Z is for zzzz

Almost forgot about the last day post. Actually, I thought I'd done it last night and turned out I only did 1 and I've been posting on both blogs all month. Oops.  Z is a hard topic to find words to use for and relating them to specific topics. There are a number of words that start with Z but need to be able to something about them. So, I'm going with ZZZZ this time, which translates to I'm going to talk about sleep.

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Sleep is important to us, or well me. I like me some sleep. I enjoy sleep and get many of my ideas from dreams. However, when I first started writing novels, I had a little problem. My character in the romance novel from 2008 NaNoWriMo went to bed often. Sure sometimes it was for fun play but sometimes it was just for sleep. And it's not just the romance. I used to end chapters with the character going to bed because I thought that was good to show and marked a good end of chapter as it was end of the character's day.

Glad I have learned otherwise before submitting those novels anywhere. I still am working on that factor in edit though I got a portion of them out in the first rewrite.

Because the thing is, while sometimes we wonder if during an adventure the characters ever do things like sleep, go to the bathroom, shower and such, for the most part we don't need to see them actually do it.

The thing we don't want to do is make the reader fall asleep. And if the character is going to sleep too often the book may end up getting put down because or not read in its entirety because they got bored and skipped to the better parts.

Sleep is good but there are times and places for it.


Do you like sleep?
Ever have a problem with characters sleeping in stories?

       Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

Y is for Years

By years I mean, measuring progress in years. It's easy to get lost in the now at times, to think we're making no progress at all. This is especially true when I'm not as far along in a goal as I thought I'd be by that time. I didn't think it'd take the number of years it has to get me to this point but at the same time it's amazing to see what I have accomplished when I look back over the years later.

For some it won't take long, not everyone goes on the same path in this crazy writing journey. It can take years, and not just 2 I mean it can take 10, 15 or 20 years for some to get to certain stages in the journey. 

I'm editing now. But the novel I'm editing I started writing back in 2007. Back then I didn't know how long it would take because I'd never finished a novel, I'd never written past 10,000 words back then, and I'd certainly never rewritten or edited a novel. It has been a long journey so far but I've learned so much over the years.


Every time I feel like I'm taking too long to get anything accomplished, I step back and look over the things I have done over the years. It helps me see that I have done lots of writing and I can't wait to do even more.


Do you focus on the years or worry about taking too long?

X is for X Rated

X rated as in those naughty stories, that is right. But more in the difference in writing erotica versus other genres when people ask about your writing. Because that is one awkward conversation in many work settings.

I write a lot of different stories. I range from young adult and middle grade, to fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror attempts and yes, romance erotica. I started writing erotica flash fiction and short stories back in 2008 just to see if I could and my first finished novel draft was a 50,000 word NaNoWriMo romance erotica. Two of the 4 finished first drafts are romance erotica and one novel that has a very dedicated fan I haven't finished yet is also of that genre. But it does lead to some uncomfortable moments when admitting to writing an X rated story.

One example: my dad. *waves hi if he reads the blogs*
Yeah, so I finished my NaNoWriMo first draft and who wanted to read it? My dad. I am lucky to have very encouraging parents when it comes to my novel writing but when family wants to read the erotica, that is when it gets a little weird. I guess I should also clarify that I don't just write erotica, I write gay male erotica. He never read the novel and I'm okay with that fact. Though I never hide what kinds of stories I write.

At work now, I have some coworkers who are curious about my writing. Some have even mentioned how I could bring some of it in to work to share. I don't own a printer so that won't happen. However, it did get a little awkward when in public (I'm a cashier and work in a few different departments) I had to explain to coworkers what I write. And next thing I get is "so like Shades of Grey?"... Umm no. Not like it at all.

Though it's a minor nuisance how that is the standard for that genre. I mean, if I say I write magic stories for teens then I would get a Harry Potter question. Or just saying young adult may get a Twilight comment (which I'd be quick to say no to that one cause I don't write any vampire stuff sparkly or not). Fantasy has many authors to be compared to like Jordan, Salvatore, Martin, Weiss, Tolkien, etc. In fact many genres have some really great authors to compare to, even young adult has amazing authors like Tamora Pierce and such. I wouldn't mind comparisons to some of them, but I need to get those novels finished and edited for that. But say I write erotica and it's Shades of Grey. But I digress.

Do you ever write anything X rated?
How do you handle telling others about it and the comparisons?

W is for Write

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I need to write.

What about you?

V is for Villain

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The villain can be an important character in a story, at leas when there is an actual character. This can also be called the antagonist but we aren't on day A so today I'm just going to use the term villain.

Antagonist is basically a character whose goals goes against that of the protagonist. They may have a direct link to the main character in some ways, but they may not. Villains are similar. They go against the protagonist and are often considered wicked because of what they want and their reasoning for it. However, sometimes what makes the main character a protagonist is that they make the decision to go up against the villain despite the odds that are against them. While we love a good protagonist, there are times when the villain makes the story.

Where would the little mermaid be without Ursula to give her that wish to walk on land?

Would the Emperor ever change in the Emperor's New Groove if he hadn't been made a llama? Probably not, he'd be a villain if the story was written with only a few changes.

Snow White wouldn't have to fear apples or never would know about dwarves without the stepmother to push things along.


So, what about your story? Does your villain play a key role to pushing the protagonist? Is your villain/antagonist empathetic to a degree or just because someone needs to be the bad guy?

U is for Underdog

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We like the underdog, not just the old cartoon though I do remember watching that one. People like to root for the one who looks like they might not make it, takes a lot of heart and struggle, but then is able to pull it through in the end. The one that in a bet doesn't have the greatest odds but through some reason wins.

Definition:
1. a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest
2. a victim of injustice or persecution
3. someone who is not expected to win (1 reworded)

Writing related:
http://www.wga.org/subpage.aspx?id=2982
http://www.boulderwritersworkshop.org/2013/01/29/member-spotlight-richard-wall-talks-about-writing-the-underdog-politics-and-making-the-world-a-better-place/
http://www.examiner.com/article/plot-series-the-underdog


Do you like to read/root for the underdog?
Is your main character an underdog?

T is for Travel

Yesterday was about science fiction, so today I'm going to focus on fantasy. More specific, this is about travel in traditional fantasy and some of the struggles of having characters that need to travel and not sure how to do it.

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Fantasy, the traditional, not modern type, has a reputation for inaccuracies when it comes to characters traveling. There are the stories where the characters ride horses for hours on end, racing them as they are being chased and go on longer than has been shown to be possible. Then there are others where characters walk everywhere, long long distances and it doesn't take a very long time considering the travel method and the character's physique, to get to places.

I will admit I have this problem in a couple of my novels, in particular the novel I started writing in November. The characters in that novel are on the run, trying to find safety and are walking. Yeah, I went with the walking. Though I did make the pain from doing it, foot problems, needing to rest and such an issue, but I don't know what else to do based on the world.

I also have travel issues with my epic fantasy that I started writing in 2010. I don't know how to have them travel to get from places. I am guessing this is something where it would help to worldbuild before writing.

I don't have a lot of tips for this topic. Instead, I'm curious if anyone else does.

Any suggestions for travel in fantasy worlds?
Do you have this problem too?