Writing Tools I got from library books - Jumping the small writing blocks

As I'm trying to absorb learning tools for my craft, I've been checking out books at my local library and I'd like to share some of it with you. Some of these are more in line with someone writing essays and reports but a few tidbits run along the lines of writing novels.

These are from "Writing with Power - Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process" by Peter Elbow.

If you are in a slump are hitting a wall, then I believe that this could get you through that:

Open Ended Writing - Write for fifteen to twenty minutes without stopping. Start with whatever comes first to mind or perhaps with some particular topic you've been wanting to write about. But make sure to let your writing go wherever it wants to go.
Pause to find the center or focus in what you wrote then summarize it into one sentence.
Use that focusing sentence and expand on it. When you're done, go back and cut what isn't crucial to the main point of focus.
Keep this up until you have a larger picture of what you're accomplishing (even if you have to jot down note) and go between spurt of writing to focusing/cutting and then back again.

For those who have a scene or idea and need help to grow it, then try this:

Loop Writing - As fast as you can, type out all you can see about your scene/idea. Don't tie yourself down with getting out any details, no matter how small they may be. Such as, if your character is waking in a park, what smells/sounds/feelings would go along with this?
Write write the issues with what you've already typed. Like, why is the character there and why would he be picking up these feelings?
Then step into the shoes of that character and jot down an instant/raw version f what they are experiencing.
At this point you can add any dialogue that comes out of you character while you're feeling what he is feeling. Ask yourself what you would do if you were that person.
Get a description out that mirrors those feelings and settings.
If you have a small piece of back story to add, then see it the story allows it here. Is it a full scene and can you feel what the reader should be feeling?
Go back and cut out anything that is not immediately relevant to that picture. Like, too much back story or too many details about the scenery that can distract the reader from your main opening image.
Then broaden you image with any needed details that will push you to the next scene. (realizations by the characters, moving them forward).
Rinse and repeat :-)

In the past, I saw that I was using the Loop Technique but am learning the Open Ending  Technique is very usual in my current WIP. So far, I've been using the visuals to jump start a scene that may have stalled in my brain. See if any of this helps you and I'll keep looking for more info to help all of us.

)))Corset Hugs((( and Happy Writing

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer 

Your book is a movie! Who’s in your dream cast? ANDROMEDA

Andromeda is a 400 year old vampire with psychic abilities who is being stalked by a ghostly presence that wants to possess her body and own her soul. Things get heated as she meets the man destined to be her mate but a vision shows her that he’s meant to die because of what she is. Does she embrace what the Fates have shown in the mere touch of this stranger’s hand or does she run away in order to save the soul of this kissable man? Passion is too much to ignore for an immortal who has never felt its powerful pull. They throw caution to the wind and become lovers, enraging the stalker to use his inhuman powers to take what he believes should belong to him alone. They both fight for the power in her touch but only one man can have her body.

ANDROMEDA - played by Patricia Velasquez

I got up and headed for a couple of blood bags from the fridge when I saw Perseus pacing outside of my room.

“What just happened in there?” He asked with a strained look on his face.

I was stumped for all of a second. “Do you mean about thirty minutes ago?” I asked, hoping that I was wrong.

“Yes!” He said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, that.” I passed by him. He followed me to the office fridge and back.

“Excuse me, but I had the feeling that I was having an orgasm and wondered if you could tell me why,” he said as he turned toward me.

He was actually tapping his foot.

I was going to enjoy this. I poured some blood into my bedside glass and made him wait for my answer.

**********

JUSTIN - played by Jason Lewis

Had I truly found my mate? I saw something in his eyes, like determination, and he leaned closer to me. 

“I’m not sorry.”

“For what?”

“You already know.”

Then he kissed me. His lips were soft and a current ran through them as if we were electrified. He wasn’t touching any other part of me and yet it was the best kiss I’d ever had. His mouth roamed over mine with softness and I knew we were both holding back, which only enhanced the electricity between us.  

I saw more images as he slowly learned the finite details of my mouth. I saw us rolling in my bed, us riding in his car, us in my living room as we drank wine and then one of me gasping in bed. The last one was vague, strange, and it made me break the heart-stealing kiss. He leaned against the wall and simply stared at my face.

“I’ve never felt like that before.”

“Me neither.”

**********

PERSEUS - played by Hrithik Roshan

“Yes, I have a problem with you telling people about us because it doesn’t just affect your life, it affects mine, too. But I can’t make any of these decisions for you, so do what you feel you have to do. If I were you, I wouldn’t turn down the possibility of happiness, especially when we’re immortal.”

“You? Giving me advice on love? That’s funny.”

“I know what you’re thinking. But I meant that comment for your own life, not mine. I’ve loved and lost and I’m not ready to make that commitment again. I’ll take love in small doses and put the rest of my energy into my work. At least my business can see me into the future. Love can visit when needed.”

“You pass up love all the time. You tell me to grab what I can and just keep living, but you ignore the love that’s offered to you. I know there are women who’d literally give up their souls to be your mate and yet you turn the other way. I know Valentina ripped your heart to shreds and I wish I could take that pain away. You’d be with her right now if she’d been more open minded about our lives. But she wasn’t and as a result, you now have blinders on when it comes to anything close to your heart. But you can’t live forever with that mentality. You should take your own advice and keep your eyes open to someone who can be with you through your eternity.”

“I will not allow myself to make the same mistake again. If you’re the only woman in my life, then so be it. I’ll survive on distant sexual encounters and a few friends. I can’t offer a shattered heart to someone who deserves better.”

**********

DANYA - played by 

I stripped off the dress and waited for her to get out of her leggings and tunic blouse. She was in a smoky gray satin strapless bra with matching thong panties. There was a two-inch scar across her left side, right under her strapless bra.

She saw me noticing it and just shrugged before saying, “Some monsters live only to hurt others, but I at least survived to see him die.”

“Did an old love do this to you?” I handed the dress over to her and felt her pain in the brief touch of her hand.

“Yes. He tried to stab me in the back. Literally. I moved at the last second and it kept him from slicing into my spine. He was high on meth and thought I'd hidden his stash from him. Apparently, he needed it bad enough to kill me.”

**********

CAPT ANASTASE - played by 

I put my calloused fingers into Anastase’s open wound and fervently pressed as I continued my chanting. His obsidian eyes rolled into the back of his head. Lightning struck the building. Giselle screamed and Anastase moaned. At that very moment, I drove my hand further into Anastase’s quaking body. The captain screamed for his immortal soul. Pulling out my hand, I threw the bloody tissue from my hand and into the awaiting bowl. I grabbed the leather pouch tied at my thick neck and dumped the contents into the bowl as well and Anastase’s body dropped to the cold floor.

Jean Luc came over and set the bloody contents in the bowl on fire with the already lit candle and then stepped back. Anastase released another scream as his body convulsed and the smoke encircled his tortured body. He shook so badly that his teeth rattled. Giselle sobbed Anastase’s name from her corner. Lightning struck one last time and I yelled over the sound toward Anastase.

“Who do you want?” I commanded of Anastase.

Anastase moaned, “Andromeda Ortiz.”

He convulsed one last time before he passed out.

Well, whatch think?

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn - Wench Writer

Second Week Snippets - Gothic

Reaching a trembling hand to the cold steel knocker, I jumped when the door began to creek with wind and age as the first pound toned throughout the wind filled doorway. I had stepped back just as the door shook with the effort of someone pulling it open. My heart leapt into my tight throat as the door creaked open a sliver more. I paused for a still second and saw that no one was in the breath of drafty space that sucked at you from the gloomy interior of the back lit foyer.

“Um, hel-lo?” I stuttered the question, waiting for someone to pop up in my presence.

No reply came back. No scuttle of feet was heard to prove that someone had actually opened the ancient door. I felt a stiff breeze push me into the open alcove, almost toppling me onto the white marble floor that met the foyer before me.

“Is anyone here? Mr. White?” I stammered as I straightened up my heart thumping body.

A screaming whirl of wind outside sucked the door shut with a glass rattling shake.

“Can I help you ma’am?”

I squeaked at the baritone voice that came from the encompassing blackness in front of me as my eyes fought to adjust to the lack of light. There stood a tall willowy shape of over six feet tall. My mouth went dry. In that instant it took to gulp down my surprise, he stepped closer and in a split second, a match was struck. I jumped but realized he was only lighting the candlestick that was in his large hands. Hands that led up to the face of a man that made me gasp with a whole new feeling. He was beautiful. Men weren’t usually described in such a manner but this specimen was lean, dark haired, and carried eyes that were as mesmerizing as sherry topaz in the light of the burning flame he held. The flickering emphasized his high cut cheekbones beside an elegant nose.

In my head I heard a whisper, “Save him.” And then it disappeared. What the hell was that? Scrutinizing the empty feeling space, no other person came forward to claim those cryptic words that clung like ice to my spine.

“Where did you come from and why were you hiding behind the door?” I rambled as I began to pull myself back together.

“You knocked on the door and then walked right in, so I should be asking who you are?”

“No, I didn’t open the door. You did.”

“I assure you ma’am, that if a lovely woman where to simply appear in my foyer, I would indeed have been the person to have let her in.”

“If you were the one that was to be staying up for me, then you would already know who I am?

He sighed deeply, almost blowing out the single candle in his still grip. “Let’s say that I’m a man of caution where damsels are concerned. Your name, please?”

“I’m Renata Barkely, granddaughter of the Fenmore’s, and I was told to be here in a letter from Mr. White.”

Well, what do you think?

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Putting it out there - Nervous Breakdown Included

As an author, I have had three of my manuscripts published. Each of these was wondrous as it was solid proof to me that I had enough talent to have a publishing house back my creative fictional plots. Every contract was putting a stake in the ground of my faith in myself to get my characters out there to people who are interested in them.

I'm behind on my writing as I have just recently gotten back to writing again since I'm no longer working two jobs and going to college. I started four books and had book one of my series out there for people to critique for me. Being able to grab my Facebook friends up so I can get second opinions on my ideas was a great tool to have with my not having a critique group to back me. These people have been successful sounding boards on what will sound more realistic for a my projects.

Getting their advice is helpful, even in the moments that my work sucks, but there is one thing that tears at me worse than being vulnerable to my friends. This would be the dreaded cold submission to a publishing company or a well known agent. It makes me want to hurl just thinking about being inferior to the people that rock the publishing world. Having to conquer this horrendous feat is currently what I'm doing and I find it hard to not count the days.

For those of you that are well into several publications, indie or not, I'd like to know how you keep yourself from checking your inbox every few minutes as you chew your nails to the bone. Currently, I have two manuscripts at various places and know that a few of them will take much longer as those companies are more in demand. I totally understand why some place need three months, but that doesn't mean that I'll have my scalp intact by then.    

All of the dates for each place has been etched into my desk calendar as I hope to hear something positive back from each of them. Yes, I know that won't happen, but I can dream. How do I calm the sea of ships that are battering around my nervous stomach as I think over these knowledgeable people tossing my submission against a cubicle wall? Where does one focus when this deadline of your own making looms over your head? Do I just focus (lol) on the next projects as a way to absorb some of the dread? I'm trying to. I even took on critiquing someone else as a way to keep my mind away from my own submissions but I have a long way to go before I can actually calm down.

The nerves will die when I get a response from each of these places, or I go ahead with the lobotomy that has been mentioned to me since childhood. I know that I can't control this once I hit the Send button. It's a chant in my head every single day. The one thing I can be happy about is that I did it. My babies were sent to people to tell me if I "dressed them funny" or if they needed to be on a fictional diet (backstory), but I'm trusting the people with my children. This mama is proud of every single one of the babies I'm able to have and wish them the best when I send them on to "college" (publishers). But a mom is always a mom and I'm scared for them. Any suggestions? Funny lines? Lobotomy references?

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn 

Wench Writer