Inside the writing shed of Roald Dahl. I love the lap desk on the arms of the chair!

Where writers write fascinates me. I’m a bit all over the place, depending on the circumstances (read: noise level) in which I’m trying to write. Sometimes I sit in the sweet spot (the corner) of our L-shaped sofa with my lap desk and either my Alphasmart (fast drafting) or macbook (editing/research). Other times I’m at one end of the dining table, or sitting on my bed. The irony is that I actually have a dedicated desk space in our study. There’s a magnet board and everything! But the sad reality is it’s usually at least an inch deep in scraps of paper and other remains of scrapbooking projects, so as of yet, no writing has ever taken place there. (but hey! It’s a new year. Never say never…)

I live in an apartment but if I had a house with a garden, I know I would find it hard to resist the lure of a little writing space of my own. After all, it works for Neil Gaiman!

For those who, like me, are curious about the places creative goodness is born, here’s a fun look at the writing sheds of a few famous writers, including Mark Twain and Roald Dahl. And writer Jennifer Bertman periodically features a writer and his/her space on her blog, From the Mixed Up Files. The archives are full of lots of fun peeks into creative spaces.

Me? I’m off to find my lap desk and ear plugs and a place far enough from the Wonderpets to try to do some outlining on my WIP.

How about you? Where do you create? Do you have a certain space where you work? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

The first thing that jumps out at me is the fact that, for both reading and writing (and blogging!) the first half of the year was by far more productive for me. Once school was out for summer, life got busy and, contrary to my hopes and expectations, the pace didn’t let up even after school started back again in August. This lack of writing time has led to lots of thoughts about how to make the most of small snatches of time, since it’s now obvious that there are going to be times when family schedules skewer my best intentions. I’m hopeful in the new year to implement a new approach to organizing my writing projects that will make them less vulnerable to the seemingly ever-increasing demands of family and social obligations.

As to what I read during the year, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m a “binge reader,” and once I find an author I like, I tend to read everything else they’ve written. The Reading Log bears this out. Beyond author trends though, I also tended to have genre trends, with the first part of the year focused on YA and MG, and the latter part of the year most of my reading was books aimed at adults.

April was my “self-published” reading month, and it was also the month with one of the most popular posts of the year. From the self-published books I read this year, the one that resonates with me still is Radium Halos. This novel is based on the true story of the Radium Dial Girls, who, unaware of the significant dangers to their health, painted on clock hands and faces with radium paint. I highly recommend this book.

At the end of 2010, I had resolved to participate in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge. Alas, I started strong but ended up not reading and reviewing my full quota of debut authors. I’m currently about a third of the way through another debut book, Warped by Melissa Guibord, and have others waiting for my attention. I think part of the reason I lost momentum with the challenge was my shift mid-year towards reading adult books.

One reason (but far from the only one) for my shift to adult books later in the year is that a friend and I have started a book club! This is my first time to participate in one and I’m really enjoying it. It’s fascinating to see how we all pick up on different aspects of the books we read. One thing I’ve noticed is – no surprise here! – I often comment not only on plot and character development, but on the writing itself. I’m the only writer in the group and I also seem to be the only one who repeatedly comments about word choices and phrasing.

I finished most of the books that I started this year. My reasons for putting a book aside unfinished usually had to do with predictable plots or characters that weren’t engaging enough for me to want to follow their journey to the end. For the books I have finished, it’s been interesting to compare what I thought about certain books to a broader base (ratings on Amazon or critical reviews). There were definitely cases where a book was perhaps a 3-star read for me, while the rest of the reading world rated it 4.5 or 5 stars. Analyzing why I didn’t like the book as much as others (or conversely, liked it more) is an interesting and informative exercise for me as a writer.

So that’s a look back at the past year. While I’m not where I had hoped to be in terms of the amount of writing I’ve gotten done, it was still a more productive year than 2010, and I’m full of ideas about how to make 2012 even better.

Thanks for your visits and comments at the fictionforge in 2011, and here’s to a happy, healthy and creative 2012!

I think there might be a book for me under our tree, which is way cool. (The kidlet bought me a book last year “Because Mommy likes to read!” ). The only thing better than a book under the tree? A book tree!

“Her first novel, ‘Restoree,’ was written as a protest against the absurd and unrealistic portrayals of women in s-f novels in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. It is, however, in the handling of broader themes and the worlds of her imagination, particularly the two series ‘The Ship Who Sang’ and the fourteen novels about the ‘Dragonriders of Pern,’ that Ms. McCaffrey’s talents as a story-teller are best displayed.” [source]

Once upon a time, back in my junior year of high school, I was at church on a Sunday evening, lamenting the fact that later that evening I would be flying to Las Vegas for a leadership conference for a school club, and that I had nothing to read on the flight. My friend Danny, who always brought a book to read during the service, was currently reading “The Ship Who Sang” by Anne McCaffrey. Without hesitation he handed me his book to take with me. (If you read my previous post about how obsessively I read, you’ll realise what a sacrifice I consider him to have made).

What a gift he gave me in that moment, by loaning me that book! I was immediately hooked and as soon as I got home I started scouring the library, used book stores, and garage sales for everything Anne McCaffrey had ever written. For years after, in better financial times, I bought her books the minute they were released, and proceeded to hide myself from the world for the next 24-48 hours so I could immerse myself in whatever world she was writing in.

Her books transported me. They made me believe in a future of possibilities. They are probably directly responsible for the fact that, of all genres I could write in, my heart lies in fantasy. I want to write stories that will do for readers what hers did for me. Her books were old friends – I would turn to them for comfort, for escape, when I was lonely. They were constants in my life.

Her Dragonriders of Pern series was so vivid to me as I read it, it was like watching a movie. After moving 5 times in 2.5 years, twice between countries, we have very few tchotchkes, but we do have our Windstone dragons. Coincidence? Nope. After reading the Dragonriders series, I always wanted a firelizard and  our dragons are just firelizard-size.

I loved, not only her books, but also the collaborations she created with other writers, and I discovered and started reading other writers, because of those collaborative creative efforts.

One of the things I loved about her stories is that she incorporated her love of music into them. The husband and I were recently discussing the Dragonriders series, and why I haven’t read on since [spoiler alert] the death of Masterharper Robinton. I told him it was because the heart of the series for me, as much as the dragons, was the music. Ms. McCaffrey seamlessly wove her love of music into other series as well, including the Brain & Brawn series, and the Crystal Universe series.

But I think, if I was forced to choose (and a hard choice it would be!) my favorite of her books, it would be To Ride Pegasus. I felt so out of place as a teenager, so out of step with the other teenagers around me. This book, which I have read countless times, was such a comfort to me. It gave me hope that eventually I would find other people like me, who understood me. And as an adult, I have.

So thank you Ms. McCaffrey, for giving me, as a teenager and young adult, the greatest gift one can give: hope. It was a long time getting here but I couldn’t be happier. Your words and stories helped me believe that I wasn’t alone, and so I kept looking, and now I am blessed with wonderful, like-minded friends in my life.

Write a book. Send it out into the world, knowing that there is no way you can ever know what lives you’ll touch. And write another. This is what I want to do, and Anne McCaffrey is a big part of why I want to do it.

rest in peace

You see, I’ve always been a binge-reader. Once I start a book I read it obsessively, continuously, with as few interruptions as possible. As an only child, and a latchkey one to boot, I had many uninterrupted hours in which I could immerse myself in whatever I was reading.

Even now, I still read this way. Once I start something, if it holds my interest, I will ignore housework and other mundane things in order to read the book till it’s finished. On average I read a book in 1-2 days.

I’ve been writing seriously, with the hopeful goal of publication, on and off (life permitting) for several years now. I’ve read with envy of writers who can write amazing books, from picture books to young adult novels, in 20 and 30 minute blocks of time, snatched here and there, like when they are waiting for the kids at the orthodontist. Agatha Christie worked this way, and it obviously worked out really well for her.

Often I’ve wished I could work this way too. But lately, I’ve not so much learned, as learned to accept, that that’s not my style. For as many years as I’ve been writing, I’ve attempted to implement this technique of writing in whatever small blocks present themselves to me throughout the course of my day. Alas, that’s just not how my writing brain works. For me, I need at least an hour, and an hour of quiet. No kidlet in the background, no dogs scooting the water bowl around on the floor of the kitchen “asking” for water. Just me and the notebook (the old-fashioned kind) or the notebook (the mac kind), and my thoughts.

So how about you? What’s your reading style, and your writing style? Are they the same, or do you (can you?) write differently than you read? I’d love to hear in the comments.

So far NaNoWriMo = National NO Writing Month for me. At the moment though I am cautiously optimistic… one of my two peeps is well, the other got more meds today, but both are back in their daily routines giving me, for the first time this month, it seems, the blessed gift of SILENCE. The past couple of days I’ve been trying to get caught up on the household stuff that fell behind while they were infected, but today I’ve progressed from laundry and dishes to more administrative-y types of tasks. This has fanned the hope ever-present in my writerly heart that I might, soon be able to write without it requiring the neglect of ailing family members.

I have done a bit of reading though. Reading log to be updated shortly.

The answer is, “sort of.” Like Anne over at Critically Yours, I’m planning to do my own version of Nano, Nanowrimo…Lite.

The Middle-Grade Fantasy has been rolling around in the back of my mind throughout the past few months of vacations, family visits and fall holidays, and it’s time to kick things back into gear. I want to sit down and do what I’ve been wanting to since June: use my John Truby book and put my MG Fantasy through its paces, and then start writing in earnest.

So why not shoot for the moon – or in this case, 50,000 words? Why go for Nanowrimo…Lite with no word count goals? Well, just like last year, this is a busy season for us, with lots of birthdays, and social obligations. Add in the usual stuff of life, and the things you can’t plan for like illness, and I just decided to be realistic and join in the spirit of things, but from the sidelines, if you will.

I’ll post some updates in November, and a final result of my efforts after the month is over.

Because of all that, I’m not just behind on my blog posting, but my blog reading as well. With 147 posts waiting to be read, I’m beginning to wonder if I should cull some of my subscriptions! While getting caught up the other day, I came across a couple of quotes I really liked in a recent post from one of my favorite blogs: From the Mixed Up Files of Jennifer Bertman. I love her peeks into the workspaces and work habits of writers and illustrators.

A couple of things from her recent profile of writer JJ Johnson really resonated with me.

The writer Robert Olen Butler says everything you experience goes into a compost heap—everything you think and do and see and feel gets thrown in there, and breaks down into rich, fertile soil. That’s what you grow your novels in.

I’ve learned to respect the time it takes to think up a novel. A few months of busy daydreaming—repainting the house, teaching myself to reupholster furniture—that’s when stories coalesce. My house is filled with things I’ve made while “baking” my novels.

I could really identify with this, as my stories often need a lot of time to grow before I write.  This is quite timely for me too – since I’m busy rearranging and sorting and cleaning and filing. In fact, just a couple of days ago I realised I needed to make a tiny tweak to the action in a scene of my MG Fantasy. It’s a matter of a few words – maybe one or two sentences. But it’s a significant one that will make my character and her motivations clearer and more consistent.

I also loved this final thought from JJ Johnson:

A fellow author once told me, “Your words are medicine for someone out there.”

Such a heartwarming truth.

How’s your summer going? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

As a bit of background, we’re a very musical family. The Father-in-Law was a professional musician (drums & guitar) in England, back in the day. (In case you’re wondering, yes, he has a lot of interesting stories to tell ). I played violin as a child, studied voice, sang in choirs, and learned to play piano as an adult. The Husband learned the recorder as a child, sang in choirs, studied music, is a composer, plays keyboard, and is currently learning guitar. The Mother-in-Law took up the harp about 15 years ago, but stopped playing in the past few years and was talking about getting rid of her harps. I had wanted to learn years ago, but then, as it is wont to do, life happened. But through all the international moves, I kept the “Teach Yourself to Play the Harp” book she gave me (even though the harps and I now lived on separate continents!).

This seems to be the month for me to resume projects previously put aside – in a couple of weeks I’ll have my own 26-string lap harp!

This is a prelude to taking custody of two 36-string celtic/folk harps when the In-Laws move back across the pond. Today I was browsing around the internet, looking for beginner level music for the folk harp, when I discovered that one of the major publishers of sheet music offers (you guessed it!) printable e-books! Who knew? How cool! And yes, (of course!) I will be purchasing them. As a result of my other hobby, scrapbooking, I have a compact little machine that can do spiral bindings.  Bind-it-all + printable e-books = instant music book. It’s faster (no waiting for orders to come in the mail – instant delivery via download rocks!) and cheaper (no postage or delivery fees). Plus I can decide what weight of paper to print it on. Since the Kidlet also wants to learn, I can print on extra sturdy paper that will hold up to lots of use by little hands.

As for my other newly resumed project, my MG Fantasy, that’s coming along well. John Truby’s 22 step method of story development is working really well for me. The ideas are flowing, as is the writing. I’ve got various world-building elements scribbled in my notebooks (I have a big one for home, and a smaller one that I take with me on the go), and I’ve already started working in Scrivener, editing what I wrote four years ago when I first came up with this as a writing exercise with no idea where it could go.

Have you ever discovered an e-book in a place you never expected? Let me know in the comments.

I am getting so much out of this book! I feel like I’ve been taking a summer writing course. This book is packed with tips and techniques for story world, plot and character development. I’ve been reading it in sections, then stopping to apply what I’ve learned to my new (old) front-burner project, a middle grade fantasy that started 4 years ago with two names and three words texted to me by Friend L, with the instructions to write something incorporating all of the words, in 30 minutes. Ever since then the Husband will periodically say (often when we’re discussing other writing projects) “Yes, but what about that one from years ago? I really want to know what happens in that one. When are you going to finish it?” So now, with the help of my personal writing workshop, I am.

How about you? Does your non-writing life get more or less demanding in summer? and how do you capitalize on (or cope with!) that? Let me know in the comments.