I’m a little stuck, though, in fixing Part Two of the book. Armed with new readers, they’re much tougher than my friends, but that’s a good thing, yes? The issue seems to be that this part moves a too slow. I need to work on either upping the suspense or cut bits out. Trouble is, I’ve no idea what to do.

This Part is reserved for the protagonist girl and she’s not the sort that attracts action, so I’m at a loss as to what I can do to entice readers to stick with it. Gosh, I’ve so much problem with this girl.

But never mind, on a better note, my publication is up (well, was up on 11th August Everyday Weirdness, but I missed it). Here it is:

I, Meteor

I hope you enjoy it!

Now back to Stealing A Dream…

Waiting, listening, thinking, stifling while your precious creation gets torn apart by the world… even if it’s made of wonderful test readers (that’s what they should be called apparently because beta readers expect complete polished stories a step away from publication, which mine isn’t!).

So far, the reactions have been generally positive *phew* though not all so and not without hiccups. I’ve two who dropped out (one scarce anywhere near the meat of the story *shrug* It’s a scary thought) but the other four continuing on strong, even through crap and trinkets, they keep their faith in me. I am blessed with patient and loving friends… who write *hugs*

There are some major issues I need to work on, however, the biggest is the potrayal of my main character’s bitterness which did not seem to come across as well as planned. It is very difficult to write an angry character without the usual angst (yeah those of you who know me, I’ve plenty of that normally), but I was aiming for a different kind with her, one that’s bottled up inside which she isn’t quite aware yet. She should be uptight and awkward, defensive even to the audience, and I want her to come across as if she takes no nonsense from anyone, but a few came back with comments like “she’s warm and so easy to trust.” She isn’t! Not yet! But I don’t want her to come across moody either, or brooding, no none of that.

This is a book about her character journey. If the starting point doesn’t work, then that’s something I’ve to really fix. And I love her It hurts a little when others seem to like the blue giant more.

Faziel… is a major hit. Good for him, though he can be a bit of an airhead sometimes *shake head* I adore him myself, and I think perhaps too much. He sparkles brighter than my girl right now. I’ve to work on that.

In any case, between all of us, I have managed to chop about 17K since the first draft. In fact if we count the draft before the first (what do you call that one when you just write according to your outline? :p) of 200K, my excess came to 40K. 40K! Can you believe it? That’s crazy, isn’t it? I think it’s crazy! I’m terribly quiet in real life but apparently not on paper.

Some of it hurt real bad, though, but I keep all that I chop tucked away safely. Recycable.

I want to thank you all who persist with me. I hope I don’t disappoint, even if I do, I hope you forgive me and help me with the fixing. I’m trying. I really am and I’m glad some of you think it’s worth it.

*hugs*

Which is fitting for the title of the book

So I was bored today and dreamt of a book cover for it (grabbed some pics and mangled them to fit the scenes in the tale. Took me 4 hours, but I’m quite pleased with the result!)

So here it is. What do you think?

And daggy me, I’ve even prepared a synopsis! *gasp* Well… a girl could only dream. What do you think, is it compelling enough?

“When Haisma Perell decides to cross to the other side to steal a dream, she hires Faziel De Garxia–one of the corrupt Gatekeeper half-breeds–to aid her. Haisma only wants one thing: to save her brother, but Faziel promises more: adventure of a lifetime.

And she gets it.

Setting out to end her brother’s suffering only to return with the fate of the universe upon her shoulders.

With Faziel as her ever-present guide for the heart, body and soul, Haisma jumps into a journey through vengeance, loyalty, blackmail, betrayal, love, war, madness, and sacrifice. It is an adventure that stretches her far beyond her comfort, testing her reason and shaping imagination she’s forgotten.

And in all that chaos, Haisma finds one thing unexpected: herself.”

I hope to get feedback on the draft soon so I can start revisions (wish me luck… bwaaa, and thanks to my lovely beta-readers ), but right now, I’m just pleased that it’s done!

It’s kind of sad since I miss them, but I suppose we’re all allowed to take a break every now and then.

So what I’ve been doing is going back to earlier chapters. I found a few things I needed to fix, things I needed to delete or add, things I’ve no idea why I put there in the first place. Ah, the exercise is both taxing and rewarding (and I’m only onto Chapter 14) but I’m pleased with the result so far, albeit I may change my mind again later. Isn’t it always the case?

Anyway, something came to mind while I was doing this: Background. Ugh! I wonder if I should have added more background in the beginning rather than leaving them where they are currently–closer to when they’re important or as an after thought. Background bits in question include the Gods of the realms, the history of how the world began, the culture of the two big realms that make up the setting/backdrop of the story…

Ah, I never know how much and where/when best to put those things. Advice I’ve received has always been: exposition is bad, only show what you need to show, weave them into the story. They’re all very well, but geez, it’s tricky to do ‘em right!

I also think it makes a difference whether or not the story is written in 1st or 3rd person POV.

Anyway what do you think? how do you do it?

The chapter I’m writing now is a bit info-dumpy with a lot to reveal (always gets that way towards the end, doesn’t it? Ugh!) But I found a way to make it slightly more interesting than mere explanatory wrap ups.

It was by accident that I did. My previous chapters were dialogue heavy, so I decided to shut my characters up and write this one without. I knew what I wanted to write, but had no idea how it was going to pan out. I just started writing and ended up going with loads of one-line shockers to keep the suspense.

And ah, it was fun! Those of you (un)fortunate enough to have been subjected to my stories must know: I love one-liners. I love them as much as I loathe chunky paragraphs. I love building paragraphs to some indubitable climactic point only to trample it with terrible one-line contradictions. Perhaps this chapter has too much of that, but meh. My project. I’m entitled to a bit of amusement.

In the midst of all this, I also discovered unexpected ‘answers’ to my subplot issues which was yay! But that also means I have to edit some bits I’ve written now. *Write notes*

Thought of the day — Do you have some style/technique you adore so much, that you keep going back to, even sometimes subconsciously? If you do, have you tried to expand, exploit, experiment, excavate, ex-whatever this style for curiosity sake? What did you find?

And those of you who have written novels before, have you been at that point when things suddenly fall into place out of nowhere? I outline my projects from start to finish, so I am rarely ever surprised. This time I was, though, and I found I quite liked how my puzzle pieces settle into a picture I had not drawn.

Lovely, when things don’t go as planned.

Anyway, I just realised these posts feed to Facebook as well. Ah, I apologise to those who do not wish to read my ramblings. Please ignore me. For those who do, good to have you! *hugs*

I found a relatively stable path to get to the end, a bit swollen with more subplots I wish I’d space and time to mull over, but I know I won’t so I may have to think about cutting out earlier subplots that are not linked to the main one.

Having found that path, I realise that it means I’ve no way to save one of my favourite characters from demise. It is, to my surprise, a rather distressing thought for I’ve become attached and know very well how the incident will change the dynamic of the tale. Believe it or not, this project started off a light one–I did plan it as a YA novel, meant to exercise my world-building skills and odd humour only a bunch of you may appreciate :p –but as I venture further on, it’s really turning more and more grim, forcing me to look at issues that may be lathered with adult-themes. We’ll see. I am not really sure yet where the project will fit. I will just soldier on and hope I may find others who can appreciate and enjoy it as much as I have.

Thoughts for the day– is it not odd how attached you may become to your characters? I spent hours thinking of ways to save this one and knew that I couldn’t. It almost felt like I must needs sever my limb. I wonder if it might be easier to think of them as movie stars, cast on these roles they’ve played so well in, they wear them like second skin. I may recast them in other tales. I don’t know. I don’t see their faces, but feel their personalities come to life.

I am sure this makes me overly sentimental and perhaps also means I need a life :p

My husband thinks so.

What’s been happening? Well, I’ve been writing my novel, currently up to chapter *uhm* fifty two. I’m still enjoying it, a little too much I think, but this is the first time I actually love all the characters including the baddies, so I’m going to try to finish it. I think I’m up to 104K words now – is that too long? I’m not sure. I have been trying not to edit too much until I get to the end.

The frustrating thing is, I can see the end, but I am having trouble to get there. I tried three different roads now and they end up at a cliff edge. Bwaaa… Don’t you just hate it when that happens? For those of you who have written novels, I don’t know how you do it. If you do, please tell me. I always have trouble getting the end written  in a satisfactory manner, albeit I am quite happy with how I ended ‘Cursed’ – that is my first one which I am yet to edit to perfection – but I cheated there because I stopped abruptly and explained the twist in an Epilogue.

Another cliff edge.

Perhaps if I know enough cheats…

I have decided to motivate myself to get this one finished – let’s call it Project ‘Faziel’ – so I will start talking about it, and hope that I get more inspiration talking about it. Feel free to share experiences with your projects, how do you get motivated? how do you write the ending? are you happy with it? do you think it’s so difficult because you don’t want to part with your characters? do you think it’s difficult because you’ve had too many plots and subplots to wrap up? how do you choose which ones to wrap up, which ones to keep for a sequel?

But ugh, I hate sequels, so I always try my best to wrap everything up.

Apologies if this bores you to death, but some blogs do, so suck it up

1) Worked on a video over Christmas and completed ‘The Real World‘ which is a gift for my friend Nyki Blatcheley. It’s a visualisation of his poem of the same title. One of these days I must upload that to VIMEO.

2) My short story: Gheeyant The Giant Fairy is now published at Abandoned Towers. Didn’t make it to Print, but no matter, I’m glad my favourite character found a home.

3) My other short story: ‘Borrowed, Broken and Birds’ is still going ahead with Whispering Spirits Digital Magazine, although there’s a bit of a hiccup, I was told, so the next issue will not be out until later this year.

4) My poem: ‘A Space Inside My Mind’ has been accepted by The Shine Journal. It will appear there in April this year.

5) I saw this little guy near Shelly Beach. He’s a friendly Eastern Water Dragon and so adorable.

And lastly, I know it’s late, but I want to wish you all the best in 2010. Have a great day!

EDIT: Two more small successes. This is a good month!

6) My poem ‘In The Waiting Room’ has been accepted by Haruah: Breath of Heaven

7) My flash fiction ‘An Arachnologist’s Confession’ has been accepted by Everyday Weirdness

On a different matter, the downstairs area of the house is currently being tiled and it’s looking awesome! I can’t wait till we have a decent floor on which I can walk barefoot without fear of tearing flesh on chipped cement. Yippee!!

Life is good.

Now I wonder if I should buy some biscuit from Coles…

Glenn recently inspired me with his fantastic matte painting for his latest video clip project (I love the flying metal balloon thingy!!). So I decided to play around with my photos too. I know, I know, the lens flare doesn’t make sense but well, I just like the look of it, okay? Leave me alone *tongue*

The first is a mix of Koh Samui, Milson’s point and Sydney Harbour Bridge (I’ve destroyed the bridge a little, that was a lot of fun!). The second is New York and Bangkok with some spaceships (gotta have spaceships!!) Colouring/Styling was done using Sony Vegas, NewBlue film effect, and Adobe photoshop.

So, what do you think? Maybe I could do something like this for the cover of my NiP: does it look anything like Christon?