Blog Tag- 10 ID Tags of a story by me.

Dorlana Vann, a fellow blogger and H.F.C. member has tagged me with this writing challenge.

I have to list 10 ways that a person could recognize a story written by me. Now Dorlana is really stressing me out, because I have to write a fairy- tale inspired feature story for her blog this month as a guest. If you have visited her blog, then you know it's a tall order. If you haven't visited her blog, the check out her link in my list over there on the right. (Go on- do it.) Plus I am working on NaNoEdMo, and another project for H.F.C.

Dang. I wish I was getting paid for all of this literary genius!

Ok. If you notice these 10 items in a story- then I'm very likely the author/and or offender.

1.This cute little punctuation ... Yes that one (...) Me likey the hanging pause!

2. A challenge to authority. (Snarky aren't I?)

3. Broad humor, or humorous dialogue.

4. Dialogue in general - and lots of it!

5. The Hero's Journey structure to plot- I don't know how I fumbled my way into this, but if you are familiar with the Hero's Journey then you know why.

6. Family issues or conflicts. -You write what you know:)

7. If you are editing my writing, you will certainly find misspellings. I personally don't cee it, but most pepole point that out to me.

8. A dark turn. Even in my comedies, there is always a dark dangerous middle.

9. Strong females. I was raised by women- much like a pack animal, and they have influenced my life and my stories.

10. Male leads who are dreamers/writers at heart. See comment on 6 :)

Okay. Now I have to post this or someone in Macomb, Alabama won't eat for a month, or some such chain-letter nonsense.

...And I have to tag 6 other bloggers.

So...If you're reading this, and you have a blog- beware!

Gary

National Novel Editing Month!

Yes kids, it's that time again!

National Novel Writing month has long since passed us, and if you can remember way back to November 2007, you may even recall that you wrote a novel (or at least attempted one) in that cool, gray month! If so, then get it out, dust it off, and get your inner editor out of the trunk in the basement. It's time to turn loose that nitpicking, insufferable prat!

National Novel Editing Month (or NaNoEdMo for short) begins tomorrow, March 1st!

Much like the goal for novel writing, the goal of this exercise is to log at least 50 hours of editing during the month of March. I did it last year, and while it was the single hardest writing task I have ever undertaken, it produced enough of a coherent story from my 2006 NaNoWriMo novel to give it life here in 2008. I just entered it into the Fort Bend Writer's Guild Spring Novel contest!

My only fear is that they will love the first two chapters that I submitted...and ask for the rest.

The "rest" is not ready, so I am using "EdMo" to get it prepared, in the event that a fabulously wealthy, literary agent from Fort Bend county should show up on my doorstep and demand that I allow him to present my heartbreaking work of genius to Harper Collins.

Care to join me?

No, not in delusions- in editing.

Head over to http://www.nanoedmo.net/xoops2/ and sign up, or if you're just curious, check out the pages and see the bizarre cast of characters that shows up for this annual event of self-abuse and loathing.

Best regards for a safe and sane March! (isn't that the name of the mad hare in Alice in Wonderland?)

Gary