tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42194083177537913022024-03-13T15:19:08.169-04:00Robert Evert: Neurotic Novelists of the World Unite!A blog by a neurotic novelist who wants to become sane.Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-79473539587358124752014-11-15T21:08:00.003-05:002014-11-15T21:08:57.719-05:00BEST SELLER LISTS!!!!!!!Well, this is really amazing! <br />
<br />
<b><u>Riddle in Stone</u></b> is currently the #1 best selling Epic Fantasy for ebooks on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Stone-The-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00BL09E6O/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> in the US (and #179 for all Kindle Books)... and #20 in the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Riddle-Stone-The-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00BL09E6O/ref=zg_bs_362264031_42" target="_blank">UK</a>!!!<br />
<br />
On <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/riddle-in-stone-robert-evert/1114700783" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, it has a sales rank of 32!! (Okay, I really don't know what that means--BUT IT SOUNDS GOOD!!!)<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li id="SalesRank">
<b>UK Amazon Bestsellers Rank:</b>
#604 Paid in Kindle Store (<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kinc_1">See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store</a>)
<ul class="zg_hrsr">
<li class="zg_hrsr_item">
<span class="zg_hrsr_rank">#20</span>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder">in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_1">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/341689031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_2">Books</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/2967299031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_3">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362264031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_4">Fantasy</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362268031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_1_5_last">Epic</a></b></span>
</li>
<li class="zg_hrsr_item">
<span class="zg_hrsr_rank">#28</span>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder">in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_1">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/341689031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_2">Books</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/2967299031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_3">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362264031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_4">Fantasy</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/362267031/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kinc_2_5_last">Contemporary</a></b></span>
</li>
<li class="zg_hrsr_item">
<span class="zg_hrsr_rank">#30</span>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder">in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_3_1">Books</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/62/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_3_2">Fiction</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/279254/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_3_3">Fantasy</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/books/279257/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_3_4_last">Epic</a> </b></span></li>
</ul>
<b> </b></li>
<li id="SalesRank"><b>US Amazon Best Sellers Rank:</b>
#179 Paid in Kindle Store (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kstore_1">See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store</a>)
<ul class="zg_hrsr">
<li>
<span class="zg_hrsr_rank">#1</span>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder">in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_1">Kindle Store</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/154606011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_2">Kindle eBooks</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/668010011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_3">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/158576011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_4">Fantasy</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/158580011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_kstore_1_5_last">Epic</a> </b></span>
</li>
<li class="zg_hrsr_item">
<span class="zg_hrsr_rank">#3</span>
<span class="zg_hrsr_ladder">in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/best-sellers-books-Amazon/zgbs/books/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_1">Books</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/25/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_2">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a> > <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/16190/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_3">Fantasy</a> > <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/16197/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_4_last">Epic</a></b></span> </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
And yes... I realize there are a lot of qualifiers there--"best" selling for kindle...epic fantasies sold by a Norwegian/Swedish
author over six foot and middle aged. <br />
<br />
Still!!! Wow!<br />
<br />
Thanks to all of you who have been recommending my book!! Every post and review really does count. <br />
<br />
Thank you all so much! <br /><br />
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-1613095354894340852014-10-21T11:41:00.001-04:002014-10-21T11:42:10.698-04:00First Chapter of Latest Manuscript Hey everybody!<br />
<br />
I hope you're all well and happy. This is going to be a quick post today. I just have some new news and a bit of a request.<br />
<br />
<b>New news: </b> Blood in Stone is now out on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-in-Snow/dp/B00OHZXHBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413905264&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+in+snow" target="_blank">audio</a>. Fleet Cooper did a wonderful job narrating the story and giving my little characters life. Thanks Fleet!<br />
<br />
<b>And here's the request</b>....<br />
<br />
As you know, I'm working on two new manuscripts. One is about Kravel from Riddle in Stone. The second (Quests of Kings) is something completely new.<br />
<br />
I'm finished with the first full draft of Quests of Kings, but... I'm worried about it. I'm not sure if the story or the characters are compelling enough. <br />
<br />
So, if you have time...and the interest... could you read through the first chapter (below) and let me know what you think??? Again, it's the first draft and there are tons of typos and I need to wordsmith it a great deal. Still, I'm wondering if the main character (Natalie) is worth pursuing. I'm afraid she is boring or too stereotypical.<br />
<br />
What do you think? Should I keep working on her or focus more on Kravel?<br />
<br />
Thoughts? Suggestions? Dirty limericks? <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Quests of the Kings </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">by</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Robert Evert</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Chapter One</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, hurry up you two!"
Natalie elbowed her way through the growing crowd, but her friends, Hadley and
Ida, fell further behind, unable to keep up with the surging tide of people
filing into Upper Angle's village green.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Wait!" Hadley shouted
from somewhere in the mass of moving bodies. "Nat! Wait up!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie passed through the iron gates
and stepped aside, letting the crowds stream past her to the stage from which
the heralds would read King Michael's latest proclamation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Nat!" Hadley shouted
again. Natalie reached into the crowd and seized Hadley's arm. "Ow!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Get Ida."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley grabbed Ida's hand. Nat
pulled them both out of the flowing line of people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Thanks." Ida doubled
over, sucking in air. "I thought we'd get trampled for sure!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie stood on her tip toes,
trying to peer over the crowd of mostly men and young boys. "Blast it! We're
never going to see anything from back here. Damn it for being short!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Being short has its
advantages, you know," Ida said, being barely over five foot herself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Being short is a plague."
Natalie scanned a nearby tree, considering its possibilities. "It's worse
than being a woman."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What? You'd rather be a tall
man?" Hadley scoffed, following Natalie along the wall enclosing the city's
park. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Then you'd surely stink more
than you already do!" Ida added.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie turned and glowered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida recoiled. "What? I'm just
saying that you reek of horses and manure. That wouldn't happen if you took a more
sensible job."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie waved them to follow her.
"Mucking stalls puts money in my pocket."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"But it's boys' work!" Ida
insisted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"That's exactly what I've been
saying, Nat. Why don't you get a more feminine job? I hear Boris is hiring
young women at the Dead Dog."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Boris told me I wasn't pretty
enough to be a serving girl." Natalie studied the wall and then the stage
around which thousands of Upper Angle's townsfolk were gathering. "Let's
go a little more this way."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"He didn't say that!" Ida
said in disbelief. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"He most certainly did. He told
me to come back after this"—Natalie slapped her round thighs—"moved
up here." She hefted her petite chest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"The bastard!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Ass!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"He then said that he had boys
working in the kitchen who looked more like a girl than I did."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well," Hadley said as if
not wanting to bring up the subject standing right before them, "you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> work on a few things. You're hair
for example."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie brushed the strands of mouse
brown hair back behind her ear. "Oh, Had, don't get started about that."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'm just saying it'd look far
prettier if you didn't pull it back into a ponytail. You need to let it grow
and fall forward." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yes! Let it grow longer so it
curls over your shoulders like water cascading over falls," Ida added, helpfully.
"That's how all the noble women wear it nowadays."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"To hell with the nobles. And my
hair doesn't curl; it"—Natalie shot her fingers out in all directions—"Besides,
long hair is hot and it gets in my way. Remember what happened with the
loom?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other girls giggled. Natalie
slid them an annoyed glance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You have to admit,"
Hadley said, "that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> funny!
How long were you stranded there?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't want to talk about
it." Natalie waved a dirty hand again. "Come on, keep up! I want to
find someplace where we can see the stage before they start."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley and Ida hurried after Natalie
as fast as their billowing dresses would allow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"And then there's your choice
of clothing," Hadley went on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie turned, exasperated.
"I've told you, boy's clothes are more functional. Do you think I could
muck out the stables in a dress?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Then get a different
job!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Look. Henry pays me more than
I could get anywhere else and besides, he lets me tend to the horses. He's even
let me ride them from time to time. I'm actually getting good!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"But you'll never meet a man
dressed like . . ." Hadley gestured to Natalie's entire body. "And
smelling like—"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie clinched a fist. "I
don't want to meet a man!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley laughed. "Of course you
do! How else will you get married?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'm not getting married."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, that's right." Hadley
rolled her eyes. "I forgot. You want to die alone."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'd rather die alone than to
live with a chain around my neck. Now, come on."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida raced to catch up. "What
about Artis? He's nice enough. And he worships everything you touch."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, gads! Let's not talk about
Art. I've been trying to knock that lovesick look off of his face since we were
kids." Natalie made an exaggerated expression that resembled constipation more
than love. "Hurry up. They're about to start."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley and Ida struggled to keep up
as Natalie jogged along the interior of the park's wall. Natalie stopped and
peered toward the stage, shielding her eyes from the late morning sun rising
over the forested hills, the autumn canopy a hundred shades of red and yellow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Honestly, I don't know what's
wrong with you." Hadley panted. "Don't you want nice clothes and a
decent roof over your head? If you found the right man who is willing to
overlook your, well, your . . . uniqueness, you wouldn't have to work so many
different jobs."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Men also keep you warm at
night." The others turned to Ida in surprise. "Or so I've heard!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie grunted. "The only
things men are good for are getting you pregnant with lots of babies and then
dying on you when you need them the most."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida and Hadley's strides faltered as
they exchanged pained glances. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'm sorry, Nat," Hadley
said, trying to catch up. "How's your mother doing?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"She's fine." But the anger
in Natalie's voice and stomping step indicated otherwise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"And how about your brothers
and sisters? How's Robbie?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie turned again. "Look. I
know where this is going. We're fine, alright? I'm fine. My mom's fine. Robbie
and the others are fine. We're all perfect. In fact, we're better than ever. I'm
making more than enough to get us everything we need. So just drop it. Okay?
We're fine!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida shrank back. "We're just
trying to help."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well, don't!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You know, Nat," Hadley
said, her voice calm, "there's a reason why we're you're only friends."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie exhaled, her shoulders sagging.
She rubbed her tired face. "I'm sorry. I . . . I don't mean to be like
this all the time. It's just really hard right now, you know? Some days I feel
like I'm about to explode." Then she muttered as if to herself.
"Sometimes I feel like a trapped animal."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida put her hand on Natalie's
shoulder. "Is there anything that we can do?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie shook her head, hair
slipping out of her ponytail again. "No. We'll be fine. I'm taking care of
everything." Then she added begrudgingly. "But thanks for
caring."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The three girls hugged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Whew!" Hadley pulled away
and waved her hand under her noise. "You do stink!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie laughed despite herself. "Sorry."
On the stage, several minstrels began playing a bouncy tune. What might have
been a dwarf in a brightly colored hat was dancing a ridiculous jig, his feet
and hands flying everywhere. She could barely make him out through the swelling
crowd. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Alright. This is good
enough. Let's climb up."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Climb up where?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie nodded to top of the stone
wall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Up there? Are you out of your
mind?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie leapt, seized the top of the
wall, and scurried up it like a disheveled squirrel. She grinned down at them.
"There you go. Easy as getting out of bed! Here, let me help you."
She lowered a hand to the other girls. They blinked at it as if it she were
holding feces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley shook her head. "If I
fell from there, I'd break my neck!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"So don't fall."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I"—Hadley cringed—"I
couldn't. Besides, we shouldn't be up there."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Why? Other people are doing
it."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Around the village green, a score of
younger children were also perched on top of the wall to get a better view.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley tossed her hands as if her
point had been made. "They're all boys!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What does that matter? It
isn't like they climb with their pricks."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley and Ida both gasped and then
giggled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida's face deepened to a light shade
of scarlet. "The things you say!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"It's what people do that
matters, not what they say. Now give me your hand, I'll help you up."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley glanced at the dirt-encrusted
fingers again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, come on. It washes right
off. I promise Your Royal Highness won't smell like the poor peasant
girl." Natalie's expression turned mocking. "Or don't you think you
can climb this high?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley's frown broke into a wry
grin. "So help me, if any boys come over to look up my dress!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Just keep your legs together
for a change and you'll be fine."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley and Ida gasped again and then
roared with laughter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'll have you know, I'm not
that kind of girl!" Hadley replied, still laughing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"That's not what Richard is
saying," Ida said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadley huffed in feigned indignation.
"You do it a couple dozen times with a boy and they think you're a whore!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Whore or not"—Natalie
wiggled her fingers—"give me your damn hand. I'm getting dizzy leaning over
like this."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Fine! But my death is on your
head." Hanley took Natalie's hand and, with a jump and a pull, found
herself sitting on top the wall circling the park. "Ew! I'm sitting on
bird poo!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, you've sat in much
worse."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"But it's sticky!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie helped Ida up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well!" Ida looked around.
"This is much better. We can actually see the falls from here!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They watched the Green River tumbling
down from the rocky bluffs and plunged hundreds of feet into a cloud of
shimmering mist before forking around the hills upon which the city of Upper
Angle was built.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie nudged Hadley. "What
did I tell you? Now even us short folk can see."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Speak for yourselves."
Hadley tried to wipe the bird dropping from the top of the wall without getting
more on her hands . "I'm completely average—in height that is!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They laughed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"It is pretty up here,"
Hadley admitted. "Maybe we could go walking in the woods today. I love
smelling the trees. There's nothing like the earthy smell of autumn."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie surveyed the surrounding
hills with regret. It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">would</i> be a nice
day for a walk, especially along one of the rivers. The smell of the trees, the
soft wind rattling their colorful leaves, the peace of being out of the city.
"You two can go. I have to get to work in a little bit."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"When was the last time you've
had a day off? I mean a real day off where you didn't work at any of your jobs?
When was the last time you did something for yourself and had fun?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie knew the answer. She'd been
working every damned day since she was twelve, ever since her father died from
an infection. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Let's not talk about
work," Ida said, coming to Natalie's rescue. "It's too beautiful a
day!" She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting the bright sun
warm her face. "Pretty soon winter will be here and everything would be
cold and dreary. Oh, how I wish I could live further south."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"By Elsmyer," Hadley
agreed. "Could you imagine being able to walk along the beach and swim in
the warm ocean all year round?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"And the Elsmarian men are all
muscled and have deliciously brown skin!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Deliciously brown skin?"
Natalie chortled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What? They do! It's very
appealing."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'll remind you two the reason
why the Elsmarian men are so muscular is because they spend their days working
on boats, rowing. Notice I said working! Not strolling about, buying everything
that strikes your fancy."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, I don't mind if my husband
works!" Hadley corrected her. "As a matter of fact, I'm going to
require it. That way he'll get out of the house long enough for me to spend
some time with the houseboys!" She bounced here eyebrows suggestively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You're going to have
houseboys, are you? What's your Prince Charming going to do to pay for all of
this, pray tell?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley gave an exaggerated shrug as
though the question was asinine. "He'll be a prince, of course!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Of course!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida smoothed out her dress. "I
think marrying some sort of shopkeeper would be best. They can make a lot, but
they don't come home all exhausted and stinky."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie clinched her fists and shook
them to the fluffy white clouds drifting leisurely by. "Can we please stop
talking about boys and marriage? There are no Prince Charmings! There are no
knights in shining armor who will rescue you from the tops of towers. The only
person you can count on is yourself."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"And good friends!" Ida
added.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie put her arms around Ida and
Hadley and pulled them closer. "And good friends. That I believe in!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They each sat on top of the wall,
studying the restless crowd and listening to the music. The wonderful scent of
fresh cinnamon bread wafted from a nearby bakery. What an exceptional day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"It's amazing how many people
come to these things," Hadley said eventually. "I had no idea the
Quests were so popular."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What? This?" Natalie made
a dismissive grunt. "You should see when they're burning a witch or strangling
a thief. The place is so filled, you can't move."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You watch that?" Ida
asked, horrified. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Not the burnings. Anybody who
believes in witches nowadays is an idiot. The witch hunts makes me sick to my
stomach."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida appeared even more mortified. "But
the hangings?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't sit up close. At
least, not since the incident with the eyeball."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Eyeball?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well . . . " Natalie
dithered as if determining whether to tell them something. "There was this
one time when I was right up front, practically pushed against the gallows.
Talk about being crushed! Anyway, when the trapped door opened and the rope
jerked taut, the thief's eyeball popped out. Hit me right in the forehead."
She felt her forehead as if remembering it hitting her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh gods!" Ida and Hadley
cried out together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"It wasn't too bad." Natalie
kicked her feet leisurely. "I made it into a nice stew."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You're lying!" Hadley
said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie smirked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I knew it! I knew you were
lying!" Hadley shouted. "You poser! You fib!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, come on, you guys. Did you
honestly think I'd come to watch somebody being murdered? You obviously don't
know me very well. I detest all of that blood and guts stuff. A little blood
and I'm nearly as bad as Ida."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Hey!" Ida elbowed
Natalie. "And we know you well enough never to guess what you'll do
next!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Honestly, Nat!" Hadley held
her heart. "You scared the crap out of me. Eyeball popping out! How do you
think of those things?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I was going to go with his
entire head being ripped off, but I didn't think you'd buy it." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley fanned her face. "So
help me, if you make me faint!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie pretended her eyeballs
popped out and was blindly searching for them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Stop it!" But Hadley was laughing.
"By the gods, you should have been a boy."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"That's what I've been telling
you." Natalie glanced about the park. "It'd certainly make things a
lot easier."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For many moments, they sat on top of
the wall, listening to the minstrels' music, tapping their fingers against the
cold stone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie thrust a finger toward the
stage. "Look!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What?" they asked,
straining to see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"There's Randell and his
men."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Where?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Right there, by the front left
corner. See them? He has a dark green cloak. The one with red hair!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley and Ida squinted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"That's him?" Ida asked
doubtfully. "He looks older than I would've thought."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Who's he talking told?"
Hadley asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I"—Natalie struggled to
see—"I think it's Lord Arnold." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"The fat lout," Ida
muttered. "Have you seen that man eat? He eats like a pig!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"All men do." Natalie
searched the murmuring crowd for anybody else remotely famous. "There's Sir
Percival! I bet you anything he's going to join the quest this time. I hear
he's been training up in Hillshire."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley shook Natalie's arm.
"Who's that?" She pointed to a solitary figure standing by the east wall
far from the stage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"That's Brago!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Geez!" Ida said. "All
the King's adventurers are here!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"They should be." Natalie scanned
the faces she could see. "Evidently, King Lionel proposed this
quest."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley attempted to dust off the
bird pooh she accidently put her hand in. "So?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Lionel always picks easy
adventures."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"King Lionel is an idiot,"
Ida said. "Good looking, but an idiot."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A group of men passed by, glancing
up at them. One of them mentioned something about "stupid girls."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie shouted back, "That's
right! We climbed up here all by ourselves without a prick between us!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unnerved, the men hurried away; but
Hadley and Ida went ridge, eyes wide, mouths open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Nat!" Hadley whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie shrugged. "What? Do you
ever hear how men talk? They say far worse, believe me."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I know, but . . . honestly,
aren't you worried what people will think? How're you ever going to attract a boy
with that mouth?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Anybody who really loves me
will love my mouth too. I'm not going to change just to please somebody."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hanley shook her head. "There
you go about love again. You know, you can be quite content marrying somebody
you can tolerate. Look at my mother!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't want to look at your
mother. And I don't want to be content."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What do you want, Nat?"
Ida asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley grabbed Natalie and pointed
at the nearby gate. "Nat!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the middle of a mass of people entering
the village green strolled the hulking figure of Sir Edris, crimson cloak
floating behind him in the wake of his long strides. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Edris!" Nat yelled.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mortified, Hadley and Ida tried to
cover her mouth as the knight turned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"A silver piece says Randell
wins this one!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sir Edris saluted Natalie.
"I'll take that bet, young man!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Surrounded by his well-wishers, the
knight wove his way closer to the stage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Nat!" Hanley exclaimed.
"He spoke to you! Sir Edris actually spoke to you!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I can't believe it!" Ida
said. "Never in my life would I have thought he would've stopped to talk
to me. Never!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie huffed, arms folded in front
of her. "He thought I was a boy."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What do you expect? Like we
said, stop wearing boys' clothes and talking like a boy, and people might
actually see you as a woman."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Even you have to admit,
Nat," Ida said, "Sir Edris is gorgeous! I mean, look at him!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie blushed. The others noticed
immediately.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"See!" Hadley cried.
"See! You think he's attractive! Don't deny it."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I won't deny it." Then
Natalie added, "But there's more than just broad shoulders and nice
hair."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida snickered. "Are you going
to talk about pricks again?" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What? No! I just mean, it
isn't about looks or how much money a man has that matters. It's what he
dreams."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Dreams?" they both repeated,
doubtfully. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What the hell does that
mean?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, never mind." Natalie
started scanning the crowd to find any other adventurers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"No you don't, Nat!"
Hadley said. "For once in your life, you're going to open up and tell us
what you're really thinking. Now finish what you were saying. And don't make
anything up. What does a man's dreams have to do with anything about how good a
husband he'll be?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nat thought for a moment. They
leaned closer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I want somebody," she
said, trying to find the right words. "I want somebody who wants
something, something that he's willing to work hard for. Something he'd
dedicate his life trying to get. You know?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What? You mean like a nice
house or something?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"No! Not a thing 'thing'."
She shook her head. "I don't know. I want a man with some sort of—"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Horns blared from the stage in the center
of the park.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Shut up!" Natalie said,
relieved. "It's starting!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ida groaned. "Right when you
were about to say something interesting."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't know why you even care
about these silly games." Hadley smoothed out her skirt. "Look
around. We're the only women here!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"There are a couple standing
over there." Ida pointed out three women standing by the east gates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Their harlots!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Shhh!" Natalie said.
"Here it comes!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A herald strolled to the middle of
the stage. The din bubbling throughout the crowd diminished somewhat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"In the days of old . . ."
the herald called out, his voice high and clear in the cool air. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I wonder how he projects his
voice like that," Ida said. "I wish I could—"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie hushed her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>". . . there was one hero who
repeated faced danger at behest of his King . . ."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I bet you it's Ivan the
Bald," Natalie said, excitedly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now she was hushed, though more out
of retaliation than actual interest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>". . . one hero who was so
revered by kings and commoners alike, that he was known as the Minstrel of the
Gods!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"He's talking about Balen!"
Natalie told them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>". . . I am talking about Balen
the Bard!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At once, the crowd erupted in conversation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Now," the herald cried
louder, his voice booming above the tumult, "we've all heard of the
Minstrel's many exploits. However, there was one tale that is particularly
important." He paused, letting the tension percolate. "The tale of Balen
and the Monster of Black Wood!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another murmur swept about the
commons. The tale of how the minstrel killed the ogre of Langston Forest was a
favorite fireside story of the region. At no other time in history had an ogre
ever been killed by a lute.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"If you recall," the herald
continued, "three centuries ago, the Minstrel was rewarded by King Harold
The Elder of Ettenburgh with a harp of gold and sapphire."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The murmur grew louder, the
anticipation of what was to come building.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You may also recall that said
harp was lost shortly after the Minstrel's tragic death."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"How did Balen die?" Ida
asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Nobody knows," Natalie
replied sharply. "Now be quiet."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"By royal decree," the
herald announced, "His Majesty, King Michael the Magnificent, will bestow
upon any person, or persons, who brings Balen's golden harp to His Highness . .
. " Another pause. "Four-thousand Culvarian gold coins!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was a collective intake of
breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Four . . . thousand . . .
gold," Natalie, Hadley, and Ida all repeated together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Gods!" Natalie exclaimed.
"I wonder how much the other kings are offering for it!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now everybody in the commons was
talking. Attempting to be heard over the clamor, the herald shouted, "And
be it known, anyone aiding or otherwise assisting adventurers from other realms,
or turning over Balen's harp to other kings, will be dealt with in the harshest
manner possible." He nodded to the minstrels standing behind him. "Good
luck to all of you who dare its undertaking! Let the quest begin!" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The minstrels resumed playing as the
dwarf cart-wheeled across the stage, ribbons in hand; however, groups of men were
leaving the commons, headed this way and that, talking eagerly to one another. From
atop the wall, Natalie, Hadley, and Ida watched them go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Four-thousand gold," Ida said
again. "Well, that's something to dream about, now isn't it?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley stared at Natalie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What?" Natalie jumped to
the ground and helped her friends down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You're going to go after that
harp, aren't you?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Me?" Natalie laughed.
"Don't be stupid. One, I'm a girl; although others may doubt that. And
two, adventuring is a complete waste of effort. Think about it! Think about all
the money Sir Edris and Brago and Randell and his men spend running here and
there trying to obtain whatever the kings fancy. Think about how much gold they
spend on supplies alone. They'd be better off saving their money and buying a
business or something. That's where the real money is."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Where?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"A business! Some place where
you can make your own rules and run things the way you see fit."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"You're dreaming again."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Better than begin stuck in
this place." Natalie picked the dirt from underneath her fingernails.
"So where you two off to?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Oh, I don't know." Hadley
watched the men file out of the village green. "Maybe I'll go to the
markets or something."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Want to go walking in the
hills?" Ida asked. "It's such a beautiful day!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"It is that, isn't it?"
Hadley examined the blue sky. "Alright. Let's go along the Lesser Green
and up into the pine trees. You coming, Nat?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie gestured dramatically to her
stained and soiled overalls. "I have to work, remember?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadley grimaced. "Sorry."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Why?" Natalie tried to
hide her irritation. "I enjoy working. Everybody should work!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The others didn't say anything,
knowing exactly what would happen if they disagreed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>More people streamed past, talking
about what they'd do with four thousand gold coins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The girls stood staring uneasily at
each other.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well," Natalie said,
eventually. She jabbed a thumb toward the west gates. "I've gotta get to
Henry's. I have a lot to do this afternoon. But maybe we can get together
later?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The others agreed eagerly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Of course!" Hadley hugged
Natalie. "Maybe we can go on a picnic!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie hugged Ida. "That's
fine, if you don't mind eating under the stars. Thanks to all these
adventurers, Henry's stables are full, which means I won't be done at the
livery until late evening." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
noticed their reactions. "Oh, don't look like that. I don't mind. I really
do enjoy working. I mean, I'm around horses all day! What's not to like?"
She laughed, though it sounded strained. "Plus more work means more money!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'll tell you what?"
Hadley said. "Tomorrow night, let's go to a nice tavern. I pay."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie protested.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"None of that, Nat! I just got
my allowance and it's either getting drunk or buying a new dress. I'll let you
choose how I spend it."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Natalie laughed again, this time
more sincerely. "Alright. We'll see. But I do have to get going." She
hugged them both a second time. "Thanks for caring."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Hell," Ida said, "somebody
has to look after you."</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-48847927557353941192014-10-01T18:44:00.001-04:002014-10-01T18:44:42.939-04:00This ISN'T the End!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey everybody! Sorry for the long absence. I wish I had a good excuse, but I honestly
don’t have one other than being really busy.
Now that I have a few minutes in between classes, I thought I’d say
hello.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hello!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Also, I wanted to let
you all know I’m planning on continuing my <b>Riddle
in Stone series</b>. Hopefully, that’ll
make some of you happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As of now, the third
book, <b>Blood in Snow</b>, is the last Diversion
will publish. They have said series with
more than three books usually don’t sell well and they don’t want to commit to
another installment of Riddle in Stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I suppose I can
understand that. Whenever I see a story
on the shelf that’s the first out of five or six or ten books, I tend to lose interest. I mean, who wants to invest that kind of time
before reaching the conclusion??? Am I
right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Still, I miss Edmund,
Becky, and their friends. I <i>really</i> miss Kravel. I keep hearing him chattering away in the
back of my mind demanding, ever so politely, that I write a book about him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So this is what I plan
on doing… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think I’m going to do
at least two more Riddle books—one about Kravel and the other about Edmund
(maybe a third about Abby)—and I’ll just self-publish them. Or maybe I’ll put them online for free or
have them available for donations to my local Humane Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I realize they won’t be
best sellers. Maybe nobody will read them at all. I just want to write for my
own enjoyment and because I feel compelled to do so. Know what I mean??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, I’ve been
working on a manuscript about Kravel that picks up moments after Blood in Snow
ended…however, from Kravel’s perspective.
It’s been a bit challenging. But
the story is slowly emerging. Hopefully,
you’ll all enjoy it someday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m also working on a
new series, tentatively titled <b>Quests of
the Kings</b>. The first draft is
finished. Now I just have to let it sit for a while before editing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So that’s it! Sorry again for the long delay. I’ll try to make more of an effort to write
regularly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thank you for all your
support and encouragement. Please keep
spreading the word about Riddle. Perhaps
if it sells well, Diversion will <i>beg </i>me
to keep writing about Edmund!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until next time…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">--Rob<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-43917928165388584782014-07-15T09:56:00.001-04:002014-10-01T18:29:24.086-04:00This is the End...<br />
Well, here we are…release day of my latest (last?) book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Snow-Riddle-Stone-Three-ebook/dp/B00LSRTI4I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412202473&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+in+snow" target="_blank">Blood in Snow</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I
have to say, I'm a bit bummed. Not because the book is being
released. To tell you the truth, I actually LIKE this one--and believe
me, that's difficult for me to say!! Up until this point, I've always
hated my writing. But I'm rather proud of <b>Blood in Snow</b>. It makes me,
well, smile inside ... kind of a sad, bitter-sweet, smile.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You
see, <b>Blood in Snow</b> is the last installment in my <b>Riddle in Stone</b> series
... which means I'll be saying goodbye to a lot of wonderful characters
I'm met over the past five years. Edmund, Pond Scum, Abby, Becky--even
the goblins, Kravel and Gurding--I've really grown to love them all.
We've been through a great deal together. And now, it's the end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I
suppose to most of you, none of this really makes any sense. After
all, they aren't real and I can go see them any time I want just by
closing my eyes, right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't know. They seem pretty
real to me. Okay, I know they aren't "real" real. Still, they have a
life of their own. When I sat in front of my computer, I didn't intend
on having Edmund be as neurotic as he is. I didn't put sarcastic
comments in Abby's mouth. All of that just kind of happened. They
developed themselves.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In fact, when I first typed "Pond
Scum", I didn't think he'd become a main character. That was the
farthest thing from my mind. He was just one of the pitdwellers--a
random person Edmund stumbled across in the second act of the first story.
But as the computer keys rattled, he began to take over and carve out a
reality for himself. It was rather fascinating to watch (and hopefully
read!).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's difficult for me to say good-bye to my
characters. I keep hoping the books will take off and sell MILLIONS of
copies; not because of the money or fame or anything, but because then
I'd be able to keep the series going or maybe write a side series.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But,
for now, it's the end. Like a well-worn sweatshirt, I have to fold my
characters up and tuck them away in a dusty drawer. I might take them
out every once in a while and reminisce with them. But I know it'll
never be the same. It'd be like a high school reunion. The idea of it
sounds good, but the people you have dinner with aren't the people you
remembered from all those years ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope you all have
enjoyed reading the <b>Riddle in Stone </b>series as much as I enjoyed writing
it. I want to thank you for your support and encouragement and
feedback. I particularly want to thank everybody who has helped promote
my books. Believe me, when you're an unknown author, every rating,
every Facebook post, every recommendation to a friend counts! It only
takes a handful of reviews to really start the ball rolling. So thanks
to all of you who have made Riddle in Stone a success!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Since my series is about a riddle, I have a riddle for all you readers:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Forever it goes, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>and fast does it fly. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>When it is up, </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>All will die. </b></div>
<br />
<br />
Pretty easy, eh? Well, if you know the answer and would like a free
eBook bundle of the <b>Riddle in Stone</b> series, <u>e-mail me</u> your answer (robert.evert.author@gmail.com) and you
may just win!! I'll give away five bundles to people who answer the riddle correctly and are willing to review the books on Amazon and/or Goodreads!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for now. Thanks again for everything! Talk with you soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
--Rob Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-35717029394155046742014-07-10T14:18:00.000-04:002014-07-10T14:18:03.035-04:00Four Questions and a Commercial<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Well, crap!! I really have to
apologize. You see, I was asked to
participate in a blog tour by the wonderful S.E. Dee (see her kick ass blog
<a href="http://www.bluebicblog.com/" target="_blank">here</a>) and I forgot. It’s completely
inexcusable. It was horrible of me. My apologies to everybody. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Now that my work and family life has calmed down… here I am. I’m supposed to answer four questions. So here I go…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What am I currently working on?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Unfortunately, emergencies at work and home have prevented me from
working on anything (fiction-wise) for a good month. However, I was…and hope to resume…working on
a story called KRAVEL. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
It’s about an evil (although he’d argue this point) goblin who has been
terrorizing everybody in the goblin kingdom for centuries. Then his protector, the powerful Undead King,
disappears. Suddenly, Kravel has to save
his own skin before anybody realizes the King is gone. Like they say, payback is going to be a
bitch!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I’m still in the development phase and have only written about 30,000
words. Hopefully it’ll work its way into
becoming a novel-length manuscript. We’ll
see what happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How does my work differ from others in its genre?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Boy… I hate this question! Every
time you approach an agent or publisher, they always ask it and I never have a
good answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Part of my difficulty is that I’m not sure any of the work in our genre
is completely unique. We all have
various influences and so forth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I also don’t want to sound like a pompous ass by saying “My work is
SOOOOO original!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
How about if I will say this:
<i>There are very few fantasies where the main character is the bad guy.</i> Perhaps
that little twist will help me sell it to a publisher. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Why do I write what I write?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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One word…Tolkien. He’s why I
love the genre. I suppose I’ve been
writing fantasy in a vain attempt to re-gain the feeling I had when I first
entered Middle Earth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve written other stuff (I once wrote a romance novel called
<b>Thunderstorms and Undying Love</b>. But nobody liked it because all the characters died.);
however, fantasy is what comes easiest to me.
I like the idea of roaming around and exploring a completely unmapped
world. You never know what you’ll find!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How does my writing process work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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I basically fling words on a page and see what sticks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Seriously.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have no idea what I’m doing when I write. Some people have outlines
or character bios. I just sit and
type. I don’t know the plot. I don’t
know the characters or what they want from life. I just type. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes interesting characters pop their heads in and take over the
story. That’s when the magic
happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I see my role as just a recorder.
I watch what happens and write it down.
Nothing more than that. Does that
sound odd? <o:p></o:p></div>
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My characters are their own people.
I let them do what they want and, eventually, a story develops. In fact, my first book, RIDDLE IN STONE, was
nothing more than a writing exercise. I
had no desire to write a novel. I just wanted to practice my dialogue. But something happened and a story
developed. Like I said, MAGIC!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, that’s it for now. Again,
I’m very sorry for being so late posting this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also want to remind everybody that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Snow-Riddle-Stone-Three-ebook/dp/B00L2T8UP0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405016188&sr=8-3&keywords=riddle+in+stone" target="_blank">BLOOD IN SNOW</a> (my third and final
Riddle in Stone book) will be coming out on July 15<sup>th</sup>. It's currently available for pre-order. I hope you all enjoy it. I have to say, it's my favorite so far.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ll write more later. Right now
I have to run and get my car’s oil changed. I'm late!!! (Someday, I hope life stops getting in the way of my writing! :)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cheers!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Rob<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-43924943898636874762014-06-24T12:55:00.003-04:002014-06-26T17:33:31.045-04:00Pre-Order Blood in Snow Available!!Hey everybody!!!<br />
<br />
Just to let you know, BLOOD IN SNOW, the last book in the Riddle in Stone trilogy, is currently available for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Snow-Riddle-Stone-Three-ebook/dp/B00L2T8UP0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1403818335&sr=8-3&keywords=riddle+in+stone" target="_blank">pre-order</a>. It should be released July 15th. Here's the blurb about it:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Having committed treason by claiming the Highlands for his own kingdom,
Edmund—the one-eyed, stuttering former librarian—decides to stop running
and make his final stand. Along with his best friend, Pond Scum, and
his manic dog, Becky, he must fight off goblins, magic users, and King
Lionel's entire army in order to protect what he loves. However, his
deadliest adversary is the approaching winter, and neither Edmund nor
his men have the supplies they need to survive.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
You know, and believe me... this is terribly difficult for me to say, I really like this book. I'm not saying it's "great" or "best seller material" by any means. I just like it. It was the type of book I wanted to write.<br />
<br />
I wanted to write about the growth of not only a person (Edmund), but also an entire kingdom (Rood). Also, not to give anything away, but this book has a little bit of everything...everything, but the sea as Frodo might say. There's a love story, a bromance, several battles--including an epic fight with thousands of goblins. And...I hope...the ending seems satisfying to me. Well, I hope you all agree.<br />
<br />
So if you are interested in picking up Blood in Snow early, feel free! Also, if you continue to help promote Riddle in Stone, I'd GREATLY appreciate it. Books like mine only sell by word of mouth, so please post reviews wherever you can, vote for Riddle on the various Goodread listopedias, and tell your friends! Who knows??? Perhaps if the series sells enough, I'll be able to write more!<br />
<br />
Thanks for all your help!<br />
<br />
--Rob<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeFbC_496l8/U6mtTOvcAjI/AAAAAAAAAQk/CVCvYdAyfes/s1600/BloodSnow_Final_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeFbC_496l8/U6mtTOvcAjI/AAAAAAAAAQk/CVCvYdAyfes/s1600/BloodSnow_Final_1.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-60981154681931171322014-06-12T11:51:00.000-04:002014-06-12T11:51:19.734-04:00Cover for the Final Riddle in Stone Book!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsPRY94-OrU/U5nMQTAEDuI/AAAAAAAAAQA/slwvNI8g-oE/s1600/BloodSnow_Final_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsPRY94-OrU/U5nMQTAEDuI/AAAAAAAAAQA/slwvNI8g-oE/s1600/BloodSnow_Final_1.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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Here's the proposed cover for the third (maybe final) book in the Riddle in Stone series. What do you think??? Any suggestions?<br />
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-73316969256820011692014-05-15T09:22:00.000-04:002014-05-15T13:02:44.518-04:00Stephen King and "Read A lot, Write A Lot"<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay!! I’m really jazzed!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was working out this morning and I needed
something to listen to; so I started re-re-re-re-listening to Stephen King’s “On
Writing.” If you’re a writer, you simply </span><u style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">have to read it</u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a must!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Seriously!</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you haven’t read
Stephen King’s “On Writing” and you want to be a writer, stop reading right now
and get it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a link to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Memoir-Craft-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B000FC0SIM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1400173329&sr=1-1&keywords=on+writing+stephen+king" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">King always gets me really fired up. Whenever I start to feel “bla” about writing,
I listen to his book and I get raring to go!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today, I was listening to the part where he was
discussing the two golden commandments for writers … to <b>read a lot</b> and to <b>write a
lot</b>. I think he said we should read
four to six hours a day. Personally, I believe
that’s a bit much. I figure I read maybe
two hours a day—maybe an hour on the treadmill and ten minutes in the car to
work and a few stolen minutes here and there.
When you work full time and have a family and want to write, finding
four to six hours is a bit difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I’m getting side-tracked! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In On Writing, King asks the question, “What should
you write?” and his answer is “Whatever you damn well want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The question then arises, “What should you read?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">King doesn’t talk about that much and the prevailing
thought on the internet seems to say that writers should read the genre they
like to write. And this makes
sense. If you like to write fantasy, you
probably also like to read it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I wonder, does reading books in your genre
somehow inhibit creativity? Do you worry
about subconsciously “stealing” from other authors? For example, I’ve found myself writing
characters who talk like the characters in the books I was reading at the
time. Does that make sense? Does this ever happen to you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t have an answer to this. I’m just genuinely
curious what you all think. Those of you
who write, do you read mainly in your writing genre?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is something else that I want to throw out
there. I would suggest that not only
should we read in our genre, but we should make ourselves read outside our
genres as well. After all, reading a
romance story would help me learn to write the romantic scenes that occur in my
fantasy. Same with horror and thrillers
and so forth. After all, a book may be
listed as an “epic fantasy” but it should also have elements from other genres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I would also suggest that we should read
non-fiction. I know I pick up a lot from
reading histories of medieval periods.
It helps infuse a touch of realism in our “made up” worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Okay! That’s
if for me today. I just wanted to throw some of that out there and see what you
all think. I’m off to write! I hope you’re all having terrific days!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">See you next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-61658654362883484502014-05-13T10:50:00.000-04:002014-05-15T09:20:59.333-04:00Developing Characters (or Die Mary Sues Die!!!) <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Welcome back!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you recall, last time we were discussing
identifying characters for potential stories.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Since completing the final book of my Riddle in
Stone series (plug! plug! plug!), I've been in the process of writing something
new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I originally was going to write
about the exploits of a teenage homeless boy who was streetwise, but socially
challenged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got about 25,000 words in
before I realized that the character was a bit of a cliché.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, it seems in every fantasy story
there's always the plucky street kid rising up above his station to show the
snooty rich people what life is always about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I dumped him and tried to come up with something a little more
unique. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a great deal of day dreaming, I strolled
across a young woman named Natalie. At first glance, Nat came across as a bit
of a bitch. She's opinionate and quick to anger and wanting to be independent
so much, she tends to push people away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Still a bit of a cliché, right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, the few women who appear as leads in
fantasy stories tend to be boat rockers and a perpetual thorn in the side of
the manly men who wield the swords. (What's the expression?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well-behaved
women rarely make history?</i>)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Or they tend to be the wielder of swords themselves
... deadly bad asses just who happen to have breasts (evidently they have to
have big breasts and long, flowing, clean hair, but no clothes that fit them--judging
by the book covers).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So Nat needs to be something different. She can't be
a female version of Conan and she can't be super smart know-it-all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, she can't develop into a
"Mary Sue."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you don't know what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a Mary Sue is, click on a few of these
links.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They actually go into detail
about the history of the term, Mary Sue, and give examples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice to say, Mary Sues are characters who
can do everything brilliantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For example, I'm reading a fantasy story where the
main character is young and has powerful magical abilities and can fight and is good-looking and is able to learn languages
after just hearing a few words--so forth and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UGH!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm actually rooting for
the villain in the story just so I can see this idiot get taken down a few
pegs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Okay. So that's a Mary Sue (or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marty Sue for guys). You get the picture. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I hate Mary Sues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nobody is like that in real life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the star football player and homecoming king in high school had
acne or looked like crap in their polyester McDonald's uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody is good at everything!! If they are, I
really don't want to be around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They'd just make me feel like a loser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Characters are the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to have weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not weakness like Kryptonite, that only come
around when it is convenient for the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They need to have blind spots in their character. They need to have
warts and prejudices and ... well, be human (even when they're not).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So Nat is a bit of a cliché at this point and I need
her to develop, but not into a Mary Sue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What do I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I don't know how other authors handle this, but I sit
down and write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have about 65,000 words written about
Natalie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 10,000 were pretty
one-dimensional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She's angry. She wants
something she can't have. She pissed at the world for all the injustices it
holds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still cliché, right?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By the second 10,000 word, she began to develop other
traits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She isn't very attractive. She
isn't ugly, exactly. She just doesn't look "girly." <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(And she never will!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man, I hate how beauty and success always have
to go together!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not everybody is a
supermodel and that's okay!)</i> Anyway, Nat is often taken to be a boy. Guys
will talk to her, but only to ask about her "cute" friend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know the type?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By the third 10,000 words, I found that she has to
take care of her family, whom she loves, but she's being crushed by the
responsibility. She hates her life, yet she feels guilty for hating it, because
she know it could be so much worse. She know what she needs to do, but ... damn
... she wishes she didn't have to. She wants so much more, but doesn't know
what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She believes in rules, but finds
that she has to break them in order to provide for her brothers and
sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still a bit cliché, but a
little fuller.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think too many writers won't start writing until
they have "everything figured out."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a result, they never really get past the first page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to write to figure things out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just throw words on a page and see what
happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is this character?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does she want? How does she stand out in
a crowd?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or does she?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If she could have three wishes, what would
she wish for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finds a pile of money
in the road, what does she do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
her guiding philosophy ... and when is she willing to break it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It's a process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A slow process, but a process nonetheless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Speaking of which, Nat is knocking on my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better go write about her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I hope all is well with you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See you next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rob</span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-31035181682069216462014-04-23T18:02:00.002-04:002014-04-23T18:02:45.107-04:00Finding Characters...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey everybody!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sorry for the long absence. The semester is coming to an end, which
means tons of grading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still...here I
am!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, I want to resume my periodic efforts to
document my progress on my latest manuscript.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Last time we left off (all those weeks ago), I
talked about having to find the right combination of characters and situation
before beginning a manuscript. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To me, characters (not plot) make the story. A book
needs realistic characters who strike a chord with the reader. But the
characters also have to have something to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A story with the most brilliant, the most vivid characters won't sell if
nothing happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So over the past couple of months, I've been tinkering
with a few characters who have crossed my mind. I've also been trying to place
them in situations that will have numerous opportunities to create emotion--not
just conflict as most of the writing books discuss, but also laughter and love
and longing and fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it was Sol
Stein who said, "the job of the writer is to inflict emotion."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that's true--especially the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inflict </i>part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can talk about that some other time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Conflict is essential, of course. You can't have a
good story where there's no conflict. But I don't think you can have a good story
without a few laughs, wistful sighs and painful winces as well. Imagine
watching a horror film where the characters on the screen are constantly
running for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's fine for
the first few minutes, but you also need the quieter moments to heighten the
tension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every story is a love story,
comedy, and thriller. You can't just have one emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That'd be like a painting with only one
color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So how do I go about finding my characters and
situation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is what I do (and I'd love to hear how other
writers accomplish the task) ... I daydream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously! It seems I spend most of my life daydreaming about one thing
or another, especially while I'm on the stairmaster or exercise bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I close my eyes and just ... think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And things come to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For instance, a couple months ago, I was at the gym,
thinking about Abby (one of my favorite characters in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Betrayal in the Highlands</i> and the soon-to-be-released <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood in Snow</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was picturing her sitting around a table,
talking to a group of her friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wondered who her friends would be. What would they
be like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would they do with their
free time? What arguments would they have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And so forth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I pictured Abby with a half dozen people and soon
three became clearer than the rest--Hadley, Ida, and Natalie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadley is always gossiping about everybody's
business and easily excited. Ida is more reserved and shy, but dearly wants to
be noticed ... or at least seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natalie
... well, I think I'm falling for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nat comes off as a bit of a bitch. She doesn't mean
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's just that she has a lot going
on and has difficulty dealing with the social niceties and small talk required
in most situations. She knows what she wants, and can't understand why she
can't just try to get it. Why all the rituals? Why all the wasted time? Why is
saying exactly what you think wrong?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, I think I've found a lead character. She's
strong enough to take some punishment, but also stubborn enough to dish it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, she has a range to her--far
more than Hadley and Ida who still seem cliche and one-dimensional to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What about the situation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do I come up with that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, much of the same way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I've been walking a good deal with
Natalie in my mind--talking with her, learning what sets her off, figuring out
what she wants from life. I don't have any clear idea yet, but it seems her
worst fear is losing her independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
that'll have to be part of the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But what can she gain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Again, I'm still tinkering with the story, but it's
slowly evolving in my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully
she'll come up with a story worth writing (and reading).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That's it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please remember that my third book in the Riddle in Stone series (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood in Snow</i>) should be out in July;
however, I have yet to see a cover or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I do, I'll pass it along for your feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thanks for the support you all have been giving
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn't do any of this without
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks!</span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-90012803436459617032014-03-24T17:42:00.001-04:002014-03-24T17:42:34.346-04:00BLOG TOUR!!!!
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well,
I haven't been posting nearly as much as I should. However, I have a good
reason!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been working hard on my
latest manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More about that
later.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Today,
I'm participating in a "blog tour."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To
tell you the truth, I'm not really sure what that means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently, it's like a blog chain
letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Devon
Winters, the wonderful author of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18682035-the-perfect-player---book-one-of-the-caendorian-world?ac=1">ThePerfect Player: Book One of the Caendorian World</a></i> and avid blogger, wrote
last week and I'm supposed to be writing this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm supposed to answer four questions about
my writing process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being successfully
married for ten years now, I've learned to just do what I'm told. So here it
goes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Writing Process . . . </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Question
1!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What am I working on?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I reported in my last post (long,
long ago), my fantasy series <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Riddle in Stone</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>is ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final book, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood
in Snow</i></b>, should be released in July (fingers crossed!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might someday return to Riddle and
self-publish some additional storied about those characters; however, my agent
would like me to start an entirely new series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's a bit of a pain in the ass, to
be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew Edmund and Pond Scum
and Abbie so well that writing about them was nothing more than recording what
I saw them doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I have to create
new people and new situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's
quite painful!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For example, I had this idea for a
character, Magnus . . . a cocky, street urchin type trying to make his own way
in the big dangerous world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got about
a hundred pages into the story when I realized that he was just like every
other fantasy character out there! I mean, in every fantasy book there seems to
be the upstart kid who has nothing, but he's redeemed by his quick wit and
resourcefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So that wasn't any good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to come up with something new!
Something fresh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something completely
different than what's out there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So what I'm working on now is
developing a character that is a little more atypical for the fantasy
genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something readers can relate to
but still think . . . "Hey! This is pretty unique!"<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't have everything completely
worked out yet, but I've been writing about this young kid with magical powers
whose parents were killed by this bad dude. Anyway, this kid has a
circle-shaped scar on his head and a ring that's really powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to ruin anything, but he has to destroy
the ring by throwing it into a volcano while still maintaining good grades at a
school for wizardry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it has
potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We'll see.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Question
2!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does my work differ from others
of its genre?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Crap! I don't know that it
does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, compared to all the great
fantasy writers (Sullivan, Rothfuss, Tolkien, Rowlings, et al. et al.) I'm
nothing!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I try to do is create
characters who are like most "ordinary" people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They aren't big and strong and good looking and
tremendously gifted in every way imaginable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like characters who are incredibly
flawed and don't get what they want, but learn to deal with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not every hero gets the girl in the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us get screwed and tossed
aside when somebody better-looking comes along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or we work hard to accomplish something and somebody else takes the
credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you aren't one of the beautiful people,
it's cold and dark and filled with aching pain that lasts your entire miserable
life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you have a wonderful wife
like mine. Then everything is splendid!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Question
3!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do I write what I do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I started writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Riddle in Stone,</i> I wasn't trying to
write a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just practicing writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I literally started with this guy walking
down a dusty road heading out of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had no idea who he was or what he wanted out of life or what would happen to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just watched as he walked and
wrote down everything I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Characters
crossed his path. Some stayed. Some left. And things happened. That was my
story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why did I write about those
characters? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they were there and they
wanted me to write about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm
successfully married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do what I'm
told.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Question
4!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Final Question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does my writing process work?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I sit down and I watch my
characters. I then write what I see.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Occasionally, my characters do
things that are kind of mindless and those parts get deleted from the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, generally, I just follow my
characters and write down what they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It may sound odd, but they're their own people. They have their own likes
and dislikes, whims and desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
let them do their own thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who am I to
tell them what to do?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well, that's it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My answers to four questions!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to thank </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Devon Winters
for having me do this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if you ever
need a terrific editor...she's your person!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously, she has been a huge help getting my books in good order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need a professional editor at
reasonable prices...<a href="http://imaginationetherpress.blogspot.com/p/freelance-editors.html">contact her</a>!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">That's
it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to get back to
writing my yet to be titled story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully I can make it into something worth reading.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Until
next time . . .</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-17010713184346273252014-02-08T11:06:00.000-05:002014-02-08T11:06:07.555-05:00How Do You Start Writing A Book?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Two
posts in one year. Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm on a roll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
is what's happening--as I said previously, my <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Riddle in Stone</b> series is coming to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like the final book in the series, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blood in Snow</b>, will be released in March
or April (I'll keep you posted as information comes in from the publisher.). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now
I have to start writing a new book with completely new characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
had entertained the idea of writing something other than fantasy. In fact, I
had begun a satire about higher education and got a good hundred pages in, but
my agent strongly suggested that I stay with the same genre since I'm slowly
building a readership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
I'm back to square one...a blank computer screen laughing at me. LAUGHING AT
ME, I SAY!!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn computer screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So smug and arrogant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Anyhow,
this actually lend itself to the question I'm often asked: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"How do you start writing a book?"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well,
I begin with a character in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think about him or her and daydream about what he or she would do in various
situations. (Alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really hate this
he/she, his/her thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I'm just going
to use "she/her" as a way to refer to characters of an unspecified
gender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm a hack. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave me alone.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
know this probably sounds crazy, but I actually "talk" to the character
in my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to feel as though I know
the character before I write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise,
I stare at my computer, wondering what to have her do next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I know the character, I just let her do
whatever she wants and I sit back and record what I see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
the first step is getting to know the character prior to writing. That's really
important for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
problem is...you have to have the "right" character for a book to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I came up with a male
character who I really liked and knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
even wrote 75 pages about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, as I
pulled back a little and examined what I had written, I realized that the main
character was a cliché.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
a young, streetwise, punk of a kid with a good heart deep down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound familiar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's basically the formula for every
second-rate fantasy story out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ugh!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
I had to make a decision...go on or start over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
started over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't want to get four
hundred pages into a manuscript only to realize that, while the writing might have
been good, the character was as stale as three month old bread--or anything on
television. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
now I'm back to square one again. Damn blank computer screen!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'LL SHOW YOU!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now
I have to come up with not just a character I know, but also a character who is
original.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is harder than it
sounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Not
to sound like an ass or anything, but I'm pretty proud of Edmund, my character
in Riddle in Stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's a fat, middle
age, librarian who stutters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty
unique, eh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought so...at least for
fantasy books that are dominated by big, manly men with bulging muscles and perpetually
torn shirts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
problem I'm having is, every time I come up with a character who I feel is unique,
I suddenly realize that she's just a version of Edmund.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Oh, I know! I'll write about a skinny,
middle age accountant with a hearing impairment! Wait! That seems vaguely
familiar... Hmmm."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
I need to come up with something novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
the character has to also be gripping and relatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I HATE characters who are tall, good-looking,
smart, rich, and great at absolutely everything they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't stand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, they just aren't real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're also assholes...like the popular kids
in high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ASSHOLES!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
might be asking: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"What about the
story or plot? Where does that come in?"</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My
answer is, I don't really do that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
I have a character, I just let things happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, with Edmund, I started writing with no idea what was going
to happen. I literally had Edmund walking down a road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where he was going and what his life would be
like, I hadn't a clue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all developed
from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
that's what's happening now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm trying
to write, but need a good character to show me her story first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, the computer mocks me. MOCKS ME!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Okay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's it for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some thinking to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
hope you are all well and warm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-37995270753296983572014-01-28T11:40:00.000-05:002014-01-28T11:40:18.381-05:00Jumping Genres, Lengthy Fantasy Series, and New Begins...
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, hello everybody!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I'm very sorry it's
been so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things have been busy in
my personal and professional life and, to be honest, after missing a month of
writing on this blog, it became very easy to miss two more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, a good bit
has happened regarding my writing "career."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the third book in my Riddle in Stone
series (BLOOD IN SNOW) is being edited and should be released sometime around
March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fingers crossed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, it's my favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really love this one!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Unfortunately, BLOOD IN
SNOW will probably be the last of the Riddle in Stone books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was actually writing a fourth book...a
story about Kravel and the goblins...but my publisher, Diversion Books, isn't
interested in publishing any more of the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">From what I understand,
trilogies sell well; however, once you get more than three or four books, readership
tends to fall off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few people want to
commit so much time to finding out "what happens."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I can actually dig
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever I see a book in long
series, I am reluctant to read it because I don't want to get two or three books in only to realize there are another
ten books that I have to read before I get to the conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Still, it's a bit sad
that Edmund, Pond, Abby, and Becky won't live on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've really enjoyed creating them. Some
people have encouraged me to write KRAVEL and to self-publish it...which I may
do at some point. But for now, I'd like to keep going down the publishing route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leads me to what to write about next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you recall, I was
going to write a farce about higher education. Being a university professor, I
certainly have plenty of material. However, my agent doesn't believe that would
be a wise move. After all, most of you read my book because you're interested
in fantasy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably wouldn't read
my books if they were in a different genre. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my agent
is encouraging me to write a new fantasy series.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The problem with
writing a new fantasy series is that it is very difficult to develop a set of characters
and storyline that aren't cliché.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep
writing down brilliant (BRILLIANT!) ideas for the new book only to realize... Wait!
So-and-so basically did that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which
puts me back to square one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">*Sigh* It seems every
main character in fantasy is a "deadly assassin," or the
"lovable orphan", or the "misunderstood troublemaker," or
the "unlikely hero-type."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have started writing
something new, but I'm the first to admit that it isn't terribly original.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think my best bet is to give a new spin on
the old standards...lovable troublemaker becomes a deadly assassin and turns
into an unlikely hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, that's
what's happening with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope all of
you are well and keeping warm (it's freezing here in northern Ohio)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I'll try to write more
as things progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have time,
please help spread the word about Riddle in Stone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Reviews and posts are always welcome.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until next time! Thanks for supporting indie writers:)</span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-32868595537748518912013-10-28T14:05:00.001-04:002013-10-28T14:05:29.865-04:00The Writer's Second Greatest Foe!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
As many of you are aware, I started a new manuscript a while back. And, as you probably are equally aware, I was
having difficulty making time to write.
Well, I’ve recently run up against another deadly foe of writers…changing
stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, one of the biggest problems I had previously was that I’d
never finish a manuscript. I’d come up
with a really good idea, start working on it like gang-busters (whatever that
means), and then. . . <o:p></o:p></div>
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And then I’d get distracted by another “great” idea. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I bet I have a couple hundred stories half started on my various
computers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a major problem with most writers.
We’re really good at coming up with characters and storylines and so
forth. Unfortunately, sometimes we
distract ourselves away from what we should be writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Up until this week, I was working on a story called “Academia.” It was going to be a fictionalized version of
my life in higher education. I thought
it would be funny. Kind of a satire
about academics.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, I wrote four chapters before I began to get distracted. I kept thinking about a character (Abby) from
my second book, Betrayal in the Highlands, and wondering if she could hold an
entire book just by herself. Sub-plots
came to mind. Supporting characters. The initial scenes….<o:p></o:p></div>
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And then I found that I was writing about her. I actually wrote twelve pages today, which is
pretty darn good for the first sitting.
And it isn't too bad, if I don’t say so myself!<o:p></o:p></div>
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But I feel really guilty about leaving the other manuscript high and
dry. Unfortunately, I can’t work on two
manuscripts at the same time. I’d confuse the voice of the characters.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At any rate, hopefully I can keep with this second manuscript. Abby and Becky would be fun to write
about. I just have to keep focused!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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FOCUSED! STAY FOCUSED!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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OH! Just as an advertisement…. Riddle
in Stone is currently on sale for $0.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Stone-The-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00BL09E6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382983241&sr=8-1&keywords=riddle+in+stone">Amazon </a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/riddle-in-stone-robert-evert/1114700783?ean=2940016203645">Barnes and Noble.</a></div>
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Tell your friends!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-19287192439277908502013-10-16T11:12:00.000-04:002013-10-16T11:12:29.981-04:00The Writer's Greatest Foe...<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, well, I obviously haven’t been writing in my blog very
much lately. That’s bad. But what’s worse is that I haven’t been
writing for fun either. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So that’s what I want to blog about today…why I haven’t been
writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You see, I am a professor at a university and I’m a husband
to a wonderful woman who loves me deeply and a father to two fantastic kids who
don’t pick up their toys unless I hound them to do so. I also have to workout and take care of
myself physically, meditate, and all that.
Finding time to sit down (or stand up, as I actually do) and write is
problematic. You might say it’s the writer’s greatest foe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Whether it’s losing weight or being with friends, “I just
don’t have time” seems to be the mantra of most people wanting to do things
nowadays. Honestly, how many times do
you say it? I probably use some
variation of that statement five or six times a week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I’d love to pick up all the black walnuts littering the
yard…but I just don’t have time right now.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“I know that the car needed an oil change two thousand miles
ago…but I just don’t have time to bring it in today.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And so forth and so on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I need to remember is…we all have exactly the same
amount of time in the day. The issue isn’t
“having” time. We have time. It’s “dedicating” time. It’s about priorities. It’s also about expectations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You see, I always want to sit down and write for hours. While that would be splendid, it just isn’t
going to happen…at least not with any kind of regularity. And writers need to write regularly. Manuscripts get stale faster than bread. We need to write frequently or the story
dies.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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What I keep forgetting is that we don’t need a lot of time
to write. In fact, my first book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riddle-Stone-The-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00BL09E6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381936283&sr=8-1&keywords=riddle+in+stone">RIDDLEIN STONE</a>) was written in 15 minute increments.
Every day for about two years, I came to work, sat down, turned on my
computer (dicked around on the internet), and then forced myself to write
something for at least fifteen minutes.
I think everybody could find fifteen minutes to dedicate to writing if
they really want to. If they can’t,
perhaps they REALLY don’t want to.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fifteen minutes…five times a week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It doesn’t sound like much—but it’s a beginning. Fifteen minutes. Bit by bit. Word by word. Scene by scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s going to be my new mantra from now on.
Hopefully, by the end of next year, I’ll have something for you all that’s
worth reading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ll keep you all posted on my progress!<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-87461360556261757112013-09-20T14:45:00.000-04:002013-09-20T14:45:08.518-04:00Four Things Readers Can Do To Help New/Indie Authors . . .<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey everybody! I’m sorry for the long delay. Between getting book two (<b>Betrayal in the Highlands</b>) ready for
its release next week, work, and family stuff, I haven’t had much of a chance
to do much else; however, I have a few minutes and I thought I’d discuss
something on my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whenever somebody takes
the time to read and review my book on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17339738-riddle-in-stone">Goodreads</a>, I try to send them a
personal “thank you” note. I just figure
it’s the right thing to do. Hopefully,
it doesn’t come off as “stalker-ish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, it’s amazing to
me how surprised people are to hear from an author. I’d say more than half of
the people who write back use the word “Wow!” and some variation of: “I’ve
never gotten an e-mail from a writer before!!!” In fact, many of these
respondents have become good friends of mine and have worked tirelessly to help
promote my book. (A big thanks to all of them!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Which got me thinking…
Wouldn’t it be cool to have “friended” a young Tolkien or Rowlings or Stephen
King right as they were starting out?
And please, I’m not making any connection between me and Tolkien,
Rowlings, or King!!! I’m just saying, wouldn’t that have been really, really
awesome? Imagine telling Tolkien: “You know, I really your idea of lesser rings
of power. Why not talk more about them?” Or, “Hey, why not write a book just
about the Ents and their search for the Entwives?” And so forth.
Wouldn’t that be incredible???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then that got me
thinking of something else… Maybe some
of writing friends WILL be the next Big Thing!
And I knew them way back when!
Wow! Pretty incredible. I wonder if the fame really changes people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And THAT got me
thinking of … how can readers and fans help new/indie authors who they like? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How can you all help
make your favorite undiscovered writers become, well… “discovered”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here are a few things
that spring immediately to mind:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Write a review!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Write a review and post it wherever you
can! Post it on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">www.goodreads.com</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">www.amazon.com</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">www.barnesandnoble.com</a> and any place
else you can think of. Seriously, a
well-written, thoughtful review sells far more books than anything else. So write a quick paragraph explaining why you
sincerely enjoyed the book and post it everywhere you can!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tell all of your friends!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> If you like
a book from a new author, tell all of your Facebook, Goodreads, G+, twitter, flesh-and-blood,
and imaginary friends! Tell them, “Hey,
you know, I just read this book and it was really, really
different/wonderful/exciting/etc.etc.
You might want to check it out!” <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But don’t just
mention it once. Research has often
found that people have to hear things three or four times before it really
sinks in. So bring the book up a few
different times and in different ways.
The trick is being able to do this without being annoying!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Put the book on various lists!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> For example, there are all of these lists on
Goodreads.com—best new book, best fantasy by a female author, best this, best
that. If you like a book, mention it on
one of those lists and tell your friends to vote for it. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When I ask
people how they heard about my book, the number one answer usually is: “A
friend recommended it.” But the second most common answer is: “I saw it on a
list of good fantasy books on Goodreads.”
So the lists really do help spread the word! Put your favorite books on as many lists as
appropriate and get people to vote for them!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Let the author know what you think!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Finally, if
you really like a book—tell the author.
Nothing turns a bad day around like getting an e-mail from some stranger
who likes what I’ve written. It’s
wonderful!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Also, hearing
what readers like and don’t like has really improved my writing. Much of what is in <b>Betrayal in the Highlands</b> comes from suggestions from readers. If several people tell me, “Hey, put more in
there about Kravel and Gurding!” that’s what I do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So write your
favorite undiscovered writers and cheer them on!!! After all, writers are usually emotional
wrecks and your support is always welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, that’s it for
today. Please remember that <b>Betrayal in the Highlands</b> is going to
be released in four days! This book is
far less dark than the first, so if you were put off by rats in a cage…don’t
worry, they aren’t in this book! Also,
in the second book, Edmund stops running and begins to fight back. So you’ll
be able to see him become more of a traditional hero (although not in a traditional way). He also meets some
interesting new friends! I hope you
enjoy them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thanks again,
everybody! I’ll try to write more next
week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Have a terrific day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">--Rob<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-7143390822572142902013-08-14T11:50:00.000-04:002013-08-14T11:50:12.835-04:00Two Words Writers Should Never Use...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sorry for the delay
everybody! I’ve really been neglecting this
blog. But I think I have good reason.
You see, I’ve been getting my second book, <b>Betrayal
in the Highlands</b>, ready for publication.
From what I understand, it’ll be released at the end of September. Keep your fingers crossed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, I’ve been
working with a wonderful editor, <a href="http://imaginationetherpress.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_14.html">Kimberly Grenfell</a> (if you need terrific story or line editing, give her a try. She has extremely reasonable
rates!). We’ve finally gotten the manuscript in good shape and off to the
publisher. Which leads me to today’s
topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve worked with
several different editors over the years and I’ve learned something very
valuable. It seems that I am exceedingly reluctant to accept edits, especially when the matter is subjective (e.g., he
said versus said he). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Even when things are
clearly wrong, I get this tightness running down my back and I mentally say two
words that writers should never use… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Yeah, but…!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yeah, but… I really
wanted that word misspelled! The English
language is dynamic and I’m trying to usher in a new era where “their” is
spelled “thier”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yeah, but…it really
doesn’t matter that the name of that character keeps changing! Aragorn had
multiple names! In fact, maybe that person in the chapter four is a cross
dresser, which is why I keep interchanging “he” and “she"!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yeah, but…this is a
fantasy novel! Maybe the dead guy from
chapter three was resurrected! That’s how he appeared in chapter thirty! Or maybe he had a twin! Ever think of that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s all so stupid of
me, I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m not sure why I’m so
resistant to changing things. It’s one of my worst character flaws.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How DARE you suggest
that my plot doesn’t make sense! Clearly
you just don’t “get it”!! Hummmpf!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In fact, I once got a
letter from a publisher politely suggesting that I make some plot changes and I
kept thinking, “BUT THAT’S THE WAY IT HAPPENED!” -- as if my story were really
true and I was just recording the facts.
Ugh! I'm an idiot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s difficult to
change. But in order for me to become a
successful writer, I really have to let go of that resistance. I’m not saying that I need to blindly accept
all of the edits. I personally have very
strong opinions about “he said” versus “said he.” But I need to be able to open myself up to
the possibility that the changes being suggested make my story better. Moreover, just because the editor wants to change
every fifth word, it’s still MY story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, that’s it for
today. Back to my day job and the stack
of exams I have to grade. Before I go,
just a friendly reminder…if you’ve read my book and haven’t already done so,
please post reviews wherever you can (<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">www.goodreads.com</a>,
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/">www.amazon.com</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/">www.barnesandnoble.com</a>, etc.) and
please tell all of your Facebook, Goodreads, G+, and real friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Thanks!! See you next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">--Rob</span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-37386548061258211572013-07-25T11:48:00.001-04:002013-07-26T15:26:06.589-04:00The Most Difficult Thing To Write…<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hello again, everybody!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, in my last post, I talked about a new project
I wanted to start and how I was going to chronicle all of the different steps I
take to create a novel. However, I’m
going to have to put that endeavor on hold for a bit while I get my second
book, <i>Betrayal in the Highlands</i>,
ready for publication hopefully later next month (but probably in September, we’ll
see.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyway, <i>Betrayal
in the Highlands</i> is currently being edited by the wonderful Kimberly
Grenfell. Seriously, if you ever need an
incredibly talented editor to not only go line-by-line over your entire manuscript,
but also provide insightful feedback regarding your manuscript’s plots,
characters, and so forth—you can’t go wrong with Kimberly. You can find her
<a href="http://imaginationetherpress.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_14.html">website</a>. You’ll be glad that you hired her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So while Kimberly is smoothing out my many typos and
writing gaffs, I have to face the worst part of writing a novel. I have to write the promotional blurb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you don’t know what a promotional blurb is, think
of the trail for a movie. You know, the brief commercials about a film where a
guy with a deep voice says something like: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“In
a world where all hell has broken lose, one man stands between salvation and utter
ruin…a fat stuttering librarian named Edmund….”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Promotional blurbs are a book’s commercial. They usually appear on the back cover and advertisements.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Along with the book’s cover, the promotional blurb
SELLS the book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whenever somebody puts <i>Riddle in Stone</i> on their “to read” list on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17339738-riddle-in-stone">Goodreads.com</a>,
I try to send them a quick e-mail thanking them and asking how the learned of
my book. Ninety percent of the time,
people will say something like: “Oh, I was looking for a good fantasy to read,
read the description of your book, and thought it sounded interesting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So the blurb is really, REALLY important. Good blurbs can sell bad books. Good books have difficulty overcoming bad
blurbs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I NEED TO WRITE A TERRIFIC BLURB FOR BETRAYAL!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The problem is—I suck at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you haven’t written a promotional blurb before,
picture summarizing you entire novel and all its many plots and twists and
characters into a single paragraph.
Honestly, it is the hardest piece of writing I’ve ever had to do. Harder than the book itself. Harder than even
my dissertation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, dear reader, I could use your help and I could
use it really quickly (I need the blurb within a week or so). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Below are some rough drafts of blurbs. Please help me polish them (or help me write
something completely different). Again,
the idea is to create something that sounds so good you’ll want to go out and
read it! Any and all help will be
gratefully appreciated!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are a few key things that I think need to be
in the blurb: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edmund knows a secret that is
potentially dangerous for all of humanity. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Goblins will go to any lengths to capture
him. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just when he thinks he’s safe, he
realizes that the woman he’s loved since childhood is telling stories about
him, stories that will make things much worse for Edmund and his friends if
anybody starts to believe them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edmund has to risk getting captured by
goblins in order to get to Molly.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Molly has already promised not to tell
people about Edmund, but she’s doing so anyway</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-right: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So here are a couple rough versions that I have so
far…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Version
1:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pursued relentlessly by evil goblins for the ancient
secret he knows, Edmund believes that he has finally found safety in the
inviting confines of a sleepy coastal town far from the frozen mountains of the
Undead King. Then he learns that the
woman he has loved since childhood is telling stories about him—stories that,
if people start to believe them, will have every bandit, cut-throat, and aspiring
king out to kill him and his friends. Edmund has to evade his goblin pursuers, get
back to his hometown of Rood, and stop the stories from spreading. But how can he convince his former love to
stop talking when she’s already promised not to reveal his secret?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Version
2:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edmund knows a secret—an ancient secret that, if in
the wrong hands, could destroy all of humanity. Pursued relentlessly by sadistic
goblins, Edmund hides in the inviting confines of a sleepy coastal town far
from the frozen mountains of the Undead King. For a moment, he believes he’s safe. Then he learns that his former childhood love,
Molly, is telling stories about him—stories that will get Edmund and his
friends killed. Edmund has to abandon his sanctuary, avoid being captured by goblin
hunters, and race back to his hometown to convince Molly to stop talking about
him. But how can he get her to stop talking when she’s already promised not to
reveal his secret?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
NEW <b>Version 3:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hunted relentlessly by sadistic goblins, Edmund believes
that he has finally found safety in the inviting confines of a sleepy coastal
town far from the frozen mountains of the Undead King. Then he learns that Molly, the woman he has
loved since childhood, is telling stories about him—stories that will surely
get him and his friends killed. Edmund has to evade his goblin pursuers, get
back to his hometown of Rood, and stop the stories from spreading. But how can he convince his former love to
stop talking when she’s already promised not to reveal his secret?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">**One of the problems with this these is that I use
the word “secret” twice and I can’t figure out a good way of altering it while
keeping the context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thoughts?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are some more drafts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Edmund
believes that he has finally found safety as far from the frozen mountains of
the Undead King as possible. Then he learns that Molly, the woman he has
loved since childhood, is telling stories about him—stories that will get him
and his friends killed. Edmund has to get back to his hometown of Rood and stop
the stories from spreading. However, if the goblins catch him, all of humanity
is doomed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Edmund
knows a secret—an ancient secret that, if in the wrong hands, could destroy all
of humanity. Pursued relentlessly by sadistic goblins, he hides in a sleepy
coastal town as far from the frozen mountains of the Undead King as possible.
For a moment, Edmund believes he’s finally safe. Then he learns that Molly,
a woman he’s loved since childhood, is telling stories about him—stories that
will get him and his friends killed. Edmund has to abandon his sanctuary, avoid
being captured by goblin hunters, race back to his hometown, and convince Molly
to stop talking about him. If he fails, all will be lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Edmund’s old, boring life is gone forever. Pursued
relentless by sadistic goblins, he hides in a sleepy coastal town as far from
the frozen mountains of the Undead King as possible. However, this quiet
respite will not last, as he learns that his childhood love, Molly, is
revealing information about him—information that will get him and his friends
killed. Edmund is forced to embark on a perilous journey home to confront the
woman who broke his heart. If he fails, all of humanity will be doomed.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-81044250130861323622013-07-15T10:58:00.004-04:002013-07-15T10:58:39.719-04:00The Writer's Process: Step One!<div class="MsoNormal">
I know what you are thinking! You’re thinking, “Two blog
posts within a week! When did hell freeze over?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I’ve had a bit of an idea that I’m excited about. You see, I have just finished the second full
draft of my third book in the Riddle in Stone series. This one will probably be called “Blood in
Snow” although I also like the title “A Terrible Time for a Holiday.” No real reason why. It just sounds fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway! So I have the
third book in fairly good shape, plot-wise.
I just need to let it sit for a couple months so I can read and edit it
with fresh eyes. While I’m letting book
three sit, I want to start writing a new project. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I often have people asking me about the writing “process.”
So what I want to do over the next few posts is to walk people through what is
happening to me with this new project. I
want to go step-by-step over what I do when I start something new. Make sense?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, the first issue that arises when starting a new
project is selecting an idea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You see, I have TONS of ideas for books and television shows
and off-Broadway theatre…and commercials! I have TONS of ideas for commercials,
most of them very Monty Python-esque and not at all fit for American daytime
television. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem that I often have is that I start one project
and then get distracted by an idea for another project before the first one is
completed. So I really need to select a
project that’ll be captivating enough for me to finish. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Further, it has to be somewhat developed in my head. I don’t need to know the entire plot. In fact, I prefer not to know how things are
going to end. That way I look forward to
finding out what happens. But I do need
to feel like I know the main characters relatively well. I need to be able to
hear their voices and feel their attitudes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How do I get to that point?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know what other authors do; but I daydream—A LOT. During faculty meetings, on the treadmill,
when my boys are prattling on about stuff.
I tend to be in my own little world most of the time. So I tend to toy with characters and their
backgrounds and their perspectives on the world in my head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once I get a fairly good feel for who my main characters
are, I think of a situation that creates some sort of ongoing conflict. And this is really important! The situation has to be rife with
possibilities. It needs to be able to spin off into a hundred different ways;
otherwise, I’m going to get bored. So will the reader. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For example, I’ve often thought about having an entire novel
set during one night in a bar. The
concept interests me. But I don’t have
enough skill as a writer to pull that off.
I need more outlets for possible action and reaction. I need a broader concept and more room to
run, creatively speaking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So… this is what I have so far… <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For my main character, I have a newly-minted Ph.D. in
special education, young, bright-eyed, energetic, wanting to change the world “one
child at a time.” Can you picture
him? The kind of person who wants to
sing Kumbaya and cheer everybody on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the situation, I have the world’s worst university. People are hopelessly dysfunctional…to the
point of pulling practical jokes on each other that could turn deadly. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m going to try to put the two together. I don’t know what’ll happen. But I think there’s a story there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now I go off and write a bit!<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-14050457565807258532013-07-02T13:34:00.000-04:002013-07-02T13:34:02.997-04:00Five things I've learned about writing...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Hello everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I'm sorry that I've been away so long. To be honest, this summer hasn't been as relaxing as I had hoped. Between getting Book Two: <i>Betrayal in the Highlands</i> ready for release (hopefully in September), writing Book Three: <i> Blood in Snow</i>, and actually working for a living...things have been a bit busy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
At any rate, rather than write a completely new post, I'm going to be a lazy ass and re-post an interview that I did for Jaye Viner on her wonderful blog <a href="http://writecastlesinthesky.blogspot.com/2013/06/list-of-five-interview-with-robert-evert.html?spref=fb" target="_blank">WRITE CASTLES IN THE SKY</a>. Thanks to Jaye for having me on her blog and promoting Riddle in Stone!!! Please check out her stuff!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I'll try to come up with something more original next time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">1.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">You
have to study the craft of writing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">It always amazes me how many people “want” to write
a novel. As soon as I mention something
about my first book, <i>Riddle in Stone</i>
(shameless plug), they nearly always say something like, “You know, I think
I’ll write a novel someday. I have several really good ideas!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">What amazes me even more is that people seem to
think that, since they can write an e-mail, they can write a novel—as if a novel
was just a REALLY long e-mail! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">What people don’t realize (and I had to learn the
hard way) is that writing is a craft. You have to study it. You literally have
to approach writing as if it is a job or you’re learning a new language. You have
to read other authors and examine why their stories work or why they don’t. You
have to read the “how to write books” and join online writing communities. It
takes a tremendous amount of effort, but without knowing the craft, it doesn’t
matter how much time you spend typing away or how many good ideas you
have. You probably won’t get
published. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">It’s
all about marketing and promotion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Nearly every publisher that my agent approached
wanted to know about my “marketing plan.” Even before they read the manuscript,
they wanted to know how I was going to promote my book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Silly me, I thought I was the writer and that they
would take care of everything else. But
that’s not how it works—at least, not for new writers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">New writers need to market their own books. My
publisher will make sure my book is on Amazon and Goodreads and so forth, but I
have to get online and talk about my story. I have to beg and plead for people
to read and review it. Otherwise, it
doesn’t sell. (By the way…PLEASE read
and review my book! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 115%;">J</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Most days I spend far more time promoting my books
than I do writing them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">EVERY
sale, every review, every blog post counts!
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">My publisher has contracted me to write three books.
However, that doesn’t mean they’ll publish them. They published the first book and are getting
ready to publish the second (<i>Betrayal in
the Highlands</i>…another shameless plug!), but there won’t be a third book
unless the first two sell well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">And sell “well” really doesn’t mean thousands upon thousands
of copies. Sometimes the only thing
standing in the way of getting another book published is a few dozen copies
sold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">So if I want to keep writing (and keep my main
character alive), I must write something worth reading, but I also have to make
sure the readers know my book is out there. That’s why I need people to review
my book and talk about it on their blogs, facebook accounts, twitter, and so
on. Otherwise, all that time in front of the computer, typing away goes for
naught. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Writing
is a team support<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I’m not the most social person in the world. I feel uncomfortable around people,
especially people I don’t know. That’s
why I love writing so much. It enables me to sit in my darkened office, basking
in the glow of my computer screen, all alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">But I’ve learned that writing really is a team
support. It took a huge (and growing) number of people to get Riddle in Stone
published and selling. There’s my agent, my publisher, the wonderful people in
the art department that made my book’s cover (By the way, the cover sells the
book. Make sure it’s good!). There are also the many people who read and edited
the first drafts of the manuscript. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">But most of all, there are the readers. The readers tell me what they like and don’t
like. I ask! I can’t become a better
writer without listening to what they have to say…no matter how painful that
might be. Even negative reviews can help me improve!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">There are also the people who are willing to mention
my book on their wonderful blogs and the people who read those wonderful blogs!
As I said before, writers can’t continue to publish if people don’t buy their
books. That’s why we need people to
champion our stories and to write about them on the internet. We can’t promote our books by ourselves. We
need you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">You
can’t please everybody<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, I had to learn that all books have their
critics, even the classics. Nobody likes everything. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never write something
that everybody enjoys. Some people will always HATE my work. </span>And that’s okay. It doesn’t reflect on me
personally or condemn my soul to hell. All I have to do is keep trying to
become better.<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-9878587661047785712013-05-29T13:00:00.000-04:002013-05-29T13:00:17.619-04:00Writing as a Team Sport<br />
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I once told my wife that I loved writing because I didn’t
have to deal with people I couldn’t erase with my delete button.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Back then, I thought that writing was a solitary endeavor. I
pictured me as a grizzled old man, hunched over the crumb-infested keyboard, my
haggard face warmed by the glow of my monitor, a cup of steaming tea by my
right hand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the fact is . . . writing is much more of a team sport
than I originally believed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, when I sit at my computer typing away, I sit physically
alone; however, I have the echoes of various people in my head. For instance, I constantly have to keep in
mind the readers and reviewers who have given me feedback on my previous work. They’ve made some valuable points about my
first novel and I want to learn from them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are also tons of other people who have helped me get
published. My agent, Joelle Delbourgo,
for one. The good people at Diversion
Books are others. More recently, I’ve
found an incredible editor who has been going over my second manuscript
(Betrayal in the Highlands) with a fine-tooth comb. I’ll be speaking more about her once she
gives me permission to rave about her services. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are also the dozens of the people who have helped
promote and pimp out my book. Without
them, I probably wouldn’t get a chance to write a second one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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I simply could not be writing without all of these wonderful
folk . . . my “team.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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And writing is a sport of sorts—complete with various
leagues and champions and scorecards. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Big Leagues, score is kept by the thousands of books
that are sold and the number of weeks on best seller lists.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the Minor Leagues, in which I am currently swinging, we keep
score by the number of positive reviews we get on Amazon (fifteen so far) and
Goodreads (thirty-four! Yippie!!). <o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s not to say struggling writers don’t care about
sales. We do. In fact, occasionally four or five people
might buy my book in the same day and I allow myself to dream of being called
up to Big Leagues where I could hobnob with the likes of Stephen King and J.K.
Rowlings. (For some reason, in these daydreams, I'm always wearing a tweed jacket and smoking a pipe. Go figure.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s a dream. But the
grass is just as green on Minor League fields as it is in the Big Leagues. I'm happy to be playing the game regardless of what stadium I'm in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I suppose this is what I want to say to the other writers
out there, especially the yet-to-be published writers who are trying to break
out onto the playing field:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>You need a team</u>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Get a good group of people around you—people who will tell
you honestly what in your story works and what doesn’t, people who are
insightful and energetic and supportive. Surround yourself with them and listen
to their suggestions. Allow them to help you promote and market your book and above
all, don’t try to go it alone.<o:p></o:p></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-83470992099892259552013-05-18T09:47:00.000-04:002013-05-18T09:47:19.745-04:00A Writer's Depression...<br />
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As many of you know, I suffer from depression. It’s nothing too serious. It’s just one of those things that makes me
who I am. It could be a beautiful spring
day, the sun shining, birds singing, the leaves all green and waving in the
warm gentle breezes—and I still have a tendency to feel down. That’s who I
am. I’m an Eeyore.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7eXHXaroB8/UZeGFnyfNEI/AAAAAAAAALU/OfF41PLf5Fw/s1600/Eeyore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7eXHXaroB8/UZeGFnyfNEI/AAAAAAAAALU/OfF41PLf5Fw/s320/Eeyore.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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This time of year is particularly difficult for me. The school year just ended. I’m coming off the stress of grading hundreds
of finals and papers . . . and students are complaining because they only got
an “A-.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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However, I’m a bit down today for another reason. You see, I just finished the second draft of
my third manuscript (tentatively titled, Blood in Snow).</div>
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This is problematic for a couple reasons. </div>
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First, Blood in Snow is the last of the trilogy that
Diversion Books has contracted me to write.
I don’t know if they’ll have me write anything else. So it’s a bit of an end for some characters
that I’ve grown to love. In a strange
way, I feel as if there’s been a death.
Friends are gone and I’m never going to see them again.</div>
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Second, the end of the second draft is a kind of milestone
for me when I write. The first draft is
all helter skelter—paragraphs incomplete, dialogue long and rambling,
conflicting details in the plot—it’s just a skeleton of the actual story. </div>
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During the second draft, I flesh the skeleton out. I fix the holes in the plot, complete the
fragmented sentences, and get things in better order. I then set the manuscript aside for a few
months, letting it germinate, so to speak, before I polish it a couple more
times.</div>
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There in rises the problem . . . I don’t have anything to do. </div>
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Oh, I’m sure I should start another manuscript. Maybe I could even begin working on a fourth
book in the series and hope that the first three sell well enough for the
publisher to buy it. </div>
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I should. . .</div>
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But I can’t.</div>
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My heart just isn’t in it.
I don’t know why. I’m just not in
that mindset. I’m in a funk and I’m
having difficulty getting out. </div>
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Deep hole filled with fuzzy darkness . . .</div>
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I suppose that I just need time to “mourn” the passing of my
characters and the completion of my contractual obligations to Diversion Books.
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Maybe I need another “hobby”/”compulsion” on which I could
perseverate. </div>
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Maybe I should see this point as a success and be
happy! After all, I set out to do
something I’ve always dreamed about doing…and I did it!! What’s more, many of you seem to like my little
stories.</div>
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But I can’t. I’m an Eeyore and seeing the dim side of the
bright lining is what being an Eeyore is all about. </div>
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“Oh, bother . . .”</div>
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I suppose if I stare at my beloved computer screen long
enough, the radioactive glow will eventually warm my heart…and I’ll start
writing again. Only time will tell.</div>
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Do any of you have this issue? Do you feel really down after you complete a
manuscript? What do you do to pull
yourself out of it?</div>
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<br /></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-89228161308642648612013-05-08T16:39:00.000-04:002013-05-08T18:07:12.412-04:00God Bless GOODREADS.com!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A couple days ago,
somebody asked me what I’d do if I became the “next” Rowlings or Tolkien.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Without hesitating I
said, “I’d stop promoting my book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Honestly, I love
writing. But I HATE promoting my book (Riddle in Stone…a dark fantasy available
for $2.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">www.amazon.com</a> and other places
where e-books are sold). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seriously. I really can’t stand this marketing stuff. And
I’m sure that many of you are getting tired of hearing me talk about my book
(Riddle in Stone). And for that, I am HUGELY sorry. Sincerely! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am so tired of asking
people to read it, to review it, to spread the word! But it’s what authors have to do nowadays
otherwise books don’t sell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">UGH!!! I feel so dirty!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m afraid I’m just not
a “marketing kind of guy”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m a “dark room, antisocial,
writer kind of guy.” It’s a good day
when I can just bask in the humming glow of my computer screen and not interact
with anybody. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">No offense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I just hate trying to
get enough people to buy RIDDLE IN STONE so that my publisher will publish more
of my manuscripts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With that said, I have stumbled
upon something really wonderful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many of you experienced
writers mentioned it to me before, but it wasn’t until a couple days ago that I
checked it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At <a href="http://www.goodread.com/">www.GoodRead.com</a>, you can make ads promoting
your book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is how it works. .
.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You create a little ad
with the picture of your book and a brief blurb (I think 150 characters long). The
ad appears on the side of Goodread’s pages. If people click on the ad, they are
taken to whatever link you want—such as your book’s page on Amazon.com.
Further, you don’t pay unless people click.
I think I pay $0.50 per click.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not a lot of people
click on the ad, so it really doesn’t cost that much. Only 12 people have
clicked on my ad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But the big thing is
that you get people to view your ad and see your book!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So far I have had
24,731 views. Now, of course, most
people aren’t even noticing my little ad.
But some are! I’ve noticed a significant upswing in how many people have
put Riddle in Stone on their “to read” list. In fact, within the past couple of
hours, five new people put Riddle in Stone, on their “to read” list, whereas I
hadn’t had somebody do that for a couple of weeks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And I’ve only spent $5.00,
which I think is a bargain!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What’s even better is
that you can target certain audiences. For example, you can make your ad appear
for people who like “fantasy, horror stories, and thrillers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You can also play
around and see which wording seems to attract people the most. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For instance, I have
three ads running. One is pretty
straight-forward. It basically says, “Tired
of feeling like a loser, Edmund sets out to become a famous adventurer, but his
first quest goes horribly wrong…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The second is supposed
to be more mysterious: “Edmund knows a secret, a secret that every king, thief,
and assassin would kill to have…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And the third focuses
more on the romance aspect of my story: “Trying to win the heart of the woman
he loves, Edmund sets out to come a famous adventurer…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s interesting to me that
the one focusing on romance is getting far more clicks than the other two. In fact, the straightforward one isn’t
getting ANY clicks…which gives me a clearer idea of how to approach the market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Plus, it’s kind of fun
to see how many views they each get and by what groups of readers. It’s like watching the stock market or a
telethon. Okay, that didn’t sound too
exciting, but you’ll have to trust me!
It’s fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Since I have a feeling
that the romance aspect of my story is going to attract more readers, I’m
tinkering with new ways to rephrase the other ads so that I can attract female
readers (who tend to buy a lot of fantasy books). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How is this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EBE8D5; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<img alt="Riddle in Stone" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1360264070s/17339738.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EBE8D5; line-height: 13.5pt;">
<b><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17339738-riddle-in-stone"><span style="color: black;">Real Women Like Heroes Who Stutter . . .</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Tired of
being made fun of, Edmund sets out to become a famous hero, but finds being a
hero isn't as easy as it sounds. (Dark Fantasy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: green; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">www.goodreads.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17339738"><span style="color: black;">view
22 reviews »</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At any rate, the
Goodreads program has really made promoting RIDDLE IN STONE fun and
interesting. And best of all, it seems to be working. Another person just added my book to their “to
read” list!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-84573648694447574212013-05-02T15:00:00.001-04:002013-05-02T15:00:04.712-04:00How Do You Know What Your Characters Should Do??<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, it’s the last
week in the semester here in the ivory tower!
Next week is finals week, which always overwhelms me more as a faculty
member than it did as a student. At any
rate, I want to take a moment out of my grading to relay a bit of a
conversation that I had with somebody. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You see, last week, a
fellow struggling writer read my last post and e-mailed me. The thrust of his e-mail was that he
understood the need to, as I said in my blog, “stop thinking and just write.”
However, he said that he had difficulty getting started because he never really
knew what his characters “should do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Evidently, my reader
doesn’t like to plot things out and is a “pantser” (as am I) and he feels
overwhelmed by all the different things that his characters COULD do. So when he sets up a situation, he can never
decide whether his characters should do x, y, or z. He freezes because he doesn’t know what the “best”
course of action should be for the rest of the story. Action x could allow the
characters to go down such-and-such a path, while action y allows the
characters to develop a completely different way. He asked me, “how do you choose what your
characters do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is an expanded
version of my answer to him . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I told him that I don’t
“choose” what my characters do. My
characters choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I know that sounds
flippant, so let me explain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As a writer, I view my
role as being a kind of recorder. I
simply write down what I see my characters doing. I don’t try to force them to react any particular
way. I don’t have any endgame in mind. I simply put them in a situation and then sit
back and watch the fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I believe my e-mailer
has difficult doing this for one of three reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The first is that he
doesn’t let his characters go. He doesn’t
let them be who they want to be. He
wants them to do something (what that something is, he doesn’t know). He isn’t willing to let them do what they
want because he doesn’t know if it’ll be interesting and worthy of a story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To this I say, everything
is worth of a story. Just make sure you
have characters with conflicting desires or perspectives. Which leads me to the
second issue that my e-mailer might be having . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t think he knows
his characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This is probably going
to sound crazy, but my characters feel real to me. I can imagine what they would say to nearly
any question. I can picture them sitting
around a dinner table bickering back and forth.
I can imagine them getting old or being young. This degree of familiarity makes it so much
easier for me to write about what they’d do in any given situation. If they are walking in a forest and come to a
three-way fork in the path, I know that Edmund would sit down and analyze each
and every path. Pond Scum would throw a leaf up in the air and skip down
whatever path it landed closest to. Abby
(a character in book two none of you have met yet) would leave the paths and
start walking through the woods, because she doesn’t want to go anywhere other people have already been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So the question thus
arises . . . how did I get to know my characters so well?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And my answer is this--I
honestly don’t know. Maybe it’s because
I daydream about them a lot in faculty meetings. Maybe it’s because, subconsciously, Edmund is
largely me and Pond Scum is somebody else in my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I do know that I get to
know the characters better with each passing draft. That’s where they really develop. I might have a vague view of who they are in
draft number one. But the view of the characters sharpen as I get into drafts
three and four. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Which leads me to the
third issue that I think my wonderful e-mailer might be having . . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He isn’t willing to
re-write. Or more precisely, the thought of “re-writing” bothers him, as if he sees re-writing as a mark of failure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To this I say--you have
to be willing to re-write sentences, scenes…the entire novel-length
manuscript. Even if the writing is
BRILLIANT and a heavenly light shines down upon your computer screen, you still
have to be willing to re-write it. That’s
what writing is!! It’s a process of re-writing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So my suggestions about deciding what your characters should do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">1. Get to know your characters. How is up to you. Maybe try therapy.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2. Allow your character to do what you think they would want to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3. If </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">it doesn’t work, re-write the scene and have them do “y.” If that
doesn’t work…keep re-writing. Keep re-writing until everything fits.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, their</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> actions should be consistent with their personalities and past behaviors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At least, that’s what I
think.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What do you think?</span></div>
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Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4219408317753791302.post-89779990270576114092013-04-20T13:39:00.000-04:002013-04-20T13:39:01.248-04:00Stop Thinking and Start Writing!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, I’m back from my
trip to Washington DC and my three weeks of chaotic traveling is finally over! Yeah!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They were all good
trips; however, I’m glad to be back to the joys of writing!! FINALLY! Over the past three weeks, I haven’t been
able to workout much or write at all. So I’m feeling a bit out of sorts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m also a bit out of
sorts because <u>Riddle in Stone</u>’s momentum seems to be stalling a
bit. I haven’t had a new review on
Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnesandnoble.com for a while. Sooooo…if you have friends or colleagues who
enjoy fantasy novels, <b><i>please</i></b> mention my book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’m sorry. I know that
is horribly self-centered and selfish of me. But…WON’T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF
THE CHILDREN!!! My children that
is. I have to pay for their
college! At any rate, if you can
encourage people to read the first chapter of <u>Riddle in Stone</u> available
on my website (<a href="http://www.robertevert.com/">www.robertevert.com</a>), I’d
GREATLY appreciate it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And if you’ve already read
my little story, PLEASE post reviews wherever you are able…Amazon,
BarnesandNoble, Goodreads, G+, bathroom walls, wherever! Thanks so much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, today I want to
address something people always ask me when they find out that I’ve written a
novel, specifically—“How do you start writing your story?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It seems that a lot of
want-to-be writers feel paralyzed when they start a story because they don’t
know “everything” that’s going to happen. They feel that they need to know every
character’s backstory and how each scene is going to end up and so forth prior
to writing. As a result, they never
start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t know how many
times would-be writers have said to me, “I’m going to start writing (insert
name of story here) as soon as I <i>get the
feel</i> for the characters.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I suppose that’s
fine. But it seems that several of them
have been getting a “feel” for their characters for months, if not years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So to them, my advice
is: STOP THINKING AND START WRITING!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Seriously! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Just start writing and
see what happens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This probably sounds a
bit crazy, but I don’t have a clue who my characters are or what’s going to
happen to them when I start writing the first draft. I just start typing—usually with a general
location and a vague character in mind—and then I just see what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To me, characters
develop during the writing process.
Sometimes characters pop into a story and steal the show! Or they pop in and fall flat, in which case I
cut them out. No biggie! That’s what the
delete button is for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is a journey
just as much for the writer as it is for the reader. I begin with a vague sense of a situation
and a couple characters and then I sit back and watch them develop and mature. I honestly don’t know how the story is going
to end or what my characters are like until well into the third or fourth
drafts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That’s what drafts are
for…polishing the characters and the story!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">How boring it must be to
sit down and painstakingly consider every little nuance of a story before
actually writing it! Seriously! I’d get
bored and never finish it. Why should I?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Would you read a new
book if you already knew everything that’s going to happen?? NO! It’s the same thing with writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I like to write because
I want to see how things are going to develop. I want to see what’s on the next page. If I already knew, I might as well just sit
here and daydream!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So my humble advice to
those of you who never start because you don’t know EVERYTHING about your story
is to…relax. Sit down. And write!
Characters and stories will
develop themselves—if you let them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Robert Everthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08511309474288403831noreply@blogger.com4