Friday, September 30, 2011

How I Solve Story Problems

It happens to all of us at some point. Writing is going along well and boom. A problem or stumbling block comes along. If I let the protagonist do that, the next scene won’t work, or she has to get herself out of this mess. How is she going to do it when she left her weapon at home.
Sometimes I begin to question my original idea, but most often I try a few strategies first.
One is to sleep on it. Somehow my brain goes to work when I sleep, and sometimes I wake with a good idea.
Gardening in very therapeutic. My brain can work on all kinds of ideas while my hands are pulling weeds.
A good long walk is kind of like gardening. It’s undisturbed time to mull over ideas and besides, exercise is always good for the brain.
Sometimes I get someone else’s take on the problem, like my son. I get a guy’s angle on it.
And then, in the end, I may just let the protagonist do what I don’t want him to do and see what happens. After all, there’s always the delete key.
Maybe other people don’t run into stumbling blocks when writing. But if you do, how do you handle it?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Gasoline

I wanted to be accurate in a story I'm writing, so I checked the internet for the price of gas in 1998. It was around $1. I couldn't believe it. I checked several sites to be sure. That was it. What a differnce a decade makes. My question was: Could she fill a Ford Explorer with $20.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Thanks

I want to thank everyone who has posted a welcome or comments about my blog and my ignorance. I appreciate it. I'd thank each individually, but I haven't figured out how to do it yet. Maybe tomorrow I be smarter.

Blog Confusion

I'm on a journey around the long learning curve. I wanted to thank James for his post and couldn't figure out how to do it. Then I wanted to follow his blog and couldn't find it. I thought I'd follow his and ended up following my own blog. Stupid. I'll keep poking buttons and no telling where I'll end up.

Friday, September 23, 2011

More on Blogging

I had much to think about after attending the Central Coast Writers' Conf. Got a great handout with tips on blogging.
1. go to Gravatar.com and sign up for a profile that's compatible with all blog platforms.
2. Comment like crazy on other people's blogs.
3. Choose a blogging platform such as Blogger.com which is simple or WordPress, which is good too.
4. Make sure the title is something with your name in it so that others can find you.
5. Decorate your blog with a couple of photos.
6. Bookmark you blog or you may never find it again.
7. Keep your blogs short, 600 - 1200 words and only one subject per post.
8. Go tell your friends that you've made a blog.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Blogging

Putting out my first blog is a bit intimidaing, considering that it can be read by anyone, anywhere in the world. I want to let people know that Visalia-Exeter Writers will have an antholgy, Leaves from the Valley Oak, coming out soon via CreateSpace. It has a variety of work included: poetry, short stories, and even a memoir. More later ...