Happy Fourth!

To all my American readers, have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy editor

http://bit.ly/DeniseBarkerBlog

http://bit.ly/AMAZONDeniseBarkerEbooks

http://bit.ly/BNDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/SMASHWORDSDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/KOBODeniseBarkerEBooks

How Long Are Your Chapters? And How Many Scenes Make a NaNo Novel?

I'm considering NaNo again this year. Last year I listed thirty-nine scene ideas on one sheet of paper (using both sides) which I used as a jumping-off spot to write my 50K WC novel. Some items morphed into others and only a handful didn't get used at all.

Not bad for someone who had no clue as of October 25, 2011 about what to write come November 1.

Fast forward another year. I'm again wondering what my new tale will be. Which is a separate task, on a more creative level. I plan to brainstorm and mind map my way through that.

But purely from a plotting purview, by a pantster no less, it got me to thinking. How many scenes do I need to reach the magical NaNo mark? So I decided to get some quick stats from my own creations.

First, I checked out how long my chapters were, on average, in my published fiction, one novel and one short story.

Eerily enough, both have chapters that average twelve double-spaced pages.

I find that fascinating.

This is hardwired in me. I didn't learn this.

I discovered it. Just today. Not an hour ago.

And I don't try to make all my chapters "even." I normally break text so it ends on a good hook or at a nice place in the action, not because it is twenty pages later. Now if it happens again on the next page, then I compare the two proposed endings and move my chapter ending to the one I deem "best."

So while I wouldn't create a single-page chapter, I don't usually worry about the length of one unless it falls in the extremely short or long category compared to the rest.

What about scenes? you may ask. That was the second thing I tracked. I found two per short story chapter, whereas I had four per novel chapter.

Which in NaNo-speak means I will need approximately eighty scenes to complete a 50K WC novel.

Good. That gives me something concrete to work toward as I outline this year's NaNo project. If I participate online, that is.

I still need the idea for the story . . . .

Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy editor

http://bit.ly/DeniseBarkerBlog

http://bit.ly/AMAZONDeniseBarkerEbooks

http://bit.ly/BNDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/SMASHWORDSDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/KOBODeniseBarkerEBooks

Plotting Tips by Holly Lisle

I enjoy Holly Lisle's own website at HollyLisle.com which I visit routinely. If you are more interested in her teaching module, check out HowToThinkSideways.com.

She gave an interview at another venue which I read and found useful. You may too, at Joe Bunting's portal: http://thewritepractice.com or the direct link here: http://thewritepractice.com/holly-lisle/ to the article entitled "How to Avoid Distractions and Create a Career in Fiction: Interview with Holly Lisle."

I particularly enjoyed where she spoke about the number of scenes needed for a book. To me, this is more about math and less about plotting. Which makes me smile. 

Denise Barker, author + blogger + copy editor

http://bit.ly/DeniseBarkerBlog

http://bit.ly/AMAZONDeniseBarkerEbooks

http://bit.ly/BNDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/SMASHWORDSDeniseBarkerEBooks

http://bit.ly/KOBODeniseBarkerEBooks

Happiness

Happiness. We all seek it. It is written into our Declaration of Independence. And my heart just melts--no matter how often I watch the movie--when Hub asks Walter in the cornfield if he is happy (Secondhand Lions, 2003).

I started reading a great article just this week about happiness and the writer had me with his premise in the opening paragraph.  Then I was interrupted, otherwise distracted, and have yet to finish it. (Note to self:  find, read in full.)

But the gist of it was this: Better to focus on what we find interesting.

I agree.

Foremost because it personalizes the term. Thereafter because happiness is ephemeral and ethereal. Undefined as to our ever-changing particulars.

As authors and as individuals with goals to attain, we need to use concrete nouns. "Car" will not place in your reader's mind or your own garage either Mooch's yellow Corvette or Stephanie's repoed red Miata from One for the Money.

Be clear.

An abstract like "happiness" you cannot hold in your hand. But "read fifty classics this year" is not only a time limit (encouraged in goal setting), but also contains the measurable element, which is the indicator of success. You either hit the mark of fifty or you didn't.  Kinda harsh, for I believe reading forty-nine would still count. For that matter, reading one classic is always a good step forward.

I love this comment made by someone long ago that goes something like this: "Don't ask for more money. Here's a nickel. Done. You have more money."  Sometimes the example of what you do not want is more effective than an sampling of how to get what you seek. Odd how that works.

Remember also happiness's mutability. Today it might entail "money for all my bills." Tomorrow it might be "want an aspirin and want it now!" Another week, "I want to be married," followed later by "I want a divorce." See?  Changes.

As we grow and evolve, so do our likes, our hobbies, how we spend our time. So should our happiness factor.

And I heartily believe we should all seek more happiness in our lives. It is one of our inalienable rights.

Start exercising yours this instant.

~ ~ ~ ~

If you enjoyed this post, you may find these to your liking, too:

Further inspiration for all who have dreams to live:

• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/06/intrinsic-value.html 
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-favorite-career-quote.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/notes-from-universe-movie.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/those-what-i-did-over-summer-school.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/wealth.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/define-who-you-are.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/success-what-does-it-mean-to-you.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/06/three-bullies-worry-self-doubt-and-fear.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2011/05/at-heart-of-it-all.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/02/like-you-are-on-vacation.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/authors-need-some-inspiration.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/take-job-that-fills-your-heart-not-your.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-love-yourself.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/04/so-dont-quit-today.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/04/you-are-your-greatest-asset.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/04/two-life-altering-quotations.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/05/face-your-fears.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/05/neil-gaiman-commencement-speech.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/07/great-two-and-half-minute-video-re.html
• http://livingthedreampublishing.blogspot.com/2012/07/life-is-short-live-it-full-out.html

Denise Barker, author + blogger +

Freelance Copy Editor, http://bit.ly/freelanceCE

Good Ole Boys, a love story at http://amzn.to/GoodOleBoys

http://bit.ly/BNGoodOleBoys

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/168444 (Good Ole Boys)

http://amzn.to/CopyeditingChecklist

http://amzn.to/WordsRuleTheWorldQuotes

http://amzn.to/BeforeYouIndiePublish

http://amzn.to/QuitYourCurrentDayJob
http://amzn.to/HowToIndiePublish

http://bit.ly/DownSouthaShortStory

DOWN SOUTH, a short story of romance and suspense

My short story, Down South, its tagline "Home is a feeling, not a place," is alive and well on Amazon, B&N and Smashwords--soon to be at Kobo. At about fifty pages long, my little $0.99 tale will amuse you for sixty minutes or so--whereas most movies nowadays are only ninety minutes long and the early-bird moviegoer's fare is $5.00--five times more than the cost of my e-book and lasts almost as long.  Plus you can read in the comfort of your home at your timing. And reread, if you so desire.

Don't get me wrong. I love watching movies in theaters. And one day, hopefully soon, I'll reward myself for all my hard work paying off by resuming that weekly treat. Just not yet.

This week I'm celebrating a great big thumbs-up to overcoming procrastination.  This short story, under various working titles, was birthed on paper eleven or so years ago.

ELEVEN years it nagged me to spend some time with it, finesse it, groom it.

Which I did, some hours being more fruitful than others.  Still, on the Fourth of July, this year, magic hit.  In the same eight hours some people would spend in a cubicle, I smoothed my short story--at home--into its presentable online version. On a national holiday even.

Yes, timing counts.  But I think my prior efforts were still much-needed stepping stones to lead me to that perfect timing on the Fourth.

Lately various events have motivated me.  Nora Ephron's death. The John Assaraf Procrastination video (see post below). The stark realization that I left my short story in limbo for over a decade.

So, now I have two other "finished" novels--one category, one mainstream.  The first 23 chapters and 285 pages.  The second 35 chapters and 392 pages.

But averaging basically short chapters of around ten pages each.

After today (it is sort of a day off), I plan to spend an hour or two Final Editing one chapter a day.  With no glitches, both books would be finished in fifty-eight days.  But then there are covers to consider and create.  Formatting, uploading. And life. And glitches.  So I'll be happy to have these two projects live online in three months. Or four.

Granted, with my short story, I needed the Internet and Amazon/B&N/Smashwords etc. and Indie publishing to all meet. And there is nothing wrong with having a backlist of already written fiction.  But I did need to tweak my ratio of "finished" to "published."

I'm happy to report I am handling that better now.

As always, take what resonates, toss the rest and keep on writing!

Denise Barker, author + blogger +

Freelance Copy Editor, http://bit.ly/freelanceCE

Good Ole Boys, a love story at http://amzn.to/GoodOleBoys

http://bit.ly/BNGoodOleBoys

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/168444 (Good Ole Boys)

http://amzn.to/CopyeditingChecklist

http://amzn.to/WordsRuleTheWorldQuotes

http://amzn.to/BeforeYouIndiePublish

http://amzn.to/QuitYourCurrentDayJob
http://amzn.to/HowToIndiePublish

http://bit.ly/DownSouthaShortStory

Life is Short; Live It Full-Out

There are so many quotes that support going for your dreams. Here are just a few: 

• Your wealth is hiding under the very thing you are afraid to do. Dr. Joe Vitale, motivational author and speaker
• Trust your crazy ideas.  Dan Zadra
• Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.  H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
• Procrastination is attitude's natural assassin. There's nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task. William James
• A year from now you will wish you had started today. Karen Lamb
• If prayer is when we speak to God, then intuition is when God speaks to us. Wayne Dyer
• Don’t ask yourself what the world needs—ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who come alive.  Harold Thurman Whitman, philospher and theologian
• Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.  Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Nothing is more important than reconnecting with your bliss. Nothing is as rich. Nothing is more real. Deepak Chopra, mind-body healing authority
• Do not live your life by default, failing to decide and letting others choose.  Denise Barker
• My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother. Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994), Olympic Gold Medalist
• Drop the wrong thought and you lose the problem it creates. Vernon Howard 
• Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here. Marianne Williamson, spiritual activist, author, lecturer
• The energy of the mind is the essence of life. Aristotle
• When you make a choice, you change the future. Deepak Chopra, mind-body healing authority
• Most people are not going after what they want. Even some of the most serious goal seekers and goal setters - they're going after what they think they can get. Bob Proctor, author, speaker
• Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to; all they need is one reason why they can. Willis Whitney
• Be who you are and be that well. Saint Francis de Sales
• It's easy to avoid the things that frighten us if we wander around for a while. Stalling takes many forms, and one of them looks like a shortcut. Things that look like shortcuts are actually detours (disguised as less work).  Seth Godin
• All great changes are preceded by chaos. Deepak Chopra
• Adversity introduces a man to himself. Anonymous
• Is your house organized?  Your car?  Your office?  Your purse or wallet?  One’s personal space is a reflection of their mind. Mary Morrissey
• Encourage your children to express their enthusiasm and delight. Let them believe the world is full of wonderful things and they themselves full of splendid possibilities. They can learn self-repression in later years, but enthusiasm, once lost, can be lost forever. Bruce Barton
• Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now. Goethe
• The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat. Lily Tomlin

Yes, we need to make a living. But stop and consider: Could you be happier and still pay your bills on minimum wage? Less stress. If a guy, no tie. If a gal, no pantyhose. Short commute. (Go green!) Save on gas and gain more time to put toward fulfilling a heart-spun goal that benefits your mind, body and soul.

To some, their dreams are worth working sixty-hour weeks for a couple years to begin their dream during their "off hours" and, thereafter, have the full freedom of self-employment.

Maybe for others, it entails a roommate or moving back in with the folks.  Giving up a second car and using the one for a decade.

Brown-bagging it for lunch. Crock-Pot cooking that morning to negate the drive-thru habit that evening.

Sometimes the biggest boon to your life is what you do for free.

And are willing to do so for years, until the right audience for you locates you and your gift.

But your payday will come.

Don't believe me?  Check your Bible.  Proverbs 18:16 (KJV) - A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

For me, it is my creative career, my writing, copyediting. I get small royalty checks pretty much monthly, while my freelancing pays most of the bills. As more of my readers find me, I expect earnings from the royalties to exceed freelance earnings.

And now that I've made the blissful leap, I cannot fathom living any other way.

 

Denise Barker, author + blogger +

Freelance Copy Editor, http://bit.ly/freelanceCE

Good Ole Boys, a love story at http://amzn.to/GoodOleBoys

http://bit.ly/BNGoodOleBoys

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/168444 (Good Ole Boys)

http://amzn.to/CopyeditingChecklist

http://amzn.to/WordsRuleTheWorldQuotes

http://amzn.to/BeforeYouIndiePublish

http://amzn.to/QuitYourCurrentDayJob
http://amzn.to/HowToIndiePublish

http://bit.ly/DownSouthaShortStory