Writing 1500 words and November round up

Huh. So even my long-suffering boyfriend thinks I've not been writing enough for the past couple of months. And he's right - I have absolutely no excuse.

I have been trying to write my story rather than my blog, but a rule is a rule - and 1500 a day is hard regardless of where I type it! This advice - 1500 a day regardless of quality - has been advice you will find anywhere on the internet, and I'm keen to get the creative juices flowing a bit more going forward. Certianly with no job for the 6th month, I'm beginning to look seriously at what options I have outside my engineering career. So, I thought I would throw together 1500 words or so on why 1500 words EVERY DAY is important, in the hopes of ensuring I'm not a hypocrite going forwards.

The first thing to do is break down the system a bit further. Words: you need approximately 40,000 to 200,000 in a book (scary!). Say for ease of calculation, we (the royal we) want to write a 50,000 word novel (that's how many words National Novel Writer's Month uses as their benchmark, and we want to write that book in a 30 day period (as required for NaNoWriMo), we would need to write 1666.7 words per day. huh. that's pretty close to the 1500 we are talking about. BUT, and here's the trick - those 1500 odd words per day only add up to a 50,000 word masterpiece in a month IF the next 1500 odd is written the next day, and the day after, and the day after that...

Jeff Olsen, in one of my favourite books on this subject, The Slight Edge, discusses the power of small disciplines that when repeated daily over a lifetime make big changes. Olsen says it best: "you will achieve those aims, goals and dreams by doing simple things" but, as Olsen emphasises for the 168 pages of his book, you will only achieve those aims, goals and dreams by doing those simple things every day. "There is a cost to waiting." This applies to every element of our lives: it applies to our health: the cumulative effect of eating healthy and excercising daily isn't seen in a week, it's not seen in a month (well, not much) its seen in the years, and the long term freedom from chronic disease.   It applies to studying a new language, to personal development of any kind, and what's interesting in these daily disciplines, the earlier the discipline starts, the better the outcome cumulatively. In fact, it even applies to the ridiculous 6000 piece puzzle on my dining room table - mind you, at one piece per day we will still be in Thailand in 2028.

It applies to our finances - the cumulative effect of saving $100 a week is not seen in a month, or a year, but in the interest/income from investing that $100 every day for years. Money is the most obvious measuring stick for cumulative benefit, we all know the benefit that compounding interest can provide - it can only provide that benefit if the money is being compounded, not spent! ( I struggle with this a bit, more so now that I don't have a job, that nest egg looks mighty tempting).

So, what? how does this affect our hypothetical novel?

well, number 1, not matter how much my writing sucks (and believe me, I'm under no illusions!) it HAS to improve if every day I'm challenged to create something. Although it is REALLY hard to get to 1500 words at the moment, and likely it will be harder and more annoying tomorrow,  everything is a skill, and anything that's practiced gets easier. I mean, seriously, NO-ONE had a blog 20 years ago, now people make their living from this. It's only 10,000 hours to mastery; just ask Malcom Gladwell (Check out Outliers for some spectatcular examples of the 10,000 hours rule)
Benefit 2: even just getting 1500 words into the interweb's anonymous ether may impact someone. Sometimes authors do google themselves, if I've posted something respectful - and I do try to be respectful, hopefully that gives the author a warm fuzzy. The exceptions to being nice and respectful are if I'm ranting abour poorly edited manuscripts or stories that have waaay more noteriety than I can provide (*cough Twilight, 50 shades cough*). They might also randomly point a passing blog reviewer to a really cool series of books they haven't read, and that would be useful.
Benefit 3: 1500 words of dross can be cleaned up, polished,  moved, re-written, re-imagined,  and of course deleted, if the 1500 words aren't written, the only thing that can be done with them is... nothing.

my goodness, I'm only at 800 words...

So, what has passed the Lounge Basilisk's Kindle since October?

Janet Evanovich released Notorious Nineteen. Man alive, with every book I'm cheering more and more for Ranger. I'm not sure that was the outcome we were meant to have after 19 books, but as the Evanovich's pioneered "Team Morelli" and "Team Ranger" t-shirts and baseball caps before twi-hards ever went there, I guess Janet and Alex Evanovich know EXACTLY what they are doing making all our hearts flutter at Ranger's bad guy charisma.

My classic choice for the month was James Herriot's series All Creatures Great and Small. I'm not sure if my very limited background in vet science has made these books funnier or if its just a result of "getting" more of the jokes these days, but I was in hysterics. Like seriously, laughing non-stop. These books just capture the incredible characters of the 1930's farming community the books are set in, and the great irony with which Herriot delivers the outcomes of those more self-depreceating tales is just brilliant. I've linked you to the omnibus edition of the first 3 tales.

My re-read for the month was the Kate Daniels series from Ilona Andrews (Start with Magic Bites). Kate Daniels, in the vein of two of my favourite heroines Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs) and Alexia Tarabotti (Gail Carriger) is a hapless slave to her overly witty tongue. The chemistry between Kate and Curran is magic, and the careful line that these ladies have to dance between staying independant and doing the right thing in the face of overly alpha love interests always makes for interesting dialogue. While Mercy Thompson plays the dominance game better, and Alexia Tarabotti relies on social conventions to ensure she is not ripped limb from limb, Kate Daniels relies on her sword, and the undeniable fact that at every juncture she is straddling that line between duty, love, family and secrets the only way she can. Often the only reason she's not itty bitty bits of cat kibble is the fact that its obvious to the other players around her that without her, they are in way deeper trouble than she's getting them into. She's actually a very interesting character study - her entire life is devoted to ensuring that her lineage is not discovered, but she constantly has to chose between her safety and the safety of the people who trust and rely on her. Sometimes the Andrews' are a bit flip with her tough decisions, but the reader knows that it's Kate's character shining through; as far as she's concerned she has no other choice.

What else? I did get around to reading the latest JR Ward book, Rapture. Once I got past the first 5 pages I enjoyed this story almost as much as the previous offerings from Ward, which made me feel better, I was really not stoked at the start. This is a highly developed universe, and the overall plot is thickening, which is good. Matthias will never be my favourite hero in urban fantasy, sorry.

Allie Condie chose an interesting solution to her tale of over-zealous governments and young love in Reached (Book 3 of the Matched trilogy). I really enjoyed these books. While maybe not as tight as The Huger Games trilogy, from the perspective of offering a high school audience a specific moral, there was a lot more depth in the character choices and the twisting turns of the manipulative government. The emphasis that Condie places on history and culture, even in the face of surviving a revolution, is a powerful thing, and it reads powerfully as well.

I think that about brings me up to date, and if I'm under 1500 words, you'll have to forgive me!

huh, 1386, better than nothing right??

Greetings from our new location.

What an insane 6 months...
Right after posting my new years resolution, my professional life took a turn for the busier, so, once again this little project fell to the bottom of the heap.
And then we moved. Internationally.
:-)
Of course, since the 13th of July, I have nothing to blame my laziness on but laziness as I have been benched from the J.O.B. situation until after October, when wedding-fever stops...

So, what have I been doing since I arrived at our new tropical locale?
mostly... reading trashy vampire and cowboy fiction... nom nom nom...

must stop doing that...

But seriously - have I read anything halfway decent since my last post??? (goes to check out her kindle list)

Ohh ohh!! Yes, OK here we go:

Kelly Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld and the Gathering YA books) released a series of short stories and the next YA book The Calling in the past 6 months in the lead up to the final Women of the Otherworld tale: Thirteen. And can we all say "Yay!" I really have enjoyed the WotO series, I loved the jumping narrator (once I got over it... I, like all the other fans the world over, didn't love Paige to start...) and the way that everything tied up in the final book was very JK.Rowling-esque... you know... the dropping hints for books and books before hand, and leaving all the very clever solutions right under her unsuspecting readers noses...
I'm sure we will see more of the universe, as I'm pretty sure there is at least another Darkness Rising book due sometime next year, which is fabulous.

Another Basilisk's Loungeroom regular, Lindsay Buroker, made a re-appearance on the reading lists with a new "Emporer's Edge" novel - Conspiracy - AND a new "Flash Gold" tale - Peacemaker. I think Buroker is still self-publishing, which means that it's extra important to check out the Yukon/steampunk joys of the Flashgold series, and the alternate-reality/steampunk/thriller of The Emporer's Edge series

Janet Evanovich released Wicked Business and once again the Evanovich family proved that they "get" the opportunities that the E-Book provides them with - the book is fully integrated with a foot-notes style section full of photos and witty comments of the area that the book is based in. For an Australian reading this book, the photos were brilliant! I have very little contextual understanding of the East-Coast of America, so it was brilliant to have my imagination so ably assisted. (Which of course, Evanovich is more than capable of doing without the photos, but it's fun). Evanovich's next installment for Stephanie Plum is  Notorious Nineteen; due out in November this year, will definitely require me to spend a night not sleeping.

I picked up two short stories from Gail Carriger and the latest in the Parasol Protectorate series: Timeless. I have raved about Gail Carriger's wit previously, so I won't go into a lot of detail, but to say that this tale is VERY well wrapped up. I don't know if Carriger is planning on writing any more Parasol Protectorate novels, there is definitely scope, but for once, I walked away thinking - "huh, that made a lot of sense, and I'm pleased with the resolution." of course, I'd campaign like anything to keep seeing stories from my favourite parasol toting heroine.

I went back and read all of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha/Omega tales, which I'm sure I have mentioned as a favourite of mine. Mercy's under-dog (or should I say under-coyote?) philosophy on life is hilarious, and the tales are always gripping and graphic enough that you can't put them down. Even on the second and third read, these books surprised. I have to admit to not having read Briggs' older creations, I think its a function of judging the e-book by it's cover... I will get to them eventually and I'm sure I will enjoy them immensely.

A couple from Molly Harper - this time her Naked Werewolf series - these were a riot! Harper was one of the first League of Reluctant Adults authors I read, and I find her writing an enjoyable romp (this time in the snow if I recall correctly...)

And I'll finish with these; Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks Series. Go read them. I always get upset knowing that we aren't going to see any new worlds from Rardin. The Jaz Parks series epitomises the concept of Urban Fantasy to me: gritty, fabulous scenarios right under the eyes of the unsuspecting, modern-day public, in well-imagined locales around the US and the world.

OK - that was ridiculous. I will be better going forward I promise (now I sound like a politician.)

LB

January: A month of post-apocalyptic teenage love triangles

Can someone explain to me why the YA authors of the paranormal and fantasy world must have love triangles?!?
I'm sure I could explain it myself - we can all identify with the teenage angst of having to choose betwenee the hot new guy and our old best friend, it creates tension and drama (sometimes where there is no tension and drama otherwise!) it allows the heroine to be dashing and brave because she has two big burly men to get her out of trouble... ok, so I've answered the question.

Anyway, in a month of catching up with the books that I have been meaning to read, or reading those old books I bought during my purchasing overload in December, the teenage love triangle has been an overwhelming theme. And no... I didn't read Twilight.

One of the things I wanted to do this month was read the full Tortall series in chronological order (which of course is not the order they were written in!). I started out with the three Beka Cooper books from Tamora Pierce (who will feature heavily this month). Terrier, and Bloodhound I had read before, and I love the story wrapping around the familiar streets of Tortall, particularly as we get to see a tiny bit more of George and Eleni Cooper (more on George later). Questions about the origins of Tortall are answered, and many thought provoking questions are raised. I'm in awe of Tamora Pierce as a story weaver. in Terrier and Bloodhound, the (almost inevitable?) love triangle is between Beka Cooper, Rosto the Piper (the new Rogue in town), and her loyalty to the Provost's Dogs, more than to any other man, although, in keeping with Ms Pierce's mature treatment of the subject, a couple of young men do manage to charm smiles from our heroine. The tone changes in Mastiff, the final in the trilogy. Rosto barely has a look-in past an unmet (and apparently unpleasant) fiance, and the budding romance is set far away from Corus. I was blown away by the story telling in this novel - and the end was just spectacular for wrapping up one of arguably the most important questions of Tortall. but enough, I'm hero-worshipping!

I needed a break after the intensity of the Beka Cooper series, so off to Janet Evanovich I trotted. Generally, I read the new Stpehanie Plum novel the day it is released. For whatever reason, I didn't get around to it straight away, so I was in luck, not just Explosive Eighteen, but also Love in a nutshell (co-written with Dorien Kelly). Again with a love triangle (as an aside - TEAM RANGER!!!!) with One for the Money hitting the big screen this month (already released in the US, we're just waiting over here....) there is a lot of press about this series at the moment, and Janet doesn't need any more help from me! Go read.

Next was another round of Tortallan genius - the four Song of the Lioness books were Tamora Pierce's first published stories, and they set the benchmark for her story telling, and introduced us to Tortall. Telling the story of Alanna, the first female knight to grace the halls of the royal palace in some 200 years, we are introduced to a world where people can change the face of a nation, and, with a little divine guidance, make changes in a generation greater than those seen in our world in centuries. Each book in the series unleashes a tool that Alanna uses to further her story, and each insignificant meeting becomes something important. I can't tell you how many times I have read the first 3 books in this series (the censors at my school never bought the 4th - cruel!!)

I've only just started re-reading the Immortals collection from Tamora Pierce (the 3rd Tortall series in chronological order); but I will provide a little spoiler - the shape and general geniality of our Basilisk is taken directly from Tamora Pierce's interpretation of the myth - which I think is far more special than some of the other takes we have seen on the Basilisk in the last 15 years (sorry Ms Rowling!).

After the Song of the Lioness, I moved on to yet another series which has been on my "to-read" pile for a while. I don't know why, because when I finally got around to Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games I was blown away - what a story teller! And then what must happen, but thta I get side-tracked, reading god knows what, and then, this month I got back for Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Explosive. You can already see from the stills of the movie adaptation that this is bigger than Ben Hur. Just awesome. I was blown away. Although I have to admit that by the time I got to this series, I was ready to stab the 2nd guy in the love triangles just to stop the angst! Of course, the two boys provide a significant proportion of the tension in the story, so I couldn't really stab them, could I??

Then, just in case I had any patience left for YA fiction, I went and read the two latest novella offerings from Kelley Armstrong (can't wait for the new book!! and the Otherworld finale Thirteen in July!) the Darkest Powers Bonus Pack was great (as long as you don't mind love triangles!) telling some of the stories of the other people in the group home that Chloe (the Darkest Powers protagonist) finds herself in. Hidden, a holiday novella featuring Elena, everyone's favourite female werewolf was a real treat. I really admire Kelley Armstrong's first person style, and the humour she endows her characters with.

I also snuck in a YA steampunk sequel: Shelley Adina's Lady of Devices was a great read early last year, and Her Own Devices continues the tale. Adina keeps the story clean, but manages to make you adore the mix of upper-class snobbery and underworld desperation. if anything, the blend is getting even more pleasent as it matures. Her Own Devices grows on small incidents and opportunities in the first book, and we can expect even greater blooming in the series as it continues (I hope there is more!).

Without much thinking about the consequences I then rushed into Maria V Snyder's new YA books - Inside Out and Outside In. Again, a great YA tale, I really got into this, between Snyder and Collins, I don't think I slept much last month! these two stories stand separate from the Universe that Snyder introduced us to in Poison Study. Trella, a second class member of the Inside community is determined to figure out what the story is with the Outside once and for all. The results are far reaching and brilliantly conceived. To the extent that you can see how our civilisation could so easily be mirrored in this series, I found these stories even more gripping than the Study (the whole series can be purchased here) and Glass series - although those were also an adventure into well written YA fiction.

So that catches me up to this morning! I'm gonna go find something classical and dusty to read, just so I don't need to have angst about love triangles for a while... I'll start with Othello....

September is all but over...

So – yet another locale, and another post – this time, the Thayls somewhere between Paris and Brussels – and what a stunning evening it is! The sun is setting out the window and the visibility is gorgous. This week has been the best (driest and hottest!) we have had all summer, and it’ nearly the middle of autumn! Just stunning.

So anyway, what are we here for? Right, so still finding more and more Steampunk authors to fawn over – Lindsay Buroker continues to surprise and delight with her mix of fantasy and steampunk - not sure if I mentioned how impressed I was with The Emperor's Edge? I know I should have, but my laziness knows no bounds. I'm really enjoying the mixture in this author's writing - especially the Emporer's edge series and supporting novellas: really fantastically imagined world, heavy, bordering on gruesome imagery, and really fun heroines. Why can't I write sassy heroines like all you guys do!?! Sorry, I'll stop gushing. I recently finished Flash Gold which was the first of a new series aimed more at a yukon steampunk world than the fantastic word of the Emperors Edge series, which further goes to show Buroker's flexibility. This project again finds our heroine, a gal who is good with her hands (a mechanic, you dirty minded perv!) with a tall dark and handsome stranger who she can't trust - *sigh* can we ever trust the tall dark and handsome men of the world? In the rough and ready world of the dog-sled racing pioneers, our mechanical genius needs to race against the competitors, and a harem of assassins who are just dying to score some extremely powerful loot...

I notice there is another one out now, bless all the prolific authors in the world! if only because I admire Buroker's attitude towards publishing and the excellence, I would recommend it, but I have genuinely enjoyed reading all the stories, and while I'm sure an editor and publisher might smooth out the lines and ask the difficult questions on occasion (there are times I wish I could!) I think what Lindsay Buroker is doing is applaudable, not just the quality of the works, but also the methodology of the execution.

After My Buroker fest, Zoe Archer has been a great way to maintain some of the joy of steampunk, her Blades of the Rose quartet are fantastic escapism, and while a bit too much time is spent between the bedcovers (or behind trees, in enchanted streams, sail boat cabins, etc etc) for me to be able to call them literature, Archer's variety in location, the depth of the character and story development and the width of the mythology described has me hooked. Although her world building is not always consistent (it does my head in when her characters talk in today's parlance - which they do regularly), Archer's story telling is enjoyable and I can't fault her stunning descriptions of times and places. I'm looking forward to finishing the final installation in this series.

So what else has the Basilisk had a bookmark in lately?

Cameron Chapman's Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris (The Steam & Steel Chronicles); man can I say I was shocked and awed by the conclusion of this novella - I dig it. I admire it, and I hope that the consistency is maintained, should there be more chronicles, as it's a brave brave author that does it.

JR Rain's Vampire for Hire series - I got through Moon Dance and Vampire Moon, and really enjoyed them, not sure I'm going to keep reading though - Samantha Moon is a pretty desperate queen of the night, her struggles to be a mom and carry on her evening existence is kinda heart-wrenching to read. I see great potential for the series, which is 4 novels and several novellas strong, I'm just not sure I want to witness the suffering, sorry!

The latest from Kelley Armstrong - Spell Bound yay! we love Savannah!!

Smoking 17 from Janet Evanovich - and may I say, how exciting is it going to be to have Katherine Heigl playing Stephanie Plum in One for the Money - she could not be cast better.

So, that's it from me, nearly back in Rotterdam, from whence I trek back to Zoetermeer... yay!

LB