The Honeymoon is Over!!!

 

 

The hubby and I at the Baths in Hot Springs

Not in a bad way, promise. But we're back! Had a great (if excruciatingly humid and hot) honeymoon in Hot Springs. We explored Bath House Row, ate at the BEST Mexican restaurant outside of Mexico, tasted local wine, familiarized ourselves with the twisty network of roads, got lost, met a bunch of people from Louisiana, and stayed at an elegant B&B (which was a little different, but more on that later). We had an excellent time, but I'm happy to be home. 

I hope to post wedding pictures soon!

Monday Madness: I scream, you scream, we all scream for novel themes!

I distinctly remember discussing Shakespeare in my high school English class. We were discussing themes in Hamlet and, being young and stupid (ok, young-er and stupid-er), I wondered whether themes were something that were intentional or just sort of happened in a work accidentally. I mean, did Shakespeare really plan on exploring the themes of "the impossibility of certainty," "the complexity of action" and "the mystery of death?" Or was he just writing for the sake of writing and those things sort of worked their way in?

I admit that when I begin a story, even if I'm planning on it being deep and meaningful, I don't think much about "This is my theme." I just let the story unfold, let the characters do what they need to do, and just write.

When I let one of my coworkers read my second-ish draft of FURY, I was surprised when he came back with, "I loved how you explored the theme of bestiality in humans." Cough. Yeah, that's totally what I was going for. So glad you caught onto that. Ahem.

But the more I write, the more I realize that some themes do occur subliminally. It's not a talent, I've learned. Really, I think themes work themselves into my writing because I've done so much reading.

Yes, you do have to be a good reader to be a good writer.

I'm not saying I pick up most books for the sake of discovering what lies beneath the story, but when a story really stays with me, it's because I connected with one or more of the themes.

Let's take The Hunger Games, for example. One prevalent theme is "the question of when does survival no longer excuse violence?" The MC has no problem killing to save herself, but there comes a point when she understands that there is a line that can be crossed...but will she cross it anyway?

In my story, Dragon Queen, one of my themes is "the influence of others upon ourselves and how it shapes our characters." It didn't happen intentionally, but manifested through the events in the story. And, really, that's how I think it's supposed to work. The story makes the themes, not the other way around. But, I don't know, I'm still contemplating it.

Your thoughts?

Snap, Crackle, Pop

So, I finally cracked today. I was doing so well, too.

I even smiled at the lady who put mayonnaise (gross) on my sandwich at Subway when I clearly said "banana peppers." When I left, I said pleasantly, "God bless stupid people. They make the rest of us seem so much smarter."

I was nice to the people I ordered my bridesmaids boots from, even though when I ordered the boots THREE weeks ago, they said it would only take ONE week for them to come in. Still no boots. They assured me they will be in Friday afternoon (the day BEFORE the wedding). I also remember specifically telling them that I needed them by Sept. 18. In three weeks, you'd think they'd get it right. But I was sweet and said, "Ok, see you Friday, then."

(Even if my boots don't come in, they will still see me Friday... and I will seriously go all Bridezilla on them and demand my money back. (I prepaid for them.) I think that's reasonable.)

I called the flower shop today because I haven't heard a peep from them about my flowers. I went by to put a VOLUNTARY (she assured me) deposit on them the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, but they were closed. Last weekend I was so busy unpacking that I didn't remember to go by until AFTER they were closed for the day, so crap-ola. But I wasn't too worried because, like I said, the deposit was VOLUNTARY and I was only going to do it so they would know I wasn't going to order hundreds of dollars worth of flowers and then say, "Oops, my bad. I didn't really want them." When I call them today they tell me they haven't even ORDERED my flowers yet because they were waiting on the deposit.

!!!

And when can I come by and pay for the flowers so they can order them?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I'm not able to come by until Friday, because I work and wouldn't be able to get there before you close," I say very calmly through my teeth.

"Oh, well, are you sure you can't come by sooner?"

What I want to know is WHY they want me to pay up front now when before they told me I didn't have to pay ANYTHING until the day I picked them up for my wedding? It was MY choice to give them some money upfront. (Which now I'm glad I didn't because they would probably have "misplaced" that and demanded I pay them double.) ALSO, they can't even tell me exactly HOW MUCH the flowers are going to be, which is why I couldn't pay them upfront before. (They gave me an estimate.) So, really, WTF?

They are going to order my flowers today. I will pay for them Friday and pick them up Saturday. Oh, and did I mention I have no idea what the frak these flowers are going to look like? Yeah, so there's a good possibility I'm paying for a bundle of dandelions and stingweed.

And then my brother sends me a nice text that says exactly this: So are you going to come see Julian or what? (Julian is my nephew whom I haven't seen in over  a year.)

:::Snap:::

Rawr!!!

:::Forces Bridezilla back into her cage. She begins gnawing on the bars:::

My reply: Yes, I am going to come over tonight.

What I really want to say: EXCUSE ME! Yes, I want to see my nephew, but I am also trying to make sure that my wedding is going to happen without any major catastrophes, as well as settle into a new place (and get it ready for some of our guests to stay in). I'm freaking out because I still can't find my cat and trying not to resent my mother for letting him escape in the first place. I'm pretty sure he's dead, but you know what? None of that matters. Please, let me drop everything to accommodate YOU. So sorry!

I feel a little selfish for feeling that way, but, gah. I'm already spread too thin here.

Monday Madness: You're Awesome! (Until You're Not)

Every writer I've come across has their moments where they are like, "Yes, I am so AWESOME. Bask in my awesomeness, little people!" quickly followed by, "Wow, I suck SO MUCH. Why do I continue torturing these poor people with my drivel?"

I'm currently somewhere in-between.

I've been struggling with my current WIP, Last of the Elves. For some reason, I just can't get it right. My critique forum have been more than helpful, more than patient, more than understanding and, yet, I just don't get what they're trying to tell me. Part of me wonders if it's because the truculent toddler inside me is saying, "You just don't get it! I am right, you are wrong!" or really, that I just lack the brain capacity to see what the problem is. Maybe I'm too close to the work. I don't know. But it's frustrating me to no end.

Hence, my OMG-I-suck moment.

But on the other end of the spectrum is Dragon Queen, the short story that is going to be published (which, I argue, if it wasn't good, it wouldn't be getting published) and also the short story in the "for fun" contest on my critique forum, which isn't doing as horrible as I thought it would. So, I apparently can write from time to time. I must be awesome to some extent.

And yet, LOTE fails.

Almost all the writers in my acquaintance experience these small failures. It's difficult not to be discouraged. My tip? Try focusing on the positive in your life, especially when it involves writing. It may not be enough to completely stop you from asking yourself "Why am I doing this again?" but it might be enough to keep you going until you have your next "OMG, I am AWESOME" moment. And, trust me, that moment will come.

(If that doesn't work, grab a mocha. Coffee + chocolate makes everything better.)

I Know What I Want

I rarely go through periods where I don't know what I want. I've always been a goal-driven person. I've laid out my dreams and mapped out the best way to get to them.

Which brings me to my mini-rant of the day.

With my wedding fast approaching, I've had a couple people (some of them who play a significant role in my life) ask me if I'm sure.

I shall give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they're just making sure that I know what I'm doing. Marriage, after all, is supposed to be a lifetime commitment (though, unfortunately, it's no longer viewed that way by most people). So, thank you all for caring enough to ask me if I'm sure, but let me let you in on a little secret:

If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't be doing it.

That's just how I operate. I might cave in to peer pressure and do stupid things (like get drunk or get a tattoo) but I still know what I'm doing (and some part of me always wants to do it anyway). And when it comes to the BIG things, I never go into them without weighing all the options and possibilities. So, for those of you who are concerned. Yes. I. Am. Sure.

People have kindly pointed out the flaws in my groom and in our relationship. Another little secret: I already knew they were there. And, what's more, I can live with them. I don't expect my groom or my marriage to be perfect. I expect there will be times when we will be stupid and hurt each other. Where we will yell and scream (probably over nothing). I know this. I accept it. But I also know that there will be far more good times to hold on to. Acceptance and love. Encouragement and support. Caring. Devotion. Laughter. An ability to be selfless. My fiance and I are happy more than we are upset/sad/angry. And that happiness mainly stems from being together.

And here's another secret (I'm just chock full of them): I'm not marrying my fiance just because I love him. I'm marrying him because he is a wonderful person, because he is my rock and my light. I am marrying him because life without him is not an option. I'm marrying him because he will be a good husband and an excellent father. I am marrying him because I understand his weaknesses and let him see mine without fearing that he will use them against me. I am marrying him because he loves me like no one has ever loved me (NO ONE) and I have never doubted it. NEVER (which is huge for me).

I've known what I've wanted in life from a very young age and I've never deviated from it despite how discouraging or impossible my life becomes. And I knew that I wanted to marry this man when I was sitting in a coffee shop with my best friend, gushing about my fiance, and she said, "Brandi, I've never seen you like this. You're really in love, aren't you?"

Yes, I am.

So, again, thank you for your concern, but I know what I'm doing. I know what I want.

Monday Madness: Revising with a Purpose

Writing a novel is the easy part. It's also the fun part.

Revising? Not so fun.

I'm one of those freaks who actually enjoys editing and revising, however. I like taking something good and making it great. Sometimes, however, I go too far. I fix things that don't need to be fixed. Add things that don't need to be added. And in my zeal to produce the perfect manuscript, I make it a garbled mess.

So I now make myself take revising/editing in baby steps. I edit with a purpose.

First Revision: Plot

I make sure it's strong and cohesive. I add a bit of foreshadowing (since I tend to be a pantser and things "just happen" as I write, this is very important). This is usually the most involved revision and takes the longest.

Second Revision: Focus on characters.

I make sure their personalities stay true and realistic, their voices are distinct, and their physical appearance stays the same (unless it's supposed to change). I make sure that their dreams and values remain consistent.

Third Revision: Realize weaknesses and correct them.

Every writer's weakness will be different. Mine is that I tend to be more focused on my characters than the setting at times and it can leave a reader adrift. I also tend to not trust my reader and so I state things that don't really need to be stated. So, I try to weed out as many of these as possible.

Third Revision Part II: Strengthen weak scenes, sentences, dialogue, etc. 

This is the stage that I'm currently at with Dragon Queen. This is just one small step beyond the third revision, so I didn't really think it warranted its own step.

Fourth Revision: The final polish.

After you're done with the Third Revision, let your MS sit for a while. A week is good. A month is even better. (I have a really hard time doing this.) Then I suggest printing out a hard copy, grabbing a pen in a bright color (I like pink) and reading through. Mark any place that bugs you, but DON'T STOP READING until you've read the entire thing. Then go back and reevaluate those places. Sometimes these things are just items that you've overlooked from a previous revision. Other times they are complications that have risen from changes you've made. Correct them. Spit shine them and then...

Let it sit for another few days (or weeks). Pick it up again (or if you're lucky and have a beta, send it to them and ask for their opinion). If you (or your beta) can give a thumbs up after re-reading it, then you're ready to start your synopsis and write your query (if you haven't done it already).

Happy revising!

I'm a Grandma!

Here are the newest additons to my family!

Aren't they precious?