It's November 1st and that means a couple things are going on RIGHT NOW!
First, today is National Author's Day... Or so the internet and Facebook tell me. So to all my writing and author friends out there - here is wishing you the most glorious of days! :-)
I'm doing it again this year. I've even got a nifty little widget down on the left hand side on this site that *should* show you a running log of my total words written. So here's wishing myself and all the other NaNoWriMo-ers out there a very sincere Good Luck!
I'm off to get my butt busy. Talk to you again soon!!
I will finish The Queen's Mate this month... I will finish The Queen's Mate this month... I will finish The Queen's Mate this month...
I found out
Tuesday evening that one of my friends from high school had passed away in a
car accident earlier in the day.
We just celebrated our 10-year high school reunion this past July. He had just celebrated his 29th
birthday a few days ago. And in an
instant, he was gone. Some people
may say “that’s life,” or that “it happens” and while that is certainly true,
obviously true, it doesn’t make it any less shocking, or make it hurt any
less.
He was one of
those guys who was the epitome of a gentleman. He was always kind and polite; he always held the door for a
lady and pulled out her chair. He
would carry your bag for you if it were too heavy, and always asked if you
wanted anything when he was going to the vending machines or the store. All in all, he was just a really great
guy and the world was a little brighter with him in it.
The shock of this
loss made me think about some of the men that I’ve written into my
stories. The type of men that they
were in the beginning, and the type of man they each will become by the end of
their stories. It has surprised me
greatly, over the past few hours, to discover that the men I’ve written carry
so many of the characteristics that I find in the men who have surrounded me
all my life.
From the 5-year
old boys who selflessly share their crayons with the other kids, to the high
school teenager who stops on the way to school to give rides to kids who are
walking.
There are the
20-something year old men who are willing, and happy, to help babysit their
friends kids; or the ones who shovel your sidewalk every morning when it’s
really cold, just so that you don’t have to.
In looking at my
male characters, I found one in particular who reminds me of my passed
friend. My memories of him must
have formed some aspect of the inspiration for the character, and through that
character, for me, my friend will live on.
When working on
and developing your characters, from where does your inspiration spring?
I’m writing this
brief note as a reminder to everyone that it’s again Wednesday and so the
Writer Wednesday Blog Hop will be going on once again. Take a trip over to The World of My Imagination to link up
at some point this Wednesday (and over the days to follow) and you may just
meet some new people, new writers, and new friends.
And if you’re on
Twitter please use the #WW or #WWBH hashtags and spread the word to your
followers!
You’ve been
working on a story for weeks, months, or even years. It’s going great and though you began with a pretty
clear-cut plan, you’ve been relatively happy to allow your characters and their
story a bit of leeway to make some interesting plot turns. Now you’ve hit that point in the story
where you, as the writer, stumble.
Even though you
know where you’re headed and the general path you intend to take, the words
just aren’t coming. You write, and
write, and write, but when you review you’re nearly disgusted with what you
read. We’ve all been there. We’ll all be there again sometime –
maybe soon.
So how do you get
through it?
I wish I could
say that there was some simple method, an easy way to get over the hump. The honest truth is that you just have
to find something that will work for you and use it. And you need to understand that what works one time, or for
one person, may not work for another.
Generally that
means that you just keep writing.
Good or bad, you need to get the words on the page; you can and will go
back and edit, delete, revise, and even rewrite later. The important thing here is just
getting the words out.
Sometimes, and
for some people, forcing the words out just doesn’t work. In this case you may benefit most as a
writer by going back to the beginning and (re)reading and editing the work you’ve
already done. As I said, you know
exactly where you’re headed, taking the time to review where you’ve been won’t
hurt. And may in fact get those
creative juices pumping again.
It could be that
reviewing your own work may only make you feel more frustrated. Then you’ve got a few other
choices. If you write a blog, work
on a new post. Tired of trying to
write? Try reading. Whether it’s doing a critique read for
a friend, picking up a new release at the bookstore or the library, or
reacquainting yourself with an old favorite; reading someone else’s stories
might just be that metaphorical nudge that helps to clear your mind and allows
the words to start flowing anew.
The truth of the
matter is that everybody is different, which is a pretty basic fact of life, so
it makes sense that no two writers use exactly the same process when writing,
none of us use the same methods when working through the tough spots. So as I said at the start: find a
method that works for you. You’ll
need to adjust and adapt as necessary, and always remember that just as your
stories evolve from the initial idea that got the ball rolling, to the finished
product you share with the world, your writing process is an ever-evolving
thing as well. You merely need to
accept that things will never remain precisely the same each time through.
We all have busy lives and hectic
schedules. Maybe you work 40+ hours a
week as a nurse, an accountant, a lawyer, or a teacher. Or you may be a student with a full course
load and a part-time job. You could be a
mom or a dad busy with bath-times, temper tantrums, school schedules,
extra-curriculars, lunches, dinners, breakfasts and snacks. You may even (most likely) be some
combination of all of the above.
Image by jjpacres via FlickrSo what does that mean for the time you’ve got
to write?
Usually, if you’re human and not some
mutant-type being that requires no food, rest or free-time, it means that if
you truly want to write, you have to make
the time to do so.
It could mean that you’re writing during your
lunch time.
You may have to write in 15-minute stretches
between classes or during study breaks.
Or maybe you have to take advantage of nap-times
to sit down at the computer and write.
You could be that parent who is sitting with a notebook on your lap and
scribbling ideas down as they come to you, while you’re watching the kids in
gymnastics/skating/swimming lessons/etc.
The bottom line, no matter what you do or who
you are, is that you’ve got to use the time that you can, take advantage of
every moment that you can grasp and write.
I have three kids – 7-, 5-, and 3-years
old. The oldest is at school all day and
the middle one is in doing half-days, while I (mostly) stay at home with the
youngest. They each do gymnastics,
putting us at the club 3 days a week for their lessons. The two younger ones also do skating lessons
twice a week and the oldest started piano lessons this fall too. On top of this I’m working part-time as well. And that is just what we’ve got to do outside
of the home – there are still of course all the regular chores, errands and
tasks involved in caring for and taking care of a home and three kids.
So when do I write?
Honestly, whenever I can. I keep a notebook in my purse with a pencil
so that I can jot down ideas when I’m waiting for the kids at school or
watching lessons. I spend an hour or two
in the morning on the computer checking e-mails, working on my blogs, ‘playing’
on Facebook and Twitter, and doing revisions and edits on my work. And I spend an hour or so after I put the
kids to bed most nights writing and working on my stories.
Does this happen every single day? No. Does this ‘schedule’ work every single time I
use it? No. Does it work more often than
not? Absolutely.
We’re all busy people and we have to take that
into account. Very few of us, especially
when we’re starting out, have the time or freedom to spend 8 hours each day
writing and working on the computer. But
we all wish we could. We all work toward
the dream of being able to do just that.
Until then, all we can do is write when we can, and carve out as much
time as we can manage.
So find the time that works for you, be happy
writing and keep up the good work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And don't forget that it's Wednesday so we've got the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop going on! To link up and hop click on the button to the right, and we'll see you around!
This post is just a quick update, and it’s going across the
board to all my blogs…
It’s that time of the week again!
I’d have more to say but I’m super short on time this
morning and I’m already crunched with writing and work.So this is really just super quick-
Hello and Welcome to all Writer’s Wednesday Blog Hoppers!
And if you’re not part of the WWBH and would like to join us
– you can enter your information on either Nicole’s page or Diane’s page, this
week they are co-hosting so a special thanks goes to them!
Yesterday I was happy to discover that I'd been awarded the Versatile Blogger award. It was one of those moments when have you blink a few times, just to check that what you're seeing is actually there.
So imagine my surprise when I stop by my blog for a quick check on things (I've become really weird about checking to see if people comment, so that I can respond if needed, and that type of thing) and discover that not only is there a new comment, but I've also been bestowed the marvelous honor of another blogger award.
I can't say how grateful I am to receive these awards - as any blogger knows having something worth writing about is hardly half the battle, having someone to tell it to... that's the real challenge. It's things like the Liebster and Versatile Blogger awards (and other awards of their ilk), blog hops and multimedia marketing (with Twitter, Facebook, and etc.) that help you gain the audience you need to make yourself heard. Or read, I guess. It is gratifying and humbling to know, to actually receive confirmation, that what you're writing is reaching someone else out there in the vast space of the blogosphere. And honestly? Like any kind of commentation that writers/authors/bloggers receive - getting these awards only makes me want to write more.
So thank you Cassie Mae for paying forward the award (to see who I decide to pass the honor of the Liebster Award to, go to the Awards page - it'll be updated ASAP) and thank you for giving me another nudge on the shoulder, a pat on the back and a good word all in one.
As of 12:01am this morning, writers all over
North America (and across the globe) heard the starters pistol, okay not really but stretch your imaginations
with me here, and began the marathon-like trek to 50,000 words and November 30th. As I mentioned last week, I am participating
in the event once again this year and once I’ve got my blog posts updated today
I will be starting to work on my own writings.
I just want to send wishes of good luck to all
this year’s participants and I hope that your ideas and stories will become all
that you imagine.
Happy NaNo Writers!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And don’t forget tomorrow is again Wednesday,
which once again gives us the Writer’s Wednesday Blog Hop. Created by and originally hosted by Nicole
from The World of My Imagination, the WWBH is a great opportunity for writers
and bloggers to meet and interact with others just like them! I’ll be around in a limited capacity this week
(between NaNo and an extra work shift) but I will be participating as much as I
can. See you around the hop!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And can I say a great big WOW? Just learned that Nicole awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award... So thanks Nicole - you're awesome and I love you and your blog!! You can all check out my newly created Awards page to find out just what I have to do for 'the prize!'
So, since it's Wednesday, and since we didn't forget that means we've got some hopping to do!!
Do you want to join in on the Writer's Wednesday Blog Hop? Would you like to meet some other writers and authors, both new and established, and find out what they're busy with, thinking about, writing about and blogging about right now?
Then it's simple. Really.
Go to The World of My Imagination and add your link to the blog hop roll. It's fun and totally worth it if you're looking to network your talents, your work, your blog and if you're interested in finding other people who are looking for the same thing.
And before I even get going I want to thank Nicole (The World of My Imagination) for coming up with the idea, hosting and getting the ball rolling again this week.
The new "Writer Wednesday Blog Hop" is being hosted by Nicole on The World of My Imagination. If you're a writer with a blog and would like to join in, or just someone who wants to check out what new, aspiring and established writers are blogging about, jump on over to Nicole's blog (just click that link), register your blog (if you've got one) and start hopping! She's got all of the "rules" you'll need to know, right there. Go Now... I know you want to!
Have an awesome Wednesday and I'll see you on the Hop!!
You wake
up in the morning and it feels like you have balls of cotton shoved in your
ears – you can hear, some sounds even seem amplified, but everything has that
muffled quality that you’d hear through a door or wall.When you pry your eyelids open the light is
blinding to you, even as the gritt in your eyes rubs like sandpaper on the
sensitive tissue.You swallow and the
burn is like a shot of potent alcohol.You gasp, hoping to cool the burn but the cool air only cuts at your
throat like a thousand tiny blades.Realization hits you…
Of
course you are, but therein lies the amazing possibilities and wonderous range
of what could be the cause of your
pain and discomfort when (or if) you factor in a fantasy or paranormal angle to
your story. Maybe you’re waking up after
being attacked by vampires. Maybe you’re
a witch who is experiencing the effects of a “magic hangover” after an overuse
of power. Or maybe you were the
unfortunate victim of a Fright Demon (you know one of those terror inducing
demons who literally live on the power of your fear, and particularly enjoy the
sounds of your screams…)
You add
paranormal twists or a fantasy bent to your story and you create a world for
yourself that literally (no pun intended) holds unending, limitless, fluidly
imaginative possibilities. You can go
anywhere, be (or become) anyone, do nearly anything, and all because you’ve
taken your character out of the ‘real’ world and placed them into a world of
your own making.
So where
would you go, if you could go anywhere?
And where would you go, if you could go there in the blink of an
eye? Who would you be, or become, if you
could take any identity you wanted with merely a wish? If you could do anything, what would it
be? And through it all, would be acting
for the good of your self, for the good of all, or to destroy everything in
good in the world? Would you be good or evil?
For anyone and everyone who writes - whether you do it purely for pleasure, as a profession, or somewhere in between the two - how you write can be nearly as important as what you write. Primarily because the how can so great affect the what.
Have I confused you? It's writing, right? Just words on a piece of paper or on your computer screen. Thoughts that move from your mind, through your arms, out your fingers and to the page. Simple. But no, it's not. Not always.
Some times it can take all day to get just one sentence written down. Other days the words just pour out of you and it's more difficult to stop that it would be to just keep going. Like in anything else, there are good days and bad ones but it's how you deal with it, how you cope, how you work around obstacles and through ideas that make you a better writer. Those words, as important as they are, are only as good as the idea that forms them.
I was chatting with Laurel Kriegler (@pegasus_za - follow her on Twitter!!) earlier today about just this concept. We were talking about how we use our daily experiences and our observations of the world to feed our writing. What we see, hear and live becomes fuel for our imagination to then create something, maybe entirely different, out of it. For example Laurel wrote a very short story based on the rescue of the Chilean Miners earlier this week. (You can read her brief story "They've got one out!", it appears on her blog The Quarzite Columns.) But that's only one way to come up with story ideas. As I've mentioned often, my ideas come primarily from my dreams and Laurel agrees that dreams can be a very effective medium for mining story concepts.
I told her that sometimes we just write what we know but she made an important correction to my statement. She said that we write what we know and then modify it.
At the end of the day every writer's method is slightly different, just as everyday that same writer's method may differ slightly. We have to use what works best for us at any given time. If you write fantasy or paranormal's you may focus on dreams for your ideas, but the characters in your story are still living (unless of course they aren't...) and so incorporating aspects of the everyday-world is important too.
So where do you get your ideas from? Do you look around you and see something ordinary and know that you can make it something extraordinary in a story? Do you hear your characters in your head, demanding that you share their life with others? Do you dream of a world entirely different than the one we live in and use it as a basis for your writing?
