Monday, June 30, 2014

Trudging Forward

I cannot believe it has been a week since my last post!  I have finished through chapter 11 and I am maybe a third of the way through 12.  It seems like no matter how much I write, I am moving at a snail's pace.  I am hoping that after I finish the first draft completely, the reward of writing 'The End' will make all this suffering worth it.  I am so anxious to some reviews of my writing that I keep pondering whether to publish some chapters online, but I feel in my gut that it would be a mistake.  I don't even have any followers on my blog at this point! (except my daughter)  Oh well...I will trudge on and hope that the end result is as great a read as I anticipate.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Working Backwards

I was getting caught up it little details of the story this week, and it made my brain hurt!  Although I am slowly chugging along, I decided that I wanted the end of the novel to be my driving force for the storyline.  Today I decided to go ahead and write the final scene of the book.  It's very short, so I will have to add to the beginning of it, but I am, overall, very satisfied.  I have also written down a few scenarios that I know need to be included in the book.  I think I may try to write them in their entirety, and fill in the gaps.  I don't think this is common novel writing practice, but I'm new at this, so I'm making up the rules as I go.  It may pan out; it may not.  I'll let you know. 

Monday, June 23, 2014

Why Am I So Slow?


I feel like I am writing at a snail's pace!  In actuality, I am not doing terrible; it's all about perception.  When I was in high school, we had to write drafts for our English papers.  I was the annoying student who never wanted to turn in a paper with errors.  Nine out of ten times, my first draft was perfect, and I didn't have to do another.  I think I am having that problem with my novel writing.  I want everything to be perfect on the first draft...impossible!  When I think of new ideas or plot twists, I keep going back and adding them.  I think what I should be doing is writing without stopping, and making notes about the new ideas so I can add them later.  I'm pretty sure that's how Stephen King writes, but don't take my word for it.  I guess if I'm ever going to get through the entire novel, I need to stop trying to be perfect and just let it flow.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Trying To Push Through

I have finished Chapter 10, and I am currently working through Chapter 11.  It's a chapter with a ton of dialogue that is hard to keep going.  In this chapter, Lorelei and Maks meet a few new people.  Introductions are hard for me to write, especially when there are numerous ones to get through.  I'm going to try my hardest to push through it today and check another chapter off my list.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Working on the blog

While I was working on this blog yesterday, I realized that I didn't even have a Fluttera teaser on it!  How is anyone supposed to know what the novel is about?  I spent over an hour last night trying to write one, but, honestly, it's not going well.  I shut the computer off and decided to give it fresh eyes this morning.  Guess I better get started....

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Almost done with the next chapter


I am so close to finishing Chapter 10.  I am having trouble finding a stopping point.  Could it be possible that I have too much to say?  Hmm....

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Chapter 9...Done!

I have finished Chapter 9.  I have started sharing chapters with my mother-in-law.  She is an avid novel reader and has a masters in English.  I figure she is the perfect person to help me edit and give me some honest reviews.  So far, the feedback has been 95% positive and she cannot wait until it is finished.  She also said it would make a great movie!  That would be a dream, but first things first...finish the book.

I have had a breakthrough!

Finished Chapters 7 and 8! I feel like I have had a burst of inspiration. Here's hoping it lasts.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Writer's Block!

Haven't written in over a month! I could use some motivation to finish chapter 7. Writer's block sucks!  I guess I should have known this would happen...just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Fluttera Prologue

As a special treat, and since I still cannot find the words to continue writing right now, I thought I would publish the prologue to Fluttera...just to entice any would-be readers to keep up with my progress.  Enjoy!


Prologue
“Lorelei, it’s time for bed, love.”

“Can you tell me a story, please mom?” pleaded Lorelei.

“Sure,” said Mara as she motioned for Lorelei to lie down, “but then it’s right to sleep.”
...
Lorelei jumped into the bed that was covered in an assortment of stuffed animals and crocheted pillows. She pulled the handmade quilt over her bare feet and My Little Pony pajamas all the way up to her chin. Mara set Lorelei’s favorite porcelain doll beside her head on the pillow.

“Once upon a time, there was a beautiful faery queen. She was the overseer and protector of all the faery realms. Although the queen had reigned for many centuries, she knew that she would eventually die. She decided that she needed an heir to take over for her one day.”

“What’s an heir, mom,” Lorelei interrupted.

“Well, it’s someone that takes over for someone else when the time is right.”

“You mean when they die?”

“Not necessarily,” Mara corrected. “Sometimes they take over simply because they are needed to. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Good. May I continue?” Lorelei shakes her head in agreement. “So,” Mara resumed her story, “the faery queen visited the tulip fields and searched for the perfect flower. Tulips are the beginning of all faery children. There had been a frost the night before and most of the flowers were wilted. Out in the far end of the field was a tulip that stood out among the others. It was different. The queen glided over to the tulip and saw that it had ruffled edges and represented all the colors of the four faery realms; it was a hybrid, a mix of all the characteristics that made each tulip beautiful. This tulip was not wilted or drooping but it stood tall and lively. The queen chose that flower for its beauty and strength. It was with that hybrid tulip that the queen made her successor, the beautiful faery princess Lorelei.”

“So I was the most beautiful tulip in the field, mom?” Lorelei interrupted, “That’s why you chose me?”

“It certainly was, love. Now go to sleep and have the sweetest of sweet dreams, princess Lorelei.”