INSPIRATION STATION

I don’t know about the rest of you but the idea’s for this week’s posts have been few. Though, I wish to thank each and every one who stopped by to leave a comment the past week. I am grateful.

I also wish to thank all the awesome people who decided to follow my blog. I hope I can keep you entertained. You guys are a wonderful source of inspiration. You guys are the fuel that keeps me going. Thank you.

HATE

No I am not going to write a crazy ranting post while cussing continuously. But what I am going to do is tell you what I seriously hate.

1. I hate it when my different food groups touch on my plate.

2. I hate it when other people pour sauce over my food. If there is any sauce to be added, I will do so myself.

3. I hate evil people. Yes, they are out there, beware.

4. I hate crowds.

5. I hate rude people.

6. I hate being the youngest in my family. Torture!

7. I hate it when people stare at me.

8. I hate gelatin! Animal hooves and joints anyone? Ew!

9. I hate going to funerals.

10. I hate it when I gain weight. Duh, who doesn’t?

11. I hate it when I buy a book that has gotten great reviews, but when I read it, I can’t get past chapter two.

Wow! I hate a lot of things and I am sure there are a ton of other things I hate too, but I won’t bore you with the rest. So what do you hate and makes your blood boil?

GNOMES

I know this is a weird post title but I really like gnomes. I am thinking of creating an interesting gnome character in one of my future novels.

I am seriously considering buying me one (or a few more) of those garden gnomes and putting it on my desk. They always seem so mysterious. Don’t their expressions make you wonder what they are thinking, while standing in that constant pose?

Don’t look at me like that, it’s not like I answer them when they speak to me or anything. I just ‘’smile and wave.’’

FIRST CHAPTER

I have decided to read as many first chapters of bestselling authors, as I can find and see if I can learn how to write a good, if not great first chapter.

Why? Because I know my book is good, it has potential. But I also know that my first chapter does not really pull the reader in. And with querying you only have a few sentences to get that agent to like your work or they will politely say ‘’No’’ and send you a nice rejection letter.

So that is my plan. What about you? Do you have the magic first chapter or are you looking for the secret magic formula too?

EDITING

A year ago editing was new to me and fun. Fast forward a year and suddenly editing is the devil. Crucifix anyone?

Though, I have come to accept editing. It is necessary even though it is painful and appears time consuming. But it is important to take your time editing. Do not rush to finish.

I have 8 drafts to date of my first novel. So perhaps if I had given it to my strictest critique partner (brother) in the beginning, then I would have spent a year editing one draft instead of a year editing 8 different drafts. I would have saved myself a lot of time, effort and patience.

I have found that editing can be very draining and thus you should find a way to make editing fun. Fun? Are you insane woman? No, but seriously. You have to find an approach that doesn’t leave you gloomy. Find or do something that lifts your spirits, like a reward system. I personally love using different coloured stationary when I edit, like bright pink post it’s and multi coloured highlighters and stuff like that. I don’t know why but stationary makes me happy.

So basically take your time with editing, even if it takes a year. Rather focus on doing a good job then finishing quickly. And don’t forget to make it fun.

DARKNESS

The darkness comes into my life and takes me. Every fibre of my being is chilled and I can feel nothing but emptiness.

Loved ones appear distant and unapproachable. All wish to help, but instead aids the darkness in its powers.

The darkness easily consumes me. I can no longer see light anymore. My mind has darkened to thoughts of anger and despair. My heart blackened like tar.

The darkness takes me and I know that this time I will not return. Every breath I take feels like torture. The darkness takes me and I can fight no more.

CHARACTERS

As I was editing my first novel, again, I started thinking…How much info do you have to include into your characters profile when creating them?

I personally don’t go into extreme detail when creating my characters. I don’t write down what books they like, which music they are into or what their political views are. I just know what their personality should be like. Even their look is something I struggle with. But at least I know what I don’t want them to look like. What I usually do write down is their eye colour, hair colour, height, weight, type of body build and personality traits.

I spend quite a lot of time trying to figure out the storyline before I start writing but I confess, I don’t go too crazy when developing a character. Bad planning on my part? Maybe, but I don’t like reading a lot of narrative, using 10 sentences to describe how thick a man’s bicep is or using half the page to describe how gloriously the lady’s hair blew in the wind. I personally read one or two sentences and then skip the rest.

Of course when the story develops I add more info, but I can’t tell beforehand where the dialogue will take me or what exactly will be said. Characters tend to take me on a journey. They take hold of me and before I know it they are the one’s telling me what to write and do and not the other way around. So I won’t know that pink is my leading lady’s favourite colour till she tells me so later on and I don’t know that my leading man loves Metallica when I create him. He too only tells me when it is convenient for him. Typical!

So how much time do you devote towards developing your characters? Do focus on giving your characters tons of info before writing or do you add it in later like me?