So I'm trying something new. I'm outlining and story boarding my novels. For the first time. I have so many projects going on that I don't think there is any other way to keep it all straight.
Here's the breakdown of my current projects
TEGG editing.
The Unveiled- solo project
The Body Horror Book- collaborative project
Untitled Collaborative novel
The Children- short story for a contest
The Auction- short story for a contest
The Laird's Ken- TEGG Novel for The Great Galactic Game
World Building for the Great Galactic Game
and I'm sure I'm forgetting a thing or two. The point is, it's a lot. And I'm loving every minute
So, to keep it all straight, I'm story boarding my projects.
Which means:
Outlining
Scene creating
An ACTUAL cardboard trifold that I can pin scenes too and move then around.
It's really strange. But, fun. I think it's going to work.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Updates!
You guys! I'm doing cool stuff! Seriously, cool stuff. Here's an update. If you've followed me for awhile then you know I got accepted as a creative to The Ed Greenwood Group. (yes, THAT Ed Greenwood) what I failed to come and tell you guys is that not only am I a creative author, BUT I am also a Lore Guardian (squee!) what does that mean? That means that Ed has entrusted me to helm one of his shared world settings. This is an INCREDIBLE Honor and I am thrilled beyond words to be doing this. It's crazy and amazing and you guys are going to be able to follow along with my setting pretty soon. For now I'll tell you a little bit about it:
The Great Galactic Game is a space opera rife with danger, hilarity and opulence. You'll meet a vast array of characters and encounter all the wonders of space that we can create for you. And as soon as I can release more information I will.
I can give you this sneak peak at our logo!
Designed by the incomparable Dan Barrett who is my partner in this endeavor as the Art Director for our setting. Working with Dan is a blast and I am excited to be a part of this crazy Onder Librum thing. Keep up by clicking the link and sign up for an account, be sure to check out the currently released setting Hellmaw!
I'm also writing a chapter for this incredible anthology:
The Body Horror Book: An Analytical Look at Horror and Politics
Writing for this non-fiction book is beyond fun. It's also for a good cause. Proceeds from this book are going to support Epilepsy Action Australia. Take a look at the kickstarter for more information!
The Great Galactic Game is a space opera rife with danger, hilarity and opulence. You'll meet a vast array of characters and encounter all the wonders of space that we can create for you. And as soon as I can release more information I will.
I can give you this sneak peak at our logo!
Designed by the incomparable Dan Barrett who is my partner in this endeavor as the Art Director for our setting. Working with Dan is a blast and I am excited to be a part of this crazy Onder Librum thing. Keep up by clicking the link and sign up for an account, be sure to check out the currently released setting Hellmaw!
I'm also writing a chapter for this incredible anthology:
The Body Horror Book: An Analytical Look at Horror and Politics
Writing for this non-fiction book is beyond fun. It's also for a good cause. Proceeds from this book are going to support Epilepsy Action Australia. Take a look at the kickstarter for more information!
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Lists
This week, I thought I would do something a little different and kind of fun. One of my favorite things to know about the authors I read, is what do they read? What books are their favorites? Have I read any of them?
So. I created a list challenge of my favorites. Some are single books, some are series. How many of my favorites have you read?
Leave a comment with your answer!
http://www.listchallenges.com/ce-robertsons-reading-challenge
So. I created a list challenge of my favorites. Some are single books, some are series. How many of my favorites have you read?
Leave a comment with your answer!
http://www.listchallenges.com/ce-robertsons-reading-challenge
Thursday, June 2, 2016
The Trilogy Curse
Ok. Let's be frank. Let's just say it. YA TRILOGIES ARE HORRIBLE.
I feel better now.
The Hunger Games: Compelling. Interesting. FINALLY a heroine that's more interested in actual world issues than her super hot (all the girls love Gale) "bestie". She wasn't even aware of the boy from the class up that was in love with her. So refreshing. She was in mortal danger, all the time, and it was believable. The ending was satisfying, and yeah, just like you, I wanted to know what was coming next.
Catching Fire: Well hello there Bridge book. So glad to have read you. With your new array of colorful characters for me to love and watch die. And ooohhh, a twisty surprise! Wait. Nope, I called that. Oh but what about this reveal! Nope. Called that too. Ok. I get it. We had to walk the road to get to the destination in book three.
Mockingjay: Katniss has mental breakdowns now? Understandable. Oh, so that's all she is now. Really? Seriously? Hold on. Did you just set Gale up to fail spectacularly? Yeah. You did. Peta, our sweet artist is trying to kill everyone? UUUUGGGHHHH. Stop it. Why is this battle so boring? WHY ARE YOU KILLING FINNICK. Oh, I know. Shock value. Because your book is boring. Your ending is predictable and also completely against the character of Katniss. WTF author. What the actual fuck. Were you tired of writing this story? Was this even your idea? Who do you think you are to completely change EVERYTHING about your lead character?
---I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.--- And can we all just agree that Divergent should have switched endings with Hunger Games? Please. I mean, really, can we all just accept that. Because it's true.
And it's not just The Hunger Games and Divergent that fall into this travesty of the trilogy issue. the Chemical Garden trilogy. The Maze Runner. The Immortal Instruments. The Selection. Really, the list goes on and on. (and why is this so much more common with female protags?)
So what gives? Why are we continually being subjected to this? Hello? Publishing industry, I know you're concerned about sales, but can we please stop churning out endless disappointments? If you must insist on trilogy based contracts, how about trilogies that don't have the same crappy ending that everyone knows is coming? Please? If you do that I'll buy extra copies for my friends.
This trend concerns me as an author, because I care about the quality and integrity of my stories, my characters and my craft. And you know what? I bet all the authors whose work I have just insulted care about theirs too. When a story ends, it should be able to end. When a character doesn't give a rats ass about the men fighting for her attention she shouldn't be forced into a marriage with one just because the audience wants to see that happen. Now, I'm not yet on the receiving end of a YA series contract. But I do have a series contract, and I consider myself lucky that I have so much control over what is going to happen in my books. But I know that no everyone has that. And for some reason, the crap that these contract restrictions are forcing out, they just fly off the shelves. Because we, the readers hope against experience that this one will different. We even occasionally get one that is :The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo for example.
And with so many amazing series out there showing how it can be done, why are we restricting our YA books this way? Harry Potter was 7 volumes and easily could have extended. Wheel of Time is 14. Chronicles of Narnia is 7. The Lord of the Rings is 3 plus two prequels and countless extended volumes. The Giver Quartet. The Circle of Magic series is currently 11 books long. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is 5. Eragon is a quartet. Percy Jackon-9. So it's obviously not that readers of YA can't be held at attention. It's not that they don't recognize quality work when they see it. It's not that they can't be immearsed in deeper and more complex story lines. So what is it? What gives? Why have we created this black hole to suck all the potential out of a great story? Who wants to wait a year to be disappointed? I don't. And I'm tired of it. Step it up publishers. Loosen the reigns a bit. Give a sequel option in your contracts, so that you can continually give if the story goes for it. Something. Anything, Just please. Stop forcing your needless, arbitrary trilogy worship on the readers.
I feel better now.
The Hunger Games: Compelling. Interesting. FINALLY a heroine that's more interested in actual world issues than her super hot (all the girls love Gale) "bestie". She wasn't even aware of the boy from the class up that was in love with her. So refreshing. She was in mortal danger, all the time, and it was believable. The ending was satisfying, and yeah, just like you, I wanted to know what was coming next.
Catching Fire: Well hello there Bridge book. So glad to have read you. With your new array of colorful characters for me to love and watch die. And ooohhh, a twisty surprise! Wait. Nope, I called that. Oh but what about this reveal! Nope. Called that too. Ok. I get it. We had to walk the road to get to the destination in book three.
Mockingjay: Katniss has mental breakdowns now? Understandable. Oh, so that's all she is now. Really? Seriously? Hold on. Did you just set Gale up to fail spectacularly? Yeah. You did. Peta, our sweet artist is trying to kill everyone? UUUUGGGHHHH. Stop it. Why is this battle so boring? WHY ARE YOU KILLING FINNICK. Oh, I know. Shock value. Because your book is boring. Your ending is predictable and also completely against the character of Katniss. WTF author. What the actual fuck. Were you tired of writing this story? Was this even your idea? Who do you think you are to completely change EVERYTHING about your lead character?
---I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.--- And can we all just agree that Divergent should have switched endings with Hunger Games? Please. I mean, really, can we all just accept that. Because it's true.
And it's not just The Hunger Games and Divergent that fall into this travesty of the trilogy issue. the Chemical Garden trilogy. The Maze Runner. The Immortal Instruments. The Selection. Really, the list goes on and on. (and why is this so much more common with female protags?)
So what gives? Why are we continually being subjected to this? Hello? Publishing industry, I know you're concerned about sales, but can we please stop churning out endless disappointments? If you must insist on trilogy based contracts, how about trilogies that don't have the same crappy ending that everyone knows is coming? Please? If you do that I'll buy extra copies for my friends.
This trend concerns me as an author, because I care about the quality and integrity of my stories, my characters and my craft. And you know what? I bet all the authors whose work I have just insulted care about theirs too. When a story ends, it should be able to end. When a character doesn't give a rats ass about the men fighting for her attention she shouldn't be forced into a marriage with one just because the audience wants to see that happen. Now, I'm not yet on the receiving end of a YA series contract. But I do have a series contract, and I consider myself lucky that I have so much control over what is going to happen in my books. But I know that no everyone has that. And for some reason, the crap that these contract restrictions are forcing out, they just fly off the shelves. Because we, the readers hope against experience that this one will different. We even occasionally get one that is :The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo for example.
And with so many amazing series out there showing how it can be done, why are we restricting our YA books this way? Harry Potter was 7 volumes and easily could have extended. Wheel of Time is 14. Chronicles of Narnia is 7. The Lord of the Rings is 3 plus two prequels and countless extended volumes. The Giver Quartet. The Circle of Magic series is currently 11 books long. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is 5. Eragon is a quartet. Percy Jackon-9. So it's obviously not that readers of YA can't be held at attention. It's not that they don't recognize quality work when they see it. It's not that they can't be immearsed in deeper and more complex story lines. So what is it? What gives? Why have we created this black hole to suck all the potential out of a great story? Who wants to wait a year to be disappointed? I don't. And I'm tired of it. Step it up publishers. Loosen the reigns a bit. Give a sequel option in your contracts, so that you can continually give if the story goes for it. Something. Anything, Just please. Stop forcing your needless, arbitrary trilogy worship on the readers.
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