Author: J.I. Soucie

Christian, wife, mom, and pet lover with a love and passion for reading and writing.
Camp NaNoWriMo, General Updates, november nano

Sci Fi Research Ongoing

J.I. Soucie

Well I have been reading a book titled The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction: 6 Steps to Writing and Publishing Your Bestseller.

This is the book description:

Publication Date: June 18, 2010

Science fiction and fantasy is one of the most challenging–and rewarding!–genres in the bookstore. But with New York Times bestselling author Philip Athans and fantasy giant R. A. Salvatore at your side, you’ll create worlds that draw your readers in–and keep them reading!

Just as important, you’ll learn how to prepare your work for today’s market. Drawing on his years of experience as one of the most acclaimed professionals in publishing, Wizards of the Coast Edited by Athans explains how to set your novel apart–and break into this lucrative field. From devising clever plots and building complex characters to inventing original technologies and crafting alien civilizations, Athans gives you the techniques you need to write strong, saleable narratives.

Plus! Athans applies all of these critical lessons together in an unprecedented deconstruction of a never-before-published tale by the one and only R. A. Salvatore!

There are books on writing science fiction and fantasy, and then there’s this book–the only one you need to create strange, wonderful worlds for your own universe of readers!

——————————-

I have read a decent way through this book already and am finding some useful information, but I know I still have more to read and a LOT to learn about writing SCI FI. I have a feeling if I started writing a SCI FI novel for NaNo this year, that it may end up being a fantasy instead. I guess that is because fantasy is what I am most familiar with.

When I think SCI FI, I think aliens, spaceships, strange planets. I admit my range of SCI FI knowledge is quite limited even though I love Star Trek and Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica. I am still a little confused on what makes up SCI FI other than there has to be some element of Science in the book. Now when it comes to Science there is a whole world out there of what could be used. I get stumped on where to go and so forth. At this point I am just feeling rather overwhelmed with this and how it all works. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Maybe once I finish reading the book I’ll have a better understanding. Let’s hope!!! :) So far the book is good and I have learned about several SCI FI authors that I have never heard of before but now that I know about them, can begin reading their work. I am thinking a SCI FI novel may have to wait until Camp NaNo next year after I have had time to learn more about the SCI FI writing world. Something I will have to think about and make a decision on.

Best of luck to all you writers!!!

 

november nano

Research for November NaNo Story

J.I. Soucie

Well, I talked some things over with my hubby who is a great sounding board for me. I was struggling with what genre I wanted to try and write a story in. We are both Trekkies and so he suggested watching Star Trek for ideas for a sci fi story. I thought about it for maybe a split second and totally agreed it was a good idea. Of course I would start with the Original TV series which is my favorite no matter how unrealistic it may seem to today’s TV series and movies. And then perhaps, when I am finished with the original series I’ll watch the Next Generation, which I have seen some of but not much.

Then this gets me thinking further about other space like movies or TV shows I like and I am led to Star Wars. Ah, so there goes more research and ideas.

…..Then there is also Battlestar Galactica which I have seen several episodes and find it very intriguing. Still need to continue watching the series.

Okay, okay. So you’re probably wondering: “How far is she going to go with all this ‘research’?” Good question. I really don’t know. I watch these until I have enough ideas to form a story. Let’s just hope I am able to get this all in BEFORE NaNo starts, or at least have enough to start a story and then watch more of these at night while my husband is in bed. Will be fun trying to watch these movies on my laptop with my headphones on and a notebook and pen in my lap for any ideas that pop out at me.

I can just see myself now and it makes me laugh! Ah, but what fun this is being a creative soul. You never know where your imagination will take you or what precarious situations you will find yourself in just to get those good ideas.

Well, off to do some fun “research”! Night all and best of luck in your story planning!

 

november nano

National Novel Writer’s Month Is Around the Corner

J.I. Soucie

Here we are and it’s almost mid October already. Can you believe it? November is soon approaching and with that means National Novel Writers’ Month and writing so many words a day to reach that word count of at least 50,000 words.

Now is the time we must be thinking about what kind of story we would like to write, and live in for the next month….and really longer as I am sure many will continue to work on their books even after November ends until the book is finished. I know that is what I plan to do.

I am not sure what my story is going to be about. I love so many time periods it is hard to choose, but I also love fantasy and science fiction. Then there are always stories written based on real life experiences. I am not sure which I want to do yet. Thankfully I have a little time to think about it, but really I can’t think too long as I will need some time to work on background work for characters for whichever I choose to write. Ugh! It is so hard to decide when you have so many interests.

Do any of you find it hard to begin a story because you have so many things you are interested in writing about, or including in your story? How do you decide what to write about? I’d love to hear your comments.

 

Uncategorized

Colds All Around & Writing Going Slow

J.I. Soucie

These past couple of weeks have been rough. My daughter caught a cold and had a fever and then my husband got sick and now me. I still have so many ideas in my head and writing I want to do, but my body is protesting and my mind is just like “Please! Let me sleep! I beg of you.” But it is hard to keep a writer down. My current project is for the Voice 4 Society blog. I am working on an article about losing my mother at the age of seventeen. I didn’t just “lose” her, it didn’t happen that quick. She went in to the ER because she was getting sick and was running a fever. Come to find out my mother’s gall bladder was full of stones and she was beginning to turn yellow. She went in for immediate surgery, had her gall bladder removed and then….BAMB!!!! We were hit with the news! My mother also had cancer. For the next four months, day and night, I cared for my mother most of the time until I became so sleep deprived I could not hear her cries for help in the night and my own health was not that great. I am writing a story on this and how God helped me through each and every moment and how He is still helping me to this day with the memories and with daily life.

General Updates, november nano

Busy Days

J.I. Soucie

 

I tell ya, last night and this morning have been busy. My bedroom is also my office right now and you can imagine the papers and books everywhere and how I have to keep the floor clean and… ugh. It’s not just writing things that get piled up, it’s magazines and newspapers I like to read that may become places to submit material, and then craft projects I am trying to work on to make sure they are done by Christmas…and gifts to send to family members who have had babies recently…

So, I have been really cleaning up and going through my files to see if there are papers I still need or not. I guess it’s like spring cleaning at the end of summer.  lol Guess I’m late on getting the spring cleaning bug. Well, not really. All year I have been trying to clean and organize so I can get to my cooking school, my writing school, and my Bible study, but the clutter was just too much. Today, I think I will manage to get a system together and FINALLY have things straightened out and have a work flow at my desk and be able to accomplish all that I would like in a day.

I’m off to finish the rest of the cleaning and organizing and then to get some tasks such as snail mailing some friends, and working on my schools and Bible study. Also to track my foods and activity at Sparkpeople.com which has helped me to lose about 39 pounds so far. I am thinking of writing about my experiences with SparkPeople and how the websites tools and supportive community have helped me so far as well praying to God to help me keep going on this way to renewing my body for His service.

So many ideas swimming in my head for things to write. It’s old times where my imagination is just wild at the moment and itching to get to writing. I must go for now, and finish what little cleaning and organizing I need to do and then get to work.

Take care all, and don’t forget that the November NaNo is not far away!!! I’m excited! Are you excited?

Also, do any of you writers have desks that just never seem to be clean. You find something interesting and set it on your desk to look at it later and then it just seems to keep happening? How do you deal with clutter and keep it from happening?

Until next time,

Have a great day!

 

Winghill Writing School

Winghill Writing School

J.I. Soucie

 

Yesterday, my first shipment from Winghill Writing School arrived and I was so shocked at all of the materials I received. This looks like it is going to be a really good course. I received 2 DVDs on successful writing, 3 DVDs on marketing your writing, a CD of Encyclopedia Britannica, a CD of openofice 3 in case I didn’t already have a word processor, and six textbooks titled: How to Write for Cash, A Novelist’s Commonplace Book, How to Write Fiction for Cash, A Novel Approach, Writing and Selling Articles, and Writing for Love and Money.

I am going to be learning so much in this course. I have units 1-4 right now and those will cover:

1) Getting to Know You

2) Introduction

3) Beginning the Writing Process

4) Developing Working Parameters

Started working on my first assignment last night, which really is just a profile on me. They ask some questions to help get to know you and the questions really make you think about yourself. They get your mind churning and your fingers moving on the keys. A good place to start I think.

Well, best get crackin’ if I am going to get this assignment in today, or at least I hope to. Can’t wait to see what comes of this course.

 

Uncategorized

Winghill Writing School & Other Thoughts

J.I. Soucie

Last week I signed up for a memoir writing course through Winghill Writing school. I have three books I’d like to write and all are memoirs, but writing memoirs and organizing them are new to me. I am more of a fiction writer so nonfiction sure is stretching my wings. Hopefully, I’ll learn enough in these few months before the November NaNo that I’ll be able to work on one of these books. If not though, I am sure I’ll be able to come up with a fiction novel for November. Have had some inspiration lately so we’ll see what comes of it and what happens in the next few months with schooling and developing a story for the November NaNo. 

My writing style and interests have changed quite a bit over the past seven or so years. I used to be more heavily into the fantasy stuff, but now I am finding myself drifting toward historical fiction. That is a newer area for me, but I am finding it interesting the time periods I like and the research that needs to be done. Good think I like writing AND researching. Certainly believe this writing and researching and the patience to do it all until a work of completion is a gift from God. I know I have had many people tell me they don’t know how I write things so easily or come up with so much to write. To tell the truth, I don’t know either, unless it is God guiding me to ideas and stories, and I believe He is. I always try to keep God in EVERYTHING I do. 

So, for tonight, since I have a busy and long day tomorrow, I will end the evening with some candles, light music, and some Bible study. I know keeping a close relationship with God will drive me in the right direction in life and to what I should be doing that will help others in their lives. I may not know how, but I know God does. I leave tonight, with best wishes for all and a good night’s rest or a very good morning, depending on what part of the world you are on.

May God bless you daily and surprise you signs that He is there, helping you along.

Good night,

Janis

Camp NaNoWriMo

Day 30 of August Camp NaNo – Early Morning

J.I. Soucie

 

Well, folks, here it is the second to last day of Camp NaNo for 2012. I must say my book is at 36,000 but I have hit a road block. I know what I want my book to be about, but putting facts and everything in the right order and weaving things together so they flow is getting hard to do on the computer.

I think I am going to have to do this long hand so, unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I’ll reach finish line for Camp NaNo this year, but hey, it was a fun experience and just showed me I needed to do more preparation for this month than I had thought. I shall remember for when November comes around.

I also started taking a writing course for memoir writing from Winghill Writing School so I hope that helps me learn more about putting things in the right order and making everything flow better. I mean, the next three books I am going to write are all about some experiences I have had in my life and how God has helped me through them. They are pretty big life changing events so I think a book for each one would be a good idea. Otherwise, I just feel it would be too much for one book.

Anyway, that is my update. I’m cheering the rest of you Campers on! You can do it!!!!

 

Book Reviews

Rev. Robert E. Stoudt’s Valley of Depression, Mountain of Victory

J.I. Soucie

Just a few minutes ago I finished reading, Valley of Depression, Mountain of Victory, by Rev. Robert E. Stoudt. In his book, Pastor Stoudt talks about this decent into depression, which we all know can happen in various ways, but for him, it was due to several deaths happening close together. When you read through this book you will discover how life became hard for him during his depression and panic attacks and what things he did that helped get through that valley of darkness and how God helped him back to the top of the mountain top.

This book is full of insight into the world of depression and how it can change one’s life, yes, even a Pastor’s life. No one is safe from depression and can people of all ages and of any race and in any career. Pastor Stoudt also offers several references into the Bible that support and add to his writing and show, clearly, how God is there to help you through affliction and that afflictions helps us to grow stronger and be more Christ-like, which is what we Christians strive for.

You will also find poetry and lyrics in this book that are a beautiful addition to this work.

I admit, I really felt for Pastor Stoudt in this book, knowing myself what it was like going through depression, and quite a while I was praying to God for help in my own writing because I could not figure out what to write about. When I started reading Valley of Depression, Mountain of Victory it was like BAMB! God had given me my answer. Like Pastor Bob, I too could write about what caused my depression and anxiety disorder and how my faith also helped me through to that mountain top. I could not believe through months of prayer and waiting on God for an answer of what He would like me to do, that my answer would come from reading a book. But that’s just the thing with God. He gives you answers when you least expect it and in ways you never think of. He is full of surprises and that is just one of the things I enjoy about my relationship with God. He never ceases to amaze me.

Above, I briefly wrote about Pastor Stoudt’s book, but I plan on writing a  more detailed review of his book soon. Then to follow that will be an author interview. So please check back in couple of weeks or so for those items.

The next book by an Indie author is The Spirit Keeper by Melissa Luznicky Garret. You can find out more about Melissa by visiting her blog.

I’ll be back soon! ;)

Camp NaNoWriMo

Day 25 of August Camp NaNo – Late Evening

J.I. Soucie

 

It has been a busy day around home today…planting eight pink lady apple trees all grown from seed, watering them, tending the vegetable garden, cooking dinner, having a bath, then Bible study with my husband and father in law and so on. It was a great day with beautiful warm weather with a refreshing breath of wind. What an awesome day God has given us here and now, after having a glass of Sangria for the first time, I am feeling relaxed, all be it a little sleepy, but I am finally able to sit down and work on my story again.

How far I will get depends on my ability to keep my eyelids open. lol. That should be job in itself. But I will belt out some words no matter what. Don’t think I’d be able to sleep well knowing I didn’t at least write SOMETHING today…er…this evening.

So I will go for now and continue working on chapter three. I made a great dent in the chapter last night so I hope to make a bigger dent in it tonight. Curious to see how far I will go.

**God, please help me with this endevour and to succeed at my goal, Amen.**

Here goes!