Welcome

Welcome to my blog! Please join me as I journey towards finding an agent for my first young adult novel. Between writing, endless snapping of photos, sleep deprivation, taking care of two adorable little girls, and oh yes, the laundry, I'm sure it's going to be a bit crazy on the way to the awaited publication.

I'm open to any tips, critique, or random musings about the things I write or the photos I take, so feel free to email me or comment below.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Salt of the Earth / 2nd Campaigner Challenge

All I can say is WOW. This new challenge of Rachael's has definitely been the most difficult. I gave a bash at it but didn't do all of them. I chose #2, the 200 word short story/flash fiction based on all the prompts and #4, a poem using five sentences based on the prompts.  To view the rules and prompts, they are at the bottom of this post. 

My entries are:

# 2. (200 word flash fiction piece using all the prompts)



*****
Salt of the Earth

They have our son.


Those words echoed over and over as my soul shattered piece by piece. I held my breath as Jacob and I searched up and down the beach, flipping over trash and debris. Maybe he was just hiding. I noticed children scavenging through garbage. Was he with them?

Jacob motioned before lunging into the water and splashed around like a madman. He caught Isaac’s red coat. It was drenched with sand and poisonous salt, but still, no Isaac. I couldn’t go anywhere near it, if the salt were to contaminate the deep gash on my leg, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

My throat tightened. The ball Isaac found should have been my first clue. If only I had said no to the rare toy. They must have used it to lure him away. The Salt Spinners always took the healthy children.

Sobs erupted from my throat as I sat beneath the rusted bridge. Jacob returned, his wet hair full of salt and his eyes bursting with rage.

“I still have the Salt Spinner’s Pear, I can get to Isaac.” With a single toxic bite, Jacob burst into golden molecules.

Before I could stop him, he was gone.
*****

#4. (Poem in five sentences, each based on the prompts)

They sit beneath the bridge in complete despair,
     pondering the game of life and how it’s so unfair.

They watch their only child run with such glee,
     for even he can’t understand such deep misery.

Even the pears were once fresh with life,
     but are now so toxic and kill quicker than a knife.

Even the other children live on the lethal shore
     with nothing to eat and no one to love them at all anymore.

But if one were to actually eat a Salt Spinner’s Pear,
     would it really kill him or send him from here to there?


If you liked it enough to vote, please "like" me by clicking HERE. (this is a direct link, only click once because this page will stay the same)

To go to the Linky List page and view all of the votes and entries, please go HERE. (I'm #36)


The rules are:

1.  Write a pitch / logline for a book based on the prompts (less than 100 words)
      I am sooo not good at these. I attempted, but scratched it. I'll have to do without. :)

2.  Write a short story / flash fiction piece of less than 200 words based on the prompts
     Check!

3.  Write a poem with a twist using the prompts as inspiration (in less than 200 words)
     Haha! I'm only good for about one poem per challenge.

4.  Write a story / poem in five sentences, each sentences based on one of the prompts
     Check! (or at least my puny attempt at a poem)

5.  Write a poem / flash fiction piece (in less than 200 words) about the water pear *without* using the words "pear", "spoon", or "droplet"
     Umm, nope, couldn't get this one right either.

For added difficulty / challenge:

1.  Complete at least three of the above activities and tie them all together with a common theme
     I tried but no luck :( Although my two have a common theme. Bonus points?

2.  Write in a genre that is not your own
     Dystopian feel is definitely not my cup of tea. I like reading it, just not good at writing it.

3.  Ask Challenge Entrants to critique your writing.
     Okey dokey. Have at it my fellow campaigners! Just remember, it's choppy due to the word count limit. 
     Otherwise, have at it!

The prompts are:

Prompt 1: Two people are sitting together under the remains of a concrete bridge. Their backs are against a rusted bridge support. One person's leg is cut. The other person has wet hair.


Prompt 2
(Source)

Prompt 3
(Source)


Prompt 4
(Source)

Prompt 5
(Source)
©Alynza Smith 2012





Monday, February 20, 2012

War of Shadows / 1st Campaigner Challenge 2012


Today is the First Campaigner Challenge of Rachael Harrie’s Fourth Platform Building Campaign!

The challenge is to write a short story / flash fiction in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.

For an additional (optional) challenge:

·         End the story with the words: “everything faded.” (also included in word count)
·         Include the word “orange” in the story
·         Write in the same genre you normally write
·         Make your story 200 words exactly!
  
 So here is my 200 word count short story. Enjoy!


 *****

(Source)
War of Shadows

Shadows crept across the wall of the forest leaving only darkness. I glanced over my shoulder as I ran, but didn’t dare look for long, otherwise I would be lost in the horrid beauty of it. Blackness so complete, absorbed every stream of light in its wake. There was nothing to do but run.

With a voracious appetite, it swallowed the vivid green of the leaves and the swirling colors of the wild flowers. Even the heels of my feet chilled as the shadows played with the bare soles of my feet.

Running was useless, but if the orange glow above the canopy of trees refused to give in, then I refused as well. The blazing sun was oblivious that its end was near, that the shadows had won.

I ran even faster and jumped over fallen limbs and moss covered rocks willing myself to make the last few steps to the forest’s edge. But the chills danced up my spine and took hold, refusing to play anymore. I fell to the ground with my eyes on the distant glow and watched as the blazing red tendrils of the sun gave in. Within seconds it was over and everything faded.

 *****

If you liked it enough to vote, please "like" me by clicking HERE. (this is a direct link, only click once because this page will stay the same)

To go to the Linky List page and view all of the votes and entries, please go HERE. (I'm #33)


©Alynza Smith 2011





Saturday, February 11, 2012

Software for writing

Do you use any type of writing software? I've recently been playing around with a few of them and I would like to let you know what I have found so far. Of course, this is all based on my very unprofessional opinion after all. :)

I tried four different writing software programs and three different writing processors.

So let's get on with it shall we!

Writing Software:
yWriter5
Scrivener
Celtx
Text Block Writer

Word Processors:
Microsoft Office - Word
OpenOffice.org - Writer
Libre Office - Writer


1.  yWriter5

(Source)
Platform: Windows & Linux (although, they do have an updated Windows version available in Beta)

Price: Free!

Version tried: Windows Free version

Formatting: There's a learning curve because of so many features, but once I got a good grip by reading the yWriter5 Wiki page, I was able to format the manuscript with double spacing and indents! A must-have for me. :) From here on out, everything else is pretty easy.

Review: For being a free software, I say it's just about as good as Scrivener! It even has some features that I never found in Scrivener like all the input tabs for scene descriptions, context, characters, locations, items, goals, conflicts & outcomes. It also has a really cool tracking feature that tracks how many scenes the characters are in. If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I like the "Big Picture" when writing and this definitely is a plus in my book. I can also re-arrange the chapters because they are individually listed as files in the left column as well as keep track of my word count chapter by chapter or as a whole text. LOVE that feature. It was very easy to upload my file and converted nicely. :)

Yay or Nay: YAY! I really, really, really love this software. Extra bonus points were earned for being free. :)



2.  Scrivener

(Source)
Platform: Windows, Mac, (& possibly a beta version for Linux soon!)

Price: $40.00

Version tried:  I actually tried the free trial beta version for Windows (which only lasted about 30 days and beta testing for it has ended).

Formatting: Formatting is really easy because Scrivener has most of the standard manuscript formatting tools... I've been finding that this isn't the case with many other software programs. For example, some programs don't allow the use of "Tabs" or double spacing, which are essential for paragraphs in manuscripts!!

Review: I have to admit, Scrivener is pretty awesome. If you are an unorganized or chaotic writer (like yours truly), this program is excellent at putting it all together. My favorite feature is the binder. This awesome feature gives you the ability to separate the chapters into individual "clickable" files in a list on the left side. Comes in very handy when you need to click & drag chapters around or figure out the word count for each chapter. It also has a whole slew of cool features that will allow you to organize, research, track, take notes, and construct your manuscript piece by piece or as one big whole project. If you are like me, I have tons (TONS I say) of research stored on my computer in various files. With Scrivener, you can upload it all along with any pictures and have it easily accessible at your fingertips in one spot. Pretty cool.

Yay or Nay: Definite YAY!


3.  Celtx

(Source)
Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Price: Free Desktop Version (open source) or $9.99 for the Pro Version.

Version tried: I downloaded the free version for Windows.

Formatting: Let's see, how can I say this delicately? How about crap-tastic? I uploaded a partial of my manuscript and it only split the first four chapters. It also would not allow me to use tabs, or double spacing, or pretty much anything else it was supposed to.

Review: By default this is a program geared more toward screenwriting and media pre-production (which it is totally awesome at!) but does have a novel writing template. This program does seem to have a fairly large learning curve. I've read that it has a plotting feature along with character templates and pre-loaded forms in the "Master Catalog" for characters, plots, locations, scenes, and a wide range of other features in the CeltxWiki, but I just wasn't able to get passed the initial upload screw-ups of my manuscript. It has so many different things that frustrated me and honestly I quit using it after a week of reading through online manuals and tutorials. It just didn't have what I was looking for in regards to organization and functionality. Although, it could have been just total user error...or failure on my part, however you want to see it.

Yay or Nay:  NAY...just wasn't for me.


4. Text Block Writer

(Source)
Platform: Windows

Price: Free!

Version tried: Windows Free version

Formatting: Less than desirable for manuscript writing. It's mostly a way to organize your index cards that are full of info.

Review: Mainly, this software seems appropriate for those who have tons of notes about a story and need to organize them. I wouldn't be a fan of writing a whole manuscript with this program even if I could.

Yay or Nay: Nay, not enough tools for manuscript writing.


Now if you really don't care for all the actual writing software programs, and trust me, there are tons out there ranging from FREE to HUNDREDS of dollars, there are other options. I can't imagine spending a ton of money on a program when there are perfectly good free ones out there. But if none of them are for you, Microsoft Word, OpenOffice or LibreOffice are easy to use. I should mention that LibreOffice has the look and feel of a Mac program which is pretty cool.

The very best thing that I absolutely love about OpenOffice and LibreOffice are that they are open-sourced programs that are free! If you don't have Microsoft Office, download one of the above and they work just as well as the very expensive Microsoft Software. The free stuff comes with a whole suite of processors to fit your needs.

So tell me dear readers of mine, what do you use to hammer out your manuscripts? Is there a writing software out there that you absolutely love? Tell me about it.  :)


©Alynza Smith 2011



Monday, February 6, 2012

Writer's Campaign!!!



I've signed up for the Fourth Writer's Platform-Building Campaign. It's a cool way to get both new and experienced bloggers together while building a platform. The Campaign signup is running from February 6, 2012 - March 17, 2012 at Rach Writes. So if any of you would like to join in the fun, now is the time!

This Fourth Campaign will be a mini-campaign and there will be two Campaigner Challenges to be held on February 20th & March 5th.  I'm going to try my best at participating in the upcoming challenges so feel free to cheer me on and I'll return the favor!