So yesterday Ken and I married. It has been true bliss! We "honeymooned" at his place, because there were NO kids. His mom put up balloons and scattered candy all over the tables. She developed the photos from the wedding before we even got there. So very sweet.
Today we're back to reality, home with the kids, etc. It's still so much fun. Looking forward to the future so much.
Writing has taken a back seat, but I'll be back to it very soon :)
Until later. . .
Keep writing! (and write for me while you're at it ;) )
29 February, 2012
25 February, 2012
Saturdays Rock!
I'm so glad it's the weekend! Normally we'd be working on the house today but Ken has to work so that frees up my morning. Hopefully I'll get some writing done. Wedding preparations are almost complete. Just a bit of shopping left to do but since it's snowing (again!!), I won't do it today. I hope to expand the idea I have for a novel or possibly develop a new one. That's always exciting.
I'm also working on a knitting project, which makes it tough to decide where to spend my time ;)
Inspiration has been lacking lately, or perhaps it's motivation that isn't there. I hope to recapture it today :)
Hope all of you are writing productively.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
I'm also working on a knitting project, which makes it tough to decide where to spend my time ;)
Inspiration has been lacking lately, or perhaps it's motivation that isn't there. I hope to recapture it today :)
Hope all of you are writing productively.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
22 February, 2012
Finding time to write
Do you have this problem? Life gets so busy sometimes, it may be difficult to carve out the time to expand that story or brainstorm ideas. That's what's happening now with me. Today I'm shopping for things for the wedding but I plan to make time this afternoon to write.
We always have to make that ever-important time to pursue our craft.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
We always have to make that ever-important time to pursue our craft.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
21 February, 2012
One Week!!
We've moved the wedding up a couple of months. Now it's on Tuesday :) :) :)
We informed family yesterday and this morning so we're dealing with that fall out ;)
We're super excited. The kids are excited. My eldest son might be more excited than we are.
Now we will only have to worry about the house and getting it ready instead of trying to plan a wedding too. Instead, we'll have another ceremony (in the church) and reception this summer.
Hope everyone is having a productive writing day.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
We informed family yesterday and this morning so we're dealing with that fall out ;)
We're super excited. The kids are excited. My eldest son might be more excited than we are.
Now we will only have to worry about the house and getting it ready instead of trying to plan a wedding too. Instead, we'll have another ceremony (in the church) and reception this summer.
Hope everyone is having a productive writing day.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
15 February, 2012
Mid-week Blahs
Do you have them? Do they interfere with your writing? How do you combat them?
Every day I work on motivation. Setting aside time to write, finding something to write about, keeping focus. Sometimes it's tough. Sometimes it's easy and the ideas flow and time flies and I find I've been writing for hours without even realizing it. That is such a great feeling! That's what I strive for each and every day.
My plan for today is to write, but I also have other projects I'm working on and they're stealing time away. This is when motivation kicks in. If I don't make myself write, carve out time from the other activities, I won't do it. I can almost always find something else to do when I'm unmotivated and uninspired. I have new ideas, but starting is tough. You'd think, with all these great ideas percolating, it would be easy, but that blank page. . . sometimes it's intimidating. And sometimes finding the beginning is hard.
So don't. Start in the middle. Start at the end and write back. Whatever works. Maybe you won't be able to use the scenes later, and maybe you will. But when you write, other ideas come. It is just the way it work. One idea spins off another and while sometimes it carries your story in another, unexpected, direction, go with it!
Now, get to that keyboard and WRITE.
Until later. . .
Every day I work on motivation. Setting aside time to write, finding something to write about, keeping focus. Sometimes it's tough. Sometimes it's easy and the ideas flow and time flies and I find I've been writing for hours without even realizing it. That is such a great feeling! That's what I strive for each and every day.
My plan for today is to write, but I also have other projects I'm working on and they're stealing time away. This is when motivation kicks in. If I don't make myself write, carve out time from the other activities, I won't do it. I can almost always find something else to do when I'm unmotivated and uninspired. I have new ideas, but starting is tough. You'd think, with all these great ideas percolating, it would be easy, but that blank page. . . sometimes it's intimidating. And sometimes finding the beginning is hard.
So don't. Start in the middle. Start at the end and write back. Whatever works. Maybe you won't be able to use the scenes later, and maybe you will. But when you write, other ideas come. It is just the way it work. One idea spins off another and while sometimes it carries your story in another, unexpected, direction, go with it!
Now, get to that keyboard and WRITE.
Until later. . .
14 February, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
Inspired by love? I have been recently. Getting married in a little over two months and we're still trying to figure out the wedding lol.
What inspires you? Do you use events from your own life? From a friend's? Sometimes sitting in a cafe gives you some interesting dialogue inspirations. You can learn a lot from listening.
What are the best places you've found for inspiration?
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
What inspires you? Do you use events from your own life? From a friend's? Sometimes sitting in a cafe gives you some interesting dialogue inspirations. You can learn a lot from listening.
What are the best places you've found for inspiration?
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
12 February, 2012
A Good Weekend
It has been a great weekend.
Got some much needed writing done yesterday and this morning, plus some even more needed work done on the new house. Looks like we're on target to move in by the end of next month. :)
My inspiration has come from several sources. Some came from reading, some from watching movies, which I don't normally do while writing, but the kids wanted to watch something so. . .
I'm in such a happy mood today :)
Have a wonderful weekend, what's left of it.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
Got some much needed writing done yesterday and this morning, plus some even more needed work done on the new house. Looks like we're on target to move in by the end of next month. :)
My inspiration has come from several sources. Some came from reading, some from watching movies, which I don't normally do while writing, but the kids wanted to watch something so. . .
I'm in such a happy mood today :)
Have a wonderful weekend, what's left of it.
Until later. . .
Keep writing!
07 February, 2012
Success!!!
After posting the previous entry, I went to a couple Writer's Digest articles and wow! I found inspiration!
I've made copious notes on index cards as well as word documents and have started the first page. I can't wait to write more tomorrow!
Writer's Digest has some great articles. Check it out! www.writersdigest.com
Happy writing!
I've made copious notes on index cards as well as word documents and have started the first page. I can't wait to write more tomorrow!
Writer's Digest has some great articles. Check it out! www.writersdigest.com
Happy writing!
Tuesday: and the writing process continues
So, I must admit, I've been quite lax in the writing department the last couple of days. Yesterday my writing consisted of making lists. Exciting, isn't it?
Today I'm exploring an idea for a new story. I hope it's one that will carry across several hundred pages. I haven't been terribly motivated or inspired as of late, but I'm hoping that will change. I think I'll just "brainstorm" for a while, see where it takes me. How do you come up with ideas? Do you get many from newspaper stories? That's the next thing I plan to do. Our small town doesn't really have very much excitement, so I'll have to buy something like the Detroit Free Press. We'll see what that has to offer!
I'll keep you updated as to whether this idea works. I'm crossing my fingers!
Have a great Tuesday!
Until later...
Keep writing!
Today I'm exploring an idea for a new story. I hope it's one that will carry across several hundred pages. I haven't been terribly motivated or inspired as of late, but I'm hoping that will change. I think I'll just "brainstorm" for a while, see where it takes me. How do you come up with ideas? Do you get many from newspaper stories? That's the next thing I plan to do. Our small town doesn't really have very much excitement, so I'll have to buy something like the Detroit Free Press. We'll see what that has to offer!
I'll keep you updated as to whether this idea works. I'm crossing my fingers!
Have a great Tuesday!
Until later...
Keep writing!
05 February, 2012
Sunday Morning Musings
Good morning!
I didn't get as much done yesterday as I wanted to, but that's okay because it's a new day!
How do you grab and keep your reader's attention? Is it your first line? Your first paragraph? First chapter? Do you keep conflict and tension high through every scene? It doesn't mean there has to be constant conflict. That would be too tiring. But there should be internal conflict, always something at stake if whatever action is happening doesn't work.
What are some of your favorite first lines from your own work? Think about those, figure out what type of message you're sending and then go back and look at some first lines that didn't make your list. How can you make them better? More interest-grabbing? Once you've done that, take a good look at the first paragraph, figure out what works and what doesn't add anything and remove the excess. Do this throughout the first scene, the first chapter, etc, until your story is wrought with tension and conflict.
Then all you have to do is have a compelling story, with characters your readers care about, and you have it made. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? Reality is, it takes A LOT of work. Pounding out the first draft is so much easier for some than where it goes from there. The editing and revision process can (and often does) take longer than writing the novel!
Good luck with your writing, editing and revising!
Until later...
Keep writing!
I didn't get as much done yesterday as I wanted to, but that's okay because it's a new day!
How do you grab and keep your reader's attention? Is it your first line? Your first paragraph? First chapter? Do you keep conflict and tension high through every scene? It doesn't mean there has to be constant conflict. That would be too tiring. But there should be internal conflict, always something at stake if whatever action is happening doesn't work.
What are some of your favorite first lines from your own work? Think about those, figure out what type of message you're sending and then go back and look at some first lines that didn't make your list. How can you make them better? More interest-grabbing? Once you've done that, take a good look at the first paragraph, figure out what works and what doesn't add anything and remove the excess. Do this throughout the first scene, the first chapter, etc, until your story is wrought with tension and conflict.
Then all you have to do is have a compelling story, with characters your readers care about, and you have it made. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? Reality is, it takes A LOT of work. Pounding out the first draft is so much easier for some than where it goes from there. The editing and revision process can (and often does) take longer than writing the novel!
Good luck with your writing, editing and revising!
Until later...
Keep writing!
04 February, 2012
Happy Saturday!
And a good morning to all!
Today is a writing day. If you check out some of the ridiculous headlines shown on the google news bar, you can get all sorts of ideas for stories. Where else do you get ideas?
I wrote of dreams the other day and can you believe that since then I've had NONE I could remember upon waking? It's like I jinxed myself! However, the ideas come other ways so that's all right. Even when it seems like your imagination has run dry (could that ever really happen??), it takes but a small spark to reignite it. Never lose hope!
It's very disappointing when you've come up with a terrific lead idea and you write and write and write, only to find it peters out, that you don't have enough to sustain it for 80,000 + words. It feels like you've wasted all that time. However, is any time spent writing really a waste? You're thinking about word choices, about the best, most economical way of expressing an idea. . . and that is never a waste. You're honing your craft! And those days you feel you have "writer's block"? Just write about any old thing, say the experts. Any writing is better than no writing, even if you never use it for anything. Most experts say, however, that even from that you may be able to glean an idea or two down the road. Moral of that story? Don't throw anything out, no matter how bad you think it is. Make a separate folder and stick it in there. One day you may go back and read through them and find your gem!
I hope everyone has a productive day, whatever you're doing.
Until later...
Keep writing!
Today is a writing day. If you check out some of the ridiculous headlines shown on the google news bar, you can get all sorts of ideas for stories. Where else do you get ideas?
I wrote of dreams the other day and can you believe that since then I've had NONE I could remember upon waking? It's like I jinxed myself! However, the ideas come other ways so that's all right. Even when it seems like your imagination has run dry (could that ever really happen??), it takes but a small spark to reignite it. Never lose hope!
It's very disappointing when you've come up with a terrific lead idea and you write and write and write, only to find it peters out, that you don't have enough to sustain it for 80,000 + words. It feels like you've wasted all that time. However, is any time spent writing really a waste? You're thinking about word choices, about the best, most economical way of expressing an idea. . . and that is never a waste. You're honing your craft! And those days you feel you have "writer's block"? Just write about any old thing, say the experts. Any writing is better than no writing, even if you never use it for anything. Most experts say, however, that even from that you may be able to glean an idea or two down the road. Moral of that story? Don't throw anything out, no matter how bad you think it is. Make a separate folder and stick it in there. One day you may go back and read through them and find your gem!
I hope everyone has a productive day, whatever you're doing.
Until later...
Keep writing!
03 February, 2012
Another Early Morning
It doesn't bother me a bit to get up in the middle of the night. I find I'm much more productive when it's quiet. Too bad my children don't understand that ;)
Usually I start out by checking Facebook and Twitter. Yes, I'm guilty of playing a couple games on FB, which takes a little time first thing. Then I go over any statuses that might be interesting or even spark writing ideas, especially those crazy headlines.
It doesn't take long before I'm hard at work, either thinking of something to write on here or expanding a story idea. I worked for several days on one such idea only to realize about 10K words in that it wasn't "big" enough to fill a novel. That's been shelved for now, but who knows? It may spark either a new idea or something to deepen it may occur to me. I rarely just delete that much writing. I save it in a special folder and every now and then go back and review what's in there.
Sometimes, if I suffer from "writer's block" I go back and revise/edit completed novels. If I really don't want to write, if the motivation is completely absent, I read. I don't seem to finish books as fast as in the past, either from lack of time or something else, which is good because that means I have more to read :) I used to run out of books way too fast. Not these days.
Between the renovations on our new house (so we can move in sooner), planning our wedding (April 28, 2012) and making sure the kids get their schoolwork done, sometimes there's precious little time left to write. The next couple months will be busy around here, but like you, I carve out time to expand those ideas.
When do ideas usually occur to you? I'm guilty of coming up with them while I'm driving. I used to keep a notebook in my car so I could jot them down, but now I just stop somewhere and store them in my phone. Gotta love those smartphones! :)
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Until later...
Keep writing and sparking those ideas!
Usually I start out by checking Facebook and Twitter. Yes, I'm guilty of playing a couple games on FB, which takes a little time first thing. Then I go over any statuses that might be interesting or even spark writing ideas, especially those crazy headlines.
It doesn't take long before I'm hard at work, either thinking of something to write on here or expanding a story idea. I worked for several days on one such idea only to realize about 10K words in that it wasn't "big" enough to fill a novel. That's been shelved for now, but who knows? It may spark either a new idea or something to deepen it may occur to me. I rarely just delete that much writing. I save it in a special folder and every now and then go back and review what's in there.
Sometimes, if I suffer from "writer's block" I go back and revise/edit completed novels. If I really don't want to write, if the motivation is completely absent, I read. I don't seem to finish books as fast as in the past, either from lack of time or something else, which is good because that means I have more to read :) I used to run out of books way too fast. Not these days.
Between the renovations on our new house (so we can move in sooner), planning our wedding (April 28, 2012) and making sure the kids get their schoolwork done, sometimes there's precious little time left to write. The next couple months will be busy around here, but like you, I carve out time to expand those ideas.
When do ideas usually occur to you? I'm guilty of coming up with them while I'm driving. I used to keep a notebook in my car so I could jot them down, but now I just stop somewhere and store them in my phone. Gotta love those smartphones! :)
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!
Until later...
Keep writing and sparking those ideas!
02 February, 2012
Updated Links
Hello everyone!
I have updated most of the links to my previously published stories. I have the two published in (out of print) books on another computer and unfortunately that is disabled right now.
I'm curious about your dreams. Do you remember them when you wake? How long do they stay in your mind? Do you write them down when you wake? Have you used the dream as a springboard for a story? Most of the time I don't get new ideas from dreams, but sometimes they solve a plot problem I'm having. As far as I'm concerned, dreams are invaluable!
I hope you're all having a productive day.
Until tomorrow...
Keep writing!
I have updated most of the links to my previously published stories. I have the two published in (out of print) books on another computer and unfortunately that is disabled right now.
I'm curious about your dreams. Do you remember them when you wake? How long do they stay in your mind? Do you write them down when you wake? Have you used the dream as a springboard for a story? Most of the time I don't get new ideas from dreams, but sometimes they solve a plot problem I'm having. As far as I'm concerned, dreams are invaluable!
I hope you're all having a productive day.
Until tomorrow...
Keep writing!
An Early Wednesday
Woke up really early this morning, ready to get started. I had many ideas last night, then ran out of time to develop them. Luckily I wrote them down so I'll explore them today :)
I have listed some of my work, which have found homes in various publications, but some are out of print, so I'm going to post them on separate pages. Hopefully I'll have those done today.
I was actually inspired by doing some of the exercises in this article http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/conflict-suspense-excerpt There is quite a bit of excellent information in this article. Give it a read, maybe it'll inspire you :)
I may check in later today. If not... have a great one and hope inspiration strikes you.
Until later...
I have listed some of my work, which have found homes in various publications, but some are out of print, so I'm going to post them on separate pages. Hopefully I'll have those done today.
I was actually inspired by doing some of the exercises in this article http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/improve-my-writing/conflict-suspense-excerpt There is quite a bit of excellent information in this article. Give it a read, maybe it'll inspire you :)
I may check in later today. If not... have a great one and hope inspiration strikes you.
Until later...
01 February, 2012
Good morning!
Yesterday we had the most spectacular weather. It was 48 degrees, unheard of for January 31! Today it won't be quite as warm, but it will still be above freezing. Gotta love it!
Today is a work day. Hopefully I'll kick out some decent work on this novel. If not, at least I'm writing. I'm somewhat lacking inspiration but not motivation. I think I'll end up pulling out something older and unfinished and seeing what it needs. Sometimes that sparks an idea or two.
What inspires you?
Today is a work day. Hopefully I'll kick out some decent work on this novel. If not, at least I'm writing. I'm somewhat lacking inspiration but not motivation. I think I'll end up pulling out something older and unfinished and seeing what it needs. Sometimes that sparks an idea or two.
What inspires you?
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