Who is Perri Stone?

You want to know who I am.
Great.
I'm the woman who kicks ass in the prison when I have to. I know he's your loved one, but inside he's got to act a whole 'nother way. He can't be seen as a punk or he's gonna be turned into someone's bitch. You want your Man when he comes out, then don't sweat the stuff he does inside to survive.
Unfortunately, I'm the one that won't allow it.
That's right, I'm the one trying to make sure your sweet, daddy, doesn't hurt someone else. I'm searching his cell for contraband. I'm making sure that pencil he's using to write you letters, won't get jabbed in someone else's jugular later. I'm keeping him safe and you safe outside.
That's right, the thankless part of my job is if he escapes and gets out before the system says it's okay, I'm gonna hunt his ass done
and
shoot it.
Yeah. So now you know a little about me. I'll tell you more later.
INSIDE OUT

Don't be so serious

One of the things I have noticed with the writers who are publishing in e-formats is the speed in which they get the work out. Now maybe they had several manuscripts gathering dust in a drawer. Blew it off, did a rewrite and put the gem out there for the rest of us to read. Some of the big sellers in this game are also writing stories that people want to read. Pure escapism. I get that.
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Think about it. If your job sucks, or your bills are kicking your butt, or your home life is less than wonderful, it's nice to indulge in some pure entertaining fun. And that's what some of the big sellers are doing. So for me, I plan on not sweating the long, winded outlining that takes soooo much time away from just putting the story on paper. And just get it done.
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That's my goal. I have outlines for 2 books. One is the next in the Perri Stone series. So instead of wasting more time, trying to get every speck outlined before I can write, I will start writing. Believe me, I have outlined to death. And Near Salem, which isn't trying to capitalize on the YA market but telling a story I have always wondered about since I was about 18. What if the Salem Witch Trials never happened? What if witchcraft was allowed to flourish in its natural state? Where would we be now. So of course this has to happen in a parallel universe. But that's the joy of writing. I can put it anywhere I want.
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So I will keep my book at .99 cents, because I want you to read it.
INSIDE OUT

The Awakening by Lisa M. Lilly

I'm still reading this book so I can't do a full review of what I think. I find the concept intriguing. A female Messiah. I'm not sure if the author is pro-feminist, pro-choice, or very religious. And that's what also makes this story a good read. You can have your own beliefs about any of those subject but don't let it get in the way of reading this book. I found myself really pissed that Tara's parents would try to have her committed because she was contemplating an abortion. (She never said she was, they took her journal out of context). Which made me think about the choices women have and who gets to make the choices for us, when it's our bodies. So far I'd have to rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Celebrations

While everyone around me is gearing up for the holidays. It is smart to remember that your characters are individuals. And in order to really highlight that individuality, it makes sense to think about how you will use the non-conformity of the holidays to set up that framework for your characters.
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If all your characters celebrate Christmas, think instead about the conflict that can arise if one of them is a Buddhist, Pagan, Wicca, Jewish, etc. You get to show other ways of how the character interacts with other characters and how their religion/holiday choices help inform how they react to each other. It's a great way to share insight into what the characters thought processes are and it isn't a fake way to force exchanges.
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Happy writing

Naming characters

If you're like me, sometimes a characters name will come to you easily. It fits like a glove and you know it's the right name. But what happens when you have a large cast of characters and you don't want to use a friends name, even if nothing "bad" happens to him/her.
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What I do and I've never run into a situation where I'm stumped for names any longer is to save obits. I know it sounds kind of morbid at first. But I keep a running list of names from the obit section. I reassign the first and last names of course. But I have an endless supply of names. I do not keep the pictures, because I am deciding what my characters look like.
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I know some people use baby books. But this didn't work for me because it only list first names. With my method you also have last names.
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And to take it a step further, I use a birth-date and astrological book to make sure that some character traits are really in line with the birth-date I give a character. Can have a character with a birthday in July become a super talkative Cancer or a character with a June birth-date as a stubbornly introverted Gemini. Those seem like minor things especially if you are writing a character with a specific birthday that is part of the story but the person who has that birthday or studies astrology sees it, they will think you are less than authentic with other parts of your story where you want their trust.
Happy writing.

Importance of Momentum

I have read numerous books that suggest the only way to grow as a writer is to basically write every day.
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Now some of you are thinking, I don't want to write every day. Sometimes I'm plotting in my head, which is akin to writing, but actually isn't. I talk to my characters all day long, in my head also, but if I'm not putting words to paper it means I am still that far behind in accomplishing my goal.

One of the books I use in keeping me on track as I write novels is First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner. (And NO I am not hawking her books). I have used her method because I don't like to outline. But I have noticed that it helps give me enough structure but doesn't pigeon hold me into a tight confine where creatively can't still thrive. It's a loose enough method for my right and left brain to both feel like they are working.

And one of the things I notice is that if I take the time to start writing, even if my goal is 3 pages, I usually end of writing more. It's the hardest struggle not to edit as I go. Which some writers may also struggle with. But I give myself permission to write badly. I understand that this draft is just that - a draft and not the final product. I understand that in the editing process more nuances of the story may take shape and I'm prepared when I have a decent outline to start with. And her method helps me stay on track because I can use research as a giant excuse not to write. I can get so sidetracked it would make you think I was working on my PhD.

I like the idea of pages a day instead of word count. And I usually use the same method that I use when I'm working on a screenplay. I visualize the scene and write that instead of thinking of the WHOLE finished book. That is too daunting and can stop you in your tracks.

Happy writing.

Discount for the holidays

I thought this is one way to gain new readers and appreciate the fact that people have loads to spend their money on and this is some way helps to reduce that cost. So from now until 12/24 my novel is .99, enjoy and happy reading. Inside Out - A Perri Stone novel

Tool to help the distractions

It's so easy to become distracted as a writer. If you have a regiment you stick to, it's a lot harder to let those pesky distracted bother you to the point that you don't get your pages in. The dishes can wait an hour, the kids can watch a little television or a lot, turn off the internet and write longhand so that you aren't tempted to check email, Facebook, Twitter. We all do, me too. But I am trying to become the writer who doesn't put everything else first and then go to bed tired and never having written that day because I just didn't get to it.
SelfControl I like this product that someone else mentioned and I put it on my net book. So that when I want to write, I can't log on to all the distracting sites for the time limit I set. If I don't have the self-control not to peek, this program stops me. And no, I am not an affiliate or anything else associated with this program. I just like it as a tool.

How do you sustain and build at the same time?

I just read a wonderful post Where Do Indie's Find New Readers?. And I have wondered the same thing. On twitter and other social networks were other writers are asking each other to promote and support their endeavors, what happens when they aren't returning the favor? I have purchased lots of ebooks lately, some in genres I like, and some because I have tweeted with the person and thought okay "I'll give their book a try" but my own numbers aren't changing when I check them. So what that is saying to me is - they are potentially downloading a copy and because it isn't in their comfort zone for books they like, they aren't purchasing a complete copy. I asked my partner is I should offer the ebook version for .99 to build a readership. But why discount, when there are others who have purchased the ebook and/or paperback at the asking price. It's like remaindering your book before you've had a chance to build anything. What a conundrum.
What are others experiencing?

Getting the work done

It's so easy to procrastinate and then beat yourself up for not finishing anything. Why not do the things you are avoiding and then it's complete before you know it. I did my pages today during my lunch. Hell, I was just going to eat and watch a television show on my tablet. So instead of that, I worked on my pages. Every page down is that much closer to finishing the novel. The first draft is also the hardest. After it's all on paper, the real work begins. Happy writing.

screenplay for Inside Out

As you may or may not know, I have a degree in Screenwriting. So, my draft for Inside Out is complete. I saw this book visually, long before I wanted to write it in novel form. But I have both. Yeah me. Don't know if I will write Quiet Riot in screenplay form or not.

outline complete

The note cards are complete (mostly) - Quiet Riot is on track.

snowy days/lazy days

It snowed last night and the white coolness spread out across the land as far as my vision can see - okay so it's not poetry. But it's time to get in the saddle and get some writing done. Although the peach cobbler I am going to make today is also enticing. What to do, what to do? How about Facebook first, Twitter second, cobbler third and writing fourth. So the wrong order. :)

11th Anniversary

It's Lynn and my anniversary. We are heading to Kincaid's for a lovely dinner. I can't believe it's been 11 years. The best and most enduring relationship of my adult life. With a woman who is generous, gracious, funny, smart, and a great friend. I love you honey.

New Orleans

As you know we went to New Orleans last week for Thanksgiving. My kids never confirmed if they wanted dinner with us or not, so Lynn and I used skymiles and hit the Big Easy. Had fun as usual. Ate the best food at Desire Bistro & Oyster Bar and had great buffet at Harrah's were of course we gambled. I love the ordering drinks at Harrah's push a button and here it comes.

A review from Amazon

I started reading late last night and didn't go to sleep until midnight because I wanted to finish! I usually try to "solve the mystery" before the end of a novel but I never guessed the end results. 
I look forward to reading about Perri's relationships, Bear, and Thompson. 
Great read! I did have to pause (prison rape) but I felt like I was learning the about the underbelly of the prison...corruption, secret codes/prison law, and the COs that work there...all very interesting. 
I will be purchasing the next Perri Stone


http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Out-Juin-Charnell/dp/146646397X/ref=cm_cr_dp_orig_subj

another day to get it done

The hardest part of writing are the multiple distractions we use to allow ourselves not to write. The television show (which we can view on demand later or dvr), the book by a fellow author we want to read, the children, the husband, the wife, the something that is always taking precedents over just getting your pages done. I know it's difficult, I struggle with the procrastination. But the overwhelming thought in my head now is that people expect a second book. I am expected to write it. I made a indirect promise to people that, if they read the 1st book (in the series), there would be more to come. So I'm walking away from the computer (I write longhand) and getting the words on the page and then I can watch television or read a book. And I've accomplished my goals for the day. Happy writing.

meeting goal

Today's goal was to continue working on the character sheets for the people in the novel. Some things I know and some things are changing. I also discovered a mid-novel twist - that I was trying to figure out how to have it fit with everything else going on - and it logically came together for me. So, be methodical in your process but keep the channels open for the story to unfold in ways you might not have imagined.

book on iTunes

I'm back. I haven't written in a while. I will try to post here on a more regular basis especially since the book is selling and people may want to connect. I am in the process of outlining for "Quiet Riot". That will be finished by the end of this month. I want to have the final draft ready for proofing and editing by end of January. And no, I don't write a book in a month. I have bits and pieces of this novel on scraps of paper and in my head so the writing should (I hope) go smoothly. On the other hand, "Near Salem" is 3/4 finished but I have set it aside so that I can get the next Perri Stone book completed.