Book 'n' a Mug

NanoWrimo 2010

2010-11-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

I am sorry to report that I will not reach the 50,000 word finish line today for NanoWrimo 2010. I could say that work was absolutely insane this month, I've been too tired to write everyday, and my Thanksgiving feast claimed my attention, but those all feel like hollow excuses.

I am surprised by how disappointed I am not to reach this goal. I did start, though. I did write a lot of those days when I didn't feel like it, too. Currently, I'm sitting at 25,025 words. My husband suggests that I give myself an extension until December 15th, which I think I will do. But I won't be able to upload my document to the site and get that awesome certificate that tells me I am a WINNER!

I guess I have learned my lesson. Next year I will take it more seriously.

In the meantime, I am back in the habit of writing regularly, which is one of the goals I hoped to accomplish this month. I also have another really fun novel in the works which I will continue to work on until I get to the end. And to me, that's something.

Elevator Enlightenment

2010-09-22T19:49:00.003-04:00

I walked into my office building today and for the first time I was able to go right through security with my new badge. I got to the elevators and walked right in before the doors closed. There were about 7 other people in the elevator already and as the doors closed I stood carefully avoiding contact with any of them. Personal space, you know.

In the few seconds it took before the elevator stopped on my floor I had kind of a funny thought.

"This is like a scene in a movie."

I haven't had too many moments like that, where I felt like my life mirrored something I had seen in a movie, so it made me smile.

Have you ever thought that before? Or have you ever seen something in a movie that had actually happened to you?

James Joyce: The Dubliners

2010-09-21T20:49:00.002-04:00

I have a 20 or 30 minute shuttle ride for my new job. I'm really enjoying it because it's the perfect opportunity to do a little reading. I stopped by the classics shelves the last time I was at the library and picked up this collection of short stories. I had never read it before and always heard good things.

I really liked this collection. They were lovely snippets of characters and little stories. I liked how each story was just a glimpse and didn't really have a beginning, middle, or end. I, as the reader, was left to make my own decisions and conclusions about the characters. The short stories were also perfect for my shuttle ride.

Have you read this collection? What do you think?

New Life

2010-09-15T21:05:00.003-04:00

I got a new job - I really like it and I'm making new friends.

I have a new apartment, a new place to live. It finally feels like home.

I am living in a new part of the country, a beautiful part. The Washington D.C. area is amazing.

Life changes so quickly and sometimes it's difficult to adjust as fast. Things you value might move to the back burner for a while. Now that I'm adjusting, I am excited to get back to my writing and reading. I wish that it was already a solid part of my life that didn't fall through the cracks so often, but I guess that's part of being a writer. I have to choose to write and keep making time to write even when there is so much going on.

New life is good.

Inspire the Imagination

2010-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

About a month ago my husband and I visited the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. They have a beautiful facility and it was extremely busy, probably because it was also a holiday weekend. But the hangars are so spacious I didn't feel crowded at all.

The first thing you notice when you enter is the SR-71 Blackbird. It's sleek, black, and impressive. You can tell right away that it's something awesome. The fastest jet in the world travelling at 2124 miles an hour. Just cool.

They have some other really fun stuff on display. They have the space shuttle Enterprise, one of the Concords, various other planes of historical significance, and lots of missiles and rockets. We spent 4 hours there and I can't wait to go back for more.

I walked away with my imagination effectively sparked. And I was ready to sign up for flying lessons.

The point is, your imagination needs nourishment. Your mind, like other parts of your body, needs food and exercise. Your imagination should have a chance to soak in some things from the real world. So, get out and have some fun!

Shannon Hale: Forest Born

2010-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I read the third book in the Bayern Series, River Secrets, but I got right back into the magic. All our favorite characters were back along with the new main character Rin.

It's been a long time since I got to read a novel, so I was really excited to go to the library. This was the first book I requested and the first one I read. It was a fast read, but so enjoyable. It also wrapped up the series quite well.

I loved this series and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read. It's clean, it's fun, and it's engaging.

What did you think? Have you read any of Hale's other books?

Monday Quote

2010-08-09T21:47:00.000-04:00

Whatever I do is done out of sheer joy; I drop my fruits like a ripe tree. What the general reader or the critic makes of them is not my concern.

- Henry Miller

All Settled

2010-08-03T12:09:00.004-04:00

My husband and I have moved from Arizona to Virginia over the last month. It was fun and scary. Now that I'm all settled into my new apartment, life is starting to feel more normal again. I have one more box to unpack and then it will feel like home. I have also been hunting for a job. I've had several interviews in the last few weeks, but no solid offers yet. I should be using this time to write, but I've been enjoying my time off too much.

Meanwhile, I submitted my NanoWrimo project to CreateSpace for a proof copy. It was really exciting to get it back, but only highlighted how much more work it needs. There is still some major editing to do before I'll really put it out there.

I also redesigned the site - let me know what you think.

So, it's back to normal life and back to writing.

Monday Quote

2010-08-02T09:43:00.001-04:00

Above all, have a good time. If you aren’t enjoying writing it, you can hardly expect someone else to enjoy reading it.

- Tom Robbins

Monday Quote

2010-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Only the person who has experienced light and darkness, war and peace, rise and fall, only that person has truly experienced life.

- Stefan Zweig

Monday Quote

2010-07-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

I had become, with the approach of night, once more aware of loneliness and time - those two companions without whom no journey can yield us anything.

- Lawrence Durrell

Monday Quote

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

It is also true that one can write nothing readable unless one constantly struggles to efface one's own personality. Good prose is like a windowpane.

- George Orwell

Monday Quote

2010-07-05T21:14:00.002-04:00

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Endings, Beginnings, and In Between-ings

2010-07-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

I've had some major life changes the last month that got me thinking. My husband graduated with his MBA in May and took a job on the east coast. We took a month off to do some traveling and see family and friends before driving across the country to our new home. Now we are in Virginia and mostly settled again. He's finishing his first week of work today, and I'm in the thick of job hunting.

A big part of our lives ended when we left Arizona. We were there for 2 years, and although we knew we were eventually going to leave, we got pretty comfortable. We had a fantastic group of friends, which made it feel like home more than anything else, and I had a great job. When the guys graduated everyone took jobs in different places, though, so even if we had stayed it wouldn't feel the same. There were a lot of goodbyes and lots of promises made.

Then we had Summer of Road Trip. We drove from Arizona to Colorado to Utah to California and back to Arizona. Then we flew to Virginia and back. We packed up all our stuff and hit the road again stopping in Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. It was a lot of driving. And while it was awesome to see friends and family in all of those places, it felt like limbo. We didn't have a place to go back to and no emotional attachment to our destination. I don't think I could ever be a nomad.

Now we are making new beginnings. We're making new friends, finding new places, and generally having adventures. We're figuring out this new life and looking forward to what comes next. It's nice to be out of limbo, and all those goodbyes feel like forever ago.

These experiences over the last month were a little sad and stressful at the time, but I think that it will be good to reflect on for future writing. We have to have these personal experiences in life so we can understand what our characters are supposed to feel. My life makes my characters more genuine.

Do you have any life changes or experiences that have helped, hurt, or influenced your writing?

Coming Back

2010-05-24T14:04:00.002-04:00

I have been very out of the swing of things recently. For a while there I didn't read anything, write anything, or blog anything. But I'm coming back. I've read 4 books in the last month and I'm starting to think about my WIP more frequently and I'm posting this.

When I go through these phases I realize how much I really enjoy reading and writing. When I don't make a point to pick up the next book or pull out the writing project I start to feel a difference in my life. I miss it. So I plan a trip to the library or remind myself to keep working on that novel. Soon life begins to feel balanced again.

Do you go through these phases, too? How does it change your daily life?

Michael Gruber: The Book of Air and Shadows

2010-05-24T00:37:00.002-04:00

I picked this one up cheap at a Borders before Christmas and my husband gave it to me as a gift along with another one. He was disappointed when I kept going to the library for new books without reading the ones he had given me so I finally cracked it open.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It has a great mix of character development and thrilling action. Plus, it's all about Shakespeare and lost manuscripts. It has a bit more adult content and language than I usually prefer but I got really attached to a couple of the characters so I kept going. By the end I really didn't like the main character, which was weird for me, but was satisfied with the story nonetheless.

In conclusion, it was definitely worth the couple of bucks I paid for it and the couple of days I spent reading.

Monday Quote

2010-05-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.

- Victor Hugo

Monday Quote

2010-05-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.

- Ernest Hemingway

Monday Quote

2010-05-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Gardens are not made by singing "Oh how beautiful," and sitting in the shade.

- Rudyard Kipling

Monday Quote

2010-04-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

Men think highly of those who rise rapidly in the world; whereas nothing rises quicker than dust, straw, and feathers.

- Lord Byron

When Do You Give Up?

2010-04-20T14:33:00.002-04:00

I've been reading The Third Translation by Matt Bondurant for almost a month now and just cannot seem to get into the story or the characters. Usually I give it until 100 pages before I make the call and I'm at 102 right now. I was expecting more action and adventure but it's more a careful product of some intense research into ancient Egypt. The subject does interest me, but I wish I had more realistic expectations at the start. I think I'm going to put it aside.

At what point do you decide to stop reading a book? What does it take for you to give it up? Have you ever been glad you kept reading when you almost didn't?

Monday Quote

2010-04-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

Every man's memory is his private literature.

- Aldous Huxley

What's in a Title, Anyway?

2010-04-14T23:44:00.000-04:00

After a couple rounds of edits on my work in progress I decided it was time to work on an acceptable title. 'NanoWrimo 10' was just not going to cut it if I'm going to really put this one out there.

The trouble is that there is so much pressure to have an amazing title. You want it to be clever, engaging, memorable, and preferably related to your actual book. And one that hasn't already been taken.

Fortunately, we have the internet. Not only can you search for already published books to make sure you're not duplicating a title, you can find great articles on titling. For example:

Rachelle Gardner wrote an excellent post about How to Title Your Book last month. She puts some emphasis on considering your genre, something I hadn't even realized might be important. I like her suggestion about giving yourself a lot of options, putting them away, then coming back 24 hours later to see them with fresh eyes.

Jacob Appel gives us 7 Tips to Land the Perfect Title for Your Novel over at Writer's Digest. I liked #5 about giving your title some depth, although I don't know how I'm going to do this with my own title. I thought #6 was important, too. You don't want to give away too much before the reader even cracks open the cover.

How do you title your work? Any additional suggestions that might help me and others? What are some titles you think are absolutely brilliant?

Life Distracting

2010-04-05T23:29:00.003-04:00

Well! Where have I been!?

I'll tell you... life sort of got in the way of life. I do event planning, among other things, for my job and I had a huge event last weekend. It was a big deal and ridiculously stressful to the point that I was completely engrossed for two weeks straight. I thought about it all day at work, worried about it all evening at home, dreamed about it a night, woke up nervous in the middle of the night, then started worrying all over again. I am pleased to report that it went really well and all my superiors were happy with the results. I'm just glad it's all over. And I'm happy it went well.

So then it took me an entire week to feel like myself again. Now it's been three weeks that I haven't hardly thought about my novel. I was good in some ways. I emailed it to some trusted readers so they had time to read it without me pestering for feedback. I also had a great break from it all so I can come back with fresh eyes. The problem, however, is that I'm having a difficult time getting back into the swing of things.

I have decided to start today. I am posting here for the first time in a while, besides my Monday quotes, and I'm going to pull out my manuscript again.

Gotta start somewhere, right?

Monday Quote

2010-04-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.

- WB Yeats

Monday Quote

2010-03-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections, and the truth of imagination.

- John Keats

Monday Quote

2010-03-22T11:00:00.002-04:00

Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.

- Isaac Newton

Monday Quote

2010-03-15T11:00:00.002-04:00

We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.

- John W. Gardner

Shannon Hale: River Secrets

2010-03-12T12:46:00.002-05:00

After I finished listening to Enna Burning I went to the library and checked out the next book in the series, River Secrets. I read this book over a weekend and as much as I love getting into a good book like that, it was sort of a whirlwind.

I was happy to see the return of some of my favorite characters, Isi, Enna, Finn, and Razo, of course, who is the center of this book. Razo was one of the best characters from the first two books so I'm glad he got his own in the third.

This one was much easier to get through than Enna Burning and a very enjoyable read. Although it focused on Razo's character and his development, the other characters moved forward, as well. I like that Enna and Finn got to come along for the journey so we could see more of their relationship.

In the end, I'm happy with this series and look forward to reading the fourth and final book.

Monday Quote

2010-03-08T10:00:00.002-05:00

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

- Abraham Lincoln

Shannon Hale: Enna Burning (Audiobook)

2010-03-05T12:49:00.003-05:00

I read Shannon Hale's Goose Girl, the first book of the Bayern series, in a couple of days. This one took me a little longer. The hard copies were all checked out at the library but I was able to download the audio book. I don't listen to books very often but I've had good experiences in the past so I thought it would be fine. I wish I would have waited for the book, though. The cast of voices was not my favorite and they were very distracting.

The story was entertaining, though. Many of the same characters made an appearance in the second book but the story was told from Enna's point of view this time rather than Isi. I liked the conflict and the challenges that Enna had to overcome in discovering her own powers and how to survive using them. I also enjoyed the aspect of friendship in the book and the part it played in Enna's character development.

I am enjoying the Books of Bayern very much and will be posting my response to the third book River Secrets soon.

What did you think of this series? Your thoughts on Shannon Hale? Any recommendations?

Monday Quote

2010-03-01T12:52:00.001-05:00

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.

- Andre Gide

Monday Quote

2010-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.

- Toni Morrison

Motivational Encouragement

2010-02-17T13:58:00.002-05:00

I simply love my sisters. The three of us have always been close, we rarely bicker, and we have similar interests. This last weekend they were in town along with one of my brothers (love you, too, kiddo!) and we had a great time ice skating, watching movies and the Olympics, and hanging out. We also had some time to sit outside in the lovely Arizona weather and talk. Since all of us, at one point or another, have been interested in writing it came up in conversation.

My youngest sister is probably the most solid source of support for writing in my life. We often talk about the stories we're working on, the characters we can't seem to get just right, and where the plot's going next. I always feel more motivated to keep working after I've talked to her about my projects. And I get really excited to read the books she's writing, too.

My younger sister is one of those creative types who is constantly coming up with great ideas, hilarious stories, and amazing music. While we were talking this weekend she told me that she had enjoyed my NanoWrimo project from 2 years ago. I know how picky and opinionated she is about books, music, and movies so this was a great compliment. She told me she thought I should polish it up and move forward on getting it published. She actually self published a book of monologues several years ago so she has some idea of the possibilities. She also mentioned that Mom also liked that one, too, which is an even bigger deal since I don't remember the last work of fiction my mom read.

After that short conversation I felt energized and enthusiastic about my writing. I'm now in a hurry to finish edits on my current project and then get back to my old one, too. My fingers are just itching to mark up the manuscripts with all those lovely red notations and then take the next step.

Having people in your life who support your writing is so important! They can be a great source of encouragement and motivation as well as a source of feedback. Who do you have in your life? Is there anyone you can talk to about your work in progress? How have they affected your writing habits?

Monday Quote

2010-02-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Writing is the only profession when no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money.

- Jules Renard

Enjoyable Edits

2010-02-13T23:30:00.003-05:00

I'm in the thick of editing my current project and I love it so far. I feel like there's enough in my rough draft to eventually end up with a promising end product. Knowing I have something worth my effort makes it easier to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

I think my favorite part of editing is seeing all the red marks scattered across the page. I know it means more hard work in the future but I like seeing the results of my intense scrutiny. There's something about the chaos and messiness of all those marks that gives me a sense of accomplishment. It makes me feel creative and when I feel creative sometimes I have some great breakthroughs. Fake it til you make it type of a thing.

The farther I get into the manuscript the more I realize that I'm just beginning. My characters need strengthening, the plot needs tweaking, the dialogue needs expanding, and my villain needs major villianizing... This means that there will always be more to do but I hope that at some point I'll get it to a presentable point and ready for reading.

And your feelings on editing? Any tips or techniques on editing you could share?

300th Post!

2010-02-12T18:14:00.002-05:00

So this is actually my 316th post, but better late than never, right?

This is a big deal for me because I didn't know how long I would be able to keep things going here on Book 'n' a Mug. Granted, I know it's been slow recently, but I still enjoy what we've got here.

In the last 300 posts we've covered a lot of ground, but there are still paths not taken that we can explore! I'm excited to see what happens in the next 300 posts...

Do You Dream?

2010-02-11T13:01:00.002-05:00

I fell asleep ridiculously early last night and woke up again when my husband came to bed a couple hours later. In that short time I dreamed an amazing story with awesome characters, plot, and the best villain I've ever imagined. Just as the hero saved the day I was pulled back to reality and the first thing I thought was "I've got to write that down cuz that'll be an awesome story."

Then I washed my face groggily and it somehow all the amazing things my imagination had conjured rinsed down the drain with my makeup.

I can't remember anything about my dream except the feeling I had when I woke up. Even now my mind searches for an image or word that would connect to my sub-conscious and reveal those characters and story in my dream but there's nothing. Or rather, there is something but it's like mist that teases your parched tongue with water but never materializes into anything satisfying.

It seems that I must adopt the recommended habit of keeping pen and paper by my bed if I am to retain my sanity and ever actually write that bestseller novel.

Do you use dreams in your writing? Do you write down dreams or thoughts when you're half asleep?

Monday Quote

2010-02-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Life: that thing that prevents us from doing our art, and makes our art worth doing.

- Unknown

There's Work to be Done!

2010-02-04T13:35:00.002-05:00

Ever since the holidays I've cut back a little on my Twitter time and blogging. For some reason I just had trouble getting back into the swing of things after coming back. But I do want to continue to post here and I have finally gotten back to editing my work in progress.

In the midst of trying to cut down the number of unread posts in my Google Reader (over 400) I came across a post by Bonnie Kozek called Under the Influence: Writers and Depression and Choices Chosen written last March (thank you Publetariat). Having just surfaced from a minor bout of depression and having realized the effects it had on my writing, I read this article with interest.

Everyone has ups and downs, good days and horrible days. I have struggled with depression throughout my life but thanks to strong religious beliefs, loving family, and wonderful friends it has never become a serious problem. I often tell myself that without the low days I wouldn't have the high days so in the end it's worth it.

I don't know why but I've always associated this with my inclination to write. They are not really connected but I've felt that my experiences gave me more to draw on for realistic characters and situations in my fiction. Or maybe I just bought into the tortured artist stereotype that Kozek describes. My desire to create is usually not diminished despite my moods until recently. Insecurity is the enemy of creativity because it makes you question the worth of your work.

Fortunately, I've pushed aside my doubts with my desire to write. They aren't gone, and I'm sure they'll surface again, but for now I'm going to try and get as much done as I can. I've got editing and research to do. I've got characters that need polishing and plot lines that need ironing. There's work to be done! There's no time for insecurity!

Monday Quote

2010-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

I think it's a question which particularly arises over women writers: whether it's better to have a happy life or a good supply of tragic plots.

- Wendy Cope

Monday Quote

2010-01-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

This paperback is very interesting, but I find it will never replace a hardcover book - it makes a very poor doorstop.

- Alfred Hitchcock

Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl

2010-01-20T22:42:00.003-05:00

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time but apparently a lot of other people have the same idea and I can't seem to get it reserved at the library. When my sister heard this she gave me a copy while I was up in Utah last weekend. I finally got to read it on the road trip home and it made for a really quick trip.

Shannon Hale's style is simply beautiful. I read Austenland last year and I loved her style because it is easy to read but still engaging and entertaining. Her characters are fun and although her stories are simple they are great for that very reason.

There is only one thing that I might complain about. The end was totally predictable. However, I don't complain about this much because I wouldn't have wanted it to end any other way.

The Goose Girl was a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to continuing the series. Although this book is usually classified as young adult or middle school but I encourage all my adult friends to read it as well.

Have you read anything by Shannon Hale? What did you think of The Goose Girl?

Monday Quote

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.

- Neil Gaiman

Monday Quote

2010-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for the Creator, there is no poverty.

- Rilke

After the Holidays

2010-01-05T13:49:00.003-05:00

The holidays are so wonderful but it's the time afterward that always makes me stop and think. In the midst of getting back to normal, real life I realize how much I want to accomplish and change before another year passes by.

It feels like a dream, those two weeks I spent relaxing and visiting with friends and family. It goes by so quickly and I know I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. It was wonderful and lovely but now it is past. The best part is that I feel renewed, relaxed, and refreshed. I am so ready for 2010!

I'm still working on first round edits for my current project but I am encouraged and excited for the work. I have so many things I want to do in my writing life this year and now that I've discovered how much writing means to me I hope to keep up the daily routine.

I don't know about you, but I got several books for Christmas that I can't wait to start reading! Because I've been so focused on writing I haven't made time to read recently, but that's definitely on the 2010 to do list.

I hope you'll continue to check in here at Book 'n' a Mug throughout the year. I'll continue to try and make it worth the effort. And thank you for stopping by! Let us know how your holidays were and what you're looking forward to in the New Year.

Monday Quote

2010-01-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

- Terry Pratchett

Monday Quote

2009-12-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.

- Anais Nin

Monday Quote

2009-12-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing; it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.

- Henry Miller

The Real Work Begins

2009-12-18T13:25:00.002-05:00

Just a quick updated on my own writing. I finally finished my story that I started for NanoWrimo! It is such a great feeling and I was so excited.

According to the editing guidelines I posted last week I took a short break to have lunch after I finished then I started my first round of editing. This entails typing up my second draft because I always write my first draft with pen and paper. There is something magical about forming letters, words, and phrases with a writing utensil on the page. I write much better first drafts this way rather than typing.

I am madly trying to get all the 55,020 words into a word document so I can keep the momentum going with this project. Yesterday I realized that this is where the real work begins. Revising, reworking, rewriting, and manipulating what I originally had into something that could really be called a novel. It is going to be hard work and I can see that there is the potential for a lot of frustration and discouragement.

Yet, I'm still excited about it! And that, to me, is what makes writing fun. It's hard work, but I know it will be rewarding in the end and I will have a great time along the way.

Everybody Likes a Little Action

2009-12-16T13:59:00.002-05:00

I have finished the main climactic action scene in my current project but I am far from satisfied with how it turned out. It need a lot of work, I think, and I fear that I lost the momentum of the action somewhere along the way. The problem is that I have no idea where to even start to fix the scene. Right now I still have some loose ends to tie up to finish the story but then it's into editing and that climax is going to need some attention.

James Scott Bell wrote a post over on The Kill Zone about How to Write Action Scenes that I found interesting. He sites Dean Koontz extensively and particularly refers to an action scene that lasts 17 pages. At first I thought it was crazy to have an action scene last that long - wouldn't the reader get bored and zone out somewhere in the middle? But maybe I'm putting unnecessary constraints and expectations on how my action scenes should look and flow. It would be awesome if I could keep my readers enthralled for 17 pages!

Bell offers a couple points of advice: "...take advantage of all the elements of fiction writing –- dialogue, internal thoughts, description and action -- and use them to show us what's happening inside and outside the viewpoint character." He also urges the writer to quit worrying about reality so much and instead focus on the emotional effect of your fiction.

These are great points but I still have some questions: How detailed does do the descriptions need to be? How do I keep my reader engaged throughout the whole scene, even when there is more talking going on rather than action? Do multiple viewpoints help the story or hinder the flow?

What do you think? How do you write action scenes? What parts do you struggle with and how do you fix those parts in editing?

Link Line-up: Tips and Advice

2009-12-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

When writing a novel it's good to start with the basics; part one and part two from George Angus give a great outline and some things to think about when starting a new project. I found the section on dialogue in part two especially helpful.

Once you've begun you're going to run into a few situations where you will have to choose which direction your characters and/or plots take. Jeremiah Tolbert has five ways to deal with the choices you make in writing. I usually don't worry about the paths I haven't taken, but I like the idea of keeping track of parallel document that tracks alternate paths. I also think I'll try outlining sometime.

I really like the Fuel Your Writing site and Dustin Staiger gives us 5 Tips for Tantalizing Writing. I have to keep reminding myself in my own writing to leave some work for the reader.

While implementing these tips be sure to avoid these 7 Deadly Writing Sins by Lynn Viehl. These are good things to keep in mind.

In the end, it really is all about the story so don't let it suffer while you focus on other parts of your novel. "As a writer, it is not words, but stories, that are your elemental tool. Stories are an enchanting magic that grip the reader to the page." From David Masters' guest post on Write to Done entitled 'Campfire Writing: Why Stories are the Writer's Elemental Tool.'

More great resources on everything you need:

Writing Tips and links from WeBook.com

5 Novelists' Websites That Offer Great Writing Advice from WebUpon.com

Nathan Bransford's Writing Advice Database

50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills from Smashing Magazine

Was any of this helpful? Do you have any tips that are helpful in your planning and writing?

Monday Quote

2009-12-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

- Benjamin Franklin

Looking Back: Writing Journal

2009-12-13T22:26:00.003-05:00

I was not paying attention and missed my 300th post! I also missed the 2nd anniversary of Book 'n' a Mug back in March which I did not realize until I went back to find an old post I'd written on keeping a writing journal.

So, in honor of this anniversary I am reviving the aforementioned post because I want to start keeping a writing journal again. Below are Gregory Martin's 5 things to include in a writing journal entry from the April 2007 issue of Writer's Digest.

1. Date and time when you are sitting down to write. This will help you track your most common times for working and help you see the times you are most productive.

2. How long will you work? Set a goal to work towards. This can be a length of time or a certain number of words, if you'd like.

3. What you plan to work on. The more specific you are the easier it will be to stay focused and accomplish what you need to during your session of work.

4. How it went. When you are done be sure and describe how it went. Do you feel good about what you accomplished? Was it difficult or did it flow smoothly?

5. When and for how long you'll work tomorrow. If you set another goal for the next day you will be more likely to write. This will, in turn, help you build up a momentum to keep writing every day.

I tried this method for a while a couple years ago but when I stopped writing regularly I forgot about the journal. Now that I want to start writing every day again, I think that this will be a great tool to help me keep that goal.

Do you keep a writing journal? What do you include in each entry? How does it affect your writing?

Write, Edit, Revise, Repeat

2009-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I cannot wait to start editing my current project. I wrote it for NanoWrimo so now that the dust is settled I'm interested to see what is left. At the same time, I'm a little nervous because I've become so comfortable in the writing part that I don't know where to start with editing. Besides the beginning, I guess.

Lucky for me, and you, I've found some great advice on this very subject!

Take a Breather

Almost everyone agrees that it is beneficial to take a break between finishing a first draft and beginning the editing process. This makes sense to me. I have seen how characters and plot lines will sort themselves out while marinating in the back of my mind. When I come back to them I can see where they need to be tweaked and revised to fit better with the end product. However, I need some time to step back and look at the draft as a whole. The recommended amount of time to wait varies from 15 minutes up but a break is definitely suggested.

Slash the Trash

This is a phrase I heard often, always in a British accent, my senior year of High School. Just off the top of my head I know there are several passages in my work that need major trimming. Cut out the sections you know people will skip over and the parts where you wax a little too eloquent on a particular setting or character description. Look at every word - are they all absolutely necessary? Or are you missing some important ones? Cutting is important, but so is adding where you need to.

Read it Aloud

This is actually a technique I have not yet used so I will refer you to others. I fully intend to try reading my draft out loud for this project.

Writer's Community lists 5 reasons why to read it aloud:

1. Make sure your readers will 'hear' things they way you intended.

2. Helps you catch mistakes.

3. Helps you pay attention to the nuances in the language.

4. Establishes your 'voice.'

5. It prepares you for readings

Mary E. DeMuth at The Master's Artist also recommends reading aloud because you will find errors but give 3 other reasons, too:

1. You find you pet words, the ones you use too often.

2. You catch awkward sentence structure.

3. You catch repetitive themes.

Ask a Friend to Read It

I've done this plenty of times and I always seem to choose really kind friends. It's great for my ego but sometimes I want a little more constructive criticism. Thanks to Gary Smailes and BubbleCow I have the perfect how-to list when asking friends to critique my novel!

- Give them permission to criticise.

- Explain what you want.

- Look for specifics and 'framed' feedback.

- Be prepared to ignore.

- Listen to the critique with an open mind.

- If you have to explain then it's time to rewrite.

Checklist & More

Joe Nassise wrote this checklist for when you start revising on Genreality. It is a great place to start when you want to start editing. Can you answer all these questions about your novel?

There's also a great post on revision on Allen & Unwin with a couple of book excerpts, including another great list of things to think about.

Here's the BubbleCow post that lists Tips to Writing a Great Second Draft of Your Novel.

And the Fuel Your Writing post on The First Step to Being a Better Writer.

What do you think?

What do you do when you're editing and revising? Do you enjoy this process or is it a struggle for you?

Breakup and Makeup

2009-12-08T18:57:00.002-05:00

It has been over a week since the end of NanoWrimo and last night I finally sat down to work on my novel again. I reached the 50,000 word goal but still have a couple of scenes to go before it's finished. After last night I am really wishing I hadn't taken that week off from writing...

My characters are a little upset with me. They felt abandoned and stranded in a stressful and climactic situation. So they're not talking to me.

On top of that, my inner editor is banging on her cage and I am tempted to let her out. I can't wait to go back and start editing this project to see if there is anything good there and find out how to make it better. I've grown attached to these characters and I want to work on perfecting them and their story.

Why oh why did I let it sit for a week? Because I was celebrating my success in reaching my word count goal. I got bogged down and crazy busy with work. I ran out of clean dishes after a month of not cleaning them and I had to clean my house. These are valid reasons!

Yet my novel won't listen to reason. "You found time to write almost every day of November even with other distractions. You didn't really have anything to celebrate because I'm not done. You really did not have 10 minutes to spare in the last 7 days?"

I hang my head in apology - I am sorry. I'm back now so can't we be friends again, my dear novel?

Monday Quote

2009-12-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

My method is to take the utmost trouble to find the right thing to say, and then to say it with the utmost levity.

- George Bernard Shaw

Link Line-up

2009-12-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Coming up on the end of the year and we've past the end of Nanowrimo so here are some links to keep you going right up until January 1, 2010!

Do you have to sacrifice a great deal if you want to be a great writer? John Scalzi says you just have to give up an hour of television a day and you'll be off to a great start. And you don't necessarily need to suffer for success, either.

Need some tips or just some motivation to keep going? Marelisa Fábrega give us 54 Tips for Writers, From Writers over on her Abundance blog. I love the quotes from Annie Dillard and I am totally going to go read that book.

I hate writing dialogue because I feel like it is never as witty or quick moving as the novels I read. Laura Cross lists 12 Characteristics of Great Dialogue that helped me see how to improve so I'm working on getting better. This post is geared toward screenwriting but I think it applies to any dialogue you're writing.

Writer's block, dare I even say it, haunts all of us. Dani Shapiro gives us her thoughts on writer's block and they definitely drove the rain cloud from my window! "If writing is, as I believe it to be, an act of courage--the daily triumph of faith over doubt, willingness over insecurity, hope over cynicism--then the inability to do so for days on end is a failure not of character, nor of biochemistry, but of nerve."

I know this time of year we are usually thinking about pie rather than cake, but these 17 Amazing Sci-fi Themed Cakes really take the... well... you know.

Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

2009-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

I saw my sister in New York a couple months ago and she was enthralled in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. Much like me, she would periodically burst out laughing at something in the book. I asked her to read me a couple of the passages and decided after hearing the excerpts that I needed to read this series, too.

I got home from New York at the end of October, got the first book at the library, and started reading The Eyre Affair. Despite the fact that I also started National Novel Writing Month on the first of November, I made time to finish reading this book.

It was such a fun read, which I expected, but it was also very action packed, which I did not expect. I love Fforde's tone and humor but he also managed to throw in some great tension. It was a quick read, partly because it is not very long and partly because I could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book and I am excited to read the next one which I will be picking up from the library this afternoon. Note: there is some adult language in a couple of sections.

Have you read the Thursday Next series? Your thoughts? Have you read anything else by Jasper Fforde you see fit to recommend?

Plock plock.

Last note: The day after I finished the book I got an email from Jasper Fforde! It was through Nanowrimo, but I thought it funny to open my inbox and see his name there.

So Now What...?

2009-12-02T12:57:00.003-05:00

This seems to be the most common question NanoWrimo-ers are asking these first couple days of December. I feel it more than I'm asking it, though, mostly because I know exactly what comes next.

November was awesome and I met my goal of 50,000 words, but I did not actually finish my novel. I have a couple more scenes to go so I don't really feel like I'm done yet.

Then there's the editing. I know for sure that while I love this story, it needs some major work and rework. This year I'm going to try really hard to edit as much as I need to so I can end up with a finished product. My last few novels from past Novembers are still filed away just waiting for some polishing. I need to commit to them so I can finally have a finished novel that I feel comfortable sharing with friends and family. Otherwise they won't ever believe I am a writer and I don't know if I will truly feel like one, either.

After that there are more stories waiting to be told.

And more editing.

And more writing.

Which just makes me want to quit my job and write all day for the rest of my life! Maybe I'll also eat some food and pay attention to my husband. I'll probably hang out with friends and family, too. Looks like I need another November to get anything done...

Monday Quote

2009-11-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

A good style should show no sign of effort. What is written should seem a happy accident.

- W. Somerset Maugham

Frustration to Revelation = Writer for Life

2009-11-24T13:28:00.004-05:00

Today is the 24th day of November which means that at midnight tonight I should have written 40,008 to be on track for the 50 mark next Monday. *Groan* Next Monday... that is way too soon. My little beauty currently sits at 34,508 words. It's not impossible, I know - I would only have to write about 2,600 words a day to make it on time. That's not so bad, right?

Except that I have no idea what I'm going to write after the scene I came up with last night.

It has certainly been a roller coaster ride so far. Life always seems to get in the way of our goals and set us behind schedule. My husband has been out of town a lot this month, which was great alone time for writing but I wanted to spend the weekends with him while he was home. There were several days that I missed writing even one word and that is definitely something I regret. Even just a couple of sentences would have helped, I think. It's about balance, though, and I don't regret spending time with my husband.

He asked me a couple weeks ago how it was going - yes, he's very supportive - and if I was having fun. I had not thought seriously about it since the first couple of days so I thought out loud with him for a minute. Here's what I realized:

"It's going pretty good and even though I'm behind I don't feel hopeless yet. The first few days were great because I was so excited and the story flowed really well. I still feel good, though. I feel like I'm accomplishing things and working toward a personal goal I set for myself. I am happy when I'm writing. I love this feeling."

I have always wanted to write. When I was 4 years old and getting ready for kindergarten I would fill pages and pages on a legal pad with M's and W's. When I was in sixth grade I wrote a story about a white rabbit named Snow White. It was 100 pages long and everyone in my class was in awe. The desire and drive has come and gone over the years but then I did NanoWrimo 2006. I did not make 50K but I actually finished a story. It was huge for me. I won 2007 but got bogged down in editing and let it fall by the wayside. 2008 was a train wreck. And this year has been an epiphany.

I feel more like who I want to be personally when I am writing. I am happier, I feel motivated and excited, I accomplish great things, and I enjoy it even when I'm discouraged.

I think I can officially say I am a writer for life.

Monday Quote

2009-11-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

- Mark Twain

Monday Quote

2009-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you are meant to be a writer, it'll work itself out. You just keep feeding it your energy and giving it that crucial chance.

- R. McKinley

Sugar Cookies

2009-11-12T15:31:00.002-05:00

I was so in the mood for cookies last night but didn't have ingredients for chocolate chip or oatmeal. So I found a basic sugar cookie recipe and altered it to what I was in the mood for. They came out picture perfect and taste fantastic. I think the combination of nutmeg and orange is just so wintery. And they were great to snack on while I was writing...

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp orange zest

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg; cut in 1 cup of softened butter until the mixture is crumbly.
2. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, vanilla and orange zest until light and fluffy. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Cover bowl and chill for 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). For simple round cookies: roll into small balls and press gently onto ungreased cookie sheet. For cookie cutter shapes: on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until edges begin to brown. Decorate as desired.

Let me know how they turn out!

Link Line-up

2009-11-10T21:55:00.000-05:00

So here are some new links for ya'll. Considering it's still November I tried to give you NaNoWriMo related type things. Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Motivation
Jeffrey Tang has a guest post up over at Zen Habits of 12 ways to Defeat Burnout and Stay Motivated. Some of these are really helpful for me while I'm trying to stay on track with NanoWrimo.

Inspiration
Waiting around for inspiration to strike? Seth Baker tells you to get out there and start working in The Secret to Creative Inspiration. For those of you working diligently on your Nano projects, there is a reason the inspiration is flowing so fast...

Tips & Advice
I usually consider myself a rather fast writer. Some scenes are faster than others and sometimes it's hard to get going. Dean Rieck gives us 5 Ways to Double Your Writing Productivity and increase your S.P.E.E.D.

Hone Your Skills
I've noticed while I'm furiously scribbling words down for my novel that I am lacking in the dialogue department. How do you give your characters voice? How do you create interesting and dynamic conversation? Fortunately, Laura Cross over at About A Screenplay says that "creating effective dialogue is challenging for many writers. But crafting good dialogue is a skill that can be mastered by anyone." Then she gives us 12 characteristics of great dialogue.

The Cherry on Top
Some of these photos submitted for the National Geographic International Photography Contest 2009 are absolutely amazing - they get me thinking of stories almost immediately.

Now, it's back to writing!

Monday Quote

2009-11-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

- Voltaire

NanoWrimo Status Report

2009-11-08T17:34:00.002-05:00

Week 1 is over and it has been a roller coaster ride.

Day 1 was great - I woke up early and immediately started thinking about my opening scene and how to introduce my characters. I couldn't go back to sleep so I grabbed a pen and my notebook and just got started. I got down a couple of scenes before I felt I needed a break and reached the 1,667 word goal before I knew it. I felt awesome and so excited.

By day 3 I was still on track but my writing session that evening was hard work. The words weren't flowing and it was difficult to reach the word count goal. The next day was a little better since I had an action scene coming up that I was excited to get to.

I spent a half an hour on day 5 jotting down some thoughts about where I wanted to go next. This isn't something I normally do - usually I don't stop to outline or think ahead, I just keep writing. But it turned out taking this pause was very helpful. It gave me a little direction and boosted my motivation. I got home that night and busted out the action scene.

Friday I lost my momentum. After a long week and figured I deserved some veg time. Problem is, once you stop it's so hard to get going again! I didn't write Saturday and I haven't gotten a word down today (Sunday) yet either. The day is not over yet, however. There is still time to get back on track. Plus, I have Wednesday off from work for Veteran's Day and I'll have the house all to myself - it will be a major catch up day.

Lessons Learned
- Sometimes it helps to pause and think about where you're going next. Don't be afraid to take a break to outline for a bit.
- Keep up the momentum once you get going.
- Don't get down on yourself if you fall behind. If you start feeling like it's hopeless you'll never get back on track. Stay hopeful, stay focused.

Goals for Week 2
- Write everyday.
- Stay on track with the 1,667 words a day schedule.
- Don't be afraid to talk about what you're doing with friends and coworkers.

How are you doing? What have you learning in the first week that will help you the rest of the month?

Quote of the Week

2009-11-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

You Are So Creative!

2009-10-29T18:28:00.004-04:00

What does creativity really mean? What defines a creative idea or what makes a person creative? Are we all creative or are there certain people who are inherently more creative than others? And why do we all strive to be creative?

With NanoWrimo only a few days away I've been thinking about planning and writing a lot. And the start of any creation is an idea. And before the idea is creativity.

Writing that sentence just now I see that the root word 'create' says quite a bit about what creativity is and what makes someone or some idea creative. I believe we, as humans, all have a desire to create. We all need some way of expressing ourselves by building and creating something from our mind using our hands. And that goes a long way to answer my last question above - we want to be creative because it means that we are building, contributing, and creating something new.

My sister is the most creative person I know. She has many interests but she's also very opinionated about the things she likes and hates. Her musical talents have been her main medium of creation and although she hasn't 'hit it big,' she still finds the time and joy in writing and singing her music. Although she's stuck with a boring secretarial temp job right now she is already planning her next adventure. I'd always hoped she would get a job where she could write ad jingles or slogans because she'd be so great at it. And because I have such a high opinion of her creative view I was flattered to tears when she praised a story I wrote a few years ago (my first NanoWrimo attempt, actually).

We admire creative people and strive to find creativity in ourselves. We all want to be unique. We all want to have a great idea we can be proud of.

So how can we cultivate creativity in ourselves and others? While you're thinking about that, let's give you more to ponder:

Mark McGuinness asks "Is Everyone Creative?" and includes Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk as well as quotes from Gordon Torr. Do you think we're all born creative or are there special creative people out there?

If you've decided that we can learn to be more creative, read on. Mary Jaksch of Write to Done gives us a fantastic overview of the Directed Creativity process developed by Paul E. Pisek. It outlines four phases: preparation, imagination, development, and action. This is how I'm going to start being more creative.

Want more things to work on to become more creative? Request approved. Dean Rieck illustrates 11 Traits of Highly Creative People at CopyBlogger. At first glance it makes sense that creative people have these traits. But at second glance, when you decide you want to develop some of these traits, it seems overwhelming. So, let's take it slow and start at the first one: "Have the courage to try new things and risk failure." I think NanoWrimo is the perfect vehicle to improve on this... Maybe we can move on to the second one in December.

Or maybe we should start with a simpler list. Leo Babauta gives us exactly that in his post "The Little But Really Useful Guide to Creativity" on his blog Zen Habits (which is a great one, by the way). The list is helpful, simple, and, most importantly, motivating. Let's go be creative!

And, since I usually do things in fives, my last creative creativity link. In your quest for fantastic and amazing ideas, think about where they come from. Dustin Wax of Stepcase Lifehack writes: "What separates the creative from the not-so-creative isn’t so much the ability to come up with ideas but the ability to trust them, or to trust ourselves to realize them." The rest of his post offers answers to the question "Where Do Ideas Come From?" and I must say they are rather good answers.

So what do you think? What do you do to increase your creativity? Where do your ideas come from? What are you having for dinner tonight? Just leave a comment, any comment.

National Novel Writing Month MANIA!

2009-10-28T14:04:00.005-04:00

The web is all abuzz with NanoWrimo and we've only got a few more days to go. The purpose is basically to write an entire 50,000 word novel in the month of November (see the site for more rules and details and to sign up). As you can see, I am a participant this year (rachiez - feel free to friend me) and although I am very excited to get started, I'm also glad I still have a couple of days for planning. I'll be doing a fantasy novel this year (can't seem to break away) that I've been thinking about for a while now. It just seemed like this is the time for this story so we'll give it a try.

But why, you ask? Because everybody else is doing it! I'm attempting it again this year, my fourth year participating, because it gets me writing like nothing else does. Because I have decided to do it and I've been proud of what I accomplished in past years. Not good enough? Fine. Here's what others are saying about National Novel Writing Month:

Maria Schneider at Editor Unleashed points out that "NaNoWriMo forever changed the limitations I had previously placed on myself as a writer. NaNoWriMo taught me that there is more time to write in a day than we might think, and that discipline is the greatest weapon against the internal critic perched hungrily in my mind." (See the entire awesome post here).

Joanna Penn says "It is such a great idea because it gives you a short period in which to really focus on your Work In Progress." (Her post is here).

James Scott Bell over at The Kill Zone shows you why you should write fast, like, in a month... "When you write your first drafts, write as fast as you comfortably can. Even force yourself past the comfort zone on occasion. Whether you're an outliner, a seat-of-the-pantser, or anything in between, when you're getting those first pages down, burn rubber. Why? Because there is so much good stuff in your writer's brain that needs to climb out of the basement and sniff the fresh air. You have to put your head down and butt the inner editor who stands at the basement door, telling you to be careful, slow down, don't make a fool of yourself."

Are you persuaded? Wondering how on earth you even start something like this? Here are some helpful things to get you started and get you through November:

Jodi Cleghorn gives us 9 ways to prepare over at Write Anything and they are good ones. Explore your expectations, strengths and weaknesses, habits, creativity, sources of stress, time management, and your calendar for November. Also be sure to treat yourself kindly and get the support you need. Better get on these quick, though, cuz there's only a few days left...

Need an idea? Jennifer Blanchard of Procrastinating Writers gives you some resources on coming up with a great idea. She is also offering an email newsletter for 30 Days of NaNoWriMo Tips that you should sign up for.

And Learn to Write Fiction also has some great links and must have tools that will help get you through with a smile.

Last, Barbara Samuel lists 10 ways to survive November, stay healthy, and not get too obsessed (Writer Unboxed). I know I will definitely be taking some of this advice.

Do you have more suggestions I might have missed? Leave a comment and share your ideas or a link to your post about NanoWrimo. We are, after all, in this together now!

Quote of the Week

2009-10-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion.

- Jack Kerouac

Quote of the Week

2009-10-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.

- Frank Tibolt

Squeeze in Your Writing Time

2009-10-18T20:09:00.001-04:00

This is a post I needed this week so, once again, I'm writing as much for my benefit as others.

With NanoWrimo quickly approaching I've been considering my time and trying to figure out where I'm going to squeeze in time to write. Here are some things to think about when considering your time and setting some aside for writing.

Get organized so you know exactly what you need to do. If you have a list of tasks you can select one from the list according to how much time you have. And then you can feel so satisfied when you get to cross a task off the list!

You may not be able to set any aside so take it where you can get it. Take your writing with you, whether on a flash drive or your notebook, and work on it whenever you can. Even just a couple of minutes here or there can add a sentence or two. Use your lunch break, use any time that you're just waiting.

If you really want time to write you're going to have to give up some other activities. Do you really need to spend that time watching TV? Think about what you watch - isn't your writing more important to you than that? If not, then try giving up something else. Other entertainment, social time, sleep (this one is particularly difficult for me), or how about some of the time you spend reading?

If, however, after examining your life and finding that you have nothing you can give up there are still some things you can do to squeeze writing into the cracks. Talk to yourself out loud and record it if possible. Talk about your ideas, characters, or problems you've hit in your plot. Even in a five minute drive you might make some progress. Even if you don't talk out loud to yourself (I understand, my husband would tease me no end) you can keep your story in the back of your mind and let it simmer. Then when your mind wanders and discovers something interesting you can connect it to your work in progress for later consideration. But you'll have to remember to be observant of things and people around you. I've been amazed at the things that happen when you're just paying attention.

How do you find time to do the things you want to during your busy day? Are there things you've had to give up? Do you have other sneaky tricks to finding time and energy to be creative?

More great ideas and thoughts on making time to write:
5 Ways to be a Writer When You're Not Writing from Head Above Water
Making Time to Write by Andy Shack
Use Your Time Wisely by Angel Booth
What Will You Give Up to Write Your Book from The Creative Penn

What Really Matters

2009-10-14T13:24:00.002-04:00

I've been struggling recently under the pressures I've placed on myself. I've set goals to post here more often, I've committed to doing NanoWrimo next month, and I have promised myself that I will not give up on the project I've been working on for the last year.

And underneath it all there is a part of me arguing that I don't really have anything to say, that no one really wants to read what I write.

I found several new blogs to follow today and while I was reading through them I came across a short post from last Friday on Confident Writing. Joanna Young quotes from Writing Down the Bones, a book that I read or started recently but don't remember much. But this quote really brought it home:

"Our lives are at once ordinary and mythical.

We live and die, age beautifully or full of wrinkles. We wake in the morning, buy yellow cheese, and hope we have enough money to pay for it.

At the same instant we have these magnificent hearts that pump through all sorrow and all our winters we are alive on the earth. We are important and our lives are important, magnificent really, and their details are worthy to be recorded.

This is how writers must think, this is how we must sit down with pen in hand. we were here; we are human beings; this is how we lived. Let it be known, the earth passed before us. Our details are important. Otherwise, if they are not, we can drop a bomb and it doesn’t matter.” ~ Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones

Our seemingly insignificant and boring lives really do matter and it is through our writing that we discover exactly how much they matter. You do have something worth saying! You have something to write! Because you really matter. And so do I!

Link Line-up

2009-10-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

There's such great stuff out there it makes me want to share it with you!

Motivation
Are you a digital fiddler? Are you easily distracted by all the options and fun things on the internet? Well, stop it get back to writing! Mary Jaksch hears ya and gives us some ideas on how to stop digital fiddling over on Write to Done.

Getting Started
Do you take yourself to seriously as a writer? Try relaxing and having some fun. Joanna Penn gives us some ideas on how to work hard and have fun while doing it over at The Creative Penn.

Tips & Advice
Here are 5 tips on how to be a better writer from Mason Hipp on Freelance Folder. I like this because it applies not only to creative writing but to all the writing we do during the day.

Editing
Maria Schneider gives us 5 things to keep in mind when editing your manuscript. But be sure you don't turn on that inner editor until your first draft is done. (From Editor Unleashed)

The Cherry on Top
Wanna see where other writers create? Where I Write is a collection of just that - rooms where writers write. And Kyle Cassidy rocks, too.

Stargate Addiction

2009-10-13T11:00:00.002-04:00

I am addicted to Stargate. I had heard of the movie that originally came out in 1994 and I think I saw it on TV once or twice. So when I saw Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis listed on Hulu I thought I would see what it is all about.

The first season of Stargate SG-1 aired in 1997 but I was immediately impressed with the feel of the show because it didn't strike me as very dated. The TV series follows 4 main characters who comprise the team SG-1 on their exploration missions to other worlds through a wormhole device named the Stargate. Click here for a more comprehensive explanation.

There are several things I like about this show. First, the stories are great. Granted, they have a lot of possibilities with the setup - they can create any sort of world they want to and that opens up all sorts of opportunities for conflict and plot. But the writers have come up with some really creative stuff. There is some structure which provides continuity, however. They have a core group of characters that we see in each episode (SG-1 team). They also established a antagonist in the form of an alien race whose main goal is to see the end of the human race. So these things form a baseline for most of the episodes.

Second, the characters are so much fun! You might think that with so many seasons of SG-1 the characters would grow static and boring, but I haven't gotten bored yet. You really get attached to the members of the team which makes the stories even better.

I haven't started watching Stargate Atlantis yet, so I can't give an informed opinion about that offshoot series. But I have become a quick fan of the new Stargate Universe series that just barely started. I highly recommend you check out the pilot. They did a good job of giving the basics so you don't have to watch all the previous Stargate shows to know what's going on. But you should anyway...

Wanna know more? Here's the official site. Totally disagree with me? Leave a comment and tell me why. Agree with me? Leave me a comment and tell me why. Have a TV show recommendation? Bring it.

More on Passion

2009-10-13T01:12:00.003-04:00

As a follow up to my pep talk post yesterday I wanted to share this article I found via Publetariat by Andrew B. Clark about how you shouldn't ignore your passion. Find it and live it.

Quote of the Week

2009-10-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be.

- Doris Lessing

GO TEAM! Pep Talk

2009-10-11T18:23:00.005-04:00

I was in desperate need of a pep talk earlier this week. I felt worn out and bogged down with all the things I've been worrying about. Work has been stressful to the point of craziness this week which really saps my motivation for anything else. I missed a couple of days here on the blog, I procrastinated Nano planning, and I convinced myself that I had nothing worth writing. I'm feeling better now, but I really could have gone for some positive reinforcement. So for all those of you out there who just aren't feelin' it, this one's for you (and me)!

Have a day job? Yeah, me too. Here are some tips on how to keep it from killing your writing career from David Anaxagoras. The blog is geared toward screenwriting, but I think his advice is helpful for all kinds of writing. His tips include knowing what you want, setting goals, taking daily action toward your goal, making your day job seem smaller by starting and ending your day with writing, washing the day away, and structuring your life around your writing.

Find some passion. You know those people who get so excited about one subject or another? And the people who enjoy the life they're living because they found something to be passionate about? Be one of those people. Leo Babauta outlines how to infuse your blog with passion over at ProBlogger, but his advice is perfect for writing in general, too. Write what you're passionate about, or find something to be passionate about if you don't really have a passion yet. Put some music on, get yourself a beverage, write passionately, and read others who are passionate. There's nothing like a little passion to get you motivated!

A post at Pimp My Novel on persistence that made me smile. And let's face it, a smile is one of the best ways to start feeling uplifted, hopeful, and motivated to keep working toward your dreams.

Is your inner critic making you depressed? Feel like you have nothing worth saying and that no one will ever care what you write? I know, he's so mean! Read this from Allegra Goodman on how to calm that critic and get back to work. Concentrate on your writing, love your material, and tell your story as only you can.

Shake off the negative feelings, leave the weight of the world and worries behind just long enough to write. You can do it, you should do it, you will do it. Go, now, and overcome all those doubts and fears. May the force be with you.

Yay! Go Team!!

Writer's Soundtrack

2009-10-10T19:51:00.003-04:00

I came home from work one night this week and spent 4 hours searching for and downloading music. This is the first time I have purchased music online and I can see how it could become addictive - it's so easy! You find a song you like, click a button, and suddenly it's yours. But I was very careful with which songs I bought because my gift card was only for $25 and when it was gone I knew I couldn't buy anymore. But I digress...

I specifically got songs that I knew would be great for November. Upbeat ones to get me motivated, slower ones for when I to think, sweetly inspiring ones for when I need to create, and rockin' ones to celebrate to. I need a variety of music when I write because I go through a variety of moods. I have discovered that I am one of those people who works better and faster when I have some sort of sound on in the background. It's almost like my mind needs something to keep it busy so it doesn't get bored and zone out somewhere along the way. So I find dynamic and interesting music to accompany my writing. Movie soundtracks are great - Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Star Wars, almost anything by John Williams for that matter. I also like a little jazz sometimes - Stan Getz and Miles Davis are good.

My favorite website for writing music is Pandora. You create stations based on songs or artists and their site finds similar music in their vast database. I have discovered so many great new artists this way and it's wonderful to just put on a station and let it go while I'm writing.

Do you writing to music? Does the tone of the music affect the mood of your writing?

Get in the Habit

2009-10-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about Nanowrimo recently, partly because I'm excited and partly because I'm a little stressed. I haven't done nearly as much planning as I think I need to have a successful November. I've decided that the first step is to get back in the habit of writing everyday and get back into the mindset of creating.

First step: I've been trying to write everyday. I started with baby steps by posting more regularly here on the blog and it has been fun but it also takes commitment to put something up every day. Which leads to...

Second step: set goals and then commit to working towards them. I decided I wanted to write everyday and I decided I wanted to make more of an effort to update my blog. Ta-da! Now I need to set my goals for creative writing and planning for Nanowrimo. To reach 50K words for the month I'll need to write 1,667 words a day. Throw in the fact that since I like to write my first draft with pen and paper and I'll need some time to type it up for verification and I am hereby setting my goal to write 2000 words a day in the month of November.

Third step: be observant and look for ideas to spark creativity. If you remember to look for sources of inspiration and things that will enrich your creativity, you will find those things everyday. I saw a picture online today that the Hubble telescope captured of galaxies speeding through space. For some reason I never even considered that galaxies actually moved through space so this idea really got my creative juices flowing and I started thinking of all these situations and stories that could grow out of that. The National Geographic website is a great place to find inspiring photos, by the way.

Fourth step: tell stories to anyone that will listen. At one of my previous jobs I had a friend that I shared an office with and we had a lot of fun telling each other stories. It started because it would get so quiet in there and in an effort to make the time go faster I would find anything I could think of to say. I always started by saying "So..." which I didn't realize what I was doing until she pointed it out to me. Eventually it became a game - "Tell me a 'so' story" she would say. And I would bust out something short, simple, and usually very random. But it sure was fun! This will also help you form mini stories and practice articulating beginnings, middles, and endings.

Last step: Build a support network. Fortunately, with Nanowrimo you have an automatic network of friends who will support you in your goals. The forums are a fantastic place to either find support and motivation or kill some time when you need a break. They are also a great place to share those 'so' stories and get some good ideas. But for the rest of the year it is still important to have at least one person you can feel totally safe and comfortable talking to about your writing. I find that an open conversation can be a great cure for writer's block. And there's nothing better for your motivation! Find a writing buddy who gets your style and will always be up for giving you a pep talk.

I'm excited now, are you? Do you have any other suggestions either for getting back in the habit of writing or to prepare for Nanowrimo?

Blog: Forgotten Bookmarks

2009-10-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

I probably found this blog through Twitter but I don't remember who posted the link that I followed originally. But I am so glad I found Forgotten Bookmarks.

As the site explains the material comes from things found in used books. It is interesting, and sometimes hilarious, to see what people use for bookmarks. And sometimes it can be really beautiful.

The posts are simple and short, but contain so much more for thought. The entries usually consist of a picture or two showing the book and the item found inside and then a short caption that quotes any text found on the 'forgotten bookmark.'

This is a great blog to keep track of if you love books, reading, or bookmarks.

Quote of the Week

2009-10-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

When I start a book, I never know how it's going to end. I never know what's going to happen.

- Elmore Leonard

Who Are These People, Anyway?

2009-10-04T19:52:00.004-04:00

In planning for Nanowrimo in November I am trying to sketch out some characters. There's a lot to cover in creating a new character and a new world for them to live in. Not to mention minor characters, enemies, friends, and other major characters as well. Then they all need names, backgrounds, history, virtues, vices, and desires to make them more realistic. I hardly know where to start!

So here are some good points to help me, and you, start creating the next great fictional character.

First, the basics and some other fun things to think about from Writer's Community:
Full name (try BabyNames.com)
Date and city of birth
Sex
Hair and eye color
Complexion
Clothing style
Demeanor
Gait
Profession
Marital status
Relationship health
Physical health/abnormalities
Residence
Hobbies
Source of conflict/interest
Extrovert/Introvert
Type of people with whom he/she associates
Ultimate goals
Favorite places
Favorite food

These are good things to keep in mind when you are creating a character. But when you start to try and tell their story and show their interactions with other people there are more things you need to know. Patti Stafford wrote a great post on her blog and listed the following additional things to consider when building characters:
What does the character want?
What drives the character?
What stands in the character’s way?
What is the character willing to do to get it?
How will the character handle the obstacles that keep him/her from their want?
Character Traits:
temperament
moral, ethic, religious beliefs
hobbies
habits
quirks
likes/dislikes
fears/phobias
strengths/weaknesses
goals, hopes, dreams
flaws–all characters must have some flaws too!

Alright, so now we have some basics down and we've gone a little deeper to figure out more about our characters so we can make them more realistic. What's next? The story and the plot need to move with together with your characters.

Protagonists:
Jane Friedman has a great post up over at the Writer's Digest blog about your protagonist. Definitely go read the whole post where she uses Harry Potter to illustrate the importance of your protag having a goal. To sum up, you must make sure that;
1. Our story has a protagonist.
2. Our protagonist has a driving goal.
3. Our protagonist has the right goal.
4. Our protagonist is the right protagonist—one who would accept wise advice when given (follow the Yellow Brick Road), but one who doesn't just get led around by parents, wise mentors, angels, friendly locals, etc.

Antagonists:
These are the most difficult for me to write , for some reason. I think I'm getting better, though, as I think about and study antagonists that stick out in my mind. From Creative Writing Corner, three things to keep in mind when writing an immoral character:
People don't act randomly - make sure the things your bad guy does make sense.
You, as the writer, need to withhold judgment - let your reader decide.
Let your antagonist show some sympathy or compassion to make them more complex and rounded.
For some additional guidance:
The famous Evil Overlord list - absolutely hilarious but also some good things to keep in mind.
Other Antagonist No-No's from Paperback Writer. There are also several links at the end of this post that are rather helpful.

In the end, I think that Neil Gaiman wrapped it up nicely when he said, "...I learned that if you cared enough about your characters, what happened to them was interesting. I'm not sure that's much of an aphorism, but it's important to care about them, about who they are and what they do. And (for me) for them to be people I would want to spend time with -- I don't really care whose side they are on, and they can be monstrous on the outside or, worse, on the inside, but you still have to want to spend time with them. If you met one of these characters socially would you talk to them, or make an excuse and flee?"

Other fantastic links:
Several writers find it beneficial to do some acting to get into your characters' heads. Blog post at Writers Anonymous and one from Teresa Frohock that also includes more links.

On making your characters realistic and credible from David Weber over at Tor.com. This one is lengthy but worth at least a skim.

And if the character you create doesn't work out right, don't give up. Joe Nassise over at Genreality describes how he inserted a previously created character into a work and the unexpected result. Save your characters because they might be perfect for a different story.

NanoWrimo 2009

2009-10-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

One month from yesterday is the beginning of National Novel Writing Month 2009 and I can't wait! Actually I can wait because I have more prep to do. I need to get to know my characters, figure out the villain and think about plot.

I did NanoWrimo the last three years and I've made the 50K goal only once. This is the year, I can feel it. And even if I don't make it, I will still have a great time and get in some great writing.

The first year I didn't do any planning. Instead I started with an image and built characters and a story around that. It was fun because there were so many surprises and twists that I didn't expect. Characters came out of nowhere and did crazy things I hadn't planned on.

The next year I spent a couple of months planning. I drew a map of the world I created, I formed character profiles, I wrote back story (which I did not include in the final word count). It was a very different experience and because I had more of an idea of who my characters were they didn't surprise me too many times. I also had plenty of story to tell so it was easy to make the 50K mark. I love that story and although it still needs a lot of work, I'm not giving up on it.

Last year I decided to do Nano at the last minute. I didn't commit totally and I struggled with my work. I didn't make the goal and when it was over I felt like it was complete trash. I started with a concept I believed in but I didn't feel like I did anything with it. But a couple months later when I reread that project I was surprised at its potential. I've be working with it and hope that it will turn into a great project. So something good came of it after all.

Bottom line: I heart NanoWrimo and you should, too!

Shannon Hale: Book of A Thousand Days

2009-10-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

My sister, along with many other readers, absolutely loves Shannon Hale. I recently read Austenland and very much enjoyed it, so I thought I would give some of her other works a try. I must admit, I think I'm hooked as well.

Book of a Thousand Days is geared toward a younger audience but it is still entertaining and enchanting. The simplicity of the story paired with the lovely characters make it one of my favorites. Plus, there's a love story - I am a girl, after all.

The novel is in the format of a journal written by a servant girl over the course of 1000 days, some of which she is locked in a tower with her mistress. I thought it would get slow after a while, but I never got bored. It only took me a couple of days to read, partly because of the level of reading, but also because I didn't want to put it down.

This book is why I love Young Adult fiction and will continue to read it for many years to come.

Link Lineup

2009-09-30T11:00:00.001-04:00

I've slowly been gathering links through Twitter (great resource for writing and books in general) and blogs I subscribe to. I figured it was time to unload a few on you:

Motivation
Depressed, dejected and/or discouraged? You're not the only one. Here are 7 tips on how to ditch that mood and get back to joyous writing (from Nina Amir at RedRoom).

Getting Started
Great stuff about your opening line from Jeff Gerke over at Editor Unleashed. "You get only one first line. It has the most impact of any sentence in your entire book. Don’t fritter it away."

In the Middle of Things
Having trouble with plot like I am currently with my WIP? Adding an action scene isn't always the answer... even if that ninja you threw in was really cool. Action vs. Plot by Carrie Vaughn over at Genreality.

Break the Block
Feeling stuck? It might be that keyboard and word processor holding you back. Step away and do some old fashioned writing with pen and paper. Here's why from The Writing Base.

The Cherry on Top
Love libraries? Me too. From Curious Expeditions, a compilation of lovely libraries.

David Eddings: Pawn of Prophecy

2009-09-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

Since David Eddings passed away recently I've been meaning to pick up some of his more popular works to find out exactly what he was all about. His Belgariad series is one of his more well known and Pawn of Prophecy is the first book in that series. I am so glad I decided to read this one and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

The story is simple and the plot fits into the standard hero's journey, but it's this simplicity that I liked so much. The characters are likable and the antagonists are mysterious. I guess this hero story is so popular because it is such a good one. People, me included, love to read this plot line. We love to like a character and see how this new friend of ours overcomes challenges and saves the world. It works even after all these years.

I'll be going back to the library this week to get the next Belgariad book Queen of Sorcery.

So many people I know have read these books and learned to love fantasy because of them. Your thoughts?

Reading Foundation

2009-09-29T00:09:00.003-04:00

I went through a short stint where I wasn't reading anything other than blogs, twitter, and Facebook updates for a few weeks. I very quickly missed the regular time I spent reading novels and took a trip to the library as soon as I could. Occasionally I go through these phases when I read a lot all at once and then take a break and then jump right back in again.

I grew up reading the Bible with my family and my parents instilled a love of reading in me early on. My mom thinks that any leisure reading is a waste of time so I lean toward the belief that I got my love of reading from my Grandmother's genes. I enjoyed the assigned reading I had in Middle School and High School. I learned to love some of the classics, although I didn't read nearly as many as I would have liked. I also made time outside of school to read things that interested me.

I have found that this variety of reading has helped me with my writing. I have a more extensive vocabulary and more examples of different kinds of characters floating around in my mind. You learn something different from everything you read whether it is about characters, plot, relationships, or action sequences.

Juliet Marillier over at Writer Unboxed wrote a post about the importance of reading to enhance your writing back in July. "A writer’s language, vocabulary and storytelling style are loosely formed from childhood reading, then broaden and deepen with exposure to new and varied reading material as an adult."

She points out that you can find all sorts of material from the things you read. I am not one to keep up with the news generally, but Juliet points out that reading articles and news can give you great ideas. I'm seriously considering this advice.

Another point she made has got me thinking - foreign works. I think I'm pretty well versed in American and English classics, but I haven't a clue where to start in venturing into the classics of the other great cultures of our world. I'd gladly welcome any suggestions...

There sure are a lot of books out there, huh? Better get reading!!

Quote of the Week

2009-09-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

A novel should be an experience and convey an emotional truth rather than arguments.

- Joyce Cary

Clive Cussler: Corsair

2009-09-28T00:11:00.000-04:00

I really like Cussler's Oregon files series. Corsair is the most recent installment and I enjoyed it just as much as I did the others that came before. The twists are fun, if somewhat expected, and the characters are just as entertaining. Juan Cabrillo is one of my favorite protagonists and the Oregon is also one of my favorite characters, despite the fact that it's a ship. I love these types of secret operation plots.

One of the things that Cussler always does well, and that I am beginning to appreciate more and more, is the villain. In trying to write villains for my own stories I realize how difficult it is to write a character that is smart and evil at the same time.

If you're looking for a good fast action read, Cussler will never disappoint!

A Smile for a Monday

2009-09-21T13:30:00.000-04:00

Found this through Twitter and I think it is just so cool! It's a stop motion music video. Great display of creativity. I really like the Dual Identity blog, too.

Quote of the Week #32

2009-09-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, on turns as it were instinctively to long works and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.

-George Orwell

Quote of the Week #31

2009-09-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Nobody got anywhere in the world by simply being content.

-Louis L'Amour

Link Collection

2009-09-07T23:34:00.002-04:00

I realize it's been a while since my last official post, so here's something to hold you over: links! Special note: NanoWrimo starts in a month and a half and I haven't thought about it nearly enough. Gotta start planning!

Motivation
Be prepared for the moment when it comes - comparing photography and writing.

Getting Started
Start with crap just to get the juices flowing. Here are a few ways to get the creative muscles warm.

In the Middle of Things
I've been having trouble developing some of my characters in my work in progress. Amy & the Pen gives some good ideas on how to get to know your characters better.

Editing
Tighten up that manuscript. But take these with a grain of salt, I think, because it is still yours.

The Cherry on Top
Some very cool works of art by Su Blackwell via the Telegraph. These are so beautiful.

Quote of the Week #30

2009-09-07T11:00:00.000-04:00

Genius creates, and taste preserves. Taste is the good sense of genius; without taste, genius is only sublime folly.

-Alexander Pope

Quote of the Week #29

2009-08-31T11:00:00.000-04:00

At the back of our brains, so to speak, there is a forgotten blaze or burst of astonishment at our own existence. The object of the artistic and spiritual life is to dig for this sunrise of wonder.

-G.K. Chesterton

Quote of the Week #28

2009-08-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear.

-Ezra Pound

Quote of the Week #27

2009-08-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson