Showing posts with label free writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free writing. Show all posts
Monday, May 7, 2012
Doin' Time
No, I'm not in prison. Well, sometimes I feel like I'm in some sort of prison, but I'm just referring to something that I've been thinking a lot about. Time.
A wise gal told me, "You have to do your time."
Smart words, and ones I think about everyday. Things come to us in time whether we like it or not. We have to practice, and strengthen what it is that we want to achieve. In writing, for me, it means to write everyday even if it has nothing to do with any of my WiPs. No one gains knowledge of what they are passionate about without putting their time in. No matter if they have talent or not. Sure some people get lucky, but at some point they must do their time. What they are famous for may not be their best work, they have to make a decision to make the next piece even better or just settle. It's all what you want and how much you want it. I look to some of my favorite bands who still perform and produce new music. I think of how they sounded when they started and what they sound like now (I'm talking 20 years later). Big changes.
Think about it, how long has it taken for you to become you? And most likely, you're still figuring you out.
I even look back on my career as an interior designer and realize how long it took me to get to where I am and how I could improve. It takes time. So that's what I'm doing with my writing--doin' time. Sure, my impatience is like a flea that just ate a Pixie Stick, but I know I must keep going and learn to get to where I want to be.
Sure, circumstances will pop up and they may slow us down, but if you want something and you keep working at it, you will put in your time, and your reward will come.
Are you doing your time?
How was your weekend?
Have a great day!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Do you know your MC?
Happy leap year day. I guess that's what you would call it.
First, I want to say, happy book birthday to CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh. His book was released 2/28/12.
Also, Partials by Dan Wells was released 2/28/12.
So go get them, people. On with the post.
Do you really know your main character? I'm not talking an interview. I'm talking get in their head and feel everything they do. Do you feel what they feel?
I'm finishing up a writing class, and I have to say, it really opened my eyes with one of my MCs. As you know, my current MS is told from two POVs. The one MC, a girl, I know and know well, but the other one I thought I knew. After doing an assignment for class, I realized who this guy really is, what he really wants--and it feels great. Before, the idea of this guy's character was there, but I don't think the light bulb was fully lit. I think I was more involved in the girl character that I sort of let his side of the story just roll, thinking that I 'got him'.
So, how do you accomplish this? For me, several revisions, but I think it's time. It's like a real life relationship. You don't truly know someone until you've spent time with them and been through real life ups and downs. Same holds true for your characters. As you write the story, it's fresh new and exciting. You're learning where the story is going and your character is being polite, you know that awkward get-to-know-you phase. They may only give you some pieces of their story, but the hard stuff is not revealed till later.
As you revise, things come out that you never knew about this character. It may change the way you look at them or it may bring you closer together. They reveal things, slowly, but you begin to learn who they truly are. Bit by bit you begin to feel their pain, their sorrow, their happiness. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Then once you are through the final edits and polishing, you feel like you've known them for ages. They may even feel like a real person. Of course, as writers, we know the difference between reality and fiction--right?
So how well do you know your characters?
Take a scene and ask yourself some questions:
How would my character react to what is going on around them?
What are they going through at that moment?
Will it move the story forward, getting them towards the goal you want them to get to?
Can you add things to the scene to heighten the tension of their feelings and reactions?
Does it make sense for the character?
Of course these are only some of the questions to ask.
Here are a some links on the subject:
Top Ten Questions for Creating Believable Characters
Characterization Questions
Character Questionnaires
Creating Memorable Characters.
Try it you may be surprised what you might find out.
Have a great day!
First, I want to say, happy book birthday to CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh. His book was released 2/28/12.
Also, Partials by Dan Wells was released 2/28/12.
So go get them, people. On with the post.
Do you really know your main character? I'm not talking an interview. I'm talking get in their head and feel everything they do. Do you feel what they feel?
I'm finishing up a writing class, and I have to say, it really opened my eyes with one of my MCs. As you know, my current MS is told from two POVs. The one MC, a girl, I know and know well, but the other one I thought I knew. After doing an assignment for class, I realized who this guy really is, what he really wants--and it feels great. Before, the idea of this guy's character was there, but I don't think the light bulb was fully lit. I think I was more involved in the girl character that I sort of let his side of the story just roll, thinking that I 'got him'.
So, how do you accomplish this? For me, several revisions, but I think it's time. It's like a real life relationship. You don't truly know someone until you've spent time with them and been through real life ups and downs. Same holds true for your characters. As you write the story, it's fresh new and exciting. You're learning where the story is going and your character is being polite, you know that awkward get-to-know-you phase. They may only give you some pieces of their story, but the hard stuff is not revealed till later.
As you revise, things come out that you never knew about this character. It may change the way you look at them or it may bring you closer together. They reveal things, slowly, but you begin to learn who they truly are. Bit by bit you begin to feel their pain, their sorrow, their happiness. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Then once you are through the final edits and polishing, you feel like you've known them for ages. They may even feel like a real person. Of course, as writers, we know the difference between reality and fiction--right?
So how well do you know your characters?
Take a scene and ask yourself some questions:
How would my character react to what is going on around them?
What are they going through at that moment?
Will it move the story forward, getting them towards the goal you want them to get to?
Can you add things to the scene to heighten the tension of their feelings and reactions?
Does it make sense for the character?
Of course these are only some of the questions to ask.
Here are a some links on the subject:
Top Ten Questions for Creating Believable Characters
Characterization Questions
Character Questionnaires
Creating Memorable Characters.
Try it you may be surprised what you might find out.
Have a great day!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Let it flow
Letting things flow gives a freeing sensation--imagine skipping through a field of flowers on a warm day or relaxing on a beach while a turquoise ocean touches your toes. That release allows you to move forward and let things seem easy, not complicated or difficult. It could be compared to letting things go as well. Being a writer we tend to hold onto feelings and moments. Maybe re-living them to the smallest detail and talking out loud to our characters. Some of the "normal" folks may think we are not totally sane, but we know better.
Holding onto things may also take place in real life. It leads to over thinking, halting rational thought, which could lead to even worse things like regret, loneliness, weird feelings of being used and that you're easily forgotten--just some examples. Yeah, strange thing the mind is (that's Yoda flowing through me).
It's like a large door of you're a nobody. The thing is--if you let it go and concentrate on yourself, then that freeing feeling I was talking about comes into play. That large door of nobody opens to a full-fledged party, starring you.
So enough of the heavy, I'm supposed to talk about writing not real life emotions, but of course this topic could span both.
Allowing yourself to write freely can open up the door of creativity. Yep, I'm talking about free writing. I used to free write before I knew "the rules," heck before I knew that's what it was called. Once I started chopping, erasing, line editing, fixing plot holes and character flaws that thing called breathing words ceased and became hard, rigid, and over thought.
Free writing. I finally did do this again. It felt good and I felt a little rebellious like I was breaking so many laws, which I probably did in a writerly sense, but that's okay. It allowed creativity to flow into a new story that I'm dying to write. It helped me think of a few details and start an outline.
It allowed me to breathe words again just like when you allow yourself to let things go in real life--you breathe.
You breathe and enjoy what is to come.
Have you done some free writing lately?
How was your weekend?
Have a great day!
Holding onto things may also take place in real life. It leads to over thinking, halting rational thought, which could lead to even worse things like regret, loneliness, weird feelings of being used and that you're easily forgotten--just some examples. Yeah, strange thing the mind is (that's Yoda flowing through me).
It's like a large door of you're a nobody. The thing is--if you let it go and concentrate on yourself, then that freeing feeling I was talking about comes into play. That large door of nobody opens to a full-fledged party, starring you.
So enough of the heavy, I'm supposed to talk about writing not real life emotions, but of course this topic could span both.
Allowing yourself to write freely can open up the door of creativity. Yep, I'm talking about free writing. I used to free write before I knew "the rules," heck before I knew that's what it was called. Once I started chopping, erasing, line editing, fixing plot holes and character flaws that thing called breathing words ceased and became hard, rigid, and over thought.
Free writing. I finally did do this again. It felt good and I felt a little rebellious like I was breaking so many laws, which I probably did in a writerly sense, but that's okay. It allowed creativity to flow into a new story that I'm dying to write. It helped me think of a few details and start an outline.
It allowed me to breathe words again just like when you allow yourself to let things go in real life--you breathe.
You breathe and enjoy what is to come.
Have you done some free writing lately?
How was your weekend?
Have a great day!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Fun Facts Friday
I'm so glad this week's over.
1. I've been to a doctors office three, yes three, times this week. My son had an ear infection on Monday and my daughter got strep. The pediatrician suggested I get tested for strep since I've been sick. Thank goodness it was negative, but she told me to try and stay away from my daughter. Huh? How do I do that?
2.I've been watching Lost Girl on SyFy. I have to say the premise is really great. The acting--not so much. Plus, this show relies heavily on the s-e-x factor. Lots of skin to say the least, but like I said, the premise is interesting.
3. I'm reading PARTIALS by Dan Wells. It's to be released 2/28/12. I'll let you know what I think.
4. I'm working hard on my writing class, and I have to say, I may take more. Can you see the smoke coming from my brain? This class is great and you get to use an actual piece of YOUR work. So, you get to see how it changes from when you started. Me likey.
1. I've been to a doctors office three, yes three, times this week. My son had an ear infection on Monday and my daughter got strep. The pediatrician suggested I get tested for strep since I've been sick. Thank goodness it was negative, but she told me to try and stay away from my daughter. Huh? How do I do that?
2.I've been watching Lost Girl on SyFy. I have to say the premise is really great. The acting--not so much. Plus, this show relies heavily on the s-e-x factor. Lots of skin to say the least, but like I said, the premise is interesting.
3. I'm reading PARTIALS by Dan Wells. It's to be released 2/28/12. I'll let you know what I think.
4. I'm working hard on my writing class, and I have to say, I may take more. Can you see the smoke coming from my brain? This class is great and you get to use an actual piece of YOUR work. So, you get to see how it changes from when you started. Me likey.
5. I'm getting so excited for this movie:
I can't contain myself. I really can't wait. *shakes*
6. To all the chocolate lovers--Have you tried Reese's Minis or Hershey's drops? Holy cow. So good.
7. I think this is the longest amount of time I've been away from the manuscript I want to query. I'm starting to get the itch to dive back in, but I'm taking my time by taking notes, well, bullet point notes on what I need to focus on. It's sort of a new way for me to approach revisions.
8. I still have a ton of characters invading my head, but I'm writing some new things when I get a minute. Call it free writing, I guess. I'm trying to write without thinking. Totally hard for me, but I'm trying.
Well, that's all for this week.
How was your week?
What TV shows have surprised you?
What's your favorite chocolate?
Oh and who's excited and can't wait for The Hunger Games Movie?
Have a great weekend!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Relaxing in the sun
Well, Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow. I'm still questioning that prediction. Really. They pull a groundhog from a dark cage/tree thing and expect it to tell us whether it sees its shadow or not. I'd be scared to death to be pulled from darkness and held up in front of 18,000 people.
Anyway, Phil saw his shadow so that means 6 more weeks of winter. As you know, I dislike winter, well, cold. This year, we've been lucky. On Wednesday, it was 65 degrees. Not bad. I certainly can deal with that kind of winter.
So, I thought I'd put an exercise out there for ya.
Anyway, Phil saw his shadow so that means 6 more weeks of winter. As you know, I dislike winter, well, cold. This year, we've been lucky. On Wednesday, it was 65 degrees. Not bad. I certainly can deal with that kind of winter.
So, I thought I'd put an exercise out there for ya.
Some free writing. Take the picture above and write.
Describe what you feel, smell, taste, and hear.
Start a new story. You wake up here or this is the view from your character's house. Maybe you're stranded with -- insert hot/cute companion other here. I'm thinking James Franco, but select who you want.
The possibilities are endless.
Go for it!
How was your week?
What other writing exercises get your juices flowing?
Have a great weekend!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Trying to thaw a deep freeze
Every time I learn something new or work on a 'technical' aspect of writing, it seems to freeze all creativity. It grabs hold of comfort and joy of writing and stuffs it into a bag that's black. I have so many new ideas (I can see vividly) and so much I need to do on the manuscript I want to query, but I freeze and that part of me trembles and curls into a corner. I want to feel it again. That love. That freeness. I know it will come back. It has to--to fill the void it's leaving. And I finally figured out why it's happening this time.
Remember my grammar post? Yeah, my weakness of grammar is holding that euphoric feeling captive. My fingers start then I stop in fear that it will be horrible. When I'm being technical, things don't flow. It's so scary because I miss that feeling when everything just pours out without thinking. I know I'm growing and my writing is getting stronger, but it just feels uncomfortable. Even in my posts--I'm afraid I missed something important and it's making me look stupid. It makes my writing rigid.
I've tried other things--taking a break, reading, free writing--all of it still leaves me frustrated and scared. This is one of those dips in the roller coaster ride. You know, where you're screaming your head off trying to make sense of which direction the coaster will go next. Where your stomach is in your throat and you can't let go because you might fly out of your seat. Yep, that feeling. It leaves a shiver.
The question is--How do you thaw out the frozen part of your brain? You're trying to learn, grow and strengthen, yet all the rules make you analyze and over think, stopping anything creative to flow. How can you recapture that feeling of being free?
Have a great day!
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