Category Archives: On Writing

Just a Quick Update

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I’m working on editing “Osiren’s Tears”, one of the stories I did during NaNoWriMo. I’m also trying to write a description I think doesn’t completely suck. 

Everyone who does something creative, I don’t care if it is sewing, painting, writing, or cooking… We all have that one thing about it that we are horrible at. For me it’s the blurb you put up on Amazon. I just can’t seem to wrap the story into some neat little catchy paragraph or three. Everything sounds forced, sterile, or just plain horrible. So I’m working on that trying to get better.

While I am editing “Osiren’s Tears” I am also working on a Sci-fi romance. I know I mentioned “Message in a Bottle”, but when I got the idea for “Starcrossed” I just had to go with it. It involves some quantum physics going awry, and the merging dreams between a young scientist, and an alien. You can have some interesting encounters when you think you’re dreaming.

End of NaNoWriMo

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In a few short hours NaNoWriMo will be complete. Many people have already sent in their verification and “won”, including me. Some are going to be drinking coffee and scrambling for those last few words at midnight. Others had life get in the way, or lost interest along the way.

If you completed your challenge, congratulations! You deserve it!

At the conclusion of NaNo I now have two completed stories. One is 20k words, and the other is 30k. I also have the beginnings for a new sci-fi romance that just popped into my head today, and I got another 1500 words on that, and a complete outline.

But more importantly, I have a good habit of writing. Something I lost a while ago, and have been working on getting back for the last year. I hope that this has started something great.

I’ve decided I need to write or edit three pages a day, at least, if I really want this to be my “day job”. It doesn’t sound that difficult at the moment. Then I have those days where I have to cook dinner, or take children to doctors appointments, or days where I’m just sick, or tired, or fed up with life.

I’m rather happy with this NaNo. I’ve seen people who didn’t understand it, didn’t support their spouse, or thought it was ridiculousness. I am so grateful that my boyfriend pushed me to keep going. I can’t wait to start editing this, and hopefully have it up on amazon within a few months.

Falling Behind

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Ever since I decided that I was going to make a real effort at this “writing thing” I constantly have the feeling I am falling behind. Never so much tonight as I look at my NaNo word count and realize how behind a really am.

50,000 words in a month, and I am behind by 4,000.

Well then… nothing like a deadline to get a person motivated, right?

Missing Days

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One thing that NaNoWriMo does for me…. It gives me a really good idea about what helps me to keep writing. What distracts me. And what I need to do to motivate myself to keep writing.

I’ve missed a couple days. Either because of children, work, stress, or just being sick. I know I’m going to get nearly zero words during Thanksgiving too.

But another thing I am learning…. I am really starting to hate interruptions to my writing. Which is a good thing. If  I want to make this what I do then I need to get to the point where this is what is important, and interruptions are just flipping annoying. Which they really are.

So… back to writing.

Progress so far: 17,200 words.

Worldly Reflections

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As I am writing my NaNoWriMo stories I am actually realizing just how much of my viewpoint on the world around me is entering my writing.

This isn’t unusual. Piers Anthony (who I grew up reading, and is one of the authors that inspired me to become a writer) often had story lines that touched on his thoughts about religion, ecology, environment, and relationships. Not that all of his characters shared or reflected his own view points on the issues, just that the themes are there.

A good writer can let these themes enter their writing without sounding preachy or over the top. A great writer can make you start to question your beliefs, not to change them necessarily, but to be sure that that is what you truly believe, and that is what you stand for.

Mark Twain is a great example. He wrote about the adventures of a young white boy, appealing to a great many young children. But he also wove in some ideas about race, slavery, segregation, and even religion without being preachy. I am sure his books even helped a few people consider their stand on these very ideas.

In my current novel I am noticing things about genetic manipulation, women as property, and even some ideas about government. No, I’m not being preachy. That would ruin the book. But it could be noticeable to anyone who was paying attention.

Progress on NaNoWriMo: 5124

Giving yourself permission to SUCK!

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Sometimes the biggest thing standing in the way of writing is our internal editor that is constantly in our head telling us that isn’t good enough, rewrite it.

But that isn’t the purpose of a first draft, or a sketch, or anything else you’re beginning. The beginning is suppose to be bad. It’s suppose to suck.

I loved this analogy by ircnetsplit
“It’s like a house. The first stage is just a bunch of boards with nothing in between them. Who the hell would want to live in a house like that? It’s a crappy house.”
“But, that’s how you build a house. You get the framework up, then you fill it out with walls, and insulation, and a roof, etc. Then you have an awesome house.”

So let go. If that last sentence sucks just ignore it and go to the next sentence. You’re going to have to edit later anyway. Right now just WRITE FAST and ignore everything else.

(My progress on NaNoWriMo: 2,000/50,000)

No Plot?

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I’ll be busy November doing NaNoWriMo. The last couple days I finished two outlines for the books I’ll be working on for NaNo. (Osiren’s Tears and Rage War.) So I haven’t had a lot of time for updates here.

I’ve also been watching a lot of videos on writing to get me set in that frame of mind. The one below gave me a couple chuckles so I thought I’d share it.

Some other writers you might enjoy listening to.
“Self Publishing Podcast” and “Better off Undead” With writers Jonny B. Truant, Dave Wright, and Sean Platt.
The Digital Writer With Sean Platt who shares his “rules for writers you love to hate”.
The Creative Penn with Joanna Penn who interviews other writers.

Creating in a Vacuum

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I was listening to the last Self Publishing Podcast again and something Sean said at the begining stuck out.

While talking about giving a speaking presentation in front of 500 people he said it had been difficult for the first couple of minutes, but when you have that many people laughing at your jokes together its hard to be nervous.

Most creative people, be they writers, artists, or even some game designers, tend to work in a vacuum. We don’t have someone reading our copy as it comes off the press. We don’t have someone pointing out that the color is off, or the grammar is bad, or the game is amazing and “Can I play it please?”

The same thing that makes it appealing (no boss, no scheduled  no deadlines) also makes it sometimes frustrating, and can even help that age old “writers block” come on us. Don’t let it.

As NaNoWriMo approaches I find myself gravitating to some of the forums in order to make that vacuum of space around my writing just that little bit fuller. There I can talk to other writers, tell them my struggles, and get inspiration, or tell them my successes and inspire someone else.

There are other ways to fill the vacuum. Joining writers groups, or discussion boards. Going to writer Meetups. Just making friends who are in the same situation helps a lot.

Enjoy NaNo. Keep sane. And WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!

Tips to NaNoWriMo When You’re Busy

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Got a new baby?
Moving?
School?

Some useful ideas you can use to keep writing.

* Keep a notebook, computer file, or note taker on your phone/tablet at all times.
* Write a few words when you’re waiting int the doctors office, or on hold on the phone, or the baby takes a nap.
* While in the shower take the time to think out your story, maybe use colored soap, washable marker, or lipstick to jot notes on the wall and wash off later.
* Get a recorder and talk to it about your story while in traffic.

Remember NaNoWriMo isn’t just about finishing, it’s about setting goals and pushing yourself. If you can’t do 50k try a couple short stories.

Always strive for more.

And remember, you don’t have to validate your NaNo with the actual story. You can copy “the lazy dog runs home” 10,000 times and paste that in, and just keep your stories in the notebook for now.