From Dune to Medusa, to Fellowships

Hello,

I managed 2,000K this week. I only wrote for one night, for a few hours--last night. I haven't gone to bed yet. I did redo one chapter and got it all spiffed up, then wrote a new chapter, which turned out to be so wicked. I love it. Medusa is so bad and so twisted. I think the readers will love how this chapter ends. It's nasty and twisted.

So, with my wife Tam's help, I sent out 37 advanced reader copies of The Golden Cord to reviewers this week. There are more to go out, but it was a great start. Also, I haven't sent to that many newspapers yet. I also changed my book release party to May 10, not May 3, as the release date for The Golden Cord is now April 16. It used to be earlier. Anyway, Five Star says to wait 3 weeks before scheduling any book events, so that's what I'm doing.

I also managed to read the last 300 and something pages of the Sandworms of Dune book. It's the final book of the Dune series and it ended well. My review is on Amazon.com. I don't like Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's writing style overly much, but they did well with these two books compared to their previous efforts.

I'm also reading Fellowship Fantastic, the anthology that I have the lead story in. I bought 20 copies from the publisher and I'm so excited to read the stories in it. You can get an autographed one on my website. www.paulgenesse.com. A great review came in from the net. Check it out at http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/cat_fantasy.html

I have only one shift this week, tonight, then I'm off for a few days. I'll be doing the next Writers' Symposium Ezine and writing more of Medusa's Daughter. I'm up to 46,000+ words and things are good. I just need to write more!!

Take good care, happy new year and I hope you're well.

Paul Genesse, Author

Website: http://www.paulgenesse.com/

Author of The Golden Cord
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series
(Five Star Books, April 2008)

Red Hot Poker

Hello,

I managed to get a little writing done today. I finished chapter 19, and reworked chapter 18 of Medusa’s Daughter. It’s going slow, though I’m hoping to have a good writing day tomorrow.

One thing that helped me move forward was some fan email I got from Sweden. The person had read chapter one of Medusa’s Daughter on my website and really liked it. That gave me a kick in the pants to keep writing, thank you, Sanna.

Overall, I’ve been weak, lately, and haven’t had the focus to stay with the writing for long periods of time. It used to be easier to sit and write for several hours straight, but that was before DirecTV, TiVo, Google, and all the other distractions—like blogging, or Facebook.

I need to find the mental fortitude to just ignore all that other crap and write. I’m up to page 162 in the novel, but I wish I was much further along. I need to start setting writing goals on my days off from the hospital. I used to just plow ahead, but now I’m being more careful, so I don’t have to rewrite whole sections of the book later.

What I’m learning is that my outline was pretty good for the initial stages, but as I’m getting into the middle part it’s not as detailed as it should be. There are a lot of things that need to be changed, and I’m changing them, but then I have to sit and stew and figure out the best way to move forward. I could just write filler chapters, but I want to write chapters that really kick ass. They have to have a great hook and a big disaster at the end. Until I have those things, I just don’t want to write the damn chapter. So I don’t. I watch a movie or find some other thing to distract myself.

Also, characters keep doing things that I didn’t expect and that can be problematic. See my post titled “Off the Reservation.”

Anyway, despite my bitching it’s going okay. The process is becoming a little painful and I just have to fight through it.

I must learn to allow things to unfold and move ahead. I’m also worried about the book being long enough. I need to hit at least 80,000 words and with the outline I have now, I’m doubting I’ll hit that (I'm at 42,000 words now). I can always add stuff later, but I’d rather not have to rewrite lots of stuff to accomplish that. I guess I’ll see what happens.

There’s some insight to my twisted little brain. Writing can be fun, when it’s not a red hot poker being shoved into your ear. Wait! Maybe I need the poker to be applied to my backside to get me writing faster?

Good thing I just remembered that artists have to suffer for their art. I feel tons better. [grin and a wink]

Paul Genesse

www.paulgenesse.com

Medusa's Daughter--93 pages and counting . . .

Medusa

Angelina Jolie would be perfect to play Medusa,
in the movie version of my novel, Medusa's Daughter. Check out the other actors and actresses that I've cast for the movie on my website in the casting news section.
A guy can dream, can't he?

Keep in mind that the mythological Medusa was not the snake haired monster, like we saw in the movie Clash of the Titans. She was beautiful and did not have snakes for hair. No one could look at her, or they'd die. That was her curse.

Okay, enough of the myth lesson, but read more about the mythological medusa online or check out the book, Medusa, Solving the Mystery of the Gorgon by Stephen R. Wilk. It's a thorough look at the myth and how it's changed over the years.

Well, as you can see I'm still a writer. Big shocker, eh? These days off have been very productive and I've regained some confidence in my ability to crank out the pages. I've managed to write 7,000 words of Medusa's Daughter--which was three and half chapters. The chapters are pretty short and I haven't finished chapter ten yet, but I've got it going really well and I've mapped out the last half. It's a critical chapter in the book when the main characters, Nerissa and Nikander have a very important interaction . . .

So, I'm up to page 93 in Medusa's Daughter, so that feels good. I've written about 26 double spaced pages in the past few days, plus I've edited chapter six, which I wrote last week. I've written a lot more than that in the past, like 40 pages in one day, but that was back when I just went for it and didn't worry about what how it turned out. Now I'm slower, but the work comes out better in so many ways. The book is coming along great and I think it's going to be fantastic once I'm done. I just wish I'd been more motivated to get this done a while back, but other books and writing promotion got in the way. Now it's back to work! (Insert whip-cracking noise here)

I also worked on the story outline for my Dimension Next Door story. I've got the main outline and really figured out some major plot points. I think it's going to be great. I think I'll work next week on Medusa's Daughter, then I'll stop and work on The Dimension Next Door story. The deadline for it is August 1. I want to get it to the editor before that.

Figuring out how to do promotion and work on writing has been troubling me, but I'll find a balance at some point. Next week I need to plow ahead with Medusa's Daughter, then do a little promotion--sending some books to reviewers. I also need to send out a group email update about my pirate story, but I'm waiting for my buddy, Jordan to help with my website first, so people can buy it there. He's a busy guy, but I know he'll get to it soon.

I've also heard from the head guy at Mountain Con, Carl Stark. He's a cool guy and said his people loved my panel ideas. I'll end up with a bunch of them for sure and I'm looking forward to that.

Well, I hope you are all well and I encourage you to set goals and keep them with your writing. My goal is to finish a solid draft of Medusa's Daughter by November 1, 2007. I also have two short stories, perhaps three, to write. I know I'll make it all work. Working full time makes it challenging, but there are ways as long as you stay motivated.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a great week!

Paul Genesse, Author

Author of The Pirate Witch
in Pirates of the Blue Kingdoms
www.popcornpress.com

Author of The Golden Cord
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series
Releasing April, 2008

I'm Feeling It

Hello,

Well, the pressure is off and now I can work on a new project. The Golden Cord is in to the editor and I've been working on Medusa's Daughter. I'm liking it and am ready to make strides forward. I worked on chapters, one, four, and five. Chapter five isn't done yet, but it will be soon.

I'm feeling that urge to write and have managed to crank out a few pages. Medusa's Daughter is percolating in my mind and I'm excited to work on it. Also coming up will be a convention (ConDuit), this coming weekend. I've got a reading and four panels, which should be lots of fun.

Mostly, I just want to work on my new book. I need to get rolling on it again. Good luck with your own projects and when you have the feeling to write, go for it.

Paul Genesse

Author of The Pirate Witch in
the Pirates of the Blue Kingdoms anthology
www.popcornpress.com

I sent in the manuscript

Hello My Friends,

Last night I sent in the final manuscript of The Golden Cord to my editor. It felt really good to finally send it in. Today I had a very light feeling. The weight has been lifted and I'm very pleased to be past this hurdle.

I've been working toward this for a long time and now I can focus on other things for a little while. I need to get back to Medusa's Daughter, my novel set in ancient Greece. I wrote a chapter last month, but nothing since--as I've been working on The Golden Cord.

It's back to work on Medusa's Daughter or may I turned to stone and then cracked into little pieces . . .

Paul Genesse

Author of The Golden Cord
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series
Releasing, April 2008

Shadows, Pirates, and Pages

Hello,

It's been a little while since I posted and I have no good excuses. However, I've been busy with writing stuff this week. Three big things happened:

1. Brad Beaulieu sent me his short story, Shadows In Mirrors, which will be in the Dimension Next Door anthology from DAW Books. I'll be in that one also.

2.The galley pages from Pirates of the Blue Kingdom came--my story, The Pirate Witch is in it.

3. The big news: My editor sent me the edited manuscript for my novel, The Golden Cord. He's had it for almost four months, but once he started reading it took him less than two weeks to finish.

Wow, what a week. I read Brad's story, which was amazing, and gave him a critique. Not much to fix there. Brad is such an amazing writer. I've also been invited into the same anthology and I have an idea for it--supplied by my buddy Glenn. I'm not spilling the details yet . . . The deadline is months away, luckily.

I managed to read over the galley pages for my pirate story, The Pirate Witch, and found no errors. The bio was fine too. I'm really excited about it coming out and it could go to press around May 15. Life is good. This summer is going be great.

So, the big job, working on my manuscript. I had one night of fear when I saw my editor wanted a new first line/opening paragraph. This news kicked me in the nuts. Hard. The first line had been green-lighted before, but it could always be better--I knew it then and I know it now. I couldn't face rewriting it that first night (Wednesday) when the MS came, but managed to rewrite it Thursday. It turned out well, but the opening will have to be read over by Brad and Pat before I call it done and send it to John.

Now I'm up to page 87 of 323. The comments from my editor, John, are fine, but I have to read through the whole MS and work on a few things. No major changes, thank the Gods!

This whole process is very time consuming, but I'm not too stressed about it. So far, reading over the MS hasn't been that painful. Perhaps I'm excited because this might be the last time that I have to read this entire manuscript. I still like it, but after you've read something so many times it becomes a little tiresome. I'm being generous, it's a big pain in the ass. But, the book is getting better and I think I'm improving the work. John's comments were excellent and now I just have to get it to him by May 18. No problem there.

Once this task is done, I'm back to Medusa's Daughter. I want to finish it by November 1, plus two short stories this year. One short story is due in August, the next in November. I have all the time in the world . . . I just have to believe the affirmation posted next to my computer. It reads: I release all that is unlike love. I have time and space for everything I want to do.

I repeat it in my mind, but now I should really start believing it.

Chapter 5

Hello,

Well, it was a busy week, but I managed to finish chapter five of Medusa's Daughter. I also revised chapter four, which I wrote last week. I'm starting to get into the groove again. It's still a struggle, but I feel like I'm making progress.

Nerissa, the main character is coming through. She's got some issues, but has real strength. She defies her mother (Medusa) and pays the price. Very nasty. I'm enjoying writing her mother as well. Medusa does some bad things, but in a way that is unexpected. I keep wanting her to just start yelling at Nerissa--but it's better if she doesn't.

I think a good idea with writing is this: throw out the first idea you have for a character's reaction. I read that somewhere, I think? The idea is to do the unexpected. Not a radical idea, but keep it in mind. Just throw out the first few things you think a character might do and do something less expected. George R.R. Martin does this very well. It doesn't sound a like radical concept, but it works well, as long as it makes sense.

My goal is to finish the novel by November 1, 2007, which is about when I'm going to the World Fantasy Convention in New York. If I can get a chapter or more per week, I'll meet my goal. I also have to write at least two short stories before November, for anthologies that I've been asked to contribute to: The Dimension Next Door and Catopolis--both published by DAW Books.

There's also writing a few things (acknowledgements, bio, dedication, back cover, interior flap copy) for my first novel, The Golden Cord, coming out in April of 2008. It was May of 2008, but got moved up a month--which is better for me. I'm waiting for final approval of the book cover. The editor and I like a painting by Ciruelo Cabral and just need the publisher to say yes. I hope they say "yes" this week. I mocked up the image with the title and my name on it. I love it.

Wish me luck. I'll post the image once I have approval, but it's the Moon Dragon image from Ciruelo's 2007 "Dragons" calendar. It's amazing. He didn't have time to do an original for me, but this is a new piece and better than the one I was going to suggest he paint.

Anyway, keep writing my friends and set some writing goals. Artificial deadlines can be a good motivator.

Have fun writing.

Paul

www.paulgenesse.com

Writing is complicated

Hello,

I managed 3,750 words in the past couple of days. I finished the first draft of chapter four of Medusa's Daughter. It's going well and was a good chapter for me--the first from the male lead characters POV. Most of the chapter is pretty clean, but I need to polish the ending.

My goal is at least a chapter a week or more. I need to get cracking and write as much as I used to--but I'm slower now--more ponderous and careful about what I write. I used to just blaze ahead, not really thinking about how I put the chapter together as much. If I explained the gist of what happened I was okay with the chapter. Now I have to ramp up the tension, create twists and scene ending disasters. Writing has become so complicated as I've learned more. The perfectionist in me has slowed me down. I edit and revise a little too much as I write first drafts now.

I'm going to be fast again dammit!! Even if it kills me. I must work on it.

I hope you are all well and that you had a good St. Patrick's Day yesterday. I wore green, just so you know.

Oh, I went Barnes & Noble yesterday and got two copies of Elizabeth Vaughn's new book, Warlord. I have one for my Mom, who loved books one and two--as did I. Beth is a great writer. Check out her site http://www.warprize.com/ to learn more. Tor marketed/is marketing her books as paranormal romance, but they're really fantasy with a strong love story. No magic either, just a kick ass barbarian and his Warprize. They're worth a read. The first book is called Warprize by the way. Check out Anne McCaffery's glowing blurb on Beth's site.

I need to start reading more! The damn TV must go!

Paul

Author of The Golden Cord
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series
Releasing April, 2008

Redream the dream

Hi Everyone,

I've been working on my novel, Medusa's Daughter. I got the first draft of chapter four (almost) done last night. It went well, but it was the first chapter from the point of view of the lead male character--Nikander. I have a huge outline that is very detailed, but I had to change things once the chapter got going. I needed to add characters to make things work. It was a big change to the outline that needed to happen. Nikander could not be alone to back up a major point in the first three chapters. I didn't realize that until I got to writing chapter four.

I learned from a book on writing called How to Write A Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey that sometimes you have to "redream the dream." You have something in your head for a while, but when you actually start the writing you realize it doesn't work.

My message is: even if you have a detailed vision of a book, be prepared to change it. Redream the dream. Throw out what you had originally thought. Change it. Read: How to Write A Damn Good Novel for some great advice.

Good luck with your own writing!

Paul

The 300 movie

The 300 (above pic is Gerard Butler as the Spartan King Leonidas)

I saw the new movie, The 300 today. I really liked it and thought the filmmakers did a great job. There’s a good reason that the story of the 300 Spartans has survived for over 2,500 years. It was visually stunning and very intense. As a writer I thought they did a good job putting out the back-story of King Leonidas. We’re often tempted as writers to give the full history of a character, but it’s better to mete out little details as the plot unfolds.

I really liked the movie and the message that sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for an ideal. That message of freedom is worth dying for is as powerful today as it was back in ancient Greece. The battle at Thermopylae was like the Alamo in the United States. It turned into a rallying cry for all of Greece. Leonidas succeeded in death by helping to create an alliance of the Greek city-states.

I actually visited the battle site, Thermopylae, in Greece five months ago. The memorial to Leonidas and the 300 was good, though the electrical power lines above and behind it took away from the beauty of it. The site is totally changed from 2,500 years ago, but it was still cool to see it and to go there. It’s just a short stop, but thinking about the history when we there made it all worth while.

In honor of seeing The 300 and my schedule opening up, I’m back to writing my novel set in ancient Greece, Medusa’s Daughter. I’d put it on hold for the past four months as I finished up my first novel, The Golden Cord, which was due January 1, and then writing a short story, plus a 60 page book promo plan.

Enough excuses. The movie has helped me get excited again and get to work. I wrote part of a new chapter tonight and read over my outline, character bios, and the 10,000 words I’d written for the novel previously. Things are good and my goal is to finish by November 1, 2007.

Sometimes we writers need something to get us writing. Fantasy art, good books, movies, and cool soundtracks get me going. Find out what makes you want to write and surround yourself with that thing.

Good luck writing and remember the 300 Spartans. Without their sacrifice, western civilization might have been dramatically changed. Who knows, maybe that would be a great alternate history novel?