FIND ME A NAME!

Here’s a useful bookmark: click it and it will generate a first name and last name from the U.S. Census data. Refresh to try again.

So far, I’ve ended up with Charles Hayden, Peter Ratcliff, and Gabriel Fiorini for the heros, and Devon Howard, Lori Smith and Cheryl Morgan for the ladies.

Perfect.

Sophie Kinsella

The weather here in Hampshire is so appalling, I am pleased that I do not have to venture far from home today, so best of luck to anyone who is out driving!

In the meantime, back at the slave pit, Sophie Kinsella has created a series of Podcasts [ she calls them VodCasts] about the creation of the 'Shop' books

http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/vodcast/#002637

Here is one about her writing process -

http://a1018.g.akamai.net/f/1018/19022/1d/randomhouse1.download.akamai.com/19022/video/kinsella/kinsellapodcast_episode3.m4v

I think we can all relate to the concept that we are 'acting' out the part when we visualise the action and transfer it to the page.

What's playing on my YouTube right now? A gorgeous italian ad, for the water "Levissima".Song: How Long by Roberto Cacciapaglia, extract from his record "Incontri con l'anima" .

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=94H91cDV-gQ&feature=related

Now why don’t we have adverts like this in the UK?

Chapter Two

See previous post re; multitasking. I only wish I had that amount of courage and grit and attitude. Fantastic! This woman should be a source of encouragement for every writer. Go girl! Wherever you are. You rock!

My reward for completing Chapter One? [Yes I am that pathetic.]

Liz Fielding's New August HMB Romance. Reunited: Marriage in a Million. Read it last night. Brilliant. In fact, depressingly good. The bar has just lifted a little higher. Sigh.

What is playing on my YouTube right now? Nothing. I am listening to BBC Classical Radio 3 so I am less distracted by the visuals and tempted to type in split screen so I can watch the videos at the same time. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/breakfast/pip/qmpn0/

Now. Back to it. Have a good one.

Into the Cave

The time has come. The procrastination curve has peaked and is on the way down.

I have to start writing their story.

Oh boy. Why does this never get any easier? Why do I always feel so unprepared? Unworthy? Somehow not ready?

The logical scientific Ray-Anne shakes her head at the box file full of photos, notes, scratched out scenes in pencil on the back of envelopes, print-outs of the expanded synopsis, beat sheets for the opening, and sighs at the other Ray-Anne who is looking for complicated recipes for Indian cuisine which will need at least two more shopping trips for ingredients and a couple of hours to cook.

Shoulders back, head up, deep breath. I am going in.

If I am not back in a couple of days, please think of me now and again and remember the good times and smile.

I may have eaten a lot of indian food by then.

What is playing on my YouTube right now? On the Edge of Something Wonderful - Darren Hayes. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QCEDG9kvRtE&feature=dir

Opening Scene

I have been reading far too much lately about story structure.

[The main culprit = http://www.crusiemayer.com/workshop/syllabus, the excellent online writing course. See Scene Structure section, although there are a number of author sites and e-Harlequin articles which share the blame.]

Suddenly I feel the need to plan out the opening scene of my new story and write down on paper where the turning points/beats of the scene are going to be.
Normally I do this work completely in my head, and my leading actors come on stage, say their lines, and I add the layers later.
I have never been a complete pantser, but this time, armed with the extended synopsis and detailed character profiles, I feel more comfortable working on the structure in advance, instead of in retrospect.
I may only need to do this for the first chapter or so to get the story rolling. We shall see if this results in less revision later. Or not. Further bulletins to follow. Wish me luck.
Never a dull moment.

What’s playing my YouTube right now? I am quite unashamed to say -American Woman by Lenny Kravitz - just right for a wet evening. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=595Nj9EV2Qg&feature=PlayList&p=CB2A008B473B9A92&index=17

Starting a New Story

The editor has come back to me superquick with the feedback I needed to consolidate the character profiles. Brilliant ! Which means it is time to start expanding the story ideas and...gulp.. actually start writing the story.

At the RNA conference the other week, RITA award winning writer Jodi Thomas used the analogy of writers climbing the mountain until they got to the tree line, then getting stuck below the hard rock.

To me starting a new story is always like climbing a new rock face.

I have trained. I have listened to advice from the best, and practised techniques on other climbs.

I have the equipment and kit I need to make the journey. I have crampons, ice screws and carabiners to keep me hanging on. Even a miner's helmet for when the burning light of passion fades.

No, I can't predict avalanches and rock falls which will sweep me down to the bottom of the rock face again. And no, I can't be sure that the route I have planned to get me to the top. I may well deviate - in fact, I expect I will have to change - but the new route will be better. Stronger.

Yet here I am, standing looking at this huge lump of granite. Hesitant.

I am sure of two things.
I have my two climbing companions - the separated soulmates, Amy and Jared.
And that once I get to the top with a first draft completed, I am always only half way there, and most climbing accidents happen on the way down. Revising.

Time to go and buy the Kendal Mint Cake. And new shoes. And a new story playlist on YouTube. And many other forms of procrastination so my brain can start processing the daydreams into something useful. Wish me luck.

What’s playing my YouTube right now? Chris Isaak. Wicked Game. Classic.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XXmlJQN5Pm8&feature=PlayList&p=CB2A008B473B9A92&index=15