well here is a how de do....

I can't seem to post any more comments. I wonder why? I just don't exist to the comment box it seems....

Where do the ideas come from?

"I think most people have more ideas in their heads than they think they do. Its just that those of us in the fantastic fields - either we don't listen to our own filters, or we have a much high ridiculousness threshold."
   Interview with China Mieville, NY Times July 23rd, 2010

I've finally posted the 3rd letter from Ange. Yay! Go Ange!

It's not the most exciting action packed letter, but it does some important set-up stuff for later. I realized I went into this story assuming whoever reads it would know the fairy tale. That said, I've found the fairy tales on-line:

It's fascinating to read the different versions. So, I've got two for you:

From Andrew Lang's The Blue Book: The Goose Girl and from Andrew Lang's The Red Book:  The Golden Goose

Another source is available at SurLaLune Fairy Tales. Here's the main website: http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/. SurLaLune has an extensive site all about fairy tales. They have annotated versions of the stories, as well as all the hundreds of retellings available from children books, novels and live action movies and cartoons. I remember reading the Goose Girl on SurLaLune when I was first beginning to write Goosey, to help get some ideas about how to proceed.

Mostly I think my ideas come from the same part of my brain that forms dreams.

So, here's Letter #3 for your critques, comments, questions, etc.
Happy dreaming. I mean reading.

How appropriate! And timely too.

I just noticed that Gail Carson Levine posted about retelling fairy tales -- about why she is drawn to these stories.

I could totally relate.

Here's the link: http://gailcarsonlevine.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-fairy-tales.html

Why do I like rewriting fairy tales? Its fun, of course. But it goes much deeper than that. I've always been drawn to fantasy, since seventh grade specifically, and of course I had my early exposure to the Disney fairy tales of Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. There is something compelling about the language of fairy tales: the simplicity and yet complexity. I'm also drawn to symbolism, and allegory; the power of storytelling comes not just from having complex characters, good dialogue, or clever word play, but from the meaning hidden evoked by the language.

How literary I'm getting . . . I haven't ever tried to put in words why I write fantasy, though I've thought about it plenty -- almost as much as why I write.

One of reasons I write, that I am a writer, is because I have these stories and I want to share them. Fairy tales are the perfect example of stories that have beeen shared for hundreds of years, from the Grimms Brothers, Disney and through modern retelling.

something wierd is happening

I don't know what is going on with blogger. I can't seem to comment.....!!!!

why -- because its fun, silly!

Todd: "We have unfinished business, I and he."
Scott: "He and me."
Todd: "Don't talk to me about Grammer!!!"
     Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness



I thought, briefly, about doing some work. Specically I should look at my problems with past and present tense in my letter. I know its important, its like grammer, it takes away from the story if there are errors. But instead of doing that, I decided to make this:



the family trees (sorta)



I had to recreate the lovely drawing you made Terrwyn, I'm so very fond of it, I thought I should share that happiness. Its better than discussing grammer. Eventually I'll make one for the other royals: Geyona and Glaukos, but there are spoilers in it.



The right way to write?

"A window is a window, but there is looking out and looking in" Margaret Atwood

The other day I decided to dig through some of my notes on revising. I've said it before. I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to revising. I'm still trying to figure it out. And I've collected tips, quotes from authors, editors, lists of the top eight ways to edit, articles from Writers Digest on book doctoring, Writers Boot Camp, Characterization, an interview of Margaret Atwood, and my notes from a writer's retreat -- the list goes on and on.

I looked at everything and it made me very, very depressed. Urgh. too much. Why is it so painful? I didn't want to think about the story or do anything with it, except maybe shove it under my bed: out of sight, out of mind.

But then . . .

Then I read through letter 2, from Mirth, and it all went away. I got so excited. It was fun. (Isn't that rule #1?) I loved it oh so much. And suddenly it didn't matter that I'm so bad at revising or don't know how to do it.

I have this list about what to include in the first three pages of a manuscript (like the physical description of the characters...) I was once told do not have conversations with more than two characters, but I do that all the time. So I've decided to ignore all this advise. (Maybe not all of it.)  But I'm not going to stress about it or change things just because it 'proper' or its a rule.

I'm going to stick with my gut reactions. Instinct. Intuition. There is no one right way to write a novel. Rules can be broken (rule 5, I believe).

As long as the story still works and is good enough - that's what matters.

Here is some advise I will follow:

"Learn the rules, then follow the rules, then learn when to break them."

letter number two.

Well, I did Letter Number two. It was hideous trying to edit. I'm sure there are more mistakes in it than I care to correct. So please, any suggestions, corrections,ect, feel free to make!

and above all, enjoy reading it!

Letter #2

A new page.... and a letter!

Happy Day!

I've finally decided to actually work on revising. Amazing. I know. So, where did I start?

Why the beginning of course.

Here's the link: Letter #1. Make any critiques, criticisms, suggestions, opinions, questions, queries or observations about it in the comments.

Enjoy.

P.S. Tag you're it Terrwyn.

Quotes . . .

Real quotes from the manuscript. . .
I went searching from some interested quotes about geese and these are a few I discovered.

"When suddenly out of the middle of nowhere came this awful honking and flapping; dozens of geese came flying over the hill right down on top of us."

"Geese!! What shall they think of next? Whatever do you raise geese for? It sounds silly to me."

"It is rumored the Golden Goose is cursed. Better to leave things alone that want to be left alone, they say."

I found this photo in my archives, and I've decided to call it 'Geese behind Bars'. Oh dear, what did they do to get locked up like this. Well, you know geese are such troublemakers.

A little illumination . . . the Project History

"Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination" Phantom of the Opera, the musical

Revisions are such a daunting task (not to mention endless) and I know this blog is about revising our story, however I have no idea how to go about it. I guess the most logical place is to start at the beginning, but before that, how about a little history of the project.