Well, its time for a new post for PM which has been quite recently!
We havent discussed anything in awhile.... writing related that is, so where shall we start?

I took a little time off after sending off my partial. It really messed with my head! But you guys suggested a take a mini break before plunging into the next one and it was needed. So I edited my Cafe Muse to send off to AWW (posted Friday) and today had a look through my other ideas. Found one I had barely begun (started with a title of course) but it is so timely. So much of what is going on with me fits in with this idea. So wrote 2500 words today (amongst sneezing and sniffling and doing my taxes!)

How's everyone esle with Project Muse?

well it arrived today... the poster for my four winds trilogy and its just brillant. Im having it framed its so special. I'll put it up on my web site too... when i get around to it... that wont be today i fear... but soon enough. Or i can email it to thise that are interested.....
I have big smiles and now thinking about the first book i started for it.... what to do.... im thinking but i need some advice guys... should i go on with it or stay with the Dream Hunters or like stories.... for practice?

Well, had a good writing day today and cracked the 80,000 word barrier. This week is clear for me so I should get heaps done (hope so).

Glad to hear your story is firing, Alyson. And Timna, all I can suggest is that you write what you feel passionate about at the moment. If you're dying to get back into Four Winds, do that. If you're really into Dream Hunters, stick with that. But don't feel that you have to be 'perfect' to write Four Winds. Remember it will just be first draft when you write it. You can revise it endlessly. Ian Irvine revised his View from the Mirror quartet for ten years before it sold to Penguin. That's commitment!

Have heard from my publishers that they're looking at red foil for the title of Daughter of The Dark which is pretty cool. I've always wanted a book with a foil title, and red sounds classy. Starting to get excited about holding it in my hands and reading it again (it's always so different when you read it as a book rather than a manuscript). Official release date is June 17 but I should get copies at least a fortnight before that.

In the meantime I'll be working away on Glimmer in the Maelstrom. It's scary but fun at the moment.

I know we touched on planning Lou, but just wondering how far ahead do you see you story right now? Do you know how its going to end? Do you know who lives and who dies? Or do you literally sit down in the morning put fingers to the keys and see what happens?

And what is your poster all about Timna? Is it the book cover you want for Four Winds? Let us know when its on your site so we can have a gander!

OOOOOH RED FOIL, Louise! Now on the cover we have seen, that is going to be stunning. If your book does not fly from the book store shelves I don't know what will.
Glad to hear your still pushing the word count up and the first draft to its conclusion, Louise.

Interesting thing to ask, Alyson. I would also like to know how far ahead you can see your story, Louise. Do you have a vague idea or is it almost set in stone, or do you NOT know at all???

Timna, I am intrigued with this poster of yours. Did you draw it? Or find one somewhere you would like as a cover? I cannot wait to see it. And I agree with Louise, Timna, write the story that you are passionate about at the moment. It will inspire your writng and give you enthousiasm.

Well I finally FORCED myself to open my laptop yesterday. It was hard and it took me until 1pm to do it, but I did it. I fiddled about with a few things on my manuscript for awhile before striking out on an unfinished chapter. I almost got 1000 words down so I am happy with myself. I have hopefully pushed the door open again and will get heaps done over the next few weeks.

How is everyone else going? Fi? Helen?

Hi Deb - I'm still here! Have been reading the posts every day, but have been pretty busy working on a top secret project so I haven't really posted many messages (sorry!). Hopefully the work will be finished soon, and I'll be posting more encouraging words for you all with your writing! Even though I'm not writing myself, I love being in the midst of the hype, and following your trials and celebrations. Good gosh, my brain must be on auto "collect" mode as I just thought of another cool idea for a story - yes, I'm still thinking about ideas for stories and filing them away for "one day". But I am happy not writing at the moment, as I'm so busy with everything else that I'd be frustrated having no time to write.

Workwise, I'm finding out this Friday if I'll be offered a full-time or 3 month contract job with HP. (I'm working for Vodafone at the moment, but the IT dept is being outsourced to Hewlett Packard from June 1st). So within 2 months I should have a good idea of where my career is heading. I can see fantastic opportunities whatever happens, so now I'm just dying to find out what they offer me!!

Hey Lou - are you coming down to the NSW Writer's Festival again this year?? Would be great to catch up with you again! And the RED foil sounds very spiffy to me too!!

Alyson - wondeful that you sent your story to the AWW comp. Fingers crossed for you! It would be great to see someone we all know, winning such a publicised competition.

Timna - hope Uni's not getting too tough, and your poster sounds great. I'd love to see it!

And I hope to catch up with you all soon! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to pop into the chat room sometime soon and say "hi" to everyone. Fi

Fiona, nice to see you posting, and so pleased to hear that you're reading and keeping up with everyone's news.

Also big CONGRATS to Deb for diving back into the fray. It's always the hardest to start - getting that momentum going - but once the rhythm is happening it's easier to keep going.

Re planning, I have quite clear ideas about what should happen (ie the Four Worlds be joined so somebody lives) however I really don't know whether that will happen, and/or who will die and how. There are people who I don't want to see die, but I'm preparing myself for the worst. Book three has been quite endearing and even innocent so far, but I'm getting closer to the end and I have a horrible feeling that bad things are about to happen. Maybe that's why my 'delight' at sitting in front of the computer each morning isn't quite as marked this week! In any case I don't want to stage manage the ending. I'm sure my subconscious will come up with something way more brilliant than anything I could devise consciously. At least, it has so far.

The one thing I am sure of is that it will be a definitive ending. No openings for sequels. I want total closure if I can do it. (in fifty thousand words...eek!)

Wish me luck.

How exciting, Louise! I imagined you to have much more of an idea. I am so impressed and inspired that you don't. Like the ending is floating out there in the cosmos weaving its way to your mind bit by bit. Like a gossamer spider web, floating on a breeze.

I am such a poet. Lol! But that's exactly how I picture it.

And I loved you message Fi! You sound like your floating on air. Secret project and job prospects! Sounds great! I hope you can join us on a chat one day. They are so much fun!

Still going strong with my book. I am up to 44,000 words now.

I am so surprised how it just flows when you let being in control go and just trust that the story will flow.
I think the trick is having faith and having an inner passion for the story.

deb

well i'll be thinking and planning on FW as well as Dream Hunters but will not be writing as such until uni is over with for this semester.
Thanks for your advice guys. Its good to have someone else back up your subcon'.

44k? Yay for Deb That's fabulous. And I think you're right about letting go of control. I always do my best work when I'm unpressured either by what I think I should write, or by deadlines.

And I loved your gossamer analogy, Alyson. It feels as tenuous as that. Which is why it's easy to get scared I guess, wondering if you'll wake up one morning and it won't be there. But I'm not letting myself worry about that any more.

The universe looks after me.

It's all unravelling beautifully...

P.S. this poetry thing must be rubbing off
P.P.S. like the foot tapping thing

WOO HOO! How poetic everyone is at the moment! The muses must be working overtime!
The enthousiasm from everyone jumps off the screen!

deb

See my web site and the link to Four Winds for the poster.........

I finally have three minutes to myself so I thought I would drop by and catch up with you all. Uni has been so unbelievably busy lately and it is frustrating me that I can't even make time for writing. Or reading a good book for that matter.
It, however, is great to drop in and see you are all making so much progress. It makes that little fire deep down burn a little brighter. At least I know it will all come together in the end, it'll just take a while.
( I haven't even been here and the foot tapping has definately rubbed off)
Hooray for you all, we'll have to have a party sometime soon to celebrate!!!!!!!!
see ya round like a fruitloop - h.

ps Louise, cover looks great, but on the A&R website the dragon isn't there what's the deal with that???
pps ...... awww i forget now, mustn't have been that important.

I remember now, it wasn't important at all, or even interesting

keep smiling

haha my colon looks cross-eyed ( ie- in the smilie, not my large bowel!)

it's alright I'm going now......

Lovely to see you back, Helen! I have missed you alot on the board. Sorry to hear Uni is so hectic, at least you still have a fire simmering away there for writing.

deb

Yay, Helen is back. I missed you too, Helen. Do try to pop in more often if you can. We need a little 'party' every so often.

Fi gave me the heads-up about the cover on the A&R site (I think it's on the dymocks site too). It was the mock-up cover that they sold the book into the bookstores with - before the artist had finished painting the real cover. They've been given the new cover, and will be changing over to that shortly. I didn't realise it would be up so early. But that's great news.

Not long to go now.

Well, book three is still ticking over for me. I got some writing advice from a psychic on Sunday night - I need to meditate before I write and that will free up my creativity. Am going to try that this week. Wish me luck.

Well I didn't get to write anything yesterday, but have grand plans for today after I do the shopping and clean up a bit.
I figure as long as I keep the word count stacking up, slowly but surely a book will come together. It's the giving up that will stuff everything up!!!
I am up to 47,000 words now so it is happening!
How is it going for everyone else?
Alyson? You always have something bubbling, what is your project for today! HEE!

Louise? How are you finding the balance betweeen finishing book 3 and following the creative trail for you new trilogy? Must be a fine line to draw.

Timna? Fi? Helen? In amongst all your work and study are you all writing anything? Or just having the occasional ideas for future master works?

deb

Deb, so pleased that you're making time to write. It's hard sometimes but if you write a little each day it's not so hard to get back into quickly as the story stays fresh in your mind.

I'm coasting along. Had a creative meeting with Kim today to discuss our respective books which always inspires me. Her work is so subtle and so mood oriented, that I always feel like a clumsy ox by comparison but she loves what I write so I guess we're well matched - like a mutual appreciation society of two

We also tossed some ideas back and forth for my coming trilogy so that was helpful as well.

Deb, to answer your cheeky question: the same romance I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the JC screenplay and my original project muse story (with Jeb). All are fighting for time at the mo.

Plus my hubby is starting to jot down ideas for his next film. We came up with an idea on one of our wine soaked dinners with our best mates in Brissy (also filmmakers) back in Feb. So we are fleshing out this idea and when back in Brissy will come up with more gags and scenes with them when we come up in June. It's a cool idea and should be pretty easy to make.

Lou, it's so great that you have 'creative' meeting with Kim. Sigh... sounds lovely. That is one of my fave times with our screenwriting friends as the ideas flow thick and fast.

You're right, Alyson. There's something about being with other creative people and tossing ideas around. Everyone approached things differently, but sometimes someone else's idea will trigger one of your own.

That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask you for ages, Deb: is there a writing group in Toowoomba? It might be helpful to go to meetings if there is. Anything that helps keep you inspired and thinking about writing is a good thing. Of course, some writing groups are very literary and aren't interested in genre writers like us, so you'd need to establish that first. Just a thought.

i bought the market writers guide yesterday, and surprisingly, there arent alot of agents in the book? I have found more online to tell you the truth. And. i also noticed how little agents represent fantasy writers, yet look how many fantasy books there are in a book shop.... quite alot. So, i have decided to work on my stories in the up coming break and see if i can get them published, with or without payment. The CV part is kind of nerve racking.... when you are looking for an agent that is, so i want to start building up my writers CV now! wish me luck!

Good luck Timna! Write like there's no tomorrow and do your best to get it all pubished! Sounds like a plan.

Our biggest week at work ever this week. I work at Sussan so the week before Mothers Day is nuts! Everyone buying pjs and gowns for Mum. So I am rather exhausted. Still not quite over my cold too and it has all added up to not much time for writing.

But sat in front of laptop last night and came up with zillions of ideas for my 'Dreaming' story. Jeb and Jessa are tugging at my fingertips, showing me the landscapes they travel through and revealing character traits and feelings I had not known about them before. All good!

1000 words on Dreaming last night. Yay! Lots of ideas. But I think since it has come in spurts my 'voice' has changed and its a worry. Began quite tongue in cheek and now more serious.

Maybe 'voice' is something we could discuss in an upcoming Sunday Night chat.

Alyson, maybe your 'voice' has matured with all the writing you've been doing lately. Which do you prefer? The tongue in cheek version of Dreaming or the serious? If it's the more serious version you can always re-rewright the first bit later on. All I can say is "YAY! ALYSON!" because you keep writing no matter what.

I have looked at the writers groups in Toowoomba, Louise. One is on at a really inconvenient time, right when the kids come home from school through to dinner time...bad timing for me.
The other from what I've heard is not my sort of writing. But thanks anyway for thinking of me. I admit I would like more support from people I can actually sit with and have coffee and cake, but your Musers group is great. It fills the void for me and that's been wonderful.

Am getting close to 50,000 words now in my book so I am very excited and pleased.

deb

Deb, I like the 'tongue in cheek' Dreaming actually. That's what grabbed me about the idea in the first place - I wrote the first page about 7 years ago - gosh I didn't realise it was that long ago - and picked it up again when I met up with you guys.

I think it is the first evidence I have had that my to and fro from book to book isn't the best way to write. Mmmm... I'll keep going as the story unfolds it will find its own voice.

Maybe that's the best idea, Alyson. A story writes itself and I am sure it will evolve as it was meant to. That is the beauty of writing, the stories are like magic with a life of their own and characters that evolve as we do.

Sorry I've missed so much of this thread. But it sounds like everyone is still enthused

Timna, the CV is important, particularly when you're young. You need to prove that you're seriously committed to writing before a publisher (or perhaps even an agent) will take you on. And of course you need a finished book to sell. Published short stories are a good way to show you are at publication standard, otherwise why would a busy editor take the time to look at your book. I agree, write heaps and try to get as much published as you can, payment or not.

Alyson, I find that the tone of how I write changes sometimes with my moods or the scene I'm writing. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But I agree with Deb, you just suss that stuff out in the editing phase, not while you're writing first draft. Just enjoy the ride to the end of the story and worry about the details later.

Deb, I'm so pleased that our group fills the void. I know some writing organisations offer a mentorship program - like Romance Writers of Australia's Isolated Writer's Scheme which is for people who live in areas where there's no romance writing group for them to attend. I used to mentor before I got so busy. But alas there's no national organisation for sf writers, let alone a scheme to mentor isolated fantasy writers.

There have been a couple of attempts to start a national sf organisation, but from what I've heard they couldn't get past deciding on a name - too many egos in the room. A cynical romance writing friend of mine said, "That's what you get when you let men into the discussion" and I had to laugh. But RWA is all women and they do just seem to get on with the job, so maybe there was a grain of truth in what she said

Not sure if I've mentioned already but I've received an extension to hand in book three, so I'll be doing that at the end of August, which is great. Plenty of time to finish in draft and have a couple of months for editing. I handed book two in at the end of August last year so it looks like I do need 12 months to write a book. I was hoping I'd get it done by June, but it just wasn't happening quickly enough. My publishers were fine with the extension though, so no probs there.

Thanks for the advice guys. I know you can think yourself into a hole if not careful and all you need is that little reiteration - just write, don't self edit.

Yay!

So will continue as I am and see what the story wants to say...

I can't belive you're almost at 50,000 words Deb! That is amazing. You have to give yourself a treat when you reach that point!

I am happy you are still going to push on with your Dreaming story, Alyson. Just write it with passion and edit with reason later on when you are finished. Or so the quote says.
I am happy I am almost at 50,000 words too, I would have passed it by now but deleted about 3,000 words a few days ago and it set me back on the word count. Just one of those wrong chapters you seem to get that lead no where.
I am going to get myself a treat today...firstly I intend getting Kim Wilkin's book, then I am going to buy a caramel and macadamia muffin. Then I will read and munch while having a coffee. HEE!

deb

Deb, I laughed when I read about your wrong chapter that wasn't going anywhere - hope that doesn't sound cruel. But the number of times I have done that myself! I guess you get that when you write by the seat of your pants. It might encourage you to know that now it doesn't happen to me anywhere near as often as it used to. Not that I think I'm any cleverer, just that the volume of writing I've done seems to have honed my instincts so I have a clearer idea of which way to go forward.

Alyson, glad you've decided to forge ahead. That misery-bags Mr Doubt creeps in wherever he can, so you're doing the sensible thing ignoring him and moving on. Besides, you might find another completely different tone/style creeping in further on, a better one perhaps, so why change things now? You might have one 'voice' for romance novels and quite a different one for fantasy.

I might have mentioned that my 'voice' when I first wrote Destiny was quite Shakespearean (or at least my version of Shakespeare) and it needed to be edited down to make it more 'accessible' to readers. I so pleased with the finished product, but it took me a while to get into book two because I didn't have that instinctive feel for the narrative as I'd had with the first book. Now I'm fine with it and feel like I've reached a happy medium. So really, don't worry too much. If you get your heart set on something you might need to change it anyway

That amazes me that you had to change from 'Shakespearean' to what Destiny became. Finished rereading it (and loving it all over again) and it feels so natural and fresh and unforced. And considering it was edited quite a bit from first draft that is wonderful. Sigh...

Oh yes, editing is a wonderful thing. It will be great when I get to the point of being able to see a lot of these things myself, but I think that no matter how accomplished a writer I become, I'll still want an editor to look at my work. I'm astonished when I hear about important writers getting a clause in their contract that says 'no editing'. I mean, you don't have to accept the editor's point of view, but I think it doesn't hurt to get it in the first place.

I guess we're all individuals!

I think editors have a place in every authors' book writing process.
We are not perfect. We make mistakes - often by the bucket load - we can overlook things because we are so close to the work we cannot see them.
Editors can clean up a paragraph that's clumsy and make it snappy and improve the whole thing. I think authors who say 'no editing' are digging a hole for their work.
There should be a good repore between the author and the editor. They should both agree on the essence of the story and the characters so they work together like a flower and a bee. With co-operation you get honey. Though if you have one or the other being cocky arrogant and pushy then you get stung instead!

deb

Finally cracked the 50 k word mark!! I'm dancing! I'm dancing!

Last night when I turned off my laptop I was up to 51,500 and something. What a grand land mark to pass.

deb

I re read one of my old stories yesterday and i must say I was surprised I wrote it! I had to double check if I had! Is that a good or bad thing? Or am i sounding modest!
The trick to editing that final is to leave the story along and look on with fresh eyes.... I did that, a year later, and that was my shock!

You have just too much to celebrate this week Deb! I am so proud of you breaking the 50,000 word mark. That is such a great accomplishment. And just think at the beginning of the Project Muse project (hee!) you had only just started. Big cheers and uproarious rounds of applause for clever Deb!

And Timna that is wonderful to hear that you loved your story. It is such a thrill when that happens. When you find yourself laughing at your own jokes, falling in love with your own heroes, getting a tear in the eye when tragedy strikes in your own story. Don't be modest! Revel in it!

You have just too much to celebrate this week Deb! I am so proud of you breaking the 50,000 word mark. That is such a great accomplishment. And just think at the beginning of the Project Muse project (hee!) you had only just started. Big cheers and uproarious rounds of applause for clever Deb!

And Timna that is wonderful to hear that you loved your story. It is such a thrill when that happens. When you find yourself laughing at your own jokes, falling in love with your own heroes, getting a tear in the eye when tragedy strikes in your own story. Don't be modest! Revel in it!

I sat down and wrote for the first good session in a while (finally over my head cold! and it made such a difference). Wrote 2500 words on my next romance then over 1000 on my Dreaming story. Felt great!

Everyone has great things happening. That's fabulous.
Deb, big congratulations on passing 50K. Although it's not necessarily the half-way mark, I think of 50K as that because the first section is always the hardest to write, particularly on a new trilogy. It will be all downhill from here. I'm so thrilled for you, and can't wait until you're telling us you're finished.

Timna, I agree with the 'fresh eyes' for editing. Alas when you have to write a book a year, you don't get as much time to set it aside, but while you're not contracted I think the longer you can wait before editing the better. So thrilled for you that you were surprised by your story. I'm assuming you were surprised in a good way - or were you saying that your writing is so much better now you didn't recognise your old work?

Alyson, so pleased to hear that you're getting over your flu. There are some ugly bugs about at present. My mum is very unwell so I can quite sympathise. It's so hard even to do the basics, let alone have the concentration to write, so I'm pleased you're past it and able to get back into your stories. I really admire the way you can do two things at once. That's a great skill, so don't ever think you're 'doing it wrong' because you write that way. So long as you finish it doesn't matter how you get there! And how wonderful to be able to jump from one to the other when you get an inspiration. Alas I find that my mind work in chronological order. I've tried, but I only seem to be able to write one story at a time and even that has to be as the story unfolds. No jumping ahead to do the exciting bits. Still, as I said, whatever works is the way to do it.

Well, i did mean the good side of looking at my work with fresh eyes. It was surprising that i could write it... but i guess thats the best thing about writing huh!

Sent off my registation to go to the Romance Writers Conference in August. This year its in Melbourne so I think I am meant to go. A little nervous as I will not know a soul but its one of those jump into the deep end and do it things. Isolde Martyn will be there (wrote The Lady and the Unicorn a romantic fantasy and a really lovely book) as well as an editor from M&B in London so I figure it can only be a good thing.

Timna, so pleased you were happy about it. That's what I thought you meant. It is lovely to look at your work a while down that track and think "Aren't I clever."

Alyson, so pleased that you're going to the RWA conference. Still not sure if I am, but if you do feel that you'd like an 'in' to break the ice, why don't you contact the conference organiser (who is a melbourne member) and ask if there's any way you could help out. They're always looking for volunteers to help with things beforehand and that weekend. And that way you'd get to meet more people and be part of the action. Alas volunteers don't get a discount (unlike QWC) but you get to meet a lot more people and it's a lot more fun. Just a suggestion.

Well, I had a great writing day today. Did 2000 words and really loved them! I've been slowing down lately (few family things to attend to) and that's been worrying me a bit, but today's effort really cheered me up. Must be Deb's birthday inspiring me!

I sent word to RWA I would like to volunteer a couple of weeks ago so hopefully I can be of some use!

Glad to hear about your 2000 wonderful words!

I hope things in your family settle down, Louise. I know how ups and downs in a family can cast shadows on creative endevours. Still, 2000 good words is great to hear. It is heaps better than no words! HEE!

Had a major overhaul of the bones of my plot on the weekend. Things that did not gel or seem credible needed smoothing out. So I went over it and over it in my head trying to make it flow and gel. I think I have made the plot stronger by reflecting on the shortfalls.
And don't worry it was not to the detrement of the story in general, nor did it really set my word count back. I will have to do a few tweaks and twists now to make this revised plot work with what I have already written.
I don't look forward to sifting through my manuscript to do this though...I do not enjoy editing at all. But then again I don't like doing the washing and ironing either but I get it done.

Sounds like a great idea volunteering at the Romance festival, Alyson. Maybe it came to Melbourne because something will happen through your attending. Something great to help your own writing career.

Timna, so happy you are chuffed with a story you wrote ages ago. I am proud of you, because if you wrote that great back then, think how well you write now!

deb