WHERE IS MY MIND!!???

Playing on iTunes: "Where Is My Mind" by The Pixies


I am having a write-in!!! This book is going down in a blaze!!! I am halfway through and wondering how long it will take to get through the next eleven chapters. I think I can actually finish this week. It takes me an hour to write a half a chapter. So, between today and tomorrow, I bet I can get to chapter fifteen...and finish by Friday. EDITING HERE I COME!!!

On another note (still related to minds) I hate it when my subconscience talks to me. For instance, I am sitting in the bathtub with the incredibly scalding-hot water, trying to determine the solution to a problem my heroin has gotten herself into when EGADS!! I have solved it!!! Then, a little part of my brain which likes to play games says in echo "EGADS!! I THINK YOU'VE SOLVED IT!!" to which the larger part of my brain goes "YES!! I THINK I HAVE!! I...NO WAIT....I LOST IT!!! BRAIN! YOU BASTARD!!" *sigh* That, unfortunately, is an actual re-enactment of a scene from two days ago. I am still struggling with that chapter...

Like I said, though......THE BOOK IS GOING DOWN IN A BLAZE OF GLORY......THIS WEEK!!!!!

(Apparently, I have had an attack of the capital letters.)

Yours (annoyed) as usual,
Terra

Chapter Length

Playing on iTunes right now: "Knights of Cydonia" by Muse

As I write this book, I am trying to figure out what the ideal chapter length is. I understand that not all young adults are bibliofiles, so most get a little ancy in their pantsy wondering when the next chapter will start. Right now, my chapter's are running about 10-12 pages long. I have them broken up into scenes which are about 4 to 5 pages long. That wouldn't seem so bad, except when you make each scene an individual chapter, I am already on Chapter 14. I still have a lot to say!! And that count means that the book will be about 40-50 chapters long. Even I know that is a bit much. I was hoping for around 25. *sigh* I hate math. I will eventually figure it out. I think I am aiming for a page count of about 300. I am on page 67 right now. If I keep on with my chapters the way I am, I am going to have a 21 chapter book.

Wait....that's not bad. Oh good! My math was, apparently, slightly off. I guess I just needed to have it in writing. See the wonders of "the word"? It makes sense of everything, even arithmetic. :)

Right, I am on to Chapter 7: Scene 1 tomorrow night. I think I need to start setting an entire day aside for editing. I only have one chapter fully edited (not counting the final thousand edits before it is sent to the agency), so it seems I have a lot to do. On that note, I better get to work...or sleep, I haven't decided yet. Wish me luck on both!!

First Posts are Weird

Playing on iTunes: "Make Yourself" by Incubus

Yeah...they are. I never know what to say in a first post. I feel like I should introduce myself, but in a first post, who do you introduce yourself to? Yourself?

"Hi me, nice to meetcha. Perhaps this will result in a deep friendship....with me. Hopefully nothing more, though...as that is not what I am looking for right now." :)

Alright, might as well get it over with. The blog is to go along with my new website, as well as to document how my foray into the book writing world is progressing. I have been a fashion photographer going on five years, but I have been madly, madly, madly, truly madly in love with children's and YA books since the age of 5 (Amelia Bedelia, people!!....yeah, she still makes me laugh). Actually, I love books in general. I will read anything with words (which would be hard to do otherwise, unless we are talking about palms....but I can't do that anyways). I guess if you love to read, you just love the written word and sometimes that progresses into writing the actual words! That, ladies and gentleman, is what has happened to me. I began writing a decent horror, was asked to write a short story, and eventually began to write my book on Izzy Dagney.

Shall I introduce you to Izzy? I think I shall. Izzy is a 16 year old social recluse with just one friend, and she is currently being written into a high action, incredibly hormonoly imbalanced action novel. She probably doesn't deserve it, but the audience does. Don't worry, though....she gets the really hot guy in exchange for her pains.

Book one "Bulletproof Izzy" (that's a working title) is currently being written. I am on Chapter Five, and let me just tell you, Izzy is one smart cookie. She thinks of things I never could in her situation. The few people that have had the chance to read the manuscript have given me incredibly enthusiastic responses, which, let me tell you, is great for the confidence.

On this blog, I am going to avoid any spoilers, but will keep you informed on my writing process and any exciting developments in the publishing process. The book is scheduled to be finished in mid October, and will be sent out to publishers around December. I want to make sure they are only getting my most polished work. Feel free to ask any questions about my process, I am more than happy to share, as well as any questions about my characters and story line!! I will tell you as much as I can without spoiling it for the rest.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who happens to stumble across this page!!