Mary S. Potter

July 21, 2019 Facebook post

First page make or break!
I once again registered to attend the major writing conference in our own backyard. This year I signed up for the “Big Critique” where attendees submit the first page of a project and sit around a table with a pro and other writers in the same genre to discuss our submissions.
I decided to use “Marama, Daimyo’s Daughter” which I haven’t looked at for awhile.
How to squeeze pertinent information onto the first page?! Cut, cut, cut!
Fortunately, having set it aside for awhile, it was easier to delete anything that might slow down the reader. Still, I feel like I had to eliminate some information that would help with establishing the fantasy setting.
It was an excellent exercise in focusing on what’s relevant. Grab the reader’s attention, pique her interest, establish the genre, introduce the protagonist and show what makes her someone interesting to follow.
Did my best, held my breath, and submitted my page.
We’ll see how I well I did in a few weeks.

June 22, 2019 Facebook post

The 2009 draft YA fantasy novel, working title “Legacy,” is now 2019’s “Divided Heritage.” The setting has changed, so I’m forced to redraw my fantasy world map. Likewise, I had to rename a certain set of characters to reflect the change in venue. Fortunately, the majority of characters and place names can remain the same.
I’ve also selected new inspirational pictures for the cast, although one of the originals surprised me and is still perfect.
I have First Reader Emily’s helpful suggestions, and “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” for a structure guide.
I’m adding details, rearranging scenes, and trying to insert scenes that flesh out the protagonist’s world without slowing down the action.
Writing is an adventure. Sometimes it bogs down, and other times surprising ideas and solutions pop up. But it keeps me out of trouble and the vacuum cleaner idle.

June 4, 2019 Facebook post

As I’ve already posted, I’m going back through old drafts of novels to capture elements to avoid “reinventing the wheel.” I’ve developed a system of magic and various races that i’ve described and used in earlier stories. Plus, I’ve forgotten some of the details I created. I’m making cool discoveries of things I’d forgotten about.
I’m also amazed by how good the novels are. Not that they couldn’t use a lot of work. But I’m going through a novel drafted 10 years ago and getting hooked on the story.
Since 2009 I’ve reimagined my generic continent, renamed the realms I created, and come up with variations of the historical background. However, the old story I’m currently working through might be worth salvaging. Same for the unfinished draft novel I reviewed just prior. Polish the story arc and character development and I might actually have a passable novel.
Something to be said for setting aside your work to look at it with fresh eyes. You might be surprised.

May 21, 2019 Facebook post

I’m calling it “Magical Mashup.” Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’m going back through draft novels to copy relevant descriptions, partial scenes, and dialogue to paste them into a single reference document.

I have created a hemisphere of various realms that resemble cultures with which we’re familiar. And I’ve developed a system of magic that includes different magical abilities as well as objects imbued with magical powers. But of course in drafting a novel these generic aspects of the world I’ve created acquire details and applications not anticipated when the umbrella world was created.

Most of the material I’m gleaning comes from unfinished projects. As I’m skimming through them, they actually read pretty well. 🤓 I may have to revisit some of my previous efforts to re-plot them. Hmmm.

Anyway, I’m hoping that my mashed up collection of material will help me integrate the characters and storylines from previous efforts into a single worthwhile YA SFF novel.

We’ll see.

May 12, 2019 Facebook post

ARGH!

Bits and pieces from various story ideas are floating around in an amorphous cloud of an idea for a novel that I’ve had for some time.

I’ve done research, developed characters, built cultures, and plotted several YA SFF novels in process. Concepts from these efforts seem to want to wander off into a story that incorporates them all. It might be a fun adventure if only I could organize it.

March 16, 2019 Facebook post

Ack! I’ve hit the muddle-in-the-middle of “The Crystal Sword.” Protagonist Bronya (inspired by the image of actress Lara Decaro) has left her familiar world and is venturing out into the unknown. Antagonist Zivon (actor Mads Mikkelson) wants something Bronya has. But Bronya has friends, such as centauress Akantha, and young Lord Stas (actor Brecklin Meyer).

Something happens, and then something else happens, and then Bronya and her companions….

I know, or pretty much believe I know, what occurs to change everything Bronya believes. She and those who support her take on a new goal that will, of course, lead up to the confrontation with the antagonist. But I’m not quite sure how to get to this point.

 

February 26, 2019 Facebook post

I’m nearing the end of the set-up in the first draft of “The Crystal Sword.”
Jessica Brody’s book was most helpful by applying the beats of a screenplay to those of a novel.
Pantsers (those who write by the seat of the pants) tend to feel confined by an outline. For them, outlining the beats of the story drains the creativity from the writing process.
I tried writing with only a nominal outline for 2018 NaNoWriMo and it did not work for me.
Using “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” and notes from conference workshops, I worked out character motivations and relevant backstories. From there I considered what the plot points might look like for the major characters. And then I created 3×5 scene cards.
I’m only 67 pages into the first draft and I’ve already added scenes that I hadn’t pre-planned, plus I added a character that was originally just a walk-on and off.
My novel outlines are more like the driving directions from a map app. The app usually offers alternate routes, and often provides businesses of interest and places to eat near the destination. My outlines guide me toward the intended destination (climactic scene) but allow for detours and stops at local attractions. Writing a novel is almost like reading one. I never quite know where I’ll end up going even though I’m working from scene cards.

January 27, 2019 Facebook post

Oh the dangers of world building! Whether a fantastical magical setting, or a high-tech future in space — it’s so easy to become absorbed in the little details. And then, because you’ve spent so much time on it and are so enthralled with your creation, you have to share it all with the reader.
Zzzzz.
During a world-building workshop at the Willamette Writers Conference, author Fonda Lee revealed that she avoids the “rabbit hole” by delving into the minutia of her world only when needed for the story.
I’ve already done a lot of world building for individual stories and created maps for individual realms. I finally combined my research into a single document for my generic fantasy world (based on Patricia Wrede’s list) and drew a map of my fantasy hemisphere. Even so, I still do research specific to the current project.
How does one research a make believe setting? By studying existing locations and cultures (present and past). Tweak and combine them as needed for your setting. No need to ponder how humans adapted to a variety of geographic settings — research the cultures and societies from similar earth locations.
Past earthly adaptations can also guide the development of alien species. We’re also learning more and more about outer space and the habitable worlds out there. Not quite that hospitable a world? There’s always terraforming. As for the limitations of faster-than-light travel — SFF readers are willing to suspend disbelief if you devise a plausible means and tell a good yarn.
I’m still diverted by the project I’m calling “The Crystal Sword.” I’ve worked through “Save The Cat! Writes A Novel” for an idea of the beginning plot points (they can change as the story unfolds). Now I’m figuring out the world in which I’ve dumped my protagonist. Making it darker and more dangerous than originally contemplated.
Oooh! Conflict!

January 6, 2019 Facebook post

My latest young adult fantasy tangent is “The Crystal Sword.” Brainstorming characters and plot points.

Yay! I just picked up “Save the Cat! Writes a Novel” by Jessica Brody based on Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!” book on screenwriting, which I already have. Brainstorming with help.

Some time ago I had the brain burp that humans must be hardwired for stories from prehistoric times. Stories told around the campfire were the means to convey and preserve history and family lineages, teach children, and share the story about the wooly mammoth that got away.