- More Love Is Murder photos to share in future posts - Also, back by popular demand will be more Reenactor Fest photos. I heard the time period covered was from the Roman Empire to World War II. Nothing like seeing adults dressed up in very expensive looking, authentic costumes. I'm saving those photos to tantalize you to return here. They'll be worth the wait. Some are a real hoot!
About Love is Murder. I came back with lots of learning and bonding to absorb. I enjoyed seeing my yearly friends and making new ones. On a disappointing note, I'll have to wait until 2011 for the next Love is Murder Conference.
For 2 1/2 days I lived in a land where writers dwelled. There's nothing like being among my own kind and having people understand what I'm talking about without looking bored. I would have loved to have finished my work-in-progress in time for the conference, but that was not to be. I vow to do so before Spring, so I can spend the Summer relaxing without feeling guilty about leaving my poor characters dangling in dire situations.
Jeffery Deaver's guest speech after dinner Saturday was witty and encouraging. He revealed that even a successful author has stumbling blocks. His was letting distractions keep him from tying up the pieces in his novel. I also have a talent for allowing distractions to overcome me.
Right now I have a character boxed in a corner and I need to plant a clue earlier in the book to get her out of it. That's only one of the problems I face.
I have a compulsion to write, but sometimes I don't know why. On a good day I'm in heaven. On a bad day, I'm in hell. Then again, I wonder if there are any writers who can say writing always flows easily and they have no trouble with any aspect of the craft or the marketing which accompanies it.
Maybe you'd like to share what's easy or what's hard for you about being a writer. I could probably write a book on that concept itself. I'll start out by saying that in addition to falling prey to distractions, I have a hard time with descriptions. It's much easier for me to write dialogue. What about you?
I second that, Morgan! Dialogue is much easier for me as well. I have to go back and really concentrate on descriptions.
ReplyDeleteI try not to do any writing on the computer, because then I feel it has to be perfect right from the start. Something about the printed word... However, by handwriting my work forst, I feel less inhibited and the story flows faster.
L. Diane Wolfe
www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
www.spunkonastick.net
www.thecircleoffriends.net
IT used to be time constraints that kept me from my writing chair... now it is time constraints that keep me from promoting my book. I guess it never gets easier. We just switch hats.
ReplyDeleteI find writing easy because it's SOOO addicting.. but at the same time I find because it's so addicting it's hard to focus on anything else like a life. grr. How excited for you to post about this. Oh and I gave you an award over at my blog today! Jenni
ReplyDeleteWriting barriers tend to be "just life happening." For example, youngest granddaughter's kitty was killed in an accident, and she's staying with me. We're going through the grief process, and the "why's" together. Difficult, but also I know that I'm tucking away the memories of what was said, the emotions felt, and will use them in actual stories, or writing, for a later time. But then . . . there is that matter of making time for writing!
ReplyDeleteDialogue comes easy more often than description does for me. I always feel like I'm rambling on with descriptions.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing for me is sitting down and writing everyday. Some days I can write like crazy, others it's like getting my wisdom teeth pulled without that lovely laughing gas. I forget what it's called.
What a great topic. Nice to know we are all sisters-in-arms here on the dialogue front. I, too, find it easiest. As for description, I do really enjoy writing it. What I find most difficult are scenes in which there is a lot of action, such as a physical conflict, and you have to write the movements and responses in a natural, but believable way. I often write too much or too little.
ReplyDeleteI recently attended a writer event and two writers told me they begin their novels in the third person to capture all the detail, then go back to writing in first-person for the second draft to capture some internal nuances. I think I'll try that next time.
I don't have much problem with dialogue and I am always filled with ideas. My difficulty comes from turning alot of those ideas into actual books. I fall short there many times!
ReplyDeleteYes, dialogue goes much faster for me, too. My big block is plotting. None of the methods I've learned in workshops seem to work for me - I still have to write the whole book and then go back and fix it.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem is finding time to write. Because I'm getting ready for a blog tour for No Sanctuary, I've been doing interviews and writing articles for that, while my w-i-p waits.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
I usually start with dialogue. The easy part is adding humor. I run into trouble in the show don't tell section. But kitties can't be running into trees all the time can they? Besides, not all squirrels throw hickory nuts at intruders.
ReplyDeleteShowing is harder unless I can do it in dialogue.
I usually start with dialogue. The easy part is adding humor. I run into trouble in the show don't tell section. But kitties can't be running into trees all the time can they? Besides, not all squirrels throw hickory nuts at intruders.
ReplyDeleteShowing is harder unless I can do it in dialogue.
The easiest thing for me is to distract myself with writing-related activities that are not actually writing.
ReplyDeleteFor fiction writing itself, I have the hardest time developing and sticking to a plot. Dialogue is relatively easy; when writing in the first person, not using the first person singular all the time is hard.
Bob Sanchez
http://bobsanchez.blogspot.com
I heard that if you write all dialog it's called a screenplay...
ReplyDelete;) cheers
Sounds like it was a fun conference!
ReplyDeleteOne hard thing for me--picking up the thread of the story again after an absence of a few days...or weeks...
You should check out Adventurebox books. They are great for Kids aged 6-9 and have award winning writer Michael Morpurgo as a guest author in the upcoming March issue!
ReplyDeleteWriting itself is already hard because it is our everyday life as writers. The writer's block will surely hit anytime. Since I am writing a book report, there are a lot of things to take into consideration - the characters, the plot and a whole lot more. I ma sure, I will have to spend a lot of time and effort on this. But the easiest part for me is when I start to write because I make sure that everything's organize first before I start.
ReplyDeleteIn writing our book I found that keeping track and not repeating what was already said was the hardest part. Now promoting...yikes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog. I know what you mean about animals, too. We have lost many but losing a child goes so far beyond! I think that's because it involves losing your future in addition to the actual relationship with that child.
Sharon
http://grandmaisawriter.blogspot.com
How interesting! I had never heard about this conference. It's good to find out. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMayra
What a delightful post! The conference looks and sounds like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWe had an interesting converstation about this at my last critique group meeting. I took a piece written in first person. Several people commented that they have a very difficult time writing in first person. I, of course, didn't understand because I find first person easy. It's third person that gives me trouble.
ReplyDeleteI think there are no writers never facing the difficulties called traditionally “the blank sheet problem”. Of course sometimes there are no proper words in your mind, no new ideas or original thoughts. Just wait a bit and have a rest. I’ll use the info for my custom term papers
ReplyDeletethe easiest part for me is when I start to write because I make sure that everything's organize first before I start.
ReplyDelete