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. 

Step Right Up!

As a writer, it is important to face my fears.  I have a tendency to love and sympathize with all my characters and consequently avoid killing them off.  I even hate it when bad things happen to my characters, although I realize that it is inevitable.  I have to work very hard at making my characters realistic and allowing a natural course of action to unfold as a result of the story.  If my champion falls off a cliff, he or she cannot suddenly sprout wings which did not exist previously.  Now, if my champion were to fall off a cliff from carelessness, I have to say it would be the most horrendous, anticlimactic way for a character to die.  So unless I have misled my reader intentionally about who the champion really is, I will try to avoid untimely and anticlimactic deaths for my champions.   

I am by no means an expert at crafting believable characters, but that is precisely why I can tell you that it is important to face your fears.  What if your favorite character dies?  What if there is truly no believable route of escape, no plans or plots which were laid before they ended up in a bad situation? You might feel compelled to scrap the writing and begin again.  By all means feel free to do so, but hang on to that first piece.  You might compare the rewrite and find you actually do like it better.  Perhaps you do not like it as much, or you may see a completely different option when you compare the two pieces and combine elements of both.  Definitely do not give up on the characters and story.  Rewriting can be burdensome, but also very rewarding.  Sometimes when we feel so attached to our characters, it is difficult to let them go, to allow something horrible to happen to them.  Chances are, if we feel this strongly about our characters, then we have reached one of our goals: to emotionally entangle readers in the complex webbing of a fictional character.  If we cry for our character's loss, then our readers will feel similarly.  It also means they will feel the joy and humor our characters experience.  Balance is not always necessary depending on the type of work you produce, but it is something I strive for frequently. 

I suppose I could say the aspect of "believability" is the antithesis of my "What If" world.  There is a time to say "What If" in your writing, but there is also a time to realize when your story has become unbelievable.  When characters begin to act "falsely" and the storyline feels contrived, we have lost the reader.  It has been said that people love a happy ending, which to a certain extent may be true, but it must be a believable ending.  I would rather have a sad ending that is believable than a contrived happy one that makes no logical sense given the story's history.  Allowing myself to write that way is a different matter entirely.  So here I am, stepping right up to face the challenge issued by my readers.  If you struggle with this as well, I encourage you to try freewriting.  Simply sit and write whatever thoughts come into your head, even if they appear disjointed.  If you use a certain scene from your writing, simply view it as a prompt and write without any boundaries.  It is amazing what you can untangle in your subconscious when you freewrite. Do not worry about spelling, grammar or content.  The exercise should remove a little pressure to "create" something amazing and hopefully get you through some of the difficult parts of your writing.  

Good luck to you all and happy writing!

Ah, to be a Writer

Part of what is so wonderful about the world of writing, is the lack of constraints.  In reality, a writer is only limited by his or her imagination.  It is so easy to live within the constraints society thrusts upon us, as well as the ones we place upon ourselves.  It is much more challenging to try and step outside of the virtual box around us and think of something entirely unique.  I like to think of it as a great mental exercise.   After all, a little bit of "what if?" thinking does a person good.  Asking "what if?" can lead us to inspiring stories, and possibly even monumental real-life events.  It causes us to try and look at scenarios from a different perspective.

This blog will be speckled throughout with "what ifs", along with commentary on other more mundane aspects of the writing process including the dreaded editing process.  Just one of those necessary evils a writer must try to perfect.  Crafting a story is an amazing journey and to all of those readers who are embarking on such a journey, I wish you the best of luck and much success!