was then, and this is now. To see an infinitive split in writing and not be edited out shows evolution of the English language. We are more accepting of how we use our language.

I'm not an expert on grammar. I don't have a degree in English, nor do I pretend to have some extensive research done on the subject. But I spend a portion of each day as most of you do, hammering out those sentences that create our stories. This counts for something, I hope. And my belief is that we need to create the most exciting, emotional experience for our readers that we can. And if it means to split a few infinitives along the way, I only hope they don't get eliminated when they reach the editor's pen.

Do You Use Spell-Check?

I recently was clearing out my old emails and found this poem tucked away with save stamped on it. Turns out it was from my sister, Loretta Stephenson (Art By Retta). She'd been reading one of my posts that I didn't use spell-check on. What a funny way to remind me just what can happen when you don't edit. Loretta isn't a writer, but has an incredible eye for editing and a talent for knowing the craft. If you could ever get her to read your work, her observations are worth a million.

Ode to a spell chequer

I halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plane lee marques four my revue
Miss steaks aye ken knot sea


Eye ran this poem threw it
Your sure reel glad two no
It's vary polished in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew


A chequer is a bless sing
It freeze yew lodes of thyme
It helps me awl stiles two reed
And aides mi when aye rime


To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should be proud
And wee mussed dew the best wee can
Sew flaws are knot aloud

And now bee cause my spelling
is checked with such grate flare
Their are know faults with in my cite
Of nun eye am a wear

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed to be a joule
The chequer poured o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule

That's why aye brake in two averse
My righting wants too pleas
Sow now ewe sea wye aye dew prays
Such soft wear for pea seas

~Anonymous~ 

My spell-check went crazy went I put this poem in! And yet some words won't get caught by spell-check because they mean something else. Arghh!

Discouraged With Writing?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group posts the first Wednesday of the month and hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You can visit its group members HERE.

Recently I was discouraged by an article in a newsletter I read about taking your writing too serious and how if your characters and plot were lacking originality, perhaps you need to revamp. The article's viewpoint was that if you are not careful, these four things can happen. 

1. Your characters end up spouting proverbs and glaring moodily into space.

2. Does your story harp on some great payoff in the end, only to let it fizzle out.

3. Your characters spend more time talking about great things, rather than doing them.

4. You plot and characters bring nothing new to the table and don't offer a wink at their own unoriginality.

These four things are good points as a guideline. I agree that you need a balance in your story and your plot needs to give its promised rewards, but I believe that it's necessary to take a serious look at your story as a whole and see if it tells the story your intended to tell. Too many new writers (and me included) start out with an idea in mind and perhaps because of not having a cohesive ending in sight, write a meandering story that loses sight of the original goal. I've solved my problem of doing this by outlining my story ahead of time.

I hope if you are feeling discouraged by your writing that you will take time to step back and remember why you started writing in the first place. It usually will bring you back to that burning desire to let a story out that's been whirling around inside you. It's a precious gift to be able to explore the world with others, no matter what genre you write in.

"Perhaps it is just as well to be rash and foolish for a while. If writers were too wise, perhaps no books would get written at all. It might be better to ask yourself 'Why?' afterward than before. Anyway, the force of somewhere in space which commands you to write in the first place, gives you no choice. You take up the pen when you are told, and write what is commanded. There is no agony like bearing and untold story inside you."

~Zora Neale Hurston from Dust Tracks On A Road~