Last blog post of the year!! Exciting stuff..I think... :)
Okay, so continuing on this theme of living creatively my next topic is a bit different and it harkens back to my original post concerning a friend who asked how I get my ideas.
After speaking with said friend, I literally sat down and made a list of all of the ideas I have for books/book series. This took over 24 hours because after making my initial list, my mother reminded me of another series that she wants me to write, and then I would remember another idea I had and the list would have to be re-written. But my final tally of the books/series I could write?
23
That's right, 23 books, novels, that if I never thought of another idea I could write.
Another sobering thought?
I've already written two of them.
So 21 more books that I could (should) write.
Wow, I don't know about other creative writing types out there, but I was a bit stunned. I had never taken an objective look at the ideas I've had over the years. And yes, some need a lot more fleshing out before they could be considered for a story and written. But still, 21 more books? I had to laugh because the list of genre ranges from urban fantasy, to dark fantasy, to high fantasy, to historical fiction, to a children's series, to a fluffy romance ala Nora Roberts or Nicholas Sparks style. And someday I would like to write a murder/detective story, but don't have a solid idea yet.
Moral of the story?
People have more in them than what meets the eye. I dare any of my writer type or creative type friends (or whoever actually reads my posts) no matter what medium, to make a similar list and take a good look at what you have accomplished so far. Don't be intimidated by how much you have left, jump in and get messy! Enjoy the journey and what you create.
Until next year, keep typing and the creative thoughts coming!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Have I mentioned how much I hate editing?
I am currently reading through my first novel, for the 3rd time, and it is just tortuous!
But then again I read some great advice about writing and editing:
Write like there's no tomorrow.
Edit like you didn't write it.
So I guess I am taking that to heart, hopefully when I finish there will be an even better story!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Living a Creative Life Part 2
In my last Creative Life post I discussed the ideas of inspiration and where they come from. In this post I would like to address something that is unique to creative people, but especially to writers.
This notion that we are all depressed or bipolar or recluses.
While aspects of the above stereo-types may well be true, they are not the whole story, not by a long shot in the dark.It is true that I myself have struggled with depression, and know of more than a few friends who have done the same, but it is by no means the rule when living a creative life.
There are few aspects to living a creative life that seem to be slightly universal, that most are introverted, thoughtful, caring people. It seems to me that creative people just think differently, their brains are wired differently and they have different needs than others. Let me clarify, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. It is simply the differences in how people operate.
I will only speak for myself here, and will use my own life as an example.
There are times when I don't feel like doing anything. Therefore, my laundry may wait longer to get done than normal, the house might not be cleaned on the correct day of the week, and I may end up sitting around watching re-runs of my favorite tv shows or movies all day. The humorous part is that often I won't even know why I feel the need to do nothing. But literally every time afterwards my mind pushes through a barrier of some sort and my stories end up better, or I am able to get through a tough spot in writing. I may find an answer for something intangible that I didn't even consciously know was a problem. But my subconscious worked it out and then handed my conscious mind the newly polished thoughts.
On the other hand there are times when I am trying to get through a blockage in writing where the entire house has been cleaned spotless, my laundry is done several times over, the rodents cage is perfect and suddenly my room is arranged like a museum. These times too, my mind is trying to work through something whether I realize it or not. And within a few days I usually have my answer to a problem that I never consciously thought about.
Yes, I understand that this sounds slightly manic and depressive, which I suppose is why the stereo-typing of writers exists. However, I am not bi-polar. This just seems to be the physical or tangible way for my subconscious to work through things.
As far as the recluse stereo-type goes...well, being around large groups of people is exhausting. Writers, I have noticed including myself, seem to be more introverted than other people. They are typically observing others, noting behaviors, personalities and so on. This observation gives them the fodder to create the characters that people love to read about.
Being forced to interact with others can exhaust their creative energies, even when they want to be social. The introverted writer or creative person would rather put their energy into creating something for everyone to enjoy for years to come, rather than suffer through an evening of stifled hostilities and redundant conversations. They need to recharge their batteries with alone time rather than with others.
These differences make each and every person unique, and adds flavor not only to our lives but also our society as a whole.
This notion that we are all depressed or bipolar or recluses.
While aspects of the above stereo-types may well be true, they are not the whole story, not by a long shot in the dark.It is true that I myself have struggled with depression, and know of more than a few friends who have done the same, but it is by no means the rule when living a creative life.
There are few aspects to living a creative life that seem to be slightly universal, that most are introverted, thoughtful, caring people. It seems to me that creative people just think differently, their brains are wired differently and they have different needs than others. Let me clarify, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS. It is simply the differences in how people operate.
I will only speak for myself here, and will use my own life as an example.
There are times when I don't feel like doing anything. Therefore, my laundry may wait longer to get done than normal, the house might not be cleaned on the correct day of the week, and I may end up sitting around watching re-runs of my favorite tv shows or movies all day. The humorous part is that often I won't even know why I feel the need to do nothing. But literally every time afterwards my mind pushes through a barrier of some sort and my stories end up better, or I am able to get through a tough spot in writing. I may find an answer for something intangible that I didn't even consciously know was a problem. But my subconscious worked it out and then handed my conscious mind the newly polished thoughts.
On the other hand there are times when I am trying to get through a blockage in writing where the entire house has been cleaned spotless, my laundry is done several times over, the rodents cage is perfect and suddenly my room is arranged like a museum. These times too, my mind is trying to work through something whether I realize it or not. And within a few days I usually have my answer to a problem that I never consciously thought about.
Yes, I understand that this sounds slightly manic and depressive, which I suppose is why the stereo-typing of writers exists. However, I am not bi-polar. This just seems to be the physical or tangible way for my subconscious to work through things.
As far as the recluse stereo-type goes...well, being around large groups of people is exhausting. Writers, I have noticed including myself, seem to be more introverted than other people. They are typically observing others, noting behaviors, personalities and so on. This observation gives them the fodder to create the characters that people love to read about.
Being forced to interact with others can exhaust their creative energies, even when they want to be social. The introverted writer or creative person would rather put their energy into creating something for everyone to enjoy for years to come, rather than suffer through an evening of stifled hostilities and redundant conversations. They need to recharge their batteries with alone time rather than with others.
These differences make each and every person unique, and adds flavor not only to our lives but also our society as a whole.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Living A Creative Life Part 1
The other day one of my friends who had noticed my Facebook posts that I had finished my second novel (my NaNo novel this year), congratulated me, and then said something that I had never even stopped to consider.
"How do you come up with your ideas?"
I was actually speechless, in typical me fashion, my awkward un-thought out answer amounted to a shoulder shrug, and saying lamely, "I dunno". But it got me thinking, where do all my ideas, and those of other writers or artists, come from?
Is it just an overactive imagination that can not be contained? Is that imagination so powerful it refuses to be silenced until put it to use on either the written word or possibly a painting? Or is it maybe an outside force like a muse? But is that Muse a specific person, idea or is it something more ephemeral? Is it a mysterious force like the ancients believed? One that comes and goes at will and we lowly humans must be there to grab the ideas before they flit away like wisps of clouds?Or is it just good old fashioned elbow grease applied to a vague idea?
Personally I believe that it is a combination of the above. For me, my imagination does tend to run crazy if I let it. And yes, a few of them are far fetched, and those ideas usually get nixed before they get shared. But the others? Those hang around up there in my noggin, or I might brainstorm on a piece of paper.
Some of what I consider my best ideas have come in flashes of inspiration. In those moments, I try to write that idea down before it flits away. I have found that even when some of them flit away, they often come back.
For those of you who read my blog, what do you think? How do you get your ideas?
More coming in Part Two!
"How do you come up with your ideas?"
I was actually speechless, in typical me fashion, my awkward un-thought out answer amounted to a shoulder shrug, and saying lamely, "I dunno". But it got me thinking, where do all my ideas, and those of other writers or artists, come from?
Is it just an overactive imagination that can not be contained? Is that imagination so powerful it refuses to be silenced until put it to use on either the written word or possibly a painting? Or is it maybe an outside force like a muse? But is that Muse a specific person, idea or is it something more ephemeral? Is it a mysterious force like the ancients believed? One that comes and goes at will and we lowly humans must be there to grab the ideas before they flit away like wisps of clouds?Or is it just good old fashioned elbow grease applied to a vague idea?
Personally I believe that it is a combination of the above. For me, my imagination does tend to run crazy if I let it. And yes, a few of them are far fetched, and those ideas usually get nixed before they get shared. But the others? Those hang around up there in my noggin, or I might brainstorm on a piece of paper.
Some of what I consider my best ideas have come in flashes of inspiration. In those moments, I try to write that idea down before it flits away. I have found that even when some of them flit away, they often come back.
For those of you who read my blog, what do you think? How do you get your ideas?
More coming in Part Two!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Finally Finished!
Last night I finished my second novel, which happened to be the second in s series and my NaNo Novel from this year.
So in about 5 weeks I wrote an 86,868 word novel!
I am so excited to be finished with this one, it is by far the best laid out writing project I have ever done, and I am feeling really positive about it. Now my project is to go through and edit/add to the first novel and start sending out query letters to publishers/agents-I haven't decided which course of action I want to take first.
I am already thinking a head to the Camp NaNo sessions in April/July of 2014 as well as the next NaNoWriMo in November of next year! My goal is to write two novels this next year, hopefully three!
My question, to whomever actually reads my posts is:
What goals do you have for writing in the upcoming year? Or other personal goals?
I know that it's not the new year yet, and most people save their resolutions for December 31/January 1st, but it just feels like the new year already after NaNo.
It's a new writing year!
So what do you have planned?
So in about 5 weeks I wrote an 86,868 word novel!
I am so excited to be finished with this one, it is by far the best laid out writing project I have ever done, and I am feeling really positive about it. Now my project is to go through and edit/add to the first novel and start sending out query letters to publishers/agents-I haven't decided which course of action I want to take first.
I am already thinking a head to the Camp NaNo sessions in April/July of 2014 as well as the next NaNoWriMo in November of next year! My goal is to write two novels this next year, hopefully three!
My question, to whomever actually reads my posts is:
What goals do you have for writing in the upcoming year? Or other personal goals?
I know that it's not the new year yet, and most people save their resolutions for December 31/January 1st, but it just feels like the new year already after NaNo.
It's a new writing year!
So what do you have planned?
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Post NaNo..late (Sorry)
Well the pens have stopped scratching furiously, the keyboard fires have been put out and every single one of my friends who participated this year are brain dead, or nearly so.
NaNoWriMo 2013 has officially ended, HUZZAH!
And it doesn't matter if you "won", meaning you hit the 50K mark, or if your count ended somewhere below that. If you attempted the challenge at all then you are a winner in my mind! Just dedicating time out of a busy schedule to attempt to write a novel is an accomplishment in and of itself.
For myself, NaNoWriMo ended on a high note. My final word count was 80,031 as of midnight on the 30th. As this is my first year I was very excited about this. I don't think I have EVER written that much in such a short amount of time. I was not able to finish the book, as of right now I have 81,908 words, and only 3 or 4 more scenes to write to finish it.
My goal is to finish it before the end of December, which after participating in NaNo should not be too hard, but we'll see. I just tonight got through writing a very emotional scene that had me, the author, wanting to shed some tears. I just hope that whomever reads these works feels the same emotions towards my characters that I do.
Now to finish the book, and enjoy the holiday season!
NaNoWriMo 2013 has officially ended, HUZZAH!
And it doesn't matter if you "won", meaning you hit the 50K mark, or if your count ended somewhere below that. If you attempted the challenge at all then you are a winner in my mind! Just dedicating time out of a busy schedule to attempt to write a novel is an accomplishment in and of itself.
For myself, NaNoWriMo ended on a high note. My final word count was 80,031 as of midnight on the 30th. As this is my first year I was very excited about this. I don't think I have EVER written that much in such a short amount of time. I was not able to finish the book, as of right now I have 81,908 words, and only 3 or 4 more scenes to write to finish it.
My goal is to finish it before the end of December, which after participating in NaNo should not be too hard, but we'll see. I just tonight got through writing a very emotional scene that had me, the author, wanting to shed some tears. I just hope that whomever reads these works feels the same emotions towards my characters that I do.
Now to finish the book, and enjoy the holiday season!
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Excerpt- NaNoWriMo day 26
Excerpt from what I just wrote yesterday...little to no editing, you have been warned :)
She felt her fingers clench in the grass underneath her, and
she froze like the animals she had hunted for years. A part of her mind had
known that they were real, but she was still shocked to see it alive and in
front of her eyes.
The Dijan was out of sight as was the Ryder of the great spiked dragon. She was at
least thankful for that, the Dijan’s dragon was enough for her to see. It had
dark leather like membranes that stretched out from its body on thin and bony
wings. The scales were a dull black in color, and with her magic she could see
the pale eyes that seemed to not focus on anything.
How was
she going to beat a Dijan?
Her
stomach twisted into a knot and she felt the blood in her veins freeze.
‘Little
one.’ His voice sounded strained through their link. ‘Little one, you need to
leave.’
‘We
need to see more, the scouts need to see more of the army.’ She ground her
teeth against the fear that started to claw at her heart.
‘Little
One,’ his voice growled through their link. ‘You need to leave, or I will come
and get you, to the Skies with your orders.’
The
grass under her started rustling, and she realized that it was Feoras strength
of his words coming through their link. She took a few breaths and the rustling
stopped. Slowly as she concentrated on the blades of grass, heat started to
creep slowly back down into her fingers and toes. Gradually the icy fingers of
fear released from her heart and she heard herself breath again.
She
looked up slowly to find Aiden staring at her with concern reflected in his
eyes. Her now warming fingers felt his squeezing, and she started crawling backwards.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she was back far enough to enable her
to stand up. She found that her legs were shaking, and was glad that the others
were still back at the knoll watching the army.
Rustling
from her side abruptly entered into her thoughts and before she could think, her
sword was in her hand and magic was burning at her fingertips.
“My Lady!”
Aquaos held his hands plaintively. “It’s me, I followed you at a discreet distance.”
His hands dropped and he looked carefully around. “I thought that you shouldn’t
go off alone.”
She slammed
her sword back at her side and placing her hands on her hips started pacing around.
“What is
it?” Aquaos seemed genuinely confused.
“You don’t
know what that was?”
“No, my lady.” He shook his head, his standard issue haircut from recruitment had started growing and his grey hair flopped.
“No, my lady.” He shook his head, his standard issue haircut from recruitment had started growing and his grey hair flopped.
“Well,”
her hands fell from her hips and her shoulders sagged before she could regain her
composure. “the tan spiked one is a regular dragon, which is bad enough.”
“Aren’t
they both dragons?”
“Yes, which
is bad enough having one.” She started pacing again and pushed off Feoras threatening
to come after her, “The other one, the black one, is something different.”
“What?”
She looked
up at Aquaos, his face curious. “It is the mount of a Dijan. Something that I didn’t
know could manifest itself in reality. They are shadow dwellers, they have to be
summoned through the darkest of magic.”
“So they’re
bad?”
“Very bad,
very deep, dark magic.”
Aquaos rolled
his shoulders, his hands came to rest on the pommel of his sword.
“How do
we kill it?”
‘I think
I’m going to like this man.’ Rumbled Feoras.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
The end is approaching!
Well WriMo's it's that time of year when the sound of keys being frantically punched, and the scribble of pens or pencils on paper is as loud as a tornado...It's the last week of NaNoWriMo!
So write like your fingers are on fire. Punch those keys! Scribble in that notebook until the pages burst into flame!
If you've made it this far, KEEP GOING. You owe it to yourself and that novel of yours. Even if you think it's crap, keep writing anyways! The only way you are ever going to get that idea out of your head is if you write it. After you write it you make it better, but you have to get the ideas down first.
SO WRITE. Write like your life, your existence, your very soul are at stake....because they kind of are.
Whether you write for a hobby or you are like me and write nearly everyday as a way to examine the world around you and explore ideas or topics you didn't even know you thought were there, writing is a wonderful exercise.
Writing is listening to yourself, listening to yourself. It is one of the great tools of introspection.
And it's just gosh darn fun!
So keep going, no matter if you are 5k, 8k or 25k behind in the NaNo counts. Just keep writing, even if you don't hit the 50k by midnight on the 30th. You have tried to reach something that most people would never even dream of. You will have written (hopefully) everyday for a month, and that is quite the accomplishment.
So give yourself a pat on the back, pull up your chair, plug that laptop in and let's get writing!
Happy Typing WriMo's!
So write like your fingers are on fire. Punch those keys! Scribble in that notebook until the pages burst into flame!
If you've made it this far, KEEP GOING. You owe it to yourself and that novel of yours. Even if you think it's crap, keep writing anyways! The only way you are ever going to get that idea out of your head is if you write it. After you write it you make it better, but you have to get the ideas down first.
SO WRITE. Write like your life, your existence, your very soul are at stake....because they kind of are.
Whether you write for a hobby or you are like me and write nearly everyday as a way to examine the world around you and explore ideas or topics you didn't even know you thought were there, writing is a wonderful exercise.
Writing is listening to yourself, listening to yourself. It is one of the great tools of introspection.
And it's just gosh darn fun!
So keep going, no matter if you are 5k, 8k or 25k behind in the NaNo counts. Just keep writing, even if you don't hit the 50k by midnight on the 30th. You have tried to reach something that most people would never even dream of. You will have written (hopefully) everyday for a month, and that is quite the accomplishment.
So give yourself a pat on the back, pull up your chair, plug that laptop in and let's get writing!
Happy Typing WriMo's!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
I did it!
Success!!!
I hit the 50 K mark at a Saturday write in, so by November 16th, I had reached 50K.
I am kind of shocked that I hit it that fast, but I am relieved and pretty excited considering my goal is to write 70k or finish the story, whichever comes first.
I am about halfway in the plot of the story...so maybe this one is going to be much longer than the first unless my characters start cooperating again. They seem to have taken over and have included scenes that while they do add to the characterization of the people in the story, I had not planned for them...Damn stubborn characters!
This journey has been exhilarating, exciting, scary and nerve-wracking. I am eager to see where this journey and story takes me. And I am loving this world that I have created, these characters and places seem so alive to me, and someday I hope that they will feel that way to any one who reads the books!
On another note, I thought that I was doing a great job at over-achieving, and then I went to the NaNo forum for Over Achievers, and all of their counts are above 60/70 or even 100k ! Geeze...maybe I'm not such an OA at all!
Happy Writing!
I hit the 50 K mark at a Saturday write in, so by November 16th, I had reached 50K.
I am kind of shocked that I hit it that fast, but I am relieved and pretty excited considering my goal is to write 70k or finish the story, whichever comes first.
I am about halfway in the plot of the story...so maybe this one is going to be much longer than the first unless my characters start cooperating again. They seem to have taken over and have included scenes that while they do add to the characterization of the people in the story, I had not planned for them...Damn stubborn characters!
This journey has been exhilarating, exciting, scary and nerve-wracking. I am eager to see where this journey and story takes me. And I am loving this world that I have created, these characters and places seem so alive to me, and someday I hope that they will feel that way to any one who reads the books!
On another note, I thought that I was doing a great job at over-achieving, and then I went to the NaNo forum for Over Achievers, and all of their counts are above 60/70 or even 100k ! Geeze...maybe I'm not such an OA at all!
Happy Writing!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
NaNoWriMo Day 14
It is almost the halfway mark, and I am well over the halfway mark for both the 50K goal, and my own goal of 70K. Just this morning I hit 40,946 words. I am so excited!
I just wrote a forging of swords scene, which is something I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, an expert. But I believe I did it well enough. And hey, now they can fight the bad guys because they have weapons!
Huzzah! (<-don't know where that came from..)
So I am, I think, almost half way through plot wise. The book is really starting to get exciting and moving towards several confrontations that will change the characters and the layout of the Realms.
This weekend, Friday the 15th is the Evening of Authoring Adventurously and a Write in on Saturday the 16 at a local library. I am hoping to hit 50k to 60k between the two events which will make me a winner in the eyes of NaNo, and bring my novel that much further along before I start my new job on Monday!
Huzzah for new beginnings!
Happy Writing!
I just wrote a forging of swords scene, which is something I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, an expert. But I believe I did it well enough. And hey, now they can fight the bad guys because they have weapons!
Huzzah! (<-don't know where that came from..)
So I am, I think, almost half way through plot wise. The book is really starting to get exciting and moving towards several confrontations that will change the characters and the layout of the Realms.
This weekend, Friday the 15th is the Evening of Authoring Adventurously and a Write in on Saturday the 16 at a local library. I am hoping to hit 50k to 60k between the two events which will make me a winner in the eyes of NaNo, and bring my novel that much further along before I start my new job on Monday!
Huzzah for new beginnings!
Happy Writing!
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
NaNoWriMo Day 12
So I have made it to Day 12 of NaNo! *much cheering*
Things are going remarkably well, better than I had thought. I knew going into this that it would be a challenge, and it seems that my subconscious has risen to the occasion! In just 12 days I have written: 37,176 words.
Now that is something I never thought I would be typing.
I have seen many people in my writing group losing their motivation to write, and are falling behind on their word count. But they can get back in the game! Even if you are a day, two days, even a week behind, you CAN catch up. A re-dedication needs to take place.
This novel that you are setting out to write, deserves to be written, it wants to be written.
November is that one time of year that you can set aside that inner nay-sayer and just try something new.
Even if you've already started, maybe you realized that it would be better told in a different POV, just start writing and go back later.
Or maybe a character needs to die for the story to move on. Then kill the character! And if you realize they actually have to be in the story, bring em back! That's why you're the author. This crazy experiment called NaNoWriMo is just that, an experiment.
So play with the scenarios, characters, POV, time shifts, anything you darn well please!
Just have fun, I think too many people get caught up in how they sound, or having a good first draft. Don't fall into this trap. Most great novels were not written in the first draft. The greatness shows up in later drafts and through editing, and THAT is what the rest of the year is for.
This month is for creativity.
So start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
Your muse, your creativity, what ever you want to call it, it has to find you writing.
So let's put our butts in chairs, fingers to keys (or if you're "old school" fingers to pen and paper) and just WRITE
Happy Writing!
Things are going remarkably well, better than I had thought. I knew going into this that it would be a challenge, and it seems that my subconscious has risen to the occasion! In just 12 days I have written: 37,176 words.
Now that is something I never thought I would be typing.
I have seen many people in my writing group losing their motivation to write, and are falling behind on their word count. But they can get back in the game! Even if you are a day, two days, even a week behind, you CAN catch up. A re-dedication needs to take place.
This novel that you are setting out to write, deserves to be written, it wants to be written.
November is that one time of year that you can set aside that inner nay-sayer and just try something new.
Even if you've already started, maybe you realized that it would be better told in a different POV, just start writing and go back later.
Or maybe a character needs to die for the story to move on. Then kill the character! And if you realize they actually have to be in the story, bring em back! That's why you're the author. This crazy experiment called NaNoWriMo is just that, an experiment.
So play with the scenarios, characters, POV, time shifts, anything you darn well please!
Just have fun, I think too many people get caught up in how they sound, or having a good first draft. Don't fall into this trap. Most great novels were not written in the first draft. The greatness shows up in later drafts and through editing, and THAT is what the rest of the year is for.
This month is for creativity.
So start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.
Your muse, your creativity, what ever you want to call it, it has to find you writing.
So let's put our butts in chairs, fingers to keys (or if you're "old school" fingers to pen and paper) and just WRITE
Happy Writing!
Monday, November 11, 2013
The Rest Will Follow
I am really getting sick and tired of people bashing Christian beliefs.
Yes, I know my history. I know what the upper rings of various Christian religious orders have done in the name of God. They have started wars, persecuted people, all in the name of their "Loving God".
But so has nearly every other religious order too, or large group of people who believe in the same things.
Christians are just as entitled as any other person on this planet to say what their beliefs are.
And yet, any time they do, they are attacked as either closed minded, bigoted or hateful. Often a combination of them and other words that I will not repeat, nor tolerate on my blog or facebook or any other social media.
How is it that if someone makes a comment about their Christian beliefs that they are attacked? Yet someone, maybe an atheist, agnostic, a liberal, or even a stranger on a bus makes their stand on their views it is considered their right to free speech? Or that they are praised for being so brave in the face of adversity?
They are being just the same amount of brave as a Christian stating what they believe.
And yet, every time a Christian stands up for themselves they get shot down, why?
Why are people who pride themselves on "being open minded" or "more accepting than the Christian model" acting so bigoted against those that have a different opinion?
It is because someone disagrees with them, and they are usually uncomfortable with that.
Yes, I am a Christian. I grew up in the church, regularly read my Bible, and have done many different studies.
No, I am not perfect. Any Christian who says they are is a liar (which, by the way is kind of a sin).
To me a main component of Christianity is about holding yourself to a higher standard. To realize that people have faults and to rise above those faults and to help others. All of us, as human beings are flawed. Sorry ladies this includes all the supermodel men as well. We are all flawed, all of us have our vices that maybe we shouldn't do. One of mine is eating too much. I am aware of this and working on a solution for myself.
That does not mean that I have the right to go around judging others who too eat too much. Or judge those that drink alcohol to excess, or participate in drug use, or are attracted to people of their same gender.
In fact, I have no power or right to judge anyone, including myself. It just means that I can recognize what my flaws are, accept them and work towards becoming a better person.
You can love someone and hate their sin. There is a big difference between caring for others because it is "the cool thing to do" or because everyone else is doing it, and actually caring for others because that is what we were created for.
Humans were made to love. We need to help each other out, not break each other down simply because we disagree. Accept that people have different view points than you, and lead your life according to how YOU think it should be led. Do not blindly follow any herd.
Lead by example. Lead with Love. The rest will follow.
Yes, I know my history. I know what the upper rings of various Christian religious orders have done in the name of God. They have started wars, persecuted people, all in the name of their "Loving God".
But so has nearly every other religious order too, or large group of people who believe in the same things.
Christians are just as entitled as any other person on this planet to say what their beliefs are.
And yet, any time they do, they are attacked as either closed minded, bigoted or hateful. Often a combination of them and other words that I will not repeat, nor tolerate on my blog or facebook or any other social media.
How is it that if someone makes a comment about their Christian beliefs that they are attacked? Yet someone, maybe an atheist, agnostic, a liberal, or even a stranger on a bus makes their stand on their views it is considered their right to free speech? Or that they are praised for being so brave in the face of adversity?
They are being just the same amount of brave as a Christian stating what they believe.
And yet, every time a Christian stands up for themselves they get shot down, why?
Why are people who pride themselves on "being open minded" or "more accepting than the Christian model" acting so bigoted against those that have a different opinion?
It is because someone disagrees with them, and they are usually uncomfortable with that.
Yes, I am a Christian. I grew up in the church, regularly read my Bible, and have done many different studies.
No, I am not perfect. Any Christian who says they are is a liar (which, by the way is kind of a sin).
To me a main component of Christianity is about holding yourself to a higher standard. To realize that people have faults and to rise above those faults and to help others. All of us, as human beings are flawed. Sorry ladies this includes all the supermodel men as well. We are all flawed, all of us have our vices that maybe we shouldn't do. One of mine is eating too much. I am aware of this and working on a solution for myself.
That does not mean that I have the right to go around judging others who too eat too much. Or judge those that drink alcohol to excess, or participate in drug use, or are attracted to people of their same gender.
In fact, I have no power or right to judge anyone, including myself. It just means that I can recognize what my flaws are, accept them and work towards becoming a better person.
You can love someone and hate their sin. There is a big difference between caring for others because it is "the cool thing to do" or because everyone else is doing it, and actually caring for others because that is what we were created for.
Humans were made to love. We need to help each other out, not break each other down simply because we disagree. Accept that people have different view points than you, and lead your life according to how YOU think it should be led. Do not blindly follow any herd.
Lead by example. Lead with Love. The rest will follow.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
NaNoWriMo day 10
So it is the end of day 10, and I have survived the first few days of NaNo! *cheering*
This week I hit a few milestones: I finished with one part of the novel, wrote the other part, and am onto the third part. I hit 20k then 25k and then today I hit 30k.
I have had to overcome some writer's blockage moments, but thankfully having my trusty scene/outline cards at hand have made things easier. I have had to keep my whole notebook with me where ever I go so that I can fact check while writing. I also started using watching my favorite TV shows as a reward for writing during the whole of my blocks of time.
I have also found that if I get up and just sit down to write for a half hour to an hour before anything else, I tend to write more and more easily. Weird since I don't really consider myself a morning person. Oh well, whatever works, right?
So at the end of today I wrote 3,893 bringing my NaNo total for the month to 31,447.
Happy Writing!
This week I hit a few milestones: I finished with one part of the novel, wrote the other part, and am onto the third part. I hit 20k then 25k and then today I hit 30k.
I have had to overcome some writer's blockage moments, but thankfully having my trusty scene/outline cards at hand have made things easier. I have had to keep my whole notebook with me where ever I go so that I can fact check while writing. I also started using watching my favorite TV shows as a reward for writing during the whole of my blocks of time.
I have also found that if I get up and just sit down to write for a half hour to an hour before anything else, I tend to write more and more easily. Weird since I don't really consider myself a morning person. Oh well, whatever works, right?
So at the end of today I wrote 3,893 bringing my NaNo total for the month to 31,447.
Happy Writing!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
NaNo Day 7
So far so good...Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but my first year of doing NaNo is going really well. The only thing that I have got to remember is to take breaks. I keep forgetting that this is a marathon effort and not a sprint. But then again, I've never been good at long distance anything, sprints are more my style.
At the end of today I reached 22,484 words, and wrote over 3,000 today. I finally finished a big milestone today, and tomorrow I am starting at a different perspective in the book. (It all makes sense I swear!)
I saw one of my good friends at work the other day, and she wondered if I was going to post anything I had written so far, so here goes!
This is the Prolouge and was the first thing I wrote this month. Yes, this is part of what I wrote at 3:30 AM November 1st. And, No, I have not edited it...that comes later!
Enjoy!
At the end of today I reached 22,484 words, and wrote over 3,000 today. I finally finished a big milestone today, and tomorrow I am starting at a different perspective in the book. (It all makes sense I swear!)
I saw one of my good friends at work the other day, and she wondered if I was going to post anything I had written so far, so here goes!
This is the Prolouge and was the first thing I wrote this month. Yes, this is part of what I wrote at 3:30 AM November 1st. And, No, I have not edited it...that comes later!
Enjoy!
* Pain. Searing pain ran its way
through his body. He couldn’t find the origins of that pain, but it had become
a regular part of his life he no longer knew what it was like to not feel it.
At times it was a dull ache, and at others it would come as licks of flame up
and down his body. He was never granted time without it for very long, his
captor made sure of that.
He
tried to move his hands, but the shackles around his wrists with metal spikes
digging into his flesh restricted his movements. His once well fitting clothes
now hung on him in tatters. His once vibrant brown hair streaked with red was
now streaked with iron at the temples. The beard that he had kept trimmed and
neat since his thirtieth year was now a long tangled mess that reached all the
way down to his chest.
The
door to the room he was in opened, he kept his eyes closed and his head down,
but by the light steps he knew that it was his captors favorite pet walking in.
“Ahh,
are we awake yet this morning?” Her voice was soft and smooth, like oil running
over his skin. He tried his hardest not to shiver, which would cause the spikes
to rub against his skin, and without being linked to Dhaval he couldn’t heal
his wounds closed. At least not yet. But he was getting closer to being linked
with Dhaval despite his captor’s best tries. His neck twinged as he brought his
head up to the vague direction the voice was coming from.
“My
lord wishes to speak with you again today.” He could feel the sardonic twist of
her lip as she looked down at him. “That is, if you’re up to it.”
He
finally snapped his eyes open and turned them to the woman, and he felt her
unconsciously move backwards a step.
While
the rest of him may have been rotting here in the cell, his skin sallow, his
hair unkempt and his clothes shredded, his eyes had remained the same. He could
tell that by their reactions. He could see it reflected in their expressions.
He could see the white hot lightning that coursed through him, the light blue
color ringed with black that he now pierced the woman standing in front of him
with.
His
eyes were that of a Ryder.
“Tell
your lord,” he let the words drip from his mouth as he would a sour taste,
“that I am always at my leisure and that he may visit me anytime he is
available.” His chin rose in defiance as
the lanky woman in front of him watched. She was tall, broad shouldered. By
typical standards she would not have been called beautiful. Her deep brown hair
was plaited away from her sharp features, and her eyes of deep green were almost
muddy in the dim lighting that was allotted to him.
Her
lips curled back from her teeth like a feral dog, “You should learn your place.”
She didn’t dare touch him, he knew that they all were on orders. His only
physical tormentor was the man he hated most.
“That’s
enough, Tauria.” The tall woman bowed her head and turned to leave, but not
before locking gazes with the man who had entered. The door slammed shut behind
her, and the man, walking on quiet steps brought a chair. He seated himself in
front of the man in rags, his long black hair neatly pulled back from his face,
throwing his features into sharp relief.
“Now,
where were we?” his long fingers tapped his thigh for a moment, then snapped
through the air. “Ah, yes. You were just about to agree to join me.” His black
eyes sought out the man on the floor.
“You
are mistaken, Moriel.” The man felt his chest swell with not only pride, but a
weariness that he had felt every single day of the twenty years he had spent in
this prison.
“Oh,
come now.” Moriel clapped his hands and rose quickly to pace just out of reach
of the man on the floor. He turned back to the man, his hands outstretched.
“You must see that I am the way of the future of this land.” The man on the
floor only looked past him, as if he was only looking at the wall in response.
Moriel came back to sit lightly on the chair, his long-limbed frame looking
gaunt in the black armor he wore.
“You
must know that if you don’t join me, I will kill those that you would protect.”
The man on the floor simply turned his stare straight into Moriels.
“You
will not touch them.” He felt his voice grow stronger, and somewhere far out of
his reach he felt Dhaval snap to attention and rumble out a roar.
Moriel
snapped his attention to the man on the floor. “You would do better to heed
me.” Three of his long fingers pointed together at the man on the floor, and he
knew what was coming.
Instead
of crying out in pain, the man on the floor simply laughed as the pain once
again came in hot flashes. His thoughts hardened around keeping his daughter
safe, and he felt Dhaval roar before the blackness took him once again.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Why would someone want to attempt NaNoWriMo?
I have been asked this question a lot in the past few weeks. People want to know why anyone would try to attempt to write a novel in a month, most people can't even fathom writing a novel in their life.
For me, since 2005, November has not been a good month.
When I was fifteen my first horse, Sierra died in a tragic accident. We found out that she was allergic to penicillin the hard way, and I watched my baby seize and die right in front of me as a young girl. It was in that moment, and I did realize it at the time, that my "innocence" about the world and life was lost.
Most people do not have a definitive moment where they can look back and say: "Yes, that was it. That was when the reality of life and harshness of the world was introduced to me."
I had experienced death before, but nothing like this.
She died November 6, 2005 at around 4 pm. She was only two and half years old.
Today has never been a good day for the past eight years.
But I want this November to be different, I want to write a novel and be able to use my feelings and experiences in life to move people, to have them sympathize, cringe, cry, leap for joy and laugh with my characters.
I think that the best writers all have something happen in their life that changes them. Some form of hardship or obstacle to overcome.
C.S. Lewis said it best:
"When we lose one blessing, another is often unexpectedly given in it's place."
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny..."
For me, since 2005, November has not been a good month.
When I was fifteen my first horse, Sierra died in a tragic accident. We found out that she was allergic to penicillin the hard way, and I watched my baby seize and die right in front of me as a young girl. It was in that moment, and I did realize it at the time, that my "innocence" about the world and life was lost.
Most people do not have a definitive moment where they can look back and say: "Yes, that was it. That was when the reality of life and harshness of the world was introduced to me."
I had experienced death before, but nothing like this.
She died November 6, 2005 at around 4 pm. She was only two and half years old.
Today has never been a good day for the past eight years.
But I want this November to be different, I want to write a novel and be able to use my feelings and experiences in life to move people, to have them sympathize, cringe, cry, leap for joy and laugh with my characters.
I think that the best writers all have something happen in their life that changes them. Some form of hardship or obstacle to overcome.
C.S. Lewis said it best:
"When we lose one blessing, another is often unexpectedly given in it's place."
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny..."
Monday, November 4, 2013
Break Time
So I went to see my Electra this morning for a break between writing sessions. I swear there is something about that horse that settles me down to my soul.
So if you are like me and participating in NANOWRIMO this month, remember to get away from the keyboard or notebook and recharge your batteries!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
First Week Done! Go NaNoWriMo!!
Just finished my first week of NaNo, and I have to say that it's not going too bad.
I might still be in the "honeymoon" phase of this journey, but so far so good! My goal of 2500 words a day seems to be holding up, though my goal to write 5000 words on the days when I don't work isn't quite there, but hey that's okay, because I am making progress, and THAT is what NaNo is all about.
I have now attended a write-in hosted by one of my college friends, and the official kick off party. The write in was awesome, and I had a blast at both. But I felt that I didn't get as much writing done at the kick off party. It was to run from 130 to 4 and we ended up having only an hour for writing...I get that we should all identify ourselves because otherwise no one else would have a clue who we are on the forums...BUUTTT it should not take over an hour.
But now I know. I did get writing done while there, though I have found that I write better when I don't do word sprints or word wars, go figure. I did have a lot of fun writing and being social with several of my fellow writing friends. I am looking forward to attending a write in held at a public library one town north of where I am in a few weeks. But until then, it will just be me and my computer :)
Good Luck and Happy Writing fellow WriMo's!
Oh and my word count at the end of today is: 11,178
I might still be in the "honeymoon" phase of this journey, but so far so good! My goal of 2500 words a day seems to be holding up, though my goal to write 5000 words on the days when I don't work isn't quite there, but hey that's okay, because I am making progress, and THAT is what NaNo is all about.
I have now attended a write-in hosted by one of my college friends, and the official kick off party. The write in was awesome, and I had a blast at both. But I felt that I didn't get as much writing done at the kick off party. It was to run from 130 to 4 and we ended up having only an hour for writing...I get that we should all identify ourselves because otherwise no one else would have a clue who we are on the forums...BUUTTT it should not take over an hour.
But now I know. I did get writing done while there, though I have found that I write better when I don't do word sprints or word wars, go figure. I did have a lot of fun writing and being social with several of my fellow writing friends. I am looking forward to attending a write in held at a public library one town north of where I am in a few weeks. But until then, it will just be me and my computer :)
Good Luck and Happy Writing fellow WriMo's!
Oh and my word count at the end of today is: 11,178
Friday, November 1, 2013
NaNoWriMo Day 1
I just got back from my first write in and boy was it fun!
I liked getting together with other writers and going around and introducing a little bit about what we are writing. I had never done a word sprint or word war, and was kind of surprised at how much I could actually write in 10 or 15 min. I'm definitely not as fast as the other people I was with, but I was consistently hitting 600/700 and 900 words. Which impressed me.
I did wake up this morning at 330 and wrote for a good two hours. My total so far today is 4,234 words. I plan on writing until I hit 5,000 tonight, then go to bed and hopefully I will hit my word count before work tomorrow!
Happy Writing!
I liked getting together with other writers and going around and introducing a little bit about what we are writing. I had never done a word sprint or word war, and was kind of surprised at how much I could actually write in 10 or 15 min. I'm definitely not as fast as the other people I was with, but I was consistently hitting 600/700 and 900 words. Which impressed me.
I did wake up this morning at 330 and wrote for a good two hours. My total so far today is 4,234 words. I plan on writing until I hit 5,000 tonight, then go to bed and hopefully I will hit my word count before work tomorrow!
Happy Writing!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
NaNoWriMo Survival Kit!
Since NaNoWriMo officially starts in 2 days (I am including today since I am writing this at 8 am), I am getting that much more excited! In order to make it through the month of literary abandon I have put together a little kit of items that I have deemed necessary or helpful to myself.
My outlines, character sketches, maps, background pieces and scene cards. These are my road maps of where my novel and characters are going.
A word count calender that I found on Pinterest. You get to fill in little boxes for every 250 words written. It's awesome since my goal is not just the 50k, but actually to write 70k.
Music. I have a specific soundtrack that I've created for this novel series specifically. I also like listening to soundtracks from movies that are similar in genre or theme, and have several of them lined up and ready to go. Earbuds also fall into this category...I don't want to annoy other people around me too much :)
My Laptop...because...well...DUH :)
An external hard drive. I was almost done writing the first novel a few months back, and realized that I would probably die if I lost any of those 70,000 words due to a computer crash...so I went out and purchased a relatively inexpensive but good external hard drive. I also have a few flash drives on hand for backing things up.
An extra notebook that fits into my purse for any ideas that pop into my mind while I'm away from my keyboard.
HOT CHOCOLATE. I went out and bought a very large container to keep all throughout the month. While most people like their morning coffee as a stimulant. But I've never liked the taste of coffee. So for me hot chocolate functions as a coffee substitute.
A crocheted shawl/lap blanket I made. Because it gets cold in Wisconsin in November.
And my official NaNo hoodie, for the same reason as above!
I plan on attending a few of the write in's, the kick off and happily ever after parties. I am so excited to be around people who get just as geeky about writing as I can :) I also will try to blog pretty consistently during the month with how my process is going, updated word count, and any problems (eek) that might come up. Maybe that way someone else can learn from my first NaNo too!
Good Luck fellow WriMo's!!
My outlines, character sketches, maps, background pieces and scene cards. These are my road maps of where my novel and characters are going.
A word count calender that I found on Pinterest. You get to fill in little boxes for every 250 words written. It's awesome since my goal is not just the 50k, but actually to write 70k.
Music. I have a specific soundtrack that I've created for this novel series specifically. I also like listening to soundtracks from movies that are similar in genre or theme, and have several of them lined up and ready to go. Earbuds also fall into this category...I don't want to annoy other people around me too much :)
My Laptop...because...well...DUH :)
An external hard drive. I was almost done writing the first novel a few months back, and realized that I would probably die if I lost any of those 70,000 words due to a computer crash...so I went out and purchased a relatively inexpensive but good external hard drive. I also have a few flash drives on hand for backing things up.
An extra notebook that fits into my purse for any ideas that pop into my mind while I'm away from my keyboard.
HOT CHOCOLATE. I went out and bought a very large container to keep all throughout the month. While most people like their morning coffee as a stimulant. But I've never liked the taste of coffee. So for me hot chocolate functions as a coffee substitute.
A crocheted shawl/lap blanket I made. Because it gets cold in Wisconsin in November.
And my official NaNo hoodie, for the same reason as above!
I plan on attending a few of the write in's, the kick off and happily ever after parties. I am so excited to be around people who get just as geeky about writing as I can :) I also will try to blog pretty consistently during the month with how my process is going, updated word count, and any problems (eek) that might come up. Maybe that way someone else can learn from my first NaNo too!
Good Luck fellow WriMo's!!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Maybe I am just a tad strange...
So back in April/May of this year my mother and I embarked on an incredible, once in a lifetime trip to the British Isles. In 18 days we went all around Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. It was such an awe-inspiring trip that I never want to forget it, and hope to some day go back and explore a few areas further.
A few of those areas are the Isle of Sky, the Highlands in Scotland as well as the northern islands and parts of England.
My heart really fell in love with the landscape stretching from the Lake District, all the way down to Oxford. Something about the scenery, the roads, and the people captured my imagination. Even though I am not a city girl, I LOVED Oxford, and if only I had the scholastic skills and money I would try to get into a graduate program there. I even got to sit (And had inspiration strike) in the Eagle and Child Pub, which is the pub that literary greats like J.RR Tolkein, CS Lewis (among others) came to write and meet to discuss ideas.
I have read both of these writers, and love their works.
One of the funny things I have noticed since being back home is that whenever I stumble across their works, whether their written or even the film adaptations of their works, I feel like I understand them a bit better for being in Oxford and the surrounding areas. I don't know if this is just a part of my imagination, or if by being there and seeing the same types of things they had, that I gained an understanding that I didn't have before. Maybe I picked up on some of their writing "mojo", or their essences felt a fellow writer when I was visiting and they followed me home.
No matter what it was, my newest goal in life is to go back to the Lake District, Stratford upon Avon, and Oxford and just spend some quality time with my notebook or laptop. And I don't mean just a weekend. I mean like a month or more. I want to walk the same places these people walked, I want to see the same buildings and become seeped in the history of the towns.
And most of all I just miss the great sense of peacefulness and contentedness that I had while I was there. I want to capture that feeling and bottle it up so I can take it with me.
One thing I do know, even if I never get back there, those feelings and memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. And I feel better for having experienced them.
A few of those areas are the Isle of Sky, the Highlands in Scotland as well as the northern islands and parts of England.
My heart really fell in love with the landscape stretching from the Lake District, all the way down to Oxford. Something about the scenery, the roads, and the people captured my imagination. Even though I am not a city girl, I LOVED Oxford, and if only I had the scholastic skills and money I would try to get into a graduate program there. I even got to sit (And had inspiration strike) in the Eagle and Child Pub, which is the pub that literary greats like J.RR Tolkein, CS Lewis (among others) came to write and meet to discuss ideas.
I have read both of these writers, and love their works.
One of the funny things I have noticed since being back home is that whenever I stumble across their works, whether their written or even the film adaptations of their works, I feel like I understand them a bit better for being in Oxford and the surrounding areas. I don't know if this is just a part of my imagination, or if by being there and seeing the same types of things they had, that I gained an understanding that I didn't have before. Maybe I picked up on some of their writing "mojo", or their essences felt a fellow writer when I was visiting and they followed me home.
No matter what it was, my newest goal in life is to go back to the Lake District, Stratford upon Avon, and Oxford and just spend some quality time with my notebook or laptop. And I don't mean just a weekend. I mean like a month or more. I want to walk the same places these people walked, I want to see the same buildings and become seeped in the history of the towns.
And most of all I just miss the great sense of peacefulness and contentedness that I had while I was there. I want to capture that feeling and bottle it up so I can take it with me.
One thing I do know, even if I never get back there, those feelings and memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. And I feel better for having experienced them.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Planner? Or Pantser?
So I've been reading a lot of the forums and threads on the official NANOWRIMO website as well as watching countless YouTube videos, and I'm curious just where people stand on the planning or pantsing of a novel?
Before this project I have not once really planned out a story. Sure I knew who my characters were, I knew where it was taking place, and I might have even had a hint of where the story could head. But that was it. I just dived in and wrote.
And that's pretty much how this series got started. However, my goal for November is not just to write 50k, it's actually to write 70k or more. Also I realized that if I didn't start planning out this novel (and series) that bad things were gonna happen, like running out of steam.
So, lord help me, I set out to plan the novel.
I was hesitant at first. One of my favorite aspects to writing is not having all of the answers laid out for me from the get go. I like to see where my characters will go on their own. But with my lofty goal, I outlined the entire series and novel loosely with enough wiggle room to explore.
I also actually wrote out character sketches, scene cards and even a few pages of backstory, which would even make for another series. A prequel series if you will, that comes before these 4 core books.
All in all I think I've left enough wiggle room to enjoy where my characters may take me, but with enough direction to accomplish my goal.
And NANOWRIMO is only a week away!!!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Let the countdown begin!!
Is anyone else as excited as I am for NANOWRIMO this year?
Usually October and Halloween is a much bigger thing for me, but this year all I seem able to think about is November. And of course NaNo.
Maybe it's just because it will be my first year participating that I can't seem to get the coming month out of my mind. Or it could be because I'm really jazzed to start this next novel and I haven't been able to yet. Or going to write ins to again be surrounded by people who get as excited as me about writing.
Regardless of why I'm excited, I am looking forward to joining the ranks of people who aspire to write a novel in a month. And hopefully I will be with those at the finish with a new first draft on my hands! :)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
12 NaNoWriMo Questions
So since NaNo officially starts in 15 days, I thought I would answer a few of these questions I found online.
Annnnnd I'm getting really excited for the start...
1.) Are you planning to do NaNoWriMo this year?
DUH! :D
2.) How many years previously have you participated in NaNo?
None, this will be my first year, though I've known about it for a few years.
3.) New novel or a novel you've already started?
The novel I will be writing is the second in a series, I finished the first at the end of September. I plan on participating in camp NaNo in the spring/summer to write the third and fourth books in the series.
4.) Working Title:
I can't share that! However, the series will be called the Ryder Chronicles.
5.) Genre:
Epic fantasy/Fantasy
6.) Project word count goal:
My first novel was about 71,000 words, so the second has to be at least that, or more.
7&8.) Outline? How much have you planned for NaNo so far?
I've spent all of October outlining the whole series, well the core 4 books, of events that have to happen for the story. Made lists of names if new characters pop up. Made character sketches for most of my major characters. I've made up what I call "Scene cards" for about half the novel. And worked on the "bad guys" motives and some back story.
9.) Do you expect to be able to achieve your goal?
Yes, and if I don't finish the whole novel in November, at least I will have written 50K of it!
10.) Greatest challenge in completing your goal?
Myself..? Though my confidence has grown since I have finished one novel.
11.) Any words of advice from past NaNo experiences?
Since I'm brandy new at this, I will let you know come December!
12.) If you're NOT doing NaNo, any goals for November?
How could I NOT do NaNo! Crazy peoples... :)
Annnnnd I'm getting really excited for the start...
1.) Are you planning to do NaNoWriMo this year?
DUH! :D
2.) How many years previously have you participated in NaNo?
None, this will be my first year, though I've known about it for a few years.
3.) New novel or a novel you've already started?
The novel I will be writing is the second in a series, I finished the first at the end of September. I plan on participating in camp NaNo in the spring/summer to write the third and fourth books in the series.
4.) Working Title:
I can't share that! However, the series will be called the Ryder Chronicles.
5.) Genre:
Epic fantasy/Fantasy
6.) Project word count goal:
My first novel was about 71,000 words, so the second has to be at least that, or more.
7&8.) Outline? How much have you planned for NaNo so far?
I've spent all of October outlining the whole series, well the core 4 books, of events that have to happen for the story. Made lists of names if new characters pop up. Made character sketches for most of my major characters. I've made up what I call "Scene cards" for about half the novel. And worked on the "bad guys" motives and some back story.
9.) Do you expect to be able to achieve your goal?
Yes, and if I don't finish the whole novel in November, at least I will have written 50K of it!
10.) Greatest challenge in completing your goal?
Myself..? Though my confidence has grown since I have finished one novel.
11.) Any words of advice from past NaNo experiences?
Since I'm brandy new at this, I will let you know come December!
12.) If you're NOT doing NaNo, any goals for November?
How could I NOT do NaNo! Crazy peoples... :)
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Prepping for NaNo
I have started prepping for my first challenge with NaNoWriMo. I am so excited to actually be participating this year, I had wanted to in the past but between working 32 hours a week 15 credits in college and a (now ex) Boyfriend, and maybe sleep in there, I never had the time.
This year is going to be different. And I am more excited than I thought I would be.
I'm usually not a huge fan of outlining, but then again I have never had as high of a goal as writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I also have never written a sequel to a novel. I never really realized how much planning and forethought have to go into the second book!
I started prep by adding a baby names app to my iphone...you all may laugh, but it comes in handy!
I used this app to look up a bunch of names and I started making a list of boys and girls names that I liked the sound of. Some of Germanic, Celtic, Danish, Aremian, even Aztec origins. I figured that by having a list of both gender names on hand that whenever I needed a new character when writing I would already have a list and wouldn't have to waste time hunting one down.
So far it's actually worked.
I started, on note cards, listing scenes that need to happen. A notecard often includes: which POV I'm writing from, who needs to be in the scene and roughly what happens in that scene. Related to this I've also (for the FIRST time EVER) written out character sketches. Before I just had a detailed idea of who these people were in my head, but putting it on paper is an interesting exercise and has revealed a few holes in some of the characters that need plugging both as characters and as their place in the story.
Also, I went back and re-vamped the map of the "world" I'd created and made a better, more in depth version of a region a few of my characters will be spending much time in.
Next up is solidifying what the "bad guys" are up to, even if I don't reveal all of it to the reader, I need it to be more concrete for the rest of the writing.
Is it too much to say how fast I hope October will go by so I can start this next novel? :)
This year is going to be different. And I am more excited than I thought I would be.
I'm usually not a huge fan of outlining, but then again I have never had as high of a goal as writing 50,000 words in 30 days. I also have never written a sequel to a novel. I never really realized how much planning and forethought have to go into the second book!
I started prep by adding a baby names app to my iphone...you all may laugh, but it comes in handy!
I used this app to look up a bunch of names and I started making a list of boys and girls names that I liked the sound of. Some of Germanic, Celtic, Danish, Aremian, even Aztec origins. I figured that by having a list of both gender names on hand that whenever I needed a new character when writing I would already have a list and wouldn't have to waste time hunting one down.
So far it's actually worked.
I started, on note cards, listing scenes that need to happen. A notecard often includes: which POV I'm writing from, who needs to be in the scene and roughly what happens in that scene. Related to this I've also (for the FIRST time EVER) written out character sketches. Before I just had a detailed idea of who these people were in my head, but putting it on paper is an interesting exercise and has revealed a few holes in some of the characters that need plugging both as characters and as their place in the story.
Also, I went back and re-vamped the map of the "world" I'd created and made a better, more in depth version of a region a few of my characters will be spending much time in.
Next up is solidifying what the "bad guys" are up to, even if I don't reveal all of it to the reader, I need it to be more concrete for the rest of the writing.
Is it too much to say how fast I hope October will go by so I can start this next novel? :)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Editing
So today I finished my first pass over my first draft of my novel and have begun the arduous task of making the changes on the computer. At least it is going faster than re-reading and making notes.
One thing that I have learned: editing sucks.
Well the initial pass through and making comments on paper is fine, but going line by line looking from the page to the computer screen is a pain in the neck..literally.
But I am determined to finish the changes tonight.
I also realized that the scene I started writing the other day needs to be at the end of this novel instead of at the beginning of the second novel. So I just have to finish off that and then I am not looking back at my first novel until at least December. Yay!
Next up: completely outlining my second novel in preparation of NaNoWriMo.
So Dad, Mom, it looks like you both have a new novel to read between now and December ;)
(And yes, my parents often read my writing before I give it to anyone else. They actually give me good feedback and honest critiques. They are very supportive, but neither shirk from being brutally truthful in how something sounds.)
One thing that I have learned: editing sucks.
Well the initial pass through and making comments on paper is fine, but going line by line looking from the page to the computer screen is a pain in the neck..literally.
But I am determined to finish the changes tonight.
I also realized that the scene I started writing the other day needs to be at the end of this novel instead of at the beginning of the second novel. So I just have to finish off that and then I am not looking back at my first novel until at least December. Yay!
Next up: completely outlining my second novel in preparation of NaNoWriMo.
So Dad, Mom, it looks like you both have a new novel to read between now and December ;)
(And yes, my parents often read my writing before I give it to anyone else. They actually give me good feedback and honest critiques. They are very supportive, but neither shirk from being brutally truthful in how something sounds.)
Friday, September 20, 2013
About a Horse...
So I have to admit, I haven't been the best horse-y mom...
Between being tired from work, writing/editing my first novel, prepping for the second/third/fourth, and I'm pretty sure I'm fighting a nasty sinus infection...I have been slightly neglecting Electra.
I know I shouldn't, and it's not like shes not being cared for, but I haven't been out to see her like I should and usually do.
Tonight, totally spontaneously, I grabbed flip flops (I know, perfect barn attire) and keys and drove the 4 minutes to the barn. What greeted me was a very muddy pony who was happy to see me.
On another impulse I brushed her off quick, and wrapping her lead into makeshift reins, I climbed on board bareback, no lunging, no bridle and bit, just her, a lead rope and halter and me (barefoot at this point while aboard).
There is something completely soothing about riding at night, all by yourself with nothing between you and your horse. At some point I noticed that I had stopped giving her cues with the lead rope and that she was taking them from my seat only. It was like we melded together and just went cruising around the area.
I don't know what it is, but there is something about that horse that just soothes and calms me to my very core.
Oh and I hadn't ridden bareback in at least 2 years...nor had I worked with her in a week. It was pretty awesome to have her behave perfectly, and it seemed that she enjoyed the little ride too.
*This photo is not from tonight, but was taken out on a ride within the past month*
Between being tired from work, writing/editing my first novel, prepping for the second/third/fourth, and I'm pretty sure I'm fighting a nasty sinus infection...I have been slightly neglecting Electra.
I know I shouldn't, and it's not like shes not being cared for, but I haven't been out to see her like I should and usually do.
Tonight, totally spontaneously, I grabbed flip flops (I know, perfect barn attire) and keys and drove the 4 minutes to the barn. What greeted me was a very muddy pony who was happy to see me.
On another impulse I brushed her off quick, and wrapping her lead into makeshift reins, I climbed on board bareback, no lunging, no bridle and bit, just her, a lead rope and halter and me (barefoot at this point while aboard).
There is something completely soothing about riding at night, all by yourself with nothing between you and your horse. At some point I noticed that I had stopped giving her cues with the lead rope and that she was taking them from my seat only. It was like we melded together and just went cruising around the area.
I don't know what it is, but there is something about that horse that just soothes and calms me to my very core.
*This photo is not from tonight, but was taken out on a ride within the past month*
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
So I know I'm not perfect...
So before doing more prep for NaNoWriMo in October I decided to re-read a series I read a few years back. (I was cleaning and found all three so decided to read them again.)
The books are the Dragonmaster series by Chris Bunch. Now, before I had read these I had never even heard of Bunch, but I've done my google-ing tonight before writing this...
I have to say that I am disappointed in these books. I know that I am, as a writer, definitely not perfect. But for someone who has as many books published as Bunch has, I am shocked at the low quality of this writing.
He is inconsistently using quotation marks, apostrophes, italics. And those are just the grammar things I'M noticing...and I usually over look or don't notice grammar unless it's really bad. He also refers to his character Hal Kailas both by "Hal" and then by "Kailas", often on the same page, but even more often in the same paragraph! Talk about confusing and losing your readers! He also introduces characters that you never see again, or don't see again for chapters, in too descriptive a manner. If the rouge bandit is only in chapter x-for example-the reader doesn't need to know that his front left tooth is broken, he reeks like ale, has a drawl, twitches in the bright sun, his pants are dirty, his saber is dull, and that he has a large extended family from some random, admittedly in the text, little known town. Too much for a character that lasts all of 2 pages!
Oh and be prepared for the narrative to just suddenly jump. Chapter one starts with Hal Kailas as a young boy, maybe 12 or 13 then in the next chapter he seems to have aged by 2 or 3 years! It just continues like that, and he gives the reader no warning as to how far the narrative will jump.
And don't even get me started on the typical uneducated dialogue, or how unoriginal his theme of "boy coming of age in a time of war" is. Yes, it is a relatively good theme offering up times of trial for his character, but there seems to be nothing behind this main theme. There are no extra layers that would make this story so much more satisfying to the reader. And the dragons are just beasts. Just dumb beasts that are cast aside in the exact same manner all of the other animals in the story are.
I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not a fan of that treatment.
Yes, it is a far cry from the usual "dragon" portrayal. But the storyline just falls flat, I have no affection towards Hal Kailas-the one exception is in the first chapter when he saves a young dragon kit-and am not invested in the character or the outcome of the war.
It is interesting to me that he is such an acclaimed or well-known writer...I just hope that this series is not indicative of his writing style...
The books are the Dragonmaster series by Chris Bunch. Now, before I had read these I had never even heard of Bunch, but I've done my google-ing tonight before writing this...
I have to say that I am disappointed in these books. I know that I am, as a writer, definitely not perfect. But for someone who has as many books published as Bunch has, I am shocked at the low quality of this writing.
He is inconsistently using quotation marks, apostrophes, italics. And those are just the grammar things I'M noticing...and I usually over look or don't notice grammar unless it's really bad. He also refers to his character Hal Kailas both by "Hal" and then by "Kailas", often on the same page, but even more often in the same paragraph! Talk about confusing and losing your readers! He also introduces characters that you never see again, or don't see again for chapters, in too descriptive a manner. If the rouge bandit is only in chapter x-for example-the reader doesn't need to know that his front left tooth is broken, he reeks like ale, has a drawl, twitches in the bright sun, his pants are dirty, his saber is dull, and that he has a large extended family from some random, admittedly in the text, little known town. Too much for a character that lasts all of 2 pages!
Oh and be prepared for the narrative to just suddenly jump. Chapter one starts with Hal Kailas as a young boy, maybe 12 or 13 then in the next chapter he seems to have aged by 2 or 3 years! It just continues like that, and he gives the reader no warning as to how far the narrative will jump.
And don't even get me started on the typical uneducated dialogue, or how unoriginal his theme of "boy coming of age in a time of war" is. Yes, it is a relatively good theme offering up times of trial for his character, but there seems to be nothing behind this main theme. There are no extra layers that would make this story so much more satisfying to the reader. And the dragons are just beasts. Just dumb beasts that are cast aside in the exact same manner all of the other animals in the story are.
I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not a fan of that treatment.
Yes, it is a far cry from the usual "dragon" portrayal. But the storyline just falls flat, I have no affection towards Hal Kailas-the one exception is in the first chapter when he saves a young dragon kit-and am not invested in the character or the outcome of the war.
It is interesting to me that he is such an acclaimed or well-known writer...I just hope that this series is not indicative of his writing style...
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Well this is ba....Well okay maybe it's not so ba...Nope there's a nother mistake..D*%N$#
Me and editing...here we go.
Apparently somewhere along in my schooling years, I managed to miss some seemingly basic grammar rules. I was first made aware of this in my semester of college by a professor who was rude all the way around. HOW DID I GET TO MY LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE AND NOT KNOW THESE THINGS!!!
But she was a two-faced harpy straight out of literary hell...I digress..
So while re-reading my first draft of my first novel I have had a trusty English rule book by my side. It has helped...a lot.
But the one thing I have realized that I hate...Apostrophes and when to use them...there seems to be like 3 or 4 different rules and ways of adding or subtracting them from writing. And everywhere I've read advice it says, "Follow the guidelines for the house that you are publishing under"
Well, I don't have a publishing house to write under yet, so how am I edit satisfactorily?
I think I'm just gonna wing it, and follow my gut...it hasn't led me wrong yet..?
Apparently somewhere along in my schooling years, I managed to miss some seemingly basic grammar rules. I was first made aware of this in my semester of college by a professor who was rude all the way around. HOW DID I GET TO MY LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE AND NOT KNOW THESE THINGS!!!
But she was a two-faced harpy straight out of literary hell...I digress..
So while re-reading my first draft of my first novel I have had a trusty English rule book by my side. It has helped...a lot.
But the one thing I have realized that I hate...Apostrophes and when to use them...there seems to be like 3 or 4 different rules and ways of adding or subtracting them from writing. And everywhere I've read advice it says, "Follow the guidelines for the house that you are publishing under"
Well, I don't have a publishing house to write under yet, so how am I edit satisfactorily?
I think I'm just gonna wing it, and follow my gut...it hasn't led me wrong yet..?
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Aftermath...
So I finally finished my first novel...it only took me almost 7 years! But it's done!
I started this project back in a high school creative writing class. The first one of it's kind if I remember correctly. Our assignment was only a 5 to 10 page short story and what I came up with was over 20 pages long and not a complete story.
My mind ran crazy with the ideas of dragons and an adventure including a young girl and her mother. I started writing it in first person POV. And after more chapters than I care to think about, dropped the whole enterprise. I'm not sure what happened. I think it had something to do with my first horse passing away and loss of innocence about the world...
Anyways, I picked up the project again last year when the professor of my capstone had us writing 2500 words a week. After re-reading the story I had written years ago, I decided to re-write in third person POV.
In just a few weeks I had finished changing what I had written, and started on new stuff.
I feel that the timing was right for this story to be told again. My skills in writing, plot building, world creating, and characterization had advanced enough to make the story even better.
And boy did it grow!
My first draft is over 71,000 words, and I just printed it off today to begin the task of carefully reading and editing for cohesiveness and to add in a few scenes I skipped over writing initially...woops.
Ahh the smell of ink and paper as my printer pumps out all 135 pages....and yes, Dad, I put two pages of text on one side of printed paper then double side printed them....and yes, I will buy more ink ;)
I started this project back in a high school creative writing class. The first one of it's kind if I remember correctly. Our assignment was only a 5 to 10 page short story and what I came up with was over 20 pages long and not a complete story.
My mind ran crazy with the ideas of dragons and an adventure including a young girl and her mother. I started writing it in first person POV. And after more chapters than I care to think about, dropped the whole enterprise. I'm not sure what happened. I think it had something to do with my first horse passing away and loss of innocence about the world...
Anyways, I picked up the project again last year when the professor of my capstone had us writing 2500 words a week. After re-reading the story I had written years ago, I decided to re-write in third person POV.
In just a few weeks I had finished changing what I had written, and started on new stuff.
I feel that the timing was right for this story to be told again. My skills in writing, plot building, world creating, and characterization had advanced enough to make the story even better.
And boy did it grow!
My first draft is over 71,000 words, and I just printed it off today to begin the task of carefully reading and editing for cohesiveness and to add in a few scenes I skipped over writing initially...woops.
Ahh the smell of ink and paper as my printer pumps out all 135 pages....and yes, Dad, I put two pages of text on one side of printed paper then double side printed them....and yes, I will buy more ink ;)
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