I am A Writer, My Family Doesn't Know

So you're a writer. Does your family know? Do they encourage you on your writing journey? I'm not quite sure if my family knows. If they do know, they're not telling anyone. Maybe I'm wrong. After all I'm not around any of them 24/7. I could use a little help here. 

I was talking to my cousin in Australia and send her a link to my flash fiction. Yeah, I write flash fiction on Yahoo because I can't sit around and wait for that big book deal. And when my novel does get published, we have plans, there's still no guarantee that it will be on the New York Best Seller's list. So writing articles, recipes and flash fiction is the in-between plan to put food on the table.

In any case, my family down under didn't really know I was a writer. Could be, that I'm not good at selling, or rather promoting, myself. Too much to learn.

This post then, is for my family. I mean come check this out. I'm a writer!

Flash Fiction:
Where Dragons Live
The Whisperer's Daughter
Jesha: When Worlds Collide (my first Steampunk short)
The Dying World
Light of the World: The Christmas Planet

So dear family, I hope you'll come and see what I do. But then again, you probably don't know I blog.




writing online
a writer's life

Flash Fiction: A Knight's Armor

By Debby Alten

Illustration by Michael Rogers

For two weeks a steady rain had battered the ancient forest. Malatthias was cold and hungry, the weight of his armor tiresome. By the time the second moon rose he wore but his tattered shirt and bloodstained pants, his sword still sheathed. A thick cloak covered him and part of his horse, Mayllyn.

Suddenly, a snarl came from above. Malatthias looked up. She was dark and beautiful and for the moment the disenchanted knight was mesmerized. Look away. He could not speak. She slowly descended toward him. "I am Kteress." It was more like a hiss than a woman's voice.

Mayllyn stood straight up on her hind legs, plunging the knight into the thistles and thorns. He scrambled to his feet but Kteress was on him within a blink of an eye. Her claws dug around and into his throat.

Read More ...

How To Write A Book In A Month

I joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), through the OCCWF this year and committed myself (literally) to writing a book in a month. Novel Track is ACFW's version of Book in a Month. In any case, toward the end of the April I kind of, sort of, almost finished a whole book. Well I wound up with half a one,  a little over 22,000 words. But, in this month of May, we're going through the editing phase which is already adding extra words, even pages, to my manuscript.

A very helpful piece of advice was set to goals. Genre, how many words, carve out time etc. My goals; off-world fantasy, 20,000 words, and write early in the morning or really late at night. I thought that if I wrote at least 1000 words a day, excluding the weekends, I would meet the twenty-thousand-word goal. I did.

There was also an ACFW Novel Track email loop where goals were shared, daily posts of how many words per day you wrote and receive or give encouragements to stay the course. It really does work.

One thing I've heard a lot, even if you're not planning to write a book in a month, is to just start writing. A thousand words per day is not that much. Of course that's really easy for me to say since I've recently entered the empty nest era. No more PTA, no more basketball games, baseball games, no more dress rehearsals for school plays etc. It's lonely sometimes, especially if you live in a six-bedroom-two-story-triple garage home; no hubby, no dog. Ach, I got to get a life. But it is a great environment do get some writing done. And my office has a nice view of Idyllwild.

Anyway, back to the simple point: Write, don't edit, just get the story down on paper (or into the computer). It does make for a funny first draft but editing will come. Skip the subplots, but do create a Story Tracker so that you can remember to insert the secondary story lines into the correct spots later. I also used my Story Tracker to change names. One of my Ocean's had a pretty lame name. When I finally found the right "fantastical" one I didn't want to go back and change it all in the previous chapters. My Story Tracker has a spot to remind me to change the names after I'm done with the book. You'll find your own special needs for a Story Tracker or how to use it.

I'm thinking that my book might turn out to be a novella, sort of an intro book to Book Two which is already completed. Go figure. I'd like to write another 20,000, maybe 30,000, words to finish this one off and with the subplots weaved into the story, I might have a chance. Committing to a project like writing a book in a month is easier when you do it with a bunch of people. Kind of helps with that accountability thing. ACFW will begin Novel Track again in a couple of months. It will give me some time to edit the first part of the book and then write the second part in July.

Now all I need is an illustrator. Oh, speaking of illustrations . . . ACFW recommended we cast our characters. That was fun. Only thing is everybody in my book is really hot . . . um . . . I mean, good looking. Even the bad, bad, evil, ultra wicked guys. I guess recasting is in order. Keep writing and have some fun.

Here's a great book by Victoria Lynn Schmidt called Book in a Month: The Fool-Proof System for Writing a Novel in 30 Days


ACFW ACFW Novel Track Book in a Month

Love, Death and Skeletons

Leah could not really say Sharré was a close friend--more of an acquaintance really. They saw each other only at church and shared a few good conversations over dinner after a service on Sunday nights. Beyond that they never seemed to get together. Nonetheless, the murder of someone you know is always a shocking blow.

By the time she reached the open coffin, the small country church had emptied. The scattered programs of the funeral service littered the worn-out pews. Dusk-like hours were as haunting as the memories of the friend who now lay lifeless before her.

Read More Here


My Other Published Short Stories:
Love, Death and Skeletons
Of Jazz and Shadows
A Still Small Voice

Sunday Scrolls: Scrolls of the Gatekeeper (Part III) The Warriors: Uriel

The dark waters of Kaynan’s sea imprison the Fallen Ones—known, though a long time ago, as Heaven's mighty Watchers. They wait for their sons, the Nephilim, to free them. But there are the Warriors, and the new order of Watchers, to contend with.

A small faction of these Warriors is gathering on the eastern shores of Kaynan. Their faces are somber, their voices stern and they speak in a language which the Whisperers cannot understand. For that matter neither can the Nephilim who have forgotten the language of their fathers, nor the Kaynanites, except for one.

“They are prideful, those Kaynanites." Uriel clenches his fists. “We chose for them their new Watcher and they deny him. They exile him to the outerlands beyond the ancient forest.”

Uriel’s eyes fill with holy anger—justifiably so. Nonetheless, he struggles to keep his emotion under control. Uriel the Terrible is what the Whisperers call him.

Uriel:

Angel of Death

He presides over terror, easing it away from the righteous but feeding it to the wicked. His face, though pure and holy, has that sort of unfriendly look. One could not really look into his eyes for fear of being destroyed, though he has no intention of doing so—unless one deserves it like the Whisperer, Forgersage.

This is a high-ranking Whisperer, one who has the ability to appear in whatever manner he chooses—demon, angel, man or animal. Most of the time he is invisible, one with his surroundings.

********

Upon the side of the Kaynanite’s castle wall, the two first met--Forgersage, with a company of Whisperers, and Uriel. Forgersage’s cursed claw touched the toe of the Warrior’s boot. The Whisperer turned its head slowly skyward and found Uriel staring into his eyes. Defying gravity, the Warrior slowly descended, down the brick and mortar of the fortress.

“Curses on you,” Forgersage snarled. “How is it you can see me?”

Uriel smiled. It was a horrible smile. The rush of the wind howled around his long black cloak. Snake-like hair (as terrible as that might sound, it was more awesome than terrible) whipped around his face. His sword was drawn in his right hand and with his left he pointed to the one to die—Forgersage.

“Sword of the Watchers,” Forgersage whispered. “How could it be? Where did you find it?”

Uriel did not answer. It was the last phrase to ever come from the Whisperer’s decaying mouth. With just one swing of the Watcher’s Sword, Forgersage was headless—decapitation was swift.

Forgersage’s companions scampered, in no particular direction as long as it was away from the Warrior of death. But Uriel’s flight was not easily escaped. He released himself from earthly bounds and soared like the nighthawk landing soundlessly on both feet. A small breath of dust rose around his boots and then settled. Such grace and power had the Warrior’s glide that they hardly saw him at all. Before they could touch again the solid ground of Kaynan, Uriel stood waiting with that horrible smile.

Some Whisperers fell into the coldness of the moat and drifted lifelessly to its muddy banks. Not one would escape the abomination of Uriel. They died in the waters, in the mud and mire, and some midair before the loud thuds of twisted corpses hit the wooden slats of the drawbridge. The Warrior’s anger consumed them one by one.

In the end, perhaps a handful remained and wistfully looked for help running toward the wooded areas. Uriel, with one leap, intercepted their retreat, and plunged his Sword to separate flesh from bone. Not from behind did the Warrior take their lives, for that would be most cowardly. No, face to face it was so they could see his burning eyes and surrender to his blade.

“It is enough.” Pa'Lahdín, his brother, flew to his side. 

Uriel the Terrible finally stood motionless a distance from the castle, blood marred his face. Pa'Lahdín, always the one to come to his side, placed a hand gently at the nape of Uriel’s neck, and guided him back to the castle.

********

It is Pa'Lahdín  who stands next to Uriel at this gathering of Warriors and once again comforts his friend. “Yes,” he whispers. “The Kaynanites have exiled their Watcher. But the time has come to restore all the Lands of Pa'raGhon. Soon Kaynan will once again belong to Yahweh.”

Uriel nods and with a sturdy hand upon Pa'Lahdín’s shoulder, whispers, “Brother, always the Faithful Guardian.”

Thanks for reading the Scrolls, I'm off to read CS Lewis The Silver Chair

Coming next, Part IV: Pa'Lahdín the Faithful Guardian.

Click here for more short stories

Click here for our list of FREE books

The South Paz Gang

Our writers group has met, once a month, for close to 20 years now. Our success is revealed in an article written at Associated Content by . . . oh, that would be me. They're still processing payment so I'll have a link up in a few days, I hope. In the meantime we invite you to be a fly on the wall and listen to the happenings of the South Paz Gang. They'll probably make me change the name.


Happy New Year Critique Minutes

As the sun came up, whirling winds blew across the foothills.
The San Gabriel mountains stood like dark giants against the crystal blue sky.
Not far away, a home nestled among the trees, clung to the earth.
There was light inside. So much, that it overflowed the windows and invaded the morning shadows—as five writers struggled toward Jane’s front door—heads to the wind.

Present (In order of appearance)

Jane Rumph
Pat Stockett Johnston
Sharon P.
Ruth
Marilyn R. Woody
Sharon AUTHORIZE ME Norris Elliott

Absent

Everybody else

Happy New Year Everyone! The meeting started off with a lot of chit chat and most of us trying to straighten our wind-blown hair. We opened the meeting in prayer. A few minutes later the front door whipped open and low and behold it was Sharon E. in a thick coat and scarf along with a stack of manuscripts (more on that later) and a power book. Hello Sharon! After greetings all around, we proceeded to the first order of the day. The topic of editing.

Pat is taking an on-line writing class with Cecil B. Murphy. She brought her edited manuscripts. We learned a lot from perusing through the edits. Sharon E. then opened her power book and showed us how to edit manuscripts using Word. It’s simple! Just bring up a word document. Then, just click on view and pull down the menu. Choose/highlight toolbars and you will see another menu. Then choose/highlight the word reviewing. Next, look at the top of your screen. You will see some new icons that you’ve never seen before. Click on them and see what they do. Practice makes perfect!

Next, Pat left early to get a new head shot picture taken. (“I have new glasses now!”) and Sharon E. distributed “Chapter Two” for our editing enjoyment. (2 hours of enjoyment) As we edited “Chapter Two” we discovered what the Bible means when it talks about the “Armor of God”. Sharon E. tells us that this armor can fit the female shape! Sharon’s chapter also brought up discussions on the difference between religious tolerance vs. acceptance, racial prejudices, and how to fit into your bra better.

Marilyn is almost ready to embark on Arleta’s manuscripts. She also shared that she is going to be a great-grandmother! This lead to a discussion on how old everyone was. Now that was a golden moment that I doubt will be repeated for awhile! (If you weren’t there, you’ll have to continue to guess.)

Ruth brought calendars for everyone and quietly gave her usual insightful comments. Jane was an excellent host. Sharon P. was glad to be out of the house.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Written by Sharon P.



writing group associated content editing Arleta Richardson

Current Writing Project

1) I'm three assignments behind. Hopefully my mentor/teacher doesn't read my blog. I'll have to start catching up when the Princess goes back to school. Tomorrow we'll be shopping with the gift card her Dad gave her. He did good.

2) 3rd draft of finished novel, Swords of the Watchers, is now in progress. I'm getting sick of this manuscript. Somebody take it off my hands and publish it already!!

3) I've started interviewing my amazing and brave Mom and Dad to write about the five years they each spent in a POW camp in WWII. And, btw, if America had pulled out of that war (or never entered it) my parents would have been dead at age 5 (mom) and age 12 forDad.

A Message From Sharon E.

Start 2007 with purpose!
Let 2007 be the year you finally WRITE THAT BOOK!

Get moving on that dream at the upcoming
AuthorizeMe Seminar


You will leave this 12-hour, fun, informative, life-changing seminar with:

Your book completely planned
A query letter
A complete table of contents
A full chapter synopsis
A full proposal template (with much of it filled in)
Ideas on finding markets
And much more!

Bring your laptop and your thinking cap! Be prepared to learn an incredible, organizational, time-saving, sure-fire method to help not only get your book completed, but noticed by acquisitions editors. You will leave confidently able to pitch your book idea to interested publishers who will exclaim, "Send me your proposal!" After attending this class, you'll have that propsal ready to send or even to place immediately in their hands!

All it takes to get the registration ball rolling is to e-mail AuthorizeMe@sbcglobal.net
or send registration information and payment to:

AuthorizeMe
P.O. Box 1519
Inglewood, CA 90308

Get in on the first AuthorizeMe Seminar of 2007.

January 19 - 20, 2007
South Los Angeles Baptist Church
9203 S. Avalon Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90003

Seminar Tuition: $250.00
(Payment plans are available)

AuthorizeMe is taught by Sharon Norris Elliott:

23-year veteran educator
published author
professional editor assistant
director of Sandy Cove Christian Writers' Conference
sought-after conference speaker

(For Christian & positive message books only.)

Spread the word!

writers Writing Seminar writing help Sharon Norris Elliott

For My Writer Friends

If you're a writer you need to come check this out. Join me at AC (Associated Content) and make some money for writing articles. There are many topics to choose from. Even your short stories have a place here though there's no payment for those yet. There's money in well-written how-to articles and also a pay check could depend on how many articles you can produce. Some money could be made for book reviews, music reviews etc. or interviews with famous or interesting people.

If you're interested here's my newest submission published at AC:
Of Jazz And Shadows

I've also submitted a how-to article--still waiting to see if it's accepted for payment.