Funny how little things tend to cause everything to seem as though it's spiraling out of control. Two months ago, I would have thought everything would be perfect by now. After all, I've officially been nineteen for a week. They always say things will get better, but when is always the question.
Of late, life has been a rollercoaster of things that tend to drive me insane, in both good and bad ways. There are people I wouldn't trade for the world, things I've done that I would do again in an instant, and then there are also the minor regrets, though those are few and far between. Still, it feels as though something's missing. It drives me insane to sit in front of the computer for hours and only be able to type out a paragraph at most.
Losing the motivation to write is the hardest thing for a writer. I have so much that must be done, so many words that need to be put to paper, but I can't seem to get them out. It's not for lack of trying, either. My devoted boyfriend tells me to write every day. Typically, the only writing I get done is a few tweets, and, if I'm lucky, a couple of ideas for a vlog that I'll put off for another week because I haven't cleaned.
What's worse is the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I'm not writing. It's as though my characters are trying to claw their way out, but they can't seem to get there. The words build up, and it drives me insane.
It's not for lack of inspiration, either. I have inspiration in every moment of my life. From the way my boyfriend looks at me at breakfast when I'm not all the way awake and he couldn't care less about my messy hair to the way the sun comes through the windows of the studio, lighting it up and making me want to dance until my feet hurt (a regular occurrence lately, with preparing for pro training next month), inspiration is in abundance.
All I can do is push forward and hope my motivation returns, though time will be in short supply come November.
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Monday, October 14, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The Creative Mind
Recently, I realized I have a bit of a problem. My mind is always working and it never stops. It makes focusing on a single project very difficult. I've been trying to find a way to finish my novels and yet... there are too many things that call me away from them. Well, it's time to buckle down and finish something else. It has to happen, otherwise, I'm going to lose my mind.
Here's a quick outline of next week and how I plan on using it to complete another novel before the end of July so I can actually get it published.
Here's a quick outline of next week and how I plan on using it to complete another novel before the end of July so I can actually get it published.
- June 15: Cleaning, character development, locating old manuscripts that could use some polishing.
- June 16: Hanging out with the boyfriend and getting him to read an old manuscript if he's willing.
- June 17: Dance, writing 2000 words.
- June 18: Writing, cleaning, filming this week's main YouTube video.
- June 19: Calm before the storm. Time to practice for dance.
- June 20: Writing, cleaning, cooking, dance in the evening.
- June 21: Volunteering in the morning/early afternoon, writing/reading in the park, dance.
- June 22: Calm day, cleaning, maybe hanging out with the boyfriend.
- June 23: Monster's University, writing (hopefully), and practice time.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Last Minute Panic
Days until Camp NaNoWriMo: 10
The last minute panic has set in. Will I be able to do it this time or am I just fooling myself? I'll have guests over the next few weeks, which means my writing time during the crucial first week will be interrupted and shortened. With what happened in November, it has me worried. Of course, in November, I didn't have my phone to go to when pen and paper weren't working.
Other questions plague me, too. I'm getting ready for a performance with my dance class, and that'll be the third week of the month. How will rehearsals effect my writing? My dancing is always going to come first, even when I really prefer to be writing.
The biggest question of the week is a doozy. Will my plot stand the test of marathon writing? I don't know. I have to keep hoping, praying, that it will work. Otherwise, I'll be working on several projects this month instead of just one...
The last minute panic has set in. Will I be able to do it this time or am I just fooling myself? I'll have guests over the next few weeks, which means my writing time during the crucial first week will be interrupted and shortened. With what happened in November, it has me worried. Of course, in November, I didn't have my phone to go to when pen and paper weren't working.
Other questions plague me, too. I'm getting ready for a performance with my dance class, and that'll be the third week of the month. How will rehearsals effect my writing? My dancing is always going to come first, even when I really prefer to be writing.
The biggest question of the week is a doozy. Will my plot stand the test of marathon writing? I don't know. I have to keep hoping, praying, that it will work. Otherwise, I'll be working on several projects this month instead of just one...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
My NaNoWriMo Survival Kit
Days until Camp NaNoWriMo: 12
Everyone approaches insanity with different outlook. Writing a novel in a month is certainly nothing short of insanity. However, I never do it alone. Here are a few things that help me through the next month.
-Phone: As I broke my laptop, my phone is currently the only way I can write. I should be getting a tablet or new laptop eventually, but until my parents and I can come to some sort of arrangement, my iPhone is my best friend.
-Soda/tea/hot chocolate: Caffeine and chocolate are an author's best friend. Being able to stay hydrated while writing is also very important.
-Pinterest: Believe it or not, I do a lot of planning on Pinterest. Location building, wardrobes, the little details of everything, it's all on a board.
-Flash drive: Even though I'm writing one phone, I still have to save my work somewhere, in a single document. I'm not willing to lose my work again.
-Pandora/iHeart Radio/playlists: What's a girl without her music?
-Notebooks and sketchbook: Notes, everywhere. They come in so many forms, and it's up to me to keep them all straight for the next month as my novel takes shape.
-Allergy medication: It's spring, the weather is fantastic, and I honestly want to write outside. How can I do that if I have a sneezing attack every time I leave the house?
-Camera: I need to capture certain moments for later, as well as for inspiration. It's the best part of being me. Writing and photography go hand in hand.
-Emergency chocolate: Sometimes, emotions run high, and chocolate is the only fix.
-Quick meals (ramen, hot dogs, anything microwaveable): It's NaNoWriMo. I don't have time to cook. A novel is calling!
Everyone approaches insanity with different outlook. Writing a novel in a month is certainly nothing short of insanity. However, I never do it alone. Here are a few things that help me through the next month.
-Phone: As I broke my laptop, my phone is currently the only way I can write. I should be getting a tablet or new laptop eventually, but until my parents and I can come to some sort of arrangement, my iPhone is my best friend.
-Soda/tea/hot chocolate: Caffeine and chocolate are an author's best friend. Being able to stay hydrated while writing is also very important.
-Pinterest: Believe it or not, I do a lot of planning on Pinterest. Location building, wardrobes, the little details of everything, it's all on a board.
-Flash drive: Even though I'm writing one phone, I still have to save my work somewhere, in a single document. I'm not willing to lose my work again.
-Pandora/iHeart Radio/playlists: What's a girl without her music?
-Notebooks and sketchbook: Notes, everywhere. They come in so many forms, and it's up to me to keep them all straight for the next month as my novel takes shape.
-Allergy medication: It's spring, the weather is fantastic, and I honestly want to write outside. How can I do that if I have a sneezing attack every time I leave the house?
-Camera: I need to capture certain moments for later, as well as for inspiration. It's the best part of being me. Writing and photography go hand in hand.
-Emergency chocolate: Sometimes, emotions run high, and chocolate is the only fix.
-Quick meals (ramen, hot dogs, anything microwaveable): It's NaNoWriMo. I don't have time to cook. A novel is calling!
Friday, March 15, 2013
NaNoing Mobile
Days until Camp NaNoWriMo: 16
Stuff happens and that means we can't always have access to a computer. However, almost everyone has a phone. Believe it or not, there are actually ways to NaNo on your phone.
Part of the reason I discovered how to do this is because I managed to kill my laptop, thanks to a soup incident. However, I know that many people take trips during the spring and summer. For a NaNo, that can be the end of the world. You have a word count you're trying to reach and a car trip can stop you from being able to write.
If you have a smartphone, like I do, there are word processing apps, like Werdsmith (which is what I use), that allow you to write on the go. I can keep track of my word count using it, email the chapters to myself, then put them in an actual document later. It doesn't take much for me to be able to sit down and write now.
Have any of you found ways to NaNo without a laptop? Let me know!
Stuff happens and that means we can't always have access to a computer. However, almost everyone has a phone. Believe it or not, there are actually ways to NaNo on your phone.
Part of the reason I discovered how to do this is because I managed to kill my laptop, thanks to a soup incident. However, I know that many people take trips during the spring and summer. For a NaNo, that can be the end of the world. You have a word count you're trying to reach and a car trip can stop you from being able to write.
If you have a smartphone, like I do, there are word processing apps, like Werdsmith (which is what I use), that allow you to write on the go. I can keep track of my word count using it, email the chapters to myself, then put them in an actual document later. It doesn't take much for me to be able to sit down and write now.
Have any of you found ways to NaNo without a laptop? Let me know!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
And the Madness Begins.
Days until Camp NaNoWriMo: 18
Keep with me, because I'm about to talk to you about everything that's coming up over the next year.
So, it's official. I'm doing the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. Originally, I was going to write the sequel to Faery Mists, Moon Struck, but now I think I'm going to write a different novel. We'll see what happens.
I'm also considering making a documentary, but that will take a lot more time and planning than writing a novel, especially considering I want to do a documentary about women on YouTube. I know for a fact that I've got a movie in the works, so yeah. I'm losing my mind slowly. A friend and I are working on the script currently, then we'll be moving on in the production of it. We're doing it all ourselves.
On my YouTube channel, I'm going to be producing some more music (yay?) and doing some new short films/skits. We'll see how all that goes. I know that next week, I get to finally put up my Slenderman video. It's been a long time coming and it's almost finished, finally.
Keep with me, because I'm about to talk to you about everything that's coming up over the next year.
So, it's official. I'm doing the April session of Camp NaNoWriMo. Originally, I was going to write the sequel to Faery Mists, Moon Struck, but now I think I'm going to write a different novel. We'll see what happens.
I'm also considering making a documentary, but that will take a lot more time and planning than writing a novel, especially considering I want to do a documentary about women on YouTube. I know for a fact that I've got a movie in the works, so yeah. I'm losing my mind slowly. A friend and I are working on the script currently, then we'll be moving on in the production of it. We're doing it all ourselves.
On my YouTube channel, I'm going to be producing some more music (yay?) and doing some new short films/skits. We'll see how all that goes. I know that next week, I get to finally put up my Slenderman video. It's been a long time coming and it's almost finished, finally.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Jumping Right Back In
I can't leave anything alone for long. It's something that I've noticed. If I have something that I want to do, I do it. Call it a flaw, if you will, or just a perk of being me. I may leave a project alone for awhile, but I will always come back to it.
Publishing my first novel was a different experience for me. I was put through an emotional roller coaster as I dealt with the problems that popped up. Oh, there was a typo in the novel that I missed. The Kindle edition format was messed up. The font wasn't embedding properly. The list seemed never ending.
Despite the heartache of publishing, I've already started on another two novels. Well, I've started on the research and background for these two novels. Ordinarily, when writing fantasy, the world is yours to create. When you write urban or contemporary fantasy, though, you're confined to the world that exists already. Sure, you can tweak it, but it helps if there is some believability to it.
With that in mind, I'm working on slowly building the world in which my characters will live. Even if the whole novel takes place in one building, I want to know everything I can about the entire world before I set out to write this time.
Publishing my first novel was a different experience for me. I was put through an emotional roller coaster as I dealt with the problems that popped up. Oh, there was a typo in the novel that I missed. The Kindle edition format was messed up. The font wasn't embedding properly. The list seemed never ending.
Despite the heartache of publishing, I've already started on another two novels. Well, I've started on the research and background for these two novels. Ordinarily, when writing fantasy, the world is yours to create. When you write urban or contemporary fantasy, though, you're confined to the world that exists already. Sure, you can tweak it, but it helps if there is some believability to it.
With that in mind, I'm working on slowly building the world in which my characters will live. Even if the whole novel takes place in one building, I want to know everything I can about the entire world before I set out to write this time.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Time to Panic?
Eight.
That's how many days I have until I am officially a published author. I have trouble remaining calm when I think about it. I'm still doing last minute edits. Leave it to me to procrastinate like always. Ideally, this should have been done last week. Instead l, I put it off.
Six.
I have six weeks until the first show I'm performing in. It's how many weeks I have to master this solo and pretend I'm not dying a little inside, thinking about how terrible I think it could end up.
Four.
That's the number of days until I have to figure out the rest of my one costume for this show next month. I don't know how I'm going to manage Batgirl, but I'm certainly going to try!
Now, back to editing, before I start crying.
That's how many days I have until I am officially a published author. I have trouble remaining calm when I think about it. I'm still doing last minute edits. Leave it to me to procrastinate like always. Ideally, this should have been done last week. Instead l, I put it off.
Six.
I have six weeks until the first show I'm performing in. It's how many weeks I have to master this solo and pretend I'm not dying a little inside, thinking about how terrible I think it could end up.
Four.
That's the number of days until I have to figure out the rest of my one costume for this show next month. I don't know how I'm going to manage Batgirl, but I'm certainly going to try!
Now, back to editing, before I start crying.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The End
With everything that's been going on, I'm lucky I've had time to write as much as I have. Things seem to have escalated to the point that I barely have time to think. Despite all this, though, the end of a novel draws near.
I speak, of course, of my novel. It's strange to think I will have to type those words in a matter of hours. I don't want to contemplate how it will feel to have finally done it. This won't be the first novel I've written, but it is the first novel that I've finished and done something with.
The melancholy has finally set in and I know exactly how Jo felt when she finally finished writing Harry Potter. It's bittersweet, but it is something you must become accustomed to as a writer.
Now to finally finish what I started....
I speak, of course, of my novel. It's strange to think I will have to type those words in a matter of hours. I don't want to contemplate how it will feel to have finally done it. This won't be the first novel I've written, but it is the first novel that I've finished and done something with.
The melancholy has finally set in and I know exactly how Jo felt when she finally finished writing Harry Potter. It's bittersweet, but it is something you must become accustomed to as a writer.
Now to finally finish what I started....
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Playing Catch-Up (NaNoWriMo: Day 13)
Well, with access to my writing again and some free time to focus, I'm finally playing catch-up. Whoo! Only thirteen thousand words left to go. So far, I'm incredibly behind my goal. I was trying to hit 20k this weekend, only I didn't write... anything. Instead, I worked a little on this new video for my YouTube channel. The script is kicking my rear, but that's okay. It'll be fun.
Novel writing is something I've done for awhile. With everything that's going on this year, I'm starting to think that next year, I need to plan things out better. Hopefully, it'll mean I can stick to my plot better than I have so far. There's a lot of fluff and not a lot of substance.
Ah, well, back to writing. Here's a widget so you can track my progress by day. Green means I've hit my goal for the day. ;)
Novel writing is something I've done for awhile. With everything that's going on this year, I'm starting to think that next year, I need to plan things out better. Hopefully, it'll mean I can stick to my plot better than I have so far. There's a lot of fluff and not a lot of substance.
Ah, well, back to writing. Here's a widget so you can track my progress by day. Green means I've hit my goal for the day. ;)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Soul Searching (NaNoWriMo Day 6)
Well, I'm behind yet again. I've somehow fallen behind a good seven thousand words. Playing catch-up sucks, but it's something I've got to do. I will manage to do this, even if it takes a few late nights and lots of tea.
Today, though, I really wanted to focus on me time. I need to find my muse again, get in touch with him/her, and shake them until they start giving me a decent plot... I'm already starting chapter three and nothing has really happened. I don't know why, but this whole thing is frustrating me. Beyond that, I'm still on vacation. I can't escape enough to write anything worth reading.
So there you have it... My complaints for the day. Now for me to actually do something productive!
Today, though, I really wanted to focus on me time. I need to find my muse again, get in touch with him/her, and shake them until they start giving me a decent plot... I'm already starting chapter three and nothing has really happened. I don't know why, but this whole thing is frustrating me. Beyond that, I'm still on vacation. I can't escape enough to write anything worth reading.
So there you have it... My complaints for the day. Now for me to actually do something productive!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NaNoWriMo: Day 1
Well, it's official. I've well and truly lost my mind. Today marks day one of National Novel Writing Month. For those of you who don't know, it's when all of us who think we can write attempt to write 50k words in thirty days. Fun stuff.
So, what did I do today on the writing front? Well... I posted a vlog about doing this, and now I'm writing a blog post... Fun stuff. I've also spent the last hour avoiding looking at the pile of laundry and brainstorming for my novel this month. I'm starting a new project, so this should be interesting.
Hopefully, I'll have more to write later, but I highly doubt it. If you all are doing NaNoWriMo, feel free to add me as a writing buddy. My username is SiriusGirl1996. Happy writing!
Check out my word count!
So, what did I do today on the writing front? Well... I posted a vlog about doing this, and now I'm writing a blog post... Fun stuff. I've also spent the last hour avoiding looking at the pile of laundry and brainstorming for my novel this month. I'm starting a new project, so this should be interesting.
Hopefully, I'll have more to write later, but I highly doubt it. If you all are doing NaNoWriMo, feel free to add me as a writing buddy. My username is SiriusGirl1996. Happy writing!
Check out my word count!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Oddest Sources of Inspiration
Normally, I try not to blog two days in a row, but right now, I can't help it. I have to brag about one of my oldest friends. This guy is amazing. You have no idea.
So, long story short... one of my best and oldest friends is now a published author. I don't mean just online, writing fanfiction like I do, and derping around. Nor do I mean blogging like an insane person because he doesn't have the inspiration to finish a novel. He is actually a published author, as of August.
This man is amazing. He really is. I've never met a guy who was so talented in so many different fields. The best part is, he's so humble about it. He did an interview recently about his book and in it, he said he was nothing special. He may not see it, but some of us do.
So, just wanted to say that this guy is my inspiration. If any of you want to know who I'm talking about, the link to his book is below.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Basement-Sickness-trilogy-Volume/dp/1479203351
So, long story short... one of my best and oldest friends is now a published author. I don't mean just online, writing fanfiction like I do, and derping around. Nor do I mean blogging like an insane person because he doesn't have the inspiration to finish a novel. He is actually a published author, as of August.
This man is amazing. He really is. I've never met a guy who was so talented in so many different fields. The best part is, he's so humble about it. He did an interview recently about his book and in it, he said he was nothing special. He may not see it, but some of us do.
So, just wanted to say that this guy is my inspiration. If any of you want to know who I'm talking about, the link to his book is below.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Basement-Sickness-trilogy-Volume/dp/1479203351
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Internal Struggle of a Writer
Well, look at that. Too much free time again, and I really don't feel like doing chores. This is a problem I've found I've had a lot lately, even with finals looming next Friday. It's not exactly something I enjoy admitting, but I've been bored out of my mind. In light of this, I decided to let you all know my writing process.
WARNING: This may show up on my YouTube channel at some point over the next week.
It all starts with an idea. That idea can come from anywhere, though I do try to avoid writing ideas that spawn from dreams. All these ideas--and trust me, there's a lot of them--are written down in a notebook. I've found it makes it so much easier to refer back to them then, and most of them never get any sort of attention until I've hit a block on the novel that I've been focusing on (mostly) for the past two years.
Character development is next. Yeah, I actually develop my characters. I have several different exercises I do for this, including, but not limited to, a character interview, writing diary entries for them, a complete profile of them, and various other things. There are a bunch of character development worksheets I've found recently that I've taken to using, too, to keep everything organized. All of that goes on loose leaf paper to be put in a folder/binder/portfolio for the book/series that I'm currently working on.
Next is setting. Sometimes, I'm terrible and don't think this through all the way. However, especially with what I'm currently working on, I have to have some sort of visual aids to make sure that I can accurately describe what I see in my mind's eye. I take pictures, I make maps, I scour the Internet for strange names and plants. I do everything I can to build the towns, countries, even houses, down to the last detail and I make sure I have records of it all.
Finally, finally, I start writing. I may occasionally skip around, depending on who is in my head at the moment. Yes, I know, it sounds crazy, but that's how it is. The characters have to be alive for the writer if the writer wants to have any chance at them living in the readers' minds. I may go through eight or nine different drafts of the same chapter before I move on. Sometimes, I may end up just rewriting the whole novel four or five times. It all depends. The most important thing, though, isn't just to finish it. It's to make sure I've enjoyed every moment of it.
WARNING: This may show up on my YouTube channel at some point over the next week.
It all starts with an idea. That idea can come from anywhere, though I do try to avoid writing ideas that spawn from dreams. All these ideas--and trust me, there's a lot of them--are written down in a notebook. I've found it makes it so much easier to refer back to them then, and most of them never get any sort of attention until I've hit a block on the novel that I've been focusing on (mostly) for the past two years.
Character development is next. Yeah, I actually develop my characters. I have several different exercises I do for this, including, but not limited to, a character interview, writing diary entries for them, a complete profile of them, and various other things. There are a bunch of character development worksheets I've found recently that I've taken to using, too, to keep everything organized. All of that goes on loose leaf paper to be put in a folder/binder/portfolio for the book/series that I'm currently working on.
Next is setting. Sometimes, I'm terrible and don't think this through all the way. However, especially with what I'm currently working on, I have to have some sort of visual aids to make sure that I can accurately describe what I see in my mind's eye. I take pictures, I make maps, I scour the Internet for strange names and plants. I do everything I can to build the towns, countries, even houses, down to the last detail and I make sure I have records of it all.
Finally, finally, I start writing. I may occasionally skip around, depending on who is in my head at the moment. Yes, I know, it sounds crazy, but that's how it is. The characters have to be alive for the writer if the writer wants to have any chance at them living in the readers' minds. I may go through eight or nine different drafts of the same chapter before I move on. Sometimes, I may end up just rewriting the whole novel four or five times. It all depends. The most important thing, though, isn't just to finish it. It's to make sure I've enjoyed every moment of it.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Overcoming Writer's Block
It's been a crazy couple of weeks! Between finals, dance, and just trying to not lose my mind, I'm surprised I managed to find time to do anything. With seven weeks of no class looming ahead of me, I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to do.
As those close to me know, I'm a writer first and foremost. My brain doesn't turn off like a normal person's, and often, I write multiple stories/novels at once. While I've yet to be published, I don't stop writing. My main problem is writer's block. Whenever I get it, I start work on a new idea I had, and then the process repeats. In an effort to finally finish a novel I've been working on for two years, I've started to rewrite it... again.
The easiest way for me to begin was to start at the basic level, developing the characters fully and putting that on paper. Over the next few days, I'll be hammering out those details. It's interesting to see how these characters look on paper when they aren't just shouting instructions in my head about their story.
The next step is an outline. Up to this point, I'd had an idea of where I wanted the story to go, but I hadn't put it all down on paper so details were getting lost in translation. By having an outline, I'll be able to keep writing, even when things seem bleak. As soon as that's done, I'll be able to buckle down and finally write!
Meanwhile, I've also been working on creating visual aids to help me with the writing. As I've been working on getting my character development on paper. Having some of the personal effects of my characters helps me channel them, to truly get the tone of the situation they're in. I also have a tendency to act out their fights, to see exactly how it would work.
Now that I've babbled some about my writing exercises, feel free to leave me a comment about your own.
As those close to me know, I'm a writer first and foremost. My brain doesn't turn off like a normal person's, and often, I write multiple stories/novels at once. While I've yet to be published, I don't stop writing. My main problem is writer's block. Whenever I get it, I start work on a new idea I had, and then the process repeats. In an effort to finally finish a novel I've been working on for two years, I've started to rewrite it... again.
The easiest way for me to begin was to start at the basic level, developing the characters fully and putting that on paper. Over the next few days, I'll be hammering out those details. It's interesting to see how these characters look on paper when they aren't just shouting instructions in my head about their story.
The next step is an outline. Up to this point, I'd had an idea of where I wanted the story to go, but I hadn't put it all down on paper so details were getting lost in translation. By having an outline, I'll be able to keep writing, even when things seem bleak. As soon as that's done, I'll be able to buckle down and finally write!
Meanwhile, I've also been working on creating visual aids to help me with the writing. As I've been working on getting my character development on paper. Having some of the personal effects of my characters helps me channel them, to truly get the tone of the situation they're in. I also have a tendency to act out their fights, to see exactly how it would work.
Now that I've babbled some about my writing exercises, feel free to leave me a comment about your own.
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