The high-energy word for today is Bustle, with three different ways of using it.
As an intransitive verb, Bustle means to move about, briskly, busily, and/or carefree.
As a noun, Bustle means an activity, often noisy and energetic. However, Bustle also refers to a framework that supports the back of a woman's dress or a skirt. Make sure you know the difference between a noisy crowd and woman's apparel when using this word.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Word Rouse: Obstinate
Now here's a fun one. You know how young children are sometimes determined to show their independence and won't listen? Obstinate is just that.
Obstinate, an adjective, is an attitude that is not willing to yield to instruction, purpose, or a course, no matter what persuasions or arguments have been made. It can also mean something that is not easily remedied or controlled (like an illness).
So, if you have a character that's unwilling to yield to another, Obstinate is a choice word indeed.
Obstinate, an adjective, is an attitude that is not willing to yield to instruction, purpose, or a course, no matter what persuasions or arguments have been made. It can also mean something that is not easily remedied or controlled (like an illness).
So, if you have a character that's unwilling to yield to another, Obstinate is a choice word indeed.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Post: Resolving New Years?
Alright, folks. It's that time of year again. Whose going to play the New Year's Resolution gig? Come on now. This is a decade turner. 2010! Well, it seems the gifts that I've received this year have dictated what my resolution will be: weight-training. Time to get back in shape before I reach my prime. Anyway, welcome back to the Laire. I Hope you had a great weekend. Three parties filled up my holidays, including a Portillos party at my place. Nothing like over-night-ed Chicago dogs from Chicago. Thanks for the delicious gift, brother!
Update: Okay. Chapter 2 is proofed, my wife read it last night (and liked it), and chapter 3 proofing has begun. Completing 3 is my goal this week. The sooner that's done, the sooner I can dive into 4. Mike and I are both itching to get the second half started, but we figure that we should proof all of our chapters before doing so, to make sure we're on the same page and that the story flows. In the meantime, some feedback on Forerunner has come in, receiving nothing but praise! I think it's ready for Writers of the Future. I'm going to refresh myself on contest rules and submission guidelines today, time allowing. Wish me luck!
A short update this week, but that's because I'm eager to get going. Stay warm, as easy as that may be to some of you out there, south of us. Lucky.
Update: Okay. Chapter 2 is proofed, my wife read it last night (and liked it), and chapter 3 proofing has begun. Completing 3 is my goal this week. The sooner that's done, the sooner I can dive into 4. Mike and I are both itching to get the second half started, but we figure that we should proof all of our chapters before doing so, to make sure we're on the same page and that the story flows. In the meantime, some feedback on Forerunner has come in, receiving nothing but praise! I think it's ready for Writers of the Future. I'm going to refresh myself on contest rules and submission guidelines today, time allowing. Wish me luck!
A short update this week, but that's because I'm eager to get going. Stay warm, as easy as that may be to some of you out there, south of us. Lucky.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Word Rouse: Lambent
As it is Christmas Eve, the day before the holiday that I participate, I will present a lazy post. It's been a mad house, getting the house ready for a big party. However, the word I want to use goes well with a Christmas Eve evening, when friends and family gather near a fire, candles, or soft lights. Interesting enough, it's also dictionary.com's word of the day. Great minds must think alike!
Lambent is an adjective that means light, soft light, luminous or flickering, and in some cases, brilliant. It's a great way to describe light or anything that runs over a surface, like shadows, but you can also use it to describe someone; Lambent wit or a Lambent smile, for example.
This is the last post until the 28th.
Happy Christmas, readers and friends.
Lambent is an adjective that means light, soft light, luminous or flickering, and in some cases, brilliant. It's a great way to describe light or anything that runs over a surface, like shadows, but you can also use it to describe someone; Lambent wit or a Lambent smile, for example.
This is the last post until the 28th.
Happy Christmas, readers and friends.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Word Rouse: Feint
This is a neat little action word that I never picked up on until I read Mistborn. Since then, however, I've noticed that its used quite a bit. While a fun word to use, it may be a good idea to do so sparingly.
Feint is a French term, but the act of Feinting is to fake an attack or maneuver toward someone with the intent to distract an opponent(s) from the attacker's true target. Say you have two guys picking a fight with you. You go to punch one of them, but then you change your course at the last second and punch the other guy instead. This has been demonstrated in so many movies that I can't recall them all. So yeah. If you see something like that happen in a movie, there is a word for it: Feint.
Feint is a French term, but the act of Feinting is to fake an attack or maneuver toward someone with the intent to distract an opponent(s) from the attacker's true target. Say you have two guys picking a fight with you. You go to punch one of them, but then you change your course at the last second and punch the other guy instead. This has been demonstrated in so many movies that I can't recall them all. So yeah. If you see something like that happen in a movie, there is a word for it: Feint.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Aspiring Advice: Beginners Paranoia
So you want to write, huh? Excellent. Welcome aboard. This is a late Aspiring Advice post, which will be the post for the week, seeing as Christmas Day falls on Friday this year. Whether you're using a computer, a typewriter, or pen and paper, the first step is to begin. I recommend that you plan your story ahead before you actually start, but that's another topic for another time. What I want to stress here relates again to my personal growth as a writer.
When I first started The Origin, I let my mother read the prolog . . . I mean, prologue. She thought it was interesting, but "needed work." I can't remember exactly everything that she said, but I remember feeling crushed. Because of this, I decided to write the whole thing on an old computer with Windows 95, not connected to the Internet, without ever showing what I've written to anyone. My ideas were just "so cool" that, if I shared them with anyone, they might (gasp) . . . steal them! This is beginners paranoia. It doesn't matter if you're writing on a computer with Internet access. In fact, do use a computer with Internet access. You can look up words, synonyms, and brush up on things that you don't know much about, but would like to use in your prose.
About sharing your works with others. It is important that you not show your work to just anyone. Start with family members and friends that you trust, particularly those who are avid readers (ex: someone who reads at least one book every two weeks). Furthermore, do not fear criticism. If someone tells you that your writing "needs work" or "is crap" or "is a waste of five pages", chances are they're right! When you write a story, you're offering something to an audience. Like many movies, not everyone likes them. Even if you write the greatest feat of literature of all time, someone will hate it. Don't worry about these people. What you must do is open yourself up to suggestions and think of criticism as an opportunity to grow. One of the best ways you can do this is by attending a critique group or a writers club. These writers have been practicing the craft for some time, maybe longer than you. They may have some tips to share. Do a google search for "writer's groups in _city/town/state". When I did this, I discovered the League of Utah Writers. I've been a member for over a year now. It's proved to be an invaluable resource. You should do the same.
Don't worry about copyrights. When you write something on paper, it is yours. I don't recommend you post your works online, simply because you may want to edit them over time.
That's it for this week. I'll have something for you to look at through Christmas Eve.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
When I first started The Origin, I let my mother read the prolog . . . I mean, prologue. She thought it was interesting, but "needed work." I can't remember exactly everything that she said, but I remember feeling crushed. Because of this, I decided to write the whole thing on an old computer with Windows 95, not connected to the Internet, without ever showing what I've written to anyone. My ideas were just "so cool" that, if I shared them with anyone, they might (gasp) . . . steal them! This is beginners paranoia. It doesn't matter if you're writing on a computer with Internet access. In fact, do use a computer with Internet access. You can look up words, synonyms, and brush up on things that you don't know much about, but would like to use in your prose.
About sharing your works with others. It is important that you not show your work to just anyone. Start with family members and friends that you trust, particularly those who are avid readers (ex: someone who reads at least one book every two weeks). Furthermore, do not fear criticism. If someone tells you that your writing "needs work" or "is crap" or "is a waste of five pages", chances are they're right! When you write a story, you're offering something to an audience. Like many movies, not everyone likes them. Even if you write the greatest feat of literature of all time, someone will hate it. Don't worry about these people. What you must do is open yourself up to suggestions and think of criticism as an opportunity to grow. One of the best ways you can do this is by attending a critique group or a writers club. These writers have been practicing the craft for some time, maybe longer than you. They may have some tips to share. Do a google search for "writer's groups in _city/town/state". When I did this, I discovered the League of Utah Writers. I've been a member for over a year now. It's proved to be an invaluable resource. You should do the same.
Don't worry about copyrights. When you write something on paper, it is yours. I don't recommend you post your works online, simply because you may want to edit them over time.
That's it for this week. I'll have something for you to look at through Christmas Eve.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Post: Have a Very, Merry Christmas
Did I totally space out on doing an Aspiring Advice post? I did, didn't I. My apologies for that. This has been a wild weekend for some of us. Family parties, a broken arm (not mine, but my poor nephew's), and other responsibilities that needed doing. Still, no excuses. I'll just have to draft up a new one tomorrow. I'm not planning to touch a single computer on Christmas Day.
Update: I read through that chapter 2! It feels so good to meet my goals again. Now I just have to check it a couple times more today before I hand it off to my editors. I hope they have chapter 3 ready for me. I'm just itching to keep this train moving. Also, Forerunner is in it's final stages, for real this time. I'm waiting for three fresh readers to provide their feedback. If all goes well, I'll send Writers of the Future a present before the new year. This week: Chapter 2 completion and Chapter 3 start, maybe even finish. We'll see.
No matter what you celebrate, no matter who you worship, let us remember the one thing that does connect us to each other: our humanity. Merry Christmas, one and all, and have a splendid New Year.
Update: I read through that chapter 2! It feels so good to meet my goals again. Now I just have to check it a couple times more today before I hand it off to my editors. I hope they have chapter 3 ready for me. I'm just itching to keep this train moving. Also, Forerunner is in it's final stages, for real this time. I'm waiting for three fresh readers to provide their feedback. If all goes well, I'll send Writers of the Future a present before the new year. This week: Chapter 2 completion and Chapter 3 start, maybe even finish. We'll see.
No matter what you celebrate, no matter who you worship, let us remember the one thing that does connect us to each other: our humanity. Merry Christmas, one and all, and have a splendid New Year.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Word Rouse: Docile
A second word that was questioned at my critique group this week was Docile. Turns out that I used this word improperly. I thought it meant to be down, depressed, or passive. Docile is listed as a synonym opinion for passive, but it just goes to show that a thesaurus doesn't always give you the right word with the meaning that you intend to give.
Docile, an adjective, means to yield to control or readily accept instruction.
This is why critique groups are so awesome! You might think that you know what you're doing, only to be shown that you're understanding of vocabulary may be off . . . just a little bit. Thanks guys!
After looking around some more, I think Weary will replace the word nicely. See you next week for more Word Rouse!
Docile, an adjective, means to yield to control or readily accept instruction.
This is why critique groups are so awesome! You might think that you know what you're doing, only to be shown that you're understanding of vocabulary may be off . . . just a little bit. Thanks guys!
After looking around some more, I think Weary will replace the word nicely. See you next week for more Word Rouse!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Word Rouse: Sully
During my critique group session last night, a comment was made as to whether I used the word Sullied properly. For today, I'll brush up on this to make sure that I know the correct context.
Sully is a way to describe something dirty, stained, defiled, or tarnished. Someone can Sully their reputation. A farmer could Sully his clothes after a hard day's work. In a way, it can mean something dirty or something damaged. This is how I used the word in this sentence:
He changed out of his sullied clothes and washed up for supper.
Whew. I think this will still work after all!
Sully is a way to describe something dirty, stained, defiled, or tarnished. Someone can Sully their reputation. A farmer could Sully his clothes after a hard day's work. In a way, it can mean something dirty or something damaged. This is how I used the word in this sentence:
He changed out of his sullied clothes and washed up for supper.
Whew. I think this will still work after all!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Word Rouse: Complaisant
You may be thinking, don't you mean Complacent? That depends. Both words have a similar definition, but their meanings vary oh so slightly. Here's why.
Complaisant is an adjective, which means to to be obliging, willing or inclined to please, or to easily agree with others.
An employee may be Complaisant to his supervisor, hoping to get a promotion.
Complacent (also an adjective), on the other hand, means to be pleasant or pleased with oneself, their situation or advantages, often without knowing about an impending, potential danger or setback. It's almost like a "little did he know" word, in a sense.
Citizens of the United States were Complacent during WWII until the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
The Intern walked away with a Complacent smile, knowing that he nailed that interview.
Both words are pronounced the same with subtle differences. Be sure to choose wisely if you wish to use this word so that the right meaning is applied.
Complaisant is an adjective, which means to to be obliging, willing or inclined to please, or to easily agree with others.
An employee may be Complaisant to his supervisor, hoping to get a promotion.
Complacent (also an adjective), on the other hand, means to be pleasant or pleased with oneself, their situation or advantages, often without knowing about an impending, potential danger or setback. It's almost like a "little did he know" word, in a sense.
Citizens of the United States were Complacent during WWII until the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
The Intern walked away with a Complacent smile, knowing that he nailed that interview.
Both words are pronounced the same with subtle differences. Be sure to choose wisely if you wish to use this word so that the right meaning is applied.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Update: Sloshy Shopping
Have any of you heard of Homestar Runner? Fun website with plenty of random toons. And shirts too. I couldn't help but buy a few since they're so cool. One of them is black with an upside down "sloshy" on the front. What a perfect shirt to wear when you're wrapping up your holiday shopping, driving around in thick, wet snow. Sloch and slush. Slip and slide. Oh what a merry old time! It sure is a great feeling to get that out of the way, two weeks before Christmas day. You can watch the days count down and concentrate more on what Christmas is all about rather than bogging yourself down with the commercialism of it. I feel inspired enough to write a Christmas novelette about the issue, but my mind is drawing a blank. I have blinders on for the current project. Speaking of which . . .
Updates: Last week I said that I would resolve chapters 6 and 7, right? Well, the committee presented a few suggestions to the first three chapters again. Many of them were quite good. I had no choice but to go back to square one and include what was offered since they had some relevance to future chapters. Part of me wants to move on, you know? We could edit the beginning of this tale for years without drafting the last chapter. So I took a stand of sorts, requesting that, unless something really rubs them the wrong way, like nails on a chalkboard, we should put the old chapters aside after I finish this edit and proceed to the next half of the book. I was able to share the new prologue with my wife and brother-in-law and they both felt that it was spot-on as of yesterday. Chapter one is about done with two pages left to altercate. I should have it finished today. Now the plan this week is to finish the edits of 2 and 3 and be done with it until the full draft is complete.
Oh yeah! I built my first for real snowman this weekend too. Cute fella. I named him Fredrick!
Have a super week, everyone. Check back for some interesting words with Word Rouse.
Updates: Last week I said that I would resolve chapters 6 and 7, right? Well, the committee presented a few suggestions to the first three chapters again. Many of them were quite good. I had no choice but to go back to square one and include what was offered since they had some relevance to future chapters. Part of me wants to move on, you know? We could edit the beginning of this tale for years without drafting the last chapter. So I took a stand of sorts, requesting that, unless something really rubs them the wrong way, like nails on a chalkboard, we should put the old chapters aside after I finish this edit and proceed to the next half of the book. I was able to share the new prologue with my wife and brother-in-law and they both felt that it was spot-on as of yesterday. Chapter one is about done with two pages left to altercate. I should have it finished today. Now the plan this week is to finish the edits of 2 and 3 and be done with it until the full draft is complete.
Oh yeah! I built my first for real snowman this weekend too. Cute fella. I named him Fredrick!
Have a super week, everyone. Check back for some interesting words with Word Rouse.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Aspiring Advice: Beginning with an Epic
Until my sophomore year of High School, I gave little thought to the craft of writing, let alone read anything besides the funnies and Goosebumps. I'd go to my English classes, wait through the motions, read a required book from the 50's, 20's, or 1800's, and correct grammatically incorrect sentences on an overhead projector. Boring. Bor—ring. Seem familiar to anyone? My grades were never impressive, C+ at the most, and my classmates weren't much better or interested either. It was at that moment in my life, however, when a thought entered my mind, a line of narrative, a plot of cosmological proportions, so vast in scale, that I was compelled to construct sets and custom characters out of my Lego collection to help me visualize my ideas. This wasn't enough. The story had to be told. It would not leave me alone. Pen and paper were the only tools that I had at my disposal, so I started to write, seriously, for the first time. A year and a half later, I finished my first novel, a Science Fiction novel, The Origin. Let me tell you. It's epic. Even Cameron's Avatar looks inferior to what I've envisioned in this fictional universe.
There's just one problem. Okay, several.
1: I hardly read anything before I started to write. Ender's Game was the first novel that I had read on my own free will beforehand.
2: Rules of grammar, sentence structure, world building, plot development, etc, was completely foreign to me.
3: I did not let anyone read what I was writing until the first draft was finished.
4: I never attended a workshop, a writing class, or a critique session, nor did I know of their existence.
To make a long story short, my first novel is thoroughly unreadable. It amounted to nothing more than 140k words of weak character building, shoddy blocking, and cheesy Sci-Fi elements that would make Ed Wood cringe. When I presented the first five pages of my 9th draft to a critique session for the first time, ten years later, a moderator went as far as to say, "That was a waste of five pages." You know who you are and I thank you for the long overdue wake up call.
The only thing that kept the story remotely interesting for the poor souls who actually read the beast were the original theories, the proposition of humanity's next phase of evolution, and the complex political system. Members of my family feel that it's a story worth telling, but I'll have to start over from scratch. To make matters worse, I drafted two sequels. Hey. At least I can say I've written a trilogy, right? Not only that, but my grades in English turned to A's. I earned nothing less than that from then on. College professors appreciate a good research paper.
Here's my advice. You may not want to write your epic first. If you are venturing into the craft of writing for the first time, you will want to learn about writing and practice writing before you actually begin something huge. This will help you save years (a decade in my case) of figuring out your voice through trial and error. If you're up to the challenge, there's no stopping you. I won't tell you to not write your epic first. Some have managed to publish their first book (some epic) and become a best seller. That's not likely for most of us, however. Draft short stories. They don't have to be anything groundbreaking, but if you learn how to catch the eye of a reader through a short story first, than a novel will be much easier for you to construct. It doesn't hurt to read plenty of shorts and novels too, particularly the genre and the market that you want to write for.
While you're doing this, brainstorm your epic. Think it through and chart it out. More to come on brainstorming next Friday.
That's my advice for the week. Blog's closed for the weekend. Come back next week for an update and more Word Rouse.
-David Powers King
There's just one problem. Okay, several.
1: I hardly read anything before I started to write. Ender's Game was the first novel that I had read on my own free will beforehand.
2: Rules of grammar, sentence structure, world building, plot development, etc, was completely foreign to me.
3: I did not let anyone read what I was writing until the first draft was finished.
4: I never attended a workshop, a writing class, or a critique session, nor did I know of their existence.
To make a long story short, my first novel is thoroughly unreadable. It amounted to nothing more than 140k words of weak character building, shoddy blocking, and cheesy Sci-Fi elements that would make Ed Wood cringe. When I presented the first five pages of my 9th draft to a critique session for the first time, ten years later, a moderator went as far as to say, "That was a waste of five pages." You know who you are and I thank you for the long overdue wake up call.
The only thing that kept the story remotely interesting for the poor souls who actually read the beast were the original theories, the proposition of humanity's next phase of evolution, and the complex political system. Members of my family feel that it's a story worth telling, but I'll have to start over from scratch. To make matters worse, I drafted two sequels. Hey. At least I can say I've written a trilogy, right? Not only that, but my grades in English turned to A's. I earned nothing less than that from then on. College professors appreciate a good research paper.
Here's my advice. You may not want to write your epic first. If you are venturing into the craft of writing for the first time, you will want to learn about writing and practice writing before you actually begin something huge. This will help you save years (a decade in my case) of figuring out your voice through trial and error. If you're up to the challenge, there's no stopping you. I won't tell you to not write your epic first. Some have managed to publish their first book (some epic) and become a best seller. That's not likely for most of us, however. Draft short stories. They don't have to be anything groundbreaking, but if you learn how to catch the eye of a reader through a short story first, than a novel will be much easier for you to construct. It doesn't hurt to read plenty of shorts and novels too, particularly the genre and the market that you want to write for.
While you're doing this, brainstorm your epic. Think it through and chart it out. More to come on brainstorming next Friday.
That's my advice for the week. Blog's closed for the weekend. Come back next week for an update and more Word Rouse.
-David Powers King
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Word Rouse: Ambivalence
I picked this one up while browsing through an old Merriam-Webster Vocabulary Builder that I have. I'm sure I've come across it before, but it will be an interesting and pertinent word that I'll use shortly. It just describes the current situation in my story well.
Ambivalence is a noun. It means to experience simultaneous and contradictory feelings towards something, someone, or someplace. What a neat way to describe a love/hate relationship! It can also mean to have an ongoing fluctuation or uncertainty in making a decision.
Change it to Ambivalent and it becomes an adjective
Ambivalently is the adverb.
Example: Kathy considered the pound of chocolate with an ambivalent stare.
Ambivalence is a noun. It means to experience simultaneous and contradictory feelings towards something, someone, or someplace. What a neat way to describe a love/hate relationship! It can also mean to have an ongoing fluctuation or uncertainty in making a decision.
Change it to Ambivalent and it becomes an adjective
Ambivalently is the adverb.
Example: Kathy considered the pound of chocolate with an ambivalent stare.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Word Rouse: Edifice
Edifice is a safe word to describe a large structure or building in a fancy way. Understand that it does not describe the facing of a structure.
To be more precise, an edifice is a large, imposing structure; something out of the ordinary. A castle or a skyscraper is an edifice. A house or cottage, not so much, though you can describe a mansion as an edifice. A great city wall may also fit the description well.
To be more precise, an edifice is a large, imposing structure; something out of the ordinary. A castle or a skyscraper is an edifice. A house or cottage, not so much, though you can describe a mansion as an edifice. A great city wall may also fit the description well.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Word Rouse: Salient
Salient is an interesting word since it can be used as both a noun and an adjective.
As an adjective, salient means to project outward, to leap or jump, or to be prominent or conspicuous. It can be another way of saying "striking" or "noticeable" too.
As a noun, salient is a geographical term when a landmass projects beyond its surroundings. It is also a military term, an outward projection in a battle line or a fortification, like a bastion.
In this case, I recently used salient to briefly describe a person through another's point of view; "She's become quite a salient young woman."
As an adjective, salient means to project outward, to leap or jump, or to be prominent or conspicuous. It can be another way of saying "striking" or "noticeable" too.
As a noun, salient is a geographical term when a landmass projects beyond its surroundings. It is also a military term, an outward projection in a battle line or a fortification, like a bastion.
In this case, I recently used salient to briefly describe a person through another's point of view; "She's become quite a salient young woman."
Monday, December 7, 2009
Post: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Winter
Happy Holidays from the Laire!
When I hopped online this morning, I stared at the screen for some time, completely befuddled. Have I really gone so long without drafting a new post? Gracious me! If there is some form of blogging protocol, I fear that I may have blown it.
In light of this, I think it's time to rewrite my strategy if I want to be taken seriously as an aspiring writer and, hopefully, gain an audience. Having said that, I will make an sincere effort to maintain a weekly update on my writing business and progress every Monday morning by 9 AM, Mountain Time. And every morning after that, I will write a daily post to share an interesting word that I have discovered as I build my vocabulary (Word Rouse) or share a bit of advice about writing and networking (Aspiring Advice). It is my hope that by doing this I may earnestly provide a reason for the online public to find interest in my blog, visit more often, help other writers in their aspirations as we learn the craft together, and show that I take the challenge of writing seriously. No more apathetic blogger for me!
Also, you can find The Cosmic Laire on Facebook. I'm toying with the idea of turning it into a fan site. We'll see what happens.
And now, to business . . .
Updates: I had a two week leave of work to visit my family for the Thanksgiving Holiday. As you can imagine, I got very little done. On the train, however, I continued the editing process of my collaboration. I also read a rather valuable resource on the train; There, their, They're: A no-tears guide to grammar from the Word Nerd, by Annette Lyon. I bought this book from her some time ago, but I should have read it when I first received it! Getting to the point, I have a much greater understanding and appreciation of grammar and it's proper usages, especially technical grammar—like En Dashes—and . . . Ellipses!
Chapters 6 and 7 of the collaboration are under particular attention right now since there is so much detail and exposition to be clarified on the magic system and the propulsion of the plot. That will be my agenda this week; resolve! Also, my "editor" read through the first three chapters again and has given me a few new ideas to work with. Just when you think you're finished, right? I can't complain, really. I need all the help I can get, to which I am grateful.
Also, over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending two signings, one for Brandon Mull (Fablehaven) and another for Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn, The Gathering Storm). I was pleased that they remembered me from past conventions. I'm am very grateful for their encouragement to continue my writing. "Don't give up," as Mr. Sanderson succinctly put it.
Have a terrific week and stay tuned for interesting words and advice from an aspiring writer.
-David
When I hopped online this morning, I stared at the screen for some time, completely befuddled. Have I really gone so long without drafting a new post? Gracious me! If there is some form of blogging protocol, I fear that I may have blown it.
In light of this, I think it's time to rewrite my strategy if I want to be taken seriously as an aspiring writer and, hopefully, gain an audience. Having said that, I will make an sincere effort to maintain a weekly update on my writing business and progress every Monday morning by 9 AM, Mountain Time. And every morning after that, I will write a daily post to share an interesting word that I have discovered as I build my vocabulary (Word Rouse) or share a bit of advice about writing and networking (Aspiring Advice). It is my hope that by doing this I may earnestly provide a reason for the online public to find interest in my blog, visit more often, help other writers in their aspirations as we learn the craft together, and show that I take the challenge of writing seriously. No more apathetic blogger for me!
Also, you can find The Cosmic Laire on Facebook. I'm toying with the idea of turning it into a fan site. We'll see what happens.
And now, to business . . .
Updates: I had a two week leave of work to visit my family for the Thanksgiving Holiday. As you can imagine, I got very little done. On the train, however, I continued the editing process of my collaboration. I also read a rather valuable resource on the train; There, their, They're: A no-tears guide to grammar from the Word Nerd, by Annette Lyon. I bought this book from her some time ago, but I should have read it when I first received it! Getting to the point, I have a much greater understanding and appreciation of grammar and it's proper usages, especially technical grammar—like En Dashes—and . . . Ellipses!
Chapters 6 and 7 of the collaboration are under particular attention right now since there is so much detail and exposition to be clarified on the magic system and the propulsion of the plot. That will be my agenda this week; resolve! Also, my "editor" read through the first three chapters again and has given me a few new ideas to work with. Just when you think you're finished, right? I can't complain, really. I need all the help I can get, to which I am grateful.
Also, over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending two signings, one for Brandon Mull (Fablehaven) and another for Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn, The Gathering Storm). I was pleased that they remembered me from past conventions. I'm am very grateful for their encouragement to continue my writing. "Don't give up," as Mr. Sanderson succinctly put it.
Have a terrific week and stay tuned for interesting words and advice from an aspiring writer.
-David
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