Jodi the Author

As I prepare my book for the Surrey International Writers, I am tempted to put it aside and write another story. If I were to do that, I would need to do it now and take it to my critique group. Last year, I took it to the group after I submitted it, and wished I had held off on submitting it. It needed a lot of work.

If I were to write another story, I need to figure out what I would write and who my characters would be. Those in my critique group keep prompting me to work on my Urban Midgrade Fantasy. To write a story in this genre might be a good way to step away from, not only my current book for little, but also the problems in my life.

So, the first question is whose story is this and what is the story arc? Times in the past I have used writing a short story as the opportunity to get to know one of my characters better.

If I do this, I might get to know Cyndre, one of the main characters in “Misty’s Magical Shed”, better. That being said, what would the story and character arc be? This definitely gives me something to work on.

I will report on my thoughts and the progress of the work, or lack there of, on this story. For now, I will sign off.

Keep the coffee flowing.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi

The smoke hangs heavy over my hometown. Every year it seems to get worse, but there a those who don’t understand why. They would deny climate change, yet acknowledge that each year there are more forest fires and smoke in the air. The winters are warmer. There’s less snow fall than there was years ago. I’m not sure what it will take to wake some up. Maybe they never will. Sad this is a saga to fit into one of my stories.

I grew up among the Redwoods in Northern California, on my Grandmother’s 40 acres. Along with my sisters and cousins, I took all the beauty and splendor for granted. More and more, I understand how lucky we were to have those forested acres to play in and explore.

Instead of being cooped inside playing video games, we were outside, building forts and playing war. We dug in the dirt and went on long walks down the logging road that snaked through the property. Adults and kids would spend hours together picking wild blackberries.

Close to the Pacific Ocean, the draw to spend time hunting for agates and playing in the surf drew us each summer. Rain or shine, out of doors kept us coming back.

Those were great times. Each generation needs to find their own ways of escape. Mine helped build my imagination and my yearning to write. It took a very good friend’s challenge to inspire me beyond my stories. The challenge to write a book was, at the time, a no brainer. I look back now and realize what a massive feat it is to write a book. That I accepted the challenge and started is something I will always owe my dear friend the biggest debt anyone can imagine.

So for now, it’s time to get back to the edit of the book that grows each time I sit down with it.

Keep the coffee flowing.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi

This time last week, I was missing in action. I needed to take care of me. That included some dental surgery.

This week I’m back and ready to dedicate even more time to my writing. I have two sets of edits from my critique group to work on, as well as another chapter to finish preparing for them.

This edit is feeling really good. One of the things that makes this possible is that I’m getting input that helps build dimensions to my story. I also find myself in the position of defending some the science that takes place in the book.

The latest of these is where an evacuation takes place and why. I had thought that it was because of the defeat of the army of my male protagonist. I find it is not the defeat by the other waring faction, but by the inhabitants of the planet where the battle takes place. This just happens to be the nursery of the species represented by the antagonist of the story. Now, I just need to work this into the book, and also foreshadow some of the evil to come.

Whatever your creative passion is, I hope that you find it as mesmerizing as I find mine.

Until next week, keep the coffee flowing.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi

I was recently asked what the Creative Hour was, and if it had to be about writing. So I decided to use this weeks blog to explain it.

About four years ago, at The Surrey International Writers Conference, I was lucky enough to do my blue pencil with Jane Espenson. At Surrey BC, a blue pencil gives the writer an opportunity to sit down with a published author. Every year that I’ve been able to do this, it has been amazing. This particular year as much as any, because Jane Espensen is very successful in one of the genres that I’m interested in writing. She is an amazing lady. Well, anyway I followed her on Twitter and found that she does writing sprints. That is, she challenges others to take one hour and dedicate it to their writing.

I took these challenges several times, then decided to challenge my friends on Facebook to do the same. However one of my friends challenged me and asked if it has to be dedicated only to writing. That didn’t seem at all necessary to me and so I replied, “No it doesn’t”. And that’s how The Creative Hour started.

Now every Wednesday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, I challenge my followers on Twitter and my friends on Facebook to dedicate this one hour to their creative passion.

So what ever your creative passion, please join me each Wednesday to work on your creative passion. Be it writing, painting, drawing, music or whatever you dedicate your creativity to, you will be amazed with what you can accomplish. I will time us by starting the challenge, and then let you know when the time is complete.

I hope to find many more join me this Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

Keep the coffee flowing.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi

This week I continue to work on the edit of my book “Not Too Late Forever”. It’s feeling really good, because some of those in my critique group are down to the point of “I like it, but…” Where the “but” comes in is something like, “You like to make up words, so give me a word that one character feels for this emotion or similar word for feelings toward another character. Some of the group have been through multiple edits with me. For others in the group, it’s the first time they’ve heard the story.

The thing that thrills me is that the comments and suggestions, for the most part, are adding an incredible amount of depth to the story and characters without changing the main premise and content.

I’m also finding that the suggestions are thought provoking, but don’t add a lot of extra words to the book.

So back to making up words. That’s one of the more fun parts of my writing. I’ve made up words for time measurements, from the second up to and including the year. I’ve also made up words for cultures and forms of transportation. Another thing that’s happened with my writing is that I’ve gotten to know different cultures and some their traditions. I’m sure that as I go along with this edit, that I’ll get more suggestions on how to add more depth and dimension to the story and characters.

For now, it’s time to get back to learning what the new words are and working with or choosing not to work with the suggestions made.

Keep the coffee flowing.

Respectfully submitted,

Jodi