Showing posts with label Plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plan. Show all posts

Monday, September 17, 2012

My vision was too much

CONFESSIONS OF A EAGER AND CRAZY WRITERI have learned that I tend to get overly eager when I am excited to learn new things about my family treez.
 
How many people can say they have been here since 1607? And be able to trace it? And, what about multiple family members?
 
Am I bragging? No. Not at all. Every family, mine included, has made their fair share of mistakes. It's how we learn from them that I celebrate. We have lessons we can learn secondhand so we do not need to be doomed to repeat those historical lessons. Never mind how excited it makes me about this great nation--thanks to my family. And, I was already excited to be an American. What a way to learn the history of our country--than through the historical fiction of a real American family?
 
It's how we have been here since 1607 in Jamestown, and even through the Mayflower, that gets me excited. Never mind how I have at least 100 family members who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Never mind all the other wars in which America has fought.
 
It's this excitement that gets me into trouble. A lot of it. Heaps. Loads.
 
I wanted to write a series on: Jamestown, Plymouth, the American Revolutionary War,  the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, never mind the stories of the several dozens of my family members who were beheaded or executed at the Tower of London. I wanted to write a book of each, then repeat to the second book of each series.
 
I realized that I made a mountain of not just a mole hill, but a 16'er. We do not have any sixteener mountains on earth, and that was what I started to create for myself. (Not good.)  If I would do the research required to do so, it would take me forever and that would mean less writing. That just is not acceptable. I think I have a responsibility as an author to write as much as possible for you, so you do not have to wait too long between books.
 
I also realized the best books for me to write are the phonebook-sized books. Again, it's to give you, the reader, the most bang for your reading delight and pleasure. After all, why do I write? To tell a tale? Who do I tell the tale to? YOU! Hence, you are very important to me.
 
Therefore, here is my new commitment.
 
I am stopping the book I have started to write. That will be part of the new Book 2 of this series.
 
THE FAMILY TREEZ OF THE USA SERIES starts in 1584. So, I am going to start there and write my books from 1584 to the present or so. They will be in order. It will be my lifetime commitment to you. I am in my late-thirties and hope to write about three books of 600 pages each per year--until I am too old to type.
 
Book 1 is now: ROANOKE: 1584-1590.
Book 2 will be: JAMESTOWN: 1607-????.
 
The series will focus on the saga of my family and their lives: marriages, war, faith, children, heartbreak, disaster, and living this thing called life.
 
I am starting to write this new book today and will write 2500 words per day, 5 days a week, and including vacation, I will have it finished around 29th of January 2013. I have to stick with this now. Period. After all, I am going to a writer's conference in February, the Writing for the Soul Conference in Colorado Springs, and MUST have this book to present. I will also have to edit as I go so I can have it ready.
 
The good news is you will be given a lot more to read for free! I will publish a new FREE copy every week, starting this Friday.
 
I have family who went to Roanoke and planned the venture, so I wanted to share their tale... And will answer a lot of what-if questions in a story. I hope you enjoy.
 
Again, the old book 1 will now become part of the new Book 2.
 
Welcome to ROANOKE: 1584-1590.
 
(Image credit: Microsoft Clipart Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA
Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com


Why is it?


Why is it I get new ideas and visions in the middle of the night--where I am having to get up hours earlier than normal to make an airport run?
 
I'm just saying...
 
Ideas just come. They cannot be stopped. And, if you are sure it is God speaking to you, you do not look at the clock and tell him to get with you at a more convenient time, after all.
 
When God speaks, it is usually a good idea to listen and immediately respond. Starting with this blog post, I am doing precisely that. I am sure you will notice a slightly different blog now, along with a slightly different tone.
 
I have the clearest vision of my writing than I have ever had. I know what I must do now. There will be nothing to stop me. I will not get off course and will not change my books again. I have a plan for the next ten years. It is set in stone.
 
But, goodness, I am tired. I should sleep well after the Broncos Game tonight!
 (Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA
Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com




Friday, September 14, 2012

News, Research, and Head Shakers



First of all, Happy Friday to all.
 
I wanted to check in and tell you how my research, planning, and outlining of the next book in the Family Treez of the USA Series is going. My last blog post, I shared how I found a relative who, with his 11 sons, served in the American Revolutionary War. It is rather remarkable the possibilities this brings. I have not been able to find absolute specific information about any of them, but have found a few nuggets or two. The rest will have to be me filling in the gaps and storyline through asking "What-if" questions, and make sure the stories measures up to the times.
 
However, what I have found have been massive surprises and change my outlook of the Family Treez of the USA Series. Here's some of what I have found:
~ I have at least two ancestors that trace back to the Mayflower. WHO KNEW?
~ There is a city nearby to where I live, Tabb. And there is a street I pass from time to time: Bland. Both are relatives. Again, WHO KNEW?
~ I found my Yorktown connection.
~ I also found several family members who were in the War of 1812.
~ This family line actually traces to other family lines I already knew about and also traces back to those from Jamestown. (So, sometime, I will write enough of the Jamestown Series to catch up from then to the American Revolutionary War times.)
~ Etc. Etc. Etc. (I have to keep some secrets, you know. Lol.)
 
There was a time I wanted to write a series that covered EVERY battle of the American Revolutionary War. Through this family line, I can. Every battle. After all, if there are gaps in my family history, where I cannot find records... I can take the liberty and put my family members, or someone close to them, there at every battle.
 
Now, I cannot help but wonder if I need to write a Mayflower and War of 1812 Series as well. Huh. Now that I am thinking aloud, and onto the page, I think those are more important than the Tower Series I have planned.
 
Huh. Something else just hit me. I have several other family members who were in Plymouth just shortly after the Mayflower. But, until yesterday, I found none from the Mayflower. So, I can actually call it the Plymouth series rather than the Mayflower series. Hmm... (This is how I write. I do stream of consciousness (SOC) writing and start asking questions and thinking of possibilities--and viola! I get ideas and a storyline. But, I digress. I really should get back to working on the American Revolutionary Book. I am still in the researching process. Then, I will plan and outline.
 
Wait a minute. Here is the order of the series I am going to write for the Family Treez of the USA:
* Jamestown: Books 1, 7, 13, 19...
* American Revolutionary War: Books 2, 8, 14, 20...
* Civil War: Books 3, 9, 15, 21...
* Plymouth: Books 4, 10, 16, 22...
* War of 1812: Books 5, 11, 17, 23...
* The Tower (The Plantagenets and Tudors): Books 6, 12, 18, 24...

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Book 2 Research and Discovery



You would not believe what I just discovered.
 
I have a relative who served in the American Revolutionary War--along with his 11 sons!!! (In Virginia!)
 
It seems like Book 2 will be about them.
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Planning



I am starting to do research for Book 2 of the Family Treez of the USA Series and am in the process of researching more about the American Revolutionary War.
 
Book 3 will be about the Civil War.
 
Book 4 will be about the time of the Plantagenets and Tudors in what I will call the Towers Series (or something like that).
 
Then, in Book 5, I will return to where we left off in Book 1.
 
Book 6 will be the 2nd part of Book 6.
 
Let me explain:
Jamestown Era Books: 1, 5, 9
American Revolutionary War Books: 2, 6, 10
Civil War Books: 3, 7, 11
The Tower Series about the Plantagenets and Tudors: 4, 8, 12, etc.
 
Why am I doing it in this manner? They will each be a stand alone novel. However, if you read all of them, you will get that much more depth of the overall Family tree (which lead to me today), along with all the smaller treez of each last name. Also, if you do not like a certain period of time as a reader, you can either skip those, or know that you will not have a period of a year or two where you cannot read this series.
 
This is the plan.
 
I am working on planning, researching, and outlining Book 2 so as I finish writing Book 1, I can allow Book 2 to simmer for a while and joy down notes and fill in holes in the plot or characters.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

News and Planning of Books 1-2.



Book 1 Outline
I have been in the process of working on the outline for Book 1, FAITH AND JAMESTOWN the last three days. I wanted to make sure it was solid.
Planning for Book 2
I will work on planning for Book 2, the start of the story of the American Revolutionary War and my family from 12 September - 02 October 2012.
Writing
I will write Book 1 again from 03 October to 09 November.
Vacation
I will be on vacation from 12-23 October.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Priorities as a Writer



As a writer of Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction, I cannot help but realize how critical it is to take care of my body (the temple of God) so that I am able to write. The healthier I am in body, mind, heart, and spirit, the better writing I have the potential to do. However, it is absolutely essential for me to constantly polish my craft as well.
 
So, how do I do it all? Is it even possible?
 
The most important thing I can do is establish my priorities (in priority order).
 
My priorities are:
~ God, prayer, and Bible study
~ Eating Healthy (I am in the process of losing weight and eating healthy since I am hypoglycemic--which means low carb, high fiber and protein).
~ Exercise. I am a runner. In March 2012, I was not one. I never ran before in my life (unless it was raining and I did not want to get wet--or if chased.)
~ My husband
~ Writing my fiction books
~ Writing my blog posts
~ Writing my writing devotional
~ Learning and honing my craft.
 
My priorities have not been in the proper order lately. I have decided today, it changes. Also, I am going to make sure to study my craft through reading books and applying on a more intentional level. I want to devote at least ten hours per week to learning.
 
I also have decided to write at a pace of 2,000 words a day so I can get more of all of the above done--and not feel guilty for doing so.
 
Now, it is time for the healthy eating thing while I go cook dinner. Then, I will study some more and get a little more writing done on book 1: FAITH AND JAMESTOWN before I turn in for the evening. (Hmm. That sounds to me like coffee is necessary as well.)

(Photo Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA
         
 


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Plan for the Family Treez of the USA Series


I have been working on planning for more of the books in this series.
 
I have a great deal family here in America since 1585. Future stories will talk about this. However, I realize that I have had several members in the American Revolutionary War and in the Civil War. Never mind all of the other wars. I also can trace my family line back to the Plantagenet and Tudor bloodlines in England and France. I come from a line of several famous and infamous Kings and Queens. But, it is the fact that I have had over 23 members of my family beheaded or executed in England that I find most interesting. (How is that for a claim?!?)  
 
Each of these periods of time begs the questions: Why America? Why now? What was life like? How did their faith shape them as people and as Americans? (Or, add England for the other family members.)
 
Therefore, here is my plan for the enxt couple of years. I will write a book from each of these times frames in the following order:
~ Jamestown
~ American Revolutionary War
~ Civil War
~ England (Tower Series)
 
Hopefully, I will write 2 books from each segment each year. This is my goal. (We shall see.)
 
In other words, if you do not prefer the period of time a book is set in, wait for the enxt, and it will change. But, read all of them, and get a glimpse of an American family with English roots.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Book 1 News



I now have 15,949 words written of Book 1.
 
The title I have for the book is: FAITH AND JAMESTOWN.
 
By the end of this week, I hope to have 22,500 words. We shall see.
 
Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:
Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction
dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Monday, August 27, 2012

A New Plan



I took some time to plan the next year or so of books I want to write. 

What I did not expect was how there will be eight books on Jamestown between the years 1607 and 1624. (Gulp!)

I hope you are ready to learn a great deal about Jamestown, Virginia. I know I am. 

(Photo Credit: Stacy Duplease. 2012. At Jamestown.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

WWWWW, an H, and a WI Questions (NaNoWriMo Hints and Novel Writing Hints)

Whether you have your book planned or not, it is good to ask questions about your novel. Ask who, what, where, when, why, how and what-if questions about everything you can think of and write them down on the page. I actually recommend doing this weekly so you can see how your book is coming, where it went, and where it is headed.

Some questions might appear to be the same. But, answer them again anyway, even if it is the same answer. It can stir something up in you and give you another idea or cement the one you already have.

Here are some sample questions:
~ Who is in the novel?
~ What is the novel about?
~ What is the theme of the novel?
~ What is the conflict in the novel?
~ What is the motivation of the hero?
~ What happened?
~ What do you smell in the novel? See? Taste? Feel/touch? Hear? 
~ Where does the novel take place? 
~ When does the novel take place?
~ Why is this story being told (novel being written)?
~ Why is there conflict in the novel?
~ Why does the hero do what they do?
~ Why did the novel start the way it did?
~ Why did the novel end the way it did? 
~ Why did it happen? 
~ How did the story happen?
~ How are the characters growing in the novel?
~ How did the novel begin?
~ How did the novel end? 
~ What-if something different happened in the story?
~ What-if there was more to this story?
~ What-if there was less to this story?
~ What if the story started in another scene?
~ What-if the story ended in a different way? 
~ Write any more questions you can think of here. (I recommend cutting and pasting these questions into a new document and then add some of your own.)

Those are very basic questions. But, here is a more in-depth twist. Ask each of those questions about:
~ Each of the three acts of your book
~ Each chapter
~ Each scene
~ The hero/heroine
~ Each character 
~ Each page
~ Each paragraph

Stacy Duplease
Inspirational Historical Romance Author
A timeless kind of love... 
My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Where to find my upcoming books
My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: NaNoWriMo: How can it be only 7 days away?
Journaling Chronicle: Weekend journaling

Friday, October 14, 2011

NaNoWriMo Countdown: Do it


NaNoWriMO--National Novel Writing Months starts 01 November 2011.

That's 17 days away!

There is still plenty of time to think of a novel idea, outline, and plan. No worries.

Also, you can be a pantser and not have anything planned and just start writing on, or even after, 01 November.

If you wonder for a heartbeat if you should do NaNoWriMo, do it. Don't let another year go by without pursuing might end up being your dream and your purpose.



Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Author
A timeless kind of love... 
My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Check out my new blog
My writing fiction & NaNoWriMo blog: "What's Your Speed": A writing resource

Do you want to be the most productive writer you can be?

Do you want to be the most productive writer you can be as you write your novel for NaNoWriMo?

How can you be the most productive writer you can be?

The answer is simple.

PLAN.

That's it.

Have an outline. 

Have your schedule cleared and have your time writing each day listed on the same schedule. 

Tell others your plan to write and ask them to help you honor your plan.

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Author
A timeless kind of love... 
My historical fiction blog & latest book information: Check out my new blog