The Inspiration of Two

First off, I would like to say a big thanks to those readers who have emailed me recently saying how much you liked the blog (though it has been quiet here lately). It has been really encouraging and, as you can see, has succeeded in getting me back in the bloggers seat. So THANKS!

My health has been up and down over the last few months which has markedly slowed the progress of Mercy Me. I am making progress though. I have now mapped the last half of the novel giving me a definite direction or plotted path to follow which should help things move ahead fairly quickly once I get back into it.

I'm so loving writing Mercy Me and I can't wait to get back into it, but assignments and health issues are seriously cramping my style. It's hugely frustrating.

So far feed back on the Steampunk novel is really encouraging. While I haven't actually been writing the novel my Muse has been busy at work, shaping the plot and build scenes in my head. I've mapped out the final half of the novel and I'm excited to announce that I just have to write the thing now. But of course, that's the hard part!

My Muse has also been dabbling with issues in my YA fantasy novel. I'm seriously contemplating breaking down the planned plots of the first two books and putting them together in one brilliant stand alone novel. It looks wonderful in my head, hopefully it'll be just as great on paper.

I'm making notes of my ideas and the strongest short scenes I have so I can free up some creative room in my head. After my initial attack on the Tremorgan's story (the YA fantasy I wrote last year), I'm determined not to touch until I've finished Mercy's (steampunk novel), but at the way things are going resisting the temptation to dabble may take more self control than I possess!

So that is where I'm at. My head is buzzing with ideas and story lines. Now I just need to find the time to write!! Anyone have a gadget to slow time???

Considering an E-venture

It's been ages since I have blogged here, or at least it feels like ages ago.

As I have slowly recovered from my surgery I've been picking up the pace with my writing related activities. I won't just say writing, because I don't know if I have done all that much actual writing.

My friend Sue (aka JT Webster) and I lead our first meeting as the new President and Secretary of the Dunedin Writer's Workshop this month. We've both been attending there for close to three years and it was interesting to sit on the other side of the bench. The feedback we had was positive at any rate.

It took me this long, but I think I've finally cottoned on to the fact that when people tell you to write what you love it's a big, fat LIE!

I mean, sure go ahead and write what you like if what you love and write are exactly what publishers are looking for, otherwise you're more or less just writing for yourself and your friends (if they like it too). However, if what you REALLY want is to be published you'd better love and write the kind of novel a publisher wants to publish.

I spent almost 15 months working on my YA fantasy only to finally figure out that it is too much like the old school fantasy which is 'so last year'. I wrote it because I love this sort of story. The feed back I got on it was good, people loved it, but that isn't enough. In it's present form it's not what publishers are publishing right now.

So I figured I'd got two choices.

1) Stuff it in a drawer and wait until high fantasy is cool again
or
2) re-write it

My choice? I decided to re-write.

I started working on it two days ago. I've tweaked the first two chapters, re-written the fourth and totally scrapped about eight. More will join the heap I'm sure. The middle will be tweaked, but it will more or less remain as is (that's the plan at this stage), while the end will be expanded and added on to.

The result? A different sort of fantasy novel, one I'm hoping will be more 'the thing' and one publishers will want to publish.

I've also decided to focus on making the book a lot more self contained rather than it having to be a trilogy.

In addition to working on this, I'm still writing my Steampunk story. I'm enjoying writing it, even if it's progressing in fits and starts.

I'm also working on an anthology of short stories set in the 1930-50's and I've had good feed back on those compiled so far. (Isn't the photo above just charming? Hat tip to Michele Dyson)

I'm also seriously considering an E-venture - an adventure in e-publishing!

This is not something I ever thought I'd do, but recently the opportunity has come up. It's a children's story in the tone of a medieval fairytale. A wonderful graphic designer who worked at Weta will create the cover art and illustrations. I'm really excited about this publishing adventure and the possibility that it might lead to other similar - or bigger - publishing opportunities.

So there's lots going on in my little writing corner of the world. How are about you? What adventures of the literary kind are you embarking on?

Steampunk Secrets

I've had a few days off, doing assignments and other stuff. It is amazing how much simply having the holidays start (even though it is still only the first weekend) can disrupt the usual rhythms and routines of life.

I've been picking away at the Steampunk MS today and have added another thousand words.

The scene is set now. I've introduced all the family members and built up the sense of mystery around this secretive family.

Now Mercy must undergo a Test. Will she pass?
How can she pass if she doesn't know what she is being tested FOR?
And if she does what then?
What is her father working on and why is it a secret?
Why is there so much mystery surrounding her family and why won't anyone tell her what it is all about until AFTERWARDS?
And who's side is The Duchess on anyway?

Can you tell I'm having fun with this...?

In other news:
I placed Second in a local writing competion and received two Highly Compendeds as well.
At our most recent meeting of the Dunedin Writer's Workshop I was nominated and voted into the position of Secretary. Yay!

Clockpunk meets Steampunk: Inspiration Abounds!!

Steampunk. Clockpunk. Clogpunk. Cogpunk. Oooo the inspiration!

I have started writing again.

I spent much of yesterday re-immersing myself in the world of my Steampunk novel, drawing up a family tree for the Von Lovenstein family and writing short profiles for the main characters. I'm having heaps of fun with the names and eccentric personalities of my characters.

I'm all inspired and really enjoying the freedom of the Clockpunk/Steampunk genre. Being able to add a dash of magic to my Victorianesque world is an added bonus.

The plot is slowly ironing itself out and taking on more shape as I get my head around the characters. I still haven't quite decided what form the mysterious contraption is going to take (the theft of which throws everything into choas) but I do know what plot points lead us to this point and - vaguely - what needs to happen to get it back.

I also been having fun Googling antique guns. I found a couple of wonderful specimens. The above is a genuine ring pistol. To the right is an antique blunderbuss. Aren't they great?!

I love, love, love writing!

Post Op Inspiration

I've had my operation and I'm slowly regaining my strength, though given the nasty twinges in my side I might have over done things over the last few days. Naughty me! So I'm more or less keeping to my comfy chair today and it seemed the perfect opportunity to blog again.

My muse has crawled out of whatever corner he's been hiding in while I was feeling rotten. He's back, sporting a waistcoat, cravat and a top hat at a jaunty angle. He leans on his dragonheaded cane. Every so often takes out his sliver pocket watch, flicks the lid with a kidskin encased finger and raises an eyebrow in my direction. His expression clearly says "haven't you started writing yet?"

No, I haven't but I will ... very soon.

I'm feeling all inspired. My hubby makes music and has been working on a piece for a Steampunk movie. The piece he has put together is great. Listening to it over and over got my creative juices flowing again.

Did you know there is a sub genre of Steampunk called Clockpunk? I didn't, but it totally fits with my story Mercy Me. The novel is Steampunk with a lot of windup gearwork etc and is a more Gothic or Regency-esk rather than Steampunk's traditional Victorian type setting. I guess I want the best of both worlds. :D And now that I know Clockpunk exists I feel like I can legitimately go where the winds of inspiration take me.

I spent some time this morning trolling the internet looking at Clockpunk images and feeding the muse with ideas. I'm very excited, inspired and looking forward to getting back to writing some more of Mercy's story.

Steampunk New Zealand!!

If you are an avid fan of Steampunk - or simply curious - and you happen to be kicking your heels somewhere in the Southern Island of New Zealand you might like to take a gander in the direction of Oamaru.

This weekend sees the official opening of the first ever New Zealand Steampunk Exhibition. Oamaru is world famous in New Zealand for their annual celebrations of all things Victorian making them the perfect place to host this exhibition.

For more info you can check out their website at http://www.steampunknz.co.nz/

Apply Bum Glue HERE

Only three days until the official start of NaNoWriMo, Novemeber 1st. I had a fairly good sleep last night and after all of yesterday's visual inspiration I'm itching to get writing.

My plan for today is (aside from the odd foray into housework) to glue my bum to the chair and get working - planning, plotting and designing - to my heart's content in readiness for Monday morning.

Things I need to work on:

• Character list
• Plot outline (filling in the story arch as best I can)
• Evamere's Culture and History
• Gadgets!!!

I might also dig out a few movies over the weekend to add a little more fuel to the fire. Sherlock Holmes will be at the top of the list. I might also re-watch Van Helsing, Around the world in Eighty Days and a couple of Jules Verne's movies.

I'm open to any suggestions of Steampunk/Victorian-esk films to watch. Ideas anyone?

Update: I have to confess I got a just a tinsy bit distracted after writing this and went off on a tangent hunting up Steampunk-esk movies to curl up and watch.

After a few recommendations from friends I trotted down to my local video store and have returned with a tidy stack which should give me lots of hours of fun viewing this weekend.

I brought a copy of Sherlock Holmes (something I'd been promising myself for a while) and rented a few others. Steamboy, an anime film. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The Prestige, which was on TV recently but I missed it. The Rocketeer, which isn't technically Steampunk but comes highly recommended and is gadgety enough for me to give it a whirl.

With these under my belt I'm good to start. But any other suggestions are more than welcome!

Finding NaNo Inspiration

I had hoped to get back into blogging a bit more quickly than I have done. However life has conspired against me and this illness has knocked me far more than I had anticipated. I haven't had much chance to do any reading or writing since getting out of hospital. To be honest I'm struggling just to get through each day.

I had hoped with NaNo just days away that I'd be a lot more organised and plot prepared than I am. As it stands though I have the first 5 or 6 chapters pretty clearly in my head, after that things degenerate into pretty misty details. Ah, the joys of writing...

A couple of my Mad Scribbler friends have decided to join me in my crazed leap into NaNo this year - a first for all of us - and I'm really excited to have them along for the ride. One of them, JT Webster, has plotted out each and every scene she plans to write! I must admit when faced with my plot-haze I'm just a little jealous of her.

On the plus side I've been having a lot of fun trolling through Google images looking for inspiration. Victorian fashion. Steampunk gadgets. Gothic architecture. All these things and more are teasing my imagination and giving my muse fits of excitement. Here are a few of the pictures that inspired me today.


I'm dreaming up amazing gadgets for my steampunk-come-secret agent characters to play with and weird and wonderful creations for the Professor to invent. In the gothic-steampunk world of Evamere just about anything could be possible.