the whole shebang…

the ins and outs & ups and downs of a new novelist's journey

Authonomy. March 19, 2009

Filed under: Progress! — Eden Tyler @ 2:44 pm
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auth

Amazing site.

I uploaded my entire book  (well, 10k words) there yesterday – after rewriting the prologue completely.  Yeah, that was a task, lemme tell ya..
I now need to decide which version I’m going to use before I write any more.  Oh, and also before Monday since that’s the day my fellowship submission has to be postmarked by – at the latest.  I should send it out Saturday.

Anyway, here’s the link if you’re interested.
http://authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=7444
*[6.15.09---i saw that ppl are trying to get to this link. the book is private atm. i'll let ya'll know when it's back up and running =)]*

 

Goodreads.com March 17, 2009

goodreads logo

True to my word, I posted the first part of my book on my goodreads page.

If you are interested, take a look.  You don’t have to sign up to view or comment.

http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/37757.The_Abandoned_Edge_of_Avalon?chapter=1

 

newer working title. the last one ’til someone else decides for me. March 16, 2009

I’ve gone through three revisions now, and am about to post the 1st 1,500 words on goodreads so that I can get a bit more feedback before I send it off to the Midwest Writers Workshop for a fellowship. If I get one of the nine spots, I’ll get a weekend retreat for free. I’m not counting my chickens, but one has to try all avenues.

I’m even more excited about finishing the next couple thousand words of my book because then I can upload it to Authonomy for reviews and ranking. I adore feedback of all kinds – unless someone is just being mean and pretentious for no good reason, and I have encountered this. Well, not personally, but I’ve stood up for others when I see it happen as there is absolutely no excuse for it.

- Oh, yeah. I almost forgot the final working title:
‘The Abandoned Edge of Avalon’

 

new working title. March 13, 2009

Filed under: Progress! — Eden Tyler @ 10:29 am
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The Forgotten Fae

Also, I now have ~6k done & my 1st 1500 are completely revised! They have to be in order to apply for a fellowship coming up. Of course, I could easily not get it, since there are only 3 spots for my genre, but no matter what, the pressure is gettin’ my butt in gear. I’m about 25 pp in – only 225 or so to go …HA!
But I’m lovin’ every minute of it!

 

workshop this wknd! March 12, 2009

Filed under: Progress! — Eden Tyler @ 1:58 pm
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I am attending the short midwest writers workshop this weekend.
Which means I have to get up at 4 am. Not fun…
But I’m excited to go. I’ve been spending most of my time revising and reading about writing lately and am really getting into all of this.
I’m interested to see what a workshop is all about, and I figured a brief, 3 hr, free one will be nice to give me a taste.

 

the cleanest I’ll ever see my desk! March 9, 2009

Filed under: Progress! — Eden Tyler @ 3:37 pm

I’m pretty dang proud because I’ve accomplished a lot yesterday and today!

I made up some poster boards for main characters, which I’m actually sad to say I’ve had to use – so I guess it’s good I have them, right?!?? I’ve changed the names of my characters so often I need a reference staring right at me!

Other than that, just today, I’ve written about 1,500 words on top of revising the prologue and first two chapters – yet again. I still only have about a solid 17 pages of a paperback sized book written, but I gotta start somewhere. I like where the book is going, and the words are actually coming so freely – I had forgotten how much I truly love to just sit at a computer and write… I’ve spent so much time reading lately.

Anyway, pretty boring, I know, but that’s my update.

p.s. – I did finish the exercise on character, hence the posterboard. the long one on the left is only my protagonist, though. No room for more in this little area of an unused bedroom I shoved myself in…

Watch – I’ll post another pic in a couple wks and there will be way more post-it’s everywhere and hopefully a bigger tally of pages. :)

It’s-a-going * slowly but surely. Yay!!!

ya like my ginormous monitor? i lost my computer in the flood, so it’s all i have at the moment haha!!

6.10.09 — i know i said i’d post another picture, but yeah..that would just be embarrassing.  it’s soooo dirty – papers and books and notes everywhere!!
but i got a notebook so i do almost all my work on the sofa now =)

 

character. March 5, 2009

There is so much to character it’s ridiculous!!
If you do not develop a character and  have a great plot, your story will be unbelievable.  This I know just from being a reader.

Now, trying to be a serious writer, I realize how much you truly  have to invest in even secondary characters.
So, tomorrow I’m going to do some exercises for my characters during my 7-8 hr road trip (no, I won’t be the one driving).

I’m reading a new book by Nancy Lamb called The Art and Craft of Storytelling and she gives amazing tips so I’m going to take her advice for this part of my novel.

First part is a brainstorming list for creating characters.

For each character, these things need to be determined…
*personality
*defining traits
*origin
*home - frex city or subarbs 
*shelter – what kind of house
*family constellation
*best friends
*interests
*dislikes
*favorites
*hobbies
*clothes
*names – like nickname..
*body language

Then, ask yourself lots and lots of questions about your character.  frex ‘how do these traits indicate emotional conflict?’
dang…this will be an exercise..and I’m not even done listing what I have to come up with.

These questions are even more important:
*what does the main character want the most?
*what obstacles must the character overcome?
*what makes the character memorable?
*how does the hero save herself?

Good thing I have a lot of time cause I’m gonna need it!  But I’m excited because I have the story pretty much done in my head, I just need to get it written down and that will be accomplished thru character’s action..  Wish me luck!

 

take two. March 5, 2009

Filed under: 15 words. — Eden Tyler @ 11:39 am
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Neither she nor anyone else is who she thought.  
Can she decide who to save?

 

take one. March 5, 2009

Filed under: 15 words. — Eden Tyler @ 11:37 am
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Visions of another dimension usher a girl through an adventure of immorality, virtue, and self-discovery.