tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32367773633117364452024-03-14T01:04:51.788-05:00Instant Human, Just Add CoffeeLyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-67474821570714329782012-08-14T08:13:00.003-05:002012-08-14T08:19:22.563-05:00Pour-Over Coffee<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ublbp29NUN5z-3Iep42dGS78GAZg-lVkKYJKDQmGaqkJcHs6vns-t6gWfh-V4v-3RJo6BudAWRqfDefj3vgC9o7t6N9Gb4hfoGk18dvjruxZywN1PTHhDdPCXyFMKm9irEY9xsaCtPY/s1600/Pour-Over.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ublbp29NUN5z-3Iep42dGS78GAZg-lVkKYJKDQmGaqkJcHs6vns-t6gWfh-V4v-3RJo6BudAWRqfDefj3vgC9o7t6N9Gb4hfoGk18dvjruxZywN1PTHhDdPCXyFMKm9irEY9xsaCtPY/s320/Pour-Over.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During my morning news crawl I discovered this coffee gem. The concept of pour-over coffee has potential in my mind to produce a better cup. If I'm completely honest though, it seems much to fussy. I think I'll be sticking to my french press for now.<br />
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<a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/08/13/pour-over-coffee/?hpt=hp_c3">http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/08/13/pour-over-coffee/?hpt=hp_c3</a><br />
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Have any of you tried coffee this way? Is it better, or just some hipster craze?Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-22514624875799559052011-10-31T13:23:00.001-05:002011-10-31T13:23:46.986-05:00NaNoWriMo Survival Kit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJgFgXxUZeYiYDIMG8P9yoieAcu95mQMkI5ZaRI1i5dXTReujkXjUneHvtHWecRMj95tak7ej4Ra7L1eWuKwVkkDyDKk6eAB0Rh9LYZEZj4NUnsyI8s4zfpxXxaDA9pODV6BjX_QViW4/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535860418460822210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJgFgXxUZeYiYDIMG8P9yoieAcu95mQMkI5ZaRI1i5dXTReujkXjUneHvtHWecRMj95tak7ej4Ra7L1eWuKwVkkDyDKk6eAB0Rh9LYZEZj4NUnsyI8s4zfpxXxaDA9pODV6BjX_QViW4/s400/DSC_0126.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>It's NaNoWriMo eve and I'm busy preparing for the maelstrom to come, so here is a favorite post from last year that will hopefully prove useful to you as we stand on the brink of November...</div><br /><div>October is the calm before the NaNoWriMo storm. Having lived in Houston all of my life, I'm no stranger to battening down the hatches. Like clock work, we get together bottled water, canned goods, and other non perishables as each new hurricane season approaches. We go through a laundry list to make sure that if all of a sudden a depression pops up in the gulf, so we won't be up the creek when the masses make a run for the grocery.</div><br />In this same fashion, I created a NaNoWriMo survival kit in preparation for a month of writing with literary abandon. Putting everything together before the tempest strikes will save me from wasting time on midnight runs for NaNo necessities. The kit includes (see pic above):<br /><br /><li>My writing totem - the goat the sings "High On a Hill Was a Lonely Goat Herd" from the sound of music</li><br /><li>My computer - obvious I know. However, I have heard tales of people doing NaNoWriMo <em>by hand.</em></li><br /><li>Coffee - preferably with chicory</li><br /><li>Tea - of the English afternoon persuasion</li><br /><li>Betty Boop mug - Betty in the painting of the birth of Aphrodite...it's deliciously tacky with a hint of inappropriateness. </li><br /><li>Whiskey - sometimes coffee just isn't enough</li><br /><li>Chocolate bacon bar - yes, you read that correctly my friends: CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!!!! It's a heath bar with bacon pieces substituted for toffee bits.</li><br /><li>Various frozen dinners, savory bake in oven snacks - one must eat during the month of November without much prep time.</li><br /><li>Snickers Ice Cream Bars - dessert to top it all off.</li><br /><p>And last but not least, my furry minions of doom: </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ37luxdDpxTByvQST1UWwWmuSnKJKQ8TaVqjbvzUmOmigbNv102jSxYoa6tTIqaKRZcRYbSHkw-_DZT-GDA34fQHA_UDzP5QBkBhGWgQDT2fRG36d3y-vcab7PaeKLseSsgirXRGIvU/s1600/P1010524.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535858018947579010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQ37luxdDpxTByvQST1UWwWmuSnKJKQ8TaVqjbvzUmOmigbNv102jSxYoa6tTIqaKRZcRYbSHkw-_DZT-GDA34fQHA_UDzP5QBkBhGWgQDT2fRG36d3y-vcab7PaeKLseSsgirXRGIvU/s320/P1010524.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vilV4C3MWDGCx1OwI5Hd6LHw30RQD68rrAnJqO5mZ6-QF9jjKI1kWfkiTm8V40WZfJYJgRpOQhFfRXflAYpXE6JbjRERqIZZ6T-4nw14BuWEupWJ5jAmaXqYkx0E7I5LXXA1oQCVlAs/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div>the big one told me that on the days I didn't meet my word count goal, he would poop on the carpet. He's a 92 pound Lab/Elephant/German Shepherd mix, so I take that threat very seriously. </div><br /><div>What would you add to the survival kit list?<br /></div><br /><p></p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-67299102820986054202011-10-16T16:20:00.001-05:002011-10-16T16:22:46.783-05:00NaNoWriMo 2011 Synopsis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEAJVM5uPJ_ssUPdfyXb2FjdZZ0KWiJy6EBnamZfmL8AtSt8WrLh0p430VR97iijWQnayy7NPYnGSFCJDSNSui1RimoGdXmhcbC2snd05slqp7xKs0E4A6bSwtNKzvKamwzspib3x-EM/s1600/lady+of+shallot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664202299960715858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEAJVM5uPJ_ssUPdfyXb2FjdZZ0KWiJy6EBnamZfmL8AtSt8WrLh0p430VR97iijWQnayy7NPYnGSFCJDSNSui1RimoGdXmhcbC2snd05slqp7xKs0E4A6bSwtNKzvKamwzspib3x-EM/s320/lady+of+shallot.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>We're almost over the hump in October. That means every other part of the country is watching the tendrils of fall unfurl. I live in Houston so it's still hot and, well, hot. Regardless of the fact that autumn landscapes are not universal, National Novel Writing Month happens every November. Period.<br /><br />I'm excited. This will be my fourth and hopefully my best NaNoWriMo yet. I'm using the <a href="http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php">Snowflake Method</a> to organize my ideas this year. So far I'm really liking this method. It speaks to my engineering sensibilities. At this point, I'm through step 2 and working on step 3, fleshing out some character charts. While I'm getting to know my characters better, I wanted to share this year's novel synopsis with you. My story centers around a post apocalyptic world mixed with Arthurian legend.<br /><br /><span style="color:#999999;">Centuries ago, a breakthrough in medical science solved the disease of aging. Dying became a choice that fewer and fewer chose as each decade passed. One night in the dark hours of the morning, Emma, a young woman living on the mainland is woken violently. She is left disoriented and in total darkness as the fabric of science unravels suddenly and absolutely. As the sun rises, it reveals a landscape not seen for more than a millennia. In order to stay alive, Emma joins with two others who survived the event on their journey off the mainland and across the channel to an island where it is rumored a settlement of people have been living according to the ancient ways in hopes that they still remain. During their travels they discover ancient myths are proving to be more truth than fiction as they relearn how to live in an old world that is new to them.<br /></span><br />The idea formed out of two TV shows. One on the science channel about the effect of free radicals on aging and how it can be slowed down and the other from a show on the History Channel about the truths behind Arthurian legend. (I guess it just goes to show that you <em>can</em> find inspiration anywhere.) The synopsis is still evolving and I don't yet have a title that I really like. But, that will begin to gel as the story unfolds<br /><br />I hope everyone had a great writing weekend! I'll have more on my NaNoWriMo progress and writing goodness soon.</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-13605420079065843902011-10-07T15:10:00.006-05:002011-10-07T15:30:18.274-05:00Writing Week in Review #7<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5G6hU86hvCyC8CSiUiSZFZW1aN2TkvZJl2DNDcx13qQ5JtHxQ1WZfIVNzVsIoDjblOB6qXuOxV8109iyBLYeDmpKUvaBGROed6XZl7BMkwIJ4AfS-sufJZZLRZq5vk-dvTVhsDKLIHw/s1600/coffee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660849808146508578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5G6hU86hvCyC8CSiUiSZFZW1aN2TkvZJl2DNDcx13qQ5JtHxQ1WZfIVNzVsIoDjblOB6qXuOxV8109iyBLYeDmpKUvaBGROed6XZl7BMkwIJ4AfS-sufJZZLRZq5vk-dvTVhsDKLIHw/s320/coffee.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Happy Friday everyone! It's in the wee hours of the weekend and there's so much possibility for writing productivity laid out before us. Make the most of it with the best of the writing interwebs I stumbled upon over the last week.</div><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1cM0xH/tumblemoose.com/vanity-plates-writing-prompts/t:4e8f5ca44da5a;src:all">Vantiy Plates Writing Prompts</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1OSMbK/stubbornworld.typepad.com/the_writing_coach/2008/09/how-writers-get.html/t:4e8f5e10a2a6f;src:all">9 Ideas to Improve Your Writing Productivity</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/4moqXa/blog.nathanbransford.com/2010/08/how-to-write-novel.html/t:4e8f5e10a2a6f;src:all">Nathan Bransford - Lit Agent: How to Write a Novel</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/9OIt2G/www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201006/7-distraction-fighting-strategies/t:4e8f5e10a2a6f;src:all">7 Distraction-Fighting Stratagies</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/5WLcDT/io9.com/5521213/sometimes-the-best-way-to-figure-out-your-books-story-is-by-writing-it/t:4e8f5f086ba4f;src:all">The Best Way to Figure Out Your Book's Story Is...</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/25yFT9/www.problogger.net/archives/2008/03/01/5-killer-ways-to-improve-your-writing-right-now/t:4e8f5f3a98b66;src:all">5 Killer Ways to Improve Your Writing Right Now</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1lkHN6/www.associatedcontent.com/article/2666879/top_5_simple_cures_for_writers_block.html?cat=9/t:4e8f5f3a98b66;src:all">5 Simple Cures for Writer's Block</a></li></ul><br /><p>So let it be written. So let it be done. (-Yul Brynner)</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-83921917216467150672011-09-14T18:30:00.009-05:002011-09-19T12:52:38.621-05:00Writing Week in Review #6<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0ZYt20hkp0-ucdsDXgGg_MS4ZrncwFy5Mbg9_NdlqFEelsHMhIPOzrjIxZWxNmoDGnE6fYCQRVM63PDI2ylGQNs-BMSvPBWWqGVDd93XvT6QXyTmuJU6o18jYm7YAll5CE1b7rTc6ps/s1600/Trees.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654129946608649138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0ZYt20hkp0-ucdsDXgGg_MS4ZrncwFy5Mbg9_NdlqFEelsHMhIPOzrjIxZWxNmoDGnE6fYCQRVM63PDI2ylGQNs-BMSvPBWWqGVDd93XvT6QXyTmuJU6o18jYm7YAll5CE1b7rTc6ps/s320/Trees.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Here's the best of what I've tripped over on the web this week:<br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php">How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.pw.org/toolsforwriters">Guide to Wrting Competitions, Lit Agents and More</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://research-writing-techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/creative-writing--choosing-names-for-fictional-characters">Choosing Names for Fictional Characters</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/pages/cstudents/dean/break-writing/break-9.html">Your Writing Environment</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/writing-support/30-skills-for-writers">30 Skills for Writers</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.fracturedhorizonnovel.com/2011/05/02/a-simple-novel-outline-9-questions-for-25-chapters/">A Simple Novel Outline - 9 Questions for 25 Chapters</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.vibrantnation.com/our-blog-circle/as-the-spirit-moves-me/5-ways-to-get-the-book-inside-you-out/">5 Ways to Get the Book Inside You Out</a></li></ul><br /><p>I hope every one is having a fantabulous Monday! Check soon for more writing goodness.</p></div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-2681862442988578722011-07-13T08:35:00.001-05:002011-07-13T08:37:13.356-05:00Back From Paris<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC_Jfi6AXeAdnVhQNic9nYPvjuUuL4y-A5QIZ_eN689lWUdgvoCzG0lE3H21LpimpT-6_mKB8c4PQc8qPdNegBEOzK5A3etiWHedgBrnPPfHBCB4Us8y6m0xAOgcvU5yOqqUrDeN7xA4/s1600/Paris.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628829553671038226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCC_Jfi6AXeAdnVhQNic9nYPvjuUuL4y-A5QIZ_eN689lWUdgvoCzG0lE3H21LpimpT-6_mKB8c4PQc8qPdNegBEOzK5A3etiWHedgBrnPPfHBCB4Us8y6m0xAOgcvU5yOqqUrDeN7xA4/s320/Paris.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Bonjour! </div><br /><div>I'm back from my Honeymoon in Paris :) the dust from the Wedding melee and all it's accouterments is beginning to settle and life <em>feels</em> as if it is getting back to normal. Hopefully that feeling is not a false positive.</div><br /><div>A fresh new blog post is in the works and will be making it's debut on Friday!</div><br /><div>Stay tuned!</div><br /><div>-Lyla</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-33859258109500794482011-05-20T10:00:00.002-05:002011-05-20T10:00:07.686-05:00Writing Week in Review #5<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMt6y79yn2Ig64Dy68FVBuLExk2N8vr7RnPbEVsLPRdZceZAH0mrjt1di0oB3O5lNDdKerPCRT21_EX7BTdyVbfZz_Zoa6Kl5mmuSmymgNoefThM2yepDaIDbH5ttBmy5STdru8H17AY/s1600/writing3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608776778920649554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMt6y79yn2Ig64Dy68FVBuLExk2N8vr7RnPbEVsLPRdZceZAH0mrjt1di0oB3O5lNDdKerPCRT21_EX7BTdyVbfZz_Zoa6Kl5mmuSmymgNoefThM2yepDaIDbH5ttBmy5STdru8H17AY/s320/writing3.jpg" /></a><br />Happy Friday to all of you writers out there! Check out the links below to find the best of the writing world I discovered this week on the web.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/2011/05/writing-profanity.html">Mystery Writing is Murder: Writing Profanity</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2011/05/freelance-affliction.html">The Blood-Red Pencil: The Freelance Affliction</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2011/05/literary-agencies-as-publishers.html">Writer Beware! Blogs: Lit Agencies as Publishers</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://slingingthebull.com/some-questions-and-answers-about-writing/">Some Questions and Answers About Writing</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.writerscafe.org/">WritersCafe.org The Online Writing Community</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://educhoices.org/articles/Get_Published_-_50_Online_Writing_Websites_for_New_Writers.html">Get Published - 50 Writing Websites for New Writers</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/42747.aspx">12 Tips for Eliminating Unnecessary Words</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.helium.com/items/1848258-how-to-boost-writing-creativity">How to Boost Writing Creativity</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/03/06/tip-for-great-writing/">The Most Important Tip for Great Writing</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://everything2.com/?node_id=1197104">How To Build a Character in Fiction</a></li><ol></ol><p>My you find inspiration for a write-tastic weekend!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-57777762078597522152011-04-28T00:45:00.000-05:002011-05-11T12:41:14.531-05:00Writing...Building a Model<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrbydF3aP6p24TJQRpzq9wb3DQInwjOw5VnBDYE7nedr1QIR0E4NeQ-clk2D7EUMn8Zp7f7TbH3K3omA7ri_wX4oUSo8MSCgX31ijw9JxsC7It91diLi7FpvFKnsw6HtybOb_TLrdLi8/s1600/computer_analyst2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605513370180201762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrbydF3aP6p24TJQRpzq9wb3DQInwjOw5VnBDYE7nedr1QIR0E4NeQ-clk2D7EUMn8Zp7f7TbH3K3omA7ri_wX4oUSo8MSCgX31ijw9JxsC7It91diLi7FpvFKnsw6HtybOb_TLrdLi8/s320/computer_analyst2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Back in my college days, which sadly seem further away than ever have before, I took a water modeling class as part of my graduate program. In order to help us wrap our minds around the difference between a model and reality, our professor used Plato's Allegory of the Cave as a tool. In this story, Plato tells the tale of people who have for all their lives have been chained up in a cave so that all they are able to see is the back wall of the cave and none of the outside world. Their perception of reality is limited to the shadows projected on the wall from life going on outside of their cave. My professors purpose to telling this story was to illustrate that a computer model for a water distribution system, or predicting the weather, etc., was only a projection of reality and not a mirror image there of.<br /><br />In short, you can never duplicate reality, only approximate. In the engineering world, you can get copious amounts of detailed data, and develop an excruciatingly detailed approximation, but it's still not an exact replica. And in all honesty, you wouldn't want to try to replicate the real world. It would be impossible to gather every single bit of data needed and one would most likely go insane in the attempt.<br /><br />Writing a fictional story is much the same. It's not possible to wholly replicate the reality you have created in your head. A reader would not want to trudge through a book that describes monotonous and irrelevant details. A writer doesn't need to describe everything in minutia. The task at hand for the writer is to create a story that's construction contains only the necessary information for the reader all the while keeping it artful and entertaining. Keeping both form and function in balance is no easy task, so here are some points to keep in mind while your prose are under construction:<br /><ul><br /><li>Gather data on things you don't understand. Does your character surf? Do they sing opera? Do they sew? Are they Manic-Depressive? If you have no prior knowledge of a character trait or lifestyle aspect of a particular character, do your research. Take a surfing, or voice or sewing lessons. Don't have access to lessons or their not in the budget? Youtube has video lessons on just about anything. On the flip side if you want to understand a mental struggle, Psychology Today and other journals have a wealth of information on human behavior.</li><br /><li>Eliminate Noise. Does the reader really care about what kind of sandwich your MC is noshing on at lunch? If it has no bearing on the plot or revealing something about the character, leave it out. In computer modeling, extra junk makes it run slow. In your story, pointless garble makes it drag.</li><br /><li>Keep it Simple. This is probably the cardinal rule of engineering...and for writing as well. For the essential information you need to convey to your reader, don't weigh down your writing with flowery language. It sounds contrived and people will mock you and chase you with sticks.</li></ul><p>Keep these things in mind when piecing together your prose and you'll come out with a sleeker manuscript in the end.</p>One final thought...in creating models much like crafting stories there is a certain unique style that one develops. Just like an author can be identified by the feel of their prose, one can also identify who set-up/created a computer model, not just by the notes they leave behind, but in the way it is constructed. And in both instances, this style evolves over time. </div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-63316771498057247742011-04-11T20:38:00.001-05:002011-04-11T20:38:10.580-05:00Checking In...Hey everyone! <br/> <br/> I'm taking a brief break from work today to check in and drop a quick post. It's been a terribly long day and it's not over yet. :-/ Like many workdays (and even weekends before today) I'm here at the office at 8:30 pm and it doesn't look like I'm going home any time soon...boo. <br/> <br/> On the bright side we are trying to get this beast of a report out of the door so in the next day or two my life should be getting back to normal. Normal being a relative and mostly in accurate term. After all, the word "normal" is nothing more than a setting on a dryer. <br/> <br/> Once I'm working less than 18 hours a day without a lunch break...I'll be back to blogging with regularly scheduled posts. <br/> <br/> In the mean time, make some word count progress for me! I'll see you all on the flip side! <br/> <br/> -Lyla <br/> <br/> (Please pardon any miss-spellings, I don't have a spell check on this droid app...)<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-63609073521847232712011-03-30T13:00:00.003-05:002011-03-30T13:00:01.583-05:00OMG! Writing Podcasts!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZQKWzwriIlyFwOKWHesa12D9cK02vgKTsSEgGtP6HoJHjNKWUaccLP1_B_1c1FkCXgzYZ7hDKCzSAhgsFomGIz61NKcj-Aa8F3Y0c02zBu4eJgkoqTMQJAjkrjJGNXm0XZhQdbqrcgU/s1600/broadcast.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919514717718722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZQKWzwriIlyFwOKWHesa12D9cK02vgKTsSEgGtP6HoJHjNKWUaccLP1_B_1c1FkCXgzYZ7hDKCzSAhgsFomGIz61NKcj-Aa8F3Y0c02zBu4eJgkoqTMQJAjkrjJGNXm0XZhQdbqrcgU/s320/broadcast.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Maybe I've been living under a rock, but how did I go this long without discovering that there are podcasts on writing you can download for free. I have found they are a great way to keep my mind sharp on writing while at my desk job or in the car or doing house work. All the things that cannot be avoided and suck time out of my writing schedule. </div><br /><div>Some of the ones that I listen to are: </div><br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.writingexcuses.com/">Writing Excuses</a> - A group of writers discuss writing techniques in a fast-paced 15 minute format.</li><br /><li>Writers on Writing (couldn't find an official website for this one.)</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.teemorris.com/blog/">The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy</a></li></ul><br /><p>Check one of these out and let me know what you think!</p><br /><div></div><br /><p></p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-29126355409192249902011-03-23T08:18:00.001-05:002011-03-23T08:18:40.660-05:00Mega Writing MuseI saw this story on my morning news crawl just moments ago (see the link below). After nearly falling out of my desk chair laughing, the infinite possibilities of how this woman got herself into this situation began scrolling through my mind. It was just too good not to share! <br/> <br/> So, for a writing exercise: write 3 very different versions of how this woman got into such a stickey wicket. Going the extra mile: turn your favorite version into a short story. <br/> <br/> <a href='http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/22/naked-woman-rescued-frombeing-stranded-san-diego-cliff/?test=latestnews'>Naked Woman Rescued From Cliff in California - FoxNews.com</a> <br/> <br/> I hope everyone is having a fabulous week! I'll see you all on friday with a new Writing Week in Review.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-92066835744057394362011-03-18T12:30:00.002-05:002011-03-18T12:30:00.204-05:00The Writing Week in Review #4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS_2zmuornjbZokD20IgfcmxV0AaIHu7o5KazmN93N1W7xvLhYYBMyA2uW5WKAxfKwxBV6kzQQ2Aq4tmNu9daWR0H5MglXpLMmxc_ithOKBvSdjyk7N2YpumfD2H8Drm7OM75_C1TbBs/s1600/writing+vintage.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585246054228017042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS_2zmuornjbZokD20IgfcmxV0AaIHu7o5KazmN93N1W7xvLhYYBMyA2uW5WKAxfKwxBV6kzQQ2Aq4tmNu9daWR0H5MglXpLMmxc_ithOKBvSdjyk7N2YpumfD2H8Drm7OM75_C1TbBs/s320/writing+vintage.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It's Friday. And I know that is usually a really fabulous thing for all concerned...but...today I'm in the dentist office under anesthesia getting my second round of dental work done. FUN! Nonetheless, I planned ahead and scheduled this post the night before.<br /></div><br /><div>So, without further ado, here's the Writing Week in Review!</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/2VErvn/johnshore.com/how-to-make-a-living-writing/t:4d82c2c14ffc3;src:all">How to Make a Living Writing</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4ysw8i/www.writersdigest.com/article/Fiction">Fiction - Stretching the Tension</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1L9v0r/thewritingbase.com/7-steps-to-editing-nirvana/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">7 Steps to Editing Nirvana</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/AW018v/www.write-thing.com/2010/05/19/fantasy-fiction-the-problems-with-prophecies/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Fantasy Fiction: The Problem With Prophecies</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1MfyUX/www.meredithsuewillis.com/writingexercises1-20.html/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">200 Writing Exercises</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/3FqnCp/www.charlottedillon.com/characters.html/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Building Fictional Characters</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1jNZwF/www.esva.net/~davidpoyer/wta.htm/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Agents, Agenting, Plotting, Stories, Ethics</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/8upwe8/www.tameri.com/edit/words2kill.html/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Words to Avoid</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/A3Lf3E/michaelhyatt.com/2008/08/advice-to-first.html/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Advice to First-Time Authors</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/1sgaHA/eeknight.livejournal.com/283350.html/t:4d82c3505ed63;src:all">Writing Blunders</a></li></ul><p>Happy Writing Weekend Everyone! I'll be back with a new post as soon as I'm fully with the land of the living again.</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-33884129150858477212011-03-15T10:15:00.002-05:002011-03-15T11:47:21.993-05:00(My) Top 5 Free Apps for Writers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRMzg0_7GUG4UyQA_0bbDXr_RQRy-VMO6daXJ31SsZDWJ4XarBbUhOnDs10xAcqKZWQ0DyxoMUWW5ndwwQHcF9ESei3YdyNJKg7HC2AG8RzKBOSVkdIswBRLI60VnWg5FnXrsdC2z_eY/s1600/android.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584324429142501922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRMzg0_7GUG4UyQA_0bbDXr_RQRy-VMO6daXJ31SsZDWJ4XarBbUhOnDs10xAcqKZWQ0DyxoMUWW5ndwwQHcF9ESei3YdyNJKg7HC2AG8RzKBOSVkdIswBRLI60VnWg5FnXrsdC2z_eY/s320/android.bmp" /></a><br /><div>Writing is something we've been doing for a long time. Longer than the iPad, personal computer, or even paper has been around (clay tablets came before paper if you recall.) Now, I prefer the android OS, but to be completely egalitarian, I'm going to note witch programs are good for the iPad as well. Below you will find some of the best programs out there to aid you in your writing. </div><ol><li><a href="http://www.mywritingspot.com/">My Writing Spot</a>: This one has some great features like allowing you to email documents from the program, it syncs with it's web version so you can manage your documents from any computer with web access, and it keeps up with your word count among other great things. (good for Droid and iPad. Note: there is both a free version and one with a price)</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.androidtapp.com/ak-notepad/">AK Notepad</a>: This app is great for jotting down quick notes and ideas before they evaporate from your cranium. It's simple and easy to use. (For Droid)</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.appbrain.com/app/outliner/at.ff.outliner">Outliner</a>: A great app that allows you an unlimited number of outlines, due dates, and keeps track of status to help you stay organized. As an added bonus the back button always saves the data. This one is more for the front side of your project. (For Droid and iPad)</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.thinkingspace.net/">Thinking Space</a>: This fierce flow charting app lets you outline in a more colorful way. You will see your ideas laid-out in an organized fashion and make some serious progress. (For Droid)</li><br /><li><a href="http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-socialnmobile-dictapps-notepad-color-note-zBit.aspx">ColorNote</a>: Keep your ideas organized through color coding. Set reminders so that you can badger yourself into finding time to write. This app also lets you set passwords if you want to keep your ideas secret until you're ready to unleash your writing greatness on the world. (For Droid)</li></ol><p>Although, I still love writing by hand in my notebook from the bottom of my heart. I can't deny that technology sometimes makes life a lot more organized and efficient. Hopefully these tools will help reduce the friction on your writing path and get you to your destination more quickly and easily. </p><p>Let me know if you have a favorite app or program that you like to use!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-83214145912270958782011-03-11T10:28:00.003-06:002011-03-11T10:52:24.978-06:00Writing Week in Review #3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j5nFF4j_APSAsF92ZiiCFurLVCyPi76VTFkX_CXe1hHpa6VwFRxhgNHRub2mdenWJ0QNDRdf0oNVAudLwIVLUZSWVxOTMNiYvLL2w-j8cGiKHSqLuHpJLvTXFAYgMKxrA57m-VP-2_Q/s1600/coffee_journal_mills1983-flickr_attrib_noderivs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582865995688644850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j5nFF4j_APSAsF92ZiiCFurLVCyPi76VTFkX_CXe1hHpa6VwFRxhgNHRub2mdenWJ0QNDRdf0oNVAudLwIVLUZSWVxOTMNiYvLL2w-j8cGiKHSqLuHpJLvTXFAYgMKxrA57m-VP-2_Q/s320/coffee_journal_mills1983-flickr_attrib_noderivs.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Happy Friday everyone! It's a beautiful and sunny morning here in Houston, an absolutely fabulous start to the weekend. In order to get your writing juices flowing, check out the following links I've stumbled upon in the last week:</div><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/getting-writing-done/">Getting Writing Done</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.creative-writing-now.com/">Creative Writing Ideas, Prompts, etc.</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/writing-the-first-chapter-a68642">Writing the First Novel Chapter</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://nargaque.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/5-things-that-cause-writers-block-and-how-to-avoid-them/">5 Things That Cause Writers Block (And How to Avoid Them)</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.novelr.com/2011/02/27/rich-indie-writer">The Very Rich Indie Writer</a> - This one made me want to go home and finish that trunk novel of mine so that I could put out an e-book a.s.a.p.</li><br /><li><a href="http://lateralaction.com/articles/story/">13 Ways of Looking at a Story</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://writetodone.com/2008/03/24/research-sources-for-writers-a-guide-to-backing-up-your-words/">Research Sources for Writers</a></li></ul><br /><p>Hopefully this group of links holds some help and inspiration for you. Have a happy weekend of writing!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-4128779333833479212011-03-04T09:05:00.007-06:002011-03-04T09:22:31.930-06:00The Writing Week in Review #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJEVCRu84mo2JCsLCqWbjFQhVsB7pwgHr6R1PbjER4VfCdt-y-IVQdCCnNVfb8vHMsdRqSvssucOBDvUhvzh77YK5__KtlonE72Ycl74_bpI9Gv1x7G2SGuJ5eE9oCEAzgW7nba9LU5g/s1600/writing3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 183px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580245143715539890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJEVCRu84mo2JCsLCqWbjFQhVsB7pwgHr6R1PbjER4VfCdt-y-IVQdCCnNVfb8vHMsdRqSvssucOBDvUhvzh77YK5__KtlonE72Ycl74_bpI9Gv1x7G2SGuJ5eE9oCEAzgW7nba9LU5g/s320/writing3.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It's another beautiful Friday! Here are some of the writing resources I came across this week:</div><br /><li><a href="http://lifeasahuman.com/2011/humor/barbarians-the-character-meme-of-2011/">Barbarians: The Character Meme of 2011</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/beat-blank-page-syndrome-10-tricks-to-get-your-writing-started.html">Beat Blank Page Syndrome: 10 Tricks to Get Your Writing Started</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://victoriamixon.com/2010/09/13/5-ways-to-make-your-novel-unforgettable/">5 Ways to Make Your Novel Unforgettable</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.write-thing.com/2011/02/01/11-reasons-you-wont-get-published/">11 Reasons You Won't Get Published</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.darcypattison.com/characters/9-traits-sympathetic-character/">9 Traits of Sympathetic Characters</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://menwithpens.ca/fiction-writing-what-makes-readers-care-about-your-characters">What Makes Readers Care About Your Characters?</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://chronicle.com/article/A-Classic-Nontextbook-on/126034/">A Classic Nontextbook on Writing</a></li><ul></ul><br /><p>I got some great feedback on my last Writing Week in Review so I'm going to make this a regular Friday blog post.</p><p>Let me know if there are topics yous guys are particularly interested in and I'll dedicate a week to links on those as well.</p><p>I hope everyone has a fabulous writing filled and productive weekend!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-70618805315142696002011-02-24T16:13:00.004-06:002011-02-24T16:42:15.704-06:00I'm Not Dead...Yet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5ub4WKxShsIYGsP41PsVPZRbQ4KSDRwcaxWO82ZXwvfgDY4_HCvdn12qIbw7JkJI-NoCLDd9_dj0cN4PvDeAXgqhCP6OB4_MlF7GQ2PuoIadwRosu_1pqhVv9NKm3zytW4WufqqdwHs/s1600/fallen.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577388948266933874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5ub4WKxShsIYGsP41PsVPZRbQ4KSDRwcaxWO82ZXwvfgDY4_HCvdn12qIbw7JkJI-NoCLDd9_dj0cN4PvDeAXgqhCP6OB4_MlF7GQ2PuoIadwRosu_1pqhVv9NKm3zytW4WufqqdwHs/s320/fallen.bmp" /></a><br /><div>Hello everyone! </div><br /><div>Although I've fallen off the blog wagon, I am still here. I promise. However, I've had a lot on my plate lately. For example:</div><ul><li>I'm working late and long hours for a project to keep us on time and under budget</li><li>I'm recovering from oral surgery I had last Friday (which the late and long hours are not helping...)</li><li>I've got a wedding date speeding toward me like a bullet train</li></ul><p>The good news is I have been able to keep up with my writing tip tweets (check them out! I'm @SouthernBella03) and I've got some fresh new blog posts I'm going to be rolling out starting TOMORROW!</p><p>I hope everyone is poised for a weekend of epic writing. Keep your eyes peeled for tomorrow's post!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-69748030941249191322011-02-11T10:26:00.004-06:002011-02-11T10:44:00.175-06:00The Writing Week in Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqb32adzT8sBk7o9sBJaMA_DEeEWiWJjaJyFmxcP771JMCEZQ1B8pukV7pCwNzR8EueRK2pOAaOKFSzn0dOExbzp5CQQUCjCkCY_K0Uo_MP5BN9gAaP79ImT9wgM4ovWK1lUfTVs15q8/s1600/writing2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572473627183073442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqb32adzT8sBk7o9sBJaMA_DEeEWiWJjaJyFmxcP771JMCEZQ1B8pukV7pCwNzR8EueRK2pOAaOKFSzn0dOExbzp5CQQUCjCkCY_K0Uo_MP5BN9gAaP79ImT9wgM4ovWK1lUfTVs15q8/s320/writing2.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Happy Friday everyone! Here's a collection of the fabulous writing resources I found on the interwebs this past week. Peep through them, and hopefully you will find something that helps your writing this weekend.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://kidlit.com/2009/07/29/making-your-writing-exciting-at-the-sentence-level/">Making Your Writing Exciting At the Sentence Level</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.aliventures.com/7-serious-habits/">7 Habits of Serious Writers</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://news.deviantart.com/article/80999/">Quick Tips for Improving Your Writing</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.everywritersresource.com/socialnetworkingsitesforwriters.htm">Social Networking Sites and Message Boards for Writers</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://writetodone.com/2009/10/20/the-tarot-as-a-tool-for-writing-your-novel/">The Tarot as a Tool for Writing Your Novel</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-use-a-plot-notebook-when-writing-a-book-a147394">How to Use a Plot Notebook When Writing a Book</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/2009/09/11/119-journal-prompts-for-your-journal-jar/">119 Prompts for Your Journal Jar</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://abagond.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/how-to-write-like-orwell/">How to Write Like Orwell and Abagond</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-15526324937927551292011-02-09T21:49:00.000-06:002011-02-09T21:50:56.962-06:00Method Writing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCUJA_bzqarb5F1kdXriZocYRC1wC1SryIgnPJVoUI8DM8jenlDpXWqO_6in6Nc0KTK-O0RPTDKmjHBm9NyPGYN5ggiSFmTZ0TyEdbdwKoDh8SFYFlJt7rRY2e8zYUsssrHZCjAU2RmI/s1600/drama.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571903027464424802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCUJA_bzqarb5F1kdXriZocYRC1wC1SryIgnPJVoUI8DM8jenlDpXWqO_6in6Nc0KTK-O0RPTDKmjHBm9NyPGYN5ggiSFmTZ0TyEdbdwKoDh8SFYFlJt7rRY2e8zYUsssrHZCjAU2RmI/s320/drama.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Do you write what you know? Do you write what you do? How do you fully flesh out something on the page when you don't have any experience in the topic? We're writers so we do our research...google, reading topical articles, talking to people in the know...but it can sometimes come out flatter than the page it's written on.<br /><br />Nothing comes close to first hand experience. After all how would you describe chocolate if you've never smelled it's aroma, tasted it on your tongue, or felt the way it melts against your cheek. If you have only seen pictures of it there's no way you can get it right.<br /><br />I was pondering this the other day when I remembered a drama class I took in high school where we covered the topic of method acting. The <em>basic</em> idea is: if you were playing the part of a homeless man, you would live that way for a few days or weeks, if you were playing the part of a nanny, you would borrow some kids to look after for a good period of time, if you were playing a sleep deprived mad man, you would forgo your pillow for a night or two...you get the point. In order to portray a role as purely as possible, they would experience their character's world on an intimate level.</div><br /><div>This same concept can be applied to our writing. Immerse yourself in a hobby or dabble in an interest of one of your characters. This may not always be affordable, legal, or sane. In those cases, google might be the best that you can get. But if for example, your MC likes to sew her own clothes, by all means, take a sewing class. It will give you a better understanding of why your MC might like sewing so much and at the same time it will help you broaden your horizons. Never a bad thing.</div><br /><div>How would this method be best applied to your characters and story? Feel free to share your ideas below!</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-57275012489090877662011-02-02T12:14:00.004-06:002011-02-02T12:25:15.041-06:00Rolling Blackouts are Killing Me Slowly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJx8QemPJzzOwjfJLpvpT8vpBnLBcLzZpXpEYl54kOpezZCd9J1fRjQ6O_SPuCPKvH7jjB1KEIRllK86PzXxo6D7hthJD4BJynJGsl9x3AzDAPtsGyeos1UrTTtGHa81rcOnGrh1PlCs/s1600/lights+out.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569159859231651458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJx8QemPJzzOwjfJLpvpT8vpBnLBcLzZpXpEYl54kOpezZCd9J1fRjQ6O_SPuCPKvH7jjB1KEIRllK86PzXxo6D7hthJD4BJynJGsl9x3AzDAPtsGyeos1UrTTtGHa81rcOnGrh1PlCs/s320/lights+out.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Because of this crazy-cold-for-Houston weather our energy provider has been ordered by a high muckity-muck to implement rolling blackouts across the state of Texas. Already this morning we've had three 45-minute outages and I'm estimating that another one is due to arrive at about 12:30ish (CST). Unfortunately we only have about an hour of power in between the outages. That doesn't leave a lot of time for us to get anything done round these parts.</div><br /><div>I'm kicking myself for not bring a book with me today (like I often do so I can read on my lunch hour) nor do I have my notebook (so I can write like I often do on my lunch hour)</div><br /><div>...grumble...grumble...grumble...</div><br /><div>So, I'm off to scrounge up some blank paper so maybe I can get some writing done the next time the lights go out.</div><br /><div>Of course it's definitely not as bad as some of you in the northern regions that are snowed in and under. Hopefully everyone is staying warm and safe and getting some writing done!</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-89511789504029001902011-01-23T16:19:00.001-06:002011-01-23T16:19:23.980-06:00New Writing Beginnings<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OARg2Z764Ss/TTypZzmh71I/AAAAAAAAANY/PiT9BU6BU9E/2011-01-23_16-11-49_925.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_OARg2Z764Ss/TTypZzmh71I/AAAAAAAAANY/PiT9BU6BU9E/s400/2011-01-23_16-11-49_925.jpg' /></a></p>It's a new year so I thougt it would be a good time to get a new note book for new ideas. There's a lot of "new" happening :). So I've parked myself at a table in my B&N with my new purchases and I'm working on that pesky plot bunny I mentioned in the previous post. <br/> <br/> I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and...here's to a painless Monday! (As painless as Mondays can possibly bee anyway)<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-51023549244304085852011-01-20T08:40:00.000-06:002011-01-20T08:48:51.743-06:00A Writing Epiphany on Epiphany<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzVt1tb05kgUdVURdsx9Ur9hMpfKUrGZXvfDjKNLhmipOJDbFx-YtITTMnlJkski-hyGhWkU-wbBRpodYKSdOVGkf_KBj86FFvpetaSZq-udX3quQTU5oKI5F_zF8HD9CQlx0YOeZiTE/s1600/reading.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564279483986072546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzVt1tb05kgUdVURdsx9Ur9hMpfKUrGZXvfDjKNLhmipOJDbFx-YtITTMnlJkski-hyGhWkU-wbBRpodYKSdOVGkf_KBj86FFvpetaSZq-udX3quQTU5oKI5F_zF8HD9CQlx0YOeZiTE/s320/reading.jpg" /></a><br /><div>On January 6th I downloaded a new-to-me audio book, The Year of the Flood by Margret Attwood from the Houston Public Library's Digital Catalogue. (Side note: I heart downloading audio books from the library! The files just expire when your time is up so you never have to worry about incurring an late fee. Not that I'm bad about that or anything *cough cough*) I was in the middle of listening to chapter 1 while plugging away at a statistical analysis on water well pumpage for a suburban community, an idea for a new story line hit me like a beer truck.</div><br /><div>While most people would be overjoyed to have been pounced on by a plot bunny that excited them this much, I was substantially annoyed.</div><br /><div>My inner monologue went something like this, "SERIOUSLY!?!?! I've barely started chipping away at my NaNoWriMo manuscript. WHY IS THIS ACCOSTING ME <em>NOW!?!?!" </em>Well truthfully, I'm annoyed and excited. I really do love this idea for a post-apocalyptic science-fiction story that just manifested from the dark depths of my cerebral cortex. I love it so much it's really difficult not to completly abandon my NaNo novel for a while just so I can flesh out this idea.</div><br /><div>While I'm figuring out just what to do with this rogue plot bunny that I'm head over heels for, I wanted to put this situation forth as evidence that reading is just as important to a writer as is the act of writing itself.</div><br /><div>Although I love reading with a passion. It's one of the first things to get squeezed out of my schedule when things in life get busy. And as proven by the events above, that can only be to the detriment of my writing life.</div><br /><div>P.S. I'm not finished with listening to the book yet, but so far it's really fabulous.</div>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-71355675591771801352010-12-21T08:52:00.011-06:002010-12-21T09:23:24.111-06:00Office ShenanigansSo I get into work this morning and discover this delightful scene:<br /><br />My manager's office...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC96hJvu1iB7zI4w58dU2DeyeezaG_UJtOh1hUujXmKnA-UiNwCYrbPzhnja19sBOyvmk8LX48fdZtiUAN6opkOnfuEmh-dybIFX_eznZN_x6N2X5NjTywGHYpB6x_8fs6C-1XYmsgQQ8/s1600/JasonOffice1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553151135567687090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC96hJvu1iB7zI4w58dU2DeyeezaG_UJtOh1hUujXmKnA-UiNwCYrbPzhnja19sBOyvmk8LX48fdZtiUAN6opkOnfuEmh-dybIFX_eznZN_x6N2X5NjTywGHYpB6x_8fs6C-1XYmsgQQ8/s320/JasonOffice1.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvYgnKlXYBBLBZ2SNC4p7rrT7sM820C0xWlnbJsMiX2FAGDb-6HT3EVME-3KAPsKNJEcG9AoxsVcAU4ovtwuyUOhU_yi9UPvM3WTq26tc6pVAIf0rwqVSfsHeF1psCADZkPxCpm_-zO8/s1600/JasonOffice2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553151295220738482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvYgnKlXYBBLBZ2SNC4p7rrT7sM820C0xWlnbJsMiX2FAGDb-6HT3EVME-3KAPsKNJEcG9AoxsVcAU4ovtwuyUOhU_yi9UPvM3WTq26tc6pVAIf0rwqVSfsHeF1psCADZkPxCpm_-zO8/s320/JasonOffice2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And one of my co-worker's cubes:<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553152117251717698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFHmUdEnD5vNkouFJdLykbxVRFegV6nYlgzJEhoedWmR9Ko99KR_yH3d-eHFv7ftundcnwaSM5rJiKordNJ9G0v9Qdol-itY6p8tIxJ_msx2H0l-ndQ2dgkZiIDEoOU8Q7uhXC6Fiy_4/s320/PdiddyCube.jpg" /><br />The perpetrator got the phone, the mouse, their Buc-ee's mugs, coffee cups, bookshelves, name plates, and drawers. Unfortunately he missed the USB powered nerf missile launcher that sits atop the cube wall. Although, the perp was none too smart and left scraps of wrapping paper on his desk. So, it was really easy to figure out who it was that spread the x-mas cheer all across their workstations. The choice of wrapping paper was an excellent one however. Kitty and puppy prints are very befitting of the guys that occupy these cubes. Just next time dude, hide the evidence.<br /><br />I'm still chugging along slowly but steadily with my NaNoWriMo novel edits. I'll have an update and lessons learned on that soon.</p><p>I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and a great holiday weekend!</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-36703285164729593672010-12-10T11:34:00.004-06:002010-12-10T11:34:00.638-06:00Coming out of the NaNoWriMo Coma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd2LAAiqyOK2H96rikKaEcIk-ziejls0VJByr1dbTmR1pDRVHg-Aorpoz_0lyEnu9Ad_DeeYTE5vNI3pfzXMno4dem_PHEcP6XzUgPyfa-vRXY7VxqV_hyphenhyphenLN9OaNXq_b0poUfdUQeXuk/s1600/writing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 197px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549097065495780082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd2LAAiqyOK2H96rikKaEcIk-ziejls0VJByr1dbTmR1pDRVHg-Aorpoz_0lyEnu9Ad_DeeYTE5vNI3pfzXMno4dem_PHEcP6XzUgPyfa-vRXY7VxqV_hyphenhyphenLN9OaNXq_b0poUfdUQeXuk/s320/writing.jpg" /></a><br /><div>NaNoWriMo 2010 has come to a close. And I have to say that I'm glad it's over. I started off strong right out of the gate getting in just over 2,600 words down on the first day. I stayed ahead of the target word count for the first 10 days or so, then I hit a wall. The idea well had dried up. It was imperative that I kept moving forward so I would write parts and pieces that weren't to my liking, but moved the story line forward. It would get me to a better place where I would pick up the pace when I got to a happier place with my plot. I rode this manic-depressive writing roller coaster for the last two-thirds of the month. There were some very dark and bleak times during the month of November where all hope was lost and I thought I wouldn't make it. In the end, I managed to pull it off by the skin of my teeth. </div><br /><div>The result is a 50k word manuscript that needs a lot of TLC. </div><br /><div>So where do I go from here? The obvious answer is edit. But, where do I begin? </div><br /><div>Before I move forward, my instincts are telling me to take a few steps back. The plan is to first revisit my characters. Some of the less than pleasing parts of the story are a result of not being able to answer the question, "What would this character do next?" Now that I have more time, I'm going to go back and do a more detailed character study for each of my MCs. Getting to know them better will help me work out some of the kinks in the plot. I'm going to do this first, even before going back and re-reading what I've written. </div><br /><div>Why? Because if I have a better handle on my characters, as I'm going back over the manuscript, I'll be able to provide more constructive criticism on the story. I'll be able to provide comments like "Have the MC take her dog for a walk first as is her normal routine" rather than "This part really sucks"</div><br /><div>If you're at the same point in your writing/editing process, you might find these character sheets helpful:</div><br /><li><a href="http://www.tarakharper.com/k_char2.htm">Tara K. Harper Character Worksheet</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.pameladowd.com/Adobe/CharacterDevelopmentChart.PDF">Pamela Dowd Character Worksheet</a></li><br /><li><a href="http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun98/lazy2.htm">The Lazy Scholar Character Worksheet</a></li>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-46690050175634723912010-11-16T10:36:00.001-06:002010-11-16T10:38:37.639-06:00Coming Up for AirHey everyone!<br /><br />I'm deep in the NaNoWriMo trenches. I'm coming up for a bit of air today. I'll have my NaNoWriMo Lesson #3 post up shortly so stay tuned!<br /><br />Happy Writing :)Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3236777363311736445.post-28545197104850977992010-11-09T11:55:00.003-06:002010-11-09T11:55:00.633-06:00NaNoWriMo Lesson #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaBmTm5QSDtR0WytLCmEGK-l-EXdatXIkUCnHGLABIIHovo73HW-e6vxS4n2oi6ZIHXXtu3EZBeBqWh7MHufl4jU-glyzsasuVxnPml-CbKF8vcx64fIEhtTIRgYg945MNGm7MDwKOr0/s1600/padding3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537576389236369282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaBmTm5QSDtR0WytLCmEGK-l-EXdatXIkUCnHGLABIIHovo73HW-e6vxS4n2oi6ZIHXXtu3EZBeBqWh7MHufl4jU-glyzsasuVxnPml-CbKF8vcx64fIEhtTIRgYg945MNGm7MDwKOr0/s320/padding3.jpg" /></a><br /><div>How to pad your word count...<br /></div><br /><div>It's day 9 of NaNoWriMo we're almost a third of the way through and all though I'm still typing full steam ahead, I'm looking down the road to the latter parts of the month when I will probably start running out of ideas.</div><br /><div>In order to get to 50k as efficiently as possible, consider these methods of word count padding:</div><br /><ul><li>Include lists of items. Is your character going to the grocery store or on a trip? Perhaps one of your characters likes to make a to do list to start off the day.</li><li>Introduce a character that likes to spontaneously break into song.</li><li>Take the time to include a detailed description of the scene. <em>Really</em> get descriptive. Include points on all five of the senses: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, and Sound. (Ooooh, Look! A list!)</li><li>Have the character get into a heated back and forth and back and forth argument. </li><li>Add a prologue or an epilogue. Each is good for an extra 1000 words or so!</li></ul><p>Keep that word count flowing! :)</p>Lyla Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08230858062157507087noreply@blogger.com3