Always an author...

"Dark Revelation"

Saturday, April 21, 2012

My Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Win!

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2012/04/20/week-16-flash-fiction-challenge-winner-stephanie-myers/



The Bandit
by Stephanie Myers
Her beady little eyes smiled at me as I walked back toward the table with the hamburgers. I had a hungry hoard to feed and could see the saliva glistening from their teeth – even from this distance. I was irritated about the brats missing, but I still had a sense of compassion.
The smell of the charcoal grill lingered in the air and reminded me of long summers past. The way it used to be. No use to dwell. Doesn’t get you anywhere anyway.
Poor dog. I knew she was hungry, but I wasn’t sure if I could afford to feed her and those I kept watch over.
They were growing restless. The clinking of their chains grew more intense as I walked past the table toward the dog run. This meal would have to last. At least until I could think of a way to procure more… meat.
I don’t know how she made it into the yard. I was going to have to do a sweep later and look for the hole she must have dug to get through the fence. Turn it into a rabbit trap, possibly.
“Here girl,” I whistled to her dangling a piece of the charred burger. She inched closer. The smell of meat and her growling belly propelled her forward and lended to trust – not seeing the knife I had in my back pocket.
Poor dog. Just enough meat to replace the brats – and feed the guests I kept in the backyard.

Don't delete anything!!!

I've spent this past week with my fingers super glued to my laptops keyboard finish this book.  Since I do not have an outside editor, I am doing line-by-line editing myself.  It could turn into utter failure, but I doubt it.  Not to toot my own horn (but I will) I have a fairly strong grasp of the English language and of its grammar.  My English professor even said so.  (And yes, I am sticking my tongue out at my monitor - and starting my sentence with AND)

My deadline - the 27th.  It takes about 72 hours for the book to be available, well, at least that is what the instructions say.

I am quite proud of  how my story looks.  Even more than that, when I read through certain passages, I am surprised with the flow of it and how it all makes sense.

When writing, I don't edit until later - if I am finished with a paragraph or sentence and it does not make sense - I highlight it, bold it, italicize it - that way I can change it later.  I don't want to delete anything until I am absolutely sure it is complete and total tripe.

Don't even delete anything!!!

If you think for one moment that you are going to start over from scratch, save that file.  I have an "Idea" folder that I am constantly adding to.  One liners, paragraphs, 30,000 words, Screenplays.  Stories that I started and never finished.  Ideas that have blown through my mind while working on Dark Revelation.  They are all in that folder marked "for later use."

Those little scraps that have been tossed aside will come into play.  I will even submit some of those short stories to some cool websites for review.

One man's trash....  well, is this woman's treasure.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Revelations

Why does it take ten minutes to rewrite one sentence?  And then that sentence turns into an hour because I am revising the entire paragraph.  And then... Undo, Undo, Undo, Undo - Redo...

Seriously.

Friday, February 24, 2012

More of an effort...

I suppose I should give more of an effort into updating my blog.  Originally, this was going to be used to track the process of my Zombie novel, however, once I started my new project "Dark Revelations" this blog was placed on the back shelf.

I am working on revisions for this new venture.  It is a young adult supernatural action novel.  I've posted a bit on my author's page on Facebook, a snippet, a short few paragraphs for enticement.  I've already received complaints that it is not enough, and I've received some shares, and some compliments.  I am excited and yet nervous.  I know there will be criticism, constructive and not-so constructive and I welcome it all.

Life... well, life is life.  Continues to be full of twists, turns, ups, and downs.  There are moments when I feel I am in Round 5 and two punches from a TKO, Life being the victor and me about to lose consciousness.

I guess it is time to start investing in smelling salts, eh?

I will be posting Chapter 1 soon.  Now, if my twitter followers would realize I am not Stephenie Meyer, but Stephanie Myers - life would be peachy.  I have trolls... and no bridge to put them under.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Wow October already...

I seriously cannot believe how much time has flown.  It seemed as if just yesterday my children were starting school again. I am actually attempting to finish what I have started.  This isn't something that I am giving up.  Although there are days in which I wonder why I even try.

The stories, the ideas, the characters - they are there.  However, some days they are more hidden and difficult to find.  My mind is a labyrinth and with every twist and turn a new adventure.  There are the walls I run into. 

Gotta start packing grenades I suppose.

Friday, August 12, 2011

I don't like being yelled at...

Especially when I am in the process of working on one story.  But maybe that is what is meant to happen.  I am supposed to work on more than one idea at a time.  I know it is possible, but I don't want the two stories to collide and end up verbal vomit on my computers harddrive.

However, if I am driving and the nagging voices of these new characters come through beyond the loudness of my stereo and the lyrics I am singing, I know it is time to open up a new document and start writing their whispers giving voice to them. 

I have to reach that Wall and climb it.  I need to finish my old project and breathe life into this new one.