tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post2435709665002001679..comments2023-04-27T10:10:36.337-05:00Comments on Adventure Awaits: Subplots and Storylines - June 2017Tracey Dyckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-64678286122560702322017-10-22T16:34:07.045-05:002017-10-22T16:34:07.045-05:00It is SO helpful to get a good look at where you a...It is SO helpful to get a good look at where you are! (In writing, in life, everything.)<br /><br />Yep, that sounds like a good plan to me! :)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-40660792561917502532017-10-21T19:02:00.123-05:002017-10-21T19:02:00.123-05:00Exactly. I guess it's being able to see where ...Exactly. I guess it's being able to see where you're at -- it can help you define the next step more clearly.<br /><br />I knoooooow. My brain pretty much exploded over all the math. ;) That's a good way to look at it... shoot for a nice middle-range or err on the shorter side if it's your first book, right???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-210835702806707042017-09-04T21:53:13.803-05:002017-09-04T21:53:13.803-05:00It depends a bit on the story, but I'm usually...It depends a bit on the story, but I'm usually weird like that too. Of course there are things I love about first drafts, but with editing it's often easier to know what your next step is, you know?<br /><br />Right?!?! YA is one thing, fantasy is another, but what if it's BOTH? What then? I guess unless someone tells me otherwise, I'm going to go with the assumption that wordcount just isn't the highest priority; therefore, focus on telling a great story. (I mean, it's obviously a problem if you're trying to publish a tiny 40,000 word novel, or a way too huge 200,000 tome. But somewhere in between? Eh, it's probably okay. XD)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-52014673390077485702017-09-03T20:33:50.717-05:002017-09-03T20:33:50.717-05:00Ha!! I'm weird like that. I much prefer workin...Ha!! I'm weird like that. I much prefer working with something VISIBLE, something ALREADY down on the page as opposed to looking at an intimidating blank page and knowing that I must fill it from scratch.<br /><br />Another thing you mentioned was the Target Wordcount... I did some research for my own novel and ughhhhhh, it is SO confusing!!!<br /><br />It's like... YA should be 300-500 pages, fantasy should be 500-800 pages, epic fantasy should be 800-1,00 pages... and I'm like WHAT IF MY BOOK IS ALL OF THOSE THINGS????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-5222391687278080462017-07-25T19:21:28.467-05:002017-07-25T19:21:28.467-05:00Hello hello, Emily! Delighted to see you again! LO...Hello hello, Emily! Delighted to see you again! LOL, apparently the raspy voice is either cool or sultry or...I don't even know. XD<br /><br />They were so fun and idyllic, especially that lovely little tea shop! Yesss, you should definitely do a post like that! Wait, Dublin?? Were you there recently? Jealous! :D<br /><br />I think you'd enjoy it! Very sassy and clever.<br /><br />Thank you! I actually leave bright and early tomorrow for RM! I've pondered the same thing... Who knows, you might be right. ^_^ Either way, I think it's something that will be best answered after I let the novel rest for a little while. But yes, a shorter fantasy might be nice amongst all those books as heavy as bricks!<br /><br />(I KNOW. CRAZY. WHERE IS SUMMER FLYING TO, I ASK?)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-11127355387664415412017-07-25T12:19:22.727-05:002017-07-25T12:19:22.727-05:00Heya! A delight to be here, as ever. Does your voi...Heya! A delight to be here, as ever. Does your voice sound like that all the time?? XD<br /><br />Your outings with your friend and your sister sound amazing -- the pizza, the park, the bookshop, the teashop! All so dreamy. I really want to do a post like this, about Dublin and camp and generally my life. (Aren't you lucky.)<br /><br />Really want to read The Ascendance trilogy!<br /><br />Well done with your TBT progress! When is RM? I know nothing about such things, but maybe your struggle to up the wordcount is a sign it doesn't need to be upped? Maybe the story is the length it needs to be. I don't think a shorter fantasy is a bad thing at all -- we all get bogged down in those fantasy tomes, it might be quite refreshing!<br /><br />(Also lol that it's August next week ... WHAT?)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08057480293595295502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-62233564572960255402017-07-23T20:14:01.694-05:002017-07-23T20:14:01.694-05:00(Totally okay! I'm obviously kinda late in rep...(Totally okay! I'm obviously kinda late in replying to this too. XD)<br /><br />Ooooh, you had me at steampunk! Especially with a historical flavor AND some magic. Sounds like a delicious concoction! I've been idly contemplating different fantasy settings for mine...so far Arabian and Nordic are the strongest contenders, but I still haven't given it a whole lot of thought. :) Best of everything with your entry!Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-27524567412616179312017-07-18T20:32:02.716-05:002017-07-18T20:32:02.716-05:00*feels bad that I didn't see this until just n...*feels bad that I didn't see this until just now* <br /><br />That'd be really cool to say that you entered them all! As for my idea, I've been thinking about a steampunk, historical fiction type story, maybe with a little magic? Don't know for sure yet, but we'll see! :)Madeline J. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14651322832150574847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-11627459080271910942017-07-07T21:57:20.348-05:002017-07-07T21:57:20.348-05:00*high fives* Oh my goodness, I never even thought ...*high fives* Oh my goodness, I never even thought of him being like Bilbo! But I guess...in some ways he kind of is! XD A little awkward and self-conscious, but insistent on certain matters, and eager to prove himself. Ha, that's too funny.Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-69277859047769910632017-07-07T17:22:24.413-05:002017-07-07T17:22:24.413-05:00Yay for another Bodhi appreciator!! =D
Is it just ...Yay for another Bodhi appreciator!! =D<br />Is it just me, or did he remind you of a certain burglar named Bilbo (from the movies, especially)?Shayhttp://www.elvenpadawan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-21125425062007513492017-07-04T14:37:28.275-05:002017-07-04T14:37:28.275-05:00I applied for a business course. Seems like someth...I applied for a business course. Seems like something that would be helpful as a writer (marketing and all that fun stuff) as well as something that would provide a better income in the meantime.<br /><br />Haha, that does seem a bit muddled, but I think I got it. 6-28 sounds like a really good class size, in my opinion. :)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-13880385774825956892017-07-04T14:35:50.297-05:002017-07-04T14:35:50.297-05:00You are legitimately one of the only writers I'...You are legitimately one of the only writers I've heard of who's expressed so much enthusiasm over editing! XD (Actually, I really enjoy editing myself, but most people seem to hate it.) Thanks, Kate! :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-15743698617648623952017-07-04T14:34:47.235-05:002017-07-04T14:34:47.235-05:00This is the first time I can truly sympathize with...This is the first time I can truly sympathize with writers whose books are too short! I usually have the opposite problem, LOL. Oh well, it stretches those writing muscles, right?<br /><br />Can't wait to see you too! :D :D :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-54604649116417801512017-07-04T14:29:13.879-05:002017-07-04T14:29:13.879-05:00You too? Cool! I entered the first three, so I'...You too? Cool! I entered the first three, so I'd really like to enter the last one as well. (Partly for the sake of saying I entered them all, partly because I've loved writing my previous entries, and partly because maybe the fourth time's the charm. XD) What genre are you thinking of writing?<br /><br />Thank you, Madeline! Mine usually end up far too long as well. And the funny thing is, the original novella was too long, but now when I try to expand it, it falls short. XD<br /><br />You too! *cheers for Silmarillion Awards*Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-19250750106985508182017-07-04T14:26:25.562-05:002017-07-04T14:26:25.562-05:00That's great to know! If I haven't read an...That's great to know! If I haven't read an author before, I usually get their book from the library before committing to buying it. But that's a great point about less risk for curious readers/buyers. Thanks for that!<br /><br />Haha, mine tend to be enormous too! Good for you for writing a shorter one as well.<br /><br />LOL, but only by a day! ;)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-43399524949059108952017-07-04T14:18:33.509-05:002017-07-04T14:18:33.509-05:00Ah, I see. And what would you like to study? You...Ah, I see. And what would you like to study? You're right in that Americans tend to call everything "college." In the U.S., a college only offers lower degrees, whereas a university offers graduate degrees as well. But we usually call them all "colleges." I believe you could technically attend a branch-campus to a university that doesn't offer graduate degrees, to muddle it more. I attend the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, which is a branch-campus on par with the state universities throughout Pennsylvania. It has around 3,000 total students. Being in the Humanities, most of my classes are small, between 6 and 28 students.Patrick Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690555802232025818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-2249888275091449082017-07-04T14:16:13.033-05:002017-07-04T14:16:13.033-05:00Thanks! No way--that's really neat! You get tw...Thanks! No way--that's really neat! You get two celebrations almost in a row, then. :)<br /><br />Everyone I know of who's read The Penderwicks really enjoyed it, so I'm very much looking forward to taking it along with me on holidays. Oh yes, TRK was definitely a whirlwind of good and bad stuff. Writing a review was difficult. XD<br /><br />Thank you so much! Hmm, good point--doing the opposite of the typical fantasy novel could be interesting. That's very true how each book should be as long as the story needs to be. Thanks for the encouraging viewpoint!<br /><br />It's so much fun! :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-10902546524995961222017-07-04T14:13:41.240-05:002017-07-04T14:13:41.240-05:00Thank you, my dear! And happy Independence Day to ...Thank you, my dear! And happy Independence Day to MY dear American friend! ;D<br /><br />Hahaha, that pic sums up my brain every time I sit down to write an S&S post. Plus Princess Bride quotes are perfect for any situation. XD<br /><br />It's long gone, not to worry! Made for an interesting workday, though, that's for sure. :P<br /><br />Yes, brace yourself indeed... *sniffles* My brother described it to me as a war movie before we watched it, and I'd have to agree. <///3<br /><br />I think you'd quite enjoy the Ascendance Trilogy! You do enjoy sassy characters, after all. ;)<br />I knoooow, it's such a shame. *pouts* I'm hoping the Scorpio Races will be better, and I may even try her Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Just because someone with such a great writing voice HAS to have at least a mostly-clean book out there...right? One can hope, anyway.<br /><br />*falls over* Thank you! I've slowed down a bit the past few days to let myself recuperate. I'm getting to the point where the thought of a day with hours of reading instead of writing sounds rather nice. XD<br />Thanks so much for your thoughts on the 70k length! It's really hard to know what the genre expectations are, right? It seems to be all over the board with YA fantasy. But you're right, story trumps it all. ^_^<br /><br />Me too! Thank you! *huggles* I hope your July is also fantastic and that you don't melt too much in all the southern heat! ;)<br /><br />As for college: I honestly don't remember whether I said anything to you! Probably nothing specific? It was literally just a few days ago that I applied. But yes, more details will head your way! :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-7145631104946932882017-07-04T14:04:48.334-05:002017-07-04T14:04:48.334-05:00Hahaha, glad somebody appreciated the Flash jokes!...Hahaha, glad somebody appreciated the Flash jokes! XD Oh my goodness, just wait until you finish that season...! (So. Much. Happens.)<br /><br />I'm happy to hear you enjoy these posts! I often wonder whether I'm just blabbing on about myself (which...I guess I am XD) or whether people find them interesting or not.<br /><br />YESSSS PETER PAN. <333<br /><br />I'd love to read your review of TRK sometime!<br /><br />Thank you SO much, Skye! That means a lot. *hugs*Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-39819062098139402802017-07-04T14:02:01.895-05:002017-07-04T14:02:01.895-05:00That's true! Many of them are also instalments...That's true! Many of them are also instalments in a series, which tend to get progressively longer with each book. I'll still aim for 70k and see where I go from there. :)<br /><br />Good job! Sounds like you're making good progress.<br /><br />Well, before we even talk about "standard programs," there's the difference between Canadian and US colleges to consider. Canadians differentiate between college and university (the former has smaller class sizes and tends to be trade-focused; the latter is much larger and is academic-focused). As far as I can tell, Americans call both options "college," though feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, the one I applied to is pretty typical. :)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-69278237723908423112017-07-04T13:57:36.473-05:002017-07-04T13:57:36.473-05:00Happy (late) Canada day to you as well!
Yes, I...Happy (late) Canada day to you as well!<br /><br />Yes, I'm really enjoying the Silmarillion festivities. :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-10860430406449364152017-07-03T23:06:16.097-05:002017-07-03T23:06:16.097-05:00Dude!! Editing TBT sounds like SO. MUCH. FUN!!! Ee...Dude!! Editing TBT sounds like SO. MUCH. FUN!!! Eeeep!! I mean, I am currently working on FINISHING drafts and MOVING ON, but I cannot wait until I get to that stage of examining and rewording and reading again and adding in stuff... it just sounds like heaven!!! Best of luck with it!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-72152435092680911802017-07-03T16:29:56.917-05:002017-07-03T16:29:56.917-05:00Yay for writing progress! I had the same length pr...Yay for writing progress! I had the same length problem with my latest fantasy novel. XD I'm aiming for 70K too. So excited to see you at RM! :D<br /><br />storitorigrace.blogspot.comVictoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-80434201219553156632017-07-03T10:18:48.897-05:002017-07-03T10:18:48.897-05:00It just occurred to me, I totally forgot to mentio...It just occurred to me, I totally forgot to mention the most important thing in my comment...<br /><br />YOU APPLIED TO A COLLEGE??? Did I know about this? I DON'T THINK I KNEW ABOUT THIS. EEP. TRACEY. This is so exciting! You must tell me ALL about it sometime!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620960568844915525.post-22696834363213272052017-07-03T10:15:47.535-05:002017-07-03T10:15:47.535-05:00Ooh, you're thinking about entering the Roogle...Ooh, you're thinking about entering the Rooglewood contest? I've been toying with the idea too, but maybe sometime later this year. :)<br /><br />Nearly 30,000 words is awesome!! I hope you get the word count to where you like it. My stories always end up being too *long*, and they tend to drag...So I usually have to find ways to *shorten* them... :P<br /><br />Have a great July! AND YAY FOR SILMARILLION AWARDS!! ^_^Madeline J. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14651322832150574847noreply@blogger.com