by Sarah | Aug 22, 2011 | Writing, writing tips
I’m always late to the party.
This time it was getting into a twitter writing community.
I’ve taken part in forums. In a couple of email groups.
They all worked in their own way for a time.
They’ve all faded or disappeared completely.
Then one night I was going through some links on friends sites to see where they led, and stumbled upon a link to #amwriting. Being a twitter enthusiast I was definitely curious.
Since then I’ve had more meaningful (and sometimes not so meaningful) real author/writing chats and interactions then it feels like I ever have.
It now has a permanent place on my tweetdeck.
When I write I have to turn it off or I’ll never actually work…but otherwise it’s there.
If you need to vent, get inspiration, find other writers (and their blogs)…join the twitter stream. It’s made me laugh and given me inspiration on a regular basis since I joined last week.
by Sarah | Jan 30, 2011 | Writing, writing tips
This is just a portion of THE PILE.
Books that I’m reading. Are in line to be read. Or I just finished reading.
I’ve set a goal this year to read more.
I made the same goal last year, and did very well for the first couple of months.
And then I gave up. I focused on my writing – and writing I did. For months I wrote so much my husband missed me. My bed missed me. I’m pretty sure my kids missed me. Hundreds of thousands of words.
It frustrated me that I gave up reading. I mean, how often are you told that if you want to write, you have to READ. That you can’t improve your craft if you aren’t reading what you can to build on your skills and see what others have done. Learn new techniques. See what you like, what you don’t like. Learn to incorporate it into your craft.
Now I’m reading again. Knee deep in about 4 books. I’ve finished one. I’m getting through what I can in my *ahem* “spare time” (who has THAT?). I’m trying to schedule reading time into every day I can. Instead of playing Soduko on my Nook when I take a bath – I’m actually using it to read. (I am NOT fighing w/ my husband over it yet…as when he uses it I can get an actual paper book, and vice versa. We’re behaving for the moment)
Now I’m starting to remember why I quit.
The deep frustration that seeps into the pleasure I’m supposed to take in reading.
The deep, abiding love that I always had for reading starts to seem like a memory.
Because I can’t turn off my inner editor.
Although, that little monster of a creature is child’s play compared to the other, larger monster that really threatens my love of reading. My pure enjoyment and escape.
The inner editor is a tiny little mosquito just buzzing gently in my ear as I get through the book.
The real monster? The Godzilla that could stomp out the mosquito, but instead feeds it until it gets bigger.
I guess you could call him jealousy.
I read these books.
My inner editor buzzes.
And Godzilla feeds him, helping him grow HUGE.
Pointing out that the little error he’s about to ignore is the reason an editor turned down my own book. Or that this it’s a primary “RULE” out there that no writer should EVER break – but it’s in this novel…and this novel is published. And selling.
It makes me frustrated. Over things that I KNOW I shouldn’t be letting myself get in a snit over.
It makes me want to just stop before I get REALLY upset and just get back to writing 2,000-7,000 words a day.
Because it’s SO much easier than “Trying to learn” from people that have made it through the hell of getting a book published…only to find errors that you’ve been told at every turn is WRONG WRONG WRONG.
It’s also very difficult to just enjoy a book this way.
Which is something I miss.
A lot.
by Sarah | Oct 20, 2010 | Writing, writing tips
The first six months of 2010 I wrote over 500,000 words; over 200 chapters worth of stories.
The words poured out of me like water from a fountain. My story, while without an outline, was clear as could be. My characters spoke loudly, demanding and seeking their best outlet of expression.
I had the story I was writing, plus one other that was forming, plotting, growing in my head. The excitement was palpable. The itch to write…insatiable.
I drove my husband nuts with my hours upon hours on the computer writing page after page of a story he has no interest in reading (romance is so not in his realm of interest). At times the housework suffered for creative endeavors.
Then as happens every year, it happened again.
It disappeared.
Closing up shop for the winter. Preparing for the holidays. My ideas and words slow as the gorgeous colors of fall start to emerge.
Or sooner.
Perhaps as my first thought of Christmas tasks hit. I make some many gifts by hand, my creativity can only stretch so far.
So while I’m knitting, sewing, decorating, and baking in anticipation of the holidays…my characters and my writing muse go on vacation.
I imagine about now they’re drunk on tequila, soaking up the sun in some warmer client. While I work soft yarns between my fingers, my computers keys take a break. While I try to get in shape in time to ruin it with stacks of Christmas cookies, my muse puts her feet up in some foreign land and relaxes in preparation for the new year and the chance to strike with crazy ideas and plots.
This is why I no longer do NaNo…after failing for 3 years straight I realized November is not the time for me to try to write. My mind is elsewhere, my creative urges turning toward the holiday season.
I will continue with my challenges, and try to remain present here, but I learned long ago to flow with my muse. If I force out the writing, I hate it.
I look forward to the spring, when the ghost town that is my imagination sparks back to life. When characters start yelling at me again, demanding to be heard. When my next story faces the blank sheet in front me and pours forth.
Until then…100 words, and 15 words at a time, I will keep my writing spirit alive; as well as this blog. Leaving more time to devote to other endeavors. Nothing will be forced, and the joy will be greater.
by Sarah | Jun 3, 2010 | Changing Tracks, writing tips
I once received the suggestion that I should print out my manuscript and hand edit it. I don’t remember who said it, or why I rebuffed it – other than the obvious truth that my printer would likely scoff in my face.
Yesterday I did just that.
My printer did snort and protest. It ran out of black ink and 45 pages are printed in blue. One page had the top chewed up. It took an hour (slow printer).
But now my manuscript sits in front of me. Mocking me.
Last night I had to pick my mom up from the airport and while I waited in the cell lot for her to tell me she was ready, I read. I made it twenty pages in and found quite a few items to mark and change (including a blatant typo that spell-check missed!).
I knew the ‘theory’ that reading it on paper was different then reading it on the screen you wrote it on. I didn’t believe it.
But there’s something to be said for it. I hope to continue through the whole manuscript now this way. I’m going to be submitting my novel in two contests by the end of the month (hopefully, I need to come up with the entry fees first), and I want this to shine. I hope between my beta and my own edits that will happen.
So I vote for putting your printer through its paces. It really does read different on paper.
