My Professional Future

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Ileandra Young

I’ve been meaning to tell you about this for a while. The time has finally come.

Last week I received official confirmation of my redundancy situation and the projected severance pay. The letter also included notification that my employer has agreed to honour my desire to waive the four month notice period. So… as of 11 Feb 2013, I will no longer be employed. Today… I am no longer employed.

Out of work. For the first time since I started working at 16 years old. By choice!

Hang on a second while I breathe into this large paper bag.
*huff huff huff huff*

When I looked at the letter properly and saw, in plain black and white, what I have known to be the case for several months, this is pretty much what I looked like: paniking man from open clip artI still feel that way, but knowing where I stand offers clarity and comfort that I was lacking before.

The time has never been riper to strike out on my own and since making the decision, I have been slowly (like glacially) pulling together the threads of my plan to go freelance. I have taken courses to improve my skills, practised on anybody and everybody willing to let me try, and gathered testimonials with which to populate the website I now intend to build. All this towards my final goal; I will be offering an editing, proofing and critique service!

I don’t want to talk too much about it yet; there are details I want to smooth out and ensure I have straight before I start publicly committing to things, but the sense of liberation I feel is well worth the potential financial nightmare this could bring with it. Freelancing isn’t easy at the best of times. Offering a service such as what I have in mind requires advertising, networking and most of all time before it comes close to paying back what you put in. I’m in the fortunate position of having a tiny amount of cash to help in keeping our heads afloat, but the time really has come to step up and get started.

In the coming weeks this blog won’t be quiet, but posts will be shorter and of a more scattered nature while I prepare my business for launch. When the time comes, I’ll link in to here and let you all know what’s kicking off.

Then, when that is settled, I can talk some more about the other things I want to do; self publishing some of my work!

cookie from openclipartIn the meantime, however, I have a survey that I would really appreciate you guys filling in for me. I want to be sure that there is a market for what I’m offering and answers to these questions will help me figure out some of the finer details, whilst matching what the clientèle want. If you have a second spare, would you fill it in for me? It’s only ten questions long and they’re all multiple choice. Also, when I have a suitable number of answers I’m going to put the names of all those who completed a survey into a hat and pick out three to receive a free critique of any 1000 words they chose. And everyone gets a virtual cookie of gratitude!

Just ping me a comment to let me know you’ve filled in the questionnaire and I’ll add your name to the critique hat. ^_^ Thanks guys!

Take The Survey!

Posted in Ileandra's Posts, Real Life Chatter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Sunday Snippets Critique Blog Hop #3

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ileandra Young

Button for blog hopHi everyone! Hope you’ve all had a good week and that you’re ready for another Sunday of critiquing goodness.

The week has been a hard one, but it has also been productive. Though it’s against my grain, I’ve done a bit of editing on the WIP. It’s against my grain, because I prefer to get the whole story down before I edit (you can’t edit what’s not there!), but I think I’d like to show how all of your input has helped me.

This snippet is a reworking of the previously two weeks; my prologue from the WIP Walking The Razors Edge. Putting together all the comments and the thoughts you guys (and other groups) have offered me, I’ve taken the prologue in a brand new direction. Daniel is no longer the pathologist/coroner and his purpose in the tale is such that his presence now makes more sense. I didn’t reach the point of it in previous entries (250 words doesn’t get you far) but I think the chapter will also come to the point much faster as a result.

Let me know what you think! 🙂

The day began with a body.
Daniel might have taken it for any other shift if not for the argument brewing over this particular specimen.
He lingered in the hallway with his mop and bucket, wiping a stretch of floor tiles. The voices from the room beyond dipped and troughed, forcing him to lean close, pressing his ear to the glossy wood.
“This is the burn guy?” The first voice snapped with the sharp tones of a man on the edge of his patience.
“Says the tag.”
Murky water splashed the tiles as Daniel dipped his mop and reapplied it to the floor.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“You read it then.” The second voice, female, came close to shouting. “I’m telling you, this is the one.”
Moisture seeped into his shoes. The cold crept over his toes, through his socks, but Daniel couldn’t stop. He pressed closer to the door.
“Hey, man. You mop that tile any more, you’ll take the colour off.”
With a yelp, Daniel leapt away. The mop slipped from his hand, clattering against the floor. He spun round, palm pressed to his chest.
“Jimmy!”
The new comer, with a body shape reminiscent of a bowling pin, grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “Danny-boy!” He wagged his finger. “If they catch you again you’ll be for the chop.”
Daniel ran his fingers through the dark tale of hair dangling down the nape of his neck. “Dude! Don’t creep up on me like that.”
“Stop listening to the grown ups talk shop, then. It’s none of your business what the suits are up to.”
Stooping, he retrieved the mop. “There’s been a mix up.”
Jimmy gave him a quizzical look.
“The cadavers. I think this one’s been labelled wrong.”
With a pointed look at the mop and bucket, Jimmy raised his eyebrows. “And this has what to do with you?”

Tah dah! :p

That’s a little more than 250, but that was a slightly more sensible place to end the segment. Apologises for flouting rules.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you guys and making my comments on your currents works. 🙂

The list below includes all the other bloggers taking part in the hop, so please do investigate what others have written.

http://mermaidssinging.wordpress.com/
http://caitlinsternwrites.wordpress.com/
http://ileandrayoung.com
http://wyrmflight.wordpress.com/
http://www.mandyevebarnett.com
http://womanbitesdog.wordpress.com/
http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com

New from Jennifer M. Eaton…

Welcome to Richard Leonard – Words & Pictures


http://jordannaeast.com
http://letscutthecrap.wordpress.com
http://threepiecebikini.blogspot.com/
http://itsjennythewren.wordpress.com/
http://writerscrash.blogspot.co.uk/
http://wehrismypen.wordpress.com
http://wordsbreathedupon.wordpress.com/blog/

Want to join up? Click here for the rules, and leave a comment to have your name added to the list. The more the merrier!

Posted in Critique Blog Hop, Ileandra's Posts, Walking The Razor's Edge | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Dialogue: Real World vs Fiction

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Ileandra Young

empty speech bubble from openclipartI’ve been told by both of my critique groups that I handle dialogue reasonably well. I’m not confident enough yet to just take the compliment and run with it, but I’ve thought about it a lot recently. Particularly because I’ve spent the last few days really listening to the way people talk to me (and others).

It varies a great deal but there’s something I’ve noticed that people always do. They modify or try to dampen the impact of what they’re saying by starting with something like ‘I don’t mean to be rude, but…’ or ‘I don’t want to be mean, but…’ or my favourite; ‘I’m not saying you’re *insert offensive term here* but….’ Have you ever come across this? I find it interesting that people tell you that they have no intention of offending/being rude/crass/mean/hypocritical or whatever, and then proceed to do exactly that. Does this excuse them? Do they believe that this makes it okay? Because it doesn’t. Not in the slightest.

That, however, is just how people talk. It’s very real and I’ve come across it in fictional dialogue over and over again. Those writers who are able to replicate this pattern of speech without it sounding forced or foolish are writers to be admired. It’s very well done.

Similarly, writers who are able to replicate ‘verbal tics’ as I’ve heard them called, are also pretty talented. All those people who wander around saying things like ‘y’know what I mean’ or ‘innit’ or ‘dude!’ That last one is one of mine. ^_^

Writers who can use clauses in their dialogue without slowing the pace of the piece are also worth noting. The ones who can include things like ‘yeah,’ ‘okay,’ ‘well…’ and ‘of course’ without making you feel like you may lose a race against a turtle. I think the key with those is to use them sparingly. The same way healthy folk spread butter on toast; just a thin coating. 🙂

These are all things that turn real world dialogue into fictional dialogue.

The trick, remember, is not to report dialogue exactly as it sounds in real life. Nobody would be able to follow that on the page. You know how real conversations go, right? Bouncing left, right, sideways, up, back to the other side, down, to the right and left again, round in a massive circle before ending up right where they started. And that’s the conversations that make sense. Try talking to anybody with a few screws loose, or needing a little more sleep and those conversations would be impossible to report. No, the idea is to write the essence of a real conversation in such a way that enough of the detail is there. That way it sounds authentic without being authentic. Does that make sense?

I’m still working on inserting these things into my own writing. No matter what kind words I receive from those who look at my work I’m aware that there is always room for improvement. Always.

The trick I’ve taken to using is to read it aloud. First in my head, then out loud to see how the words sound to the ear. If they sound icky, I change them. If they sound forced, I completely change them. If the sound like (but not exactly like) the words I hear while listening to people speak, then I accept them and enjoy them.

What methods do you guys use to insert authenticity into your dialogue? Do any of the things I’ve mentioned make sense to you? Have you used them? Do you have any tips you’d be willing to share? 😉

Posted in Ileandra's Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Baby Update! – Nine Months In

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Ileandra Young

First of all, where the hell did that time go? Nine months? Really?! It feels like just yesterday I was whining because I couldn’t turn over in bed. Feels not so long ago that I laughed at the idea of myself as a mother. Now my beautiful boys are nine months old and I have to admit, that I love it.

Don’t get me wrong; I whine a lot. A LOT! I don’t know how Dave puts up with me and I love him dearly for it (and everything else), but I am happy. Isn’t it funny how you can complain constantly (it feels like I do) and yet be the happiest you’ve ever been?

Leon standing up in his cotLeon, lovingly referred to as Sprog2 in most of my social media entries, has decided that standing up is really really cool. He will take any opportunity he can to grab hold of something and pull himself onto his feet. Its nerve racking and wonderful at the same time. He’s also taking teeny weeny, but very firm, steps. Coasting, or cruising I believe is the official term; walking along (a little bit) while holding onto something else for balance. I suppose at this rate it won’t be long before he’s standing under his own steam, without holding on. After that, I guess he’ll be walking. CRAP! Oh, incidentally, since realising that he could stand up in the cot, we have lowered the base to it’s final position. Wouldn’t want the little treasure falling over the side; its a looooooong way down to the floor!

Michael feeds himself at the table.Michael, who I often call – you guessed it! – Sprog1, isn’t doing anything quite so dynamic or physical. However his appetite for food is startling. Anything we offer, he’ll take, even those things that Leon isn’t so keen on. He took a piece of kiwi fruit the other day and practically inhaled the damn thing. He needs to be watched really closely to be sure he doesn’t choke since he’s decided that he really enjoys filling his mouth as much as possible and concentrating on swallowing when he can’t fit any more in. Comical. He’s also decided that whatever we can eat, he can eat it just as well. So convincing him that he doesn’t want a slice of pizza or rare steak has become almost a game. Almost.

In all, I am thrilled with the progress they are making. It is gratifying to see them so eagerly eat the food I cook, smile when Dave or I enters their line of sight and still better to know that they love and care we have offered is what has made them grow to this stage. And is what will continue to nurture them for the rest of their lives.

Yes, I complain a lot and quite often, when I realise that something I desperately wanted to do with my time isn’t possible, I do become angry and resentful. I’m still sleep deprived and too closely acquainted with the teeny weeny hours of 3am and 5am, but I’ve never been so happy with what I have. I don’t know who to thank exactly, but thank you, powers that be, for giving me so, so much. I’m still not sure what I’ve done to deserve it. 🙂

Posted in Ileandra's Posts, Real Life Chatter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Sunday Snippets Critique Blog Hop #2

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Ileandra Young

Button for blog hopGood morning, its another Sunday which means I have another 250 word snippet for you.

First, let me just say thank you Jennifer for instigating and managing this idea and to everybody who was kind enough to comment on last week’s offering. I’m very appreciative of all your kind, constructive and helpful words and want to assure you all that my work is already looking stronger from your input. I’m sorry if I missed anybody on my rounds offering critique last week; I will do my best to ensure I catch you all this time around.

Last week, I offered the opening 250ish words of my WIP Walking The Razor’s Edge. This is the sequel to Silk Over Razor Blades and continues the story of Ileandra who became a vampire in the first book.

What I probably should have mentioned last week is that the opening of WTRE is a prologue. It encompasses the epilogue of SORB in a modified form to bring the reader into the tale where they left off. For readers coming to the story at book two, rather than book one, the prologue should serve the dual purpose of bringing the reader into the tale in a way that isn’t confusing. I hope!

Anyway, I would like to get the whole of the prologue out here so I’m going to give you the next 250 words. Once I’ve done that I think I’ll revert to just posting problem sequences.

This is my first draft, so I am painfully aware of some of the issues in the work, but I feel that by posting this draft here, I will benefit from your opinions and thoughts early enough to influence my writing of the rest of the book. I’m currently 20k words in and I predict that the story will reach about 90k before it is complete.

Anyway, without further ado; here is the section:

Daniel had read all about it; catching the news in all the papers and on the radio on the way into work.
At first, Daniel had looked forward to treating the body. The strange, morbid fascination which drew him to the job in the first place, made him eager to see the charred, blackened remains and examine them. He could think of nothing better, on the drive that morning, than examining them in detail.
And yet, when he arrived, the body lying in its neat black bag, complete with a small, white ID tag dangling from the left big toe, was neither black, nor charred. It didn’t even look burned. The fellow looked totally whole and could have been mistaken for a dozing drunk if not for the obvious lack of any life signs.
Daniel grumbled to himself again, picking up the little clipboard to once more check the details against the fellow in the bag. It just had to be the wrong body. “Name,” he read aloud, “‘unknown. Date of birth; unknown.’ Seems we know very little about you at all, fellah!”
The body still, silent, utterly dead, gave no answers.
His conversation with the paramedic crew who brought the bag through had been short and heated. One quick glance into the bag convinced Daniel, that this was the wrong body, and yet the uniformed medics refused to hear him. None would look in the bag, despite his insistence that the body was whole and unmarked and none would accept even the smallest suggestion that they were wrong. It left Daniel confused and agitated; rolling the gurney through the hospital himself to work on the body.

And done!

As ever, any and all comments are gladly received and I look forward to reading what the rest of you have produced for this week.

The list below includes all the other bloggers taking part in the hop, so please do investigate what others have written. There are some excellent openings that I’m looking forward to catching up on myself. 🙂

http://mermaidssinging.wordpress.com/
http://caitlinsternwrites.wordpress.com/
http://ileandrayoung.com
http://wyrmflight.wordpress.com/
http://www.mandyevebarnett.com
http://womanbitesdog.wordpress.com/
http://jennykellerford.wordpress.com

New from Jennifer M. Eaton…

Welcome to Richard Leonard – Words & Pictures


http://jordannaeast.com
http://letscutthecrap.wordpress.com
http://threepiecebikini.blogspot.com/
http://itsjennythewren.wordpress.com/
http://writerscrash.blogspot.co.uk/

Want to join up? Click here for the rules, and leave a comment to have your name added to the list. The more the merrier!

Posted in Critique Blog Hop, Ileandra's Posts, Walking The Razor's Edge | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments