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Writing BEREFT: My journey in 8 points.

1. I do well with an outline

a. The outline is a guide, and therefore very loose. Not set in stone.

2. I can write from 300-500 words after a day of work and 500- 1000 words on the weekends.

3. Scrivener really helps. Some features I used:

a. Word countdown sessions, where you set your goal and as you type, the word count goes down. It makes writing a lot less intimidating.

b. Read aloud—where a robovoice reads what you wrote aloud, and helps catches mistakes

4. Wordless music. My favorite is ambient/postrock/neoclassical. It puts my into the world I’m trying to create.

a. When stuck, putting on a silly song (like L’il Mama’s “Lip Gloss” or Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”) resets me. (And I be lovin’ it, lovin’ it)

5. Reading blogs and tweets about other writer’s journeys can be inspiring!

6. Reading blogs and tweets about other writer’s journeys can be depressing!

7. Keeping a concurrent journal where you can write down phrases and ideas and brainstorms while you write really helps

a. Carry a journal (if not The Journal) with you everywhere. Or use your smartphone/tablet to jot down any ideas that come to you immediately.

8. Having a friend on speed dial who can talk you down during those hard moments really helps!

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Orycon 34 Schedule

I finally got my schedule for Orycon 34, which happens from November 2-4 in Portland, Oregon.

Three Thumbs Up
Morrison             Fri Nov 2 2:00pm-3:00pm
Book and movie reviews have their own special pitfalls.  When to be
snarky, when to be nice, developing a style, filling a niche, and how to
stand out in a sea of freely-offered commentators and reviewers in print
and on the web.
(*)John C. Bunnell, Aaron Duran, Craig Laurance Gidney

Group 2 Horror Short Story
WW1                  Fri Nov 2 4:00pm-5:00pm

Wendy N. Wagner, Craig Laurance Gidney

Writing the Other: Races and Cultures
Morrison             Fri Nov 2 5:00pm-6:00pm
Speculative fiction often takes steps toward being more egalitarian, but
there are still huge challenges ahead.  Issues of appropriation, respect,
stereotypes, and taking chances.  How to get educated and still write
naturally and from the heart.
J. A. Pitts, Stoney Compton, Alma Alexander, (*)Grá Linnaea, Craig
Laurance Gidney

Craig Laurance Gidney’s reading
Grant                Sat Nov 3 11:00am-11:30am

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Inspiration and the Perfect Day

Today was a perfect day. The weather was that lovely moderately temperate 72 degrees. The sky was glassy blue and cloudless. And it was the Annual National Book Festival, that takes place on the National Mall. With my friend and fellow book nerd, Chris Herrmann, I saw heard authors talk and read about their books. Authors seen include: the graphic novelist Craig Thompson; Justin Torres (author of “We The Animals”); rock star author Junot Diaz; and fellow spec fic author Nalo Hopskinson. All of the authors gave inspiring speeches, which help during the completion of BEREFT.

(Pictured: Nalo Hopkinson and me, along with a young fan of Nalo’s. Picture by author Tom Doyle)

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Synopsis of BEREFT, my forthcoming novella

Rafael Fannen is a 13-year old boy who has won a minority scholarship to Our Lady of the Woods, an all male Catholic college preparatory school. He lives with his mother who is chronically ill with an undiagnosed illness and also suffers from mental illness, which no one will discuss. Winning the scholarship quickly turns into a nightmare, as Rafe has to deal with the racism of his fellow students and his teachers. Rafe has an ally in Tomas, another scholarship winner from his neighborhood, and they bond against the racism and classism of their fellow students. But that connection is soon sundered.

In addition to the culture shock, Rafe also has to deal with his burgeoning sexuality. Rafe is caught staring at Toby, an attractive and charismatic classmate, in the shower, Toby begins a relentless campaign of bullying against Rafe, including violent encounters. When someone tags the school campus with graffiti, Toby makes sure Rafe becomes the chief suspect. It becomes so bad that even Tomas distances himself from Rafe. The only person who seems sympathetic to him is the chaplain, Vicar Angus Connell. But it soon becomes apparent that the Vicar has designs on Rafe.

When Rafe decides to fight back and take control of his life, the lives of everyone around him will change. But none more than his own.

Bereft addresses the issues of bullying, sexuality, child abuse, mental illness and racism in a haunting and deeply compelling style.

 
It’s out in January 2013 and available for pre-order at various online venues!
 
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Mentioned by Tanith Lee!

sffchronicles: Are there any new authors that you would like to recommend?

Tanith Lee: Ivan Bunin — though he’s hardly ‘new’ — but he was new to me until a couple of years back. His work concerns many places, including a vanished Pre-Revolution Russia, and varieties of people portrayed with a perfection of lightness and depth. A unique and beautiful Master. Out in the contemporary SF/Fantasy tumult, established but still among the younger team: Liz Williams, Storm Constantine, Ian Whates, Leigh Kennedy, Neal Asher, Craig L. Gidney, Sarah Singleton, Chaz Brenchley. Also Vera Nazarian — Lords of Rainbow in particular, a stunning idea, fabulously employed — a book to submerge in!

I can die now….or work more! The rest of the interview