Tense Writing
We are creatures of habit.
This comes as no surprise. We like what we like, and we’re not always willing to be flexible or try something different (eating something green won’t kill you Mark!). Sometimes it is subtle.
I started reading a book for an upcoming blog tour, Elisha’s Bones by Don Hoesel. I was drawn in by the archeological mystery a la Indiana Jones, but there was something disconcerting, but I couldn’t put my finger on it initially.
I read further. The bumpy bus ride jars my hand, but the shaking book isn’t confusing me. There is something in the way the book is written. My seat partner snorts and turns the other way, allowing me to dive back into the intriguing story.
I’ve just left a clue on what was different about this book. I was going to write a post just explaining it, but I think it will be interesting to see if someone can figure out the difference by what I just wrote. Check back tomorrow for the answer…
—
Tense Writing
We are creatures of habit.
This comes as no surprise. We like what we like, and we’re not always willing to be flexible or try something different (eating something green won’t kill you Mark!). Sometimes it is subtle.
I started reading a book for an upcoming blog tour, Elisha’s Bones by Don Hoesel. I was drawn in by the archeological mystery a la Indiana Jones, but there was something disconcerting, but I couldn’t put my finger on it initially.
I read further. The bumpy bus ride jars my hand, but the shaking book isn’t confusing me. There is something in the way the book is written. My seat partner snorts and turns the other way, allowing me to dive back into the intriguing story.
I’ve just left a clue on what was different about this book. I was going to write a post just explaining it, but I think it will be interesting to see if someone can figure out the difference by what I just wrote. Check back tomorrow for the answer…
—
CSFF Tour – The Codebearers Series
This month’s CSFF tour features Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow by the Miller Brothers.
I am impressed in investigating this book, because the Miller Brothers are 30 somethings who are writing books they would have liked to have when they were around 10. Of course, not much was written from a Christian perspective for that age range back then, but there also wasn’t technology to allow said authors to create their own book trailer, rocking web site full of games and networking, and even allow a FREE read of the book online.
I appreciate what they’ve done, as I have boys getting into the age range for this book, and I want this type of work available as part (but not the only part) of what they read.
I didn’t realize there was a free read available, so I don’t have any original content to add. However, why not “borrow” the best of the CSFF tour? I’ve gone through all of the posts as of noonish on 3/18, the third day of the tour, and can recommend some high points to visit. You can see the links to all the participants below.
John Otte gives some critique, and talks about his hopes for Christian speculative fiction.
Fred Warren does the same thing I’m doing, giving a tour overview. His is more clever than mine. Curses, Fred!
Wade Ogletree gets the “Going Overboard Award”, with not 1, not 3, but 6(!) posts about the book. (OK, they’re all great posts!)
Becky Miller, our ringmaster (more in the circus way, rather than Sauronic fashion), always has great thoughts. Link is to March ’09 archives, and look for CSFF Tour or allegory (great post there!)
Val Comer gives a good review of the book, and the opening paragraphs as well. Two for one!
I’ll also highlight new CSFF member Ryan Heart and her coded post. Tricky.
Becky Miller always tracks EVERY post, a daunting task, so you can go to all the posts off of this link.
*Participants’ Links:
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Wade Ogletree
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
CSFF Tour – The Codebearers Series
This month’s CSFF tour features Hunter Brown and the Secret of the Shadow by the Miller Brothers.
I am impressed in investigating this book, because the Miller Brothers are 30 somethings who are writing books they would have liked to have when they were around 10. Of course, not much was written from a Christian perspective for that age range back then, but there also wasn’t technology to allow said authors to create their own book trailer, rocking web site full of games and networking, and even allow a FREE read of the book online.
I appreciate what they’ve done, as I have boys getting into the age range for this book, and I want this type of work available as part (but not the only part) of what they read.
I didn’t realize there was a free read available, so I don’t have any original content to add. However, why not “borrow” the best of the CSFF tour? I’ve gone through all of the posts as of noonish on 3/18, the third day of the tour, and can recommend some high points to visit. You can see the links to all the participants below.
John Otte gives some critique, and talks about his hopes for Christian speculative fiction.
Fred Warren does the same thing I’m doing, giving a tour overview. His is more clever than mine. Curses, Fred!
Wade Ogletree gets the “Going Overboard Award”, with not 1, not 3, but 6(!) posts about the book. (OK, they’re all great posts!)
Becky Miller, our ringmaster (more in the circus way, rather than Sauronic fashion), always has great thoughts. Link is to March ’09 archives, and look for CSFF Tour or allegory (great post there!)
Val Comer gives a good review of the book, and the opening paragraphs as well. Two for one!
I’ll also highlight new CSFF member Ryan Heart and her coded post. Tricky.
Becky Miller always tracks EVERY post, a daunting task, so you can go to all the posts off of this link.
*Participants’ Links:
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Magma
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Wade Ogletree
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
Writing and Rewriting, Oh My!
I am slowly struggling to write a novel. I’ve had loooong periods of no writing, punctuated with some relative creativity. I’m slowly learning to shut off my internal editor to a degree to just get something, anything, on the page. If I don’t, that confounded editor can freeze me up.
Lately I’ve hit one of those good periods, and have done more than what I’ve accomplished in a long time. Still, I’m probably only 1/4th of what I want to be. I’m determined to see this through, but I realize I’m in for a long haul.
On Facebook author Terri Blackstock wrote a note regarding the hard work of rewriting. She talks about the enormous amount of rewriting she does, and how it is the major part of working a novel into publishing state.
Good grief, Charlie Brown! I’m struggling as it is to get ONE draft done.
This is what she had to say regarding those beginning novelists she’s tried to help:
But sometimes, they’ll receive what I’m saying with thoughtfulness, take notes, ask questions. That’s good. When I’m sure they understand what is needed to fix the problems, I send them on their way to rewrite their book. I’m thinking they’ll do what I do—take it through seven or eight or twelve more drafts, each time getting deeper into the characters, making the plot more intriguing, polishing the writing … For me, that takes months. But too often, they’ll call me a week later and say, “I took the afternoon off work yesterday and did all the rewrites you suggested. I think it’s ready to go.”
It goes without saying, she’s not too impressed with this amount of effort. She did say that it doens’t matter whether you write a full draft then rewrite, or if you rewrite page-by-page as you go. The key is that writing is talent, skill, but also perseverance and the willingness to put in the hard work.
*Sigh* Looks like I’m in this for the long haul. I’m willing, and I know it’s not easy for anyone, but it’s not easy with career and family/kids and ministry. Check back in 5 years when I’ve gotten my head on straight and gotten something substantial done, LOL.