Tanya Lisle

Tag: writing

  • First Draft Zombies

    Spoiler

    This is actually a post I made several years ago on a site that no longer exists, but still useful. Enjoy!

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    When writing the first draft of anything, I’d suggest never looking back. It’s hard for some people to do, I know. You want it to be perfect the first time, but first drafts are rarely ever masterpieces and they will almost always need heavy editing. You could spend hours making it perfect the first time, or you could have fun with it the first time.

    I like to write now and edit later, as I now realize that my first drafts will usually suck. Let it come out as it comes out and don’t worry too much about editing. If you can help it, don’t edit at all, leave it raw and then you can go back afterwards and fix everything if the story is worth it.

    Like zombies.

    Think of your story like a city infested with zombies out for your brains. The more you write, the closer you get to the chopper to get out of there. Unfortunately, these are running zombies and they’re always right behind you. Don’t look back, just keep writing/running until you get to the end/chopper. You can make it! YOU CAN DO IT!

    Then you’re at the chopper. Now you can look back at your story infested by zombies. There’s grammar and spelling mistakes, plot holes and character inconsistencies. That’s fine. It’s what the first draft is for. You are safe now, it’s done. Take a breath, get back to society and remember what it’s like to be around normal people.

    Then, when you’re very ready, go back to the zombies. And bring ammunition. Take your bombs/red pen and tear the whole thing apart. Keep going until it’s all good and inhabitable again.

    Although by this metaphor, it follows that your mistakes create zombies. I guess the metaphor still works.

    Run like hell, leaving zombies in your wake and make it to the chopper at the end. Look back and risk getting eaten by the zombies with no hope of ever reaching the chopper. Sure, you can turn back and kill a couple that are breathing on your neck, but don’t fight the whole army. Once you reach the chopper, recuperate some and come back with the big guns and bombs that will kill them all.

    Why yes, I am still looking for my notebook.

  • Thornebrooke for NaNoWriMo!

    The winner of the poll was Thornebrooke! I’m already deep into plotting and, as you can see, have come up with a cover concept. Thank you to everyone who voted for the book! I may be quiet during the next month, but be sure to check out the social medias to see what I’m up to. 

    And in the meantime, check out the playlist I’m working on for the book. At least, to listen to while I’m writing it. 

  • NaNoWriMo Poll 2018!

    It’s that time of year again! A little later than usual, but it’s time for another poll to decide what I’ll be writing in November. for NaNoWriMo! You know the rules, up to three votes for whichever one you want me to write and, on October 25th, I will know what book I’m writing!1 Without further ado, let’s get to the options!

    Cloned Evil: New Beginnings
    Fredrika and Beatrice know their mother is in prison and they need to get her out, but this is getting tiresome. Now that they’re in their twenties, both sisters think it’s time for them to move on with their lives, and their mother is now out of the way and unable to stop them from forging their own villainous path in the world their own way. 

    Thornbrooke 
    It seemed like perfect timing. Bree was accepted into an accelerated program to accomplish her dreams of becoming a doctor, and her mother took a long standing offer to relocate to Iverson. Though they are both hoping for the best, the city is a hotspot for superhero activity, and it’s very hard not to get caught up in it all. Making it even harder for Bree is the parting gift from her friends: A secret identity of her own.

    Looking Glass Saga: Lovely Pale Colors2
    Alice and Peter are showing signs of wear as another force has decided to take control over Wonderland and Neverland, blending them together and taking down the barriers between the worlds. 

    Dreamscape: Drifting3
    Ciara hasn’t woken up. She is trapped in this dream, uncertain of whether all these other people around her are part of her dream or not. Strangely, this one girl seems much too happy to have company in her dream and seems to know exactly what’s going on. 

    Atlantis Project
    When the kids escaped into the portal to another world all those years ago, they ruined diplomatic relations with an entire universe. Years later, the one child they managed to get back is charged with finding the rest of his friends and stopping their shenanigans so that they can mend their relationship with the alien race. 

    You can vote for up to three options! 

    NaNoWriMo 2018

    • Thornebrooke (48%, 29 Votes)
    • Dreamscape: Drifting (31%, 19 Votes)
    • Looking Glass Saga: Lovely Pale Colors (28%, 17 Votes)
    • Atlantis Project (28%, 17 Votes)
    • Cloned Evil: New Beginnings (23%, 14 Votes)

    Total Voters: 61

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    1. Happy birthday to me! [↩]
    2. Book 8! [↩]
    3. Anyone who’s been following me a while, yep I’m reviving this and turning it into a series [↩]

  • Paint the Roses Red is out!

    Paint the Roses Red is out! It’s the fifth book in the Looking Glass Saga and it will be available at a discount until the end of the month. Be sure to get your copy now!

    Time is running out.

    Alice only has one year left to win her bet with the Bandersnatch, or be trapped as a prisoner in his garden forever. And Alice isn’t the only one losing heart. The Queen continues to steal peoples hearts, and the refugees from Neverland are the latest victims. For some reason, Alice can’t put them back and Adam refuses to leave Wonderland until they stop her.

    The pressure is on for Alice to keep the magic books from falling into the wrong hands. The clock is ticking and failure means none of the stolen hearts will be returned, Adam will remain trapped behind the mirror, and Alice will be forgotten in the Bandersnatch’s garden. Forever.