To Break Or Not To Break

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Ileandra Young

That is the question. I’ve powered my way through several first drafts now and I seem to have done this a different way every time. Since SORB is first and foremost in my mind (still!), I’ll talk about that for a moment.
While writing SORB, I broke the action according to scene. I made sure that each one had a beginning, middle and end, and if I could, I ended the chapter on a cliff hanger or a moment of emotional tension. However, some chapters, despite my best efforts, ended in a gentle, almost cosy way. I’ll talk about why that bothers me in a moment.

The other extreme is last year’s NaNo novel (Escape To Elethra) in which there were no breaks at all. I don’t know if that’s because I was moving through it so quickly, but that’s how it panned out; just the occasional text break when I switched POV.

When reading, I get quite distressed if there are no breaks in the text. At the moment, since all my reading tends to happen on the loo, or in a coffee shop, I only have five minutes to give to it each time I pick up a book. As a result, short chapters or regularly broken scenes make it easier to stop. It gives me a clear point to come back to. This also serves the purpose of ensuring that I do come back, because, more often than not, these breaks come before a POV shift or at a cliff hanger. It’s a common and very effective device to keep a reader turning the pages. For this reason, I worked hard to give SORB sensible breaks and compelling endings. What I also find is that a reader (myself included) sometimes needs a break. In a high octane action novel, or a chilling thriller, is is important to get a breather. Not least because if everything is high powered and tense, then nothing is. Contrast is paramount to show off the dips and troughs of the narrative.

These things tell me that I, at least, have to have regular breaks. If not chapters, then at least text breaks. These give me the chance to pause for breath and/or enjoy the anticipation of waiting for the solution to any given cliff hanger.

What about you guys? Do you regularly break up your text with chapters? Do you prefer just having the story roll out at you with no space at all?

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Six Sentence Sunday 18/11 #41

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Ileandra Young

I have been working on WIPs other than my NaNo this year, however I still have samples for you. I think, since it is November, I’d like to follow the theme through of plucking samples from Peep Show, though if I don’t get a bit more down, I’ll probably run out of words to give you. :-p

Lucky it’s only six sentences, eh?

In this little snippet, Cerise has tarted herself up for a date with one of her co-workers and she makes a rather startling observation.

“Nothing, I just… I think this is the first time I’ve ever touched you with your clothes on.”

Malcolm peered down at her, his face an expression in shock. Then he seemed to consider it and nodded slowly. “I suppose it is. Is that okay?”

“I guess so.”

Or maybe she prefers all the action without her clothes. You’ll have to stop by next week to find out. :p

The Six Sunday is still going strong and there is a large selection of authors on the main site with samples for you to enjoy. You the banner link – just below – to visit the site and take a look around.

Until next time!
Six Sentence Sunday

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#NaNo Update: Week Two

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Ileandra Young

Hmm. Yeah.

I’m in a better position than last week in that I have more words down. However I am nowhere near target for this midway point.

I’ll admit that I’m not stressed, though. Having promised myself that I would only attempt NaNoWriMo this year if I took it easy. I find comfort in that fact.

So that’s the bad news.

The GOOD news is that I’m still writing! Just… not the NaNo. The push isn’t there, but there are several anthologies open to erotica in the new year and I can’t bear the thought of not submitting to them. I have erotica coming out of my ears, but nothing quite to suit. I have to be honest though; writing for submission makes more sense. Don’t get me wrong, its all about writing for fun – I couldn’t hope to keep writing if it wasn’t fun – but to have fun AND submit for potential publication? Why wouldn’t you?

More than that, I’ve jointed a Sub Club (hehee) through which I plan to work a deal harder towards submitting my work. Competitions, anthologies, magazines, wherever. Doesn’t matter. The point is, that I have to start getting it out there

I haven’t given up on the NaNo, not by a long shot, but I don’t expect to be able to reach 50k by November 30. Not that it matters; I’m still really proud of what I have done. ^_^

Oh, would you like a little more of what I’ve written? 🙂 Okay.

With that comforting thought, she stripped down to change.
Stripping required only pulling off her dressing gown, but as soon as she did, Cerise became aware of the cold in the air. She shivered, rubbing her arms with both hands and fighting the approach of goosepimples on her skin.
The chaffing didn’t help and she spun around to search out her radiators, intending to turn them up a notch or two.
When she turned she caught a little whisper of movement from the corner of her eye. It vanished behind her quicker than she could track it and she turned again, trying to catch sight of the thing.
What she saw, was a short, dark haired man in a grubby dressing gown.
She screamed, snatching up her dressing gown and heaving it over her front. More and more screams poured from her throat as the man considered her with his head cocked to one side.
He opened his mouth, perhaps to speak but no words came out. Just a low groan like the exhalations of a man from her many late night phone conversations.
“Get the hell out of here!” She shrieked.
The door burst open, admitting Graham, but before Cerise could even point, the man in the dressing gown vanished.
Her screams cut off sharply as she stared at the space in which he had been standing.
“What, what?! What’s wrong?”
Cerise put her hand to her chest, feeling the thud-thud of her heart beneath. She drew several ragged breaths and pushed the fingers of her free hand into her hair. She pulled the curls into still worse tangles.
“Cerise!”
“Nothing I-” she flapped a hand around, as if searching the air for an answer. “I saw a spider.”
Graham cocked an eyebrow. “A spider?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Um…” another rake of her hair. “Don’t worry. Just… get on with your phone call.” She gestured to the phone dangling from Graham’s hand. “It’s fine. Really.”
He eyed her for several more seconds before backing out of the trailer. He closed the door behind him.

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Book Review: The Hunger Games (Trilogy)

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Ileandra Young

the hunger games movie logoAuthor: Suzanne Collins
Title: The Hunger Games / Catching Fire / Mockingjay
Genre: Young Adult Dystopia
ISBN: 9781407109084 / 9781407109367 / 9781407109374
‘Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. The Hunger Games is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever.’

It’s taken me a while but I’ve finally read these books. I spent a lot of time avoiding them, thinking ‘oh, I don’t read YA’ and ‘if everyone is going to talk about it, I don’t want to read it.’ After all, I’ve been disappointed by other books that people talk about all the time (*ahem* FSoG).

However, a friend of mine picked up the film and we watched it together and let me tell you, I enjoyed the hell out of that movie. I’ve watched it again since!

Me being me, well I HAD to read the books after that.

The Hunger Games took me three days, reading it in the evenings and on the loo. Catching Fire too me two days. Mockingjay took my one night. As much as I hate to say it, once I started reading these books nothing else in the world existed (except my boys, obviously!) until I was done reading them. I loved them!

I loved the Katniss character, Haymitch was fantastic and even more than that, the concept of a broken world in which children are required to fight to the death for entertainment just did me in. These books are predominantly action, but there is enough of Katniss in there (its written in the first person) to give it an emotional edge. I can certainly tell that the piece is YA, and with subject matter as dark as what Suzanne decided to cover, it may have been even better if written for adults. Just the same, it rolls along at a nippy pace that keeps you turning the pages without overwhelming you.

The cast of characters, including the bit parts, are brilliant and have just enough of their own tales to be interesting, without taking away from Katniss.

I’m not going to go on and on, I like these reviews to be brief, but I really do feel that these books are worth reading. Take a peep at the film if you’re not convinced, because I feel that the film did a good job of relaying the action over. Then if you’re interested in a deeper look into Katniss’ motivations and thoughts, read the book.

That said, I’m very much interested in what Catching Fire has to offer when the film releases in 2013.

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Six Sentence Sunday 11/11 #40

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Ileandra Young

As I mentioned on Friday, I am behind on my word count, but I still have some sentences for you. I’ll dive straight on in with the sample for the week. My excuse being that doing so will allow me to get back to writing. 😉

Cerise, as well as working in the ‘adult entertainment’ industry, pulls in a little bit of extra money by working sex phone lines. Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler! This is just a quick sample from one of her conversations with a customer one of the calls.

“This is Mistress Colleen,” snapped Cerise, “you will speak only when spoken to and you will address me as ‘Madam.’ Do you understand?”
Stunned silence came from the other end.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, Madam.”
Cerise grinned.

Heh, sounds like someone on a power trip to me. :p

Now, after last week’s blip I am back on the Six Sunday lists and, as ever, you catch what the rest of the crowd are up to by visiting the main site. Hit the banner link to get there. Laterz!
Six Sentence Sunday

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