Happy Birthday, Anya Bast; Outlining & the Genetic Jackpot
It's July 2nd, and Anya Bast's birthday. Give the gift of royalties, by purchasing (or pre-ordering) her novels:
Witch Fire
Witch Blood
The Chosen Sin
Witch Heart
Outlining
My adventures with Holly Lisle's Create a Plot Clinic (the free version) didn't really go well. That said, I'll recommend it because the more types of outlining you try, you'll figure out which works best for you.
So I dug out Kelley Armstrong's Outlining 101. I've used it before, though I haven't finished writing a novel with it (but that's my problem; not the tutorial). Shift was outlined by planning a chapter, then writing the chapter, then planning the next chapter, and so on. Bloodroot started off with a list of characters, then I did dot points of scene ideas, worked the characters in, and adjusted the dots as I wrote (deleting, adding).
I got as far as the "candy bar scenes" with CAP before I stopped. The exercises I'd done with the clinic thus far were making my story seem more socio-political, when I really want it to be bioethical. But when I started O101, my exercises are making my story more of what I want it to be.
And thanks for your voting on my male character's surname. I've picked a winner (and it was leading by one vote the last time I checked), and I'm happy with it.
You Suggest
My Big Baddie Female needs a name. She has a placeholder name for now, but would you like me to immortalise someone you don't like? ;-) Just email me (TezMillerOz at gmail dot com) with a list of suggested female first names and suggested surnames. No questions asked - I won't try to guess who these people are, nor will I ask, and you are under no obligation to tell me. These will be confidential, of course.
My Shoddy Genetics
A third-born child, I was dumped in the shoddy end of the genetic pool. I have physiological problems from my maternal side, and psychological problems from my paternal side. I hit the freaking genetic jackpot.
The red lumpy bumps on my fingers (which I've had since I was 13, but they come and go with the weather) are particularly bad right now. Back in the old days, I thought they were because I was handwriting too much, because mostly they're only on my right fingers, my writing hand. It's uncomfortable when I curl my fingers, and even kind of hurts with my middle finger. Blood tests and biopsies haven't led to the professionals giving me a diagnosis; just that "it might be this", "a bit of that". I assume whatever it is will worsen as I age, and I'm only 21! (22 on July 14th - make your calendar ;-))