2013 was a good year. Welcomed a new member to our extended family; visited a couple fantastic cities; started to shake some of my Luddite tendencies.
Best of all, I completed and published my first e-book short story, and my first full-length e-book novel. With the help of a knowledgeable friend, it was much easier than I expected, too!
My 2014 looks very promising on all fronts, especially some more romantic / erotic writing projects I'm planning.
My hope is thst you will have a great year, too, and join me in my journey too.
Xoxo,
-- YBC
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Saturday 21 December 2013
Welcome Winter
My scientist cousin gives a long explanation for why this is the start of winter and not, say, a couple weeks ago when the first real snow fell.
For the first time in years, though, this shortest, darkest day of the year snuck up on me. I usually am acutely attuned to the diminishing daylight.
Am I more content this year? Hardly. Busier? Yes. Less aware of the natural world? Also affirmative.
Yet my soul is less dark than recent past years. No small part of which has been transferring some of my lifelong sexual fantasies to the printed e-page.
May the coming days be brighter, beyond merely in daylight.
Happy Holidays to all my online friends and readers.
For the first time in years, though, this shortest, darkest day of the year snuck up on me. I usually am acutely attuned to the diminishing daylight.
Am I more content this year? Hardly. Busier? Yes. Less aware of the natural world? Also affirmative.
Yet my soul is less dark than recent past years. No small part of which has been transferring some of my lifelong sexual fantasies to the printed e-page.
May the coming days be brighter, beyond merely in daylight.
Happy Holidays to all my online friends and readers.
Tuesday 17 December 2013
Made it to the iBookstore!
I'm so excitied! Someone just noticed this weekend that my book and my short story are finally available on Apple's iBooks online store! It had been so long since I submitted them that I had begun to despair that they had been rejected.
If you, like me, are an Apple Acolyte, search the iBookstore for "YB Charles" or by title Fortune's Keys or Take 2 Takes 2.
Now to get cracking on my next erotica project.... More hints later.
If you, like me, are an Apple Acolyte, search the iBookstore for "YB Charles" or by title Fortune's Keys or Take 2 Takes 2.
Now to get cracking on my next erotica project.... More hints later.
Sunday 1 December 2013
Letting characters steer the plot
One of my all-time favorite books on writing is Stephen King's book, On Writing.
I particularly resonated with the advice that our plot prejudices be set aside, that the author allow the characters to tell their own story, which the author duly records.
That was the approach I took with large sections of Fortune's Key.
Plot points were in my mind, but much of it, including some key details, were shaped by my simply watching my characters live their lives.
For example, the rape scene. In my mind, another character was the attacker. But as they told their own story, another carried out the attack, to my surprise. And it took the whole rest of the story in a, to me, surprising direction.
A second example from the same story: in my imagination, Trinity brought a grad student with her to the swap meet. But as she told her part of the story and I recorded it, she made it clear that she was not the sort of woman who would complicate and compromise a relationship with a student, but that she had this old boyfriend she wanted me to meet.
On Writing is excellent, highly recommended to aspiring writers. Like me.
I particularly resonated with the advice that our plot prejudices be set aside, that the author allow the characters to tell their own story, which the author duly records.
That was the approach I took with large sections of Fortune's Key.
Plot points were in my mind, but much of it, including some key details, were shaped by my simply watching my characters live their lives.
For example, the rape scene. In my mind, another character was the attacker. But as they told their own story, another carried out the attack, to my surprise. And it took the whole rest of the story in a, to me, surprising direction.
A second example from the same story: in my imagination, Trinity brought a grad student with her to the swap meet. But as she told her part of the story and I recorded it, she made it clear that she was not the sort of woman who would complicate and compromise a relationship with a student, but that she had this old boyfriend she wanted me to meet.
On Writing is excellent, highly recommended to aspiring writers. Like me.
Friday 15 November 2013
YB: Me
Let me tell you the story of me, YB.
Awesome initials, of course, thank you, mother.
I was raised in a French corner of Canada, not too far from salt water that would eventually join the Atlantic ocean. Close enough for moderate temps and inspiring storms, far enough that it took a drive to actually taste salty air.
But that's ancient history.
Since then I have lived in three time zones. There were many fine years spent as close to the Pacific -much closer, ow that I think about it - as I had been to the Atlantic.
And time in cities small and large on the shores of a couple different Great Lakes.
All those moves and travels to different cities, provinces, states and bodies of water happened for reasons of education, employment, love. My own and for the fulfillment of others I was living with.
Makes for a fragmented life, history, resume.
But one constant has been my active fantasy imagination. So after decades of telling myself these stories, all the fantasies confined to my own thoughts and dreams, I have started to write them down. Give voice to the characters I have carried from coast to coast and back.
Maybe next time, instead of introducing myself, I will introduce some of them.
Awesome initials, of course, thank you, mother.
I was raised in a French corner of Canada, not too far from salt water that would eventually join the Atlantic ocean. Close enough for moderate temps and inspiring storms, far enough that it took a drive to actually taste salty air.
But that's ancient history.
Since then I have lived in three time zones. There were many fine years spent as close to the Pacific -much closer, ow that I think about it - as I had been to the Atlantic.
And time in cities small and large on the shores of a couple different Great Lakes.
All those moves and travels to different cities, provinces, states and bodies of water happened for reasons of education, employment, love. My own and for the fulfillment of others I was living with.
Makes for a fragmented life, history, resume.
But one constant has been my active fantasy imagination. So after decades of telling myself these stories, all the fantasies confined to my own thoughts and dreams, I have started to write them down. Give voice to the characters I have carried from coast to coast and back.
Maybe next time, instead of introducing myself, I will introduce some of them.
Thursday 14 November 2013
Dipping my toe in
If I really want to be a writer, I should have a blog.
So say well-intentioned friends.
Is there merit to their unsolicited advice?
We shall see.
We shall see if this pseudo-Luddite can speak the contemporary techno-lingo well enough to pull this off.
A toe dip more than a plunge.
And seek to answer the question: does a 21st century writer require a blogosphere presence?
Thoughts?
So say well-intentioned friends.
Is there merit to their unsolicited advice?
We shall see.
We shall see if this pseudo-Luddite can speak the contemporary techno-lingo well enough to pull this off.
A toe dip more than a plunge.
And seek to answer the question: does a 21st century writer require a blogosphere presence?
Thoughts?
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