BryonySeries: Meet B.L.O.C.K.S. (Again)

Ever since Timothy rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S. in August to help support the BryonySeries and related ventures, he's worked on constructing the teams "building blocks."

This means he's refined the logo into one everyone really likes, built presentation slides, and developed a shared workspace where everyone on the immediate team can access marketing materials, fonts, colors, etc.

In fact, that shared workspace was initially an under-recognized and under-appreciated benefit of finally having domain emails, which we've only softly rolled out so far.

While the advantages for growth and support seem obvious, another benefit of B.L.O.C.K.S. actually addresses conversations we've had with the team the last few challenging years: if something happens to me, what happens to all books and all the the projects in progress?

Side note: "Midnight Ink" is a placeholder name for mine and Rebekah's editing and formatting projects for clients. Rebekah built this website in 2020, since we were getting lots of requests and we needed a way to provide information without launching into long explanations with every request.

B.L.O.C.K.S. will ensure that those books and projects will remain less about me and more about them.

So here's the slightly modified logo and the informational cards with the original logo.

Thoughts?

And for more information about B.L.O.C.K.S. and the BryonySeries, visit bryonyseries.com.

First At-Home Writing Retreat of 2024

Today I begin my first at-home writing retreat of 2024, and I couldn't be happier.

I also couldn't already be more behind.

I overslept (a poor way to start), and I am losing part of the day because Bertrand and I are reading two of his books to my youngest granddaughter's class (a very sweet and much anticipated way to lose part of the day as I've pushed this opportunity out all year).

Although I do work on my BryonySeries on projects throughout the year, I shoehorn most of that writing on weekends I'm on weekends I'm not working and among the activities of family life.

So it's a real blessing that vacation time at The Herald-News does not carry over from one year to the next. It gives me the perfect opportunity to just focus on and immerse myself into one story for a great length of time.

Read this post to see what these retreats typically look like.

The book I'm currently working on is called "House on Top of the Hill." It's the third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy and the trilogy's tagline is this: What happens when time stops in a fishing village in Northern Michigan? The supernatural reigns.

The entire book is loosely drafted. So my goals for this retreat is to get one chapter completed a day and ready for final editing by the end of summer. I'm done through chapter eight already, so I should be halfway through by the time I return to work on Memorial Day.

Below is a synopsis, chapter titles, and cover concept.

Wish me luck and full cooperation of my muse!

Change comes slowly to Munsonville, and for Steve Barnes, who spends his entire life in the village, that's just fine. From boyhood to manhood, he savors the slow pace and friendly smiles, even while working by his parents' side from sunup to sundown to run the family diner.

The only blight is this fishing village's preoccupation with an empty mansion in the woods, whose tales of former glory and catastrophe fueled a rampage of ghost stories. Steve doesn't believe them, but some do – and no no one can deny the power the crumbling old building holds over them.

Especially when it changes everyone, including Steve, forever.

Prologue

Chapter 1: The Traveling Salesman

Chapter 2: Roundtable

Chapter 3: Bottle of the Red Stuff

Chapter 4: Cracking Open the Nest Egg

Chapter 5: Scrawls on the Wall

Chapter 6: Whispers of the Heart

Chapter 7: I Run at Night

Chapter 8: Laid to Rest:

Chapter 9: Necking

Chapter 10: Spider and Fly

Chapter 11: Death Heard Round the World

Chapter 12: Mine

Chapter 13: Second Sight

Chapter 14: Chop, Sizzle, Broil, and Bake for it and some against it.

Chapter 15: The Rage

Chapter 16: Hard Choice to Make

Chapter 17: Through the Camera’s Eye

Chapter 18: Words Enough For Me

Chapter 19: The All-Hallowed Albatross

Chapter 20: Dancing in the Past

Chapter 21: The New Professor

Chapter 22: Enigma in Residence

Chapter 23: Rain

Chapter 24: From Fry Pan to Factotum

Chapter 25: Nutty Tina Swanson and Kellen

Chapter 26: Preternatural Guest

Chapter 27: The News That Changed Everything

Chapter 28: A New Lease on a Very Old Dream

Chapter 29: Journey of a Thousand Heartaches

Chapter 30: Severed Links

Epilogue

Cover art concept for "House on Top of the Hill " created by Timothy Baran

I Pulled a Rabbit Out of my Hat on Saturday

Someone who knew I used my vacation time from work last week recently said to me, "Well, at least you weren't in front of the computer the entire time."

Well...

I actually used a good deal of that vacation time for an at-home writing retreat, a tradition I started a few years ago when I couldn't afford the plane ticket to see Sarah in Raleigh.

The retreat wasn't as grueling as past retreats. The project was small, the word count was modest (by my count), I did build in a little rest (just on weekends), and I did spend some time with family and friends, and I attended a WriteOn Joliet meeting and a storytelling event. 

I also addressed a few "life" issues that cropped up and thoroughly caught up on housework, since I'd let some of that slide during the week so I could focus on writing.

The result of my flexibility was that Friday fell apart all together, and I entered Saturday with a solid third of the project still to write.

But can you believe I managed to pull that proverbial rabbit right out of my hat?

I hit my goal shortly before midnight, gave Faith my calico some attention (she'd waited patiently all day and all day was fast disappearing), and I climbed into bed before 1 a.m. feeling pretty satisfied.

Sunday I spent half a day working since I had a doctor's appointment on Monday - yes, on my first day back to work. But it's an annual appointment made twelve months earlier, and you know how that goes.

So what's the message here?

No message.

Just a bit of sharing and bragging, I suppose.

OK, maybe one message.

Just because plans go awry, doesn't mean the goal is lost.

We can't avoid the unexpected. And we can't check out on life for long periods to attain the goal, too.

So it's important to be flexible, adjust, refocus the refocus, sacrifice a bit, to be able to hop over that finish line.

When you do, don't forget to give yourself that well-deserved pat on the back.

Here I am, at the ripe of old age of sixty-one, learning a new trick or two. It's a great way to enter a new week.

Happy Monday!

Illustrated Results of the 2022 At-Home Writing Retreat

Good morning!

Story roundup will return next week when I actually have some stories to share.

I had vacation time to use by the end of the year, so I took an at-home writing retreat to start and complete a project that's evaded me all year.

With a light outline on my screen, my objective was to write a 20,000 to 25,000 page, 12-chapter book and then edit it on my next day off.

I had plenty of water, coffee (including the Dunkin' from Rebekah on Saturday), salt, incense (don't judge the scents, all gifts from Timothy), Blood Moon candle (a gift from Duanne), and a few timeouts to give Faith extra attention this week, especially when she wasn't feeling well (she's in for a surprise next week when the routine returneth) since Faith has small cell lymphoma.

Photos are below. As you'll see, there's nothing romantic about a writing retreat.

I'll share the specifics of the project on Monday as this week's work is actually the third part. No, I'm not being weirdly mysterious to create buzz, just sticking to the topic and leaving the "info dump" behind.

The retreat ends tomorrow evening. I have 1.5 days left (I need to spend half a day catching up on life things).

Here are my results:

Just under 17,000 words written and edited.

Eight chapters written with final edits very nearly done.

Four more to write.

So not quote the goal I set out to accomplish.

But since most of the editing is done, I feel comfortable from this point (Friday morning) that I can finish the project on my next day off (I work the following weekend, so I'll have a day off during the week).

Only regret: I did not build as much rest (for me) into this week as I had hoped.

But this retreat also wasn't the intense, singularly focused retreat I tend to take.

I also:

I spent some time with family.

I participated in a previously scheduled storytelling event on Wednesday night.

I co-led the regularly schedule WriteOn Joliet critique group on Thursday night.

I popped onto the 5 a.m. writer's club donut party this morning.

And I went grocery shopping with Rebekah this morning before she signed onto work.

Believer it or not, I still have a pile of work sitting next to me from last week that I never addressed or put away (It's under the books I used for worldbuilding reference).

But I am back to work on Sunday. And now I won't have to hunt to find it.

Just so you know, the blank screen doesn't mean I was slacking. That's the screen for my work computer.

The photo below holds the proof.

2021 At-Home Writing Retreat No. 2 Recap

I made my goal.

That's basically it. 

Yes, I had a more detailed account of my first retreat last month.

And I shared what I hoped to accomplish before I began.

Essentially, the word sketches are complete.

But the pages are still devoid of color and texture. This is the next stage. It's also the most time intensive stage. But not necessarily the most difficult.

To me, each stage of the writing process is easier than the last.

But they also take more time to perfect.

The hard part, giving the story structure and form, is done. It feels good.

Tomorrow I return to work and will concentrate on writing and editing features for The Herald-News.

Fiction will fade to the background until Friday evening, where it belongs.

What a blessing that all activities have their own path - and their own season.

Just like writing a novel, they shape our lives and give form and meaning to our days.

Have a great Monday!

Forget About Reaching The Top

About a decade, I listened to part of a TED talk someone shared with me.

The speaker was an author (can't recall her name), who'd found success (can't recall with what) and was speaking on that topic (sort of).

But her point was absolutely memorable. And it's something to ponder, especially if you've set any goals in your life.

By the way, it's good to set goals. Keep doing it.

However, she said that we spend so much focusing on the top of the mountain when most of our time is actually spent climbing that mountain - and then climbing back down.

Most of us don't mind the climb up if we feel the goal is attainable. We strive and push for the prize.

Yet the view at the top, however breathtaking and spectacular it must be, lasts for a short time. We then must descend the mountain.

And she said we forget to prepare for that descent.

In fact, for anyone who has outshone someone else (or even outshone yourself) must keep in mind someone else (sooner than you can possibly realize) will be faster, smarter, more succinct, etc.

We will spend most of our time in life on the journey up or the journey down.

We should strive, yes.

Nevertheless, we should also know where most of life happens.

The view there is pretty good, too.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!"

Second At-Home Writing Retreat of 2020: A View from the Midweek

I am not naturally a motivated person. 

It's true.

I'm not particularly ambitious, driven, and am, in fact, rather lazy. I'd rather read than write, and I'm most happy with my writings when they're done and I can read them.

I also like the grass on the other side of the fence - and my muse (Warren Peace) joins me in that view.

When I'm at work, Warren nudges me with great ideas for that next chapter in the novel. And I think, "Oh, I can't for the weekend until I can work on that."

But when I get to the weekend, or even when I have a wonderful opportunity to take not one, but two (so far) writing retreats in a calendar year, Warren keeps tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "Hey, wouldn't this make a great story for The Herald-News?" and "You really need to schedule this and this source?" etc.

Still, like most people, I do have goals and projects I'd like to accomplish. Unlike most people, I'm inclined to do none of them.

So I'm always parent and child and employer and employee to myself.

And I'm a fairly whiny child.

This is why I lay out the plan. And then I make myself do it. 

But making myself do it is always challenging because it doesn't matter what the activity is or how much I enjoy it, a more enticing one is always beckoning from the horizon.

Fortunately, my parent and employee don't let me slack off too much.

To keep me on track this week, neither one will let me get away with, "Oh, I'll just and see where I wind up." Nope, I have a schedule. And it's sitting at the left side of the keyboard.

On work days, I have a list with my daily and weekly must-do items sitting in the same place. I can't miss seeing it.

On fiction writing days, I have something similar.

For the record, I'm somewhat behind schedule. 

I had a great Friday night into Monday morning. Then Monday went slightly sidewise. I had a few non-writing things to address, and that particular chapter proved to be quite troublesome.

I came into Tuesday super tired and super behind. But through the miracle of coffee, perseverance, two minor kitty naps in the desk chair, and God mostly, I am heading in the direction of getting caught up.

Today I'm more rested, hopeful, and motivated.

I'm stressing the "hopeful."

Almost to 500,000 (and Retreat Update)

As I write this, I am just 1, 702 away from 500,000 total views. I realized as I wrote the title that someone might think 500,000 words this week. Ha, I'm not even close to being that good.

Now, it did take slightly over a decade to reach it (My first post was Aug. 1, 2010), and the blog still doesn't show many followers, but I've found anyone can "like" or "follow" and that means little compared to people who read faithfully over time.

And I'm sure any vague number of those views are bots. But not all of them.

Writing, as a career or dedicated hobby, is a long game. While some people may get lucky, or even rewarded or even blessed in the early stages, many of us need to write and revise long and often to build up relationships and trust with readers.

Speaking of relationships and trust, the writing retreat is entering its home stretch. For those who have virtually taken this journey with me in the form of checking into this blog, how am I coming along with the goals with just four days left?

All the even chapters of The Phoenix or fifteen chapters. This is first and foremost. Four chapters to go, two today and two tomorrow. I think it's do-able. Keep in mind most of the writing is weak, sloppy, and not fit for readers at this stage. But it's out of me and into the computer, where it belongs. That's a good start, I think, and we are talking about 30,000 words or so in the span of a week.

Finish formatting Lycanthropic Summer. Since I want to release it by October 1, this is important. However, I am moving this project to next weekend. The art isn't ready to go yet, so I won't gain anything by getting it done this week, and I will lose the time for other projects if I tackle it now.

Finish the last two chapters of Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home and copy edit it. My goal is three books in this series a year, and I'm just on the first one for 2020. So, yes, I'm way behind. The plan as of today is to finish writing the last two chapters on Sunday afternoon, a gentle way to end the retreat. Copy editing can wait until next weekend (maybe even one chapter at a time after work this week since the chapters are short and light).

But first on Sunday, I plan to sift through hundreds of work email. I don't want to waste valuable time on Monday with this task, and it's a way to transition my mind back where it needs to be.

Finish formatting WriteOn Joliet's fourth anthology. This is even more first and foremost than The Phoenix. However, the week went askew, so this will be completed on Saturday.

Get the content Rebekah needs for a new website. By Saturday.

Get Rebekah the photos she needs for the new Bertrand book. The goal is three books in this series a year. We released one last year. Again, way behind. A new book, and possibly three, is now in the "works."

Even though the end of the retreat is in sight, it's not over yet, and it's important I stay the course as much as possible. No sleeping hare habits for me!

True, life can intervene. And if it does, I'll have my priorities in order.

Still - it would feel nice to make the goal.

Don't you agree?

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Halfway Point (Yes, a Retreat Update and Encouraging Words for All)

Today is Wednesday, and it's usually the day I become grouchy and fed-up with the entire process.

I actually kind of hit that Monday through yesterday, in pieces. I think I'm over it.

What helped?

Last night I was working on a chapter I'd started one night because it was a good chapter for writing at night, you know, mood and all.

But to get back into it, I had to re-read parts of it. And some of it was actually pretty good. That was extremely encouraging.

So if you need encouragement today, here's my suggestion. Step back from the trees a moment and look at the forest. Review what's gone right and what you've done well.

It sounds simple, right? So simple, we often don't do it.

Lose your temper today? Remind yourself where you kept it.

Missed an opportunity to be kind? Remind yourself when you didn't.

Bathroom won't pass CDC inspections? Yes, but all the laundry is done. (OK, some of the laundry. Or at least you've bought laundry detergent).

Burned the chicken? But the mashed potatoes are wonderfully fluffy.

Your writing sucks? So does mine. But apparently not all of it.

You fell off the diet? But you've also spent weeks increasing your portions of fresh vegetables.

Build on the comments at the right. Root out the other ones, the weeds in your goals.

Keep planting your dreams and celebrating your harvest.


All the even chapters of The Phoenix or fifteen chapters. I can't tell if I'm slightly behind or slightly ahead. I'm looking at two partial chapters today and one complete one. So right on track?

Finish formatting Lycanthropic Summer. Since I want to release it by October 1, this is important

Finish the last two chapters of Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home and copy edit it. My goal is three books a year. I'm just on the first one. So I'm way behind.

Finish formatting WriteOn Joliet's fourth anthology. This is even more first and foremost than The Phoenix.

Get the content Rebekah needs for a new website. Can't move forward without this. Better make it a priority.

Get Rebekah the photos she needs for the new Bertrand book. The goal is three a year. We released one last year. Again, way behind.

So far:

Nearly two chapter drafts of The Phoenix each day, and that's it.

Slightly behind, but yesterday was a day of intermittent interruptions and one health emergency for my oldest son.

But at this rate, I'll have all of the chapters of The Phoenix drafted by Saturday morning.

And I'll still have the weekend to finish the plan.

That is the plan from a Wednesday morning point of view.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!"

Boxes (and Retreat Update)

I started an at-home writing retreat this week, a little modified from the ones I took back in 2018.

That time, I wrote and only wrote, forsaking both social media and exercise.

This year, I'm still exercising. It's foolish to stop, and I do quite a bit of mental writing this way, which makes me more efficient at the computer.

Also, the subject matter is dark, so keeping some positive connections is a healthy thing to do.

So instead of fourteen to sixteen hours of writing a day, it's looking more like ten to twelve.

Here are the goals. Below that, what I've accomplished.

All the even chapters of The Phoenix or fifteen chapters. This is first and foremost. And I started on it yesterday afternoon and wrote until my brain shut off at 9:30 p.m. (but I did have an extremely short night of sleep Thursday into Friday).

Finish formatting Lycanthropic Summer. Since I want to release it by October 1, this is important

Finish the last two chapters of Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home and copy edit it. My goal is three books a year. I'm just on the first one. So I'm way behind.

Finish formatting WriteOn Joliet's fourth anthology. This is even more first and foremost than The Phoenix.

Get the content Rebekah needs for a new website. Can't move forward without this. Better make it a priority.

Get Rebekah the photos she needs for the new Bertrand book. The goal is three a year. We released one last year. Again, way behind.

So far:

Nearly two chapter drafts of The Phoenix each day, and that's it.

Under the circumstances, not bad.

"Circumstances" being I didn't start until mid-afternoon on Friday, my second son Joshua (child number three) turned thirty-five yesterday, so I spend some time on the phone with him, and we had a family issue come up yesterday, too.

Oh, and I took a two-hour nap on Saturday and a two-hour nap on Sunday. So that really cut into my writing time, too. (I really, really needed those naps).

What about the boxes?

Well, I still have boxes to unpack from when we lost our home in 2013. Since we discarded mostly everything, I don't have many. But they're still there.

I promised Rebekah we would unpack a box a day during the retreat, to be continued on each vacation day to the end of the year, until all the boxes are unpacked.

I think that's do-able, don't you?

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Aren't You Excited?

Sort of?


I have no idea what I was thinking when I wrote the this title and first two words.

But I found it this morning in blogger's draft folder. It's dated 2011.

On the other had, "excited" is the mood this morning as I'm feeling accomplishment everywhere.

I finished Lycanthropic Summer over the weekend and began its formatting. Artwork is drafted.

All manuscripts have been returned to clients (four are in progress) for their revisions.

Phyllis' memoir is done, and payment was received. This was a huge, two-year project, and the amount of satisfaction is huge.

I worked for a few hours yesterday and that was extremely productive as I'm now ahead of myself this morning (very unusual for a Monday).

I've scheduled an at-home writing retreat for the week of August 23 since I have vacation time to use.  I took a couple of those two years ago and made wonderful writing progress with the last installment of Before The Blood. My goal is huge (two chapters in The Phoenix a day) but I'll settle for one per day.

Since I'm working this weekend, I hope to finish the six book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer this Thursday (which will be Saturday) and the following Tuesday (which will be Sunday) so the decks are cleared for the retreat.

Ditto for WriteOn Joliet's fourth anthology, which is nearly formatted.

For anyone reading this blog: I hope you have plenty of reasons to be excited this Monday morning, too.

It's a new day in a new week full of new opportunities.

If your Monday is challenging, I hope enough blessings, even small ones, appear in your horizon to fill you with hope.

These blessings fill me with hope, too. One son was tested for covid over the weekend and another was in the ER with a serious infection in his bloodstream, which we're watching very carefully.

But life isn't always served in neat packages to our liking.

But it's still a new day in a new week full of new opportunities.

For me, new opportunities for writing.

For being kind.

For addressing the health challenges of another.

For who knows what?

Because the day is still uncharted.

And none of that takes away from the above accomplishments. It feels good to start a project, it feels great to finish it.

Welcome, Monday!

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Writing Work, Writing Surprises

I accomplished a little bit of all my writing goals this weekend, so it's an interesting Monday.

At the very end of the weekend, two writing surprises showed up in my email.

First the goals.

1) I spent a few hours working on the werewolf story, not as much as I liked, but more than I'd hoped.

2) I had two side projects this weekend. I did no actual work on either of them, but I did spend part of Sunday afternoon with Phyllis reading through the draft of the memoir I'm writing for her. We're only about halfway, so I have time to finish the last two chapters.

3) Nevertheless, the second project (a novel I'm editing for a client), should have its first round done by early December.

4) I met all work deadlines this weekend. But since this week is extremely busy (I'm participating in a career fair, a podcast, co-leading WriteOn, and have a benefits meeting this week), I was hoping to get ahead, too. I'll let God figure this one out!

5) I did catch up with some family members and watched the next episode of an Asian drama I'm enjoying with Rebekah.

6) We spent Sunday morning at the nursing home celebrating Ron's birthday. Since he's progressively declined over the last couple months, we were pleasantly surprised to find him almost "all there" most of the time. We did, however, bring some familiar items, so maybe that helped.

7) I'm glad I didn't stick to the goals. It's been nonstop since returning from Raleigh in August, and I really needed some down time.

Now the surprises.

1) Tom Hernandez, my WriteOn Joliet co-leader, sent me his next WIP, which I read in a tired haze before signing off, so I need to re-read itwith a clear, caffeinated mind. Still, so far, so good!~ One spoiler: one of the characters is a girl heading out to college, and her name is Melissa! So I'm already sold. ;)

2) Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara, a real person I legally fictionalized for the BryonySeries, has, as you might know, been working on his pretend backstory at the request of a couple BryonySeries fans.

Ed's been quiet for awhile, but he sent an apology email along with a table of contents (with an explanation of progress) and about ten chapters or so. Needless to say, I was thrilled!

I read part of first chapter before I fell asleep, which is no slam against Ed's writing as I always fall asleep reading (is there any better way?)

I'll share Ed's table of contents and commentary on Saturday and my thoughts about what I've read so far tomorrow.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: My very first blog post, Aug. 1, 2010

Back in 2008, while writing my first novel Bryony, think I was "one and done" author, I did a lot of self-educating about the writing world beyond newspapers and read that authors must have blogs.

I had no interest in writing a blog. Zero.

But "all authors must have them," I read over and over again.

So I ran the idea past my daughter Sarah Stegall, who was researching social media and creating all my pages. She, in turn, thought a blog was a great idea, asked on social media for the best blogging site, and decided, for lots of reasons, on blogger.

And then, because I insisted all social media sites either had to reflect the series or me as a person and writer, and because I didn't want the blog to sound like a narcissistic journal, but to add value to the person taking the time to read it, Sarah gave me some ideas of topics readers might like.

The goal was to blog every day and, with few exceptions, I've been pretty consistent over the last nine years. Below is the very first blog. It feels good to know I hit those goals.

The only change is the link to my feature stories. Those can be found at theherald-news.com.

For the few who've read me from the very beginning: Thank you for sharing this writing adventure with me as I learn and grow.

For those who have recently found me: you have over nine years of catching up to do! (just kidding; but do browse through keywords and past blogs, lots of material).

For those who pop in now and again: May you always be happy you did.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Welcome to the Bryony Series Blog by Denise M. Baran-Unland

I love stories, and my entire life has revolved around that love.

An asthmatic childhood provided long, happy hours curled up with either a book or a pen and notebook. Doll play with my sister (and we had many dolls) consisted of layered characters and complicated storylines that occupied us for days. I composed when riding my bike. I mentally added "he said" or "she said" when people spoke to me. My fifth and sixth grade English teacher created themed, people-centered bulletin boards from magazine clippings, and I wrote short stories from those clippings. I write for a living. I write for fun.

The BryonySeries blog reflects that fun.

Whether you are curious about the Bryony book(s) or simply enjoy reading and/or writing, you will find the genesis of and the research behind the story, publication updates, writing ramblings, information on the Bryony fundraising cookbook, writing and publication experiences of other authors, bits of inspiration and links to my favorite stories.

You will also meet the real Ed Calkins, aka, the Steward of Tara. He is one of Bryony's minor characters and Ireland's first official vampire. This blog will also feature variety of guest experts, authors, readers and, perhaps, a surprise or two.

Google my byline to read published feature stories or visit www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews.

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: What Keeps You from Writing?

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

What Keeps You from Writing?

Balance in your life is important.

One can't and shouldn't write all the time, even if one works as a writer and editor. Each individual must find his/her balance life and the writing life.

Nevertheless, many of us know that one person who is "working" on a book or who is "going to write a book" in that elusive someday...except that person is busy, busy, busy with so many distracting fun activities that the hard work of writing never actually gets done, except, at best, in short and occasional spurts and stops.

Are you a real writer or a pretend writer?

The first? When do you write? How often to you write? Do you write with any consistency?

The second?  List the activities you do instead of writing. 

The "Myth" of Writer's Block

I think anyone who engages in creative work has felt that block: we have the time, but the ideas don't flow.

We can call it "writers block" or "painters block" or whatever, but a recent article I read made the point that "bloc" ought not be a thing if writers, even hobbyist writers (of which I am on the fiction side of writing), take their craft seriously.

For instance, the article said, there's no such thing as "nurse's block."

Now I'm certain some nurses have their days when they don't want to go into work. But that's not the same thing as a "block."

Likewise, there's probably no garbage truck driver block, accountant block, informational technology block, firefighter block, etc.

I do get the point of "block." It's hard to be stunningly creative on a whim.

And yet, on my professional end of writing, that's why I get paid.

A bunch of years ago, probably 10 or more, I was stuck in a preview story for the former Waterway Days in Joliet. I had written similar stories over the years and couldn't think of the umpteenth, brilliant way to write it.

I was tired (too many nights of not enough sleep before delivery newspapers in the middle of the night), and I had to leave in 45 minutes to run a small Vacation Bible School 40 miles away.

But I was on deadline. I had no choice but to do it. OK, I guess I did have a choice. I could not make deadline and never write for the publication again. I could not write the story and lose the income I needed to support my family.

Yeah, no.

So, I reviewed my notes for words or phrases that jumped out (or ones I could make jump out). And I wrote that story.

The result wasn't Pulitzer quality, sure. But enjoyable, readable, and "payable."

On my hobby end side of writing, I enjoy the freedom of not writing on deadline. I have time to explore creative ideas, concepts, world-building, and character development without feeling the crunch of the clock.

But that sense of "all the time in the world" is a fallacy.

Because the clock continues to tick away. And so do days, months, and years.

Without any sort of goal or deadline ("I will write that novel this year." I will not stop for dinner until I have a solid outline for chapter eight." Saturday will not slip away until I finish chapter five." "I only have 30 minutes today, but I WILL write the opening scene."), the odds are 2020 will arrive with little writing to show for it.

And BTW, coffee helps. ;)

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: My Ambitious "Before the Blood" Homework List

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

My Ambitious "Before the Blood" Homework List

Below is the list I foolishly thought I could complete four days,

Well first of all, work bled into Thursday morning, so not until that was completed, and I had attended Divine Liturgy and gathered with family friends, did I settle down to the story, circa eleven o'clock that night.

Friday was pretty productive, although learning about the unexpected and tragic death of the mother of two former youth group members (for several my ex-husband and I ran a youth ministry connected with our church) derailed composition for part of the evening (as it should).

Saturday was quite productive until the young lady whose mother had died called to talk. By the time I hung up the phone, my muse had vanished. I simply felt wretched, so I called a friend to talk.

Sunday was church, grocery shopping, and general catch up.

Anyway, here's the list:

   *  Break down each chapter by scene

   *  Write out research needed for each chapter

   *  Find necessary research for each chapter online and save

   *  Organize research by novella files

   *  Double check all Bryony events are in chapters

   *  Double check all notes are copied into chapters

   *  Complete character questionnaires for all major/secondary characters

   *  Name all characters with descriptions

   *  Name all places

2nd At-Home Writing Retreat Day No. Five

Still planning to spend the rest of the evening fleshing out some scenes, and because of it, I decided to post the blog now.

Except for the fleshing out, the draft of the final book is done and ready for editing.

What helped is I cut an entire scene I planned to write because it no longer worked. What a time-saver!

It's an interesting feeling to finish a draft of a story that originated in my head since 1985. I've been semi-actively working on this prequel since 2011 and actively (as in spending nearly every weekend and even rising extra early on some days to write) since 2014.

Will I look forward to Saturdays in the same way? (Probably. Still have more books to write).

But it will be different. The structures of those stories will be less complicated and less all-consuming, leaving me time for other projects.

Of course, there still is much fiddling needed with Before the Blood before I can call it completely finished. I still have plenty of self-editing to do, and I have an entire checklist of concepts I plan to revisit.

And that's before I work on my editor's changes.

But unless my editor wants me to add anything substantial, the raw part of creation, for this story, is done.

Tomorrow, Rebekah and I will spend the day catching up on neglected BryonySeries tasks. And then Monday, back to work!

For anyone who cheered me on (even if you have no intention of reading it), thank you. It made a difference.

And now, time to add some flesh to bones.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at www.artworkbytopher.com.

2nd At-Home Writing Retreat Day No. Four

Very quick update before I head out to a birthday dinner for one of my sons.

Kinda ironic since I wrote a major death scene this afternoon.

Less writing today, had a work engagement this morning ( a very inspiring work engagement, the sort of event that reminds me why I love my job so much) and an appointment this afternoon.

This morning between appointments I did get some work done on one of the "forgotten" tasks. It's very clumsy writing, but I reminded myself perfection wasn't the goal, getting the entire draft out was.

Editing of the fifth and final volume of Before the Blood is for the next few weeks, while my editor is working on the first four.

One writing day left (minus one dentist appointment), and I'm looking at a shriveled homework list.

I'm feeling cautiously hopeful I'll hit goal. Or at least a workable goal-ish.

I can see the "finish" banner, but I can still stumble.

Shoelaces tied, off to dinner I go.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff.

2nd At-Home Writing Retreat Day No. Three

This morning started on an extremely high note.

I sent a scene with a major medical development to my nurse/gore comrade for his take. He wrote the scene back to me in medical terminology.

In short, I nailed it. Go, me!!!

And now, the rest of the day.

Once again I modified my "homework" based on where my muse roamed and how long it took to tackle each section.

Overall, I'm pleased with development, slightly concerned about being somewhat behind (although I did manage to adjust for an entire section I'd forgotten to add to the mix), and fairly hopeful about hitting goal by the end of Saturday.

Unfortunately, I only have part of tomorrow afternoon available for writing, so I scheduled only a small, but extremely significant, bit. And then I have another medium bit for Saturday morning before a dentist appointment. The rest of Saturday is reserved for a major section. I'm hoping some of these will take less time than planned to work in the two overlooked sections.

That said, I'm still one scene short on time, and only outlined another, which means these still need writing.

Confused?

You should try living in my head this week.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at www.artworkbytopher.com.

2nd At-Home Writing Retreat Day No. Two

How can one feel productive and non-productive all on the same day?

But that is how I felt by turns.

Although I modified my writing schedule somewhat (my muse lit up for more scenes than others, and I went with it), I felt on top of the game or even ahead when I noticed I forgot about one entire scene and had to rearrange the remaining ones to make room.

And then tonight, with major description left to write, I found another scene I missed. So I tacked it onto the one that follows with it for Friday afternoon and will hope for the best.

Yet...

What's left still feels doable.

I may just finish a workable draft of the fifth and final book of Before the Blood before Saturday passes into Sunday.

I'll still have to edit it all, of course. And fill in some minor pieces as I do so.

But I can do that while my editor works on the first four.

And by then I'll know if any unexpected developments will require any further adjusting of books one through four.

I can glimpse the finish line. It's been an amazing journey.

But I still have some miles left to go. Better not nap yet.

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at www.artworkbytopher.com.