Busy Busy Busy

Man, summer is bringing the triple threat of part-time classes (Fiction and Sign Language Interpreting), part-time job (Borders!!! 4th in the company!), and part-time social life (boyfriend and best friend back in the state). I swear, my time only has two parts to it, not three! Oh well, such is life, right?

That said, my blogging is going to be more sporadic than usual. I do have plenty of books I'm reading (Hounded by Kevin Hearne, Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews, Soul Born by Kevin Breaux), so I'll have some new reviews up (and my Kobo is working again, so anything on Smashwords or in an EPUB, PDF, or non-DRM'd format you want reviewed, send them in!). Updates on FAERIE GAMES should be coming in soon, though I have to say a second pair of eyes would be appreciated on more final line-edits, if anyone is interested.

Meanwhile, finding time to write in between all this is getting to be a trial all it's own. Finding a regular writing schedule is going to be a definite asset so I can keep up my page count on my latest WIP. It hits me, that's actually a really good asset of a writing routine, whether it be daily or not. Setting aside a specific time, making time for the writing instead of waiting for inopportune inspiration actually seems to breed inspiration. A very insightful group of ladies at a blog called Let the Words Flow coined the process of BICHOK (Butt In Chair, Hands On Keyboard). It really is that simple sometimes. It takes some training, your body and muse needs to get used to the atmosphere of its work. Me, personally, my body craves routine. My muse works best in an organized atmosphere because it matches my thoughts. My characters need some order in my head so I can hear their voice properly.

So, I wish you luck in finding your writing rhythm, I'm certainly going to have fun finding mine this summer. Any tips? What works for you in your work?

Bored With Your Book?

Does this happen to you, where you're working along well on a story concept and suddenly something that happens later in the story catches your interest? Or even worse, a different idea entirely catches your interest?

Personalities with short attention spans, ala mine, tend to jump around on ideas a lot. Heck, I've met a lot of artists who never finish anything because they either aren't content with it or another shiny idea distracts them. I'm surprised I can dedicate myself to one idea for so long and actually get projects finished, considering I have one of those personalities. To help temper that tendency, I have to have a very linear writing process where I can't skip ahead and write the scenes I want to. I have to write the in-between-scenes before the big confrontations. I have to write the development scenes before the action goes down. The lulls have to be the hardest part to write because of the potential for distraction.

Unfortunately this has happened and I've been plagued by the urges to rewrite, revise, skip around, deviate from my outline until the entire WIP is not salvageable. Resisting these urges is a trial in itself. When one of them proves necessary, like rewriting the opening, I can take a break from new material to fulfil it. However, the strong revision bug always inspires the same question, if this is boring me, then won't it be boring for my reader?

I've read on plenty of blogs that if a scene is boring you, you should change it to something that doesn't bore you. The writer's boredom is obvious to the reader through their writing. Of course, these train wrecks can be cut in the editing/revision stage, but getting through them is a test in itself. So, if a scene isn't interesting to me, in theory I should change it. Change it to what, though? That makes for either many hours of delightful brainstorming that renews enthusiasm, or many hours of sitting there, staring at a blank word processor and slowly killing your eyesight.

The two best solutions I've found, so far, while investigating ways of ending these creative dole drums, is rambling on for a paragraph or two about nothing until an idea hits and you roll with it, or rewriting the scene from the beginning from a few experimental angles to see what sticks. It's like spaghetti noodles! You see it's ready when it sticks to the wall. Or that's how the wives' tale goes...

What are some of your ways of breaking the infamous 'writer's block'? Do you think it even exists? Your thoughts are much appreciated! :)

On a side note, I have good news and bad news. The good, I have been searching for summer employment and finally landed a cashiering job at Borders! The bad, my Kobo screen turned all black and I can't read a thing on it. So, unfortunately I have to spend a good amount of money getting it fixed...it's going to be awhile before I can revel in portable ebooks again.

Back and Better!

Yes, after a rather forced hiatus from blogging because of end of semester crunch (thank God it's over!), I'm back and excited to get some time off to catch up on my word count and my reading.

Today is mostly about status updates.

First: If you didn't already know, I've created an author page with a spiffy domain name of its own and everything. Just this past weekend, I added a character art section where visitors can view drawings made by other people, and even a few by yours truly. If it sounds interesting, do check it out at http://www.betartaglia.com ! That's also one of the places where I'll be making big time updates as to the status of FAERIE GAMES and other developments, so keep it in mind, spread it around a little. :)

Second: I finally got an e-reader, a Kobo, but unfortunately I that means I can't get kindle formats in there. Some of them transferred over okay, so I have a few weeks I can go, but they will run out eventually. For those of you who frequent ebooks regularly, where else is a good place to find different, more open formatted ebooks? Any suggestions, promos?

That's about it for me today. I'll do my best to have a review posted by around Friday or Saturday. I hope everyone else is having a good, stress-free week!