Here is a pic of my plot wall, sadly it needs to be rotated left to right but you can do that at twitpic.

Note:

Don’t forget there is still time to nominate TaleChasing for Writer’s Digest Online‘s 2010 list  of “101 Best Writing Blogs”. Just sent mail to writersdigest@fwmedia.com with “101 Websites” in the subject line (deadline is Jan. 1, 2010). Who knows they may even expand the categories to include “Best Podcasting Writers Website” and you can make it happen. If you’ve enjoyed my articles and podcasts on writing and urban fantasy, please take a second and nominate me! I promise to love you forever for it!

Promo: Digital Magic

Luna writes non-fiction-kink based work. We do not discuss kink in depth so this is a work safe podcast.

Some important links mentioned:

Luna’s Website
Holly Lisle’s Motivational Course
Blocks – Ebook and Visualization Mp3′s
Tom Evans

There are even a few questions in there for you to answer as well as some good books you might want to pick up. Enjoy!

We’re trying something a little new. Since some of you don’t read the blog I am reading some of the more important posts to you in my cast. You are free to skip over them but keep in mind I may add a little bit or answer questions posed in the blog so it might not be exactly the same.

We’ll have a promo from JC Hutchins and his new book coming out – Personal Effects: Dark Art

And in the second half we have a snipped version of accomplishments vs new years resolutions.

Check it out!

I am standing with 8k words in my hands, wondering if it’s good enough. This is no doubt, not an uncommon process or issue for writers. So let me tell you about how I got here.

I sent out my first chapter to about 5 people. I figured that since I’m happily on the 5th Chapter and I still wish to get earlier chapters podcast it was about time in the process to do a final edit and get it out to the voice actors. Hence the need for a few beta readers.

Each person I sent it to had some issues with my first chapter. One person in particular helped me see that I was showing the opposite of what I’d intended with my main character. This left a hearty but not impossible re-write. InkGypsy, who’s become a big supporter and very helpful, calmed some of the stress. No, I didn’t need to trash it and start all over. Yes, it could be fixed with a bit of change here and there. It was all going to be ok.

So for the last week or two I’ve been mulling over how to fix Chapter 1. Then upon talking with someone else, I realize….we might not be getting into the action soon enough. There might not be enough uf in my first chapter. Suddenly everything I have written looks extraneous and do I need to cut out large chunks of what I’ve written or do I keep it and some small change can keep it salvagable? *sounds of screams and much head holding*

My thought is…if I cut out a large amount of what I’ve written to make things happen faster….isn’t that just making a book into a short story? I want to avoid doing that. It’s a novel I’m writing not a 5k word short.

Sadly, there is no resolution to my questions yet. This post is about my process and I haven’t found the answer yet. But I felt it was good to get this out here as I’m sure there are a few others of you right now holding your heads and sighing. We aren’t lost. We’ll discover the way out.

I do however, want to leave you with a few good links I’ve found:
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 1 – Stacia Kane
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 2 – Stacia Kane
A Novel in Three Acts Pt 3 – Stacia Kane
The Fear of Writing
Holly Lisle’s Think Sideways Course

Please send an mp3 file to kimi@talechasing.com named: Ben_yourname_audition.mp3

Ben: 30′s, confident, capable, use to getting his way, will be learning empathy over the course of the book so at first he won’t seem to understand the basic workings of humanity.

(bemused…curious…only very slightly smug for second sentence)
Line 1: I always wondered what went on in your head Reagan. Interesting that some areas are boxed specifically with my name on it.

(non-sympathetic…almost resigned…non-compromising)
Line 2: He’ll have to be sacrificed. It’s not an option to negotiate a trade.

(speaking softly as if trying not to be heard from someone near asleep…slightly surprised…almost tender)
Line 3: She’s truly amazing. Despite the reasons she has to give up on people, she still fights for them. Its…endearing.

I’m working on the next part of Guardians and still seeking a few voice actors for some characters coming up. Things are going well with Holly’s Ebook and I’m on track to deliver to her before DragonCon in TWO WEEKS!!

Things are going a little slow with the “Thinking Sideways” workshop from Holly Lisle. Partly because I’m dividing my time between projects and the class. Currently I’m trying to get in touch with my Muse, so if you see her please let her know I’m patiently waiting for her to drop back by. It’s very much worth the time and money. A lot of it is helpful for life, not just writing. So I’m really digging it. I’m also going to use it to refine Guardians.

I’m including my entry for Mur’s Stories from the Third Wave in prep for her release of Playing For Keeps on the 25th. This was the first full-cast Stories of the Third Wave.  Love Lines producer, editor, and concept created by Kimi Alexandre. All the participants created their own characters and their own lines for Love Lines.

* Dora Holly – Kimi Alexandre
* Jason Block – Jason Block
* Amora – Ivy Reisner
* Bruno – Chad Henderson
* Shelly – Paulette Jaxton
* Julie – Pamela Templin
* Kim – Comic Book Goddess

Love Lines – A story from the Third Wave

The good news is, I’ve slotted the parts for everyone in Chapter 1 and I’m getting them recorded this week. My weekend is so packed with a family movie of “The Happening”, a TESFEST meeting on Saturday, and Father’s Day on Sunday I may not make my imposed deadline of July 15th but we won’t be far off! I’m started to get SO excited! I hope you are as well.

So…keep your eyes and ears open and go and subscribe to Guardian’s so you are the first to hear it when it goes live. Please also feel free to download the promo and play it if you’d like!

Next podcast coming, Interview with P.G. Holyfield

Please send your audition to kimi@talechasing.com. Make the file name with your name and the character name.

Erin – (female, 20 something, confident, seems naive sometimes, on a mission, concerned about religious happenings, no concept of time)

“A cathedral was broken into last night. They tore it apart looking for something I guess……. I wonder if they found it.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that the things you’ve been seeing, might really be there?”

Chris Murphy – (male, model, 20 something, laid back and confident)

“You can’t blame them Raegan, you do look good enough to eat in that.”

“Please tell me we can leave soon.”

Dr. Ackerman – (male, professor, religious archeologist, intelligent, not telling everything he knows, 30′s)

“I’d love for you to bring your lovely guest to view the documents I’ve just found. Once I’ve deciphered the script they are written in they promise to set the church on it’s ear.”

“I’m the one paying and you’ll do what I want. I’d tell you to quit, but we both know you won’t….now that your curiosity is piqued.”

Guard - (male, stiff and doesn’t like being pushed around by a woman)

“If you’re a bodyguard, then I wear diapers on my days off.”

“We’re sorry for keeping you waiting. If you’ll follow me, I’ll get you to your table.”

Bob – (male, psychotic, “serial killer”, bad guy)

“Feel free to fight…I like that.”

“It’s not my damn fault you gave me a body that isn’t worth shit!”

Apprentice (female, confident, righteous)

“Take care of this one, will you? I’ll be happy to send you back where you came from and find someone competant.”

“Don’t pretend you have no clue what you did! We both know you are much smarter then that. Sadly you wont be smart enough in the end.” (hushed tones)

Trace – (male, 20 something)

(embarrassed) “Me personally? Twice.” (relieved) “I’m going to be so glad when I hand him back to Ben.”

“Aww, you ruin all the fun. I was hoping you’d run after them and pull that gun from where ever you keep it.”

Ben – (male, experienced, 30 something)

“You owe me, Ragan. I know I don’t have to remind you about Bali.”

“If I thought it would have effected you, you know I would have told you. You’ve known me long enough to know I don’t put anyone willingly endanger if I can take care of it myself.”