I wanted to work on my WIP today. We've had a public holiday and it seemed the ideal opportunity to get back into my novel after a few weeks of neglect. But, as it turned out, there was something else I had to do first. When my life gets crazy and starts to spin out … Continue reading Decluttering: creativity essential or shameless procrastination?
New year’s #WIP500 resolution
My resolution for this new year is very simple. I'm going to complete the draft of the novel I'm currently working on. Of course, execution of this goal is unlikely to be simple. The longer I persevere with this fiction writing habit, the harder it seems to get. Possibly this is because I demand more of myself as time goes … Continue reading New year’s #WIP500 resolution
Willpower rocks
Yesterday I took a stroll and found myself in a New Age shop on Glenhuntly Rd in Elsternwick, called Qi. They have many rocks and crystals for sale, embedded in jewellery, or individually, or collected inside little gauze bags in combinations that are supposed to DO something. So I got myself a Willpower Kit to … Continue reading Willpower rocks
World Fantasy highlights: Connie Willis (with Neil Gaiman)
I'm still in World Fantasy wind-down mode, and today bring you the highlights provided by Toastmaster, Connie Willis. If you read this blog regularly, you'll know that I was recently blown away by her novel Doomsday Book, so was particularly keen to hear what she had to say in person. And what a delight! I … Continue reading World Fantasy highlights: Connie Willis (with Neil Gaiman)
How cats help
I'm a writer. Of course I have a cat. Don't we all? And my cat, Chenna (aka Devilcat), likes to help me write. Who ever said dogs were the pets who liked to be near you? Cats can be just as needy. And the thing with cats is that they have the wherewithal to get … Continue reading How cats help
Finding that writing mojo (or shaking the CBF virus)
The most common writing advice one ever receives is the obvious one: WRITE. The actual act of putting the words down is more important than everything else -- including blogging and social media, reading educational posts and books, attending courses and conventions, meetings with the writers group. Carve out writing time and protect it. Bum … Continue reading Finding that writing mojo (or shaking the CBF virus)
Endless editing conundrum
I've thought of another argument against showing your WIP to your writing group: it instills a desire to spend time fine-tuning chapters that shouldn't really be fine-tuned until the entire draft is written. I mean, what's the point in wasting all that time fine-tuning material that you'll probably need to revise later anyway? But, the thing … Continue reading Endless editing conundrum
The WIP and the writing group
This week's musings (a day late, sorry) surround feedback on novel manuscripts -- as in how to get the most out of it. I don't know about other writers, but I rather like to share my work. I'm not necessarily talking about a critical appraisal here, I'm talking about just having it read. In fact, … Continue reading The WIP and the writing group
Horse camp
A familiar trope often found in fantasy stories is the riding of horses as part of a journey or quest. These days the genre is diverse enough that the presence of horses is not inevitable, but many writers (including me) still find this method of transport -- and the idea of journeying across the imagined … Continue reading Horse camp
Rough draft or solid opening?
After a fairly solid month of writing, I've produced an opening chunk of the new novel project. It's rather rough in parts (as previously noted), but I'm starting to feel the story take shape. The decision now is whether to keep going with a literally rough draft, or whether to dive back into the opening … Continue reading Rough draft or solid opening?
Ellen Gregory 