Into the Fun Stuff Now
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Here’s a little snippet from How to Write Page-Turning Scenes.

Here is an example of the simplest of all possible scenes. Omniscient narrator, no characters, no props, one change. (I have thrown in time, but could have done the scene without it and had the same result. I just happen to like light and dust motes.)

White wall, white ceiling, cold and stark and simple. And silence, nonbreathing silence, patient, without creaks or ticks or hums. Light, morning light came through that far window and cast squares of whiter white high up, and dust motes sparkled. And then a stain on the white ceiling, first pale, and then dark red like old roses, red that grew glossy, a little mar in the perfection. And then a drop. Red. Slid from the ceiling down the wall, a single jagged line that traced itself over textured paint, dancing, dancing, while the dust motes sparkled and the bright white squares of the morning sun tracked down the wall ahead of it.

It doesn’t take a lot to build a compelling scene, to catch the attention, to make the reader shiver just a little and picture not just a corner of a wall with squares of light on it, but a body lying dead and still and punctured somewhere up above.

Finally….. Page-Turning Scenes Is Underway
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First there was the book deadline.

Then there was the fact that I forgot April 15th is coming, and needed to get seven tons of paperwork to my accountant.

So today, finally, after a week of math and papercuts, I’m getting to have some fun. How to Write Page-Turning Scenes is underway.

Your list of questions is front and center on my desk, my outline is on the screen in front of me, and I’m grateful some of the course is already written. But much remains, and I’m excited to dig into it.

Onward.

QUESTIONS: Page-Turning Scenes
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I’m revising like mad, but because I’m behind my planned completion dates on both SILVER DOOR and HOW TO WRITE PAGE-TURNING SCENES, I’m going to multitask a little here.

If you have any questions about writing scenes, or if you have a specific problem you trip over when you write scenes, please post them here.

I know what I think is important in writing scenes, and I’ve already outlined that and have it ready to go when SILVER DOOR goes to the editor. I don’t know, however, if I’ve missed some of the things you need or want to know.

Just let me know.

What About YOUR Success Story?
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Have you had success with one of my courses? If you have, I really want to hear about it. Please tell me below.

Members-only Sale Updates
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If you’re on the Writers’ Updates newsletter and you have questions about or need help with the February Sucks sale, you can ask or post here. I’ll be checking the blog all day. And all day tomorrow. And by putting everything here, some questions might be answered that folks participating while I’m asleep might need.

If you’re not getting the newsletter, it’s not too late to join. Still about twenty minutes left on the countdown before things actually start.

Added.
Typing in the live countdown by hand. Four minutes left.

10:21

Gone In Seven Minutes

The Hawkspars and All the Talyn Hardcovers plus the Talyn ARC were actually gone in seven minutes.

Lots of stuff left. I’m doing a mad cut and paste just to keep people up with the book they got. Thank yous will go out when things slow down.

Holly

Last 13 Books

I can’t believe it, but I’m already out of all the books but the last thirteen, which are one-offs. I got caught up on the notifying folks of which book they got (check your PayPal email if you haven’t heard from me yet), but I haven’t had time to send out thank yous. This is the first time I’ve had a chance to breathe.

Corrected Hawkspars

Uploaded the correct versions of the Hawkspar First Draft Manuscript and the Hawkspar Revised Manuscript. Very sorry about the error. Weather here is unreal, but for now, power is still on.

Power Went Off, Came Back On

We’re through the first line of storms, but there’s another even bigger one behind in. Keep your fingers crossed that the hamster stays healthy.

Have Lost Internet Twice

And the next line of storms is almost to us. I’ve been answering e-mails in the meantime, but I’m not holding my breath on us having either internet OR power when the next storms come over.

Almost Done With Writing Discipline
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How To Find Your Writing DisciplineI’ve written just over 3000 words today, and How to Find Your Writing Discipline is about finished. I’ll wrap writing tomorrow and polish on Monday, with the goal of having the workshop downloadable by late Monday afternoon or Tuesday of next week.

This is my system for getting a whole lot of writing done while also homeschooling my kid, working on my website, spending time with my husband, getting knitting done, and the usual housework, bill-paying, and other time clutter that everyone ends up dealing with.

How To Find Your Writing Discipline it’s available for preorder here.

And before I forget, by popular request, gift certificates are now available at the HollyShop. Left column, top box. If you were looking for a way to give your favorite writer something from the HollyShop, it just got easier.

And All the Pieces Are Back Together
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So. Heard from Air Force Kid, and he’s okay. That’s my huge news.

Big news is, the store is back up and running, and has two new goodies.

21 ExplodeThe small one is 21 Ways to Get Yourself Writing When Your Life Has Just Exploded, which I wrote in response to a friend who was beta testing the writer’s block course, but was trying to write after just coming off a couple years of major life upheavals. This is an area where I have lots of practice. I realized that a series of instantly usable solutions to specific writing questions would probably be useful, so this is the first in the CRITICAL SKILLS SERIES.

The next one will probably be 7 Steps to Getting the Book Written When You Have A Job, A Life, Kids, Three Pets, and You Want to Sleep AND Eat, Too.

BWBAnd the final version of How To Beat Writer’s Block (And Have FUN Writing From Now On) is available now, too. It includes 21 Ways, and has gotten some terrific feedback from the beta testers (some of which I’ve included on the page.)

And now, because I’ve been working 14-hour day for the past two weeks, and more than that the past two days, I’m going to go sack out on the couch and take a nap.

Off tomorrow, back to writing Moon & Sun II on Wednesday.