Condensing a novel to one or two sentences is hard. Trying to come up with a decent log line to describe my current WIP has been a nightmare. Mine remind me of cheesy movie trailers complete with the dramatic music and ridiculous pyrotechnics.
An edgy, young woman with a hidden talent just wants a normal life. Instead, she finds herself protecting a young man marked for death by the man she trusts the most.
It doesn't mention the secret organization she was born into or how everything she ever knew is falling apart. I will keep working on it. Edgy is the nice way to say angsty bitch who is pissed at the world. Our relationship is one of love and hate. It needs work. At times I feel she is too cliche. But I digress from my topic of choice. Compressing my idea into a few sentences is proving to be a near impossible task.
Despite my recent failure to be prolific, I am celebrating my return to the world of words. Currently, I'm sitting in the dark, typing with Pink's Raise Your Glass blaring in my headphones. After I hit the publish button, I will be joining several fellow writers in chat. I'm hoping they can give me some guidance in the log line department, or at the very least help me restart my creative juices. My hiatus has ended.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Recommitting
I spent almost the entire first two months of the year sick. My body is finally healing and I'm slowly coming back to myself. The short version is: cold leading to bronchitis leading to severe asthma attacks leading to a case of the shingles. It was not a fun time. But now the blisters are almost completely healed and I don't want to spend the entire day in bed moaning about how much it sucks to be sick.
The consequence of battling illness is the lack of motivation to create. My edits are stuck on chapter three and I haven't written any new words on my next projection. I am spending the next week recommitting to my writing goals and getting back in the habit of putting something down on the page every day. This set back will not hinder my determination to produce a polished manuscript by the end of the year.
My time wasn't completely wasted. I read a great deal and beta read a friend's novel. I've read chapters for people before but never am entire book. It was an interesting experience and I hope my notes helped the author. One day I will be brave enough to send my "baby" out into the beta world.
Tomorrow I will be creating a log line for my story. We are covering it in our bi-weekly writer's group meeting. The thought of condensing my idea to a couple of sentences frightens me. Looking at my manuscript scares me too. It has been almost a month since I've opened the file. I'm most worried I won't love it any more.
The consequence of battling illness is the lack of motivation to create. My edits are stuck on chapter three and I haven't written any new words on my next projection. I am spending the next week recommitting to my writing goals and getting back in the habit of putting something down on the page every day. This set back will not hinder my determination to produce a polished manuscript by the end of the year.
My time wasn't completely wasted. I read a great deal and beta read a friend's novel. I've read chapters for people before but never am entire book. It was an interesting experience and I hope my notes helped the author. One day I will be brave enough to send my "baby" out into the beta world.
Tomorrow I will be creating a log line for my story. We are covering it in our bi-weekly writer's group meeting. The thought of condensing my idea to a couple of sentences frightens me. Looking at my manuscript scares me too. It has been almost a month since I've opened the file. I'm most worried I won't love it any more.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Climb out of the Hole
My body isn't completely healed from the Great Upper Respiratory Infection of 2014. This fact has inspired my brain to shut down and become a pile of gray mush incapable of forming coherent sentences. I've written less than five hundred words in the past two weeks and I'm still working on the rewrite of chapter three. The good news is I am still excited about my new idea and have been thinking about characters and plot points. I know thinking isn't the same as writing the ideas on a page, but I like to wallow things around in my mind first before I start committing them to pen and paper.
The problem with chapter three is it wasn't completely written in the first draft. It was roughly eight hundred words describing what I wanted the scene to be and the action that needed to occur. During NaNoWriMo it was enough. Now it is sadly lacking. I have the task of filling in the blanks. One of the characters in the scene changed as the story was progressing. At the end, she was a different person. It was a surprise to me as well as my main character. I want to reflect this change in the scene and it has been hard, hence the procrastination.
I'm choosing to focus on the positive. I am writing again. I've done more since November than I have in the past two years. I've had to relearn some things and get back in the habit of sitting at the computer and putting the words on the page. If I can survive the editing process, I can do anything.
The problem with chapter three is it wasn't completely written in the first draft. It was roughly eight hundred words describing what I wanted the scene to be and the action that needed to occur. During NaNoWriMo it was enough. Now it is sadly lacking. I have the task of filling in the blanks. One of the characters in the scene changed as the story was progressing. At the end, she was a different person. It was a surprise to me as well as my main character. I want to reflect this change in the scene and it has been hard, hence the procrastination.
I'm choosing to focus on the positive. I am writing again. I've done more since November than I have in the past two years. I've had to relearn some things and get back in the habit of sitting at the computer and putting the words on the page. If I can survive the editing process, I can do anything.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Good Intentions
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
How very true. I intended to start editing again on Tuesday. This didn't happen. My time off has stretched past a week. Health wise, I sound like I've been smoking three packs of smokes a day since I was eleven. This paired with a hacking cough and fountains of mucus have prevented me from creating fiction. (or rewriting anything)
My time away from the keyboard hasn't been a total loss. I've been able to get some reading done. I finished We Are Anonymous by Parmy Olson. I find hacking and Anonymous fascinating. The most important fact I took away from the book itself was how easy it would be to hack me. Note to self, change the majority of your passwords. I was also surprised by the fact that Anonymous isn't a group but more a movement or a way of looking at the world. I always thought, mostly because of mainstream media, it was a very organized group of hackers standing up to "the man." I rather like the fact it is a ever changing group of individuals with similar views. This does not mean I condone their methods or criminal acts.
Next on my agenda, more research. I'm giving myself the rest of the week to beat down the virus that has inhabited my body and is using it as its own personal Disney World. Then Monday it is back to work on The Valiant and character development for the yet to be named hacker thriller mystery story. This minor set back will not derail my commitment to write daily and with purpose. I won't let it.
How very true. I intended to start editing again on Tuesday. This didn't happen. My time off has stretched past a week. Health wise, I sound like I've been smoking three packs of smokes a day since I was eleven. This paired with a hacking cough and fountains of mucus have prevented me from creating fiction. (or rewriting anything)
My time away from the keyboard hasn't been a total loss. I've been able to get some reading done. I finished We Are Anonymous by Parmy Olson. I find hacking and Anonymous fascinating. The most important fact I took away from the book itself was how easy it would be to hack me. Note to self, change the majority of your passwords. I was also surprised by the fact that Anonymous isn't a group but more a movement or a way of looking at the world. I always thought, mostly because of mainstream media, it was a very organized group of hackers standing up to "the man." I rather like the fact it is a ever changing group of individuals with similar views. This does not mean I condone their methods or criminal acts.
Next on my agenda, more research. I'm giving myself the rest of the week to beat down the virus that has inhabited my body and is using it as its own personal Disney World. Then Monday it is back to work on The Valiant and character development for the yet to be named hacker thriller mystery story. This minor set back will not derail my commitment to write daily and with purpose. I won't let it.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Swim, Not Sink
The common cold had the power to derail my writing progress. In fact, my entire life was put on hold while I dealt with sneezing, coughing, and an over abundance of mucous. My time was spent in bed reading or watching sitcoms on my computer. I developed a Nyquil habit, chugging it back like a ho slamming tequila shooters. Rest, soup, and Cougar Town have vanquished my viral demon, leaving behind a croupy cough and dregs of mucous in my lungs. I feel better.
Writing shall recommence now I've won my brain back. I missed it, but I wasn't in any condition to be writing. No telling what I would have written in my stupor. I answered my phone and instructed my cousin on how many Aleve should take then promptly hung up on her. I jotted down a story idea.
Group of people traveling country in RV living off grid. They have unofficial meeting. Race for control.
I have no idea what it means or when I typed into my phone. (I have a list for story ideas) I am guessing I woke up from a dream and wrote it.
Today I blog, tomorrow I dive back into edits and possible character creation for my new idea. After going a year or more without any story ideas, I have several different ones vying for my attention. It feels so good. Creating makes me feel whole and complete. It is hard to explain, I just know in my heart, it was what I was meant to do.
Writing shall recommence now I've won my brain back. I missed it, but I wasn't in any condition to be writing. No telling what I would have written in my stupor. I answered my phone and instructed my cousin on how many Aleve should take then promptly hung up on her. I jotted down a story idea.
Group of people traveling country in RV living off grid. They have unofficial meeting. Race for control.
I have no idea what it means or when I typed into my phone. (I have a list for story ideas) I am guessing I woke up from a dream and wrote it.
Today I blog, tomorrow I dive back into edits and possible character creation for my new idea. After going a year or more without any story ideas, I have several different ones vying for my attention. It feels so good. Creating makes me feel whole and complete. It is hard to explain, I just know in my heart, it was what I was meant to do.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Shiny
Nothing excites a writer more than a new idea. Last night, in the middle of a trip down a wikipedia rabbit hole, a new idea bashed me on the head. It started with "I wonder" and ended with "what if." Scared it might disappear, I added it to my idea file on my smart phone. The list is currently small and there are several items that have me scratching my head. If I have a cool dream, I add the neat elements to the list for future inspiration. (Ribs are light sabers is a good example)
After saving the idea for the future, I texted it to my cousin. I was too excited to sleep and I thought her husband could use it and do it more justice than I could. Her response, even though it was after one in the morning, was positive and she encouraged me to use it myself. I think her words included the phrase "if you aren't going to use it, I will." I decided to tackle it.
Yes, I am in the middle of editing a rough draft. Yes, I have ideas for two more stories in the same world with the same main character. Yes, I have an outline for the next story I planned on writing. But this idea is shiny and completely different than the series I've been working on. It is singing to me the siren's song of new idea happiness. There is a whole world of possibilities and characters to discover. I almost didn't sleep last night. My first instinct was to grab my notebook and start scribbling ideas for characters and setting.
This is tremendous. I went six months or more without having ideas. I was worried I would never have another idea. My creative well was dry. There were times when I thought I would give up writing. The thought of not putting words on the page made me sad. For as long as I can remember, I have been a writer. (note I did not say author, that is a different thing) Ideas for stories have been coming to me and I have been writing them for over 30 years. It is who I am.
After saving the idea for the future, I texted it to my cousin. I was too excited to sleep and I thought her husband could use it and do it more justice than I could. Her response, even though it was after one in the morning, was positive and she encouraged me to use it myself. I think her words included the phrase "if you aren't going to use it, I will." I decided to tackle it.
Yes, I am in the middle of editing a rough draft. Yes, I have ideas for two more stories in the same world with the same main character. Yes, I have an outline for the next story I planned on writing. But this idea is shiny and completely different than the series I've been working on. It is singing to me the siren's song of new idea happiness. There is a whole world of possibilities and characters to discover. I almost didn't sleep last night. My first instinct was to grab my notebook and start scribbling ideas for characters and setting.
This is tremendous. I went six months or more without having ideas. I was worried I would never have another idea. My creative well was dry. There were times when I thought I would give up writing. The thought of not putting words on the page made me sad. For as long as I can remember, I have been a writer. (note I did not say author, that is a different thing) Ideas for stories have been coming to me and I have been writing them for over 30 years. It is who I am.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Procrastination is an Art Form
One of my goals for the new year was to establish a solid writing schedule. It is still a work in progress. Life seems to have a way of intervening. I know there is a saying about good intentions but my brain fog is preventing me from retrieving it at the moment.
The thought was for me to write at the same time every day and not stop till I hit my daily goal, which is a doable 500 new words. So far I hit my goal once since January 1st and I have yet to sit at the computer at the same time every day. The good news is I have managed to write seven out of the past nine days. There are new words being written each day and the WIP is shaping up.
A good friend urged me to relax and take it easy on myself. This was in response to my angst over the speed of editing. It was good advice. I was putting too much pressure on myself. This is new uncharted territory for me. In the past, I would spend several months with a draft, then give up and move on to something shinier. I never committed to doing the hard work it takes to edit a story and make it suitable for human consumption.
Writing is hard. The pay sucks and there are no guarantees anyone else will want to read your story once it is finished. That said, I can't stop doing it. I have tried. I always come back and start again. No matter how many ways I find to put it off, I must write. It is part of my soul.
The thought was for me to write at the same time every day and not stop till I hit my daily goal, which is a doable 500 new words. So far I hit my goal once since January 1st and I have yet to sit at the computer at the same time every day. The good news is I have managed to write seven out of the past nine days. There are new words being written each day and the WIP is shaping up.
A good friend urged me to relax and take it easy on myself. This was in response to my angst over the speed of editing. It was good advice. I was putting too much pressure on myself. This is new uncharted territory for me. In the past, I would spend several months with a draft, then give up and move on to something shinier. I never committed to doing the hard work it takes to edit a story and make it suitable for human consumption.
Writing is hard. The pay sucks and there are no guarantees anyone else will want to read your story once it is finished. That said, I can't stop doing it. I have tried. I always come back and start again. No matter how many ways I find to put it off, I must write. It is part of my soul.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)