Occupado...

I just want to take a moment to welcome my newest followers!

You are all my friends <3

*big wave* Hi friends!

I must apologize for my lack of posting lately, because I've been meaning to finish a MS since before we moved (beginning of this month) and only now am I within reach of finishing!

I feel really bad about this, because usually I'm a VERY fast reader, and I'm not sure what's taking me so long on this one... (so sorry, CP :-( ... you know who you are <3 )

On a more random note, even though my finished MS needs a lot of work, I've decided to enter it into a contest in a couple of weeks. Contests are just fun, so we'll see what happens with that.

In the meantime, I'll keep you informed on the status of my new WIP, which STILL doesn't have a title... I guess it has a working-title, but I don't want that to be the FINAL title because it gives the wrong idea... now I'm rambling.

Anyway, thanks to all for being here! I'll be back in a few days with some fun stuff :-)

-DC

Outlining: How I'm Doing It

Well, my fantastic followers, I took some time the other day to outline my next book. This is how I have to work... logically. I can't expand upon a story line I'm unfamiliar with.

JK Rowling's Plot Outline for Order of the Phoenix

This time around, I began with THIS SYSTEM, by Dan Wells (@TheDanWells) which begins much like Rowling's here ---->

Basically, I went through each main character and wrote out their story arc. Where I wanted them to be (emotionally, personality-wise, physically, etc.) at the beginning and end. Then I add the things (events, choices, interactions) that caused those major changes to take place. 

Once I knew all that, I weaved them all together in an excel doc, moving things around to make it flow. THEN I began writing it out in more detail, chapter by chapter, or scene by scene. Again, moving events around so everything made sense. 

So, I wrote out my entire story in five pages (about 3,000 words)! Then I sent it to a couple of CP's for their thoughts. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from them. But my fingers are itching to start writing! I keep having random scenes start playing out in my mind, and I'm afraid I'll forget them if I don't type them out completely.

My biggest problem now is that I don't have a setting... or even a working title... Those need to be fixed, but we'll talk about those processes later...

Do you outline? If not, seriously, HOW do you do it? I don't think I'd be able to... even if I tried...

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

-DC

So... A Few Things...

First off, I apologize for having been absent so far this week. I've been teaching piano, playing with friends, setting up and organizing the house, doing laundry and dishes, picking rotten grapefruit, planting a garden, going swimming, AND editing a MS for my CP Lauren...

So, I haven't had time to blog... or be on Twitter... or Facebook... or much of anything, really.

As for the pregnancy, I'll hit 30 weeks on Saturday! I'l finally allowing myself to feel like I'm "halfway" now. Monkey went past his due date, so I'm assuming this one will too. Sometime in the first half of September is when he'll come, and he'll come when he's ready.

As for my current WIP (which you were all so kind to read and say sweet things about the other day!), I've been brainstorming with my favorite CP, Turner (the hubby) who has an incredible ability to spot inconsistencies and character defects before anything is even written. He's been invaluable in this stage, as I'm discovering who these characters are and how the plot will play out. I really feel like he's helping me see the depth of each character's personality and motivations. I didn't have that in my first MS, and I feel so much more confident this time around. I can't wait to really start writing it.

So how have YOU been?

Working on anything special? New? Exciting? Tell me about it!

Thanks for sticking around guys, especially while I'm so flippin' busy. See ya later!

-DC

Meeting Leigh Ann!

I just got to spend two hours with someone I never really thought I'd get to meet.

Remember yesterdays post, about how my Twitter friend Leigh Ann Kopans got an agent? Well guess what? I found out this morning that she'd come to Arizona, and I just about flipped out. 

I made arrangements to get a babysitter and a car so I could go pick her up and hang out, and before I made it she was able to get her rental car and came to MY HOUSE!

AND, guys, she brought pizza. 

It was so awesome to just get to sit and chat, uninhibited by 140-character-limits, about life, and family, and kids, and religion, and especially writing. And of course, over the conversation we uncovered some interesting thoughts and decided we needed to VLOG about it.

The importance of a writing community is often overlooked, but that's what we kind of kept coming back to during our conversations. So here we are, Leigh Ann and I (eeeee!!!) talking about that very subject. Enjoy :-D

(I hope it's good quality... geez, and youtube just had to pick an awkward freeze frame, huh?)

Thanks Leigh Ann! I had a blast, and I'm so glad I got to meet you! Thank you for being so freakin' awesome!

-DC

It DOES Happen!

I want to take a moment today to congratulate the beautiful Leigh Ann Kopans.

I've been following her on Twitter and Blogger for a number of months now. I watched as she "finished" her manuscript, ONE and jumped into the query trenches (a place I have yet to be, and don't think I'm quite ready for).

I watched as she received rejections not only from queries, but from requests, be they partials or fulls. I watched as she had a freakin' BABY (a cute baby, I might add) in the middle of all this insanity.

I watched her enter ONE into contests and I saw her talk to her Critique Partners on Twitter about things that could make ONE even better than it already was.

I saw her feeling down a couple times, and ask if it was worth it.

Then I saw her keep writing.

I saw her make more revisions, even after most (if not all, I think) of the agents on her list had been queried. She re-vamped, she tweaked, she re-wrote, all with the help of some incredible CP's and beta readers.

I was literally JUST telling my husband two days ago how I was thinking of asking Leigh Ann if I could read ONE for her. I'd heard so much and was seriously intrigued - I wanted to read it. Then I wake up this morning to her post called:

It Takes a Village To Raise a Writer (Or: Agented!)

At first I wondered if one of her CP's had been signed (she's amazing about supporting other writers, myself included) but as I read on it became clear. I got tears in my eyes and a knot in my chest -


Leigh Ann has an agent!


This is the first time that someone I've been in personal contact with (not IN-person, but you know) has been signed. I... words aren't coming...

The energy and excitement level I feel for Leigh Ann is astounding. I am thrilled beyond belief to have known her during this process and to have seen her dedication to ONE as she JUST. KEPT. WRITING.

She and her Critique Partners have been inspirational to me over the last months. They are a supportive, tight-knit group who aren't afraid to be open and honest and ruthless with each other's works. They've shown me that it's a hard road I've chosen, but it's worth it.

Most of all, they've taught me to just keep writing.

So that's what I'll do.

Thanks Leigh Ann (and CP'S! It's a win for ALL of you!), and congratulations.
I couldn't be happier!

-DC

Now go over to Leigh Ann's blog and wish her luck on this newest leg of her writing journey!

New Project and an Excerpt

Happy Wednesday, dear readers!

I couldn't sleep last night... for reasons I won't go into.

So rather than lay in bed bored out of my mind, I decided to come work on something. And I'm rather happy with the outcome. This will probably be chapter one of an as-yet-untitled fantasy story... it's kind of a fairy tale retelling, but not really. Just inspired by the idea of one, is more like it. This pic is how I picture Alexander... in a tunic/jerkin/trousers combo rather than a cravat. Let me know what you think!

Nearing three hours past midnight, Alexander sat up in bed. He knew the guards outside his door would change soon, and that was what he'd been waiting for. 

Without a sound, he slipped from beneath the thick coverings of his four-poster bed. He parted the hangings to get used to the faint light given off by the half-moon. On silent feet, he walked to his wardrobe and quietly dressed. He strapped on his sword that he’d taken from the armory the previous day, as well as two small daggers. From behind his hanging tunics he drew a large satchel. He held it for a moment, remembering when he’d packed it two weeks ago. It held his sturdiest clothing, flint and steel, and a note he’d written for his parents. He pulled this out and re-read it to be sure he’d said all he wanted to. 

Footsteps outside his door alerted him to the changing of his guard. He hastily put on his sturdy boots and cloak, before making sure to leave the note on a table near the fireplace. Turning to the window, his knee hit another table and he cursed. 

“Your highness?” came a voice from the corridor. “Are you alright?” 

Alexander sighed. Trying to make himself sound sleepy, he said, “Yes, I… I’m fine. Just a bad, er… bad dream?” 

He cringed. He knew he was a bad liar. 

“Do you require assistance?” a guard asked. 

“No, thank you though.” He yawned dramatically. “I’ll be going back to sleep now.” 

“Very well, goodnight Sire.” 

Alexander let his shoulders slump. He looked down at the offending table and rolled his eyes. 

Moving with more care now, he returned to his bed and removed from beneath it a sturdy rope. He’d been hiding it there for months, just waiting for this opportunity. He sighed again at his foolishness for nearly ruining his chance. 

He tied one end of the rope to the decorative iron built into the hearth. Though he had before, he tested his weight to be sure it would hold him. Satisfied, he threw the rest of the rope out the north-west window of his room that faced away from the rest of the castle and city. He looked down to double check the length, and saw that it reached the ground four stories below. He smiled to himself that his plan was working so well. 

“I’m going with you.” 

Alexander jumped slightly at the familiar quiet voice. He leaned back inside and looked down. 

His brown and black striped cat had spoken to him, as he often did. 

“Channer, we’ve discussed this already,” Alexander whispered. “We decided you need to stay.” 

Channer jumped onto the window ledge and sat. “You decided. I agreed to nothing. Therefore, I’m coming with you.” 

Alexander sighed. There was no arguing with a determined cat – especially one who regularly sharpened his claws. 

“Alright, but in the pack for the climb, and if you can’t keep up you’re on your own.” 

“Please, human,” Channer scoffed. “I was born to live in the outdoors. It’s you I’m worried about.” 

“Oh, just get in the bag,” Alexander hissed, holding it open. 

Channer slinked into the leather and curled up next to one of the tunics. Alexander listened for the guards outside and heard them chatting about the most recent addition to the household staff. Convinced they were occupied he swung himself out of the window and began his descent. 

Avoiding other windows as much as possible, he finally made it to the ground. He looked around and began walking west, making sure he wasn’t being watched. 

“Can I come out of here?” Channer whined. 

Alexander paused to open the bag and said, “No, we’re not out yet. Now hush.” 

He crept, staying close to the castle’s granite exterior. Finally, he reached a sewage gutter, and followed it to the city’s outer wall. The drain flowed through a small grate in the thick fortification. Hanging next to it was another rope, held by a hook from the top of the wall. Alexander smiled. After making sure no guards were in sight, he climbed. 

At the top, he carefully moved the hook and rope to the outside edge and climbed down. Once on solid ground he heard a whinny. He turned to see his horse and man-servant hiding in the trees a hundred yards away. He pulled up his cloak hood and ran to them. 

“Thank you, Ed,” Alexander said, huffing from his exertion. 

“My pleasure, sir,” he replied. 

“Now, I order you to tell my parents that I forced you to help me escape. You feared for your life and mine, and tried to dissuade me every step of the way; is that clear?” 

Ed raised an eyebrow at this. Then one side of his mouth curved upward and he bowed saying, “Yes, your highness.” 

Alexander smiled as he let Channer out of the bag and emptied the satchel’s contents into the horse’s saddle pack.

“Food for two weeks in there,” Ed told him, pointing at the pack. “That’s all I could manage, but it should get you to the coast if you’re careful.” 

The prince nodded, refusing to give the information he knew Ed was fishing for. Feeling a knot of excitement in his chest, he turned to Ed and extended a hand. 

“Perhaps we shall meet again?” 

“Perhaps,” Ed said, and shook the prince’s hand with a grin. “I still don’t know why you won’t marry the Vanden girl, but I guess I’m not the prince.” He shrugged. 

Alexander fought back a smile and said, “You’d understand if you were in my place, I promise.” 

Ed shrugged, then simply said, “Perhaps.” 

They both laughed quietly, and Alexander mounted his horse, and Channer hopped up to sit behind him. Ed approached once more and said, “Listen, Lex. I don’t know where you’re going, and I don’t presume to ask. You just be careful, alright?” 

Alexander smiled confidently, as a prince should, and said, "Of course I will be." Then his insides began to squirm at his next lie: "I always am.” With this he dug his heels into the charger’s sides, and rode into the forest.

Thoughts? Happy Wednesday ;-)

-DC

Awards Ceremony

So I watched part of the Tony awards last night. As I watched, I thought it would be so fun to throw a "Tony Party" someday. You know, have everyone dress up all fancy and all watch the awards together as though we were there in the audience. I think it'd be super fun! And honestly, the Tony's are the ones I'd really want to do it for because stage people are so much more *real* to me than TV or movie or popular music people.

via

Then I got to thinking... why isn't there a big to-do for writers?

I mean, I'm aware that writers receive awards for their books. And it probably happens at some kind of ceremony somewhere, but... I want people to start treating books the way they do movies. Give an award for "Best Written Female Character in a Fiction novel" and let the Author accept it. Of course it'd be only for newly-released books from the previous year, unless you're giving a special award (for something like, say, Harry Potter, for being on the top-seller list for x-number of years or something...)

I realize that writers don't get into writing because of the glamour... let's face it, writing doesn't have much glamour attached to it, period.

But how fun would it be to sit at home and watch your favorite new author receive an award for "Best Mystery" or "Best Historical Re-telling" or something?

I'd love to watch THAT award show. AND they'd end on time every time, because they could tell the authors to limit speeches to 500 words :-)

Who's with me?

-DC

Holy Burn-out, Batman!

Happy Friday friends!

Has it really been a whole work-week since my video? I feel like I've gotten nothing done, which is not really true. I've been super-mom this week, just not super-blogger-writer-mom. I've done some unpacking, and kept the house clean-ish, and tried to be consistent about disciplining my two-year-old, and I think I've finally figured out a way to get him to nap consistently in his new room. That's a lot.

I want to talk to you today about something that's been weighing on me a little. See, I've been working on THE SIGHT for over a year now, and I still don't feel like it's where I want it to be. I thought I had it pretty close this last time, but after sending it to some new eyes (some very smart and insightful new eyes) I realized just how far I have to go.

So I've decided to put it down for a little while and work on something else. I really wanted to start querying THE SIGHT this summer, but it's going to take a while longer before it's ready. Sad, but true.

All in all, I just feel like I need a break from it. I need to write something completely different for a few weeks, do some reading and editing, and then I think I'll be able to jump back in with a clear head.

Have you ever gone through a phase like this? I really love revising, and getting feedback, but I've been at it for so long it's just starting to take it's toll.


What do you do when you feel burnt-out on a project?

I'd love your thoughts, maybe they'll help boost me back into revision-mode :-)

Have a great weekend!

-DC


P.S. A big shout-out today to Todd Chapman and Marieke Nijkamp for your awesome thoughts on my book these last couple of weeks. I know the changes will make it stronger, I just have to work myself up to basically an entire re-write of at least the first half, if not more!

Hallelujah! We're Moved!

Wow! I don't even remember the last time I posted... last week sometime?

Anyway, we moved! Yaaaayyyy! Our new place is absolutely amazing. I'm SO excited to be here, I can't even put it into words...

Well, maybe I can a little.

For your viewing pleasure, I have made a video of our new fantastic apartment. I hope you enjoy!

* try not to be jealous *

:-D

Forgot to mention, I want to find a cool clay-cauldron-like thingy to put some floo powder in for the Harry Potter Fireplace... I think that'd be so cool.

Hope you enjoyed! Now, I have a TON of editing and critiquing and reading to get done, along with keeping up our new place and unpacking everything. So I may not be around much this week either. I hope you'll forgive me.

Have a great week friends!

-DC