Have you ever had to hear about someone's back problems? Your eyes glaze over and you nod sympathetically as they go on and on and on, having to listen to every pathetic detail; the accident, the suffering, the medication, the incompetent doctor, ... Meanwhile, you secretly hope a national crisis breaks out (earthquake, tornado, bomb, anything!) just so you can be excused from the pathetic whining.
Then the worst happens. YOUR back goes out. You slip a disc or strain a muscle and end up flat on your own back for six weeks. It's agonizing to go to the bathroom, to lift an arm, to shift your leg. And you just have to talk about it. You want to share your experience, earn some sympathy and understanding from your friends, coworks, or anyone who makes the mistake of asking "How are you?"!!
Karma.
For years I've been reading about writer's block - causes, solutions, creative exercises. Magazine articles, entire books even, about overcoming an author's worst nightmare.
Yada, yada, yada. Just sit down and write, yawns I ...
Then the worst happened. To me! Total brain freeze. For the past two weeks my fingers have been immobile. Creativity turned off. What's happening??
Insomnia, family worries, kids, husband, dieting, lack of exercise, no sex, too much sex: What's causing it?
For the first time ever, I cannot write. No blogging, no shorts, no work on my novel, no poetry - I'm not even READING (which is SO NOT like me!) I can't be tapped out, can I? Kaput? Two shorts published and no more? Writing career over before it even began?
Next week I'm going on vacation and I hope and pray this little bout of brainalysis is finished. Maybe I just need a few days of sun, fun, and good wine.
Wish me luck ...
~ Wylie
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Poetry, Songwriting, Getting Emotional
Where have I been - shame on me. I hate it when my fave blog sites remain unchanged for more than a week and I've just violated my own pet peeve. But here's the thing ...
I've been using my creative energy to write poetry. I used to do it quite a bit as a hobby (before my aspirations of becoming a writer). In fact, I have poems dating back to junior high, about the time when those hormones began to kick in! I posted a smattering of them on my website and I can see the childish rhyming of my earlier work develop into the mind-boggling symbolism in the more recent. It's a cathartic experience and I would urge any writer to use the medium to get in touch with their creative soul.
Segway into songwriting ...
What are song lyrics but poems with a chorus? I sent a song to Nashville Music Productions to see what they thought and they put 'Cold On Me' to music. It's a bit too "country" for me (think Tammy Wynette circa 1972) -- I had more Gretchen Wilson/Shania Twain country/pop in mind when I wrote the lyrics, but what the heck. It's got a catchy little chorus that I can't stop singing! It will now go on a compilation CD and get sent to market (fingers crossed).
And finally, a comment on writing ...
I'm currently working on an erotic/romantic short that was meant to be an exercise in dialogue (to hone my skills), of approximately 3000 words. WRONG! It's now 6000 words and I keep having to set it aside because I get all teary and emotional when I write. Is that normal? Lucy, my heroine, is unwed, pregnant and facing an uncertain future and when I write her scenes, I feel as though I'm channelling her. She's alone and terrified and I tear up whenever I try to describe what she's going through. I would love to know if other authors go through this. Not sure I'll be able to finish it!
For now,
~ Wylie
I've been using my creative energy to write poetry. I used to do it quite a bit as a hobby (before my aspirations of becoming a writer). In fact, I have poems dating back to junior high, about the time when those hormones began to kick in! I posted a smattering of them on my website and I can see the childish rhyming of my earlier work develop into the mind-boggling symbolism in the more recent. It's a cathartic experience and I would urge any writer to use the medium to get in touch with their creative soul.
Segway into songwriting ...
What are song lyrics but poems with a chorus? I sent a song to Nashville Music Productions to see what they thought and they put 'Cold On Me' to music. It's a bit too "country" for me (think Tammy Wynette circa 1972) -- I had more Gretchen Wilson/Shania Twain country/pop in mind when I wrote the lyrics, but what the heck. It's got a catchy little chorus that I can't stop singing! It will now go on a compilation CD and get sent to market (fingers crossed).
And finally, a comment on writing ...
I'm currently working on an erotic/romantic short that was meant to be an exercise in dialogue (to hone my skills), of approximately 3000 words. WRONG! It's now 6000 words and I keep having to set it aside because I get all teary and emotional when I write. Is that normal? Lucy, my heroine, is unwed, pregnant and facing an uncertain future and when I write her scenes, I feel as though I'm channelling her. She's alone and terrified and I tear up whenever I try to describe what she's going through. I would love to know if other authors go through this. Not sure I'll be able to finish it!
For now,
~ Wylie
Thursday, June 01, 2006
CONTEST - ENTER HERE
To celebrate the upcoming release of my short erotic ebook, Bella Fiore (Chippewa Publishing LLC), I'm holding a contest.
Prizes to be won -
a gift certificate for Chippewa Publishing, free copies of Bella Fiore, and an autographed copy of the Black Lace anthology Wicked Words 7, featuring a Wylie Kinson erotic short entitled Cavern in the Green.
Enter now! Go to www.wyliekinson.com
Must be 18 years or older to enter.
Good Luck!
Prizes to be won -
a gift certificate for Chippewa Publishing, free copies of Bella Fiore, and an autographed copy of the Black Lace anthology Wicked Words 7, featuring a Wylie Kinson erotic short entitled Cavern in the Green.
Enter now! Go to www.wyliekinson.com
Must be 18 years or older to enter.
Good Luck!
The Color of Passion, Book Reviews, no more T.V., The Big Bang Theory
The Color of Passion - the beast has grown! I typed 'final draft' (didn't learn my lesson, obviously) when the story reached 21,000 words. Then I stupidly (let me repeat, STUPIDLY!) sent off the first three chapters to an epublishing company. Two days later, I reviewed those same three chapters and almost died - one really obvious continuity issue and a glaring mistake (hair is coiffed, not a quaffed - duh!). WHY, WHY, WHY did I send the submission at two in the morning? WHY, WHY, WHY didn't I wait until morning, when my eyes weren't clouded over and I could reread it again? Because I am an idiot. And idiot with no patience, common sense or aptitude. Shame on me ...
Now I sit and await inevitable rejection.
Book Reviews - I found a really neat site while doing my 'blog' homework (Yes, I truly believe that searching for and reading interesting blogs will enrich my life - and help my own pathetic blog entries. BTW, my time is limited so I traded in housework for blog time. Ask my kids, if you can find them amongst the dust bunnies.) Anyway - I found this site written by a university student (Eng. Lit, I think) who enjoys romance/erotica and gives the funniest, scathing reviews I've ever had the pleasure to read. She is absolutely hilarious in her honesty. She even reviews the cover art. Her site is refreshingly non-pedantic! Check out http://www.dionnegalace.com/books/
NO MORE GOOD TV - part of me is glad, oh so glad, that the great t.v. programs have signed off for the season so I can finally get some work done. On the other hand (thank God we have two hands or life would be so one-sided!) I already miss rushing the kids to bed so I firmly plant my ass on the sofa in time for Lost, House, and Grey's Anatomy (oh Denny - I still miss you!). And with The Sopranos bailing out next week - I've no excuse to not peck away at my keyboard and produce a new book. Or, God forbid, do housework! It would be so easy to get caught up in the drivel they broadcast in the summertime - but I refuse pay homage to big brother's victims or the people who think they can dance. They really should put all reality programs (except for A.I.) on in the summertime only.
The Big Bang Theory - no, not that one. Not THAT one, either! The Big Bang Theory is the working title of my new book - destined to become a novel - (that's more than 60,000 words for those keeping track) about a friendship that turns into love. Sounds boring when put that way, but it'll be sweet, and sexy. I'm already 9,000 in so there's no trashing it now.
Keep reading,
~ Wylie~
Now I sit and await inevitable rejection.
Book Reviews - I found a really neat site while doing my 'blog' homework (Yes, I truly believe that searching for and reading interesting blogs will enrich my life - and help my own pathetic blog entries. BTW, my time is limited so I traded in housework for blog time. Ask my kids, if you can find them amongst the dust bunnies.) Anyway - I found this site written by a university student (Eng. Lit, I think) who enjoys romance/erotica and gives the funniest, scathing reviews I've ever had the pleasure to read. She is absolutely hilarious in her honesty. She even reviews the cover art. Her site is refreshingly non-pedantic! Check out http://www.dionnegalace.com/books/
NO MORE GOOD TV - part of me is glad, oh so glad, that the great t.v. programs have signed off for the season so I can finally get some work done. On the other hand (thank God we have two hands or life would be so one-sided!) I already miss rushing the kids to bed so I firmly plant my ass on the sofa in time for Lost, House, and Grey's Anatomy (oh Denny - I still miss you!). And with The Sopranos bailing out next week - I've no excuse to not peck away at my keyboard and produce a new book. Or, God forbid, do housework! It would be so easy to get caught up in the drivel they broadcast in the summertime - but I refuse pay homage to big brother's victims or the people who think they can dance. They really should put all reality programs (except for A.I.) on in the summertime only.
The Big Bang Theory - no, not that one. Not THAT one, either! The Big Bang Theory is the working title of my new book - destined to become a novel - (that's more than 60,000 words for those keeping track) about a friendship that turns into love. Sounds boring when put that way, but it'll be sweet, and sexy. I'm already 9,000 in so there's no trashing it now.
Keep reading,
~ Wylie~
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
House, DaVinci, and The Color of Passion
I love House. It's got some of the best writing in television. Witty, ascerbic, clever, intriguing... and whatever else the critics are saying, but I must confess, I was a little disappointed with the season finale. I mean - hallucinations? Really. That was so Bobby-Ewing's-dream. And what about the guy with the swollen tongue? Will we ever know what happened to him? (I am relieved, however, that the exploding testicles and the eyeball popping were just a bad dream).
The DaVinci Code. Saw the movie on opening night and enjoyed it. Full stop. No critique from me. There's been enough dissing of Tom, Ron, Audrey, Akiva, etc...
Oh, but I can't help myself! It was entertaining, it really really was. But Tom Hanks, whom I really really like, shouldn't have been cast in the role of Robert Langdon. He just didn't fit the bill and he acted tired. Hardly up for the action/adventure lead. But it was still entertaining!
I'm a bit gauled that the critics are ranting about all of the exposition and backstory. Did they read the book?? The entire novel was one big art history/religion lecture! There were so many historical references the audience needed to know in order for the plot to work. Sheesh! Poor Ron Howard stuck to the book (lest he be stoned to death by 50,000,000 readers) and is being slaughtered for it.
Oh hell, in the end all involved will earn themselves scads of money, but they won't have a statuette on their mantlepieces next March. Boo hoo.
Entertainment news is reporting that Akiva Goldsmith was just given the go-ahead to write the screenplay for Angels & Demons and Ron and Tom have signed on. Let's hope they'll learn from the few mistakes they made and produce an even better film. But I really enjoyed it.
Meanwhile, in my own writing life... 'The Color of Passion'. I'm in the process of finishing a novella. My first! 'The Color of Passion' began as a short story, approximately 5,000 words. During the final draft, I decided that my two main characters needed more chemistry, more 'screen time' so to speak, to development a better relationship before they jumped into hot monkey sex. That brought the story up to 8,000 words. I challenged myself to stretch it to 10,000 words, (a novella by Chippewa Publishing standards) by enriching the dialogue and adding more description. I succeeded in that goal, yet while going over that 'final' draft, I felt there was still more to be said. Could I push it to 15,000 words by adding a new plot twist?
(blah, blah, blah... cut to present) Copious scribbles over fourth 'final' draft and I've just passed 17,000 words. Am I enriching or ruining it now? Oh, probably the latter! I had to rewrite the opening chapter three times as it became convoluted and messy. I'm stuck in the 'just-one-more-scene' cycle!! Oh, what to do? Keep writing...
And if I DON'T manage to sell it, it's been a great learning experience (she says with crushed heart and bad case of carpel tunnel syndrome). I've learned a lot about dialogue, pacing and why I should never title anything 'final'. Draft #1, Draft #8, Draft #36, ok, but never final draft!
~Wylie~
The DaVinci Code. Saw the movie on opening night and enjoyed it. Full stop. No critique from me. There's been enough dissing of Tom, Ron, Audrey, Akiva, etc...
Oh, but I can't help myself! It was entertaining, it really really was. But Tom Hanks, whom I really really like, shouldn't have been cast in the role of Robert Langdon. He just didn't fit the bill and he acted tired. Hardly up for the action/adventure lead. But it was still entertaining!
I'm a bit gauled that the critics are ranting about all of the exposition and backstory. Did they read the book?? The entire novel was one big art history/religion lecture! There were so many historical references the audience needed to know in order for the plot to work. Sheesh! Poor Ron Howard stuck to the book (lest he be stoned to death by 50,000,000 readers) and is being slaughtered for it.
Oh hell, in the end all involved will earn themselves scads of money, but they won't have a statuette on their mantlepieces next March. Boo hoo.
Entertainment news is reporting that Akiva Goldsmith was just given the go-ahead to write the screenplay for Angels & Demons and Ron and Tom have signed on. Let's hope they'll learn from the few mistakes they made and produce an even better film. But I really enjoyed it.
Meanwhile, in my own writing life... 'The Color of Passion'. I'm in the process of finishing a novella. My first! 'The Color of Passion' began as a short story, approximately 5,000 words. During the final draft, I decided that my two main characters needed more chemistry, more 'screen time' so to speak, to development a better relationship before they jumped into hot monkey sex. That brought the story up to 8,000 words. I challenged myself to stretch it to 10,000 words, (a novella by Chippewa Publishing standards) by enriching the dialogue and adding more description. I succeeded in that goal, yet while going over that 'final' draft, I felt there was still more to be said. Could I push it to 15,000 words by adding a new plot twist?
(blah, blah, blah... cut to present) Copious scribbles over fourth 'final' draft and I've just passed 17,000 words. Am I enriching or ruining it now? Oh, probably the latter! I had to rewrite the opening chapter three times as it became convoluted and messy. I'm stuck in the 'just-one-more-scene' cycle!! Oh, what to do? Keep writing...
And if I DON'T manage to sell it, it's been a great learning experience (she says with crushed heart and bad case of carpel tunnel syndrome). I've learned a lot about dialogue, pacing and why I should never title anything 'final'. Draft #1, Draft #8, Draft #36, ok, but never final draft!
~Wylie~
Friday, May 19, 2006
Still no answer to the question...
The past two days had me doing very little writing and LOTS of blog reading in my quest to answer the nagging question, "Why blog?"
I found some terrific blogs devoted to celebrity shananigans (poor Britney almost DROPPED her baby! The Brangelina babe is due ANY MINUTE! And whoever Brandon Davis is, he said some nasty things about poor, skinny Lindsay), very useful blogs with writing tips, book review blogs, sex blogs, even superhero blogs. But I'm still not sure why I need to blog.
I think what I need is a topic of my own. Shall I review a book a week? Opine about fave t.v. shows? Celebrate music, share my family life with 2 little boys, discuss the merits of owning a cat vs a dog? I'll think about it,...
In the meantime, my short story "Bella Fiore" is coming soon from Chippewa Publishing. I'll be running a contest on my website (www.wyliekinson.com) beginning next Monday, leading up to the July 28th release date. Check it out!
You can also read my erotic short, "Cavern on the Green" in the Wicked Words 7 anthology by Black Lace Publishing, available thru amazon.com and virginbooks.com
Until next time, keep reading!
~ Wylie ~
I found some terrific blogs devoted to celebrity shananigans (poor Britney almost DROPPED her baby! The Brangelina babe is due ANY MINUTE! And whoever Brandon Davis is, he said some nasty things about poor, skinny Lindsay), very useful blogs with writing tips, book review blogs, sex blogs, even superhero blogs. But I'm still not sure why I need to blog.
I think what I need is a topic of my own. Shall I review a book a week? Opine about fave t.v. shows? Celebrate music, share my family life with 2 little boys, discuss the merits of owning a cat vs a dog? I'll think about it,...
In the meantime, my short story "Bella Fiore" is coming soon from Chippewa Publishing. I'll be running a contest on my website (www.wyliekinson.com) beginning next Monday, leading up to the July 28th release date. Check it out!
You can also read my erotic short, "Cavern on the Green" in the Wicked Words 7 anthology by Black Lace Publishing, available thru amazon.com and virginbooks.com
Until next time, keep reading!
~ Wylie ~
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Why Blog?
Everyone says I need a blog. My friends, my publisher, other writers, but I just don't get it! I'm a struggling writer who's trying to turn my inner dialogue into wonderfully rich characters and compelling plot. Why would I give it away for free? I feel like I'm wasting words, no?
On the other hand, this is good practise (or is that practice?) - this stream of consiousness writing. And I do have a lot to say. LOTS of opinions...
What if I get carried away with political rants? Will that hurt future book sales? (Look what happened to Rosie!)
What if too much of my personality comes through and my readers don't like me?
Can I keep up a mysterious personality and blog? Isn't blogging really just blabbing? And once put down on paper, or in this case online, you can NEVER TAKE IT BACK. That's a big responsibility.
What if the Bush Administration is listening to blogs too???? What if I write a story about someone who is a... shhhh.... terr*r1sT (of course he'd have to be hot and willing to have sex with my heroine) Will the pentagon start watching me?
What if I can't commit to this? Nothing is worse than checking in with one of your fave blogs just to find out that they haven't posted in weeks. You feel so let down, so ignored. Left out in the cold.
I just don't know if I want to let people down that way. I take a lot of vacations. You may not hear from me in days, weeks, months even.
Have I come across as a bit insecure? A bit neurotic.
OH oh! See what I mean? You hate me already.
Please come back. I promise to write something pretty tomorrow.
- Wylie
PS - Does spelling count? What if my favorite English teacher reads this and is embarrassed by the grammatical errors (hi Mrs. Brown!). She'd be banned from the staff room!
On the other hand, this is good practise (or is that practice?) - this stream of consiousness writing. And I do have a lot to say. LOTS of opinions...
What if I get carried away with political rants? Will that hurt future book sales? (Look what happened to Rosie!)
What if too much of my personality comes through and my readers don't like me?
Can I keep up a mysterious personality and blog? Isn't blogging really just blabbing? And once put down on paper, or in this case online, you can NEVER TAKE IT BACK. That's a big responsibility.
What if the Bush Administration is listening to blogs too???? What if I write a story about someone who is a... shhhh.... terr*r1sT (of course he'd have to be hot and willing to have sex with my heroine) Will the pentagon start watching me?
What if I can't commit to this? Nothing is worse than checking in with one of your fave blogs just to find out that they haven't posted in weeks. You feel so let down, so ignored. Left out in the cold.
I just don't know if I want to let people down that way. I take a lot of vacations. You may not hear from me in days, weeks, months even.
Have I come across as a bit insecure? A bit neurotic.
OH oh! See what I mean? You hate me already.
Please come back. I promise to write something pretty tomorrow.
- Wylie
PS - Does spelling count? What if my favorite English teacher reads this and is embarrassed by the grammatical errors (hi Mrs. Brown!). She'd be banned from the staff room!
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