tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post3768758126119797965..comments2023-10-26T01:19:28.762-06:00Comments on Jennifer On Writing: Intro and How to Finish Your Ms.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-8027017300531702612007-04-08T10:40:00.000-06:002007-04-08T10:40:00.000-06:00Jennifer, I have a question about writing Romance....Jennifer, I have a question about writing Romance. Is there a general template? For example, I know there needs to be a Black Moment just before the end, but is there a general pattern to follow such as Chapter 1 "this happens", Chapter 2 "this happens" and so on? <BR/>Thanks,<BR/>AHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-30978410085532706702007-03-02T14:00:00.000-07:002007-03-02T14:00:00.000-07:00Love this blog post! Great beginning for a blog o...Love this blog post! Great beginning for a blog of advice on writing!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16280968989475111315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-82455619700970989642007-02-26T02:50:00.000-07:002007-02-26T02:50:00.000-07:00Thanks for doing this Jennifer. I'm inching my way...Thanks for doing this Jennifer. I'm inching my way back into writing. First is to reestablish a daily writing time. My Alphasmart drowned from a leaky roof last year. An editor said send in my ms. when completed. I'll get it out and brave the unknown and will definitely keep coming back here for more. Thanks again, PennySixcentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05262655854853816948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-91406699986152406122007-02-24T07:42:00.000-07:002007-02-24T07:42:00.000-07:00Very cool idea. Thanks for starting this up!Very cool idea. Thanks for starting this up!Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-10557218290068580972007-02-23T15:26:00.000-07:002007-02-23T15:26:00.000-07:00When I started writing, I didn't have the alphasma...When I started writing, I didn't have the alphasmart, and I still had a day job, so I commuted everyday. I found it helpful to use a small hand held recorder, because ideas came to me while driving. As I was a transcriptionist, at the end of the day, I would insert the tape in my transcription machine and type all the ideas, dialogue lines, and other brainstorming ideas or narrative I had dictated earlier. It worked for me, getting me started on my chapter or my scene as soon as I sat at the computer. I wrote four novels this way. It worked for me. <BR/><BR/>Vijaya Schartz<BR/>Award-winning Sci-fi and romance with a kick<BR/>http://www.vijayaschartz.comVijaya Schartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562958609545624615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-30646729883221233952007-02-23T14:46:00.000-07:002007-02-23T14:46:00.000-07:00Jennifer,Thank you so much for doing this blog! W...Jennifer,<BR/><BR/>Thank you so much for doing this blog! What a treasure. <BR/><BR/>I set a daily page goal of no less than four pages. Four seems do-able and yet often I buzz right by on to page 5, 6, 7 before I realize it. The most important thing is just progress forward.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing,<BR/><BR/>GerriGerri Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328510668143659699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-40705446436556953942007-02-23T14:33:00.000-07:002007-02-23T14:33:00.000-07:00which drives me to finishAnd me to utter panic. *g...<I>which drives me to finish</I><BR/><BR/>And me to utter panic. *g*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-18031732603840132562007-02-23T11:44:00.000-07:002007-02-23T11:44:00.000-07:00AH: I hear you about that ennui. Sometimes it's to...AH: I hear you about that ennui. Sometimes it's tough to fight. It is partly fear (of both success and failure), partly motivation oriented. I fully admit it's much easier for me to write when I *have* to, when someone else says "I need this by 3/31." That makes it more like a project with a due date, which drives me to finish. <BR/><BR/>One thing contests can be good for (as well as getting your work in front of agents/editors), is driving you to write to a deadline. They require your synopsis or chapter by a certain date. Some might argue that only motivates you to write a chapter or synopsis, LOL, but you never know when that editor judge will request your full ms. So target the date the winners will be announced to finish the full ms. If the editor requests it, you're right there with it. If she/he doesn't, you have a full ms. to shop or work with.<BR/><BR/>Just more thoughts. Thanks everyone for responding. Keep it coming--these are good things to know!!Jennifer Ashley/ Allyson James / Ashley Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16501969781398343424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-45520339582636769782007-02-23T11:29:00.000-07:002007-02-23T11:29:00.000-07:00geez this is great motivation. my pal and i were j...geez this is great motivation. my pal and i were just talking about why its so difficult to sit our butts down and write about what we are always talkin about. <BR/><BR/>good stuff. as soon as i have a free moment, i'll link you. ;)Knitty Yashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02720186808287782849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-74415360800974651272007-02-23T08:28:00.000-07:002007-02-23T08:28:00.000-07:00Jennifer,Thanks millions for doing this. I just fo...Jennifer,<BR/><BR/>Thanks millions for doing this. I just found your Blog this morning and I intend to tune in each week - actually every day (to see what comments there might be). <BR/><BR/>I have been letting everything get in the way of my writing, even though writing is what I've wanted to do all my life. The problem I encounter is getting myself into the chair to write. Once I begin to write, I'm off and running. I plan and plan and plan to write, but always find an excuse when the planned time has arrived. Some sort of ennui sets in and it is as if there is some nebulous and invisible barrier (I think it is great and deeply ingrained fear)keeping me from the chair. I do like your idea of doing word count rather than time or chapter or pages. Most of all I like your idea of a daily time set aside to begin writing. I do have an Alpha Smart and have used it in a library with much success. What you say about it keeping one from editing is absolutely correct. <BR/><BR/>Again, thanks much for this Blog. I know it is going to help me.<BR/><BR/>AHAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-21446473750465450252007-02-22T20:57:00.000-07:002007-02-22T20:57:00.000-07:00I'm glad I saw your "invite" on RBL!I'm baaaad at ...I'm glad I saw your "invite" on RBL!<BR/><BR/>I'm baaaad at #1.<BR/>Can't do Alpha smart..so I use paper and I try to go to the library . My kids know that I"m in the bedroom, even with the door locked -that means nothing to them. Writing to knocking and pounding is EVER so distracting, hence the library.<BR/><BR/>Yep, email is bad but so is Spider Solataire, or any Solataire. Sucks the brain cells right out. <BR/><BR/> I get stuck on the sands from a boulder.<BR/><BR/>I worry more about how many lines on a page makes a page and how many paragraphs makes a chapter and when does a break make a chapter? Too big? Too small? <BR/>It diverts me easily ... see, I have ADD ... the ultimate challenge to write - can't let go of the small stuff to get on with the big stuff.<BR/><BR/>I'm trying. I've gotten the farthest I've ever gone .. 10,000 words.<BR/>I was pretty happy about that until I started playing with your rule #1. I saw myself right off the bat as not only breaking it but wallowing in its quicksand.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the highlight!<BR/>MMichelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573730655117969888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-43969683628099589152007-02-22T11:32:00.000-07:002007-02-22T11:32:00.000-07:00Jennifer,You have some great tips listed. I don't ...Jennifer,<BR/>You have some great tips listed. I don't have the AlphaSmart but I do carry my laptop or sticky notes with me wherever I go.<BR/>I have a set writing time. Every evening when I get home from work. I've written 3 books this way and am currently immersed in #4 as I type.<BR/>This is a great tool. I for one can't wait for future posts.<BR/>Regards,<BR/>Kayla Janz<BR/>www.KaylaJanz.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-30418356657448875332007-02-22T09:37:00.000-07:002007-02-22T09:37:00.000-07:00Great post, Jennifer.The Alphasmart doesn't work w...Great post, Jennifer.<BR/><BR/>The Alphasmart doesn't work well for me because I have this tendency to work all over the manuscript at once and edit (a lot) as I go. It's not the fastest way to work, but it's worked for me.<BR/><BR/>You're right about the Internet. It's far too tempting and distracting. I'm about to head off to the library to work, where I'll have fewer distractions... hopefully.<BR/><BR/>Stop by my writing site, too. It's at www.boxingoctopus.blogspot.comColleen Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18398127184158098008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138705851348115177.post-54525264361081168872007-02-22T08:01:00.000-07:002007-02-22T08:01:00.000-07:00I second what Jenn has said about the Alpha Smart ...I second what Jenn has said about the Alpha Smart -- it's a writer's dream! When you write on a normal computer or notebook, that white, empty page can be quite intimidating and you might let yourself get distracted by panicky thoughts like "Uh-oh, I've only written 1 1/2 pages by now." With the Alpha Smart that's not going to happen, allowing you to concentrate on the writing.<BR/><BR/>Have you ever tried writing while music is playing in the background? I've found that music helps me to immerse myself into the story. I usually use only one specific CD per book (for my upcoming May release, a gothic historical set in the Black Forest, it was, strangely enough, John Denver *g*)<BR/><BR/>Self-doubts are perfectly normal. With each and every book I've written so far, I always reached a stage where I thought, "Gosh, this is crap. This is worse than anything written by dinosaurs! The story will bore people to tears! Whaaaaaaaaaa!" Some people call this the mid-book blues. In my case, it never happens in the middle of the book -- it happens in Chapter 3. *g* The important thing is not to let yourself be dragged down by self-doubt. Continue writing. You can always edit later on. <BR/><BR/>Chocolate and cookies also help. :)Sandra Schwabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15496019392789508611noreply@blogger.com