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Books, Bards, and Babies

Just a quick update since I haven't blogged in a few days.

I started reading "The Emerald Tablet" by PJ Hoover. My first thoughts? Fun, fun, fun! I love the world and characters so far.

I received my edition of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" FINALLY! Yeesh. I should have just bought it at a local store on its release day. I didn't realize shipping would take so long. The Other came home yesterday to find me snuggling it on the couch and admiring its cover. I haven't let myself start reading it yet though. I've decided to save it for a day I'm feeling especially down and tired, which probably means tomorrow since I'm getting to be SO done with being pregnant.

The humongous full moon we just had? Yea, I had my hopes... but no gravitational-pull water breakage happening over here. Guess it's just a wives tale after all. *Pout*

My outline? Going slooooow. Now that I'm into the nitty gritty of the plot I'm spending a lot more time on trying to figure out little details. I have an impressive list of questions going about my world, plot, and characters. Do you outliners really take the time to answer ALL of these questions before writing? It seems like it would be the best thing to do, seeing as I could then incorporate said knowledge into the novel as I go, but it just seems soo daunting.

I did pull out my copy of "Plot and Structure: (Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers From Start To Finish)" by James Scott Bell. I forgot how much I LOVE and value this book. The chapter on structure really helped me figure out my "second doorway of no return." I highly, highly recommend this book as well as "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukeman, which I always have floating around the house to reference at any moment.

That's it for me today. I'm looking forward to getting out and doing some Christmas shopping. I just have one person left to buy for. Yay! And who knows, maybe the moon still has something in store for me.

Hey, an uncomfortable pregnant woman can wish, right?

7 comments:

Jill Wheeler said...

Funny you should mention "The First Five Pages." I've been rereading that as well. Great book.

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

First - give yourself a break. when woman are opregnanct - most of their energy and blood flow goes to baby. I cant imagine tryingt o outline when I was in last couple montsh of baby. When are you due? do you know what you r having? what a great xmas? :) I try to write with outline open and log any questions that I may have in chapter outline in red to keep track of them. I dont answer them all before i write.
shelli
http://www.faeriality.blogspot.com/

PJ Hoover said...

First off - THANK YOU! So glad you're liking The Emerald Tablet!

Secondly, on outlining, when I am working on a project I'm heavy on outlining, I do force myself to work through the sheets. Yes, it's a struggle, but almost invariably it pays off.

Have fun with this last bit of the pregnancy!

Casey Something said...

I'm due on the 30th Shelli. I have about 2 1/2 weeks until I'm actually "due" but I'm ready! It's a boy. I feel so blessed that I'll have one of each. That's just what I wanted.

I'm just hoping he doesn't arrive ON Christmas. I would hate for his birthday to be shadowed by it and I'd prefer not to be in the hospital then, too.

Anywho, thanks for the well wishes and outline comments everyone!

Heather Hansen said...

How's Beedle Bard?

Okay... I'm alive now. I'll be back in the saddle for Word Count Wed next week. just about the time you pop and leave us. LOL

What are you outlining? Is it a YA?

Casey Something said...

Are you still in a funk Heather? Hope your new novel is going well.

The new one I'm outlining is an upper MG (tween?) this time. I wanted to write something in third person again and I had a MG fantasy idea brewing in the brain. I'm having fun with the outline so far but I have a ton of unanswered questions I need to figure out!

Hope things are going okay with you and the family!

corey schwartz said...

Oh, God! I know the feeling. I could not wait to get my kids OUT! Especially my daughter. I insisted on being induced on my due date because I could not bear to go even one day over!