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In Which Our Heroine is Grateful for Her Husband

I had a tricky past two weeks for writing. One of them involved about half my week going towards family time. It’s important, but I feel guilty when I don’t write. This week brought in a lot of stress and exhaustion from my day job to the point I would come home and crash for several hours.

Making progress is important to me, not just because I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was about 11, but because I have money invested in this. Belonging to the RWA and my chapter costs money, my writing classes cost money. I feel like my writing is not just a hobby but an investment.

I am very lucky to have a understanding husband. He gets that writing takes time. He gets that its important for me to invest in these things as a writer and makes certain our budget allows for it. He gets that a 300 page book will be a draft that takes 75 hours to create which means I need roughly 1.5 hours a day of no interruptions to make it happen. Trickier to pull off when we have a toddler. He also gets that those first 75 hours are only a draft. I don’t think writers can become writers unless their spouses support what they do. So I am grateful that my husband is trying to help me make this possible.

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In Which Our Heroine Discusses Steampunk Fashion

I really love Steampunk clothing.

Last year at Phoenix Comic Con, I saw some gorgeous Steampunk outfits and I would love to make one for myself. Luckily, as a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, I do have the sewing skill set. I also have embroidery and some basic sword play, for the record.

Simplicity Pattern 2172.

Since Steampunk is based off of Victorian-era fashion I don’t need things to be historically accurate the way they do for the SCA. In poking around online, I ran into some Steampunk patterns of interest. The first, 2172 may be my favorite. 2207 is also in the running and then there’s some fun pieces in 1819 as well. The trickiest thing is a corset and if I want to do that, I have to make the corset first and then fit the dress to the corset. So complicated, lol. But so pretty!

Of course, my next question is what fabric I would use and let me warn those who have never looked into it, fabric does not come cheap. Many awesome costumers will tell you that there are three traits and you can pick two: price, quality and speed. If you want it quality and fast, prepare to pay. If you want it cheap and quick, don’t expect quality. If you want it cheap and quality, it won’t come quick because you will be really searching for the materials on the bargain (and you still might not get them).

I look at the first two patterns I see and but them in blue of green, maybe black and I can see my heroine wearing one of them. Add in her steampunky jewelry and you really have something going there.

My pattern hunting at the fabric store could get dangerous this weekend.

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In Which Our Heroine Reflects on Super Heroes

My current work-in-progress is not the only idea I’m working on. I’m of the form opinion that a writer should have several ideas because you never know what will sell. If you get lucky enough that one of your first ideas sell, then you already have other ideas for your next project. Win-win!

The other night, the husband, mother-in-law and I were watching the commentary for The Avengers because I adore Joss and like to use commentary to get into his brain as a writer. Besides, I’ve been tossing around an idea fora thought of a superhero idea right now. I’m fascinated with the thought of what our world would be like if super heroes were a common fact of life. What would they be like? How did they get into the hero business? Who are their enemies? How does this impact their family and personal life. Since I write YA, how does this huge thing work when it collides with all of the stuff that impacts a teenager’s life?

That and I know I will get to write great one-liners.

On the other hand, my brain likes to think in terms of a series which gets trickier. I am a firm believer in making sure your villains are not just evil “Mwahaha” kind of people. “Why am I evil? Because I can!” doesn’t work for me. I love Marvel’s Loki for such a reason. I think you get a more interesting villain when they are a person with their own struggles and problems who take the opposite way of solving them than our protagonist takes. For another great literary example compare the origins of Voldemort and Harry Potter. You feel sympathy for both of their origins, but when Tom Riddle becomes gradually twisted by it and makes the choices he does, he becomes the undeniable villain of the series. It reminds you of how Harry’s decisions and the support of his friends and surrogate family are what keeps him from a similar fate.

Maybe I will get to the superhero stuff eventually, but for me, the hardest part will be making sure my villains stack up.

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In Which Our Heroine Discusses Favorite TV

So while I’m cranking our some good daily word counts (I’m hoping to enter a few contests this winter and want to be able to have time to do a quick edit before submitting), I’m going to write about something sort of writing related.

I refer of course to my TV watch list. When I’m not trying to terrorize the Wild West by letting my magic-wielding heroine through it, or chasing my toddler around, I’m a big geek and my TV favorites often reflect this. For now, I will discuss my network favorites, the summer schedule should be a post of its own.

1) The Big Bang Theory and its geeky antics are one of our favorites. The toddler attended a Phoenix Comic con in a Baby Sheldon costume just because. While many of Sheldon’s lines are our favorites, I truly think Leonard is the guy most geeks relate to. Most of my favorite episodes involve appearances of Evil Wil Wheaton. The teenagers I work with in my day job have this joke that I’m like Sheldon because I decide all ties. i also had a group one year that adopted the phrase, “That’s how we roll in the Shire!”

2) Castle had me at Nathan Fillion although I love the interactions with his daughter and mother the best. That and the times his top of the line laser tag equipment comes up.

3) Revolution has me considering writing dystopian/post-apocalyptic someday. I was intrigued by the combination of J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke and giddy that Jon Favreau directed the pilot. Billy Burke’s character is my absolute favorite and I’m intrigued at the world building that they’ve done.

4) Once Upon a Time is a lot of fun with their retold story characters but the cliffhangers have made me fail and nearly throw pillows much to my husband’s amusement. I also love some of the casting that they’ve done. It’s a lot of fun to watch.

At some point I will catch up on Fringe. Peter Bishop, I miss you so. Your shenanigans with Walter are some of my favorite. I like to think of you as X-Files of the corporate world. However, I have to be much more limited in my TV now a days between writing and the toddler, but there’s some really good stuff out there.

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In Which Our Heroine Reflects on Writing Time

I keep track of my writing goals by the week and Monday is my start the clock day. I got home from the day job and got an amazing session in. I was so excited. Then the week got stolen away from me because my allergies were bad enough that they kicked my butt and took my name. I was exhausted and spent a lot of time groggy or sleeping. Especially, like most aspiring authors, I have a day job that pays the bills and you never know when you will or won’t get a book accepted for publication.

For the record, I probably should confess that I have no intention to self-publish any novel at this point in my writing career. The information that guided me to this decision came from several sources including conclusions I have made based on observation, number crunching, and questions I have heard answered by authors who have started their careers as traditionally published writers.

One of the best bits of advice I received was from writer Kevin Hearne at Phoenix Comic Con. When he was an aspiring author he had the same day job as I did as well as kidlet and family obligations (I have a husband and toddler). The day I met him was the day after he had finished his last day at his non-writing job. He was now going to be a full time writer.

Mr. Hearne told me that if you can do 2-4 pages a day (that’s 500 to 1,000 words), you will have a 300 page story in about three months. I try to do a minimum of four a day. This week I don’t know if it will happen. Perhaps I need to forgive myself and the plants that caused my allergies and move on. I have a chunk of the story done and I suspect it will be done in time for me to begin revisions for the writing contest I’m looking at.

Remember, 2-4 pages a day and you too will have a novel.

Oh, and if you like quirky urban fantasy, Mr Hearne is quite the talented writer. His Iron Druid Chronicles make me giggle. A lot. Maybe if we ever get that dog we discussed adding to the family, we must name him Oberon out of tribute.

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In Which Our Heroine Reflects on Historical Fashion

A 1880s bustle dress. Please click the image for more shots of this dress and others in the 1880s section.

I have a confession to make.

Bustle skirts determined the setting of my story.

I love the Victorian period for fashion and even though my Western Steampunk takes place in Denver, Colorado, the year corresponds with the British Victorian Period and many fashions traveled to America. Once I realized this meant my story was taking place during the 1880s, I checked out the other details I had at my disposal about those years in Denver. Luckily most of the events that occurred at this time really worked for my story – Huzzah!

Bustle skirts are sort of fabulous, but I sometimes wonder how one didn’t knock things around. Although I found pictures of walking dresses without such things, I figure I can get in at least one of two bustle jokes if I’m really lucky.

One of the other things I looked up was embroidery of the time period. A lot of bolder female characters in books reject pastimes like embroidery. I have a lot of tomboy tendencies myself, but I actually really like embroidery so I thought it would be fun to rebel against the stereotype and let the heroine master one “feminine art” that she was insanely proud of because I like quirks. Why shouldn’t a heroine be tough, capable and wickedly creative with a needle and thread? By golly, this is Steampunk and one can do it all

This embroidery could be found on clothing (OMG, so detailed and pretty!) or household items like linens, table clothes, handkerchiefs and so forth. In fact, I am so in love with this 1880s White Cotton Polonaise with Black Embroidery dress, it isn’t even funny. If you think some of that is gorgeous, take Google for a spin and check out the beadwork. Drool…

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In Which Our Heroine Reflects on Nano

NaNo, the big book writing challenge that’s a popular staple of November has never really been for me, even though I’m a writer for several reasons.

1) I want my books to be longer than the word count they provide.

2) Between my day job (or college when I was that age) and the holidays, November just isn’t a good month for me to take up one of those kinds of challenges.

3) My projects never seem to start at NaNo time. My current Western Steampunk started this month. I refuse to wait a whole month to start writing something I really want to write.

Now I know a lot of people really get into NaNo and it inspires a lot of people to get writing. Maybe I’m not the type of writer that Nano is targeted for, maybe I’m just contrary. I always figure if it works for you, go for it. If not, try something else.

Are you a NaNo person or not?

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In Which Our Heroine Discusses the Ever Popular Bad Boy

When I told my husband that my current Work in Progress (WIP) was going to feature a outlaw character, he laughed. Why? Because he is very much aware of my weakness for bad boy/outlaw characters (I make exceptions fior Captain America and Lee “Apollo” Adama). It’s kind of a thing. Characters who are rebellious, flawed, far too good looking for anyone’s good, and in possession of the best one-liners are kind of irresistable. Let me break down some of my favorite bad boys.

The original was quite possibly George Cooper from Tamora Pierce’s Tortal series. Charming, clever, clearly rebellious. I was Team George before relationship favorites were described as being teams. Why have Prince Jonathan when you could have George? Honestly, I’d love more about his adventures as the King of Thieves.

Now the fanged choices. First, the Buffy offering. I was always a Spike girl rather than an Angel girl. The one-liners, the cheeky snark,  the charming when he wanted to be, and let’s not forget the accent. Bonus points for getting  to watch James Marsters sing. Spike clearly had his flaws, but I’m still convinced that he stole large sections of season four. Add in the fact he one fought for his soul and had been the Victorian version of a bullied geek and he won a lot of fans. Now, onto the Vampire Diaries bad boy. While I may believe that Elena is wise to stick with Stefan, I am a total Damon girl. Once again, the one-liners, the rebellious streak, add in some killer good looks. Damon steals scenes for a reason. However, he does have feeling for Elena and as my BFF puts in, he too loved Katherine.

The space cowboy edition. Most girls were May Reynolds girls. Nathan Fillion is as charming as good looking and Mal got a dash of power brood and lawbreaking too boot. His bad boy was softened by his brotherly love for Kaylee, angst regarding the loss of the war and his home planet and his always messed up attempts too woo Inara. However, I was a Jayne girl. The one-liners and love for his gun, Vera. Not too mention a very cunning hat. Jayne’s softer spots came through his care about his family (he wore his Mom’s hat after all) and the scene where he begged Mal not to tell the crew what he did when Mal almost threw him out of the airlock – in space. 

The modern offerings are last but not least. John Ross Ewing of Dallas, Neal Caffery of White Collar, and Logan Echolls of Veroinca Mars. Good looking John Ross of the daddy issues larger than the size of Texas literally created the phrase “John Ross feels” for my best friend and I this past summer. I enjoyed his character far more than that of Christopher Ewing. Charming and criminally good looking Neal Caffery with his little boy grins made me forgive him for those years he tried to take Sarah Walker from Chuck Bartowski. But Neal’s attempts at reforms and troubled past make him even more lovable. Logan Echolls of the epic one-liners (I can’t say anthropomorphic without thinkong of him) but who clearly loved Veronica and had a horrific homelife won so man hearts that Rob Thomas had Veronica’s other suitor Duncan Kane written off because it was very clear who had won. Speaking of epic, his definition of his and Veronica’s epic romance is still one of my favorite lines ever.

I clearly love those bad boy characters. Some are more bad than others but they all seem to have that redeeming quality, that sympathetic quirk that can win an audience over. Some are more reformed bad boys than others, some attempt their reform during a story. I very much look forward to developing my own outlaw for my story, luckily the Wild West has lots of possibilities for such things.

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Our Heroine’s First Post!

Hello Fellow Book Enthusiasts!

With my first post, I’m going to tell you what I’m working on right now. Earlier this summer I was browsing the class listing for the Romance Writers of America (of which I’m a member) and I came across a description for a great class being taught about Western Steampunk. For those of you new to the concept, Steampunk is a sub-genre of sci-fi/fantasy that takes the Victorian period and takes the technology of the time (steam based) and then plays the What-if Game with possibilities of things that could exist. Magic is frequently (but not always) added to the mix because magic is awesome. You get a blend of sci-fi with it’s cool inventions only set in the Victorian period with all of it’s fabulous clothing. When most people think of Steampunk, they think of Victorian London. However, the United States very much existed at that time and Steampunk stories set here can take place in the Industrial North, War-torn South, or Wild West.

I went straight for the Wild West. Why? Because I can write a story with magic, fisticuffs, shenanigans and at least one outlaw. Right about now I should add in my husband’s amusement regarding my tendency to like outlaw characters (it’s a thing, seriously). So the idea is that I’m writing a Western Steampunk that I would really like to be the beginning of a mystery series. More details will follow, I suppose I should get back to the drafting.