Blog

Posted in Resources, Writing

Scribophile

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

I recently joined a website called Scribophile. It’s basically a website for writers where they can post their work and have critiqued by other writers. The website utilizes a system through karma points. These points are awarded when you critique other people’s work. Through critiques, you rack up the points to post your own stories. You need 5 karma points to do this. So far, I haven’t managed to get 5 karma points yet but I’m getting there.

The stories are posted by chapters which the minimum is 3k words give or take so, I tend to read the chapter in one sitting. The website has this really cool mechanic where you can critique a work using their in-line critique option. It basically allows you to add comments and small edits throughout their work just like you can if you were editing with a pen.

There are also forums where you can discuss different topics with other writers and the Academy that provides free resources. Of course, the website also features a premium membership which cost money. However, signing up for the website is free.

While using this website, the one thing that I’ve found valuable is writing a critique. Thanks to college, I’ve had a lot of experience critiquing other’s works and so, I know how to write a critique. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’m a little rusty at it, but when I wrote the critiques, my mind shifted.

Sure, I had edited my own work but that’s nowhere near what your brain goes through when critiquing someone else’s work. It is during critiquing, that I find, that I actually – kind of – know what I’m doing. It’s a good feeling when I realize that I know what I’m talking about. While I might know everything and critiques are only, in a way, personal opinions, feedback on any work is important. You need a fresh pair of eyes.

The story gets so wrapped up in your head that you can’t really see the big picture anymore. I’ve had a lot of experience with this and, just taking a break from inside my head to read/critique someone else’s work, gave me a huge energy charge. In one instance, I realized that a writer had the same problem as me. The setting wasn’t all there and I was able to point that out which made me more aware of what my story was lacking too.

So far, Scribophile has proved, at least to me, to be a very helpful resource. While I might not be on it at all hours of the day, the time I do spend on the website has been very valuable to me. All that’s left for me to do is to get 5 karma points and post my first chapter up for critiques.

Posted in updates, Writing

Starting the New Year

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

2018 has started out to be very productive. I have finished my first book of the year called Vampire Hunter D, Vol. 1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi. Now, on to Vol. 2 which I have to find somewhere in my closet. It’s a series that I’ve been meaning on reading for a while now and I hadn’t been able to find any of the paperbacks for until only recently.

Each day has been filled with productivity and I won’t think about how my motivation might diminish in the future. Instead, I’ll focus on the now and worry about all that later. There are a few changes I wanted to implement in my writing routine. I don’t it’s anything drastic so to speak. This week, I’ll start off with including a scene I wrote for the prompt: “Do you remember the first time we met?” he asked.

“Do you remember the first time we met?” he asked.

“No,” she replied icily.

His face contorted in pain. “Casey,” he began.

Casey turned her body away from him. She focused on the breeze pulling at her braid and on the darkening clouds overhead. A few families were speckled throughout the park. The sings squeaked with every push and the children’s laughter reached Casey’s ears.

Of course, she remembered when they first met. It had been a day much like today. The only difference was that it was raining. She was practicing for a marathon and he was riding his bike without his glasses. Their meeting started with a trip to the emergency center. Casey took a deep breath distancing herself from those memories.

“What do you want?” she asked bluntly. “After all this time you call me and want to speak. What do you want?”

She twisted around, resting her back against the uncomfortable bench. Her arms were crossed. Jonathon reached toward her but stopped.

“Why do you think I want something?”

Casey clenched her jaw. Her gaze was focused on the dancing blades of grass in front of her. “Because you’re the type of person who uses people and discards them like trash.”

“You don’t know me.” Jonathon’s voice was low.

Casey smirked. “I date you for almost two years,” she said softly. “Trust me. I know you.”

“Why are you making this difficult?” Jonathan suddenly cried. “I just wanted to talk.”

His words reawakened a long-buried anger. Casey swirled around. “Oh, so now you want to talk,” she spat. She stood. “You didn’t want to speak when it actually mattered. When a simple explanation sufficed. You’re unbelievable.”

Jonathan jumped up. “What was I supposed to do? You didn’t want to tell me –”

“It was none of your business,” she interjected.

“You were my girlfriend!”

“Because that actually mattered back then,” Casey retorted. Her hands clenched. “I was only your girlfriend when it was convenient for you.”

“What was I supposed to think when you disappear for days with another guy? There were pictures Casey. Was I supposed to ignore that?”

Casey’s chin trembled. “You were supposed to trust me.”

That’s what I have so far. I might expand this a little more once I figure out enough details. Mostly, I was making things up as I went. In my humble opinion, I don’t think it’s a bad start.

Posted in updates, Writing

2017 in Review

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

While the year hasn’t exactly ended, 2017 is coming to an end. Looking back at it, it’s been a crazy year both professionally and personally. A lot of good things have happened and a lot of bad things have also happened.

I completed two NaNoWriMos this year in July and November. There some personal issues that I had to take care of. There’s always some good with the bad. I think it was all balanced out. While my novel wasn’t picked up, I still haven’t lost hope. There are other projects that I can work on and it’s not like I can’t take a break. Options are available.

On top of it all, I’m going to start a new career in my day job. I still want to make a living from my writing but I’m very aware that, that won’t happen so soon. Because of this, I actually plan to get my teaching certification through an alternative certification program. This also means that I have to go back to school for a year or two but, in the long run, that doesn’t seem too bad. I already survived a four-year college experience. I’m sure I can get through two years of school.

As 2017 comes to an end, my goal of getting published wasn’t accomplished. I’m a bit sad about that but I believe there is a reason why stuff happens and this year, just wasn’t meant to be. There are others years as well. While, I might have to think about retiring the book, I can keep that train of thought in the back of my mind for now.

I won’t be posting anything else for the rest of the year. I’ll be picking up blogging again in January.

For now,

bye and Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

Posted in Writing

The next Step

Posted on by Kassandra Carrillo

It’s been a week since NaNoWriMo has ended and life for me is starting to return to its normality. I am no longer pressed for time to write the daily word goal for the day. While it’s a nice break from that hectic tine, part of me misses it. I still write everyday but not the same amount. That’ll be something to work on.

However, it is time to look at what comes next. Clan of Blood needs to be rewritten but I won’t jump into that just yet. Writing that story made me realise that the first book lacked some characterization of a particular character and world building as well. Now, this doesn’t mean that I’ll have to rework the entire book. No, I figured I can go into the story and add a few more stuff to it. Luckily, I still have the 8k word edit I can use so Sarah from LoptandCropt can take a look at my manuscript. Who knows, I might have her take a look at the entire story, not just those 8k words.

Even as I beef up Clan of Ash (the first book), I plan on working on my wattpad story and rewriting Crimson Queen. That story is also on wattpad but it was finished. There are even a couple of short stories I want to write so, I’ll be doing that. While college taught me that short stories weren’t my forte, I’ll write them anyways. They’re stories and stories are meant to be written.

Now, thanks to “winning” NaNoWriMo, I get a couple of goodies. One of those prizes happens to be half off Scrivener, a program used to organise novels for instance. I’ve been eyeing this program for a while but haven’t tried it out. I think now would be the perfect time to get it and take it for a spin. From what I read, I think it will be a good investment. I’m also thinking of getting their own program called Scapple. It basically a brain storming program that works like a spider web. The ideas can connect to each other or not at all.

While I usually brain storm on paper, I feel like trying something new and who knows, this way might just work for me.