webinars – Textploits of the Writerly Persuasion

WRITING:

AugNoWriMo is going well and I’m in the midst of some interesting POV experimentation for my WIP. This week, I’ve combed through various articles about the pros and cons of Multiple POVs. Some even mix up present and past tense, while others switch up from 1st person to 3rd. One thing that is a common theme with this methodology is you should do what’s right for the story. If it works, it works. There aren’t any ironclad rules on writing, as we all know. Part of the fun on this writing journey is when we get the chance to play with words.

READING:

I’ve read two out of the four contest pieces for the 21st Annual Heart of the West Writers Contest sponsored by the Utah Chapter of Romance Writers of America. It’s interesting to see techniques I’ve learned via workshops as well as those that require more refinement. I’m hoping to finish the rest in the next couple of days.

Next up on the reading list, my continuation of K.M. Weiland‘s forthcoming Structuring Your Novel. I also have WIP excerpts to go through from my SCBWI critique group.

NETWORKING:

Had our first check-in for #wipmadness on Candilynn Fite’s blog. It’s nice to know everyone’s in agreement that we need to honor our minds and bodies while on our writing journey.

The #ROW80 check-ins twice a week, along with other writing communities such as Ali Luke‘s Writers’ Huddle, and SavvyAuthors, are going well, too. I had a chance to pop in on Holly Lisle‘s Forums, as well. All good stuff happening in the writing community.

LEARNING:

Tonette, meet Udemy. Udemy, meet Tonette. You’ve circled each other for too long. Now, it’s time to boogie.

And boogie, I have. Well, not really. I’m not taking dance classes through the website, but I’m sure there’s a course out there. This week I dove in the following courses (from the many free and paid sitting in my account):

Young Adult Novel Writing Workshop

I resisted temptation and did exactly as promised by looking at what I’ve had all along before registering for new workshops. Interesting sessions, so far.

Pain Free at Work

This was a perfect course to get because of the long hours sitting at a computer. I recommend this for anyone who sits for extended periods of time throughout the day. Your body will thank you.

Learn Guitar in 21 Days

That last one is more of a self-imposed accelerated course. Since I only have access to my sister’s guitar on the weekends, I did the first week’s worth of classes over the holiday weekend. My calluses are developing nicely. 🙂 The first few lessons are a refresher from my basic level guitar playing days many moons ago. Still, it’s nice to do something creative outside of writing to keep things interesting.

I have a bunch of recorded webinars and ebooks I bought at the Writer’s Digest Shop. They’re next on my ‘To Sort and Review’ list. Not to mention all the great content in the magazine subscription.

We’re a week into the month of August. How goes it for you?

July draws to a close and I. AM. TIRED. We’re past the halfway point of the year. Can you believe it? I’m still climbing a steep hill on my writing journey. Fortunately, the continuous support in the writing community is making it worthwhile

WRITING:

Camp NaNoWriMo and JulNoWriMo. Tweeting updates with @JulNoWriMo and #CampNaNoWriMo. Every Friday until September 21st, I’ll be writing update posts for WRITE YOUR NOVEL THIS SUMMER.

Fractured Tales Series Word Total for July: 90,436 words

Totals for April, June, and July: 254,295 words

These numbers are daunting. I won’t post them again for awhile to give my revised rebooted revision–yep, you read that correctly–a clean slate. All those words still have their purpose and many of them will find their way back into the finished product. I think starting August with a fresh perspective will mean I have less to live up to. No need to pressure myself and take the fun out of the writing process.

I still plan on keeping at least one day a week writing free. The plan is for Sunday to take that coveted spot, but I’m flexible, depending on the chaos that the week’s activities bring.

For August, my writing goals:

1) The first 50 pages of my Triple R WIP Book 1: Aaralyn’s Song. I certain can and will write more, but this is my absolute minimum. I want a solid and shiny start to the series. Plot holes be gone! Tight prose, crunchy conflict, here I come.

2) I have at least two short story submissions due at the end of the month. They’re written. I just need to polish them up real pretty and submit them. Easy peasy.

3) I want to dust off old contest submissions. Novelette and novella length pieces. They got positive feedback so I figure it’s a good idea to shop them around. I know there are submission call outs and my pieces are within the word count range.

Just three goals of many, but three of the most relevant at this time.

READING:

Here’s what I read this week:

I really liked this book. Authentic voices and a fresh take on young love. I liked the alternating POVs from each of the main characters, though I got muddled a couple of times before realizing that it was strictly alternating back and forth. D’oh. Since no names were addressed right away per chapter, it took me a handful of lines before realizing who the POV character was. Another thing I noticed, and possibly just for the boy’s POV, it was written in first person past tense, but there were some passages that suddenly switched to first person present. Dunno why that was but I got used to it eventually. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and a nice escape from my daily grind (writing or otherwise).

Currently reading:

THE SPARK 15798364

Total books read since June 23rd:

Fiction: 10

Non-Fiction: 3

I need to put my other books on hold for the time being because I’ve been fortunate enough to receive Advanced Readers Copies (ARCs) from NetGalley and from an author herself. I’ll be reading those first and posting up reviews when the time comes. My original plan for friday posts (Pre-FRIDAY FORAGE) was to have book reviews. I think I might include that in the FORAGE as these reads are great finds, too. 🙂

I have three, at the moment, plus the MS that I’m beta reading. I think that all counts towards my continuous reading challenge.

SOCIAL MEDIA-ING (formerly known as BLOGGING):

Thanks to Angelina C. Hansen for allowing us to check in on her blog for #wipmadness. In August, we’re lucky to have Candilynn Fite host for us every Monday. Four Sunday #ROW80 check-ins and five Mid-Week Check-Ins, so far.

As mentioned above, FRIDAY FORAGE will soon include book reviews. I will still post updates for my summer writing challenge. I’ve been gathering some interesting sites and articles for upcoming posts, as well.

OTHERS:

Today’s OTHERS section is devoted to EDIFICATION. Have you ever registered for a course or workshop, perhaps purchased downloadable lessons, and so forth, all in the name of honing your writing skills? How often have you let a couple or maybe a few of them slip through the cracks? I’m at fault on this one, primarily because I enrol in more classes than I have physical ability to stay on top of aside from my daily obligations. Other times, because some of them are self-guided, it’s so easy to put them off and before you know it a year’s gone by. True story.

I need to reevaluate all the resources I already have at my fingertips and make use of them before I start enrolling myself in any more classes or buy anymore downloadables. I kick myself for discovering that I have similar products and the money could have gone towards something else. This is a lengthy process, but it’s necessary, especially since it was an investment made in the first place. I want to make sure it’s money well spent, not carelessly forgotten. It’s one of those things where you don’t realize the value of what you have even if it’s right under your nose, or in my case, on my laptop computer.

To that end, I will go back and truly appreciate the following (These will also be mentioned in upcoming FRIDAY FORAGE posts):

– Dr. John Yeoman’s Writers’ Village

– Ali Luke’s Writers’ Huddle

– Holly Lisle’s many courses, of which I have all but have not gone through yet. *tsk tsk*

– Udemy courses I’ve purchased (some on sale, some free, all pretty nifty)

Those were courses, workshops, and lessons. I’ve also severely neglected the following amazing resources of which I’m a member:

– Children’s Book Insider – The CBI Clubhouse has lessons, vids, and other services all put together in a great community.

– Writer’s Digest VIP Program – This includes great discounts (that I did take advantage of) but also access to WritersMarket.com

– Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – Got an email today. Free webinars and other great critiquing opportunities!

– Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators & Performers

– Canadian Authors Association

There are more. Like I said, it’s a long process to sift through all that I have. Hello, Self. It’s me talking. You aren’t paying annual dues for nothing, ya know!!!

More on this tomorrow in my goal post–ha! See what I did there? I’ll devote the first of the month, as usual, to all that I’d like to see happen and want to focus on during the month itself.

Happy Hump Day, everyone.