Genre Map

I saw this rather nifty little 'Genre Map' on Book Country yesterday.

Click on a genre and a popup window tells you a little bit more, and gives an overview of some key books within the genre. If you select a genre you get a rather nifty little map, which you can navigate using directions such as 'light,' 'dark,' 'sexy' and 'funny.'

Looks like it might be a nice way of finding a few new genre books to read!

Browse the Genre Map on Book Country.

Tips for writing recovery

smashed glass, a photo by Laura A on Flickr.

Yesterday I saw a nice post on the Write to Done blog, about recovering from writing burn out.

After a quick breakdown of the causes and symptoms, there are some nice tips for 'enjoyable writing.'

These range from cleaning your desk, chilling out and reading books on writing to diet and exercise changes.

I quite like a few of the ideas, and feel rather drawn to the idea of Free Writing: "If you want to enjoy writing, learn to write for yourself. Find pleasure in your writing, challenge yourself. The purpose of free-writing is to express yourself for your eyes only. It’s very liberating."

I can be terrible at taking 'down time' and find myself plagued by headaches and tiredness when I don't rest enough. Definitely going to follow a few of the ideas here next time I feel myself moping!

Read the article in full on the Write to Done blog.

Script Frenzy catch up

Sparkly water and traffic cones, a photo by Laura A on Flickr.

So far, my Script Frenzy project has been a combination of a success and a bust.

A success in that I've spent time in the evenings, weekends and on my lunchbreak writing away, but a bust as it's not been a frenzy at all, rather a few pages here and there.

I've managed about 30 pages so far, which isn't much, but I'm happy with the story. I have friday off for the ruddy Royal Wedding, along with a bank holiday Monday, so I have decided to extend the project by a few days and attempt to get this initial draft finished - in more of an actual frenzy.

Picture is of the Water of Leith in Edinburgh, on my walk to work. It's been a mixed bag weather wise here over the weekend, but beautiful sunshine today.

Script Frenzy

I've decided to give Script Frenzy a go this year.

From the Script Frenzy website:

The 5 Basic Rules of Script Frenzy

1. To be crowned an official Script Frenzy winner, you must write a script (or multiple scripts) of at least 100 total pages and verify this tally on ScriptFrenzy.org.
2. You may write individually or with a partner. Writing teams will have a 100-page total goal for their co-written script or scripts.
3. Scriptwriting may begin no earlier than 12:00:01 AM on April 1 and must cease no later than 11:59:59 PM on April 30, local time.
4. You may write screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels, or any other type of script your heart desires.
5. You must, at some point, have ridiculous amounts of fun.

I'm going to work on a feature script called Monochrome Eve. This has been in my head for quite a while now, and after having a story breakthrough in London this seems like the perfect opportunity to go for it. I have an outline about 75% complete that will use as a basis, but I'm happy going where the story takes me, as per rule number 5.

Anyone else doing Script Frenzy? I see Adaddinsane and Paul Campbell are. If so, you can find me on the Script Frenzy website under LauraAnderson.