Friday Stir Fry - Re-writes

If somebody tries to tell you writing is easy, slap them in the mouth and walk away. They obviously don't know what they are talking about.

I'm currently trying to add 20,000 words to Beyond The Horizon, my book that I thought was finished. I've found out that at 56,000 words it is way too short for a single title contemporary romance.

There are so many writing rules to follow. Not only do I have to follow the rules of grammar, stay in one point of view and limit the use of 'ly' words, I have to follow some industry standard concerning the length of my work. But, if I ever hope to see this book of mine published I have to do this.  I must do this.
"But, how do I go about this monumental task?" you ask.

I am a pantser not a planner, so I'm kinda floundering. I started by adding a couple of scenes but,  in order for them to fit, I had to change a few things. Well, obviously that wasn't going to work. I could just see the lack of continuity baring it's ugly fangs. So now, I'm going through it word by word, page by page. Adding a word of description here and there; which isn't adding up to much. At this rate, I may have 76,000 words by the end of 2014.

If anybody has any words of wisdom or tricks of the trade, feel free to share them in the comment section. You'll be helping this writer in distress and possibly some one else.

FRIDAY STIR FRY

I hate drama. Not the kind you see on TV or on the big screen, but the kind people create in their lives. I'm sure you all know a Drama Queen or King. They don't seem to be happy unless they are in the middle of some sort of confrontation, whether it's real or imagined. And they want to involve everybody in their little stage play.

I often scream in my head - GET OVER YOURSELF!!!

Because that's really what it's about. They want attention. They can't stand the thought of not being the center of every one's universe. I really think they get some sort of high from it like any compulsive behavior provides. Instead of shopping, gambling, drinking or drugs, they are hooked on fake drama.

Of course drama is a good thing to explore as a writer. Without some sort of drama in our writing, readers won't hang around for long. But, it needs to feel real. It has to have some sort of consequence attached to it. Will the hero defeat the bad guy and get the girl? Will truth and justice triumph in the end? Will the world recover from the zombie apocalypse? Give your reader something to care about and they will come back for more.

Friday Stir Fry

 

Okay a little off subject this week. Not much about writing. More about history. Earlier this fall I went for a Saturday drive. I took my camera and went to one of my favorite places. Doling Park in North Springfield.




Doling Park arcade

When I was younger, much younger, this was one of the favorite gathering places for local residents.  There was a lake (pictured above) where you could rent a paddle boat or fish or just picnic. 

one of the many stone walls

Front wall of skating rink

There was once a big amusement park with an arcade, (pictured on the right), a roller coaster, a fun house and all the typical rides.
And then there was the roller rink. All that is left is the front wall. Weird. My mother and father met there. My dad was quite the skater according to my mom. I celebrated many a birthday party there skating to tunes played by a real organist; not any of that recorded stuff.
And there is a cave. It is said it goes quite a ways under the city of Springfield. There is a fence across the front so you can't go spelunking.

Things seem to change so fast. The park doesn't look like anything it used to. It's very hard to describe places that were so important in our lives sometimes.

Perhaps that is where writing comes in. We are attempting to           capture a moment in time   before it's all gone and there's nothing left except a few old pictures
                                                         and a bunch of rocks.