Well, NaNo is over, and I didn’t write any more than last posted due to the fact that I realised that maybe I don’t write the way NaNo is designed for, eg, blast out your words then go back and edit later. As I’ve mainly written short stuff before, I tend to edit as I go along, then do a read through/edit, and probably a final read once someone else has read it too!
It was an experiment, and perhaps if I write more longer stories, I may adapt to that style of writing, but for now I’m happy doing things the way I do them, when inspiration strikes.
I’ll continue with the story I started as I’ve fleshed out more in my head, and I’ve a feeling there will be more paranormal love stories in the future, as I’ve had an idea for another one...
I’ve also found that if I read another author’s novel, then I only want to read, not write, so I’ll just have to find a way to juggle both! Does anyone else have the same problem, or is it only me?
And of course there was Xmas online shopping to be done - all done now, just the wrapping left.
Laters!
Shel
Friday, 1 December 2017
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
NaNoWriMo - End of Week 3
Arrrggghhh! I’ve stalled! I want to write, but there’s too much other stuff going on and I can’t get my head round it.
I’ve also started reading again, which I suspected would be a mistake and it was. For the past couple of years, I haven’t read much at all apart from my friends’ drafts as beta reader or proofer, so I decided it was time to read some of the books I’ve got on my Kindle. I started reading Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris and now all I want to do it read and not write! My story is still spinning round in my head, but I think I’ve got to a point where I need to get from one event to another and I’ve got a kind of block - I want to write, but I’d rather read instead and I don’t want to make myself do it and force it.
I’d better hurry up and finish the book, so I can get back to writing again, because I’ve got that feeling that I won’t get really in the flow again until I do...
Shel
I’ve also started reading again, which I suspected would be a mistake and it was. For the past couple of years, I haven’t read much at all apart from my friends’ drafts as beta reader or proofer, so I decided it was time to read some of the books I’ve got on my Kindle. I started reading Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris and now all I want to do it read and not write! My story is still spinning round in my head, but I think I’ve got to a point where I need to get from one event to another and I’ve got a kind of block - I want to write, but I’d rather read instead and I don’t want to make myself do it and force it.
I’d better hurry up and finish the book, so I can get back to writing again, because I’ve got that feeling that I won’t get really in the flow again until I do...
Shel
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
NaNoWriMo - End of Week 2
Well, end of week 2 of NaNoWriMo and I’ve only written 5376 words. On the plus side, it’s about 2000 words more than the longest story I’ve ever written, which I’ve recently submitted to Siren’s Call online magazine for possible publication in one of their anthologies - if they like it! That’s the reason why I didn’t have much time for prep before NaNo and am now getting bogged down with minutae that I should’ve done then... hey ho.
I’m amazed that I’ve written so many words and that I’m just beginning - I’m shocked that it’s only day one in my story - as I said, it’s turning into a monster!
I’ll update again next week, when hopefully a free weekend will mean I get a lot more written to up my word count - I might not write 50000 words in the month, but I will have written more than I’ve ever done before and in my book, that’s a win.
‘til then...
Shel
I’m amazed that I’ve written so many words and that I’m just beginning - I’m shocked that it’s only day one in my story - as I said, it’s turning into a monster!
I’ll update again next week, when hopefully a free weekend will mean I get a lot more written to up my word count - I might not write 50000 words in the month, but I will have written more than I’ve ever done before and in my book, that’s a win.
‘til then...
Shel
Wednesday, 8 November 2017
First foray into NaNoWriMo
Week one of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I’ve only written half the word count I’m supposed to have done (aiming for 50,000 words in the month) - who knew that you had to plan your meals and not have any social life whilst you were trying to write your novel?!
On the plus side, the story I started and thought might only be short, has turned into a monster and it feels like I’m waffling, but I’ve been assured that it may feel like that, but what you’re really doing is fleshing out the story. Having only written drabbles and shorts, I’m used to being a bit more concise and even if I do by some miracle finish it (but probably not this month...), it’ll need some hard editing before anyone sees it, but I have my beta reader already lined up (you know who you are!).
So, that’s my update for now - I’ll try and write some each week - inbetween NaNo, finding out what people want for Xmas, ordering Xmas pressies (I managed about half of it before November), wrapping said pressies for people we may not see before Xmas, and the usual work and home life stuff!
Bye for now
Shel
On the plus side, the story I started and thought might only be short, has turned into a monster and it feels like I’m waffling, but I’ve been assured that it may feel like that, but what you’re really doing is fleshing out the story. Having only written drabbles and shorts, I’m used to being a bit more concise and even if I do by some miracle finish it (but probably not this month...), it’ll need some hard editing before anyone sees it, but I have my beta reader already lined up (you know who you are!).
So, that’s my update for now - I’ll try and write some each week - inbetween NaNo, finding out what people want for Xmas, ordering Xmas pressies (I managed about half of it before November), wrapping said pressies for people we may not see before Xmas, and the usual work and home life stuff!
Bye for now
Shel
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
Halloween’s here!
Yep, I love Halloween, and to celebrate all things creepy, here’s another little horror themed drabble for you...
The Birds
The birds perch, silent, on the telephone wire, blackest ink against the blue sky, heads cocked, their glittering eyes watch me walk by.
More amass on the playground climbing frame, their numbers increasing with every step I take towards the quiet school to pick my daughter up – I am late.
At some unseen sign, the ravens screech a deafening caw and lift off as one, their wings a feathery thunderclap.
But they haven’t gone. The dark menacing mass were airborne and aiming straight at me, their lone prey.
Hands over my ears, I run for safety, but not fast enough...
***
Enjoy the season of spookiness!
Shelly Revenant Redd
The Birds
The birds perch, silent, on the telephone wire, blackest ink against the blue sky, heads cocked, their glittering eyes watch me walk by.
More amass on the playground climbing frame, their numbers increasing with every step I take towards the quiet school to pick my daughter up – I am late.
At some unseen sign, the ravens screech a deafening caw and lift off as one, their wings a feathery thunderclap.
But they haven’t gone. The dark menacing mass were airborne and aiming straight at me, their lone prey.
Hands over my ears, I run for safety, but not fast enough...
***
Enjoy the season of spookiness!
Shelly Revenant Redd
Sunday, 29 October 2017
Beginnings...
I’ve never written a blog before, so please bear with me!
I was recently inspired by two of my author friends to give writing a go for myself. Neal Noakes and Kay Ellis are both published authors and I had the privilege of proofing/beta reading some of their work prior to publish. [Quick plug for them here: Neal writes mainly urban fantasy and whatever he feels like poetry, and Kay is author of several novels and short stories, in both fantasy and modern day situations, but all in the gay romance genre - look them up on Facebook].
So this is me giving it a go. My first attempts at writing involve vampires (write what you know they always say) and are in progress. My second are to my newly found favourite fun thing to do – drabbles! A story in 100 words exactly, if you didn’t know, and I had to look it up. I wrote 5 drabbles for a competition in Siren’s Call ezine, and had them all accepted for publication, and yes, they involve vampires and werewolves, but just a little bit of creepiness, as the subject for them was “Feel the Fear”. Check them out here on page 101:
http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/pdfs/SirensCallEZine_August2017.pdf
I had a whale of a time (where does that saying come from?) writing them and intend to create more in the future, just for the sheer hell of it!
I was recently inspired by two of my author friends to give writing a go for myself. Neal Noakes and Kay Ellis are both published authors and I had the privilege of proofing/beta reading some of their work prior to publish. [Quick plug for them here: Neal writes mainly urban fantasy and whatever he feels like poetry, and Kay is author of several novels and short stories, in both fantasy and modern day situations, but all in the gay romance genre - look them up on Facebook].
So this is me giving it a go. My first attempts at writing involve vampires (write what you know they always say) and are in progress. My second are to my newly found favourite fun thing to do – drabbles! A story in 100 words exactly, if you didn’t know, and I had to look it up. I wrote 5 drabbles for a competition in Siren’s Call ezine, and had them all accepted for publication, and yes, they involve vampires and werewolves, but just a little bit of creepiness, as the subject for them was “Feel the Fear”. Check them out here on page 101:
http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/pdfs/SirensCallEZine_August2017.pdf
I had a whale of a time (where does that saying come from?) writing them and intend to create more in the future, just for the sheer hell of it!
And talking if Hell... here’s a drabble for All Hallows’ Eve is nearly here...
Vampiri Nocturnus
Vampiri Nocturnus
He waited, hidden, outside her window until she was asleep, then ghosted silently in.
His pale skin glimmering in the moonlight filtering through the curtains, inky shadow
stretching across the silvered wall, clawed hands reaching.
Leaning over her, fangs extended, he stopped, unmoving, when she murmured in her
sleep.
Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, he caressed her naked throat.
Lowering his head, he bit quickly, the venom in his bite swiftly paralysing, and
siphoned the life from the pretty one in long draughts, until her heart beat no more and Death
claimed her for his own.
Enjoy!
Shel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)