I have an idea for a travel book for kids. It's interactive and based on travel games I played in the car when my family went on car rides when I was young. These are the same games I "forced" my kids to play when they were younger.
I threw my idea out to a friend the other day and she said she didn't think it was going to work. She thinks that kids these days have movies and electronics and wouldn't be interested in car games.
And I'm now concerned that she might be right!
Remember "Mr. Mystery" books? They had games and puzzles and you used a mystery pen to reveal the hidden answers. We LOVED to travel with those and now they are difficult to find. Has the allure disappeared for kids?
Tell me what you think. I have a lot of fabulous ideas for this and I'm planning to pursue it still, but only to a point. If there is a significant lack of interest, maybe I'll change my focus to revising my novels and outlining the next. It's not like I have a lack of projects.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
More creative time
Part of my new years resolution is to make more creative time in my life. I aim to have just a few hours a week that are mine to create something, whether that be quilting, scrapping, writing, or something else. It's time away from the gym, chores, cooking, and work. It's good for the brain.
I've made a slow start at it. I had to actually get some work done in my creative space in order to make it a place to feel like I can actually do something besides work. But I have spent several weekends in a row making things. And it feels GREAT!
This week I got to read a story someone I know is submitting for publishing. I just read it and gave her a few suggestions. It's a really neat story and I hope it gets published. She wrote it off a prompt. I think I might make it a goal to write something for publishing. I loved to read hers and hope that someone would like to read mine. (Though her amazing level of creativity makes me feel quite intimidated). I'll link to her story if it's published. You should read it too.
Yay, for creative 2017!!
I've made a slow start at it. I had to actually get some work done in my creative space in order to make it a place to feel like I can actually do something besides work. But I have spent several weekends in a row making things. And it feels GREAT!
This week I got to read a story someone I know is submitting for publishing. I just read it and gave her a few suggestions. It's a really neat story and I hope it gets published. She wrote it off a prompt. I think I might make it a goal to write something for publishing. I loved to read hers and hope that someone would like to read mine. (Though her amazing level of creativity makes me feel quite intimidated). I'll link to her story if it's published. You should read it too.
Yay, for creative 2017!!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Win!
I did it! I have logged my 3rd Nano Win!
I don't have to tell you that I'm pretty excited, but I will. I'm pretty excited about this!
This story budded in late October. I was starting to panic because I didn't have a plot yet. But then there it was. It evolved over the course of the month. There is a lot at the front that isn't going to stay because of the direction the story took, but every word written helped lead me there, so they are all important.
If anyone ever has a desire to participate in Nano in the future, I'll give you a tip here. Go all in. Sign up. Fill out the profile on the website. Make buddies on the site. Participate in the forums. Donate something, even if it's a dollar. Go to the write in's. Go all in and invest in the process. Get to know your Municipal Liaisons, we are there to give you encouragement.
It really does help to be part of the community. It helps to feel supported. You will learn tricks and tidbits that help with your word count and creative process.
Not to mention it is FUN!
I cannot put this novel to the side and make a promise to edit later. I know me. I won't get back to it. I would probably have to start over. I have to do at least some editing now. Now, when I know what is missing at the beginning. Now, when I still have the *feelings* that I tried to convey. So, I will, make the promise to keep going. This has now become Decembers Problem, and it is almost December.
I am looking forward to reading some books again though. I haven't felt like I could pick up a book all month. Not without guilt that I could be writing instead. There is a stack. I didn't stop collecting them in November, I just paused on reading them.
Celebration and TGIO party is upcoming. I'll put editing in my planner and see how that goes. I've never edited a book before. This is going to be a first.
I don't have to tell you that I'm pretty excited, but I will. I'm pretty excited about this!
This story budded in late October. I was starting to panic because I didn't have a plot yet. But then there it was. It evolved over the course of the month. There is a lot at the front that isn't going to stay because of the direction the story took, but every word written helped lead me there, so they are all important.
If anyone ever has a desire to participate in Nano in the future, I'll give you a tip here. Go all in. Sign up. Fill out the profile on the website. Make buddies on the site. Participate in the forums. Donate something, even if it's a dollar. Go to the write in's. Go all in and invest in the process. Get to know your Municipal Liaisons, we are there to give you encouragement.
It really does help to be part of the community. It helps to feel supported. You will learn tricks and tidbits that help with your word count and creative process.
Not to mention it is FUN!
I cannot put this novel to the side and make a promise to edit later. I know me. I won't get back to it. I would probably have to start over. I have to do at least some editing now. Now, when I know what is missing at the beginning. Now, when I still have the *feelings* that I tried to convey. So, I will, make the promise to keep going. This has now become Decembers Problem, and it is almost December.
I am looking forward to reading some books again though. I haven't felt like I could pick up a book all month. Not without guilt that I could be writing instead. There is a stack. I didn't stop collecting them in November, I just paused on reading them.
Celebration and TGIO party is upcoming. I'll put editing in my planner and see how that goes. I've never edited a book before. This is going to be a first.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Playing catch up
I started off the month behind. I logged 300 words on the first day. Those words were typed in notes on my phone during my lunch break. I was working on a research paper at work during the day and really had no drive to sit down at my computer to type words for my novel when I got home. I did the first 300 words on the first day, so that I could tell myself that I'd started. I didn't make myself write another word until the weekend.
I went to my first Nano Write-in on Sunday. It was amazing. I was about an hour late to the write in. It was well attended. All of the seats around the table were taken. There were word wars and everyone was introduced to the "plot unstickers" that the more experienced Nano ML brings. She has several bags of different unstickers that are really funny. I didn't have to use those yet. But was very much enjoying everyone else talking about them. I got over 5,000 words written on that write-in.
Over the next few weeks I logged some words every day. I rarely made the minimum word count during the week. On Saturdays I had an appointment with my Aussie sister. We do virtual write ins and word wars. I have used those word wars to catch up on word count.
So most of my word count has come from the weekend write-ins and support from peers. And I'm in heaven. I love to hear about every ones progress at the Nano Write-in and the nuances of peoples stories. I'm honestly excited about reading some of those stories eventually.
Even with all the words I'm logging on the weekend, I'm consistently between 5,000 and 10,000 words behind schedule.
I had a four day weekend on Thanksgiving weekend. I had a goal to write 5,000 words each day. And I almost made it. I logged a fair amount on the morning of Thanksgiving. I planned to write some more in the evening. I'd planned to not drink at Thanksgiving dinner, but who was I kidding? I went to bed full and happy that night and slept in the next morning. On Friday, I did log 5,000 words. And on Saturday I had typed up over 1,000 words when my computer rebooted. I lost that work and had to start over. Imagine my frustration! I was able to recreate the scene, and I hope I made it better. I'm going to just consider that 1,000 words as practice. I logged 5,000 on Saturday.
There are are only a few days left of Nano 2016. I still have 10,000 words to write. I'm hoping that I can meet my 5,000 word Write-in average. Then I just have to make a minimal amount each week day for the few remaining days of the month.
I don't think anyone really cares about my word count and the history of my November 2016. But at least I'll be able to look back and remember the track I took to win this year.
To those of you who are still writing this November, KEEP IT UP! IF you hit 50,000 or 5,000, you've started a journey. You're going to go places.
I went to my first Nano Write-in on Sunday. It was amazing. I was about an hour late to the write in. It was well attended. All of the seats around the table were taken. There were word wars and everyone was introduced to the "plot unstickers" that the more experienced Nano ML brings. She has several bags of different unstickers that are really funny. I didn't have to use those yet. But was very much enjoying everyone else talking about them. I got over 5,000 words written on that write-in.
Over the next few weeks I logged some words every day. I rarely made the minimum word count during the week. On Saturdays I had an appointment with my Aussie sister. We do virtual write ins and word wars. I have used those word wars to catch up on word count.
So most of my word count has come from the weekend write-ins and support from peers. And I'm in heaven. I love to hear about every ones progress at the Nano Write-in and the nuances of peoples stories. I'm honestly excited about reading some of those stories eventually.
Even with all the words I'm logging on the weekend, I'm consistently between 5,000 and 10,000 words behind schedule.
I had a four day weekend on Thanksgiving weekend. I had a goal to write 5,000 words each day. And I almost made it. I logged a fair amount on the morning of Thanksgiving. I planned to write some more in the evening. I'd planned to not drink at Thanksgiving dinner, but who was I kidding? I went to bed full and happy that night and slept in the next morning. On Friday, I did log 5,000 words. And on Saturday I had typed up over 1,000 words when my computer rebooted. I lost that work and had to start over. Imagine my frustration! I was able to recreate the scene, and I hope I made it better. I'm going to just consider that 1,000 words as practice. I logged 5,000 on Saturday.
There are are only a few days left of Nano 2016. I still have 10,000 words to write. I'm hoping that I can meet my 5,000 word Write-in average. Then I just have to make a minimal amount each week day for the few remaining days of the month.
I don't think anyone really cares about my word count and the history of my November 2016. But at least I'll be able to look back and remember the track I took to win this year.
To those of you who are still writing this November, KEEP IT UP! IF you hit 50,000 or 5,000, you've started a journey. You're going to go places.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Shaking Things Up
Oh my, It has been time since I have blogged. I'm in a bloggy mood today and it's high time to start writing.
There are a couple reasons that have pushed me into a writing mood. It's never very far from my mind, but somehow the time to write seems harder to carve into a schedule than other, equally important, things. I wonder how other people do it, actually. But I have decided that I'm most successful at it when I simply do it in short bursts in between the other things that are also necessary and harder to rearrange. So I'm practicing that, in these months leading up to Nanowrimo 2016.
I read a book this weekend (actually, I read several, in addition to finishing off the next to last Outlander book). It is called Finding Fraser, by KC Dryer. And I LOVED it. The main character, Emma, has come to the realization that she needs a change in her life, she is a great fan out Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, and decides to sell everything she owns, and travel around Scotland in search of her own Jamie Fraser. She sets up a travel blog to document her journey, and has a wonderful adventure.
It was wonderfully written and put the itch in me to write a travel blog. But I have too many responsibilities to sell everything and travel the world to write about it. Emma didn't have kids at home that needed help with their homework and to be driven places. So I'm going to focus on the blogs that I already have, and focus on keeping those up to date for awhile. I don't have a burning desire to travel alone or on the cheap anyway. :)
The other catalyst is that Nanowrimo is coming up and I'd like to *WIN* again. In order to do that I have to pull together a story to write. For the last few years (yes years, it's disappointing) I have had only the whisps of a story. I have very feathery ideas that I can't seem to pull together into a real story. I keep thinking that I'm going to write until they gel, but the haven't seemed to do that yet. So I need to take a different approach. I'm not certain what that approach is going to be yet. But I will be haunting the Nano forums soon looking for some inspiration. Anyone out there care to share how they have come up with their stories? I'm all ears!
This is going to be a good year for Nano. I can feel it.
There are a couple reasons that have pushed me into a writing mood. It's never very far from my mind, but somehow the time to write seems harder to carve into a schedule than other, equally important, things. I wonder how other people do it, actually. But I have decided that I'm most successful at it when I simply do it in short bursts in between the other things that are also necessary and harder to rearrange. So I'm practicing that, in these months leading up to Nanowrimo 2016.
I read a book this weekend (actually, I read several
It was wonderfully written and put the itch in me to write a travel blog. But I have too many responsibilities to sell everything and travel the world to write about it. Emma didn't have kids at home that needed help with their homework and to be driven places. So I'm going to focus on the blogs that I already have, and focus on keeping those up to date for awhile. I don't have a burning desire to travel alone or on the cheap anyway. :)
The other catalyst is that Nanowrimo is coming up and I'd like to *WIN* again. In order to do that I have to pull together a story to write. For the last few years (yes years, it's disappointing) I have had only the whisps of a story. I have very feathery ideas that I can't seem to pull together into a real story. I keep thinking that I'm going to write until they gel, but the haven't seemed to do that yet. So I need to take a different approach. I'm not certain what that approach is going to be yet. But I will be haunting the Nano forums soon looking for some inspiration. Anyone out there care to share how they have come up with their stories? I'm all ears!
This is going to be a good year for Nano. I can feel it.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Nano 2013
I have pledged to take the year off this year. I do not have a story brewing. I do not know what I'd write about. And I want to recharge. I finished last year and tried camp out this year and didn't succeed. So I feel like November would be pushing it.
but....
I keep getting uplifting emails from Nanowrimo in my inbox. And I see the ticker on the blog page set at zero. And I'm finding myself tempted!
Maybe what I need is one or two brainstorming sessions with some friends to get the very basic story that *might* have legs to a point where it could be interesting.
but.... I feel like I am sooo busy this year. Is there time this November to write a novel?
It is only 1667 words a day. It's 1666 words a day!
I was set in my decision to NOT write this year. With one week left until kickoff I'm now undecided. I'll let you know what I decide after the first of the month. At the very least I can use the month to edit an old story, or outline a new one....
but....
I keep getting uplifting emails from Nanowrimo in my inbox. And I see the ticker on the blog page set at zero. And I'm finding myself tempted!
Maybe what I need is one or two brainstorming sessions with some friends to get the very basic story that *might* have legs to a point where it could be interesting.
but.... I feel like I am sooo busy this year. Is there time this November to write a novel?
It is only 1667 words a day. It's 1666 words a day!
I was set in my decision to NOT write this year. With one week left until kickoff I'm now undecided. I'll let you know what I decide after the first of the month. At the very least I can use the month to edit an old story, or outline a new one....
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Book Club
My Pseudo Book Club that I was doing with a friend has turned into a full fledged book club. We have meetings and chose books together and it grew by a couple of people. We have read 2 books together and discussed one so far. I look forward to our next meeting and book discussion. We read Water for Elephants this time. I've been wanting to read that book for a while now. For several reasons. I've heard great things about it. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie and it spoiled the book for me. And it's a Nano book.
The author did a lot of research before the month of Nano and had it outlined and ready to write.
It's motivating to read something so great that came from such a fun event that is Nano.
The author did a lot of research before the month of Nano and had it outlined and ready to write.
It's motivating to read something so great that came from such a fun event that is Nano.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Time? What is that?
I didn't sign up for the July Camp, on purpose. I didn't just miss it. I KNEW that I'd never make the time to write and then I'd be disappointed in myself. I didn't even check in on the boards to see how everyone else was doing. (I like to read some of the boards occasionally. I have actually had a few ideas to use while reading the boards. They plant a seed sometimes.)
I'm also not planning to do Nano in November this year. I still have The Piper Story to revise. I haven't given up on her yet, though I'm starting to think she might have just been a practice story. I still have the story from Nano 2011 in my head. That one never got completed. It's written in a style that isn't typical of me and took me some extra effort. I do think it's a good one to finish though. Even if it stays rough forever, at least I can finish. And the story I began for Camp in April '13 needs telling still. I have an outline started for it. And a rough idea of the middle. The beginning and end, both important pieces, are still beyond my reach.
Rather than writing, recently, I've been reading again. I used to read a LOT. I'd read a couple books a week. And if it was a favorite book, I'd read it again and again. After college I got a job that required me to be at the carpool at 4:00 am. I'd end up in bed early and would read a chapter, maybe, before falling asleep. Eventually, I stopped reading daily and only read on weekends. I don't know when it happened, but I do know that I missed it. A few years ago, I was introduced to two series of books that had me reading regularly again. I'd finish one book and head to the store for the next. One was campy and fun (Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris) and the other involved history, romance, adventure, and some time travel (hello! Time travel is right up my alley!) (Outlander Series, Diana Gabaldon). And now a friend and I are reading books together, in a kind of pseudo book club. And that has been fun as well. I've been a little behind, summer got in the way a little, but I'm all caught up and ready for the next book.
Have a great August! Do some reading and/or some writing!
I'm also not planning to do Nano in November this year. I still have The Piper Story to revise. I haven't given up on her yet, though I'm starting to think she might have just been a practice story. I still have the story from Nano 2011 in my head. That one never got completed. It's written in a style that isn't typical of me and took me some extra effort. I do think it's a good one to finish though. Even if it stays rough forever, at least I can finish. And the story I began for Camp in April '13 needs telling still. I have an outline started for it. And a rough idea of the middle. The beginning and end, both important pieces, are still beyond my reach.
Rather than writing, recently, I've been reading again. I used to read a LOT. I'd read a couple books a week. And if it was a favorite book, I'd read it again and again. After college I got a job that required me to be at the carpool at 4:00 am. I'd end up in bed early and would read a chapter, maybe, before falling asleep. Eventually, I stopped reading daily and only read on weekends. I don't know when it happened, but I do know that I missed it. A few years ago, I was introduced to two series of books that had me reading regularly again. I'd finish one book and head to the store for the next. One was campy and fun (Sookie Stackhouse series, Charlaine Harris) and the other involved history, romance, adventure, and some time travel (hello! Time travel is right up my alley!) (Outlander Series, Diana Gabaldon). And now a friend and I are reading books together, in a kind of pseudo book club. And that has been fun as well. I've been a little behind, summer got in the way a little, but I'm all caught up and ready for the next book.
Have a great August! Do some reading and/or some writing!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Post Camp
April came and went (so did May, apparently) and I didn't get a lot of writing done for Camp Nano. Anyone surprised? It seems I don't complete more than I do complete. I just had an expectation that April would be less busy than November is. I still believe that it should be, but somehow it didn't turn out to be easier to carve out time for writing. I have no intentions of writing this November. It's still a few months off though so who knows. What I have started, however, is a revision of my 2010 Nano.
I've dug it out and dusted it off and I'm rereading it now. It's not bad. It's a little juvenile. I'm hoping that I can shake that out a little. Or perhaps that's just how I write. I think I'm a little better author than that though. It could be just a byproduct of writing in a hurry to get word counts in and its simply a brain dump that needs a lot of fleshing out.
I've started to out line the story. I'm kind of doing it backwards. Write it first, outline it second. I've built a basic outline in Y-writer and I'm filling in character details as I bring chapters and scenes over to the program. I think I really need this because as the book developed I skipped around depending on which character was in my head at the moment. Y-writer can help me move things around and balance out any mistakes I have in characters and settings.
I'm enjoying this. It isn't going to be a fast process. I don't want to put a deadline on myself. I will do it when I feel like I have some downtime. It's neat to reread the story and remember some of the details that I had forgotten. And it feels good to still love this story and the characters after so many years.
I've dug it out and dusted it off and I'm rereading it now. It's not bad. It's a little juvenile. I'm hoping that I can shake that out a little. Or perhaps that's just how I write. I think I'm a little better author than that though. It could be just a byproduct of writing in a hurry to get word counts in and its simply a brain dump that needs a lot of fleshing out.
I've started to out line the story. I'm kind of doing it backwards. Write it first, outline it second. I've built a basic outline in Y-writer and I'm filling in character details as I bring chapters and scenes over to the program. I think I really need this because as the book developed I skipped around depending on which character was in my head at the moment. Y-writer can help me move things around and balance out any mistakes I have in characters and settings.
I'm enjoying this. It isn't going to be a fast process. I don't want to put a deadline on myself. I will do it when I feel like I have some downtime. It's neat to reread the story and remember some of the details that I had forgotten. And it feels good to still love this story and the characters after so many years.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Camp
I'm still plugging along in Camp. I don't know how. I gave up for a week and a half (yes, I know that is most of the month so far). And now I'm so far behind I'm not sure I'll catch up. I had set a low word count just so I could avoid all this stress.
I decided earlier this week that I'd give up. I told myself to take this year off. I told myself not to even sign up for November. And I asked myself "what was I thinking?"! And then my writing partner called me and made me set a date to write together. Maybe we will do some word wars and some brainstorming. And now I have the bug again. I'm still not sure I'll finish this Camp. But I'm glad to have a story to write and who says I HAVE to do it all at once in camp? I'll get it plotted out and maybe work on it in the future. It's a good story. It deserves some time devoted to it.
I'm not out of the race yet. But I have a lot of catching up to do!
I decided earlier this week that I'd give up. I told myself to take this year off. I told myself not to even sign up for November. And I asked myself "what was I thinking?"! And then my writing partner called me and made me set a date to write together. Maybe we will do some word wars and some brainstorming. And now I have the bug again. I'm still not sure I'll finish this Camp. But I'm glad to have a story to write and who says I HAVE to do it all at once in camp? I'll get it plotted out and maybe work on it in the future. It's a good story. It deserves some time devoted to it.
I'm not out of the race yet. But I have a lot of catching up to do!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Outlining
I bought books to help me learn to outline. I was so excited to have them. And they sit by my bedside still. I have perused them. I even picked up some helpful and fun tips from one of them. But I haven't delved into them. Yet. I keep thinking there is no rush to do it. If I want to write for Nano, I have until the beginning of November to put together an outline. And besides, I don't even have a basic plot yet.
Well, now I have committed to do Camp Nano in April. And that is less than 2 weeks away and I haven't learned to be a planner yet! I have the outlining program that I wrote my last story in (Ywriter). It's an outline builder. But I think I want to put pen to paper first and see it all laid out before me. So I'll do it the old fashioned way. The way we learned in high school. If I can remember that long ago! I will add it to ywriter if I ever end up liking what I make. It will work great for character development. I'll write about that program some time. Check it out if you want to in the meantime. It's a free program.
Do I need a Title first? Well, I don't have one so I'll just call it "Title"
Title
OK how about the 3 main ideas. The first includes character introduction (I don't have characters yet, but most stories in my head have a main character, a main supporting character, and a villain, at least, so I'll call them MFC, MMC, and V. It also includes a basic introduction to the setting, time, and the problem. The second part is the rising action with events that build up to the climax I remember a tip from somewhere that there should be 3 high tension scenes building up to the climax. And the third is the resolution where the story ties up. I think I need a plot for all of that.
A. Main idea 1
B. Main idea 2
C. Main idea 3
Ok, how about chapters. I don't have a plot, so I don't have chapters. So I'll just leave a place in the outline to fill those in.
1.
2.
3.
I can add details as I learn them, right?
Title
A. Main Idea 1: Introduction
1. MFC:
a. who she is
b. time (what century?)
c. place (where are we?)
2. MMC:
a. how does he know MFC?
b.
c.
3. V
a. what does he want (why is he a villain in the story?)
b.
c.
B Main Idea 2: Body
1. Tension scene 1
2. Tension scene 2
3. Tension scene 3
a. ends in climax!
C. Main Idea 3: Resolution
1. Tie it all together and say good bye.
a. cliff hanger?
Well, that isn't enough. But isn't more than I had this morning. I hope my High School English teacher doesn't read blogs. I'm not sure he'd be impressed.
Well, now I have committed to do Camp Nano in April. And that is less than 2 weeks away and I haven't learned to be a planner yet! I have the outlining program that I wrote my last story in (Ywriter). It's an outline builder. But I think I want to put pen to paper first and see it all laid out before me. So I'll do it the old fashioned way. The way we learned in high school. If I can remember that long ago! I will add it to ywriter if I ever end up liking what I make. It will work great for character development. I'll write about that program some time. Check it out if you want to in the meantime. It's a free program.
Do I need a Title first? Well, I don't have one so I'll just call it "Title"
Title
OK how about the 3 main ideas. The first includes character introduction (I don't have characters yet, but most stories in my head have a main character, a main supporting character, and a villain, at least, so I'll call them MFC, MMC, and V. It also includes a basic introduction to the setting, time, and the problem. The second part is the rising action with events that build up to the climax I remember a tip from somewhere that there should be 3 high tension scenes building up to the climax. And the third is the resolution where the story ties up. I think I need a plot for all of that.
A. Main idea 1
B. Main idea 2
C. Main idea 3
Ok, how about chapters. I don't have a plot, so I don't have chapters. So I'll just leave a place in the outline to fill those in.
1.
2.
3.
I can add details as I learn them, right?
Title
A. Main Idea 1: Introduction
1. MFC:
a. who she is
b. time (what century?)
c. place (where are we?)
2. MMC:
a. how does he know MFC?
b.
c.
3. V
a. what does he want (why is he a villain in the story?)
b.
c.
B Main Idea 2: Body
1. Tension scene 1
2. Tension scene 2
3. Tension scene 3
a. ends in climax!
C. Main Idea 3: Resolution
1. Tie it all together and say good bye.
a. cliff hanger?
Well, that isn't enough. But isn't more than I had this morning. I hope my High School English teacher doesn't read blogs. I'm not sure he'd be impressed.
Camp Nano 2013
I participated in Nanowrimo in November 2012 as therapy. It was greatly helpful to me, but not a creative experience. I didn't want to write the story and the writing would have shown that (had it ever been read).
A friend of mine has signed up for Camp Nanowrimo in April. And I decided to join her. I find myself excited to write again. I have absolutely no idea what to write. Camp starts in 10 days and I have only basic ideas on story line.
There are two kinds of writers. A "planner", who has a plot, makes an outline at the least and maybe even has some character development. Then there is the "panster", who writes by the seat of their pants and sees where the story goes as it's written.
I tend to be a panster. I get a basic idea of plot and main characters and then fill in the rest while the time and word count tick along. I don't always finish the story this way. In fact, looking back, the two years that I did "win" were years that I knew more of the outline and had an ending to shoot for. So this year I would like to be a planner. I'd like to have a basic outline before the clock starts ticking. I had an idea for a story last summer. I made some notes on it and had a few characters and their flaws figured out. I'm going to look for those notes and maybe I'll make an outline. It's a good place to start. I don't have any other stories burning a hole in my mind at the moment.
So Camp Nano is the writing challenge I craved when I last blogged. Not sure I'm brave enough to show off the "creative" writing. But I'm brave enough to write it again!
A friend of mine has signed up for Camp Nanowrimo in April. And I decided to join her. I find myself excited to write again. I have absolutely no idea what to write. Camp starts in 10 days and I have only basic ideas on story line.
There are two kinds of writers. A "planner", who has a plot, makes an outline at the least and maybe even has some character development. Then there is the "panster", who writes by the seat of their pants and sees where the story goes as it's written.
I tend to be a panster. I get a basic idea of plot and main characters and then fill in the rest while the time and word count tick along. I don't always finish the story this way. In fact, looking back, the two years that I did "win" were years that I knew more of the outline and had an ending to shoot for. So this year I would like to be a planner. I'd like to have a basic outline before the clock starts ticking. I had an idea for a story last summer. I made some notes on it and had a few characters and their flaws figured out. I'm going to look for those notes and maybe I'll make an outline. It's a good place to start. I don't have any other stories burning a hole in my mind at the moment.
So Camp Nano is the writing challenge I craved when I last blogged. Not sure I'm brave enough to show off the "creative" writing. But I'm brave enough to write it again!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Comfort Zone
I haven't blogged in a while. I haven't written anything in a while. I guess it's both a good thing and bad thing.
Good in that life is steadily moving by. There are a series of small changes that occurred in that last few months and all of those add up to big changes (or will eventually), but they seem to happen in such a way that I don't notice change until I sit back and reflect.
Bad, because writing really does clear my head and helps me to sit back and reflect.
So perhaps it's time for a writing exercise. I think I'll find a writing challenge on the Nano site. I could use a little dusting! I don't think anyone reads this blog, so I may write here. It gives me a feeling of daring anyway, in case anyone actually does. Letting people read a blog post is very different than letting them read a creative work.
If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you. I've been repeating this to myself for more than half a year now. And acting on it for far less time. It applies to all parts of my life. I need to apply it to writing as well.
Off to find a challenge.
Good in that life is steadily moving by. There are a series of small changes that occurred in that last few months and all of those add up to big changes (or will eventually), but they seem to happen in such a way that I don't notice change until I sit back and reflect.
Bad, because writing really does clear my head and helps me to sit back and reflect.
So perhaps it's time for a writing exercise. I think I'll find a writing challenge on the Nano site. I could use a little dusting! I don't think anyone reads this blog, so I may write here. It gives me a feeling of daring anyway, in case anyone actually does. Letting people read a blog post is very different than letting them read a creative work.
If it doesn't challenge you it doesn't change you. I've been repeating this to myself for more than half a year now. And acting on it for far less time. It applies to all parts of my life. I need to apply it to writing as well.
Off to find a challenge.
Monday, December 31, 2012
New Years Resolution
I'm making resolutions this year. I think I always do, but I don't always write them down and plan them out appropriately. So I'm making a bigger effort on that front this year.
I am excited about having y-writer now. I used it to write in Nano2012. But not to its full extent. This year I would really like to use it as it's meant to be used and draft out my Nano2013 story in advance of the crazy month of November. I have a story brewing in my mind that I had planned to write in 2012. I went a different direction last year, so the story still needs telling. I have a few notes scattered here and there. Maybe more than a few. There might be enough for a very basic outline. Basic, but an outline for the entire story. It needs rounding out. It needs better characters. It needs a lot, but it's a start.
So, I plan to make time each month to do a step in story telling. I'm adding it to my calendar/planner.
For Christmas, my father gave me a 24 lecture CD course on writing. I'm both dreading and excited to start that course. And it has become a resolution to finish it by my birthday.
My calendar is filling up with all the plans I'm making....
Sunday, December 9, 2012
New Song
This is my new can't get enough of it song. I may have finally got enough of Fun. Some Nights.
I don't quite understand why the singer can shave her eyebrows and draw in new ones, but can't be bothered shaving her armpits at all. But who am I to judge?
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Learning lessons
November is over. Well, a few days are still coming, but the hard part is over. Nanowrimo. I finished this year. I am not sure if I should feel shocked that I made it or not. I'm not sure if I really believed I'd do it (I tend to avoid things that will be hard). I went in knowing it was going to be painful. And it was. And I could probably still write more to the story. But I won't. Can't.
I'm not sure if I learned what I was meant to but I did learn. I found out I am both stronger than I thought I was and not nearly strong enough. And I'm a fool.
Maybe now comes the healing and growing.
The story is uploaded. I've won Nano and now the story can be wiped out. No one need read it again.
I did learn to appreciate the outlining program I found. I didn't use it to it's full potential. This story didn't call for it. But now I might break up the Piper story from 2 years ago and put it into the program. I think it could help me edit it. And it still needs editing. I wonder if it works backwards like that...
Maybe even the sucky story from last year could be reworked if I break it up a bit and get it organized.
There is always Nano 2013.
Amazingly I found the time. I should have done that a long time ago... I'm learning the importance. To bad it's a lesson learned late.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
It Will Leave a Scar
I’m doing Nano again this year. And I’m not excited about it. I’m going it alone this year I think. No word war challengers, no cheerleaders writing/suffering with me. I haven’t ever succeeded in Nano this way, but to be fair, I’ve failed with supporters as well.
I had a basic outline that was a fictionalized story of the past few years in my life. Kind of a write what you know thing. But I’ve been encouraged to really write what I know. So I’m not going to fictionalize it. I don’t know how far back to even go, but it will be further back than I was planning originally. It’s a long story, but I don’t know all the words. And believe it or not I’ll have to research it. Research my own life and my own feelings. That seems a little weird, but I’ve already looked back and found that there are feelings I’d forgotten and recent things that I’m not comfortable remembering. I’m not excited to bring up the bad emotions that I’ve tried to erase already. In fact I’m not sure I’m excited to bring up the good ones right now either.
I guess it’s like picking a scab. Sometimes it really hurts, but you have to do it to get the bad stuff out. It’s meant to be healing but it will leave a scar.
Maybe I’ll be a better person by the end of this. Maybe I’ll at least know me a little better again. I hope I like me in the end.
yWriter
I found a book about outlining. It was on Amazon and I bought it, along with a couple other noveling made easy books. Ha! I won’t get to read them before Nano this year, and I shouldn’t because the story I’m writing is different. But I did browse through the first one. And I thought there were some good tips in it. One recommendation is to use yWriter. It’s free software from SpaceJock. http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html. It helps you sort your book into scenes and chapters that can be moved around and dropped where you need them later.
I did download it and I’ve started to build my outline on there. I think it will be a very useful tool. I’ve already had to move things around because I remembered them in the wrong order or I wanted a chapter in between when A and B happened.
I guess the one thing I am excited about Nano this year is the actual outline. By November 1, I should have at LEAST 30 bullet points to spew on about. I can write 1667 words if I have an idea about what to write about. And I have a feeling it will take more than 30 if I’m being true to myself and not glossing over points.
I had a basic outline that was a fictionalized story of the past few years in my life. Kind of a write what you know thing. But I’ve been encouraged to really write what I know. So I’m not going to fictionalize it. I don’t know how far back to even go, but it will be further back than I was planning originally. It’s a long story, but I don’t know all the words. And believe it or not I’ll have to research it. Research my own life and my own feelings. That seems a little weird, but I’ve already looked back and found that there are feelings I’d forgotten and recent things that I’m not comfortable remembering. I’m not excited to bring up the bad emotions that I’ve tried to erase already. In fact I’m not sure I’m excited to bring up the good ones right now either.
I guess it’s like picking a scab. Sometimes it really hurts, but you have to do it to get the bad stuff out. It’s meant to be healing but it will leave a scar.
Maybe I’ll be a better person by the end of this. Maybe I’ll at least know me a little better again. I hope I like me in the end.
yWriter
I found a book about outlining. It was on Amazon and I bought it, along with a couple other noveling made easy books. Ha! I won’t get to read them before Nano this year, and I shouldn’t because the story I’m writing is different. But I did browse through the first one. And I thought there were some good tips in it. One recommendation is to use yWriter. It’s free software from SpaceJock. http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter.html. It helps you sort your book into scenes and chapters that can be moved around and dropped where you need them later.
I did download it and I’ve started to build my outline on there. I think it will be a very useful tool. I’ve already had to move things around because I remembered them in the wrong order or I wanted a chapter in between when A and B happened.
I guess the one thing I am excited about Nano this year is the actual outline. By November 1, I should have at LEAST 30 bullet points to spew on about. I can write 1667 words if I have an idea about what to write about. And I have a feeling it will take more than 30 if I’m being true to myself and not glossing over points.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Committed
Committed. Perhaps I should be anyway. With a straight jacket and a padded room. No, I don't like Jello. Shhhhhh....
Shari has successfully twisted my arm and I promised her that I would do NaNoWriMo2011 with her. Of coarse, she already has an outline for her story. She already has an outline!
I've only got the most basic of ideas for mine. I have decided that I can not continue with the Piper story until I have done more editing on the original. So that means I get to write something new. And I do have a basic idea. Basic. It has been something that I have considered, literally, since I was a kid. Maybe not the story, but the idea of the story.
I threw the idea past Shari last night, via Skype, and she liked it. She even had some ideas for me to develop the plot. There is still quite a bit of work to do. I have always thought about writing it from the point of view of a teenager. But it occurred to me today that was only because when I dreamt it up I *was* a teenager. So, does it change now that I'm an **cough** adult? The dynamics could certainly be different that way. And there are characters to throw in..(aka, husband and kids and coworkers...). And the interests of the main character would have certainly changed since childhood. I think I'll do that. Thanks for talking me into it!
Shari blew past us as we typed up a storm in our weekly word games last year. She even had a late start. What she had that I didn't have was an outline. She already had her story mapped out when she started typing it up. She knew how many chapters she wanted to write and what was in each one. She even knew, basically, how many words belonged in each one. And she has already put that together for this year. Already!
I think I would like to try it that way. She assured me that I have 2 *whole* months to put one together! They way she said it didn't sound anything like *ONLY TWO MONTHS!!!*. But that is how I'm feeling. I guess I had better get cracking then. I could use some outline advice. Let me know if anyone has any tips. Of coarse, a plot and some characters would be nice too. Let me know if you have any of those to spare as well.
Happy OUTLINING! Get busy! Get the crazy car ready for me at the end of November!
Shari has successfully twisted my arm and I promised her that I would do NaNoWriMo2011 with her. Of coarse, she already has an outline for her story. She already has an outline!
I've only got the most basic of ideas for mine. I have decided that I can not continue with the Piper story until I have done more editing on the original. So that means I get to write something new. And I do have a basic idea. Basic. It has been something that I have considered, literally, since I was a kid. Maybe not the story, but the idea of the story.
I threw the idea past Shari last night, via Skype, and she liked it. She even had some ideas for me to develop the plot. There is still quite a bit of work to do. I have always thought about writing it from the point of view of a teenager. But it occurred to me today that was only because when I dreamt it up I *was* a teenager. So, does it change now that I'm an **cough** adult? The dynamics could certainly be different that way. And there are characters to throw in..(aka, husband and kids and coworkers...). And the interests of the main character would have certainly changed since childhood. I think I'll do that. Thanks for talking me into it!
Shari blew past us as we typed up a storm in our weekly word games last year. She even had a late start. What she had that I didn't have was an outline. She already had her story mapped out when she started typing it up. She knew how many chapters she wanted to write and what was in each one. She even knew, basically, how many words belonged in each one. And she has already put that together for this year. Already!
I think I would like to try it that way. She assured me that I have 2 *whole* months to put one together! They way she said it didn't sound anything like *ONLY TWO MONTHS!!!*. But that is how I'm feeling. I guess I had better get cracking then. I could use some outline advice. Let me know if anyone has any tips. Of coarse, a plot and some characters would be nice too. Let me know if you have any of those to spare as well.
Happy OUTLINING! Get busy! Get the crazy car ready for me at the end of November!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Time?
My story was on my mind this morning for the first time in a while. I'm hoping I can still rescue it, and I will be taking a look at it again this summer. But it's also time to get serious about brainstorming the next one. I have a few basic ideas that need developed. Our family will be taking a trip in a few weeks. I plan to have pen and paper with me so I can work out outlines while travelling. Plans like that never go as I think they will, so we will see, and I will be prepared.
It's almost summer. It hit me yesterday that everything will be changing soon. I usually like change. I'm not looking forward to it this time. I feel like I just got here, and I'm not ready for everything to be different yet. Not much to be done but to muddle through it all and make the best of it. I'm sure it's a good change and positive things will come from it somehow.
It's almost summer. It hit me yesterday that everything will be changing soon. I usually like change. I'm not looking forward to it this time. I feel like I just got here, and I'm not ready for everything to be different yet. Not much to be done but to muddle through it all and make the best of it. I'm sure it's a good change and positive things will come from it somehow.
Monday, May 2, 2011
New project?
There is a new writing project on the drawing board. Someone I admire would like me to write some very special books with her. These books would be geared towards children and travel. I'm very excited to work out details with her and draw up some outlines. This is not a small undertaking, I'm sure. I hope that I can keep up with her cleverness. More information to come during the summer.
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