I got a new laptop. I named it Aliquis (yes, I name my technology), after a character in the End Game series 'cause its colors match that character. Then I got a wireless mouse. Normally I don't name those, but when I found the white & red one, I knew I had to get it, simply 'cause it reminded me of Blaze.
So, everything comes back to my books. Always.
Though I haven't done much writing as of late (eesh. April is gonna be a tricky month to roll into), I still can't fully detach my brain from my characters and their stories. Granted, I haven't devoted quite as much time to them as I have in the past, but in the end, they're still a huge part of me. As evidenced by names for technology and choices of wireless mice. (Speaking of mice, check out this shirt I want on Woot.)
I imagine that this is how most writers are. In spite of whatever efforts we may make - whether conscious or otherwise - to distance ourselves from a story, we inevitably wind up right back in the thick of it. Our stories and characters become as real to us as reality is to everyone else. I like to think that's why so many writers have trouble focusing. We're a little busy getting lost in a world that, for the moment, only we see.
It'll be fun when the rest of the world sees that world too.
I finished my query and am waiting on feedback from some friends. Then I'm editing it again and letting my family tear it apart. Then I'm editing it again and letting some coworkers look at it. Then I'm sending it off to agents. For all I know, I'll have an editor by summer. Wouldn't that be strangely awesome.
By the way, Camp Nano is only nine days away. NINE DAYS. WHAT.
Adventure well everyone! We have near fifty degree weather this weekend, so I anticipate some archery will be occurring at my house. I'm excited. I'm also gonna go old camera hunting at thrift stores tomorrow. I'll explain that in the next post.
Currently Writing: Zero Point One Outline
Currently Listening to: "Language" by Porter Robinson
Showing posts with label Camp Nano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camp Nano. Show all posts
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sometimes Five Hours of Sleep is Enough
Writing the ancient world of my books has been an interesting dilemma.
The other day I was attempting to hammer away at a chunk of ZP, all of which was literally the beginning of the world of Tilion, and I struggled to get the images in my head to coherently make their way to the page. After two hours to meagerly writing and coming up with nothing I was proud of, I sat back and stared at my computer screen. Arms crossed over my chest, I shook my head as I read what I had written. How could I literally shove five books out of my head in one year with perfect clarity and relative success as to continuity, but I couldn't finish one story about character's histories or about the ancient world of Tilion?
Then it hit me.
Remember, Susan, you spent five years planning out the End Game thread. (That's me talking to myself, in case you didn't catch it.) Five years. That isn't a trivial thing. In taking that much time to think (a lot of which was random car rides between school and home), I had figured out most of the story line and the major plot points. Sure, million of minute details still needed to be fleshed out, but on the whole, I was ready to go whenever my stubbornness was overcome.
Now that all of that is out of the way and I'm beginning to delve into histories (and possibly futures?) of my characters, no wonder it's taking longer. I haven't spent much time thinking.
Thinking is crucial for me when it comes to story creation. This past weekend, I got to visit a friend in Upstate New York. That five and a half hour trip was more beneficial than I could have imagined. Sitting in a car leaves me with little to do but think and imagine and dream. I follow random tendrils of ideas and explore avenues. I imagine "movie trailers" of each story. It sounds absurd, but that helps me get key images down in my mind. Sometimes I'll put a song on repeat if a specific image comes to mind, simply so it can be solidified in my head.
So I thought. A lot. I delved into characters I haven't fully explored before and began to pull at their nitty-gritty details. That's hard to do sometimes, especially when the character in question's history holds something you don't expect. By the time I got home, I was excited and ready to tackle the next story in the histories. Eventually though, I really would like to finish Arthur. That book being half done really kind of bothers me.
In other news, I've got another stand-alone story idea. This is a new concept for me. So I've written the basic idea down and maybe, when I'm ready to create a new world, I'll explore that avenue. I'm fairly certain that that desire isn't going to pop up any time soon. I've got enough to explore for the time being.
I'm exhausted, but that's what coffee's for.
Adventure well everyone! It's warm(ish) in PA right now, so I'm gonna take advantage of it and shoot some arrows into targets.
Currently Writing: Zero Point One
Currently Listening to: "Language" by Porter Robinson
P.S. - For the sake of Camp Nano, I've decided to chop ZP into four(?) books, each containing three character histories. Eventually, I'll shove them all together and it'll be a massive book of epic proportions that no one but myself and my crazy friends will want to read.
The other day I was attempting to hammer away at a chunk of ZP, all of which was literally the beginning of the world of Tilion, and I struggled to get the images in my head to coherently make their way to the page. After two hours to meagerly writing and coming up with nothing I was proud of, I sat back and stared at my computer screen. Arms crossed over my chest, I shook my head as I read what I had written. How could I literally shove five books out of my head in one year with perfect clarity and relative success as to continuity, but I couldn't finish one story about character's histories or about the ancient world of Tilion?
Then it hit me.
Remember, Susan, you spent five years planning out the End Game thread. (That's me talking to myself, in case you didn't catch it.) Five years. That isn't a trivial thing. In taking that much time to think (a lot of which was random car rides between school and home), I had figured out most of the story line and the major plot points. Sure, million of minute details still needed to be fleshed out, but on the whole, I was ready to go whenever my stubbornness was overcome.
Now that all of that is out of the way and I'm beginning to delve into histories (and possibly futures?) of my characters, no wonder it's taking longer. I haven't spent much time thinking.
Thinking is crucial for me when it comes to story creation. This past weekend, I got to visit a friend in Upstate New York. That five and a half hour trip was more beneficial than I could have imagined. Sitting in a car leaves me with little to do but think and imagine and dream. I follow random tendrils of ideas and explore avenues. I imagine "movie trailers" of each story. It sounds absurd, but that helps me get key images down in my mind. Sometimes I'll put a song on repeat if a specific image comes to mind, simply so it can be solidified in my head.
So I thought. A lot. I delved into characters I haven't fully explored before and began to pull at their nitty-gritty details. That's hard to do sometimes, especially when the character in question's history holds something you don't expect. By the time I got home, I was excited and ready to tackle the next story in the histories. Eventually though, I really would like to finish Arthur. That book being half done really kind of bothers me.
In other news, I've got another stand-alone story idea. This is a new concept for me. So I've written the basic idea down and maybe, when I'm ready to create a new world, I'll explore that avenue. I'm fairly certain that that desire isn't going to pop up any time soon. I've got enough to explore for the time being.
I'm exhausted, but that's what coffee's for.
Adventure well everyone! It's warm(ish) in PA right now, so I'm gonna take advantage of it and shoot some arrows into targets.
Currently Writing: Zero Point One
Currently Listening to: "Language" by Porter Robinson
P.S. - For the sake of Camp Nano, I've decided to chop ZP into four(?) books, each containing three character histories. Eventually, I'll shove them all together and it'll be a massive book of epic proportions that no one but myself and my crazy friends will want to read.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Ten Things
I'm gonna take a moment to tell you random little things about myself that not everyone knows. Those that do know these things find them odd and tend to laugh at me about them. I don't rightly care.
1. I eat M&M's by color and assemble each color group into a triangle, eating them one at a time, starting at the top. It bothers me when I can't eat them like that.
2. I love the smell of gasoline, bleach, freshly cut grass, and firewood.
3. I hate touchpads on laptops. I find them jumpy & skittery and though it's nothing life threatening, I detest using them.
4. Though I'm twenty-four and do like looking my age via my clothing, I love graphic t-shirts. Whether they display an image or a phrase, I love 'em. The feel, the look, everything about them. I could wear a knit sweater that's comfortable, but the moment I feel like I'm not doing anything "important" (aka, going out to do stuff), I change into a t-shirt.
5. It angers me when my cash isn't all facing the same direction. I will literally stop whatever I'm doing sometimes at work and organize the bills in my drawer. What way do I like them? Face up, with the top of the bill to the right. My mom always said I would make a great bank teller. I even fix bills in friend's wallets, simply 'cause it'll rub against my mind all day until I do something about it.
6. Whenever I find a penny on the ground, I don't pick it up. If it's face up, I leave it alone. If it's face down, I'll flip it over and then leave it behind. Some people are superstitious about stuff like that and think heads-up pennies are good luck. I'll take the bad luck for someone else if it means it'll make their day a little better.
7. I love seeing random acts of kindness. Those times when you act and you think no one is looking or listening and you do something simply out of the kindness of your heart. I love those moments. I think they should be reinforced and reiterated a thousand times. Because the small things matter, even if you don't think so.
8. Talking about myself has never been my strong suit. I'm far more comfortable sitting and listening to someone for hours - yes, hours - and never saying a single thing. I'm perfectly content with sitting back and listening to a great storyteller, even if they're only telling me about their day. Some people have this great gift for telling tales by adding sound effects, side commentary, and emphasizing things in just the right way that you're sucked into whatever they're saying. And when you think back on the conversation, you realize all they talked about was doing their laundry. I love those kinds of people. I think they're born storytellers, and I always want to record them, thinking that what I'm hearing isn't just some boring, run-of-the-mill tale, but a grand adventure.
9. My favorite number is 5, second only to the number 9. I don't know why I like those numbers, I just do. If I had to guess, it's because 5 is right in the middle of nearly everything (think of a number between 1 and 10 sort of stuff), and 9, though a high-roller, isn't nearly as obnoxious as 10, which thinks itself so important as to require a second digit. 9, I think, is a number perfectly content with itself and 5 is a-okay with being stuck in the middle.
10. I've always wanted to fly. And I don't mean Superman fly - that's the boring way to go about it. I mean with feathered wings. For as long as I can remember, I've always had this strong desire to take off and fly away. To feel the air glide through the soft feathers of my wings, to dart through a cloud, to skim a still lake and run my hand across the water. To escape the monotony of life and become something extraordinary. Whenever I see a beautiful sunset, I almost immediately think, "I need a camera and I need wings, pronto." To rise above - literally - and see the world in a whole new way. I think that's why I gave Jen wings. 'Cause if I couldn't have them, well, then I needed to write about someone who did.
For those interested, Camp Nano is coming back in April. Anyone gonna join me? I'm gonna use it as an excuse to really kick things into gear with Zero Point and hammer out at least three more stories from that.
Adventure well, brave warriors.
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Listening to: THIS. On repeat. I seriously lol every time this comes on the radio now.
1. I eat M&M's by color and assemble each color group into a triangle, eating them one at a time, starting at the top. It bothers me when I can't eat them like that.
2. I love the smell of gasoline, bleach, freshly cut grass, and firewood.
3. I hate touchpads on laptops. I find them jumpy & skittery and though it's nothing life threatening, I detest using them.
4. Though I'm twenty-four and do like looking my age via my clothing, I love graphic t-shirts. Whether they display an image or a phrase, I love 'em. The feel, the look, everything about them. I could wear a knit sweater that's comfortable, but the moment I feel like I'm not doing anything "important" (aka, going out to do stuff), I change into a t-shirt.
5. It angers me when my cash isn't all facing the same direction. I will literally stop whatever I'm doing sometimes at work and organize the bills in my drawer. What way do I like them? Face up, with the top of the bill to the right. My mom always said I would make a great bank teller. I even fix bills in friend's wallets, simply 'cause it'll rub against my mind all day until I do something about it.
6. Whenever I find a penny on the ground, I don't pick it up. If it's face up, I leave it alone. If it's face down, I'll flip it over and then leave it behind. Some people are superstitious about stuff like that and think heads-up pennies are good luck. I'll take the bad luck for someone else if it means it'll make their day a little better.
7. I love seeing random acts of kindness. Those times when you act and you think no one is looking or listening and you do something simply out of the kindness of your heart. I love those moments. I think they should be reinforced and reiterated a thousand times. Because the small things matter, even if you don't think so.
8. Talking about myself has never been my strong suit. I'm far more comfortable sitting and listening to someone for hours - yes, hours - and never saying a single thing. I'm perfectly content with sitting back and listening to a great storyteller, even if they're only telling me about their day. Some people have this great gift for telling tales by adding sound effects, side commentary, and emphasizing things in just the right way that you're sucked into whatever they're saying. And when you think back on the conversation, you realize all they talked about was doing their laundry. I love those kinds of people. I think they're born storytellers, and I always want to record them, thinking that what I'm hearing isn't just some boring, run-of-the-mill tale, but a grand adventure.
9. My favorite number is 5, second only to the number 9. I don't know why I like those numbers, I just do. If I had to guess, it's because 5 is right in the middle of nearly everything (think of a number between 1 and 10 sort of stuff), and 9, though a high-roller, isn't nearly as obnoxious as 10, which thinks itself so important as to require a second digit. 9, I think, is a number perfectly content with itself and 5 is a-okay with being stuck in the middle.
10. I've always wanted to fly. And I don't mean Superman fly - that's the boring way to go about it. I mean with feathered wings. For as long as I can remember, I've always had this strong desire to take off and fly away. To feel the air glide through the soft feathers of my wings, to dart through a cloud, to skim a still lake and run my hand across the water. To escape the monotony of life and become something extraordinary. Whenever I see a beautiful sunset, I almost immediately think, "I need a camera and I need wings, pronto." To rise above - literally - and see the world in a whole new way. I think that's why I gave Jen wings. 'Cause if I couldn't have them, well, then I needed to write about someone who did.
For those interested, Camp Nano is coming back in April. Anyone gonna join me? I'm gonna use it as an excuse to really kick things into gear with Zero Point and hammer out at least three more stories from that.
Adventure well, brave warriors.
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Listening to: THIS. On repeat. I seriously lol every time this comes on the radio now.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Amongst the Chaos
I'm telling ya, this month has been hard.
Initially, I thought this month was going to be cake. I'd write every day and I'd totally cream that 50,000 word goal of Camp Nano and I'd have a blast with my friends at a wedding earlier this month and I'd enjoy work and I'd do a million other things and still have time to do what I wanted.
That was wrong.
Not only am I way behind on my Arthurian lore piece (which has been a blast), but I've thrown another major weight onto my shoulders. In less than a month (WHAT?!), I am embarking on self-promoting my book hard core. I'll be attending an art show that my town does every fall and broadcasting my book as much as possible. That means coming up with marketing and advertising and figuring out if I can afford to buy everything that people need when they start a business and...and...I don't even know what else.
Do I buy T-shirts? What about a banner? And how about business cards? Who should I get to endorse my book? Will anyone endorse my book? What will grab someone's attention? Will what grabs my attention grab someone else's?
And all the while, I'm scraping by to meet a goal that should have only taken me a couple of days to complete. My brain feels like mush half the time and the other half I'm running rampant with ideas and thoughts and wishes and oh gosh I really should work out and I should rework my cover art and maybe I should...
This is what I've signed up for.
This is it kids. No one said it would be easy. The bills will come. The money will be tight. The nights will be long and the hours will be strenuous. You will feel stretched as you write in the odd hours. You'll feel exhausted after coming home from 9 hours of physical labor. But it's the greatest of writers, I think, that persevere through this difficulty and become something more.
Don't shy away from the challenge. Believe in yourself, even if you can't find the faith to. Somehow I do. And I think that's simply because I get by with a little help from my friends.
Currently Reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Currently Writing: Arthur
Currently Editing: Genesis
Currently Listening to: "Promise" by Steven Bergesen
Initially, I thought this month was going to be cake. I'd write every day and I'd totally cream that 50,000 word goal of Camp Nano and I'd have a blast with my friends at a wedding earlier this month and I'd enjoy work and I'd do a million other things and still have time to do what I wanted.
That was wrong.
Not only am I way behind on my Arthurian lore piece (which has been a blast), but I've thrown another major weight onto my shoulders. In less than a month (WHAT?!), I am embarking on self-promoting my book hard core. I'll be attending an art show that my town does every fall and broadcasting my book as much as possible. That means coming up with marketing and advertising and figuring out if I can afford to buy everything that people need when they start a business and...and...I don't even know what else.
Do I buy T-shirts? What about a banner? And how about business cards? Who should I get to endorse my book? Will anyone endorse my book? What will grab someone's attention? Will what grabs my attention grab someone else's?
And all the while, I'm scraping by to meet a goal that should have only taken me a couple of days to complete. My brain feels like mush half the time and the other half I'm running rampant with ideas and thoughts and wishes and oh gosh I really should work out and I should rework my cover art and maybe I should...
This is what I've signed up for.
This is it kids. No one said it would be easy. The bills will come. The money will be tight. The nights will be long and the hours will be strenuous. You will feel stretched as you write in the odd hours. You'll feel exhausted after coming home from 9 hours of physical labor. But it's the greatest of writers, I think, that persevere through this difficulty and become something more.
Don't shy away from the challenge. Believe in yourself, even if you can't find the faith to. Somehow I do. And I think that's simply because I get by with a little help from my friends.
Currently Reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Currently Writing: Arthur
Currently Editing: Genesis
Currently Listening to: "Promise" by Steven Bergesen
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Accuracy
I've never written a story that has historical fact to it.
Okay, so Arthurian lore isn't historical fact. But, there is a universally known bit about Arthur. He was king of England at some point. He may or may not have worked with Robin Hood (who is also a fictional/possibly real character from history), and his tutor/educator was a wizard named Merlin. He had a half brother named Kay and a step-father/uncle named Sir Ector. He pulled the sword from the stone and was crowned king of England at a young age. In some levels of the myth, he's a bastard child of Uther Pendragon. He has a sword called Excalibur and spoke with a lady in a lake. He married Guinevere. She may (or may not), have had an affair with Lancelot, depending on which time frame you're talking about for the lore.
It's a lot that people tend to know or have some basic carnal knowledge of. While yes, I've written of real places before, this is different. There was a lot of research involved. It's kind of how it was when I wrote my novella. I sat down and read a lot before I actually started writing. I had cheat sheets to help guide me in the story and the characters.
This is a bit harder though. At least for me. Trudging through the sludge of may haves and may-not haves is difficult. Granted, it leaves a lot of room for play. I can mess with things because, technically, there's no real hard core proof that Arthur ever existed. He had a magician call snow out in the middle of summer for crying out loud. Probably a work of fiction that acted as a good story for kids back in the day.
So I keep reminding myself to have fun with it. Take what I know (and what the world knows), and make it your own. After all, we're messing with the way the world views things already in the current world-stream from the series.
Oh yeah, this story deals with the same world as my 5 book series. At this rate, I'm never going to be done with this world. Is it alright if I say that makes me smile? I'm having some fun though. Because I'm learning more about my characters along the way. There's a flip to that and that's simply this: plot holes! There's the potential for many of them to pop on up. I'm trying to squash them though and fill the cracks before they become craters.
That may prove difficult.
Happy writing everyone!
Currently Writing: Arthur
Currently Reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Currently Listening to: "What Makes you Beautiful" cover by The Piano Guys
PS - The Hobbit movie is going to be a 3 parter. I don't think I like that one bit.
Okay, so Arthurian lore isn't historical fact. But, there is a universally known bit about Arthur. He was king of England at some point. He may or may not have worked with Robin Hood (who is also a fictional/possibly real character from history), and his tutor/educator was a wizard named Merlin. He had a half brother named Kay and a step-father/uncle named Sir Ector. He pulled the sword from the stone and was crowned king of England at a young age. In some levels of the myth, he's a bastard child of Uther Pendragon. He has a sword called Excalibur and spoke with a lady in a lake. He married Guinevere. She may (or may not), have had an affair with Lancelot, depending on which time frame you're talking about for the lore.
It's a lot that people tend to know or have some basic carnal knowledge of. While yes, I've written of real places before, this is different. There was a lot of research involved. It's kind of how it was when I wrote my novella. I sat down and read a lot before I actually started writing. I had cheat sheets to help guide me in the story and the characters.
This is a bit harder though. At least for me. Trudging through the sludge of may haves and may-not haves is difficult. Granted, it leaves a lot of room for play. I can mess with things because, technically, there's no real hard core proof that Arthur ever existed. He had a magician call snow out in the middle of summer for crying out loud. Probably a work of fiction that acted as a good story for kids back in the day.
So I keep reminding myself to have fun with it. Take what I know (and what the world knows), and make it your own. After all, we're messing with the way the world views things already in the current world-stream from the series.
Oh yeah, this story deals with the same world as my 5 book series. At this rate, I'm never going to be done with this world. Is it alright if I say that makes me smile? I'm having some fun though. Because I'm learning more about my characters along the way. There's a flip to that and that's simply this: plot holes! There's the potential for many of them to pop on up. I'm trying to squash them though and fill the cracks before they become craters.
That may prove difficult.
Happy writing everyone!
Currently Writing: Arthur
Currently Reading: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Currently Listening to: "What Makes you Beautiful" cover by The Piano Guys
PS - The Hobbit movie is going to be a 3 parter. I don't think I like that one bit.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Where'd July Go?
Holy crap it's almost August.
You know what that means: another month of Camp Nano! And, crazily enough, another wedding! My August looks packed and I'm actually not sure if I'll reach my 50,000 word goal for the month. With a wedding, a sister coming back from a summer gone working stage design for a theater, and a week down at Ocean City with my family...
It'll be tough. But I think I can do it. So long as I'm dedicated. And that's the important thing. Just keep plugging away. My breaks will become time to scribble notes, small scenes and what not down while I'm away from my computer and I'll just learn to drink coffee.
July has truly flown past. It's been good, but shockingly busy. With getting into a stride having regular work (and with that, regular money), and all of the craziness at church with Philly Extreme and VBS, it's been hard to get into a routine. It also doesn't help much that despite the many ideas floating around my head, I took this past month off to not write.
I'm itching to get back to it. Writing the outline for the Arthurian tale has been fun, but a lot of it is foggy. There's a lot that I really don't know what's happening. It's kinda how I felt when I started trying to figure out my fifth book.
Well, as always, happy writing everyone! Anyone interested in Camp Nano should check it out. I highly encourage everyone to embark on it. You never know what you're capable of until you try.
Currently Writing: Absolutely nothing (sing it again!)
Currently Reading: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Currently Listening to: "Idumea" by the Millikin University Choir
You know what that means: another month of Camp Nano! And, crazily enough, another wedding! My August looks packed and I'm actually not sure if I'll reach my 50,000 word goal for the month. With a wedding, a sister coming back from a summer gone working stage design for a theater, and a week down at Ocean City with my family...
It'll be tough. But I think I can do it. So long as I'm dedicated. And that's the important thing. Just keep plugging away. My breaks will become time to scribble notes, small scenes and what not down while I'm away from my computer and I'll just learn to drink coffee.
July has truly flown past. It's been good, but shockingly busy. With getting into a stride having regular work (and with that, regular money), and all of the craziness at church with Philly Extreme and VBS, it's been hard to get into a routine. It also doesn't help much that despite the many ideas floating around my head, I took this past month off to not write.
I'm itching to get back to it. Writing the outline for the Arthurian tale has been fun, but a lot of it is foggy. There's a lot that I really don't know what's happening. It's kinda how I felt when I started trying to figure out my fifth book.
Well, as always, happy writing everyone! Anyone interested in Camp Nano should check it out. I highly encourage everyone to embark on it. You never know what you're capable of until you try.
Currently Writing: Absolutely nothing (sing it again!)
Currently Reading: The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Currently Listening to: "Idumea" by the Millikin University Choir
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Inspiration
I think most writers strive for one of a few things: some level of acceptance of their stories (and by extension, themselves), self-actualization, and to inspire others.
At least, that's what I think. The truly greatest writers weren't writing because they wanted to be looked at as the greatest. They were writing stories they liked and they wanted to drive others to do something extraordinary. Even if that extraordinary thing might simply to be to save a seat for someone on a bus. Personally, I really want to inspire people.
I want my stories to make people sit back and go, "That was great. I want to write a story like that/draw a picture based on this/write a song about this/etc." To fuel someone else's creativity would be fantastic. Additionally, if I could help someone realize their talent, well, then that's phenomenal.
Once again, I count myself blessed. See, I've already attained that goal of mine. In a few ways, but among which is that this past weekend, one of my friends gave me a drawing she did based on my book. Then she went into a long talk about how she has all of these other drawings she wants to do of scenes from my books. It's crazy enough that a year ago, she wrote me a poem based on the first book, but to know that she's still becoming inspired to now draw things from the stories...that's just...
Indescribable. It's awesome and wonderful and gives me this great fuzzy feeling. I guess it's what reaching a goal feels like. To arrive at a finish line you didn't really know existed. It was this thing that floated around in space that I knew would be cool, but I never actually assumed it would reach some level of actuality.
I guess I'm just lucky.
In other news, I completed Camp Nano. For the next month, I plan on spending my free time editor hunting. Or...terrifyingly enough, possibly using CreateSpace to self-publish. Oh the possibilities.
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Reading: Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Currently Listening to: "Pharaoh's Throne" by LittleKuriboh
At least, that's what I think. The truly greatest writers weren't writing because they wanted to be looked at as the greatest. They were writing stories they liked and they wanted to drive others to do something extraordinary. Even if that extraordinary thing might simply to be to save a seat for someone on a bus. Personally, I really want to inspire people.
I want my stories to make people sit back and go, "That was great. I want to write a story like that/draw a picture based on this/write a song about this/etc." To fuel someone else's creativity would be fantastic. Additionally, if I could help someone realize their talent, well, then that's phenomenal.
Once again, I count myself blessed. See, I've already attained that goal of mine. In a few ways, but among which is that this past weekend, one of my friends gave me a drawing she did based on my book. Then she went into a long talk about how she has all of these other drawings she wants to do of scenes from my books. It's crazy enough that a year ago, she wrote me a poem based on the first book, but to know that she's still becoming inspired to now draw things from the stories...that's just...
Indescribable. It's awesome and wonderful and gives me this great fuzzy feeling. I guess it's what reaching a goal feels like. To arrive at a finish line you didn't really know existed. It was this thing that floated around in space that I knew would be cool, but I never actually assumed it would reach some level of actuality.
I guess I'm just lucky.
In other news, I completed Camp Nano. For the next month, I plan on spending my free time editor hunting. Or...terrifyingly enough, possibly using CreateSpace to self-publish. Oh the possibilities.
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Reading: Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Currently Listening to: "Pharaoh's Throne" by LittleKuriboh
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
5 Days and Counting
Camp Nano is underway. So far, I'm off to a flying start.
As of this moment, I'm a little over 20,000 words into the prequel I'm writing. Meanwhile, I'm beginning the arduous search for an Editor. Or agent. Whichever happens to hit me first. I'm nervous, but excited (so I sang a song called, "Nervous, but excited"). It's going to be an interesting journey to travel along. Finding the right place for my books to land will be difficult, but I think I'm prepared for whatever will happen.
Today I got to go swing a broadsword around at a stage combat class my brother is part of. It was really cool to hear metal clash and feel the vibration up my arms as I sparred with my brother. We were super careful not to hit one another (naturally), but still. The thrill of it was something I don't think I'll forget any time soon. If I can afford the classes, I'll be going for the next few weeks to learn all I can about broadsword fighting. Simply 'cause it's cool.
In other news, I've got a job. I walked back into my old Staples store and said I was done school. A few minutes later, my old General Manager had me enlisted for an opening in our Copy Center. Hopefully I'll start in a week or so. You know what that means, right? Me, tying furiously at my computer to get as much work done as possible on my prequel before I start working. Dang. I need new black pants.
Also, in two weeks, I reach my anniversary of the insanity of writing. On June 18th, I started writing my second book. I haven't stopped writing since. I've vowed to myself not to count up how many words I've written until the 19th. Who thinks I can finish my prequel before that time? I'm hopeful.
Happy writing everyone!
Oh, and I got a HubPages. I'll add it to the links on the right.
Currently Editing: Unity
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Reading: Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Currently Listening to: "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore
As of this moment, I'm a little over 20,000 words into the prequel I'm writing. Meanwhile, I'm beginning the arduous search for an Editor. Or agent. Whichever happens to hit me first. I'm nervous, but excited (so I sang a song called, "Nervous, but excited"). It's going to be an interesting journey to travel along. Finding the right place for my books to land will be difficult, but I think I'm prepared for whatever will happen.
Today I got to go swing a broadsword around at a stage combat class my brother is part of. It was really cool to hear metal clash and feel the vibration up my arms as I sparred with my brother. We were super careful not to hit one another (naturally), but still. The thrill of it was something I don't think I'll forget any time soon. If I can afford the classes, I'll be going for the next few weeks to learn all I can about broadsword fighting. Simply 'cause it's cool.
In other news, I've got a job. I walked back into my old Staples store and said I was done school. A few minutes later, my old General Manager had me enlisted for an opening in our Copy Center. Hopefully I'll start in a week or so. You know what that means, right? Me, tying furiously at my computer to get as much work done as possible on my prequel before I start working. Dang. I need new black pants.
Also, in two weeks, I reach my anniversary of the insanity of writing. On June 18th, I started writing my second book. I haven't stopped writing since. I've vowed to myself not to count up how many words I've written until the 19th. Who thinks I can finish my prequel before that time? I'm hopeful.
Happy writing everyone!
Oh, and I got a HubPages. I'll add it to the links on the right.
Currently Editing: Unity
Currently Writing: Zero Point
Currently Reading: Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Currently Listening to: "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
A Book in a Month?
I'm embarking on Camp Nano this June and (hopefully), this August.
The rules are the same. Write at least a 50,000 word book in a month. It sounds easy for me, but even as I think about it, I know it won't be. At the very least, it shouldn't. I did just graduate college - that means I need to find a job. Preferably soon.
One of the things I keep being told to press on though is the fact that I didn't write 5 books and a novella this year by accident. God did implement this somehow and it couldn't have just been a freak mistake for things to progress as far as they So even with my bills looming off in the distance, staring down at me, I'm trying to just remain calm.
Which I think is good advice for any recent college grad. Don't freak out. Just take the days one at a time. Continue to do your best in all that you do. So if it means you're going back to work in retail for the time being, okay. Be happy with the fact that you have a job, that you've been awarded the opportunity to make money. If you're heading off to some big company with a large salary, good for you. And if you're like me, scrounging about for a job and pleading with whomever may come across our way, just relax. It'll all be okay. Just keep working. Keep pushing forward.
Whatever you do and whatever you are, be the greatest of that. No one can do you better than you.
And I encourage all the writers out there to join Camp Nano. Even those that haven't thought to actually write. The first step is always the hardest. Trust me. After that, well, sometimes you can just let gravity do it's work. Take a step of faith and give it a shot. Writing a book isn't easy, but it can be one of the greatest things ever.
In other news, my sister-in-law is due to deliver her baby sometime in the next week. Wow, does time fly.
Happy writing!
Currently Reading: Green by Ted Dekker
Currently [Re]Writing: Unity
Currently Listening to: "Lost in Las Vegas" by Two Steps From Hell
The rules are the same. Write at least a 50,000 word book in a month. It sounds easy for me, but even as I think about it, I know it won't be. At the very least, it shouldn't. I did just graduate college - that means I need to find a job. Preferably soon.
One of the things I keep being told to press on though is the fact that I didn't write 5 books and a novella this year by accident. God did implement this somehow and it couldn't have just been a freak mistake for things to progress as far as they So even with my bills looming off in the distance, staring down at me, I'm trying to just remain calm.
Which I think is good advice for any recent college grad. Don't freak out. Just take the days one at a time. Continue to do your best in all that you do. So if it means you're going back to work in retail for the time being, okay. Be happy with the fact that you have a job, that you've been awarded the opportunity to make money. If you're heading off to some big company with a large salary, good for you. And if you're like me, scrounging about for a job and pleading with whomever may come across our way, just relax. It'll all be okay. Just keep working. Keep pushing forward.
Whatever you do and whatever you are, be the greatest of that. No one can do you better than you.
And I encourage all the writers out there to join Camp Nano. Even those that haven't thought to actually write. The first step is always the hardest. Trust me. After that, well, sometimes you can just let gravity do it's work. Take a step of faith and give it a shot. Writing a book isn't easy, but it can be one of the greatest things ever.
In other news, my sister-in-law is due to deliver her baby sometime in the next week. Wow, does time fly.
Happy writing!
Currently Reading: Green by Ted Dekker
Currently [Re]Writing: Unity
Currently Listening to: "Lost in Las Vegas" by Two Steps From Hell
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