UGH to scenes that "drag"

I was working on my new WIP and noticed that the scene I had just finished was dragging. It occurred to me that writers are suppose to get into a scene late and get out early. I remember reading somewhere that the writers chant is, "In late, out early."

A writer should come into the conflict as late as possible and leave as early as you can often before the conflict is over. That is good reading. I wish I could remember where I heard it because it's great advice. If you think of each scene that way you shouldn't have any scenes that drag.

I decided to take out the extra baggage from the beginning, middle and end. It worked! I saw that I had too much extra 'stuff' in. When I took that out the scene worked. I did add a sentence in the beginning and a little in the middle. In other words, I had empty words in the scene. Once I dumped them, I was in business.

How do you fix those dreary scenes and add luster to them so that they aren't ugh.

Will you be the same?

We're gone to the hospital today. I will visit your blogs as soon as I get a spare moment or two. I did have a thought, though(don't I always)? :)

How many writers write for sheer enjoyment? I went to an author reading at our local bookstore about two or three weeks ago. The writer seemed to me to be quite full of himself. And he acted to me like he thought he was 'special' because he was published.:) Like having a book published that he wrote validated him.

Are all his problems solved now that he has been published? No! Don't get me wrong. I want to be published. I want to hold my book in my hands. But I love writing no matter what. Yeah that was me you heard sobbing hysterically at my latest rejection. UHHUH, that was me you heard. But I still write. I want to be published and I will do a lot of things to get there, like study punctuation(ugh), read, blog, and a lot of other things.

When I'm published I will still be the way I am now. This guy acted like he was doing me a favor by talking to me. And they had champagne at his book signing in this little town? Say what? What do you think of writers like this? I mean besides wanting to throw their book at them. :)

When did you know?

Now, for all you writer's out there, when did you know you were a writer? Was it last night? Last year? Since mama brought you into this giant world? With a whole lotta help from God, I might add.

Did you always know? Did you discover writing through another vocation like teaching? What is it about writing that makes you know that you know that you know that you LOVE it?

For me, I discovered writing through home-schooling. I noticed how wonderful it made me feel to write. And I always loved reading so it was a natural fit for me. So for me it took a few years(yeah, I'm a little slow) to finally realize that I should consider writing picture books. And then a couple more years before deciding to write a novel.

Tell me how it happened for you. I really want to know. And thanks. :)

Strong characters

I don't know about you, but I want strong yet flawed characters. I want them to have blemishes. People aren't perfect, neither are the people we write about. Because unless we are writing about animals, we're writing about people and they live in the pages of our books. How imperfect we choose to make them is up to us. We control their lives like a chess game and we move the pieces around the board until the end of the book comes and the game is won. I want to give my characters as many hardships as they can handle. They often tell me, "more!" So I give them more troubles. I want them to suffer so the reader will feel in tune with them.

I also let my characters help me write the book. "Ah," you say, "She's gone berserk." No! They offer all kinds of strategic plans to help me solve problems that always arise when I'm writing my stories.

I talk to them. I interview them. I let them interview me. I also read somewhere(can't remember where) to let your MC write you a letter. The letter tells you what the MC thinks about the story you are writing. And it also tells you what kinds of changes you need to make with the plot. Try this one. It is a lot of fun.

Strong characters that have flaws and they help you write the book. Yeah. That is what it's all about. :)

Was Twilight quality writing or not?

I heard an author talking about the book Twilight and she said that Meyers targeted a market that texts, for heaven's sake(!), so THEY would
hardly care about quality writing, or recognize it for that matter. Do you agree with this or disagree?

I don't think it was poorly written. It might have been a lot less grammatical than some books, but I'm for any books that get young folks reading.

What do you think about Twilight? :)

Plot Twists or Could Be Titled What Have Your Critters Done For You?

I know when I am writing, SOMETHING has to happen. Some turning point. Some action or some event that takes my story off in a new direction. A path that the reader wasn't expecting. (hopefully) That's my plot twist. And there is several taking shape in my new WIP. Thanks to Beth who*** being the honest critter she is, told me that I was on the wrong track. After we met before unplug week I was thrilled. Why? Because I have hit on some things for my story that hadn't crossed my mind. Now it is reading like the great mystery I want it to be. Aren't critters lovely? :)

So now I see there will be many more twists and turns for the reader in my book. And what fun it is too. All thanks to a very appreciated critter! :)

Shouldn't there be a National CRITTER DAY? Or an Appreciate Your Critter Day?

So how have your critters helped you? Your beta readers? :) Let's appreciate them. :)

Hey from Chapel Hill

We're at the hospital today. I will visit your blogs though as soon as I can get over to my coffee shop across the way.

I have a pitch coming up with an agent and I am posting said pitch today. I need to add a take away to it. These girls make it out just in time (didn't you know?) Should the take away be just a sentence that tells how they get out? Or what? It can be up to 100 words. Right now it is at 66 words. ANY AND ALL HELP NEEDED AND WANTED. PLEASE! Here goes...


Seventy Two Hours is the middle grade adventure story of two 13-year old girls (one a diabetic) who embark on an unsupervised horseback ride in the mountains. When they are forced off their trail and a thunderstorm strikes, they’re confronted by wild animals, nightfall, and an insulin pump running on empty. They must find their way home in a situation where failure is not an option.

GAH! Help this freaked out woman! GAH!

Thanks :) Dang, I'm brave. :0)