Jennifer Lyon


Friday, January 15th, 2016
Happy Friday

My quest to remake myself into a better, faster, stronger writer and business woman continues. I bought this book:

Take Off Your Pants

Amazon Buy Link

 

To help me write a stronger outlines so I can write the actual book faster. Then I tried to re-outline my current book, Savaged Vows, using this method and ended up looking something like this:

Stressed business woman screaming loudly at laptop in office

 

So Wizard offered me some wine:

Crazy woman with crossed eyes drinking wine through a straw

I feel better now :-)

Okay full disclosure–at some point in every book I stop writing and re-evaluate. This is the point where I rip apart what I’ve written, and what I loosely planned to write, and DIG DEEP for the real story and the real stakes for the character. This is where I start getting the extra crap out of my story and dig to refine my hero and heroine’s goal, motivations and conflicts–these are the things the drives the characters decisions, and those decisions are often made to avoid the thing the character fears most. Then I must construct a plot that drives them right smack into that fear in an explosive and emotionally powerful story.

Easy, right? LOLOL!!!

This year, I’m trying to improve my methods but the truth is that nothing replaces the sheer dogged determination and willingness to keep digging until I unearth the characters and their stories. But I shall keep trying to improve my process in the hopes that one day it will get easier…I’m an eternal optimist that way :-)

And in other news, we did not win Powerball Lottery. Good thing I love writing!

I’m still working on developing my business plan/strategy too. I share what I learn about that once I’m finished.

So what are your plans this weekend? Whatever it is–hope you have a great weekend!

9 comments to “Happy Friday”

  1. B.E. Sanderson
    January 15th, 2016 at 7:16 am · Link

    Ugh. Books are such brats sometimes. You’ll get there and it’ll be awesome. The stuff between here and there? :hugs: You ever wonder if maybe there’s nothing wrong with your process except maybe the idea that there’s something wrong with your process? Could be that once you embrace your process you’ll find ways to make it better. Just throwing that out there. It’s entirely possible I’m talking out the other side of my hat. My process is always evolving, so what do I know?

    We didn’t win the Powerball either. Not even a little bit. I would’ve been happy with just getting the damn white ball and snagging $4 for once in my Powerball ticket buying life. But no. I hate Powerball.

    This weekend, I will be working on edits. I have until the 24th to get this back to the AWE (Awesome Wonderful Editor). I seem to be on track for that. Other than that, I have stuff to do in the yard. In the Fall, we raked all the leaves into one big pile – which we usually then rake into the woods. This time, we got busy with other stuff and that pile is still there. I started moving it yesterday. Except now the leaves are all wet and heavy and compacted after months of sitting there. That’ll teach me. On the upside, it’ll be good exercise. ;o)



  2. Silver James
    January 15th, 2016 at 10:58 am · Link

    I’m with B.E. Sometimes, once you identify your process, you just need to embrace and understand that’s how your creativity works. :) Once I defined that I’m a puzzler, and that I really need to listen to my characters when they throw me a curveball, things have gotten easier.

    I turned in my line edits Wednesday morning. Wednesday night, I had typesetting edits in my inbox due today. *flail* I finished them off last night and emailed back to HQE. Now I’m sort of…adrift. I have two beta reads I need to jump on. Tomorrow is chapter meeting. The afternoon session is on marketing. Hopefully, something will resonate. I suck at marketing.

    Sunday, I hope to get back to new words. I have an aggressive publishing plan for this year. Since my sales are flat, I need to get new stuff out there. Ah, well.

    Have a great weekend, everyone!



  3. Silver James
    January 15th, 2016 at 10:59 am · Link

    Argh! I forgot to close the html tag with a to stop the italics. I obviously need more coffee… *headdesk*



  4. Jenn
    January 15th, 2016 at 11:23 am · Link

    B.e., It’s not that something is wrong with my process, its that I do better in a structure, it’s keeps me from opening too many tabs in my brain at one time.

    And I think change helps me look at the same problem from a different angle, and creates new energy to tackle the problem. But that’s just me, everyone must find their own path.

    Powerball left a lot of sad in it’s wake :-(

    Wet leaves doesn’t sound fun at all. I’d rather edit, I think. Have a great weekend!



  5. Jenn
    January 15th, 2016 at 11:28 am · Link

    Silver, my process is what it is. But I very much want to learn to outline better, and yesterday taught me a couple tricks, but mostly it’s pure butt-in-the-chair.

    Marketing is half the job, unfortunately. I’m hit and miss. Wizard said that once he retired, he was very surprised to see how much “other” work I do aside from writing. So yep, I hear you! Marketing is super fluid too, what works changes, EXCEPT for the one constant of getting new work out there. Which is what you’re doing!

    Hope you have a great meeting, learn lots and share!!



  6. Viki S.
    January 15th, 2016 at 5:00 pm · Link

    It’s great that you’re trying different things with your writing style but I love how Wizard is there to the rescue. Is that the same size glass of wine he gave you ;)?

    Even if you had won the power ball we know you’d continue to write. We didn’t win either :(.

    Tomorrow is the eldest sons birthday so we’re all going to Brasa which is one of those Brazilian places where they constantly come around with different meat. I will be having the salad bar (which is unreal). I can’t justify the money for the normal meal since I’m really little and don’t eat much meat. It should be a good time :).

    Have a great weekend!



  7. Niki Daninger
    January 15th, 2016 at 6:16 pm · Link

    Count me in with B.E. and Silver. I think we all have a way that works for us, but when we see others being more productive, we think ‘maybe their way is better’. Personally, I need to come to grips with the fact that I will never be a sit-down-type-1,000-words-a-day person. I write in spurts and the sooner I learn to harness my manic moments, instead of fight them, I will get better.

    I also love outlining and digging as deep as I can before writing. I do discover things along the way and make changes, but they are usually more character related than plot. Characters tend to grow on me and make adjustments in their motivation. It’s all good though.

    And I didn’t win either – I tell my kids this all the time, and I’m sure they think I’m kidding, but I’m not – if I ever win big buck, I am moving to Hawaii. Ya’ll can visit anytime ;)



  8. Jennifer Lyon (Apodaca)
    January 15th, 2016 at 10:27 pm · Link

    Viki, I could have drank a glass that big but Wizard usually pours a reasonable amount :-)

    Ha and I thought I was fooling out you that I’d give up writing if I won Powerball, LOL! Too bad one of us on the blog didn’t win, that would have been something to celebrate.

    Happy Birthday to your son! I hope you guys have a great dinner!



  9. Jennifer Lyon (Apodaca)
    January 15th, 2016 at 10:30 pm · Link

    Niki, Amen to that! if you know you write in spurts, you should definitely use a process that supports that. Everyone works their own way.

    Digging deep is one of my favorite things too. It just takes time and work to get there :-)

    I’d love to visit you in Hawaii!! Hurry up and win so I have an excuse to go as I’ve never been to Hawaii!

    Have a great weekend!



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