Write On Wednesday

I've decided to start doing an activity on Wednesdays that I'm going to call "Write On Wednesday", where I write something from a prompt. I'm hoping that it'll get me a) writing on the blog again, and b) into a regular practice of writing something for fun. When I can, I'm also going to try to use a character from one of my WIP's for the prompt. That should help me get to know the characters better, and see how they react in different situations. I'm not editing any of the work from any of the prompts and I'm limiting myself to a thousand words or less. This is just supposed to be a fairly quick writing exercise. Let me know what you think!

Catelyn is the MC from the romantic suspense that I've been working on (forever). She has gone away to college and is majoring in art. 

The prompt: "It was the first snowfall of the year."

*****

Catelyn stood looking out the window of her room at the sorority house, watching the snowflakes fall. It was the first snowfall of the year, and an event that she always looked forward to. The snow always seemed to somehow make the world seem quiet and it gave her a peaceful feeling. She loved the concept of snowflakes and how each one was unique. It inspired her and made her feel creative. If enough snow fell tonight, she planned on going out tomorrow with her camera to capture some images she could paint, or at the very least, use for inspiration.

She had just sat back down at her desk when one of her sorority sisters poke her head in the door. “Cate, the Kappa guys are having a party tonight to celebrate the first snow. Come on, get ready!”

Catelyn glanced over at Libby and smiled. “No, thanks Lib. I have some stuff I want to work on tonight. You guys have fun though.”

Libby rolled her eyes at her. “You never want to go out, Cate. You know, college is about more than work. Come out and have some fun with us.”

Catelyn barely heard her, already focused on her sketch pad. When Libby's words finally sank in, she barely restrained herself from rolling her own eyes the way Libby had. It's about more than partying too, but she didn't say it aloud. Instead she looked over at Libby and just shrugged.

Libby sighed. “Look, Cate, you should know that some of the girls are talking about removing you from the sorority. You never make an effort to participate in anything that we do and they just feel like it would be better for the sorority if your slot was filled with someone that actually cared about being here.”

Seriously? Participate in anything they do? Cate put her pencil down and stood up. Turning around to face Libby, she leaned against her desk. “Really? Is that what they said?”

Libby fidgeted with her blouse. “Yeah, it's how pretty much everyone feels, Cate. They plan to take a vote at the next meeting.”

Cate laughed, which seemed to shock Libby, judging by the expression on her face. Cate was sure that everyone expected her to be devastated but she was a little relieved. “Participate in anything they do, Libby? Really? What do they do besides party?” Cate laughed again. “You know, I joined this sorority because I thought it would put me around other creative people who were interested in the same types of things that I am. Even without factoring in art, you'd think they could at least attempt some sort of activities that didn't involve drinking.”

That seemed to make Libby angry. She fully walked into the room and tossed her purse on Cate's bed. When she turned around to face her, she put her hands on her hips and glared at Cate. “You are such a self-righteous little bitch, Cate. You want to judge us for having a good time while all you want to do is study and draw and paint and whatever else it is that you do. You think you have to be little miss perfect southern belle. Why don't you just go home? Obviously college life is not for you.”

Catelyn's eyebrows rose at the last statement and the amusement she felt threatened to make her start giggling. She snorted instead. “You are unbelievable, Libby. All of you are. You are such hypocrites. If all you wanted to do was party, why go to college? You're paying a lot of money just to party. And yet you criticize me for actually doing my work. You're funny. Don't worry. I'll leave voluntarily. I'd rather be in the dorm anyway. No need to vote me out.” Cate walked over to the door and held it open. “Now get out of my room, please. I have work to do.”

What I've Learned

My blog has been neglected lately. I have no excuses because every single writer that I know has an insanely busy and chaotic life. You have my permission to call me lazy.

Over the past several months I have taken tons of workshops, along with dealing with a son having ACL surgery, painting several rooms in the house (including my den where I do everything), and drama with a friend. So, what have I learned along the way?

• I definitely need more practice painting or I need to just let my husband do it.

• When you know that a friendship is over, let it die a natural death. Even if the other party keeps trying to prolong the agony.

• When you have a son that is having his "First. Surgery. Ever. mom", even if it is the third surgery of the same type in your household, don't act like it's routine. 

Oh, wait...you wanted what I learned about writing? Hmm, well okay...

•  The internet is evil. Mostly.

• I really need to stop procrastinating and just write.

• Fear only has as much power as I give it.

• I don't know nearly as much about writing as I thought I did.

• You can never do enough research. So stop researching, thinking that you'll get to that point where you have enough, and just write.

• Nobody, not even published authors, write a good first draft. 

• Just get it down. Stop letting the fear control you.

• Deep POV is harder to write than you would think when you've grown up reading something different. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Same with show vs. tell.

• Even published authors struggle and doubt.

• The writing community is the most supportive and greatest that I have ever found. I need to let new experiences cast out the old. 

• Being busy is just an excuse. Stop making excuses. Everybody is busy.

 So that's what I've learned. Now I just have to learn to implement all these little nuggets of wisdom into my daily life. :)

What's the most useful thing you've learned on your path to writing (or being published)?

Happy Easter to everyone!

The World As I Know It

As a little girl growing up, one of my dreams was always to become a published author. I used to imagine the day that I would see my book in a book store with my name on the cover. Oh, that day would be fabulous! I would dance in the aisles and declare to everyone within shouting distance that "Look! That's meeee!".

But the world has changed. Technology came along. And not only did it come along, but it accelerated at an alarming rate. Now, the chances are good that  if  when I get published it it will be with an e-Publisher. Does that make my dream any less exciting? Does it take away something from that original dream? I don't think so. And I don't think any of my friends that have already been published with an e-Publisher think so either.

Sure, I think most of us still have that dream of having a solid, paper book in our hands with our name on it. I think we still strive to reach that goal. Getting a book published is a huge accomplishment, regardless of the format, and with the popularity of Kindles and Nooks we can still point to a cover and declare our ascension to writer's paradise.

And, if we have to run about with an electronic gadget in our hands instead of a paper book while we do it? Who cares.

Image obtained here

I Need A Man!!!!

Any man will do.

In fact, several would be great!

You don't even have to look like the picture. I'm not picky.

I'm having trouble getting to know the hero of my story. I can't get in his head.

Oh...I probably could, and I'm trying, but right now I'm questioning whether I'm inventing or it's really him. (I know that sounds crazy since I'm actually the one creating him, but writers will know what I mean.)

I've tried using my husband as a role model - naturally my hero is partly my husband. But not all him.

I can picture him. I know what he looks like. I know how sexy he is. I know how he feels about my girl. I just can't get really deep in his head. He did enlighten me about a couple of things that totally surprised me but for the most part he's being really uncooperative, the sexy bastard.

I've tried character sheets. That's actually where I start questioning whether it's me or him.

And for my Savvy friends, yes I am aware that Savvy will soon be having a workshop on this very thing. I may very well take it, I don't know yet. But Savvy has workshops on everything and I can't afford them all. (I wish I could!) I have to be choosy.

I know that locale makes a difference. A man born in raised in the deep south thinks and reacts to things differently than a man born and raised in California. At least I would assume so. I think certain traits are inherent in all men though.

I need a man. One that is willing to let me pick his brain. And won't laugh at my random, off the wall questions.

Barring one of the species that possess the dangly bits coming forward and volunteering, do any of you other writers out there have any advice on how to get into a man's head?

full circle

And here we are again.

Well, we bought our house and moved. And I could come up with a whole list of excuses as to why I haven't been here or why I haven't written, but what's the point. The main reason is fear. I've admitted that before I just haven't done anything to overcome it. I think I finally have figured out where it stems from at least. Several years ago I was in another writing group where one of the ladies in the group (a published author) totally trashed my writing. She basically told me that I had no talent and that my stories were too character driven and that character driven stories are no good, don't sell and are basically a cop out for untalented writers. That's about when I stopped writing.

Now, just because I've stopped writing doesn't mean that the people in my head have stopped bugging me. To be honest, it's driving me a little batty. So I need to remedy this. Every minute of the day I'm eavesdropping on conversations in my head. I'm seeing scenes that need to be put on paper. Seriously. Every minute. Try doing that for a day. Then try doing it for an infinite period of time. White jacket anyone?

Recently, my friends over at the Savvy Authors website sent me an invitation to join the yahoo group. It has many of the same people but now it's in my face in my inbox every morning. Staring back at me. Saying "what the hell, woman??? Why aren't you writing?? All these other people can do it, so can you!"

I signed up for a class on how to get inside a criminals mind so that I can better understand my villain. The class is fascinating. I've read their blogs. I've read other blogs on that some of these same people have written about writers block and how to overcome it. I've tried a couple of their methods. And I'm working on it.

I have a new mantra. I repeat to myself in the mornings. "I am a writer."

I joined the Winter Writing Festival over at Ruby Slippered-Sisterhood website. I have set goals for the next two months or so and I'm sticking to them. Heck, I could even win a prize if I stick to them. What better motivation?

I hate being so unsure of myself. In any aspect of my life. If you knew me, you would know that me being unsure about anything is so not me. I'm a fairly confident, opinionated person. And I'm not afraid to be the one to stand up and act silly. My philosophy is all about enjoying life. Except this part, apparently.

I'm working on it.

Have you ever had writer's block? What did you do to overcome it? Do you really think that it was a "block" or was it fear or procrastination? Or something else entirely? Share...maybe it will help....

Image obtained here

Out of hiding...

Wow, it's been a long time since I wrote anything here! Yes, I sort of gave up on the writing for a while. Oh, it was never far from my mind...but I just couldn't seem to make myself sit and write anything. Fear? Writer's block? Maybe a little bit of both.

Somehow, I found my way to a website a few months back of an author named Holly Lisle. To be perfectly honest, I've never read any of her work but her website has been helpful. I also signed up for her newsletter and recently found out that she is hosting this workshop about editing. In following the link to the site that is hosting the workshop I found a plethora of other workshops, and many of them were being offered free to members of the site! Just the thing I needed to give me a kick in the ass to get writing, I decided. So I joined the website and signed up for a bunch of the workshops.

Where is this magical place, you might be wondering? Well, it's at SavvyAuthors.com. The cost of joining the website is $30 for a year, which considering the number of workshops I'm getting for free is well worth it. They have other workshops that they host as well that there is a small charge for, but they typically only range from $5-$15 for their members. It gives you the chance to mingle with other writers, both published and just starting out, they have worksheets for character building and a database of editors/publishers. Most of the workshops are hosted by published authors as well.

The workshops that I have signed up for? Well, they are hosting what they are calling the 2010 Writers' Boot Camp, which includes several workshops and some free book and software raffles. So far I have signed up for the following:

• Assaulting A Writer's Thinking
• How, When and Why to Change Point of View Mid-Scene
• Foreshadowing
• Before Copy-Editing
• How To Promote When You Don't Know How
• Editing & Book Design
• Crash Revisions
• Promoting With Social Media
• Ten Ugly Truths About Publishing

Now, granted I'm not so far into my writing that I need some of these workshops but I figured they are free so I might as well take advantage of them!

One of the first things discussed in the current workshop was setting goals. Another thing touched on was the importance of networking and using blogging as a tool to get our presence out on the internet. So one of my goals was to start blogging more. I'm going to try to stick with that. My problem is that I just usually don't have much to say that I think anybody cares about! I'll have to work on that.

That, and oh yeah...my habit of procrastinating. Procrastinating won't get my book written!

Neither will thinking about what I want to write as I go to bed at night, drive in the car or take a shower.

hot on the trail

I joined some yahoo groups a few days ago.

They are supposed to send out writing prompts, help people get past writers block or, at the very least, give ideas of things to write about.

I joined one about journaling. So far that one just seems like a big social group and not a lot about actual journaling is mentioned.

I haven't decided yet if I want to stay in this group. Today they were discussing politics. It's rather annoying. I joined the group to get ideas about journaling, NOT to listen the political views of others.

They do, however, do one thing that I've noticed so far. They do this thing called Thankful Thursdays. Since my goal with this blog is to get myself writing I thought maybe I'd do that here, even though it's not Thursday.

Life has been a pain in the ass lately so I'm not sure how much I'm actually going to find to be thankful for, sadly.

So, without further ado, here is my list....

• My marriage. We've been married for 16 years and it hasn't always been easy. Not even a little bit. We've endured separations and have perilously close to divorce a couple of times. But marriage is hard work and we've worked at saving it and I think our relationship is closer and stronger for it.
  
• My husband. Again, we all have our problems right. And everybody has their quirks and habits that annoy the shit out of others. We learn to live with them and get past them. He's a great guy. He's very generous and thoughtful and kind. He loves me despite all my weirdness and my own quirks. He understands me. And damn if the man isn't hot!
  
• My kids. There are definite issues with one of them that has made life extremely difficult lately but I'm still thankful for them and I love them.
  
• My friends and our monthly outings. Last night we went to Shakespeare in the Park. We do this regularly in the summer. It's an outdoor stage and you get to sit beneath the stars. We always take wine and food too. This month we are going canoeing. These outings sometimes help me maintain my sanity. Especially when wine is involved.
  
• My parents and my family. I'm glad that my parents are still around and that my family is close. We're totally functional in a really dysfunctional way. We are definitely not your average family. Or maybe we are. There are a lot of "steps" and "halfs" and races and ethnicities. We accept just about anybody and base it on who you are not what you are. I love that about my family.

Those are pretty basic right? I'm sure I could have been more imaginative. Next time I'll do a more interesting one. Maybe I'll make this a regular thing. Helps put life in perspective.

At least it made me sit down and write!