Judith Arnold's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
workshops
Yesterday I presented a workshop on using conflict to shape a plot for the New Hampshire chapter of RWA. I love preparing workshops because they make me analyze what I do instinctively, and this helps me to understand my craft.
When I'm writing, I'm not thinking, "Hmm--time to add a conflict so I can shape my plot." The writing happens on a subconscious level. It's all intuitive.
But when I'm invited to present a workshop to a writers' group, I have to take a step back and think deliberately about what I do and why I do it. I bet I learn more than my audience does about the craft of writing.
When I'm writing, I'm not thinking, "Hmm--time to add a conflict so I can shape my plot." The writing happens on a subconscious level. It's all intuitive.
But when I'm invited to present a workshop to a writers' group, I have to take a step back and think deliberately about what I do and why I do it. I bet I learn more than my audience does about the craft of writing.
workshops
I'm currently polishing a speech for a workshop I'll be presenting at a writers' retreat in Maine next weekend. It's all about how to create characters who have depth, who are more than a collection of character traits. I've written a gazillion romances, a few women's fiction novels, a New Adult novel, and a couple of mysteries, the first of which is now available, and I've discovered that when it comes to characterization, the genre doesn't matter. Characters need to be more than the sum of their eye color, favorite food, greatest hope and greatest fear. They need souls.
So...next weekend, I'll climb onto my soapbox and (I hope!) convince the other writers in the room that they need to give their characters souls.
So...next weekend, I'll climb onto my soapbox and (I hope!) convince the other writers in the room that they need to give their characters souls.
off to a writers' retreat
What a perfect way to recover from this verrry long winter--a long weekend at a hotel with a group of writers. Although called a writers' retreat, it's also a mini-conference, since there will be workshops (I'll be presenting two, on conflicts and on heroes and heroines), and an editor will be present to discuss her publisher and listen to pitches.
But the retreat aspect really appeals to me. We'll be a small group, informal, and we'll be talking, breathing, eating, drinking, and living writing.
Whenever I return home from a gathering of writers, I'm inspired and energized, ready to make serious progress on my current manuscript. By the end of this weekend escape will, I expect to be hoarse (from talking too much), weary (from not sleeping enough), and pumped full of creative adrenaline.
But the retreat aspect really appeals to me. We'll be a small group, informal, and we'll be talking, breathing, eating, drinking, and living writing.
Whenever I return home from a gathering of writers, I'm inspired and energized, ready to make serious progress on my current manuscript. By the end of this weekend escape will, I expect to be hoarse (from talking too much), weary (from not sleeping enough), and pumped full of creative adrenaline.
Kindle discount
DEAD BALL is discounted at Kindle this month. Only $1.99! I'm hoping this will attract some new readers. As I'm learning, it's not easy for a long-time romance writer to get mystery fans to try one of her books.
The genre may be different, but the voice and sensibility are the same. A Judith Arnold book is a Judith Arnold book.
Fingers crossed that readers will take advantage of this discounted price.
The genre may be different, but the voice and sensibility are the same. A Judith Arnold book is a Judith Arnold book.
Fingers crossed that readers will take advantage of this discounted price.
Serendipity
I started reading Donna Tartt's THE GOLDFINCH a couple of days ago. Today the Pulitzer Prizes were announced, and THE GOLDFINCH won for fiction. Pure serendipity that the winner would be the book I've just dived into.
And pure joy that this is one of those rare occasions when I actually agree with the Pulitzer Prize judges. I've found some Pulitzer Prize winners painful to read--not because they rub my emotions raw but because they're tedious, sluggish, pretentious, or just plain not fun.
THE GOLDFINCH teems with characters I can believe in and care about--especially Theo, the hero at the heart of the story. I read for character, and Theo is a character I want to spend a long time with.
It's a long novel, so that wish will come true!
Congratulations, Donna Tartt!
And pure joy that this is one of those rare occasions when I actually agree with the Pulitzer Prize judges. I've found some Pulitzer Prize winners painful to read--not because they rub my emotions raw but because they're tedious, sluggish, pretentious, or just plain not fun.
THE GOLDFINCH teems with characters I can believe in and care about--especially Theo, the hero at the heart of the story. I read for character, and Theo is a character I want to spend a long time with.
It's a long novel, so that wish will come true!
Congratulations, Donna Tartt!
rough draft done
The rough draft of my new manuscript is done, done, done! In fact, it's gone through one round of revisions. Now I need to run a spell-check on it (even though I can spell better than my spell-check can) and print it out. I'll do the second round of revisions on hard copy.
Why is it that a book reads differently on paper than on a screen (computer or e-reader?) I love love love my e-reader, but books just seem...well, different when you're turning the pages, when your bookmark is a physical object, when you can evaluate how far along in a book you are by turning it sideways and studying the thickness of the pages read and the pages unread.
I'm currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature Of All Things in a paper edition. I wonder what the experience of reading this book would be like if I'd downloaded it to my e-reader, instead.
I do know that reading a work-in-progress on paper enables me to look at it with fresh eyes and to give it the final polish it needs. So...within the next couple of days, I will be reading my manuscript on paper. There's still a bit of 20th century in me.
Why is it that a book reads differently on paper than on a screen (computer or e-reader?) I love love love my e-reader, but books just seem...well, different when you're turning the pages, when your bookmark is a physical object, when you can evaluate how far along in a book you are by turning it sideways and studying the thickness of the pages read and the pages unread.
I'm currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature Of All Things in a paper edition. I wonder what the experience of reading this book would be like if I'd downloaded it to my e-reader, instead.
I do know that reading a work-in-progress on paper enables me to look at it with fresh eyes and to give it the final polish it needs. So...within the next couple of days, I will be reading my manuscript on paper. There's still a bit of 20th century in me.
