Characters are their own people

One of my characters is being very stuborn. I've tried to change her subject major several times, but she won't let me. Whenever I write, inevitably I end up using her original field of study, nothing else sounds as good or genuine. Sometimes you just have to let your character be who they want to be.

Cool Writing Prompt

I used this writing prompt today from Language is a Virus and thought it was cool, so I wanted to share!

"Write on a piece of paper where something is already printed or written."

Well that's novel

I'm all about the puns today...lol...

I'm VERY excited because the revision on my novel is going AMAZING. I really feel like the language, tone, pace is improving and I'm sooooooo very proud of how its turning out.

So far I'm just revising the first couple chapters. The entire story isn't written out yet, but I know what's gonna happen, revising will allow me to see where I have gaps that need to be filled. Its not the "conventional" writing process (if there is such a thing), but this is my first full length novel and I'm learning what MY process is by experimenting and following my instincts. Its pretty cool and I'm thoroughly enjoying myself.

Writing Group - 7/6/10

I made it to my writing group last night, for the first time in over a month. It was awesome to see the guys and hear what they'd been scribbling about lately.

Shout out to Ryan's Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Artists!

What we usually do in this particular writing group is start with a writing prompt/exercise and scribble for 15 minutes. Then we go over previously submitted pieces with comments and suggestions. It usually takes two hours to get to everybody's stuff. Generally there is food and drinks in there too somwhere. : )

notebooks, notebooks EVERYWHERE!!!

Walmart is having there back-to-school school supply sale and my FAVORITE composition book is on sale for...wait for it...25c!!!!!!!! That's 4 notebooks for the price of 1. Yeah, I went a little crazy. I love the Norcom brand because I like the composition book style and they have very soft flexible covers.

New Years Resolution Update

I am thrilled to report that so far this year I've stuck to my journaling resolution and just made it through my 2nd composition book! I've also finished two other creative writing notebooks. There is nothing quite as exhilerating as filling up a whole notebook with writing!!

A Little Accountability Goes A Loooooooong Way

I'm really excited! My friend Sherry and I have decided to motivate eachother on the writing front, by exchanging writing prompts throughout the week and meeting up to write on a regular basis. I think this will be hugely helpful. I have been seriously lacking in the motivation department lately!

Yes Write Now

Who am I kidding, lol. I didn't write for a whole 3 days and had to start again. I guess finals studying will have to share time with scribbling, because NOT writing, is NOT and option.

While I'm here, I also wanted to remind you guys to check out my writing links on the right side tool bar. There are some great prompts and resources to be found!

Not Write Now

Besides keeping up in my journal, writing has ceased for the time being, except in the academic sense, as finals are looming less than two weeks away. I am hoping that the break will actually be very helpful. I can come back to various projects with a fresh pair of eyes and not worrying about the text book I should be reading, or the class paper I should be working on. See you guys in a couple weeks.

Writer's Block

Writer's block is the most miserable affliction you can experience as a scribbler. I can't count the number of times an important project has come to a screeching halt because of it. When it comes to curing writer's block, what frusterates me the most is that there is no one solution which works all the time.

It seems that usually a regiment of trial and error works better than anything to get the creative juices flowing again. A lot of times I find that if I've developed writer's block its because I've been working on the same project for too long and I'm burnt out. Generally, working on a different piece for a little while will help.

Sometimes the problem is I've written myself into a corner. In other words my story has wound up in a place where there is nowhere else for it to go. In those cases, I usually back up a couple paragraphs or even pages and start again from there. Its kinda like a "choose your own ending" book. When one choice doesn't turn out right, try another.

Something else that I have noticed which can make writer's block harder to overcome is continuing to try writing under the same circumstances, (same coffee shop, listening to the same music, same time of day) It seems like the mind recognizes the situation and says "Oh remember this, I'm suppose to freeze up now and get anxious and frusterated." One thing I've done to break that cycle is switching from typing on the computer, to writing in a notebook for a little while or I'll change venues. A lot of times if I can come to the piece with no expectations, that removes the pressure which can sometimes cause you to get stuck as well.

Writing Between the Lines

Somedays It seems that being a writer is the same as being a rat in a maze. You try one path and it runs into a dead end, then you try another path and you wind up at another dead end. The question is do you go back and try a 3rd path, or do you attempt to break through the dead end?

NEVER throw away a notebook!!!!

My writing project for today was pretty simple. I went through my desk and pulled out all of my full notebooks. I reread them and found some really interesting scribbles, that I had completely forgotten about. This particular stash ranges from 6mo-2yrs old.

I guess my point is that your writing journals are invaluable sources of inspiration and even if you scribble something that seems useless at the time, it could develop into something amazing later.

As an example: I wrote a short story when I was 17yrs old. It sat in a drawer for 7yrs and then I rewrote it into one of my favorite pieces of flash fiction.

I would also encourage you that if you're going to scratch something out, just draw a single line through it. I've come back to pieces and decided I liked the bit that I struck out and with only one line through it, its still readable.

Free Write/Stream of Consciousness

I don't usually do this, but today it was a really productive tool...

When I write steam of consciousness, or free write, I usually pick a song, or playlist that I'm really into at the moment. I fire it up super loud and just start scribbling, without letting myself stop, until the song(s) finish. Its interesting because I find that the subject matter, or pace of the piece I write will match the song(s).

Today I played Greenday.

The most important (and most difficult) thing about this kind of writing prompt, in my experienc, is NOT pausing to think about or analyze what you've written. You just have to keep going.

The Writer's Environment

Location, location, location...

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you do not have a special workspace at home, for writing, I would encourage you to set one up.

For me, there is nothing more important than having a good environment to write in. If I don't feel comfortable in a particular place, I can't get the creative juices flowing.

Recently, I have really been struggling, trying to write at home. So I decided that it was time to rearrange my workspace, so that it would be more conducive to the creative process. I can't even describe what a huge difference it has made. Call it writer's feng shui, or something like that.

(My own personal writing haven, cluttered with all my favorite things, just how I like it!!! : D )

If you find that you just can't write at home at all, or need a change of scenery for inspiration I would suggest a couple alternatives:

Right now, the places I have found that work the best for me are coffee shops (Starbucks in particular. Check out my post about why I think Starbucks is awesome.)

 http://sarah2point0favoritethings.blogspot.com/2010/04/starbucks-coffee-company.html

Also, bookstores like Borders or Barnes and Noble have cafes and extensive seating areas; besides, you can't tell me that being surrounded by thousands of books isn't inspiring.

I've had minimal success trying to write in a libraries, I find it too quiet, but that may be EXACTLY what YOU need.

I guess the bottom line is, trying different setups and locations, until you discover the optimum writing environment for you, is a fun, worthwhile project.

The Writing Prompt Deck

I came up with this system to use with my writing group. It is a really simple way to generate a writing prompt.

Materials:
-index cards in at least 3 different colors (I recommend cards with recycled content.Try Office Depot.)
(http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/279688/Oxford-Color-Coded-Recycled-Index-Cards/)

-a writing implement (pen, marker, sharpie...just make sure it won't bleed through the card.)

-index card case (optional...you could always just use a rubber band or ziplock bag to keep your cards together.)

To Make Your Deck:
1.) Write the category on the front of each card according to the color.
yellow=protagonist (main character)
red/pink=setting
blue=action
green=object
purple=secondary character
(you can use any color for any category, these were just the ones I chose.)

2.) Fill in the back of each card with one thing that corresponds to its category. (A character could be an old woman, a setting could be the beach, an action could be crying, etc.)

That's it! your deck is made! Easy, huh?

To Use Your Deck:
1.) Shuffle each category seperately.
2.) lay each category face down.
3.) select one card from each category and turn it face up.
4.) Use the selection of words together as a prompt.

Example:
character card = man
setting card = city
action card = worry
object card = shoes
secondary character card = sales person
You could use these prompts to write about a man who just arrived in a new city. He is worried because he needs a new pair of shoes for a job interview. So he goes to a store to buy said shoes and is assisted by a sales associate.

It may not be epic, but it will get you started. Have fun!

on Dreams and Writing

    For me, dreams have been a pivotal part of my creative process. The bizarre alternate reality that plays in your head while catching a couple Zs can be a wealth of inspiration.

    I would encourage anyone who writes, to keep a notebook and pen by their bed. Committing a dream experience to paper as quickly as possible after it occurs helps retain the impressions, sensations and emotions that fade almost immeadiately after you wake up.

Happy Scribbling!

Sarah...The Writer

    Calling myself a "writer" seems pretty presumptuous. I always think of writers as people who make their living by writing. I do not make my living by writing, YET, but I have had several professors and peers tell me that by the very nature of the fact that I am actively producing written works on a regular basis, makes me a writer. Cool!

    I've been scribbling since I was about 8yrs old. I completed my first young adult mystery at 12ish. I grew up a big fan of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, so that seemed like an obvious choice of genre.

    The last couple years I've taken two creative writing classes and branched out into poetry, flash fiction (simply defined as a very short short story) and general fiction.

    Right now I have a couple manuscripts in the works, with the goal of publishing sometime in the near future. And for my New Years resolution I'm writing in a journal everyday for a year. It may not sound like a lot, but I spend more time keeping up with my writing schedule, than doing my homework. (shhhhhhh, don't tell my professors.)