Creating a map for my fantasy story

Hi

I've spent a few days creating a map for my fantasy story 'The Girl In The Mirror.' I needed to get clear in my mind where the location of each place was in my story and I was slowing down and needed something that would get the creative juices flowing again.

I will be posting it when I'm happy with it in a separate blog for the story: 'The Girl In The Mirror.

This map I have created in Microsoft Inspiration. A great little program. Some of it is freeware and the latest versions are not.  http://downloads.phpnuke.org/en/download-item-view-g-g-n-y-l/Inspiration.htm
I guess you could use MS Publisher,
or there is Gimp http://www.gimp.org/ which is freeware and lastly,
Adobe Photoshop.

Olga

The writing process

Hi

I'm still enjoying the process of writing 'The Girl In The Mirror.' I've just realised that I am in my seventh month of writing this story. So much for the six months target I set to finish first draft. At least I can console myself that I'm nearlythere with only about 20 pages to go.

Those of you that think writing is easy and anyone can do it haven't tried to write a novel length story. If you have and you still think it's easy, I want to hear your story.

I love to write and it amazes me after a writing session that I have actually got something down. When I read what I have written, I wonder where all this stuff has come from.

For this current story I haven't tried to make each chapter perfect but rather kept going forward. I know that if I start rereading what I have written, I will get bogged down with polishing it. In the second draft some chapters might be cut or have the focus changed so I know now that I will be probably wasting my time if I do this.

The thing with being a writer is that you learn as you write. Yes, a university course in English will help with grammar, tenses, etc but not with ideas, creating and the stuff that you pluck from thin air as if its channeled from the universe. The more you do it the better you get and the more that little voice tells you that the stuff you have written is rubbish and no one will want to read it. You have to turn off the voice as much as you can and believe in yourself.

I came across a blog that I thought was worth passing on and it's called 'Not for Robots.' http://notforrobots.blogspot.com.au/

Cheers.
Happy writing.

REDRAFTING

Hi

I'm up to page 148 of my fantasy story The Girl In The Mirror. Still loving it. I can't wait to finish it and do the next draft.

I found some great tips in the Writer's News regarding drafts and editing.

Summary of Stewart Ferris's article.

1) First sweep: Look at improving story structure.

2) Next sweep: Focus on characters

3) Focus on dialogue

4) Look at the descriptive language, etc. Ensure your descriptions do not look like large blocks on the page. If you must have the description then filter it in a little at a time.

5) Lastly, do a simple proof read.

I want to add to these and put point 5 last.

6) Look at chapter conflict which is different from the plot conflict. Each chapter must have its own nutshell of conflict (which enhances the plot). This is like the spokes of a wheel. The wheel being the plot.

7) In each scene ensure you have at least 3 of these...colour, dialogue, sounds, smells, conflict. Conflict being the most important one.

8) Look at adjectives. Always use only the best one to describe something. Get rid of the rest.

9) Repeated words on the same page. If it is intentional, then it's okay, but only then.

10) Overuse of descriptions or words.

11) Look for plot holes.

12) Check that main character's voice is consistent.

13)Look at back story as well. Too much and the story stands still.

14) Don't forget to enjoy the process.

Don't forget to make the first chapter as good as possible. A poor first chapter will sink you.

Leave me some comments if you found this useful.

Bye for now.

The Girl In The Mirror

Hi

When I complete my latest fantasy story I will be posting exerts here. Any comments will be welcome.

Olga

Still doing first draft of my fantasy.

Hi I'm up to page 130 of 'The Girl in the Mirror.'

Got any great sites you want to include here? Please send them to me.

Self publishing

Hi I've just come across a blog which gives great info on self publishing. Check it out: http://book-promotion.blogspot.com.au/

olga

Still writing the fantasy

Hi

I'm up to page 122 of my first fantasy story titled "The girl in the mirror".

It's been a joy to write so far.

still going strong with my fantasy "The Girl In The Mirror"

Hi

I'm up to page 85 of my new fantasy story. Yippee. I've been squeezing in some writing between packing up my daughter's home as she is moving. I've set myself a target of 10 pages per week. Xmas got in the way and I'm a little behind.