Inkabout L. Darby Gibbs

Science Fiction & Fantasy author

Writing Meditations

5 Important ingredients to a writer’s office

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I’ve had my new office for about a month and a half. But my point about writers and offices doesn’t start there.

My first office was a folding table about 2 1/2 ft. by 18 in., an old TV stand with a shelf and my daughter’s dingy purple desk chair.

I would move the assemblage to the front of my living room near the window in spring and summer and to the back of the living room a few feet from the gas stove in fall and winter.

It had two positive qualities: portability and the shelf in the TV stand. I used this arrangement for four years along with a lengthy extension cord. I did not complain.

In August, we visited a consignment furniture store.

We’ve bought our china cabinet, two bedside tables and a dining room table at this store in the past. Walking through the shop is one of our favorite monthly activities.

I was walking one way, my husband the other when I heard him call my name. He waved me over.

Along one display wall stood a set of wall cabinets, solid wood, cherry finish, near new condition: five bottoms with doors and drawers, two uppers with shelves, one each with cubbies (aka wine bottle slots); let’s call them cubbies.

“This would make a great office for you.”

I’d given the pieces only a vague glance. Now I looked closer. He gave me my space, backing up and leaving me to my imagination.

It took me about two minutes to realize I was not leaving the store without them.

Then behind me, my name was whispered, a sense of urgency in the quiet word.

I turned. Instant, total, “I must have this!” sprang into my mind. If I had to choose — this piece was it.

Mounted on the wall across from those amazing cabinets was a miracle.

I had been telling my husband how much I wished I had a white board or a magnetic board or even a pin board to plan my novels on.

Eight feet of combined planning board spread open before me. On the inside of the doors, right and left, were fabric covered pin boards. Dead center: a magnetic white board. Above, a pull down screen. Below a tray for markers, eraser, pens and pins.

I wasn’t leaving without it. I would sacrifice the cabinets to have this somewhere in the house. I didn’t care where. There’s a huge blank wall in our downstairs bathroom.

Time to look at prices. All pieces were on their last week of sale — lowest price each was going to go.

It took two trips, but we got all ten pieces home.

My new office in the living room has three walls. One has six cabinets, three uppers, three lowers. The second wall has three lowers and the planning miracle. Third wall has three boxed kitchen floor-to-ceiling cabinets to give me privacy (temporary). My desk is a 4×2 folding table and is backed by a bookshelf facing the other way.


So what are the five essential ingredients to a writer’s office after 1 1/2 months:

  1. a flat surface sufficient to hold one laptop computer, an upright organizer, bottle of water, notepad, ipad and a cup with pens and other oddments. 
  2. the back side of a bookcase for sticky note to-do-list
  3. a planning board (with multiple planning modes)
  4. cubbies
  5. a writer

Please note: there was no mention of portability or a shelf.

Extras:  supplies for said planner board, books and various electronics neatly organized in drawers, cabinets and shelves.

My final advice. Find yourself a consignment shop. There is bound to be some fool willing to sell a miracle planning board.

#amwriting
#amplanning
#amcontent

Recursive layering as I write ~ my 3 steps

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Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
When I write, it is the voice of the character that comes
first. I hear the dialogue, and it generates setting, conflict and motivation
for me. So when I write, dialogue is first. Sure, there will be tags and
description that comes with it, but it is minimalistic. 
After a run of dialogue, I will head back over the scene and
start layering characterization, reaction and action. I return again to
consider setting. And then again, I return to add sensory details, behaviorisms
and determine what backstory contributed to how the scene went, how it will
affect future plot issues and did any subconscious writing take place that dug
into the story deeper (which is always a hallelujah moment). Sometimes a
character will say something or do something, and I’ll just sit there and
think, whoa, that explains a lot or that is going to be a bugger to get over.
For example, in At Any
Given Time (Students of Jump, a standalone CES novel), Samantha worries about how she’ll react to the sight of blood, hers or someone else’s. She knows it makes her nauseous and dizzy, a complication that worries her. This is not a major issue
for a time traveler under normal conditions, and she has lots of time jumping
experience. But this time with an injured search and retrieval jumper, it turns
out to be a real issue she has to manage through. That’s not the main conflict,
but it sure added dimension to an already bad situation for Sam. The fact that
she is fully aware of her problem with blood and is self-reflective and
determined to get the situation rectified provides humor and stress to the
story that the little aspect of character helped to create.
I suppose it sounds rather clinical to
say I tuck in more details later, but it is not like that at all. The initial run of
dialogue flows out as if I’m eavesdropping from behind something and can’t see
or hear anything but what they are saying. It sets the stage for the whole
scene. The layering is another me standing there in the room, cave, whatever the
setting is and looking around, smelling, touching things, asking the character
questions and really just being a peeping Tom for my reader (and me, too).
Every writer has their own process. This is mine most of the time. Some writers edit like mad as they go and other writers don’t go back over their work until the complete draft is done. And there are numerous variations in between. If you’re a writer, what do you do? If not, have you thought about how writers build their stories? 
#writing
#character
#dialogue
#layering

Why when my treadmill dies, I’m buying another one

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My treadmill: an oldie but a goodie
It has been interesting how my writing process has changed
over time. I’ve always approached every writing project with an idea of how the
story was going to end. Sometimes I have an outline but usually not. Looking
back, I can see some constants: a title tends to come to me first followed by
the main characters. Over the last two years, I have found that the book cover is my most
inspiring starting point. It follows on the heels of the other two constants. The
cover acts as a focal point I can return to as I progress through the story.
Book 1, Standing Stone Series
My second series, Standing Stone, had its covers before I
even started writing. The same has occurred with my third series of books
(Solstice Dragon World) that I’m working on now. Each Standing Stone cover provides
a key character and the stone that is the crux of the story. In the case of SDW
novels, it is the main character and the location where key events take place.
Each of these covers help ground my writing and are designed to give my reader
a sense of the story. I feel with the covers done, I am certain the novel has a
developed core. 
I have a contemporary story with about 18,000 words, no
cover yet. It’s been sitting for three years. I know the characters, the title
and the end point moment. I think I need that cover. I have a space opera: 30K words. No cover. I don’t want to admit how long its been sitting. It really needs a cover.
Knowing the ending is very important to me. I don’t need to know the
details, just a key moment that will test the main character and bring them out the other side of a conflict, and even that is mutable. It becomes my north star. I may tack numerous
directions on my way to it, but having that fixed point in the back of my mind
keeps the story rolling. I can ask myself, “How does this relate to that? How
does this decision ultimately lead the character there?” I find the answers on the treadmill.
Writing itself has changed for me as well. The treadmill has
become a source of inspiration and direction. While striding along, I can focus
on one question, one scene, one direction that needs development. Nothing else
will interfere. My husband isn’t going to show up to talk to me. He
respects exercise too much. My time on the treadmill is set, so there’s no
getting off which can sometimes create an urgency in me to write as soon as my time is up. 
Since I exercise every morning before I head to my job, that urgency
has is flaws, but that impetus to write with a fully-developed idea gives my
writing direction and flow even if I have to wait to write until that evening or after a mound of grading. It is an appointment I feel I must keep
because I know being on the treadmill will result in a better first draft. It is also my best opportunity to go over a scene numerous times and realize what I missed or how
I can incorporate more character or plot development. Of course, there is the
added positive of keeping me in shape since writing means I’m sitting in a
chair often for hours at a time.
I talked about change in my writing, and I have mainly
covered what I do now. So what was my approach in the past? 
The past:

  • An idea would come to me. I’d sit down and
    write. Then stop where my idea ended.
  • I’d lay down on the couch and think about a
    question, such as “How is he going to deal with his daughter’s unwillingness to talk to
    him?” Fifty percent of the time, this resulted in an unplanned nap.
  • I would have a title and a vague notion of how
    the character was dealing with a situation or causing a situation 
  •  I’d sit at the computer and hope more words were
    going to come soon
  • I would develop when I redrafted, slide in side
    stories and look for inconsistencies
  • Writing a novel was a yearlong process
  • No cover
  • A working title (very much subject to change)
  • Ill-defined characters, setting and plot that took a lot more work to develop and clean up
  • One novel at a time
  • One book a year and a full-time job

VS the present

  • An idea comes to me. I get on the treadmill and walk (fast and on
    an incline: don’t want you thinking this is a walk in the park 🙂 ) and
    hash out the idea, Socratic method.
  • I write through the developed scenes (after that
    visit to the treadmill)
  • Title, character with backstory and fully-fleshed
    appearance and behaviors. Distinct main conflict and side conflicts. 
  •  I’m at the computer to write, not sit
  • Development occurs in process, daily, a much
    more recursive process that results in a better first draft
  • Redrafting occurs daily and is more about layering in deeper
    description, searching out inconsistencies, clarifying, and copy editing in an
    ongoing approach (more about this in another post)
  • Writing a first draft of a novel takes a month
    and a half, average word count 90K (summer time writing – six months during the active school year)
  • A cover (changes subtly over time, but the main
    concept is set)
  • A title (still may change but rarely) 
  • Well-defined characters with greater depth,
    setting is full of sensory details, the plot is organized and part of a greater
    series
  • Three novels in development and linked together
    by plot, setting or characters
  • 3+ books a year and a full-time job

I’m pleased with the changes and enjoying how it makes my
writing better and though nothing makes writing a novel easier, this process
does make for better flow and direction to my writing, which, after all is said
and done, is what makes writing an enjoyable activity. This is why my husband
will say, “I know you want to write today and you enjoy that, but can we do
something fun together?” I can walk away from the computer not feeling like I’m
losing my “special time with my story” to my “special time with my husband.”
That’s why my treadmill isn’t going anywhere. It takes my writing where I want it to go. So what fosters your creative side? Tell me in the comment box below, and it doesn’t have to be about writing.
If you’re interested in checking out my books, click the menu tab My Published Books at the top. If you’d like to tweet or share this post click the icon below. Feel free to comment as well.
#writing
#treadmills
#plot

Stop, drop and research – sometimes you need the answer right now!

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Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

In March, I started a new series. It’s not really a series
as each novel can standalone, but they are all set in the same world of the Solstice
Dragon. What they have in common is setting, and there is a solstice dragon
that is key to each book.
As I’ve been writing them, I’ve had to stop now and then to
research. Sometimes the research has required an hour or more of reading and
notetaking, such as when I was researching castle building. Other times, I’m
searching for a word or term appropriate to the time or I need to know if a
certain item or clothing would have been used in the 1700s which is the time
period these books are loosely set in, largely just for reference as the world
of solstice dragons is a creation not an actual place on known Earth.
So what have been these little items that take a minute or
two of sleuthing about the internet? That is what this post is about. Just this
week, I have tracked down the following words.

  • What are the three walls that make up the back
    of a fireplace that keeps the heat from damaging the building called? Firebox.

    Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
  • Parts of a horse – namely the withers: the high
    point between the shoulder blades of a horse
  • A particular roof style that has roofing angled
    on all four sides versus say an A-frame: that’s a hip roof.

  • What is the difference between trousers, pants
    and breeches? Trousers go to the ankle whereas breeches stop at the knee and
    are often tied about the waist to keep them up. Pants? Apparently, those
    reference panties in the time period I’m working with. Definitely don’t need to
    mention the lady’s undergarments at inappropriate times.

  • Grains – these took a little more time as I was
    looking into identifying both a grain as well as having a picture to aid
    in describing it properly.
  • A picture of a stove. There’s a kitchen, so, of
    course, I needed to get a good impression of what a stove of the Solstice Dragon
    World would likely look like and how it should operate.

    Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

That’s all folks. Do you stop and search for scraps of
knowledge when you realize you’re missing some information? What did you
search for this week that you thought was pretty interesting?
#words
#writing
#fantasy

When you gotta build a castle, research is the answer

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Every time I start a new novel, I find myself researching a variety of items, especially with the fantasy novels I’ve been writing lately. I have selected the 1700s as my template years for technology, clothing, architecture, and transportation.

Picture credit: Okamatsu Fujikawa from on Unsplash

Since drafting my newest fantasy novel, I’ve found the need to increase my areas of research. Castles. I need to know more about castles, especially, older castles versus new versions, defensibility determined by terrain, and terminology and personnel.

Research is a double-edged sword. It needs to be done, but if you’re like me, it is easy to get sidetracked by interesting sites, such as the following site which actually BUILDS castles. BUILDS them! CastleMagic Castle Building. At first I thought it was a spoof that would turn out to be about building paper castles. The drawings were pencil sketches, and the video showing an example of the building process reminded me of Minecraft. But then I looked at their other pictures and videos. They BUILD castles. So you see I did get a bit sidetracked and for good reason. Too bad I don’t have the money to have them build me a castle. They do a really good job and can include secret passages. Hmm, secret passages.

This is a site I found for terminology called appropriately Castle Terminology.  Every term I could possibly need, their definitions and alternatives seem to be on this site. Though I don’t intend to be dropping castle terms all over my draft, I know I should refer to specific parts of castles correctly.

I toured two castles about ten years ago, both in Sweden which is helpful as the location of the castle in my novel is in mountainious terrain and very cold.

Laying out my castle is my biggest issue. I need to configue it to fit the story but stay within the standards of castles. Thus the following site is useful. It supplied a variety of layouts of castles and the reasoning behind them. Medieval Castle Layout. It’s proving useful as I plan out my version. I’ll probably have to plan out two more as well. Hmm, a castle building author is never done.

You know, I have to make room for a dragon in my castle. But enough about my research.

What research are you doing lately, and what about it sidetracks you?

Non-writing life: Includes dogs

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Photo by Mitchell Orr on Unsplash

I mentioned in a previous post that my dogs have been keeping me rather busy. I thought I would post about that now because when I learn something new that brings about positive results in my life and those I care about I want to share it with others.

I have two Labradors, great girls who add joy to my life. One of my girls, Cagney has always suffered from skin allergies. We’ve managed to keep the allergies at a low itch and she’s been very positive about the whole experience. Each night I say, “Time for medicine,” and she trots over and sits down knowing I’m going to put a nasty tasting Claritin tablet in her mouth. Yuck! She takes it then runs for the water bowl to get the taste out of her mouth.

Some years ago (25+) I had another Labrador that used to suffer from colds on a regular basis. I started giving her a nightly chewable vitamin C. She thought it was a treat and loved them. But the best part was she stopped getting colds. Jump forward again and earlier this year I think, okay why not give Cagney Vitamin C as well. So I started that regimen (follows the Claritin tablet and much tastier). Result: less ear infections and less need to respond to indications of an ear infection starting. Allergies in low itch mode. (For those wondering about eliminating the allergy altogether: non-allergy food provided and out-door activity limited to no more than ten minutes as needed is already in the mix.)

Months pass, and suddenly Cagney is overwhelmed with allergies. She can’t walk two steps without one leg or the other trying to scratch and itch. Her belly is a mass of pink dots and redness. We can barely touch her without causing legs to go into itch mode. Her hair is falling out and she has black crusty stuff oozing out her flanks. I add Benadryl to the mix (used to work well as a morning allergy pill before the vitamin C was added). No results. She is miserable. We take both girls in to the vet for yearly shots and discuss this new development.

Result: allergy shot, allergy pills to control the issue until more long-term means take affect. Long-term means: a chewable gelcap of Omega-3 fatty acid, and apple cider vinegar. It’s been three weeks: hair is nearly all grown back, pink spots are gone, redness is gone, itching is gone, most of the crusty sebum (black ooze) is gone, and Cagney is comfortable again.

You might wonder what the apple cider vinegar was for. I put it in a spray bottle and I spray all the little skin irritations and such. This includes spaying her feet which have had a purple cast to them since she licks them due to the inching which causes a yeast infection which turns the fur around the feet purple. The color of her feet is now nearly normal, no more licking. The only downside to this is my house smells like I’m pickling something. I am. I pickle my dogs regularly.

Bonus: Lacey’s dandruff is nearly gone. She’s had dandruff all her life. Otherwise, she never has an issue, and both dogs are shedding far less.

Final allergy regimen for Cagney: one gel cap Omega-3 fatty acid, one Claritin, one chewable 500MG vitamin C, daily sprays of apple cider vinegar where needed and lots of love.

#dogs
#canineallergies