Breaking Free of Exposition and Other Sad Tales

Photo by Denny S. Bryce

I've been remiss with my writing lately. Or I've been writing, but not satisfied with the results or I've reached a brick wall when it comes to ideas for the never-ending vampire saga, which is not really about vampires. Somewhere in the middle of the madness, I'm going to figure out exactly what it is I want to say and say it.

But believe me that's more difficult to do than you can imagine.

I write and write and the more I write the more I just don't know what it is I'm writing about. I get so caught up in figuring out who my characters are than putting these people into situations that they have to deal with - it's crazy. I've got a 70,000 word manuscript and I swear only about 35,000 words have to do with my main character dealing with a situation in a action, goal-focused way.

Okay, the real question is how can I break free of writing backstory? I want to put my character into the scene, into the action, into the midst of all the shit, and let her fight her way out. But I keep going back. Trying to answer the same questions. Who is she? What is she? How does she look? What's on her mind?

That's just not good. Anybody have any tips? I need to stop writing backwards and start the story in the middle of the action.

Depression, Muscles, and "Did My Tooth Just Fall Out?"

Photo by Denny S. Bryce

Orlando, FL, February 2010

My best friend and I were having our semi-monthly Friday lunch. Both of us are in the same industry - making bucks organizing other people’s lives - well, we’re also both over 50 (and my admitting that much is a dead giveaway that I’m clearly more than a bit over!) But yesterday, on our way to lunch, we were in a very cheery frame of mind, laughing about some silly comment I’d made about my day, when something small, white and almost pearly, appeared to fall out of my month. We both paused, looked at each other with a shocked expression on our faces, and I said, “Did my tooth just fall out?”

“Girl, no.” She shook her head, then frowned. “I don’t think so.”

“Shit,” I said. “I know I’m getting old, but Christ, I hope my tooth didn’t just fall out.”

Of course, it wasn’t my tooth. A stone from my dangly, fancy earrings had fallen off. But it’s just been one of those years - or at least the past six months - where my first thoughts immediately jump to the bottom of the list - and if it has to do with my body -- something failing or falling off is expected.

It’s been one of those periods in life when every move is an ache, and the thought of exercising, a sure journey to pain and suffering.

And yeah, I’ve been to the doctor -- we both have -- and we’ve had check-ups, and know the deal so to speak about our respective health issues - but that’s not the point.

We have to face the fact -- we are aging. It’s right there - smacking us in the face (wrinkles and dark circles included), we don’t look the same and we can’t do all of the things we used to do.

But we act and think pretty much the same as we have since we were eighteen years old. (Yeah, this friend of mine and me have been buds practically since high school).

Well, we’ve decided to find time to take better care of ourselves - successful career woman shit aside. I'm exploring exercise plans (‘right, exploring:)...and am getting started with my Saturday by getting on a treadmill.

Then I’m going to spend a week avoiding meat, and watching my salt intake. I read that another good thing to do is to avoid ‘white’ foods - sugar, flour, rice, cheese, if it ain’t showing me color - it ain’t going in my mouth.

What does all of this have to do with writing? You’ve got to have energy to write. I’ve been sitting on my ass for most of every day for the past six months, working. And not all of that time (okay, very little of it) has been spent moving forward fast enough on my novel. So I’m going to put it down for a few weeks and start working on a new story. Just to give myself a break from feeling like I’m not being productive. 

Long way around just to give my self a pep talk, huh? 

Finally Back in DC and It's Still Snowing

Have you wondered where I've been for the past two weeks? Well, the answer is easy. Not writing or reading as much as I would have liked - mountains of snow or no snow. Actually, I can't claim first hand experience with the snow. I spent most of the past two weeks in Florida working, but also attempting to relax, which honestly I found impossible to do. I kept thinking about writing, not writing, liking and not liking what I've written and in general over thinking my book. So what does that translate into? No progress. So what do I do?

I'm reading. It inspires me. I start reading and a passage will make me think, wow, I need to be writing. I've got a half dozen books I'm thumbing through (okay, clicking through, and more like 50 because they're on my Kindle:), but there are three that keep pulling me back in:).

There's the J.R. Ward novel, Covet, which starts so smart I must finish it. Plus it's the new genre I haven't read much of - all about Angels:). Next is a novel by Joe Haldeman, "The Accidental Time Machine."

I like his crisp style, and of course, really good science fiction that's accessible - not too techie, or war-like, or machines (unless they're Terminators). But speaking of which, I'm taking an online class (likely not a smart move since I'm submitting excerpts from my manuscript, and the class is a science fiction writing class, and my book is a post-apocalyptic near-future tale with vampires and a hot romance - and a mystery to solve). The class wants science fiction. Period.

The comments I'm getting aren't that helpful. For example, they want me to add more about the technology, how the weather changed and why, and each time a comment starts with the "I don't read vampire stories" - I roll my eyes. And it's not that I don't have technology, or information about the weather - but jeez - I submitted three chapters. How much backstory can you give in three chapters without going into hyper-exposition mode? But the question is why did I take this class in the first place? I had signed up for the feature article writing class, but after a day realized it was going to require 'new brain-power' which would have completely pulled me off of my book (and yes, I need to stop whining:).

Wow! Just reread that last paragraph. I think I'm not happy with the feedback I received from the class (lol)! But if I stop whining - I should see the good. The comments have been positive about many things - the main character, the dialog, the villain and more....so why is it I can only remember the comments that weren't so praising? Typical writer...

The other book I'm reading is The Strain, and yeah, I like the theatrical style and the tight-packaging of the action. So, hopefully in a few days, I'll be back in the saddle again - or at least in front of my computer writing, writing, writing.

Taking a Ride

I took this photo several years ago and clearly it's not Orlando. It's California.

The best thing about a sudden snow storm is when you've already made plans to leave town, and you're departure is scheduled a few hours after the storm has  hit. And better yet, those plans do not include a trip to the airport.

I'm taking a train from DC to Florida. Train travel is one of my favorite means of transportation, especially when I want solitude and the chance to write, write, write. This trip will involve quite a bit of reading and writing and work, but that's okay. It should be 40 degrees warmer where I'm headed, and that sounds like heaven to me.

They Keep Pulling Me Back In!

Taken by Moi in New Orleans and Yeah, It Kind of Looks Like the Way I Feel!

A writer's life is filled with deadlines, ghosts, and outlines and then somewhere in the midst of all that is actual story telling, right? No, I don't think so. Let's take a look at the obstacles that have plopped down in front of me in the last two weeks.

The first and foremost is that I didn't get my entry in the Marlene Contest submitted on time. Why? Well, it's my fault. I waited until 10 minutes before the deadline and sent it to the wrong email address (don't ask me how I did that when I thought I'd cut and pasted the email address) - but I did. So by the time I got the 'undeliverable' email notice it was 11:59 and guess what the deadline was? Yes. You got it! 11:59!

So that was January 15 - and since then, well let's see what else has hit the fan.

I got great feedback from my writing coach on 150 pages of story. But I also added at least 10 new chapters to the story via an outline that took me a day to write. At least tomorrow, I'm going to get help from my critique partner on the outline - the plot is a beast that's raging out of control.

Then there's my writing class. Yes, I signed up for another Gotham class, originally, it was going to be for feature article writing, but no I got out of that class. It would have required me to change my focus from fiction to journalism and even with feature articles, which is a lot less stiff than news writing - I didn't want to divide my time even more. So now, I'm in an advanced science fiction writing class, which I've taken before, but I feel smarter now:)...

The true dilemma in my life these days is not writing though. It's my day job. The one that pays the bills. It's lost its smiley face and that's disappointing and stressful. How do you balance that life and the writer me?

We'll just have to figure that one out won't we?

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Sunlight Bouncing Off of Baltimore Skyscraper

My day in front of the computer on Saturday, which was when I meant to post this blog, was all about plotting and what that means when you're 87 percent done with a manuscript (and on the third round of revisions) and you're hating it (and yes, I mean the book), and I'm also hating the plot. It's too complicated (Notice I'm not mad at my characters. I still love them bunches). But finishing the book is the goal! Then get it out to editors and agents (which I've already done, but still). Rewrites are torture.

But there's a good side to this agonizing process (besides the joy of finishing), I'm learning how to write and finish a book. From first draft (boy, do I know what to avoid next time) to character development and plotting (the torture I'm going through now), etc. and a lot more.

I'm also daydreaming about my next book. After a great critique group session Friday, I created an excel spreadsheet with each scene of the current POS outlined and the key plot points listed and organized. It also includes the sequence of events that provide the suspense for solving the 'crime' and how the bad guys are revealed, and how that fuels the romance and the conflict and compassion between my two main characters - shit - see what I mean?

Too many thoughts.

The bottom line is that this morning I feel like Wonder Woman, and I'm back in control. (It should last an hour).

Here's a list of writer-related sites I've discovered this week that some of you may already know about, but here goes anyway...

Chase the Dream Contest - legit, easy and free
Scott Westerfeld Blog - scroll down and check out some good tips

Happy New Year! And Let the Resolutions for 2010 Begin!

Photo taken by Denny S. Bryce 1/1/10 in Baltimore, MD

Good thing I'm taking a feature article writing course beginning next week. I swear some days I have no idea how to kick start my blog post. It has to do with how my brain works. I have at least a dozen story/article ideas a minute, all of which I think are good ideas at the time I think them. Then when I'm in front of the computer, fingers poised, I go through a kind of panic and I'm stuck.

And damn it - this post should be the easiest of the year. It's the first of 2010 and I have no reason to feel defeated about anything because nothing has happened yet.

Anyway, here's the deal. I'm hanging out in Baltimore, wanted a change of scenery for the New Year and wanted a neutral environment where I could reflect on 2009 without being reminded of failed goals (my living room sofa can do that sometimes). Top of my list, of course, is what's up with the manuscript. I'm somewhat frantic about it on a daily basis. I feel I have no control over when my writing mood hits (and 2 a.m. is getting old, people). So I need control, it's going to be one of my resolutions for 2010. Carve out a specific time during the day for writing, another time for reading, and another time for work (the gig that pays the bills). I'm going to make it easy on myself in the beginning. I am committed to writing (working on the manuscript that is, because I write all day long) a minimum of two hours a day. Those two hours cannot begin before I've exercised and had breakfast, period. The final resolution is the two hours can't start after 8 p.m. Today, I've completed the first two - exercised and ate breakfast (didn't get around to breakfast until 1 p.m., but day 1 is shaky on the 'resolution train'). So next I need my two hours of writing, writing, writing.

In the meantime, this weekend, I've got to complete my Marlene Contest application (PS...I guess I have to enter for real. I just paid the $25 entry fee!) and finalize my agent list. I've got two so far. But what should I do about the one I submitted to this past summer following RWA? I haven't heard from her since August. Should I resubmit? Anybody got ideas?

Also, I reorganized my blog this morning. Got rid of things I don't need on it - and kept things I do. It's definitely honing in on the real me. That is the Denny S. Bryce me. She's a writer of fiction, so anything that distracts me from that doesn't have a place on this blog. Okay!

Yeah. I thought you'd agree.

And Happy New Year!