WOOHOOO!!!!

FINALLY!!!!

I actually made some progress. Once again, I was bouncing some ideas off my favorite sounding board and stumbled across something that would work to get me out of the doldrums I was stuck in.

It's nice when it finally kicks in after a long hiatus, huh?

I got my proof copy of "True Colors" today, thumbed through it, and then gave it the go-ahead, so it'll be "Live" any time now!

CONGRATULATIONS Lex!

Thank you! It turned out very nicely -- I was a little concerned that the text on the newspaper page on the cover might not be entirely legible, but it is! (Except for where the paint splotches cover it up!)

I can't even come close to describing the relief I felt when I finally stumbled across a way to do what I needed to.

Excellent deal, Lex. Congratulations.

One thing I DID manage while the writing wasn't working was that I actually came up with a title for it that seems to work....lol

I've decided to call it ' Side World '.

JAG...sounds like you may be finishing soon for publishing too! ...CONGRATS!

Now if I could only be THIRD in line!

I like that title -- it fits well with what I've read so far!

Thanks, Lex.

So far, everyone has thought it sounded like a pretty good title.

I got to thinking about it one day, and I felt that Brian is actually a part of two " side worlds ". One being where he got pulled to, and the other in his head. Seemed kinda fitting.

@FindMe

I am nowhere NEAR finished. I am still plugging away, though. And I have decided that I am going to take my best shot at getting it published.

Of course, there is a LOT of work left to do. I still have to finish the ' skeleton ' and then go back and fill in some descriptive stuff and a little more about the environment he's in. A long way to go yet. But I really believe it'll be well worth it.

Hey, Lex.

I just got a review on the first 40 or so chapters.

The reviewer didn't care for " the voice ". She said it was overused.

* shrug *

Everything else was pretty positive, though.

The advantage I found is that the person who did the " review " doesn't actually know me, so there was no bias because of friendship.

Everyone has really liked it so far, but hearing good things from someone who doesn't know me at all let me know that I am REALLY on the right track.

But, then again, you didn't know me from Adam when I first contacted you for advice and you like it too.

I think you have to keep in mind that some people are just more "ready" for new approaches than others are.

The "internal dialogue" form is a little unusual and I suppose it would take time for someone to become accustomed to it -- then again, I've been using it myself (rather extensively, in some stories) for a couple of years now, and I really think it helps bring the characters to life -- mainly because I'm forced to think AS the character using the internal dialogue -- what would he be thinking if this or that happens....?

I wouldn't focus too much on the "overused" reference -- believe me, that's entirely subjective, and I (for one) didn't see it that way at all.

Is it POSSIBLE for it to be overused? Sure, if it gets to the point where the story bogs down because of it; if there's no action, no forward plot progression -- that's not the case here, so I don't think it bears too much concern.

One of the things I try to do in my writing is to utilize different styles and structures. That's why I went from a humorous book to a book of short stories and poems to a darker-themed novel and then to more short stories and poems. I like to try different things.

I jump around between third-person present, third-person past, and first-person past narratives. Why? I don't know, really, it just feels right that way.

And not everybody is comfortable with that, but that's OK.

Because, in the end, I've found that I have to write things I like, things I would want to read myself if somebody else actually wrote them!

In other words, write it the way you want it. The technical stuff (inconsistent tense, etc.) can be fixed during the editing process. But story-wise -- hey, it's your story, and you've got to be able to tell it the way you you want.

She, in the review, actually did mention that her opinion of the use of the voice may be because she just might not be a fan of that style. So I took it for what it was.

I know that some people will like it, and some won't. I like it...I'm having fun writing it....and I looked back at some of the early chapters and a couple of the exchanges actually made me laugh out loud....so it'll keep being used...lol

One other thing she mentioned is that she isn't a " fan " of Fantasy. But, even though she isn't a regular, or even sporadic, reader of the genre, she really liked the ideas I am using. My use of the dragons particularly got her attention in a good way.

To me, if I am able to write something that appeals to someone who doesn't normally care much about the Fantasy genre, then that is high praise indeed.

At least I'm making progress again. I finally got through the part that was stalling me, only to run into another problem..lol

I REALLY need to come up with a plan.

I'm so excited. Almost finished with my second book. No title yet, but i'm hoping upon finishing the last few chapters it will come to me.

Excellent!!!

FINISHED!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

I wish I could say that ...my website is ready and waiting for my material....I can't seem to get ideas together all of a sudden...I feel so LOST!

surround yourself with inspiration
when i write i go to the bookstore or a little coffee shop
it has that certain ambiance and helps me write
i put my head phones in and norah jones fills my head

I can definitely relate.

Just keep plugging away and it will definitely come back. It's just a pain that it " come back " in it's own time and not a minute sooner...lol

Wow.

18 days without a post from our resident writers.

Come on folks. Let's keep this thread going.

Yal just send me a copy or something i read more than i write :(

OK....I'm currently working on "Moving Targets," "White Rainbow," and the book of comic strips. Got three others on the metaphorical back burner.