Today I started a "Catalogue of Personal Histories" for each character in each of my novels.
I have all of the information tucked away in incomprehensibly written scraps of papers scattered around my office, but today I started creating an easy to read reference sheet for each of my characters.
I start with their full name (given) and their nicknames Then I underline their name with a colour coded bar with the series and book title. The Left side of the page is two columns of text about the characters Background: Their personal History, traits, quirks, motivations, relationships, geography etc.. and anything else I find relevant to their character. In the centre of the page is a picture of a live model/ head shot of a person I find to have similar physical traits to the character.On the Right hand of the page is a point form description of their attire and physical characteristics.
The second page has a description of any outstanding characteristics that need more description.
For example: Describing in detail the character's religion or beliefs, their magical abilities, complex relationships or family trees.
*Note: Any character that occurs in more than one novel will have one of these compact reference sheets for each book. They will denote the character's growth, changes in personality and motivations as well as add to any abilities.
These are like Character resumes, that take several hours to complete. I know my characters like I know my family, and yet it still took me an hour and a half (at my fastest) to write out one of these Histories. This morning I completed 3, and am about to complete a 4th. Eventually I would like to have one of these for every character in each of my books, and then several for each world.
My Catalogues of Histories will include;
-Character refs/ bios/ histories
-Country & Province histories and maps
-Religions & Deities
-Royalty & Leadership
-Legends & Myths
-Tales & Stories
for each novel. It's a daunting challenge but will make writing easier, clearer and faster to reference. I will take it character by character, book by book, eventually creating enough information to fill several binders.
If you would like to try to make you own I am currently using a template in Microsoft Word Starter 2010 called "Apothecary Newsletter" it is the perfect template for the information I want to display easily.
If you use this trick, I hope it helps. I already love it!
-Brandolyn
G-7,278
TToA-78,409
TDotRQ-37,276
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Tuesday 13 March 2012
Reading and Writing
Over the years I have read quote upon quote from famous writers saying in various ways: Reading is just as important as writing.
It is not until recently that I have realised how true that statement is.
Reading other people's work does a lot for your own creative process; at least, it does for mine.
Reading keeps my mind working, even though it allows me to put down my own stories and get wrapped up in someone else's.
Through immersion in a good book I get to feel the sense of wonder and excitement that I want readers of my work to feel. It is inspiring to read other works and strive toward them, but it can be a challenge to keep writing, when I know I have some very big footprints to follow. Sometimes afraid of falling into the cavernous tread before me, I have come up with ways to keep myself motivated; even after reading any of the many Everests of the book world.
As an aspiring author I know I have to keep writing, and I have a few tricks in my repertoire to keep me doing so, even when I feel uninspired or incredibly intimidated. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation I suggest trying this technique, or any variation of it that you can come up with- bottom line- write.
If you enjoy writing, even just a little, and if you are currently reading a book that has drawn you in already, or perhaps you are still waiting for that pull in the middle of your stomach, either way, if you have a book, stop and try to write a scene from the next chapter.
It is incredibly difficult to create a story from scratch, but with firm knowledge or even a basic grasp of the direction a story is going, or an idea of the characters, you should be able to write a fairly compelling scene.
The scene you choose does not necessarily have to happen in the story, but it should follow the characters and rules of the world outlined by the author thus far. Some sort of action must occur in this scene, even if it is as basic as going out to fetch a pail of water, or feeding chickens.
This challenge is purely imaginative, how far can you push your imagination with someone else's characters and world, without tossing the pre-described rules out the proverbial window?
If you do not want to encounter the possibility of "ruining" upcoming story lines, then pick a chapter or scene you have already read, something that you found unsatisfying. First identify why it was unsatisfying to you (make note of the reason, so you do not repeat the problem yourself) then rewrite the scene to your specifications.
You can do this challenge with a movie; rewrite a scene, or exchange between characters.
If you want to make the challenge of writing a scene more difficult, then try to emulate the original author's style of writing. In the past I have found this to be extremely challenging, however, what I learn from it makes it worth the time.
I know writers who are less intrigued by novel writing than they are about blogging, or journalism. For those of you who fall into this category you might consider writing a review of a book, chapter, character, whichever you find most suited to your needs and interests.
I have one friend who has been writing summaries of chapters as he reads a long series of novels.
Summaries, reviews, blogs or fake articles about "current events" within a fictional world are all wonderful ways to keep you writing and improving your skills.
**Please note** All of this goes for the real world as well. If you enjoy writing blogs- then write blogs. If you like writing articles- then write articles about actual current events that appeal to you.
Keep on writing.
Although there are many days that pass without me writing a blog post, there are very few days in the year where I am not seated at my computer with cats on my lap, on in a chair with a pen and paper trying desperately to translate all the scenes I see in my head, into words on paper.
I write all the time. I write even when I have nothing to write on.
When I am unable to fall asleep I write myself dreams to drift into.
Sitting in a coffee shop, I write backgrounds for the caffeine enthusiasts surrounding me.
Although my writing is not always of great calibre, I learn every time I write, even if it is simply to stop spelling "in front" as "infront" (seriously... I do it ALL the time.)
Coaches tell their teams that practice makes perfect, and then you get to practice playing a sport. English teachers say to write all the time, so they give us homework. Well if you were like me, you liked to go out an play, rather than do homework. If my teachers had presented me with various ways to keep writing, with ways to "play" with the craft, I think I would have been a much better student.
Keep sharpening your pencils!
-Brandolyn
G-7,278
TToA-72,951
TDotRQ-37,276
It is not until recently that I have realised how true that statement is.
Reading other people's work does a lot for your own creative process; at least, it does for mine.
Reading keeps my mind working, even though it allows me to put down my own stories and get wrapped up in someone else's.
Through immersion in a good book I get to feel the sense of wonder and excitement that I want readers of my work to feel. It is inspiring to read other works and strive toward them, but it can be a challenge to keep writing, when I know I have some very big footprints to follow. Sometimes afraid of falling into the cavernous tread before me, I have come up with ways to keep myself motivated; even after reading any of the many Everests of the book world.
As an aspiring author I know I have to keep writing, and I have a few tricks in my repertoire to keep me doing so, even when I feel uninspired or incredibly intimidated. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation I suggest trying this technique, or any variation of it that you can come up with- bottom line- write.
If you enjoy writing, even just a little, and if you are currently reading a book that has drawn you in already, or perhaps you are still waiting for that pull in the middle of your stomach, either way, if you have a book, stop and try to write a scene from the next chapter.
It is incredibly difficult to create a story from scratch, but with firm knowledge or even a basic grasp of the direction a story is going, or an idea of the characters, you should be able to write a fairly compelling scene.
The scene you choose does not necessarily have to happen in the story, but it should follow the characters and rules of the world outlined by the author thus far. Some sort of action must occur in this scene, even if it is as basic as going out to fetch a pail of water, or feeding chickens.
This challenge is purely imaginative, how far can you push your imagination with someone else's characters and world, without tossing the pre-described rules out the proverbial window?
If you do not want to encounter the possibility of "ruining" upcoming story lines, then pick a chapter or scene you have already read, something that you found unsatisfying. First identify why it was unsatisfying to you (make note of the reason, so you do not repeat the problem yourself) then rewrite the scene to your specifications.
You can do this challenge with a movie; rewrite a scene, or exchange between characters.
If you want to make the challenge of writing a scene more difficult, then try to emulate the original author's style of writing. In the past I have found this to be extremely challenging, however, what I learn from it makes it worth the time.
I know writers who are less intrigued by novel writing than they are about blogging, or journalism. For those of you who fall into this category you might consider writing a review of a book, chapter, character, whichever you find most suited to your needs and interests.
I have one friend who has been writing summaries of chapters as he reads a long series of novels.
Summaries, reviews, blogs or fake articles about "current events" within a fictional world are all wonderful ways to keep you writing and improving your skills.
**Please note** All of this goes for the real world as well. If you enjoy writing blogs- then write blogs. If you like writing articles- then write articles about actual current events that appeal to you.
Keep on writing.
Although there are many days that pass without me writing a blog post, there are very few days in the year where I am not seated at my computer with cats on my lap, on in a chair with a pen and paper trying desperately to translate all the scenes I see in my head, into words on paper.
I write all the time. I write even when I have nothing to write on.
When I am unable to fall asleep I write myself dreams to drift into.
Sitting in a coffee shop, I write backgrounds for the caffeine enthusiasts surrounding me.
Although my writing is not always of great calibre, I learn every time I write, even if it is simply to stop spelling "in front" as "infront" (seriously... I do it ALL the time.)
Coaches tell their teams that practice makes perfect, and then you get to practice playing a sport. English teachers say to write all the time, so they give us homework. Well if you were like me, you liked to go out an play, rather than do homework. If my teachers had presented me with various ways to keep writing, with ways to "play" with the craft, I think I would have been a much better student.
Keep sharpening your pencils!
-Brandolyn
G-7,278
TToA-72,951
TDotRQ-37,276
Monday 12 March 2012
Finity Project
http://thefinityproject.com//index.php
The Finity Project is a fund raising tour to 8 different countries to raise money for 8 different charities.
1-MS Society of Canada
2-Help fill a Dream Foundation- for children with life-threatening illnesses
3-Cystic Fibrosis Trust
4-Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund of Canada
5-Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
6-Heart and Stroke Foundation
7-Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
8- To be determined by viewers
The girls running the project both have Multiple-Sclerosis, and have been struggling with the challenges the disease brings for years, but they have not let MS get in the way of their life goals.
On their info page they say "Finity is the acute awareness of one’s own finite existence." They know that life is finite, and they are making the best of it, fighting forward and working to help others.
Please check out their website, and if you can please support them. Donate, view their videos, whatever you can, share the link even, and get the word out there about these wonderful girls and the lengths they are going to, in order to raise money for 8 wonderful causes.
Thank you.
-Brandolyn
The Finity Project is a fund raising tour to 8 different countries to raise money for 8 different charities.
1-MS Society of Canada
2-Help fill a Dream Foundation- for children with life-threatening illnesses
3-Cystic Fibrosis Trust
4-Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund of Canada
5-Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
6-Heart and Stroke Foundation
7-Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada
8- To be determined by viewers
The girls running the project both have Multiple-Sclerosis, and have been struggling with the challenges the disease brings for years, but they have not let MS get in the way of their life goals.
On their info page they say "Finity is the acute awareness of one’s own finite existence." They know that life is finite, and they are making the best of it, fighting forward and working to help others.
Please check out their website, and if you can please support them. Donate, view their videos, whatever you can, share the link even, and get the word out there about these wonderful girls and the lengths they are going to, in order to raise money for 8 wonderful causes.
Thank you.
-Brandolyn
Friday 9 March 2012
For Creative Gamers
A personal friend of mine, DM, has started a new blog dedicated to design, re-design and application of tweaks in the widely known game Dungeons and Dragons.
He will be focusing on game play in the 4th edition of the game primarily, and his post will likely be looking at the game from a Dungeon Master's point of view.
I am fortunate enough to have been added to the list of contributors as a guest writer. I have played D&D for a few years now and thoroughly enjoy the dynamics of the game, but I have never played as a Dungeon Master, so my contributions to the blog will be mostly player based. I will look at previous posts and analyse how I think the rules will affect players. I am also hoping to write some posts about player interactions, game role play and recent encounters I have played and successful tactics that were used to make the experience extremely enjoyable.
If you are interested, please check out this blog.
dd4sign.blogspot.com
I will update here when I have written a contribution, but please check it more frequently than that. The author is very talented and brings a lot of insight into the game and will be very interesting to anyone who has every played the game.
-Brandolyn
G-7,278
TToA-70,702
TDotRQ-37,276
He will be focusing on game play in the 4th edition of the game primarily, and his post will likely be looking at the game from a Dungeon Master's point of view.
I am fortunate enough to have been added to the list of contributors as a guest writer. I have played D&D for a few years now and thoroughly enjoy the dynamics of the game, but I have never played as a Dungeon Master, so my contributions to the blog will be mostly player based. I will look at previous posts and analyse how I think the rules will affect players. I am also hoping to write some posts about player interactions, game role play and recent encounters I have played and successful tactics that were used to make the experience extremely enjoyable.
If you are interested, please check out this blog.
dd4sign.blogspot.com
I will update here when I have written a contribution, but please check it more frequently than that. The author is very talented and brings a lot of insight into the game and will be very interesting to anyone who has every played the game.
-Brandolyn
G-7,278
TToA-70,702
TDotRQ-37,276
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