holly lisle – Tale Chasing

How we got here

kimiko — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:47:07 +0000

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to talk the search for a good critique partner. This post is going to hit and run on that topic. We’re here because I did infact audition some people as critique partners. And I found a few who were very helpful. Everyone that offered to help had some good stuff to say. Anyone I didn’t pursue was only due to chemistry with a particular person and not because I didn’t find their crits helpful. So with that little disclaimer out of the way….(and a lead up to another post about this entire process)…

I am standing with 8k words in my hands, wondering if it’s good enough. This is no doubt, not an uncommon process or issue for writers. So let me tell you about how I got here.

I sent out my first chapter to about 5 people. I figured that since I’m happily on the 5th Chapter and I still wish to get earlier chapters podcast it was about time in the process to do a final edit and get it out to the voice actors. Hence the need for a few beta readers.

Each person I sent it to had some issues with my first chapter. One person in particular helped me see that I was showing the opposite of what I’d intended with my main character. This left a hearty but not impossible re-write. InkGypsy, who’s become a big supporter and very helpful, calmed some of the stress. No, I didn’t need to trash it and start all over. Yes, it could be fixed with a bit of change here and there. It was all going to be ok.

So for the last week or two I’ve been mulling over how to fix Chapter 1. Then upon talking with someone else, I realize….we might not be getting into the action soon enough. There might not be enough uf in my first chapter. Suddenly everything I have written looks extraneous and do I need to cut out large chunks of what I’ve written or do I keep it and some small change can keep it salvagable? *sounds of screams and much head holding*

My thought is…if I cut out a large amount of what I’ve written to make things happen faster….isn’t that just making a book into a short story? I want to avoid doing that. It’s a novel I’m writing not a 5k word short.

Sadly, there is no resolution to my questions yet. This post is about my process and I haven’t found the answer yet. But I felt it was good to get this out here as I’m sure there are a few others of you right now holding your heads and sighing. We aren’t lost. We’ll discover the way out.

I do however, want to leave you with a few good links I’ve found:
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 1 – Stacia Kane
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 2 – Stacia Kane
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 3 – Stacia Kane
The Fear of Writing
Holly Lisle’s Think Sideways Course

Episode 19 – TaleChasing Feedback 0908

kimiko — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:05:24 +0000

I did it! It’s less then two weeks after Dcon and I have an episode up. Granted not my NOTES from Dcon but an episode none the less. This says promising things. This is my feedback from the last year as I was a bad host and didn’t get back to it. That among other things…is going to change!

Enjoy
Show Notes:

Tee Morris

Adventures in SciFi Publishing ( my bad I said American SciFi Writing)

Lost Socks Insanity Podcast

Scott Sigler

Mur Lafferty – I Should Be Writing

DragonCon

Ivy Riesner – Writing Cast

PJ – Tech for Writers

Holly Lisle – Shop

Ian McLein (props to anyone who finds the beta pic)

Poser

The Devil Inside

David Mack

How to Think Sideways – Holly’s 6 month course

News and a Bonus Episode

kimiko — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:27:02 +0000

Hi everyone! Things have been going really well. I found out today that I am a finalist for the Parsec Awards in the Best Writing Related Podcast category! Yay!

I’m working on the next part of Guardians and still seeking a few voice actors for some characters coming up. Things are going well with Holly’s Ebook and I’m on track to deliver to her before DragonCon in TWO WEEKS!!

Things are going a little slow with the “Thinking Sideways” workshop from Holly Lisle. Partly because I’m dividing my time between projects and the class. Currently I’m trying to get in touch with my Muse, so if you see her please let her know I’m patiently waiting for her to drop back by. It’s very much worth the time and money. A lot of it is helpful for life, not just writing. So I’m really digging it. I’m also going to use it to refine Guardians.

I’m including my entry for Mur’s Stories from the Third Wave in prep for her release of Playing For Keeps on the 25th. This was the first full-cast Stories of the Third Wave. Love Lines producer, editor, and concept created by Kimi Alexandre. All the participants created their own characters and their own lines for Love Lines.

* Dora Holly – Kimi Alexandre
* Jason Block – Jason Block
* Amora – Ivy Reisner
* Bruno – Chad Henderson
* Shelly – Paulette Jaxton
* Julie – Pamela Templin
* Kim – Comic Book Goddess

Love Lines – A story from the Third Wave

Ep 13: Learning to Plot

kimiko — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:21:38 +0000

Well I did it. I finally figured out how to put together a plot for a novel. Thanks largely to Holly Lisle the following podcast tells you from start to finish how I constructed the plot for the podcasting project soon to come.

The following were mentioned in the podcast in no particular order:

Holly Lisle’s FREE Mini Plot Clinic
Holly Lisle’s Plot Clinic
Orson Scott Card – How to write Sci Fi/Fantasy
Mind Manager Pro 7

Promo:

I Should Be Writing

In the podcast I talk about how to use Mind Manager or a Bubble Map to help brainstorm for your story. The following link is a .pdf of a sample bubble map using Mind Manger Pro 7. It’s slightly altered from what I mention in my podcast but I’m a writer and we do that kinda thing. It will however make sense once you see it.

I also mention how to figure out the number of scene cards you need depending on your book length. Here is Holly Lisle’s formula for calculating scene cards for building a fast plot.

Episode 9 – Kimi and Site Updates

kimiko — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:05:38 +0000

I’m excited to present you with Episode 09 – Kimi and Site Updates!

The following were mentioned in the show: