I can't believe I'm going to try this again!

Whoa...I just spent two hours changing around my lj. Can you just say...go to bed!

Well, the idea is I've got to wrap my brain around the fact that I've got to write a book in November, and I haven't even started plotting. I'm roping a friend into helping me this weekend. She doesn't know, but alas, I'll spring it on her when I pick her up at the airport:)...

Dear World,

I'm thinking about Spike and all of the male heroes i'm writing about these days, and i've got a question...

In your humble opinion, what was the most important thing to happen to Spike that led him to become a man who could love the way he loved? (I know, not defining how he loved for you here).

Was it a momma's boy who became woefully disillusioned about love (after experiencing such pure mother/son love) and then was 'loved' by a vampire who made him feel like a 'better' man? So much of his character is defined by how others treated him or what they thought of him, who do you believe was the real Spike?

Can you pinpoint a moment from Buffy/Angel canon that 'says it all' as far as you're concerned about the real Spike?

What is that unforgettable scene?

Just wondering...

Best regards,

Denny S. Bryce

Dear Friends,

I'm chilling on a Friday night, reading excerpts from novels being written by kids in my class and reading an original story by one of the authors on my friends list. I'm looking forward to a great weekend after three days of being sick and just wanted to stop by and say 'hey'!

During my illness, I re-watched 'heroes' - that damn show is so freaking good, I can't even explain. Not only the pretty (Peter, the beautiful professor who went to the same school as my son, Sylar, Nikki, et all, I mean seriously, what a cast, what a story line, what mythology!). Love it.

I'm also working on two other stories and trying to get back to writing/working on some of my WIPs in the realm of fan fic. No promises, but hopefully, I'll be able to post something this weekend.

What do you think of this as an opening paragraph for a story:

It was a shiny bright world with blazing suns; Cassandra Hunter counted three. Lying on her back, she brushed the damp curls from her eyes as a wave of wet heat covered her body so thick it felt like she could pull the sweat from her skin in layers. Slowly, she rolled onto her stomach and raised her chin, searching for something familiar, anything she could recognize. The dirt on the ground was the usual black, but then she saw trees, tall, leafy trees and green grass as far as the hills. And yes, there were hills, rising up into the blue sky like majestic castles bathed in sunlight and shadow. She struggled to her knees to get a better look, and rested her hands on her thighs as she took in a long, deep breath. Then her nostrils tingled and she smiled. Water, salty and moist. A sea was nearby. Maybe that’s where she’d find him. Taking a dip in the cool water, his strong, naked body rising from the blue sea, like the hills—majestic—with water instead of sunlight and shadow covering his torso and his long, muscled legs.

And yes, this is a erotic romance that takes place in 2082...

Yours truly,

Denny S. Bryce

Long time no post here, but seriously, I had to do it. This is strictly a writing thing. I've been taking too many classes. It's paralyzing my brain. I've been reading tripe, and that's a killer. It just makes you angry. And the idea of critiquing it, well, it's hard. I should be nice, not all of the stories are bad. They're all well written in fact. But I don't care about the characters. But the one I'm reading now...well, you bet I care about this gal. I want to know what happens to her next, I wonder how she feels about what's happening to her now, and when she drops an inch of her guard, I smile with joy.

That's writing character.

However, instead of being filled with joy, I'm somewhat jealous. This woman (the writer) has released her thoughts and let this character live, while still giving me a story.

Damn, this storytelling stuff is tough.

That's all.

Yours truly,

Denny S. Bryce

i've had a great weekend and have barely written a word. i'm going to go up soon and get going, try to eek out 1,000 words on the novel, and another 500 or each of the fan fics. can i do it? i'll let you know...

that's what i need, a little escape from the insanity of all this jazz. i want to go elsewhere, not do what i do and the chief example of who I don't want to do it for is my largest client. my energy is gone. i no longer want to attempt to deal with the personalities at this place. the lack of originality, etc.

i want to write and sit on a beach so bad i can taste it.

that's exactly where i am right now with Gideon - completely void of plot. how can i find it, when did i lose it. it's like a butterfly - one second it's there the next gone. and damn it, this baby has vanished. any tips world? what can a writer do when the plot has vanished?

I don't have writer's block. I have fear of finishing block. It's like letting go...I'm doing it well. It's taken me two years to write one fan fiction piece. I'm stuck on 30,000 words for a story I should have finished by now. But I've always got an excuse. Somebody help me stay focused!!!!

Dear World,

Here's the deal. I wanted to start tracking the number of words publicly that I've written for the currently "Untitled" novel. I've put out a deadline of December 2 for the first complete draft, which from what you're about to see means I've got a hell of a lot of writing to do.

20,352 / 100,000 (20.4%)

The current hump I'm working on has to do with the development of my main character...he's got to be less perfect and more real, which is an odd thing to say about a vampire. But this character's flaws have got to be recognizable, but not sympathetic, at least not in the beginning.

Anyway, enough. I don't want to think about it any more tonight:)

Best regards,

Dear World,

Not really fast times at all. i've spent an afternoon churning out about 1000 words of my novel. I'm trying to get inside the head of my heroine. She's tough, smart-talking, angry, professionally successful, and of course with a heart of gold, kind of...except she's also a woman on the edge. So much going array in her crazed life, she decides the only way out is to commit a crime. And than she meets our hero...well...don't want to give too much away but I'm happy with the way I'm fleshing her out right now. At least I'm excited about this book again...

Best regards,

Dear World,

I've been busy...and lazy, and overwhelmed and trying hard. Yep, I've been trying to write and it's going well, badly, and wonderfully. How else could it go? I'm sitting around this evening doing a bunch of research and resetting of my brain cells. I've got a big story I'm working on...and I am excited about trying to find the characters and the GMC...oh yes, spending way too much time in writing workshops and other places where the writer's of the world go to hang out:)

I just finished a piece I'm kind of okay with...but I realize now, it lacks huge segments of GMC...the real challenge for me is believing that G - can be trite...my main character's goal is to keep his promise to a woman he loved for a century. His conflict...well, I got the external conflicts mapped out, but his internal conflict and the people around him, well, it makes for tough story development - at least in my early stages of writing. M...the M word is fucking with me. I'll have to figure that one out over time.

Best regards,



India'Song

Dear World,

The most important thing I've learned recently about writing is how to structure your plot so that the ending makes sense and carries the wham punch needed to really deliver for your readers. If you don't have that ready to run with from the beginning (or at least early on) you can struggle with an ending like 4-ever:) (case in point my fanfiction piece 'the cut'...how long have i been promising folks that I will be ending that one any day now (like any day now for the past three months:).

Other than that, I'm settling back into my writing routine. I'm actually very pleased with my original story currently "Untitled" about a vampire (oh yeah) and how his vow to a witch he loved is jeopardized by a reporter in Chicago 50 years after the witch's death. I have fallen madly in love in this character. He is extremely sexy, a tortured soul, who exists to keep a promise and to fulfill his duty. Of course, shit will hit the fan. Poor darling will suffer much before he sees the light.

Anyway, I also am trying to update my website (Denny S. Bryce) so it can be beautiful (or a little cleaner) before wriercon and RWA. It's a little too sleazy for all of the various writing styles I'm planning on exploring in the months ahead.

Okay, I'm done. Time for me to settle back and do some more writing tonight.

Yours truly,

Dear World,

I didn't write today, I worked. Didn't even read - I simply worked and then took a few hours and visited a friend (took my son) and her parents who were in town, and had a really good time watching 60 minutes (Mike Wallace is retiring - at nearly 90) and then there was a special on Gary Cooper - my son, of course, hadn't heard of him. But it was just leisurely and cool.

Then I came home and am watching 'Inside the Actors Studio' (which I oftentimes do), and Don Cheadle (one of the best in the business) is talking about what he focuses on when working on a character - he repeats over and over again - what does he want? what does he want? what does he want? They say acting and writers operate in similar realms...

Best Regards,

Dear World,

This has been an awesome weekend and I still have more to go! I've been in town since dawn yesterday (seriously) to attend the The Second Annual RoundTable Writers' Conference presented by the Small Press Center. Really good panel discussions, book reviewers, agents and publishers. Made some connections, met some agents, exchanged a few business cards (now, all I've got to do is write something decent:)...I mean really connected with a bunch of folks including book reviewers from the Village Voice, Time, Black Issues Book Review, Chelsea and literary and commercial fiction agents from Trident, Writers House, Irene Skolnick Agency...anyway, the list goes on and on. I will share some specific information later after I've digested it.

I also had a marvelous dinner with timeofchange. So good to see her and hang out. Very special.

I just got in from going to see a preview performance of a new Broadway musical called "Hot Feet"! Damn good musical based on "The Red Shoes" with the music of Earth, Wind and Fire. Maurice Hines, brother of the late Gregory Hines, handled concept and choreography. I fell in LOVE with the lead dancer. The boy could dance his ass off. The lead girl is Debbie Allen's daughter and she was breathtaking. So all in all, a wonderful weekend and having brunch tomorrow with another good pal, so more to do and see tomorrow.

I love New York (when I'm not here on business, business).

Yours truly,

Dear World,

I wrote a little thing for my Spring Fiction Writing II class. It's an original, so if you're in the mood, take a read and let me know what you think...

( the old woman and my shoe )

Best Regards,

Dear World,

I'm exhausted because I road my bike to the coffee shop today. I've been trying to get some exercise in all week, and it's been a good thing, but last night I couldn't sleep and I'm starting my day, tired. Damn. But I've got a latte - that is a little too hot (wow!) and I'm going to get some work done or scream. Besides, I've got to rest up for my ride back:)

Nothing more substantial to offer here, just got to get to the writing now.

Best regards,

Dear World,

By accident, I signed up for an advanced fiction writing workshop called "Zoetrope". It's the magazine, yes, and one of the contributors to the magazine will be the instructor. It also doesn't promise but offers the opportunity to be considered for publication in the magazine. Sort of makes me nervous in a fun kind of way.

I'm also doing a repeat on one of my courses. That too was somewhat by accident. This writing thing is a joy, but my biggest challenge lately seems to be finding a comfortable position to write in.

Sorry if this seems to be a pointless post, but I just wanted to check in.

Best regards,

Dear World,

I had posted this in my other lj, but then re-edited. It's better I think. But I don't want to post again in denny_dc. So I'm putting it here. It's fanfic and it's NC-17. I don't own these characters. Joss Whedon does. I play. Here's Gunn/Cordy for those who want some smut.

(  Damn by Denny )

Dear World,

I'm trying my best to get some writing in today. I've got stories to finish, novels to get going and in general, relaxation to dive into...even though I might be a little tense because of an upcoming event (real life business stuff).

I don't have much to say. Maybe I'll post more later. But mostly, I wanted to let you know it's a near perfect day in DC. The coffee shop allows me to look up and seeing the park near P Street and 22nd, and watch the bikers and runners and general sun worshiping souls enjoying a 70 degree day in March in DC.

Yours truly,

Dear World,

This is a test. I'm trying to figure out xjournal client for my new mac (my precious baby). So far so good. I've written a few lines and it seems okay. But the proof is in the doing, I would guess. Nothing much else to write. I'm thinking about writing, but mostly, thinking about nothing. My brain is exhausted. But I guess I'll go to sleep early and wake up early enough to get some writing in before I start another wild and crazy day in the office.

Yours truly,