Sunday Salon - character study

Nasturtium Waterdrop by Zen
So Spring segued right into Summer in a flash, which really isn't surprising. Sacramento's weather has a tendency to change on a dime.   I can't complain because now I can sit out on my patio in the morning, enjoy nature and write.  I think I'm more productive in the spring and summer - just something about listening to the birds singing, the breeze rustling the leaves and the cats hanging out and getting into mischief.   James has also started working ahead a bit with his lessons in the hopes of finishing everything by mid June so we can take a longer vacation. 



I've come up with a plan, a project, to avoid the summer doldrums and kept him from overdoing technology.  We are going to design and build bookshelves for his room.  He will have to be actively involved in every step and I think once he finds out, he could possible earn a little bit of extra spending money, he'll be jumping on board with the plan.

I've been editing my current wip and trying to keep the same schedule as when I was writing the draft.  Getting up early morning, reviewing and revising. However it's been extremely slow.  Over on Query Tracker Danyelle talks about left brain and right brain thinking and how it's easier for her to do right brain in the morning and left brain in the evening. Really!  Is that the problem?  Maybe so, maybe not.   I do all my best thinking in the morning and past 3:00, lessons better be done or my brain short circuits.  However,  I usually end up writing blog posts in the afternoon or evening so.... A bit of experimenting this week. 

Check on my fellow rowers here



I going to delve into my characters heads this week.  I found a great list of questions on Query Tracker "Dig a Little Deeper - Getting to know Your Characters" that I used when writing Red Thief and found out some things about my characters wouldn't have otherwise.  Asking your male characters to describe their hands or where do you have a scar and how did you get it or what is something you feel guilty about really gets the creative juices flowing as well as reveals alot about your characters.


The Sunday Salon.com


Of course, all life stopped Thursday when Nora Robert's latest book "The Witness" arrived.  As far as I'm concerned she can do no wrong.  Thoroughly enjoyed it.  I finally gave up on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.  It's one of those books I have to be in the mood for and just not finding that mood. So back on the shelf it goes.   I'm still working on The Brothers Karamazov and decided to read it as my main book instead of just treadmill book and hopefully make some better progress. 

And I'm currently listening to J.D.Robb's Judgment in Death - #11 from her Death Series.  Susan Ericksen does a wonderful job with all the voices and accents. I find myself listening now when cooking dinner or doing laundry.  Guess I'm hooked.    I've also discovered women narrators does a much better job with men's voices than male narrators do with female voices.  I was listening to one story and the male narrator reminded me too much of  Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes drag queen characters from the movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar and kept throwing me out of the story.  

Do you have any favorite audio book narrators and what are you reading this week?


8 comments:

  1. I found solitude a hard read - managed in the end - have the brothers waiting for my mammoth book challenge - been stuck in a Terry Pratchett groove last couple of weeks - the holiday plan sounds great - not sure i could manage a bookcase - never been known for my straight lines:) good luck for this coming week

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, Robin!

    I'm all about planning summer projects with my kids. We'll be doing loads of painting this summer - and planting/weeding. I found these cute patterns for garden stakes.

    I've been reading books on the
    1100's. Interesting, but not the fiction I crave. I hope to read The Oracle of Stanbul, Michael David Lukas.

    I haven't been by in awhile! You're new look (or not so new as the case may be...lol) is great.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, thanks for that character link. Maybe that'll help re-spark something :)

    I don't listen to a lot of audio books, it's something I want to get into more, but I love Phil Gigante's voice.

    All the best for the upcoming week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck with figuring out the left brain and right brain writing stuff. I know if I don't do some writing early in the day I usually can't get to it at all! As for reading, I just finished Everneath by Brodi Ashton. It was interesting, still mulling it over and deciding exactly what I think of it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I wish I could write..my oldest is currently working on a book and so far it's coming together pretty good. I envy your great weather. Today it was sunny but cold and windy!!

    Hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the sound of this summer project! That will be a great way to get your son engaged. :D

    Thanks for the link on character descriptions. Looks like that'll be useful to add to the writing arsenal.

    Have a great week, Robin!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Have you finished that new Nora Roberts book? How was it?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ah, Robin, exactly what I needed, more ways to reconnect with my characters. Thank you!

    I know what you mean by Marquez's Solitude. It's a wonderful book, but I didn't finish it either... Just needed the right mental state.

    One of these days I must try one of Nora Robert's books. Probably will be the time I restart doing audio books again... So much of the time I spend with my hand occupied and in transit lately, having that way to absorb my fiction would be wonderful.

    Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete

Unfortunately due to being spammed, all comments will be moderated and will appear after approval. At least I'm not using the dreaded captcha. Thank you for dropping by!