9/22/08

Autumn Equinox: A Time For Equal Reflection


Equal days and nights have me thinking about what I'm planning for my next project. It tells us (at least in this part of the Earth!) that winter is not far away. It is the Autumn Equinox, and after today the nights grow longer. Daylight at the Equinox is slightly longer than the night, partly because the Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight hidden just under the horizon.

At the poles the equinox marks the transition from 24 hours of night to 24 hours of daylight. And at the equator, the Equinox marks the moment when the Sun is directly overhead.

Since ancient times, people thought the Equinox influenced the weather. Storms hit in late summer during the first Roman invasion of England by Julius Caesar in 55BC, leaving him short of seaworthy ships and exposed to the risk of being stranded in England for the winter without provisions. In his account of the Gallic wars, he wrote: “Since the time of the Equinox was near, he did not consider that, with his ships out of repair, the voyage ought to be deferred till winter.” It is just that storms are more frequent in the autumn.

Another piece of folklore comes with Saint Matthew’s Day, September 21, a key date for forecasting the coming months: “Matthew’s Day, bright and clear, brings good wine in next year.”

And according to The Unique Bedside Book of Weather Lore: “A quiet week before the Autumn Equinox and after, the temperature will continue higher than usual into the winter.” In fact, the weather on September 20, 21, and 22 is supposed to dictate the weather for the rest of autumn. Given the great weather at the moment the prospects for the rest of the year look good.

So what are your thoughts on the Equinox? Is it a time of year that you do special things or work on future plans?

Kaye

9/18/08

When is dumping too much?


As I write, I tend to over write my stories, or at least I use to do that. So today I'd like to speak about something we've all heard, fondly called in the writing world as Back-story Dump. So what exactly do they mean by that? From my own experience it's when we tend to write too much too soon. One of the very first short stories I ever wrote (Last Exit To Babylon) was about a dragon who got caught in a time travel experiment and ended up in our modern world. Needless to say I back-story dumped all over the place! My then new critique partners had a field day with this story way before I ever dreamed of submitting it. (I think that was my first adventure toward becoming the cut queen I am now.)

It's such a balancing act between too much information and not enough. As fiction writers, we have to make sure every word, every phrase, dialogue, description, or idea is there for a reason--either to reveal the main character(s), deepen the plot or move the story forward.

I'm always worried about putting in too much. I hear a lot about back-story dump these days. I’m reminded to, 'stay the course'. That means to keep the story on a straight and narrow pathway, don't veer off too far, make every word and phrase count, and by all means watch that back-story dump! If you really need to show the reader something that will advance the plot,

In case there is a question, simply put, back-story dump is writing in too much information or background—especially all at once, or rambling on and on when it isn't necessary. It takes the reader off the course of the story you are trying to tell. HQN Historical author, Deborah Hale says that she writes anything she wants just to get the ideas out when starting a new story. But when she's really ready to get down to it, she dumps most everything and starts her real book at around her original chapter five.

I like to think of the word sprinkle as I'm writing. It helps me a lot, since I tend to write on and on. It is a practice to do this-- hold back and put something in to make the plot even more intense, but only in sprinkles. As Deborah Hale says, first drafts can be rambling.

I learned a bunch about back-story dump as I wrote those first stories. It is easier for me now to just sprinkle as I go, and not have to cut out or rewrite gobs of words, which takes up precious writing/revising time.

So what are your methods to avoid this back-story dumping process? Do you have your own Babylon that helped you learn what not to do?

Kaye

9/12/08

To Loll Creatively



When it comes to writing, I am a creative lollygagger for sure. Not that I don't want to write like the wind constantly. But outside things can get in the way and cramp my writing style.

Knowing how we hit that wall of blocks sometimes, I thought it was a good time to remind myself as well as others about creative lollygagging, which I discussed in a post a while back.

Just Remember the key to successful lollygagging is to do it creatively. So what makes lollygagging creative lollygagging? Let's look at the basic elements. First, consider activity. We are not talking about sitting around on a couch. Just as a satellite dish needs electricity, you need some blood pumping into that brain. Next, consider low focus. The activity shouldn't be so intense that you don't have time to think (Grand Prix and ice hockey are out). Look for a mellow pursuit, surrounded by low-level distractions. Finally, consider separation. If you don't hie thee away from the computer, the television, the bills and the kids, you're headed for a mighty wall o' brain-lock.

Sometimes I take long quiet walks along a waterway and watch the easy rise and fall of the waves. Other times I stake out a secluded spot, notebook in hand in case of ideas, at a favorite coffee shop. So what are some of the creative ways you use to get over writer's block?

Kaye

9/3/08

Two Households...

Casa di Giulietta

"Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."



~From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet~


I love Shakespeare, I always have, and this is one of my favorite plays. Who doesn’t know about the love story between Juliet and Romeo? Immortalized by Shakespeare in the first line of his play? Verona Italy holds the claim to having the houses of perhaps the greatest lovers in history--Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague, the most famous star-crossed lovers of all time.

Thousands of tourists come to Verona to see the Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet’s House.

From the courtyard, you can see Juliet’s Balcony. This is supposedly the very same balcony where the tragic heroine cried out to her Romeo. These days, do not be surprised to see many a young girl standing on the balcony, probably dreaming her own dreams, as I did while I was there.

Perhaps the highlight would be the bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard. Though its origins cannot be determined, the most popular thing to do when visiting the statue is to rub its right breast, which will bring good luck. So don’t be surprised if the right side of the bronze Juliet seems to be shinier than the rest of her! Also found there are numerous graffiti and stick notes on the walls and doors in the courtyard.

During my senior year of college, I had the good fortune to visit Verona. I was completely fascinated and awestruck as I had just completed a course in Shakespearean History. So with this little tidbit of information in mind, I can share that I have a truly juicy new romance story on the rise, and Verona Italy is my setting.

Memories are great at sparking ideas for stories. And my memories of Verona are very special to me. How about you? Do you have a special place you've visited that would make a wonderful setting for your next romance?

Kaye