Most of today was spent doing completely non-literary functions, like steam cleaning the carpet - yuck. However, I knew I needed to get in the groove. I did pretty well over the weekend, which is amazing considering I flew to San Antonio for a girls weekend with a friend. However, being stuck in an airport waiting for a layover has it's perks. I wrote over 1,000 words on the way out, and over 900 on the way back home. Overall pretty solid work. Today is Wednesday and I hadn't touched it since. I have been concerned about Hurricane Irene, since I live fairly near the coast, and spent a bit of time preparing in case I needed to evacuate. Doesn't look like that will happen, but I do plan on going to NY next week anyway, so the packing was not in vain.
The obvious question is why is the title of this post, "Dress for success"? Well because that is how I motivated myself to write tonight. I dressed up how I would if I was going to the 'office' or if I was doing a press conference or promoting a book. May sound a bit silly, but it was motivational. I worked for a solid hour, reformatting, thinking, and (gasp) writing a bit. [On a side note, I was drinking one of those Starbucks frappuccino's you buy at the grocery store and dribbled it on my skirt - oh well]
The next question on your mind may be: Why are you reformatting? Does that mean you are done?
NO. I am not near done. However, I have 'flashbacks' in one file and the bulk of it in another, then POV of another character in another file, and in order to continue everything in a way that makes sense, it all needs to be melded together. Actually, as I reformat it, everything is becoming more clear. Things I knew fit together, but didn't know how, I am figuring out. I am really excited. Well I need to get up, stretch a bit, feed the dogs, then maybe . . . just maybe, write/reformat some more.
'Till next time.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
A little bit of this and a little bit of that
I have successfully put together my new desk system, minus one file cabinet (to be completed tomorrow). It's looking pretty cool, still needs a bit of organization, but I think once I finally get it all together and organized it will be the ideal space I wanted it to be.
Since my office is in a bit of a disarray, I brought my mini laptop with me to Panera Bread and wrote over 1000 words. It was nice. There weren't a lot of people there and I never realized it before, but they play a really chill mix of jazzy/blues that was not distracting but rather helpful. I think I may make it a weekly or biweekly thing. Change of scenery, change of pace, and good food!
Since my office is in a bit of a disarray, I brought my mini laptop with me to Panera Bread and wrote over 1000 words. It was nice. There weren't a lot of people there and I never realized it before, but they play a really chill mix of jazzy/blues that was not distracting but rather helpful. I think I may make it a weekly or biweekly thing. Change of scenery, change of pace, and good food!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Characters
As I mentioned the other day, I am reading the twilight saga: the official illustrated guide. I have now gotten a good deal way through the character bios, and I have to admit: I'm impressed. I'm not surprised, but I am intrigued because it's all character sketch and back story. It's what every (good) writer needs to know about their characters in order to be consistent. As I was writing today, I realized that this was exactly where I am lacking. My lack of taking the time to hash my characters out is getting me confused. However, as I stated to do this, I have come upon a whole new dilemma. I want my characters anchored in today's world. While it is not a historical fiction story by any stretch, I do want it to feel like it happened. I want the reader to look up a fact I use, and realize that it did in fact happen. This is one of the reasons I, along with millions of other people feel so in tune with The Twilight Saga as a whole. No, it's not because we have all had a romantic relationship with a vampire or been imprinted on by a werewolve. It's because Forks, Washington is a real place and the Quileute's are a real Native American Tribe. The more I dig, the more I hash out some of my characters who have not even made it into the narration yet, the harder it is. I know who they are, where they came from and how they did what they did, but I still digging for their cover story. I want that to seem real, be possible.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
My brain
When I'm working on a story, I very often have to step away and let my characters to mature in my head. I have to figure out how to introduce a new character, how to structure a story, or what is missing. Sometimes it takes me a long time for the ideas to form, sometimes it doesn't. As long as it is an active project, the longer that I let it simmer in my head, the easier it is to write. I can develop a character in my head. I am doing it right now. I did this very act last night while reading, then as I fell asleep I realized that I needed to add chapters of my main characters husband's perspective into the mix. I always knew it was crucial for the audience to understand him, for me to understand his motivations. What I could never quite figure is how I was going to do it. This is perfect. I even know where his chapter groups will fit into in the larger story. I started the process of writing this out today. I got over 1,500 words into it. I am very excited. While I was writing about him, it is opening me up to other ideas about my main character as well. Overall, I'm super excited to see where this goes and hopefully it will all fit together as well as it does in my wishes.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Reading . . . about about writing
It is the most fantastic way to feel normal.
I recently purchased, the twilight saga: the official illustrated guide (yes I know I didn't capitalize the title, but it's not capitalized on the book) and the first sixty-five pages are an interview with Stephenie Meyer, the author of the series. I am embarrassed to say I almost skipped over it because I so want to know all the secrets about the vampires and the werewolves. I am sure glad I chose to read it. I am about halfway through it now and I am just so excited because she says things that ring true in so many ways. I had to get up and grab a pad of sticky notes to mark favorite quotes. I am sure I will share them in an upcoming blog post. However, what I am really excited about is how much information is overall packed into this book, that was crucial for Stephenie to write The Twilight Saga, but not necessarily in it. I think it's such a gift to share with fans of the series everything that was in her mind that made the stories and characters authentic.
Character authenticity is something I hold so close to my heart because I think it's the most important lesson I ever learned about writing. It's a cliche, you must have a "character driven plot", BUT it's also the key to an authentic story (something that seems real). It would be like if I suddenly bought a gun, anyone who knows me would immediately ask what happened to me to change my mind on guns. It would have to be some outward force that made me do it, and the weird part is, I cannot think of anything that would make me do such a thing. It's just simply not in my nature. Characters in books have to be the same way.
I think this is why I am currently struggling a bit with the story I am working on. I only have one main character, it is in her nature to stay to herself. How do I get another character in there, when she doesn't want a friend or a lover or anyone?
Answer: (yes I just came up with this) I am going to have to find someone from her world, whom she doesn't know yet, that needs her, or that pushes their way into her life for a purpose. She will eventually have to want them to be there, because she could simply run and hide (that would be in her nature). This person has to be compelling and possibly fleeting and elusive and intriguing to her. A simply persistently annoying person will not do. There is one character that she has met, but I am not sure he is the one who can bring her out into the world of the social. One thing is for sure: somehow, I need to include more characters in this story.
I recently purchased, the twilight saga: the official illustrated guide (yes I know I didn't capitalize the title, but it's not capitalized on the book) and the first sixty-five pages are an interview with Stephenie Meyer, the author of the series. I am embarrassed to say I almost skipped over it because I so want to know all the secrets about the vampires and the werewolves. I am sure glad I chose to read it. I am about halfway through it now and I am just so excited because she says things that ring true in so many ways. I had to get up and grab a pad of sticky notes to mark favorite quotes. I am sure I will share them in an upcoming blog post. However, what I am really excited about is how much information is overall packed into this book, that was crucial for Stephenie to write The Twilight Saga, but not necessarily in it. I think it's such a gift to share with fans of the series everything that was in her mind that made the stories and characters authentic.
Character authenticity is something I hold so close to my heart because I think it's the most important lesson I ever learned about writing. It's a cliche, you must have a "character driven plot", BUT it's also the key to an authentic story (something that seems real). It would be like if I suddenly bought a gun, anyone who knows me would immediately ask what happened to me to change my mind on guns. It would have to be some outward force that made me do it, and the weird part is, I cannot think of anything that would make me do such a thing. It's just simply not in my nature. Characters in books have to be the same way.
I think this is why I am currently struggling a bit with the story I am working on. I only have one main character, it is in her nature to stay to herself. How do I get another character in there, when she doesn't want a friend or a lover or anyone?
Answer: (yes I just came up with this) I am going to have to find someone from her world, whom she doesn't know yet, that needs her, or that pushes their way into her life for a purpose. She will eventually have to want them to be there, because she could simply run and hide (that would be in her nature). This person has to be compelling and possibly fleeting and elusive and intriguing to her. A simply persistently annoying person will not do. There is one character that she has met, but I am not sure he is the one who can bring her out into the world of the social. One thing is for sure: somehow, I need to include more characters in this story.
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