Chasing Dreams

Hello!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! As you may have noticed I haven't been able to post as frequently as I did.  I've recently been running in too many directions trying to accomplish a great deal, but in reality accomplishing very little.

I am an Independent Writing Consultant and am working to build my portfolio so that by the time I graduate, I will have some work waiting for me.  It's always a good idea to try and get work in your field of interest.  Somehow technical support did not seem to fit into those plans.  I also realized that this transition would require a tremendous change and an equal amount of risk.  With that thought in mind, I made the decision to try and focus on my "true" job.  Being a newbie is difficult.  There is no word-of-mouth; no one to give you references.  Everything hinges on the kindness or faith of someone unknown to you, someone to give you that first opportunity.  It is also a wonderful challenge because it fosters excellence. A person just starting out has everything to prove and much to lose if they don't succeed.

I am gradually updating my site (www.crampedwriting.com) to include my new job which entails a variety of duties:  proofreading, copyediting as well as substantive editing.   Eventually my site will have the details about the different tiers and the costs.  I'm also able to offer assistance with writing-related questions, and make suggestions when appropriate, for certain aspects of marketing.

This is a very exciting time, but as you can see, does not allow for the upkeep and maintenance of two blogs.  Therefore I will be discontinuing this blog and using strictly the www.crampedwriting.com one.  I apologize for any inconvenience this change creates, and I hope you will all continue to visit me at my "new home".  I prefer the variety of options for the wordpress blogs and look forward to being able to help and touch-base with everyone a bit more efficiently.

Thank you for all your patience and understanding!  I'll be running a promotion next month as well, so please don't forget to check out the new site.  I want to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to submit an entry.

Have a great day!

Learning From NaNoWriMo

It's been a while.  I've neglected you for a couple weeks now.  I promise it was not intentional.  I just decided to take the craziest ride of my life, and bit off more than I can properly chew.  I reached a critical point, not long ago, where my synapses went into overdrive.  I realized that if I kept working full time, catering to family, and attending school, I would have no time to actually write.  For an aspiring author, this is obviously distressing news.

Not distressing, that term is not strong enough.  I'd probably say it was catastrophic news.  This came after many other issues had decided to make their way to me and plop themselves onto my already full plate.  The only available answer was to quit my job and NOT get another one.  Crazy?  Yes, very.  Necessary in my case?  I think so.  The true question is what happens from here?

As things stand, I'm not finished with my B.A. in Creative Writing.  I wanted to have my degree before I was in this position.  We all know how plans are though; they never go where they are supposed to.  I'm still taking my classes (I actually only have a few semesters left, which will no doubt fly by) and trying to make my way through the possibilities of earning income, which is in some way related to my field of study, rather than throwing away my time at a job which will not build a portfolio.  Somehow, "I can help fix your internet", does not seem to garner points on a writing resume.  Weird.  It has been a long couple of weeks crammed with various duties.  Things are beginning to settle down, so the real struggle begins.  Oxymoron, I know.

I've been doing NaNoWriMo this month, a very valuable exercise in writing insanity, which will hopefully produce something of quality.  In addition to this, I need to edit another manuscript (my first edit!).  It is probably time to drag out all those nifty writing links I've been saving up for the future.  As they say, it is "go time".  I've already learned that this journey is not for the scared, or the faint of heart. It is not for those who dream of a "someday".  NaNoWriMo is teaching me that every moment is THAT moment, every day can be a step towards "someday".  I've always been able to write without worrying about writer's block (this may be due to my ADD-esque writing style), but NaNoWriMo challenges this.  To meet my goal, I need to write a certain amount of words per day.  If I fall behind, I have to write more during the following days to catch up.  The writing lags and it can be depressing watching the spillage of word junk accumulate on the screen.  I can understand the desire to stop at that moment.  To go hide from the manuscript you are writing and which seems to mock you and your dreams.  Don't hide though!  Keep going, press onward! Truly, it is a pain in the butt, yet it works.

Writing is a sport. You heard me...(figuratively speaking).   A sport requires intense training, dedication, perseverance and practice.  Sound familiar?  I thought so.  Writing takes skill, but if you have the determination, you can learn to acquire the skill.  If you want the "trophy", you have to do the work.  No one ever expects to have a perfect sprint, or three-point shot, without first working towards the completion of those goals.  As writers, we cannot expect to write the perfect book, or even the perfect scene at the first draft.  NaNoWriMo is teaching me the value of pressing on, though the work might be substandard, to reach the end goal of completing the first draft.  Once the first draft is done, I'm able to go back and edit.  More practice.  You can always rewrite once you finish, but if you get distracted or depressed about the work, you may never finish.  Remember to allow your writing to suck.  Don't look back, keep going.  Whether you're doing NaNoWriMo or other writing, keep going.  There's obviously times to take a small break, but if you find yourself avoiding your story, you'll probably just have to plunk yourself down and continue to write.  Then make sure to give yourself proper credit, no matter how crappy you feel your writing is, for the dedication and perseverance you exhibited in finishing a manuscript.  That is a HUGE accomplishment, whether you were able to do it in a month or ten years.

It starts with just the dedication to write something each day.  Perhaps writing thoughts in a journal, or creating a poem would be a good start.  If you dream of writing, it is NEVER too late to begin.  Minutes a day.  I wish you all the best luck and will continue to share as much as possible of this crazy journey.  If you've never done NaNoWriMo, or are not sure what it is, check it out!

I want to know about NaNoWriMo!

Writers And Other Sedentariness

This year I decided to do NaNoWriMo.  The decision happened rather unexpectedly. It is something I have known about for a while now, but this is the first year I really wanted to look into it.  I view NaNoWriMo as a valid writing excercise, but beyond that as a way to force myself to really plan out a novel and complete it.  

Strangely enough, things have coordinated in my life to require me to quit my job with nothing but faith in the hope that I'll be successful (with God's blessings).  It's very scary and I may end up working at a retail place, which as long as I can make enough to live is fine.  I'm rather tired of being literally tethered to a cubicle.  There is something so disheartening and inhumane about that.  What's even more odd is that humans do it willingly.  If we chained animals to a post for eight to ten hours a day, animal rights activists would be working hard to get special breaks and longer tethers and any number of things.  Humans?  Eh, whatever.  So what if the risk of heart attack increases for men by 64% with a sedentary job?  No one gets fired up about that. 

You can check about the article about the potential health effects of sedentary jobs here: http://www.npr.org/2011/04/25/135575490/sitting-all-day-worse-for-you-than-you-might-think

The article by Patti Neighmond at NPR.org interprets the effects of stress, solely on men.  While men and women are different, women also may have increased risks as well.  Percentages may be different, but it is obvious that our current mode of office-related work is a health hazard.  You sometime used to hear people saying, "a little work won't kill you".  With these numbers we have to consider that unless there is a drastic change in how the workplace is managed, there could be significant health issues and a general decline in overall health.  Work takes up increasing amounts of daily life which does not leave much time and/or energy for trying to exercise.  

Why does this matter?

Well, as I mentioned above I recently quit my job.  I'll be pursuing writing in addition to some other sedentary work.  Writers, who sometimes sit for hours furiously typing or scrawling, also need to be mindful of these statistics.  This is a timely reminder for me to take breaks from writing and other work to get a bit of exercise.  I know that I feel more alert and tend to get more ideas when I'm walking around, so I'm happy to try this out.  I can definitely see how it would be so easy to just sit for hours, especially when I get engrossed in the material I'm writing.  Last night I wrote until around 4am before I realized I should go to bed.  I'm probably going to have to set an alarm and force myself to jog in place or do jumping jacks or squats or something.  If I can squeeze in ten minutes every hour or something like that I'll be getting more exercise than normal.  I'll have to see how that works.  

Happy days everyone!  More crazy ruminations later!

Is Writing Glamorous? Take a Peek!

Today I wanted to share with you a humorous video about the life of a writer.  Obviously this varies from person to person, but there are still granules of truth in this video which I found amusing.  

Too Tired To Ponder Much

Today, my "What If" ponderings were absolutely simplistic.  There was no grandiose scheme or plot in my mind.  I simply wondered "What If" I didn't have to go to work today?  "What If" I actually had the right number to contact my work and call out?  I'd be able to stay at home getting some much needed sleep but mostly likely nothing else of consequence.  I'd probably barely get my homework done, but honestly the sleep factor is looking pretty good right now.  Since I have neglected the relevant work information though, I have essentially forced myself to come in to work.  It's just as well I suppose.  I'll probably get a lot more done anyway.

I've got a new post up at my other blog http://crampedwriting.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/autumn-enticements-why-i-love-autumn/.

The title is self explanatory...it's why I love Autumn.  It's a somewhat indescribable feeling for me, an excitement that steals into my bones and seems to move me like a marionette towards an unseen goal.  It's a feeling that tickles down to my soul and reminds me to be alert, to watch the wonder of the world around me and to see the magic in every day.  That's an amazing thing when you think about it.  Not often do we have the opportunity to escape the dreary realities of this world, mostly hearing about everything that is unworthy. Attention which should be heaped upon the good and noble rarely holds the spotlight as it should leaving us with a lopsided view of the world.  Autumn reminds me that there is good, there is new, there are choices I am free to make. Today I am grateful for mint chocolate cookies.  So simple, but they evoke great memories and make my taste buds dance.  Now, I think I want to go play outside. I guess I'll have to do that later.  After I have some more caffeine.

My Tips For Showing In My Writing

Whoops! Sorry, didn't quite get this in last week.  In all fairness I did start a lengthy post about showing instead of telling.  I think it's fairly easy to notice when you have a sample of one writing which "tells" versus a sample which "shows".  I think we can also agree that a lot of writing combines aspects of both showing and telling.  In essence they key is to know when to show instead of tell, in addition to be able to determine what "showing" will look like for your story.  Here are a few things that I'm using to try and help me deal with this aspect of writing:

1) If I can't think of a way to "show", I change my POV (point of view, sorry)
I either write it from the perspective of a completely different character, or change the actual POV to first    person, etc.  Even if this is only a temporary change, it has been well worth it in the end.

2) Vocabulary.  Let's face it, there is only so much one can do with "rippling muscles".  Those are the kinds of "cliches" that I want to avoid.  Use an odd comparison suitable to the tone, or look up a completely different word.  Variety adds spice.

3)  Try mildly mimicking some of the actions if you're having trouble and notice a few things, how your muscles feel when you clench your hand into a fist, how the tendons in your wrist stand out out.  Make a mental or regular note about that so you can include it in your writing.  (Note:  this does not mean you should grab a sword and jump into the street trying to engage in combat) Sure I may look like an idiot now and then, but it's no different than any other day really! :)

4) We take a lot for granted. As writers, it is up to us to make things "new" again.  The feeling of first love, unrequited love, anger.  Even just the wonder of waking up to a day that is so incredibly sunny you can't help but smile.  Maybe the way you stand almost on tiptoe when you stretch in the mornings. It's writing "alive".

Here's my new philosophy on the subject:  if we can feel our writing, and there is a sense that it lives and breathes on its own, then we've done a good job. Does that even make sense or is that just a horror story waiting to happen?  Eaten alive by my own manuscript...

Tell me what you think!  Agree?  Disagree?  Have an idea I left out (there should be lots)?

I'd love to hear from you!

Showing Your Story or Boring Your Readers

Happy Tuesday! The other day, I have to tell you that I was really excited to find a better grasp of "show don't tell" than I have had.

Hope And Humanity

Hope!  Hope is such an integral part of humanity that it resonates within each of us.  Either there is the tingle of hope which entices us to believe things that our minds tell us we should not ("he/she really cares for me"), or we feel there is no hope in some cases.  As readers, we cling to the hope that our hero or heroine will save the day.  We hope that they won't die in the process. We hope sometimes, that our characters find the love which has been sitting right under their noses.

Hope is what keeps us going both in reality as well as in our reading.  Perhaps, in an arduous reading assignment our only hope is to get to the end unscathed.  Still, it's hope or a distinct lack thereof (which basically just preps us for the introduction of hope).  If the reader isn't hoping, what is to bring them into the story as if they were old acquaintances?  Hope is recognizable on many different levels and creates common ground for the reader regardless of the exact circumstances.  I may have never hoped to pass a board exam in my quest to become a lawyer, but I have hoped to pass a driving test, or even other college or high school tests which hold the keys to my future. This translates into something understandable and garners sympathy for our characters.  Without hope, a character falls flat and fails to engage the reader (assuming they never find hope throughout the book).  A character without hope for an entire book, is not a book which will most  entice a reader to pick it up repeatedly and will not earn it a coveted spot on the bookshelf.  It may even cause deletion from the reader's digital library ~gasp~!

There is a time for rosy hopes, but because hopes can be small and are often found in the character's goals themselves, don't need to be boring or trite.  A character can hope that a sick friend or family member overcomes a debilitating sickness, or it could be that the character hopes a friend lands the job their dream job.  A character may hope for just a normal day.  The hope does not necessarily mean the outcome will be favorable, but a character without any form of hope (even deeply repressed hope) is not realistic.

Hope is what inspires us to take risks, to finally try and accomplish our dreams, to change our situation for the better, to reconnect us with our own humanity, to stir emotions.  Hope motivates us (and should inspire our characters as well) to achieve beyond our dreams and gives us a reason to persevere.  Hope can seem to break us at times, but it is also the very thing which heals us and gives us strength.

"What If" Ponderings

What if the world as we know it, does not exist?  We might automatically think, The Matrix.  I, however, am not really thinking along those lines.

Candace Knoebel's First Book!

Hey everyone! Great news, Candace Knoebel has a new novel released, entitled Born in Flames.  This is available via ebook here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-in-flames-candace-knoebel/1112772359?ean=2940015130775

You can check out her blog here:

http://candaceknoebel.wordpress.com/

This is pretty exciting stuff and I'm wildly happy for her.  It is so far available only in ebook, so I'll have to forgo my dreams of a signed copy for now.  I have the digital copy which I am reading in between my assigned reading for philosophy and english.  I'll probably get through her book first, though.  It's already quite interesting and I'm about three pages in. I'll try to post up a review of that.  The review of The Souls of Black Folk is currently sidelined (fyi), but I have not forgotten it!

This is all for today, happy reading everyone!

Be strong, be brave, be awesome!

On the Subject of Literature

Today, I have already spent my momentary eloquence at my other blog. I apologize for the lack of illuminating phraseology.  Not that I usually attain that, but still, I feel compelled to apologize.  The beneficial thing about reading authors who are wonderfully articulate is the decided improvement in sentence structure and thought processes of the lucky readers.  I do not want to imitate those authors exactly, I still desire to have my own impact somewhere in the world of literature.  What good is literature if you remove the subjective nature of it by emulating someone else's writing so closely that a reader may not be able to tell the difference?  I suppose if the author's goal is to, "write just like Mr. Award-Winning Writer", they would be ecstatic at hearing that a reader might not be able to pick out the difference between their writing and Nathaniel Hawthorne's.

I, however, would be saddened (although simultaneously flattered, of course).  I am not saying that I would rather write incorrectly, merely that I wish to remain true to my own style and voice while making improvements in the formulation my ideas.  I know that I can vastly improve my writing, and while I strive to do that, my goal is to reach the masses with my fiction.  I do not write with the goal of winning any kind of award. I am simply a writer, and as such, I must write or go mad. Here is my more eloquent and lengthy post on my wordpress site:

http://crampedwriting.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/literature-and-philosophy/

It's All About Living

I am hardly ever bored.  It is just that sometimes, I don't know what I want to do.  I have a virtual pile of things that I am able to do and enjoy quite a bit.  I can't always paint, however, or draw.  I love to crochet, but sometimes that gets old as well (still in the learning process). I can't always watch movies, or even write.

Do you ever feel as though you have to do something, anything to zap the synapses in your brain or you'll spontaneously combust? People are going to call me a mad woman, I swear.  There are days where I know  I should be running through fields of grass, waving my arms in the air hollering with joy. When I don't get to do that, the pressure builds up and it is difficult to turn my energy and whims to something entirely different.  Like sitting still and writing.  That doesn't work well and it makes me feel trapped. Ever feel trapped? Maybe it's just me, but I like to think that writers need their freedom and wide-open spaces.  Things are different for "us writers".  Fine, that's probably everyone at least once in a while.

I have to confess that there are times when I look around at everyone, plodding through their lives.  It seems as though they are content to do the same things day after day with the occasional visit with friends thrown in.  Perhaps it's all about the camping with friends.  That must be what is different, because I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin one of these days.  I'm not going to be able to do the same thing for 20 years and never learn, never pursue something different.  I'll go brain-dead.  So right now, I'm cramming my head with all manners of hobbies and knowledge.  It's a challenge and I love it.  I feel vibrant and alive.  It's something I feel down to the tips of my toes and it's a vibration that hums through me telling me that this is how life is supposed to be.  Pursue those dreams, ignore the haters and the naysayers.  When someone says you can't accomplish your goals...just smile, hold your head up high and tell them, "Watch me!".

We were made for so much more than a pale existence lying in the arms of a corporation.

Almost Friday!

I just love those weeks which seem interminably long.  It's like crawling on hands and knees through a couple of inches of mud, uphill with nothing but your fingernails to secure a hold. Fine, that might be a little bit overly dramatic, but it is just one of those weeks for me.  Probably every other week is one of those weeks for me.

I'm definitely getting restless.  Trying to work, go to school, add overtime a little bit, cook homemade meals and do a bunch of other things is so crazy to try and juggle.  Writing?  Wait, what's that? Oh yeah, that's just the weird thing I'm trying to go to school for.  Whatever, zzzzz.  That's pretty much a synopsis of every day for me.  Have I bitten off more than I can chew?  Most likely.  Will I ever learn from those kinds of experiences?  Probably not. Will I regret trying to go five million different directions at the same time?  I don't think so, but perhaps you should ask me that again in a few years.  I may just be buried under the half-finished pile of manuscripts which fizzled out and died before finding their way to completion.

Even if I am taking on a little too much, I like the challenge.  I can see how much I can do, and it will either force me to rise to the occasion or I'll have to re-prioritize and only "juggle" the things which are most important in my life.

Sorry, really random, I know.  Hope you all have a great rest of the week and a great weekend!

Tuesdays are for Randomness

Hello all! (warning, randomness ahead)

You know something about Tuesday?  It's a little bit "meh".  It's just sandwiched in between horrendous Mondays and then the more awesome middle-of-the-week Wednesdays.  Poor Tuesday. I feel like Tuesdays get a bad rep because they're so close to Mondays.

Anywho, I have been hiding out in my kitchen lately trying all sorts of new recipes.  It's been so much fun and I actually think it has helped my creativity.  Plus, I just feel so much better making homemade meals.  The fewer the preservatives and pesticides that go into my system, the better.  This is actually completely uncharted territory for me.  I bake things like fish and chicken and can throw a few spices on, but that's not really something I consider "cooking".  I'm very proud of myself because I've made homemade mac & cheese, and a host of other awesome things.  Thank goodness for Pinterest.  It has saved me from culinary boredom. I would not have thought though, that being creative in the kitchen would have done anything for my writing.

Strangely enough though, I feel as though it has enhanced my creativity this week and have been able to write  more than I expected.  It is a great feeling, so I'm chalking up my recent culinary inquisitiveness to a serendipitous diversion. I love hobbies.  Cartooning is quickly becoming another hobby that I'm enjoying, though I'm not terribly good at it.  It's one of those things I'll still do, just because I like it. So yes, a bit random, okay fine.  A lot of randomness today.  But it's cool, right? Anyhow, back to contemplating life as I know it.

Happy Tuesday!

What If I....

Today I'm feeling the need for insipid posts about "What If I...".

What if I had a superpower?  What would that be like?  I could put away my random thought (generated by a dream, just so you know. I'm really not THAT weird.  Well..I probably AM that weird. ), or I could pursue this.  I'm convinced that every dream has an element in it that could make a great story or scene.

So at first I think of all the awesome things I could do if I had a super power.  Then I realize that if I truly did have a super power, things would not be all "Superman".  In fact, I would probably be pursued by numerous governments who might send officials to "diplomatically" sway me to work on their behalf.  If I refused, I imagine that some countries would pursue a less legitimate way of acquiring my services.  This could be a story of avoiding said governments and what might happen in the end.  Realistically I would die, or the governments might find a way to control my mind, overriding my own will (through scientific means, or harming those I care about).

Another way the story could go, is that I find others like me and we band together and try to fight the entities, going public with the situation to generate awareness and prevent ourselves from falling quiet victims to the governments.  This could fail or succeed depending on how the story goes.  Then there could be a story where someone turns me over to the government and they run tests and begin trying to make replicas of my super power in other people.

Well, I think you get the point.  Just by asking one seemingly ridiculous question, I have multiple story possibilities.  All it took was a few people to ask that very question and we have a world of superheros and comics that span years and still win the hearts of many.  It only takes one person to ask that "what if" question.  Don't be afraid to be that person.

Yay! My Review of Alison Goodmans novel, "Eon"

Finally!  My long-awaited review of the book Eon, by Alison Goodman.

Multitasking in Writing

Not sure if multitasking is the greatest thing for a writer to do, it is like self-inflicted ADD.

What Beginning Writers Can Learn From Stephanie Meyer

Ah, Stephanie Meyer and her world of sparkly vampires.  Many people will be gagging as they read this title, some will be affronted by the mere mention of her name in relation to literature.  Today, I am not discussing anything regarding the merits or mistakes in her books.  For those of you who found sparkly vampires insipid and irritating, I recommend checking out her book The Host, instead.  The Host is more evolved in terms of character development and psychology.

Today, the reason I am bothering to step into the maelstrom is to share her down-to-earth representation of how Twilight originated.  She is amazingly humble and in this video interview a number of things stood out.  As a "beginning" writer of sorts, I find it very inspiring to see the similarities between her published books and my own writing process. It is a short video, so I'm going to expound on what I derived from the video.  It is really interesting to note that when she wrote the book, she had absolutely no intentions of ever sharing it with the world.

Here's a few things from the video that I found interesting and/or helpful:

1)  Write down your dreams.  Whenever I have vivid dreams, I always try to find time to write them down.

2)  Be curious.  Ask the next questions, "what if my character had an abusive childhood?", or "what makes this character unique?"

3)  Take away the pressure of performance if you can, just engage your curiosity so you can complete a story

4)  Be excited about finishing a story, it's an awesome feeling, even if you know you need to redo half of it

5)  Don't be afraid to ePublish or submit your manuscript.  You might get rejected, but it's better than never trying.

6)  Don't worry about audience too much, your audience will make itself known

7)  Try to find a support group, whether it is friends, family or solely online

8)  Ignore the haters (not mentioned in the video but definitely applicable).  If your goal is to sell copies of your book and you accomplish that goal, ignore harsh criticisms and let yourself enjoy your success

In addition to these things, I would say not to give up.  If writing is something you really like to do, you will do it even if you are not a well-known writer.  Hopefully, you will enjoy a measure of success if that is your goal, but a writer will write no matter what.  It brings joy, and in my case I feel it helps me keep my sanity.  Never underestimate something as simple as a dream or nightmare, you never know when a full-blown story may pop up.   The timing on finding this interview is very interesting to me; this past week I was inundated by extremely vivid dreams which had absolutely nothing to do with anything I read or watched. It was very encouraging to hear that Stephanie Meyer's successful Twilight series was born under similar circumstances.

So, take heart writers! You do not have to be a literary guru, you just have to tell a story that other people want to read.  Pick up that pencil and keep writing! :)

That is all for today!

-Ninjawriter

On the Subject of Podcasts...Beware!

Today, is more of a rant.  I should not rant because I have never done a podcast and now am a little more leery of doing one than I was before.  I know that people may not want to sound scripted on a podcast, but you really really should have some type of script.  If you don't have a script, maybe have some notecards or a bulleted sheet of the points you want to cover.  I guess what I am saying is please, please have a direction.  Do not stop to collect $200, just go.  Here is my theory on podcasts, a blog entry can be like a cup of coffee.  A person can read it at his or her leisure, taking time to reread sections if and when necessary, or stop when they want.  One can read as quickly or as slowly as one prefers.  Since a podcast cannot really be adjusted speedwise (fast forwarding does not count), it makes scripting that much more important.

I had to listen to some podcasts today and really the only description I can come up with at the moment is "excruciating", and that is after two cups of caffeinated coffee, one decaf cup, and now a cherry amp.    I managed to be bored and simultaneously obtain a headache from listening to said podcasts.  This is just a guess, but I do not think this is the effect the author was going for.  I will just breakdown things that really annoyed me from a listener's perspective.  Then if I ever make a podcast I can come back and reread this so I (hopefully) don't make the same mistakes.

1)  Have a script, but make it flexible to follow the conversation (if conducting an interview)

2)  Have backups when recording, there is nothing more frustrating than having a key part of the podcast simply "missing".  It's like a bad movie trailer that cuts out at the part that tells you what the movie is about.  I imagine this is also frustrating to the podcaster as well, so if you are recording on a computer, perhaps have a tape backup as well or another device also recording

3)  Don't interrupt people you are interviewing, it is annoying to listen to and sometimes derails the original conversation

4)  Podcasts are like espresso shots, they should be short and to-the-point (hence the need for a script)

5)  Practice first, record yourself and play it back.  If you sound like a ditzy person who has a hangover, keep practicing unless that is a persona you are playing in your podcast.

6)  Editing...this is necessary, just like written word.  Cut out unnecessary junk, pauses, etc. or re-record

7)  Do not ramble.  A podcast is not YouTube and therefore rambling and awkward pauses are not entertaining, just aggravating

8)  It is okay to have a quirky jingle or tagline at the beginning of your podcast, it will be something that grabs the listeners attention and hopefully gets them excited to hear what you have to say

9)  I am willing to listen to a lengthy podcast (one comes to mind with Nathan Fillion, on The Nerdist) as long as there are not tons of awkward pauses and the material is interesting

10)  Please, no monotone unless it is a podcast to cure insomnia

11)  Podcasts need to jump right in, there should be minimal into/warm-up time

So yeah.  I know these are mostly negative but that is what I can come up with as I fight a podcast-induced headache right now.  Just remember that a podcast should be like an espresso shot:  short, memorable, to-the-point and packs a punch. I'm pretty sure if you remember that, along with the scripting and practicing...you'd be fine.  I'll probably have to test the theory out in the future, but we shall see.  Here's to headache-free podcasts!!

If you have podcasts you enjoy please feel free to share.  I mentioned The Nerdist earlier, and I have enjoyed some of theirs although I don't always have enough time to listen to the entire podcasts.  Feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments!  Have an awesome day!

Writing Randomness, From the Heart

I should be doing something else right now, specifically writing a paper, but I find myself needing to expound first.  I know I will not be able to write anything intelligible until I pontificate on something completely pointless or random.  Anyone else get those random urges?  Randomness is almost like a disease or compulsion.  Probably more of a compulsion for me.

Anyhow, I am seriously having withdrawal from my camera.  I love love love my new camera and I have been taking pictures with it, but I have not been able to get outside and really exercise its capabilities except for one day when I found a remarkable wasp specimen (sadly I believe it died in the extreme heat).  I had to take a picture because its markings were so clear and beautiful.  It was not exactly what I had in mind for picture-taking…I had been thinking more along the lines of trees and meadows and such.  Whatever works though, right? I really don’t want to write my paper at the moment (I am sure you can tell), I would much prefer to be writing more on The Chronicles of Jane Windall, as well as another story that I am working on.  I am not working on those stories right now though, because I would feel too guilty to write well.  I would be thinking about this paper that I should be writing, but am not (or amn’t depending on where you are from).  

When I feel stuck like this, I usually like to do something completely contrary to what I should be doing and to what I need to do.  Watching a movie, for example, usually helps me a great deal. Sadly, I am unable to do that at the moment.  I found myself thinking of what I will do when I have my first successful book (hopefully sooner rather than later) and decided that I would like to get a Tassimo coffee machine.  It’s like having liquid creativity at your fingertips! Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, cappuccino, latte…need I say more? In my ideal world, when an author gets published, one of those machines would be a standard accompaniment to the first paycheck.  A writer needs their caffeine stimulus, am I right? Perhaps I should opt for a cruise instead, but I figure that the coffee machine will keep on giving back for years to come.  It’s like an investment in my literary future.  Hmm, maybe I could declare that on my taxes.  

I wonder if I were to put up a picture of the Tassimo coffee maker, would it be an adequate motivator? Would I be more likely to complete my writings? Perhaps I will try it. Well, now I really do need to attempt to write this paper. Cheery-O!

Promoting Yourself with Facebook

Today I came across Cassandra Clare’s Facebook page and decided to take a gander.  She has an appealing photo at the top of the page which immediately lets the reader know that her page is going to be about her works (The Infernal Devices, The Mortal Instruments, The Dark Artifices which I assume is yet to come).  The page features artwork from the covers of her published books to give the reader a sense of familiarity.

I also noticed that with her books being made into movies, she is taking the time to post official results of casting the characters.  This is something that readers would appreciate and allows them to envision the characters in the roles before they see the movies.  There is a section which lists a few things that Cassandra Clare likes, which gives the reader a sense of her personality.  She also makes a few personal posts and refers readers to some other sites to gain more information as well.

She is also not ashamed to tout some of her own successes.  For example a post of hers reads, “…#Clockwork Princess was the #1 trending topic on Twitter worldwide…wow!” and appears right above the newly-released design for the book cover.  Great promoting.  What is even better though, is that while I was reading the site, I noticed she helped drive her own traffic by running a promotion to get enough Tweets to “reveal” the cover.  Genius way to promote her book, while allowing readers to feel they are a part of the process. 

I would not consider the page to be as personal as I might (as a reader) like to see, however, it works for the intended purpose.  This is built for people who are already fans of her books and is therefore meant mostly to inform readers of upcoming events, books, movies, etc.   She was extremely easy to locate when searching by name.  It appears that Clare posts approximately once per week to create a consistent schedule and keep the content current for the readers.   The posts are successful, including many “likes” and comments.  Overall, I would say that Clare utilizes her Facebook page in a way that will draw in her readers and keep them interested in current and future works.   In fact, I will probably be following her now on Facebook to keep up with the new announcements. Kudos to Cassandra Clare and thank you for the great ideas!  Hopefully this has some great examples that anyone can try to follow when trying to promote themselves via social media.

Happy Ninjawriting everyone!

Friday "Writer's Blah" gets Facepunched...or not.

Today, I feel as though I am slogging through a murky bog with weights on my shoes.  No, I don’t have writers block (I don’t think I actually believe in writer’s block), but I do have writer’s blah.  It is like the blues for writers.  I’m not super excited about writing, mainly because I have not had any solid time to sit down uninterrupted and write.  Not only is this extremely frustrated for one who loves to write, but it also makes me cranky.  Then stupid things make me even crankier and I cannot write when I am cranky.  Well, not unless I want all my characters to be deviants. Perhaps I should write my villain today.  Could be perfect, or maybe overly dramatic.  I may give it a try.

I have a cherry amp for today, but I think I am in need of some decaf coffee and perhaps some chocolate.  My bag of raspberry flavored chocolate is almost gone.  I’m thinking of going to extremes, like maybe I need a chocolate cake. Huh, I guess I’m thinking comfort food like mashed potatoes and chocolate.  I am blaming my current crankiness for my epic kitchen fails last night.  I tried to make macaroni and cheese from scratch, but apparently I did not remember the recipe as well as I thought I did and ended up with just a big globule of melted cheese instead of a cheese sauce.  ~insert sarcasm here~ yay.  Now I feel slightly derailed and kicked my freewriting exercise from yesterday to the curb. 

The only comfort I have at the moment until I can get to the grocery store, is the knowledge that others are sharing similar sentiments this week.  Their posts are much more entertaining that mine – seriously, I hardly got any sleep, what do you expect? – so I would recommend checking them out.  You will at least get a little chuckle out of them.  Hope your day is full of awesome instead of Writer’s Blah!

http://candaceknoebel.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/stuck-in-a-rut-disease-has-a-cure/#comment-255

http://ollinmorales.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/boredom/

http://artistsroad.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/what-can-we-learn-from-nonfiction-writers-who-make-things-up/

Random Thoughts from The Ninjawriter

There has been a lot going on lately so I apologize for the lack of posts.  I recently purchased a new camera and will be testing it out and looking for good shots to post on my blog.  It is so interesting what can end up being inspirational.  Hopefully, I will get some great shots. At the very least I'm hoping to update my profile a little bit.

No sage advice today, I am just keeping my eyes open for bits of inspiration that fire up my brain cells. It is one of those quiet, reflective days or maybe I just need to drink more of my cherry Amp. That is probably more the case.  Sorry that this is so unexciting.  I am really excited about my camera.  It will be the first really nice camera I have had.  Last night when I was trying it out, I discovered that it automatically takes pictures when it "sees" that the subject is smiling.  That is pretty much full of awesome in my book! Okay, I'm going to go and read the camera manual.

Happy Ninjawriting Everyone!

Back to Writing, Randomness and The Chronicles of Jane Windall

~GASP~

Oh no! I have left you poor souls in the lurch for a number of days without random writing or ranting craziness! I apologize and sincerely hope no one has been ill-effected by this turn of events. I had my computer in for repair. Nothing serious, no need to panic. The protective plastic coating on the bottom was coming off. and I must say that there is a certain feeling of incompleteness when one’s laptop is missing. I found it more difficult to write on my desktop. Terrible excuse, I know.

My laptop is back though, and in the meantime I was working on an additional installment of a free online story which I have decided to call The Chronicles of Jane Windall. I posted a little bit about what I want to do in a previous blog post: http://camikahayes.blogspot.com/2012/07/writing-decisions.html

The idea is to use our wonderful internet as a means to help improve my writing on a consistent basis, while also offering anyone who has a few moments to waste, the opportunity to read free content.  This stems from a time when periodicals included short stories, or a long story broken into intervals.  Readers were able to follow a story a little at a time until its conclusion and I thought it sad that this trend fell by the wayside.  I know there are fanfiction sites, and other writing sites but I don’t feel that it is quite the same. The first section of The Chronicles of Jane Windall is not great, was just a writing exercise for like 15 mins and unedited.  Bad idea.  Second section is hopefully better.  If you want you can check it out here:

http://crampedwriting.wordpress.com/storystuff/

Also, I had a slight epiphany yesterday having to do with writer’s grief. I figured out I was grieving for a manuscript which turned out quite different from what I originally had envisioned.  I literally could not jump into the editing process and finally realized I had needed time to grieve for what I knew would never be.  The story still has potential, but my characters sent it in a completely different (albeit, better) direction. Aside from my epiphany though, I will list my other accomplishments of the week:

1)    Sliced the tip of my finger on an aluminum foil cutting edge (that serrated thingy)

2)    Wore my coffee to work

3)    Barely made it home when my car died in the middle of a turn

4)    Finished my 2^nd installment in The Chronicles of Jane Windall (sorry, redundant but I’m proud of finishing another section)

5)    Hit myself in the eye with a clothes hanger (don’t ask)

6)    Had an epiphany about writer’s grief (also redundant but I have to put a couple good things on here)

7)    Got my laptop repaired

8)    Got an unexpected day off, and not in a “don’t come back again” way either, which was very cool

9)    Wrecked my challenge by forgetting to freewrite yesterday (The Chronicles of Jane Windall could count for that though, right?)

As you can see, it has been an absolutely riveting week! Still not done with the books I am reading, so I guess it will be a while before I’ll be able to do a review.  In the meantime if you want to read about my epiphany regarding my writer’s grief you can read my post:

http://crampedwriting.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/grief-chronicles-of-jane-windall-and-other-such-coolness/

< pic of my manuscript in its box 

Happy Ninjawriting!

Reading: Alison Goodman and W.E.B. Du Bois

So, more randomness.  I love randomness, in case you could not tell. I am currently reading multiple books, do you do that? People always look at me funny when I carry around a stack of two or three books but I like the variety.  Here is what I am currently reading:

Eon by Alison Goodman

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

I have always had a terrible memory where history is concerned, we’re talking absolutely abysmal.  However, even though there was only about a one-paragraph inconsequential blurb in my history book many years ago, I have always remembered the name W.E.B. Du Bois.  Probably because it is a cool name (and yes I am aware that I just wrote an incomplete sentence. I call it artistic expression).  Imagine my delight when I was walking through Barnes and Noble on a quest for the next awesome book, when I ran into this book on display. I have not even technically started the book, because truthfully, the book includes a timeline of sorts which has me astounded.  If I can accomplish a tenth of what W.E.B. Du Bois did in his lifetime, I will be doing great. Obviously I would not try to accomplish the same things, but I am talking about quantity.  What an amazing individual! This promises to be an interesting read.

I hope to be able to review both books over the next few weeks in addition to my typical, random, sporadic posts. And on a final side-note, I’m pretty sure the horrible coffee creamer at work has hijacked my taste buds because my orange tasted like soap. Ew.  With that last thought I wish you happy reading, writing and pwning!

Writing Decisions

Well, so far I am only on day three of my "freewriting" plan.  I am happy to report that it seems to be helping my overall creativity.  I have a few challenges that I will try to tackle over the next few months:

1) Freewrite EVERY day (for a least a year)I may, or may not post some of these ramblings.  It is more of a personal goal and I can share any exciting things I learn along the way (or not-so-exciting things).

2) Write snippets of stories to post (these will most likely be located on my other blog http://crampedwriting.wordpress.com/, but I may post some here as well) in a series format, or just short stories.

Since this is a shorter post I figure I will include some random snippets of things I have learned so far about the writing process:

If you ever have trouble writing an opening to a scene/story (of course that never happens, right?), here are a few ideas which might help (hopefully they will):

Try writing the opening in the middle of the action. It might flow easier and eliminate a lot of superfluous writing.

If you have already written it out, maybe try rewriting it from a different point of view (even something quirky like an inanimate object's point of view)

Sometimes I have to rethink a scene entirely to figure out what I want it to convey.  Since I love movies, visualizing what I would want happening in the opening scene of the movie can help.

And if all else fails, you can always recycle the paper and start over.  Not as much fun though. Poor trees.

Anywho...that is all for now unless some kind of inspiration full of awesomeness strikes me later. Yah. Right.

Have an awesome day everyone!

Mundane Aspects of Being a Writer

I finally procured a couple of journals (yay!).  My goal is to freewrite in them every day.  Not sure if I will be able to do it, but I'm not enforcing a time requirement or word requirement.  I'm just writing to see where it takes me.  I feel that it is necessary for me to keep focused on tasks and avoid life distractions.  It is so convenient to find other things which seem more important.  I spent a good deal of today peeling, chopping and cooking carrots.  I'm sure you can see that this of course had to be done today, on my only day off. Very important.

The other important things on my list involve creating myself a "writing corner" which strangely enough has not been done yet today.  I am sure I am not procrastinating, I just thought I might write a bit of my new story.  I have added a whopping 22 words to it.   At this rate, I may just get it published before I die.  The ideas are all there, bouncing around inside my brain, I just keep getting distracted by other things going on in my house.  I suppose I really should go and organize my writer's corner. ~sigh~

Back to the Writing Board

So last night after working on one of my stories, I was using my Mom as a sounding board for the idea.  Imagine my disappointment when she says that my story is very similar to a Hallmark movie that she had just watched.  Granted, I have never seen the movie but now I feel the need to toss the idea in the trash.  Forty pages right down the drain. I suppose it is bound to happen at times.

Thankfully, another idea hit me while I was writing said "ditched" story and so now I am free to focus fully on this new idea. Perhaps it is a bit of a blessing in disguise.

Nerds, Geeks and Ninjas

Okay, so I know this seems a little bit off the topic of writing based on the subject line, but it's not that bad.  See, I was thinking that I should come up with a label for the kind of writer I am.  Not really necessary, just fun or frustrating depending on who you are.  Right now I'm just going to subject you to my odd, somewhat disjointed ruminations.

First I figure that I'm a nerd who writes, so I could be a "nerdwriter".  I am definitely a bit nerdy.  I love me some Star Wars, Lord of the Rings (if you have not read it or seen the movies, I can tell you that it has nothing to do with circus rings), Star Trek, Matrix and RPGs (role-playing games).  Sadly, I have hardly any time to indulge in said nerdiness ~cries~.  I am a geek as well, what I have learned of computer programming I love (except debugging) but "geekwriter" does not sound as cool as "nerdwriter".  So that leaves me with a ninja.  

I could be a ninja writer (yes, I realize it also does not sound as cool as "nerdwriter", but ninjas always win...or rather pwn). I could write incognito if I wished to do so, infiltrating minds then slipping away before revealing myself.  Hopefully, like a ninja, my works would make an impact.  If my novel were to duel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, I would want it to pwn! That is a particularly tall order, but you get the idea. Also, writing ideas sometimes feel like an attack so I would HAVE to be a ninjawriter to handle all those ideas.  Apparently one good idea is not enough and several have to converge upon me at once.  

So I declare myself to be a ninjawriter.  

Hidden in the shadows, writing like a ninja. I could be just around the corner...

What? Rejected? My Life is Ruined!

So, you are a writer.  Never been published?  That is okay.  You can still be a writer.  The more you think of yourself as one, the more you will tend to behave like one.  So you had a manuscript rejected?  Eh, join the crowd.  At some point, you are going to get a rejection.  Several, most likely (unless of course you self-publish an ebook ).  I say welcome the rejections.  Should you ignore them altogether?  That depends on the reason for the rejection.  If they give you a reason, think it through carefully and with a critical eye.  They may have a good point, or they may be trying to take your story in a direction you do not want it to go.  If that is the case, stick to your writer’s instinct.  It is a great time to ask for feedback from trusted sources as well.  If you are not sure where to start or how to direct the attention of those reading your manuscript here are a few suggestions:

1.        Have the  person  read your manuscript once to get an initial reaction

2.        Secondly, taking the person’s feedback into consideration, try to get them to expound on it if possible by directing their focus:

Ex. You can ask them if the flow of the story seems to lag at any point

Do the characters act in a manner that is contradictory to the person’s initial assessment of      the character?

Did any of the wording seem awkward?

Was any part of the story unclear or a little confusing?

What were the main points the reader noticed?

Did anything seem redundant?

3.        Try to think of yourself as a mediator between the critic and the work, rather than the owner of the work.  It’s very easy to feel as though you need to justify why and how you wrote something, but chances are if the reader is not getting the point, the writing needs to change.

4.       Give yourself some time to mull over a critique, it is probably best not to do much with it right away, especially if you do feel a bit defensive.  Merely thank the person and let them know it will take some time to work through their feedback.

5.       Everyone is different, so multiple readers are a key element.  With multiple readers, you have an idea of how the majority will respond to your story and what they will obtain from the writing.  If the majority of your readers think a particular paragraph is awkwardly worded, then it will not hurt to investigate the paragraph for potential  improvements

With all said and done, however, do not forget that this is your work and remain true to your goal.  There will always be the few who will not appreciate your work or may misconstrue things.  As long as the majority understands and can obtain what you wish from your piece, do not worry about the others.  If you are submitting work and you get rejections that tell you the market is tight, do not get discouraged.  Keep trying, and think of each rejection as another spot on a Candy-Land board bringing you closer to your end goal.  I’m thinking of putting my rejection letters in a binder to chronicle my path to success, in case friends or family need encouragement in their own endeavors to become published.  Hundreds of rejections are better than never having tried.  Good luck fellow writers!

Dialogue...Enough Said

Hello writers! Is it just me or is dialogue a sometimes laborious endeavor?  So many things to keep in mind when writing a dialogue.  Obviously it has to be realistic.  If your character is modern they will not be using words like “privy” unless they are at a Renaissance festival.  Some characters will be less articulate than other characters, just like real life.  Dialogue that is filled with “um” or “oh” is not doing a whole lot, except making us wonder possibly about the mental faculties of the character.  Dialogue should be interesting, and it should flow naturally.  If there is a pause in the conversation, there should be a pause in the dialogue as well.  Does the character have a nervous habit of biting their nails, tapping their fingers or twirling hair? The perfect blend of dialogue and action during the pauses really help to define the character, but I find it quite difficult.  I find myself always trying to tell a story as though I were actually reading the book to someone else, rather than as if I were there in the middle of the action.  It is difficult to get out of the “Once upon a time...” mode.  Perhaps I could blame this all on fairy tales.  It was worth a shot.  Well, so much for my break.  Back to slogging through dialogue between two characters who barely know each other.  Should be fun. 

Off to work we go...or not

Today, I’m just examining a little concept that hit me out of the blue or perhaps out of the gaping maw of boredom.  Not sure if anyone else has this exact problem with writing, but sometimes you just lose “it”.  Yes, I understand that was not very clear so I promise to expound further, although if you have not experienced the feeling my explanations most likely will be useless, for which I apologize in advance. 

That feeling.  You have a dynamite story that falls with the force of a mime’s piano into your head.  The entire story is laid out in your mind and you cannot find anything to record it fast enough.  Even when you do have something to record it with, you end up not being able to capture it all:  the feeling, the direction of the story, the characters.  All of it is lost within minutes.  If it were not so aggravating I might actually cry for such a loss.  Then I have to begin trying to reconstruct the feeling, direction and characters painstakingly and without the whole concept etched into my brain.  

There are times when I know I am writing well, I am in a zone.  I do not hear people talking to me, the television or radio, the cars on the street. I barely register the fact that my fingers seem to be flying over my computer keyboard with speed that seems inhuman. I barely register that I am making few errors during the entire process when I normally have to hit the backspace key at least a few times in a paragraph, if not more.  Everything just flows properly as though there is a physical conduit straight from my brain, through my arms and fingers into the keyboard.  The keyboard is simply an extension of my brain and I can capture a look on the face of a character, the way the wind smells faintly of blossoms from a crab apple tree or the surprisingly evil intent of a character I thought was the “good guy”.  Then the phone rings, or pet duties call.  Perhaps children or other family members interrupt and need food.  I realize I have been writing for hours when it seemed like five minutes.  I know if I stop, I will not be able to find that same zone.  How frustrating!  One cannot ignore the duties in the here-and-now.  It can be nearly impossible to get back to that same zone afterwards though, and for me, that zone is imperative for me to write well.  Writers, what do you do when this happens?  How do you get back to that zone?

Sometimes one just has to carry on even if one’s writing is “crap”.  When you carry through the difficult times, even when you do not feel like writing, you may find yourself back in that same “zone” later.  Better yet, pushing through phases like that (even if the writing really is crap) helps your “writer’s muscle”.  You do not have to worry about being in the zone for an entire manuscript, that is what editing is for, but I would encourage all writers to be prepared.  Who cares if you look like a nerd?  Carrying around a tablet, computer, or even a notepad and pencil is not a big deal but it could make a world of difference in your writing.  I like to listen to specific music when I write, then when I come back to it later, sometimes listening to the same music helps my brain recall how I felt when I was in my “zone” allowing me to recreate some vivid memories of what I wanted to write.  Everyone is different though, but do not be afraid to try a few things.  You never know what might help.  If you have certain ways to get back into your zone, please feel free to share!

Unicorns, hobbits and trolls, oh my!

The greatest stories come from being able to ask “What If” and follow those questions to all their logical, or rather illogical ends.  For example, to write realistically about unicorns I first should ask myself “What if unicorns are or were at some point, real?”  Then I can imagine a timeframe when unicorns might have existed.  Were they truly magical beings, benevolent and kind or were they actually cruel but cloaked in a beautiful façade?  Perhaps they were not unicorns per se, but shape shifters, who preferred to lure others in with the guise of the esteemed unicorn.  The more “What if” questions you ask and answer, the more you’ll find an entire theory you may not have known existed.  

It is very exciting, and I imagine (perhaps erroneously) that it must be what an explorer feels.  I would imagine that explorers spend a great deal of time thinking “What if?” and trying to find the answers.  They are limited to reality and science, but ah!  The writers, well, we are not closeted or limited.  Perhaps blurring the line between reality and fantasy is dangerous.  One may be in danger of convincing oneself of realities which do not exist. If that happens, I am looking forward to using the excuse of eccentricity.  I could simply tell them I am a writer and receive knowing nods in response, and significant glances to people around them.  Later they will say, “Well, you know writers.  They are all a little off.”  Never mind that this is not true, I would be more than happy to allow them to think that.  If that is how they see my unbelievable world of impossibilities, I will not mind. One of my goals though, is to start a little itch in the back of their brains which will make them pause when they reflect on the books later.  It will be an itch they cannot scratch and will tickle them, tauntingly calling out “What If” for the child in them who wants desperately to believe. Then they are left with the choice to join me in my eccentricity and wide-eyed wonder of the world, or go back to their old reality.  I know what I would choose, but I have always been overly imaginative, overly optimistic and slightly restless in this world.  To join, or not to join?  That is the question.