New Beginnings

My blog has been silent for quite some time now. I have spent this time learning about myself and how I can write about these experiences. So far, the story is germinating in my mind and I believe it will begin to reveal itself to me in the next few months.


So many times, as authors of science fiction and fantasy, we shy away from writing autobiographical stories. Unless, of course, they are included in our main genre. I hope to break away from my usual writing and find a new voice that will embody the essence of what I have experienced.


So, to all those who are still listening to this blog, I wish you well.


Working Title:   A Long Walk Through Hell


Mental illness is a topic that, unless you're writing non-fiction, has been portrayed as some crazy person attacking people and trying to kill them or some such ideas. The idea that a toned down version where people are portrayed in a more sensible vein sounds boring. But anytime anyone experiences the pangs of acute anxiety, the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, the personality break of schizophrenia or the desperation of terrible depression there is a big yawn and the reader waits for the big scene where there is a desperate break from reality so there can be an adequate resolution.


I say there is a balance that can be reached where the story doesn't have to be outrageously overwritten or mind-numbing boredom on the other side. What I'd like to write about is a journey from crisis to self-realization from our protagonist. Of course there will be at least one antagonist and a few non-believers to the character.


Like I said at the beginning of the post, the story is still germinating. But I think I'm ready to at least start sketching it out.

Blind For A Season

A new story is in the making. It's about a doctor who is blinded while operating on a nefarious character. Was it really an accident? Or planned by an assasin aimed at revenge. But who was the real target?


Dr Shayne Stromberg deals with the realities of being a patient and being blind. How will he succeed with his new friend Mack, a seeing eye dog. Together they solve the mystery of what is happening to the OR staff, who one by one meet tragic circumstances. And, what happened to his operating partner, Gerry? An outspoken doctor determined to see Shayne recover.


I started the new story before I found out about the difficulty with my eyes. This makes the story much more intimate to me. I still have a long way to go to finish it, but will keep you posted.

Conflict and Suspense In Literature

Creating conflict and suspense in your stories can be hard work. One author stated: "It takes 10% talent and 90% hard work to create conflict and suspense...". If that is the case, then we'd better role up our sleeves and get to work.


It begins with grammar. How we use our words. When writing a scene needing a fast pace, the sentences need to be short and clipped. If you write in lazy sentences that are long and flowing, the reader will relax and not feel the tension. For example:


He walked into the dark room and saw blood pooled on the floor.


-or-


The room was dark. He edged forward. Blood glistened in a pool in front of him.


Which do you prefer? One is plain and straightforward and rather bland. The other gives more tension and the character edges into the room.


It takes more effort and hard work to create tension. What I do is first write what I want to portray and then take it apart to re-create the best scene possible. How do you create tension and suspense? Please share your thoughts with us.

A Tech-Whiz Day

Being a writer, I do a lot of reading in my spare time. Because of this, I decided to do myself a favor and invest in a Kindle Fire to do my reading on. I've been able to carry a whole library around with me as I go about my day. Not only will I have my entertainment with me, but I have reference books and the internet where wireless is available.


But when I'm at home, I like to wrap my hands around the pages of a real book where I can dog-ear the pages or flip back and forth or even ( heaven forbid) underline passages. You can't do this  with an electronic device.


Which do you prefer? Book or electronic device? Are you a tech whiz or do you love the rough feel of paper pages?


I tried to put a picture here, but it was rejected! So much for MY technological ideas!

Sale at Smashwords!

ATTENTION:


Book lovers of all kinds! Smashwords is having a site wide sale during the month of July. You can get books for 50% or 25% or even FREE!


Included in this sale:


Call of the Dragon, Book 1, The Dragons of Mar Coupon: MZ57W Price: FREE


The Puzzle Box, Book 2, The Dragons of Mar Coupon: DC39V Price: FREE


Dragon's Fury, Book 3, The Dragon's of Mar Coupon: DT87N Price: $1.00


Galaxy Nomads, Chronicles of the MacKenzie Clan Coupon: SM46M Price: $1.00


To find these books at Smashwords, click on the title and it will take you straight to its page. To see other titles, click HERE.


Happy reading!

IWSG and Happy New Year!

 January 6th is a special Insecure Writer's Support Group with not only the celebration of the new year, but the announcement of the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest. You can go to the home page HERE to find the winners. Congratulations to all!

The co-hosts for January are:
L.G. Keltner  http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/
Denise Covey  http://dencovey.blogspot.com/
Sheri Larsen  http://www.salarsenbooks.com/
J.Q. Rose  http://www.jqrose.com/
Chemist Ken  http://hogwartssabbatical.blogspot.com/
Michelle Wallace http://www.writer-in-transit.co.za/

I want to wish a Happy New Year to all my readers, especially those that are here after my hiatus. I had difficulty doing any posting and finally discovered my computer was to blame. But I was given a new computer for Christmas (and my birthday) and here I am, ready to go.


I've discovered that after two months of not writing I'm pushing a boulder up a hill to get started again. One part of me wants to lay around and watch TV instead of work like I used to. But I am encouraged by my sister, Retta Stephenson, who entered an incredibly challenging feat where she is painting a painting each day for the thirty days of January. It puts me to shame. I've turned off the TV and started working on my story, Gemini, Chronicles of the MacKenzie Clan, Book 2. This WIP was stalled but now that I have my new computer I'm starting it up from where I left off - chapter 13. Thank you, Retta!

IWSG - Mundane Thoughts

This is the Insecure Writer's Support Group which meets the first Monday of each month and hosted by Alex J.  Cavanaugh. To visit other members at the website, click HERE.

The co-hosts for November are:

Tyrean Martinson  http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/

Karen Walker  http://karenfollowingthewhispers.blogspot.com/

Denise Covey  http://dencovey.blogspot.com/  

Stephen Tremp   http://authorstephentremp.blogspot.com/

I've been working at a slow pace this month, unable to get my mind in gear. My latest story, Gemini, The MacKenzie Chronicles, Book 2 is at a standstill. Have you ever written yourself into a corner? Well, my corner has three sides, each with its own idea about the ending. I'm going back through the story to re-evaluate the story line and to re-create the plot line. Another few weeks of work, I suppose.

When I was on Twitter yesterday I saw a great tweet that said: Make yourself work. Write while you have the time or even if you don't. It encouraged me to keep working even when I'm discouraged or depressed.

"Read, read, read. Read everything- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
~~William Faulkner~~