If anyone's curious on how I did on this contest - Previous post

Beth and the Beaumont Murder came in 2nd :-)  So close and yet so far.

I didn't get a request either but I hear I am getting a full critique from the editor from TOR, which should prove to be interesting reading.


Shereen

One of my earlier articles, re-worked, is up at this site - about sculpting with English Alabaster. 

It's based on some research I did for a regency (historical) short story called To Capture Love.

History Undressed

Shereen

I finally finished the current wip, a fantasy regency.  On the last day of my holidays, although the story had only been trickling out at 2 or 3 pages a day, I was determined to finish the book before going back to work.

I ended up writing 24 pages in one day.  I had to crow a little since that's the largest number of pages I've ever written in one day.  Felt terribly good.

I did learn something valuable on that last non-stop writing stint.  A new technique for getting my butt in the chair and writing.

I gave myself a half hour every hour to goof off, skim Email, play Free Cell, whatever I wanted.  The other half hour, I timed the stove clock to buzz in 30 min and I had to write for those thirty minutes.

This worked really well for two reasons:

1. The stove was in the kitchen and I couldn't see the time from my office (less distraction)
   
2. It forced me to get off my chair whether I was in the middle of a good scene or not, to go turn it off, or it would keep beeping annoyingly

So, I got exercise by having to walk to the kitchen and stretch my legs.  I came back to scenes at the next 30 minute slot usually in the middle of scenes.  This made it easier to get back into the story, especially since I left frustrated at not finishing it.

I consistently managed 3 pages in 30 minutes, 2 if it was mostly dense narrative, which was also a clue for when I returned to switch to dialogue soon.

I'm going to remember that for the future. 

Shereen

I went to a nearby used bookstore this past week in search of regency covers to inspire a small pencil sketch to use on my website.  And I have to say, regency covers rock!

I could be biased (I love regencies), but of all the books there, regencies had the most colorful, engaging and interesting looks.  With so many books lined up row upon row, it reminded me of kneeling by the Christmas tree and fingering a multitude of richly wrapped presents.

I found some of the elements I was searching for.  One with lamp posts in the backgound, one with a coachman with a top hat and carriage coat, his back to the viewer, one of a winter outdoor scene.  And so many handsome regency bucks to choose from.

All that said, some of the details of the covers were not "quite" accurately regency.  And way too many of those Hessian boots looked like Wellingtons or plain black rubber boots.

Still, I'm enjoying this process more than I thought I would.  Hope the end product lives up to my expectations.  Ah well, like anything in life, only time will tell.

Shereen