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Post by uneide on Jun 13, 2022 18:53:39 GMT -5
I was really happy when I finished my trilogy and put it on Amazon. The first book was excruciating to write, as I had such a deep attachment to the world. I knew this place, and these characters inside and out... and I wanted to get them right. Heck, some of you from the PE days probably did trades that involved them. The first book, Winterborn, took me a full year and I had to rewrite it later as I was still dissatisfied with parts. Years later I got fan mail, and a request to see if there would be follow up novels or stories with the characters and world - and so the Yappari Chronicles continued, and I finished book 2 and 3 in the span of a few months. It was such a different experience, and by the time the third book was done I felt like I had completed the cycle and the story was finally complete.
This was back in 2018/2019, and honestly... I haven't written much since. Realistically I've got about 5 different books on the go, but I can't seem to progress past the first few chapters. They are all complete departures from my usual genre; some are more personal and others just seem to stall. I can't put my finger on what it is that it is, so I figure for a couple that I like I might put up a bit of them to get some feedback ( if any of you guys are up for it!) and get feedback on my characters/ the storyline/ how well they are connecting. Happy to do the same if you have a story/ book that is in a similar state!
Wondering how some of you that also write push back at that plateau?
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Post by ray.kioti on Jun 13, 2022 19:32:45 GMT -5
Wow, I really relate to your experience with the Yappari Chronicles. Back when my stories/characters were newer to me I was pretty obsessive about making sure I got things right, feeling really challenged by the process of drawing/writing and trying to get it perfect. It felt intense and difficult in a personal way. But now that I've taken steps back I feel like things are more ready to easily flow. I'm not so personally attached to things and how they come out. It feels a little more free and relaxed somehow or another.
I'd be happy to read things you post here and do my best to give feedback.
I don't write for the sake of creating a finished literary work so I dunno if my ideas will be great. My writing is usually more just ideas/script for what I aspire to turn into comics. One trick I recently discovered might seem obvious, but I guess it wasn't to me... I was stuck on the x-circuit story for literal years because I was trying to start at "the beginning" and it just wasn't working. I realized that I didn't have to start at the beginning... the beginning wasn't working for me so I just... started about 1/4 in and bam, it started to flow! So that's my only suggestion. pick up the story somewhere in the middle! or somewhere that is interesting to you.
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Post by uneide on Jun 14, 2022 13:44:01 GMT -5
I love the idea of starting in the middle! Honestly, I've never tried that. I do wonder if I'd want to go back and set up the beginning after, but its definitely worth a shot! And thanks so much Ray, I'll post a couple! I've been working on two novels and a podcast - the 'kiddo' is a voice actor and is a lead on a fantasy podcast, so I'm lucky to be able to have that in my corner.  They say they're happy to voice it, I just have to finish one! 'Eucalyptus Dreams' is the first story in a podcast with stories that are not-serialized, but interwoven in that the characters connect. It's not finished, but I wanted to put up what I have so far to see how it connects. EDIT: Took it off to work on it! Thank you so much for the feedback! <3 |
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Post by ray.kioti on Jun 15, 2022 18:12:46 GMT -5
So far it sounds great! The description of the grandmother's house really worked to bring me into the space. I was imagining it completely. The things you chose to describe really created a whole feel of the place. Describing the way the plants were growing also gave a chance to mention things like windows, etc, which created light and a sense of space. I can practically smell the place, the plants. I like the unexplained cues, such as the grandmother skipping dinner to plant the trees and doing it silently. Small hints are dropped, promising more of the story to come. There is a build up of suspense that raises questions in my mind and I want to keep reading so I can get the answers and know more about the world.
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Post by uneide on Jun 16, 2022 13:07:46 GMT -5
Thank you!! I am really glad to hear that you picked up on the things that were odd, as that was my hope! I wasn't sure if it came across as too everyday -- I needed something that was just different enough in that the reader gets there's something beyond what meets the eye.  Grandma's solarium and garden kinda encapsulates her personality, so I really wanted that to come across! It makes me so happy you can envision the space! |
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satis
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by satis on Aug 4, 2022 18:23:54 GMT -5
Oh, I love the Eucalyptus Dreams. I've been wanting to write my own magic garden story for some time...
Writing is weird. Sometimes it's so effortless, and sometimes so incredibly hard. I haven't really written anything in years, and would love to get started again. I have two original novel manuscripts I could/should revise, and way too many unfinished fanfics to work on. *sigh*
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Post by uneide on Aug 8, 2022 12:59:31 GMT -5
Thanks Satis! I wish I was more consistent at writing- I get what you mean! Right now I'm trying to kickstart my muse by writing something -anything- each day. Mostly they are just random paragraphs that go nowhere, but I'm hoping working out that creative muscle will eventually get me there. Would love to read some of your stuff!
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They say they're happy to voice it, I just have to finish one! 
Grandma's solarium and garden kinda encapsulates her personality, so I really wanted that to come across! It makes me so happy you can envision the space!