For the first time in a long time, I got to talk to another writer. I didn't have to drive hundreds of miles, book a flight or pay a fee to attend a writer's conference. All I had to do was walk across the street.
It turns out my neighbor is an author. She aspsires to finish her first novel and publish it. The first question she asked...'What do you do about writer's block?'
Now this is a question writers get all the time. Different things work for different people. For me, the answer is probably the one thing no one wants to hear. You have to walk away from the project you're working on for a little while. It sounds crazy, but I have learned that distancing yourself from a troublesome project is often the only way to have that eureka moment you're waiting for.
I'm not saying that you have to leave the project for a year or 10, but a few weeks to a few months can work wonders. Instead of trying to force yourself to find the words that will move you from that one tough line to the end of the text, just take a break. A hiatus comes with several options.
One: You can push that book or story that's giving you trouble aside and work on a new one. I love this option and this is usually my method of choice. My mind is always overflowing with ideas clamoring for attention and it doesn't hurt to dive into the imagination and entertain myself with something new.
Two: Entertain yourself with someone else's brainchild. This means watching a movie, reading a book or listening to music. Sometimes, you need to see others work to know what you do and don't want in yours. Maybe there is a word or phrase you hear or an image you see that gives you that spark of genius.
Three: Go on an actual vacation. If you can afford it and even if you can't, do something that has nothing to do with writing. You can go to the park, go hiking, or go to the beach. You can even go shopping. And just because you're shopping doesn't mean you have to buy a truck load of things you don't need. A simple trip to the grocery store can get you focusing on something other than that character you can't flesh out or that chapter you can't finish.
The point I'm trying to make is that there is no shame in saying 'I don't know what I'm doing right now'. You're not giving up. You're taking a break. Writing is hard work and even authors needs vacation time.
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Sunday, April 12, 2015
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Write What You Know
This was something I heard in a movie once. I think the movie was 'Harriet the Spy'. In the movie, the girl wants to be a writer, so she people watches and writes what she sees in her journal. It's been a long time since I've seen this movie, but I think the journal assignment was given to her by her therapist and she really takes it to heart. She ends up going a tad overboard by following people too closely. This ultimately gets her into trouble, as is the case with the protagonist of children's movies.
The point I'm trying to make here is when writing standard fiction, ie. non fantasy, drawing from our own experiences is the first thing we do. Often, we draw from things we have seen or heard first hand. Then we pull from movies, television shows and books that we've read.
But, what I like to do is try new things. I find that it is easier to write about something if I have actually done it myself. Okay, so that doesn't mean that I plan to jump out of an airplane to better describe the rush of skydiving. And I'm not suggesting you should either (unless you enjoy taking risks) But I have attended Catholic Mass, learned to swim, made a souffle without an electric mixer, and tasted various types of wine and tea.
I love to travel. I go to different cities and take as many pictures as I can. I love to eat out and try different foods. I'm also learning to play the cello and the guitar. One of my many goals involves learning different languages and their cultures simultaneously. I don't do these things to expand my knowledge as a writer, but I like to think they're helpful.
The point I'm trying to make here is when writing standard fiction, ie. non fantasy, drawing from our own experiences is the first thing we do. Often, we draw from things we have seen or heard first hand. Then we pull from movies, television shows and books that we've read.
But, what I like to do is try new things. I find that it is easier to write about something if I have actually done it myself. Okay, so that doesn't mean that I plan to jump out of an airplane to better describe the rush of skydiving. And I'm not suggesting you should either (unless you enjoy taking risks) But I have attended Catholic Mass, learned to swim, made a souffle without an electric mixer, and tasted various types of wine and tea.
I love to travel. I go to different cities and take as many pictures as I can. I love to eat out and try different foods. I'm also learning to play the cello and the guitar. One of my many goals involves learning different languages and their cultures simultaneously. I don't do these things to expand my knowledge as a writer, but I like to think they're helpful.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
What Inspires You
Sometimes, modern technology helps you recall things you forgot. While searching Netflix for something to fill the silence in my house, I came across the old show 'Murder She Wrote', starring Angela Lansbury. I loved this show as a child and I still do.
There were few shows that my mother would allow us to stay up late for. One of which was 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. The other was 'Murder She Wrote.' There were also the few times that there would be a made for TV mini-series, but usually, bed time was non-negotiable.
Getting to stay up for an extra hour was awesome. I got to lay across the foot of my parent's bed and watch a woman solve crimes. Now, one of the things that made this show cool was that a woman was getting all the glory for using her brain. The other was that she wasn't a cop or a private detective. She was a mystery writer.
If I had to give credit to any one thing that made me want to be a writer, it would have to be this show. I just recall thinking how cool it was that a woman could become a best selling author and I wanted to be just like Jessica Fletcher (Angela's character on the show). She was a famous author, but managed to stay humble, despite all the fame her success as an author had brought her.
At the time, I was always making up my own stories and telling them to my mother or my siblings because I just thought they were so interesting. And I will never forget that one night, as we watched Jessica solve another who dunnit, my mother put the idea into my head that one day, I could be like Jessica Fletcher. I had stars in my eyes as my mother explained that all the story books I read had all started inside someone's head, just like all the stories I made up.
From that moment on, the only thing I ever wanted to do was write.
There were few shows that my mother would allow us to stay up late for. One of which was 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'. The other was 'Murder She Wrote.' There were also the few times that there would be a made for TV mini-series, but usually, bed time was non-negotiable.
Getting to stay up for an extra hour was awesome. I got to lay across the foot of my parent's bed and watch a woman solve crimes. Now, one of the things that made this show cool was that a woman was getting all the glory for using her brain. The other was that she wasn't a cop or a private detective. She was a mystery writer.
If I had to give credit to any one thing that made me want to be a writer, it would have to be this show. I just recall thinking how cool it was that a woman could become a best selling author and I wanted to be just like Jessica Fletcher (Angela's character on the show). She was a famous author, but managed to stay humble, despite all the fame her success as an author had brought her.
At the time, I was always making up my own stories and telling them to my mother or my siblings because I just thought they were so interesting. And I will never forget that one night, as we watched Jessica solve another who dunnit, my mother put the idea into my head that one day, I could be like Jessica Fletcher. I had stars in my eyes as my mother explained that all the story books I read had all started inside someone's head, just like all the stories I made up.
From that moment on, the only thing I ever wanted to do was write.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
The Poor Man's Copyright
For those of you who have never heard of 'The Poor Man's Copyright', don't feel bad. I hadn't either until my eldest brother told me about it. It simply involves mailing your manuscript to yourself. By sealing the envelope and making sure the postal worker puts the label across the envelope's seal. Many people think that this is an inexpensive way of protecting their work from plagiarism. However, this is a myth. And one that has given comfort to thousands of writer's throughout the years.
Unfortunately for any author who has put their faith in this, I must inform you that you have been mistaken. In the event that you ever find yourself in a court of law disputing the ownership of your work, the law will favor the person holding the copyright certificate.
Now, in America, we operate under the general understanding that as soon as you finish writing your novel, poem or short story, you have full copyright protection for your work of art. Plagiarism is illegal and morally wrong. However, being able to prove who the culprit actually is can be difficult (or impossible) without that piece of paper from the library of congress.
Getting a copyright is not as expensive at it once was. When I filed for my first one back in 2002, I had to mail in my manuscript, along with a check for $65 and wait 6 months to a year for an answer. The fee was non-refundable, so I crossed my fingers that I hadn't made any mistakes on the form and hoped for the best. Now, the Library of Congress has added online submission options and the cost of using this service is around $35. Unpublished works can be submitted electronically along with the funds. If the book is published, you can pay your fee on the website, print out the packing slip, and mail in two copies of the finished product.
After your documents are received, you will receive an email from the Library of Congress that includes links you can click on to check the status of your application. Once your application has been approved, it will still take 3 to 6 months before you receive your certificate in the mail. Be sure to put it in a safe place, like a fire safe or safe deposit box if you have one. Don't worry if you lose your certificate. You can always contact the LOC, in writing, and ask them to send you a new one. This is also the process by which you would request they make changes to your file, such as name or address changes.
Also, your copyright is not final. For an additional fee, if you need to make significant changes to the work, you can submit an application to update the previous submission. You will need the original registration number and the date. This form can also be filled out online. Be sure to read all the instructions for the various forms as copyright application fees are not refundable.
All writers eat, sleep and breathe their work, and it is a knife in your heart if you find out that someone has stolen your work. It doesn't take much to properly protect your work. Even if $35-$40 seems like a lot, save your money and do it anyway. This investment is for your future and the future of your creative gems.
Unfortunately for any author who has put their faith in this, I must inform you that you have been mistaken. In the event that you ever find yourself in a court of law disputing the ownership of your work, the law will favor the person holding the copyright certificate.
Now, in America, we operate under the general understanding that as soon as you finish writing your novel, poem or short story, you have full copyright protection for your work of art. Plagiarism is illegal and morally wrong. However, being able to prove who the culprit actually is can be difficult (or impossible) without that piece of paper from the library of congress.
Getting a copyright is not as expensive at it once was. When I filed for my first one back in 2002, I had to mail in my manuscript, along with a check for $65 and wait 6 months to a year for an answer. The fee was non-refundable, so I crossed my fingers that I hadn't made any mistakes on the form and hoped for the best. Now, the Library of Congress has added online submission options and the cost of using this service is around $35. Unpublished works can be submitted electronically along with the funds. If the book is published, you can pay your fee on the website, print out the packing slip, and mail in two copies of the finished product.
After your documents are received, you will receive an email from the Library of Congress that includes links you can click on to check the status of your application. Once your application has been approved, it will still take 3 to 6 months before you receive your certificate in the mail. Be sure to put it in a safe place, like a fire safe or safe deposit box if you have one. Don't worry if you lose your certificate. You can always contact the LOC, in writing, and ask them to send you a new one. This is also the process by which you would request they make changes to your file, such as name or address changes.
Also, your copyright is not final. For an additional fee, if you need to make significant changes to the work, you can submit an application to update the previous submission. You will need the original registration number and the date. This form can also be filled out online. Be sure to read all the instructions for the various forms as copyright application fees are not refundable.
All writers eat, sleep and breathe their work, and it is a knife in your heart if you find out that someone has stolen your work. It doesn't take much to properly protect your work. Even if $35-$40 seems like a lot, save your money and do it anyway. This investment is for your future and the future of your creative gems.
Friday, October 10, 2014
secret behind the writer's spirit
When people ask me what I do, I tell them I'm a publisher. They follow up with "Wow. What made you want to do that?" I have a variety of short answers that I give because these conversations often take place in the middle of the checkout line. But for those of you who are really interested in what pushes me forward, the answer isn't quite as simple as "I love books."
First of all, I really do love books. Growing up, we didn't have cable. We literally had 5 channels: PBS, CBS, ABC, Fox, and NBC. There were certain times during the day that there just wasn't anything on that a little kid would want to watch. It was news or soap operas. I wasn't allowed to watch soap operas and the news was boring for me. My mother's solution was to give us books. We spent almost every saturday bouncing between the bookstore and the public library.
My problem was that sometimes I would read a story and I didn't like the way it ended. Maybe the princess ended up with the prince when I felt she should have ended up with the young forest hero. Or maybe I thought that the forest hero should have been the star of the book instead of the prince or ogre or whatever. In my head I would write my own endings or mentally change the parts of the story I didn't agree with. A good example of this is a notebook full of Sailor Moon fanfiction that I was once absorbed in. [Ah, youth. :)]
My first real experience with writing was the school writing fair. It was an annual event that all grades could compete in. My first win was with my kindergarten story about a bear who climbed a mountain to find a fish. That story was about 5 sentences. I entered the competition every year with a new and much longer story. Each year we learned new skills: paragraphs, dialogue, how to revise, why you shouldn't start every sentence with 'the' or mark all conversation with the word 'said'.
As an adult, I often get jaded with the process of revising and crafting page layouts and seeking out cover art that properly fits each book. However, if I think back to that first writing fair (and I often do) I quickly remember writing for the fun of it. And I still do. That love of creating a new story is what pushes me even now.
Many people find writing difficult or consider it to be work. But I don't. I have a blast putting words onto paper and laying my ideas out there for others to see. Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm in the midst of research for a story, and that can be tiring. However, once I start writing the story, I forget all the negative feelings and I quickly get absorbed in the pleasure of writing.
First of all, I really do love books. Growing up, we didn't have cable. We literally had 5 channels: PBS, CBS, ABC, Fox, and NBC. There were certain times during the day that there just wasn't anything on that a little kid would want to watch. It was news or soap operas. I wasn't allowed to watch soap operas and the news was boring for me. My mother's solution was to give us books. We spent almost every saturday bouncing between the bookstore and the public library.
My problem was that sometimes I would read a story and I didn't like the way it ended. Maybe the princess ended up with the prince when I felt she should have ended up with the young forest hero. Or maybe I thought that the forest hero should have been the star of the book instead of the prince or ogre or whatever. In my head I would write my own endings or mentally change the parts of the story I didn't agree with. A good example of this is a notebook full of Sailor Moon fanfiction that I was once absorbed in. [Ah, youth. :)]
My first real experience with writing was the school writing fair. It was an annual event that all grades could compete in. My first win was with my kindergarten story about a bear who climbed a mountain to find a fish. That story was about 5 sentences. I entered the competition every year with a new and much longer story. Each year we learned new skills: paragraphs, dialogue, how to revise, why you shouldn't start every sentence with 'the' or mark all conversation with the word 'said'.
As an adult, I often get jaded with the process of revising and crafting page layouts and seeking out cover art that properly fits each book. However, if I think back to that first writing fair (and I often do) I quickly remember writing for the fun of it. And I still do. That love of creating a new story is what pushes me even now.
Many people find writing difficult or consider it to be work. But I don't. I have a blast putting words onto paper and laying my ideas out there for others to see. Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm in the midst of research for a story, and that can be tiring. However, once I start writing the story, I forget all the negative feelings and I quickly get absorbed in the pleasure of writing.
Monday, July 28, 2014
How do you Describe?
Writing descriptions can actually be a tricky thing. Finding the balance between too much exposition and too little isn't easy. I can't really say there are no tricks to it. When I originally write a scene, I try to describe it exactly as I see it in my head. I want it to be as clear for the reader as it is for me. This usually causes me to end up with a full page or two just to set the scenery. This can be a bad thing if the scene is something that almost anyone can relate to, such as a church or a school or a grocery store. However, if you're like me and often creating a world from scratch, thoroughly drawing the reader in is essential.
One thing you want to do is use metaphors and similes, but you have to find ways to use them sparringly. Also, you want to avoid the standard cliches that everyone is familiar with. While everybody will know what you're talking about, you may get a few readers who will roll their eyes and think "here we go again". Having people thinking your story is going to be something typical and cookie-cutter is not what you want. Coming up with a unique or unusual metaphor can take hours and sometimes days, but often, it is well worth the extra effort. I often write down unique or new metaphors that I come across when reading because I love it when I find something refreshing.
You don't want to over analyze a scene though. Don't add in descriptions that seem unnatural or break the flow of the dialogue or the character's action. Try to explain the placement of important people and objects beforehand. This way, it will be easier to reference these items later as the characters continue to talk or act. Try not to dump information in at random. If you're worried that your readers will be confused, try to make sure you are clear about these things at the beginning of the scene, or weave the information in as the story progresses. It's okay for the reader not to know everything from the start. A story is like life. Secrets and wisdom are revealed as we go along.
I'd love to be able to tell you some sure fire formula for handling descriptions, but there just isn't one. It really all depends on what you want to say and what type of story you are creating. It never hurts to do a little research, especially if your setting is more realistic or historical. Then again, if your story is pure fiction, just run with it. If it's a world of your own creation, then there is no way you can be wrong. Right?
One thing you want to do is use metaphors and similes, but you have to find ways to use them sparringly. Also, you want to avoid the standard cliches that everyone is familiar with. While everybody will know what you're talking about, you may get a few readers who will roll their eyes and think "here we go again". Having people thinking your story is going to be something typical and cookie-cutter is not what you want. Coming up with a unique or unusual metaphor can take hours and sometimes days, but often, it is well worth the extra effort. I often write down unique or new metaphors that I come across when reading because I love it when I find something refreshing.
You don't want to over analyze a scene though. Don't add in descriptions that seem unnatural or break the flow of the dialogue or the character's action. Try to explain the placement of important people and objects beforehand. This way, it will be easier to reference these items later as the characters continue to talk or act. Try not to dump information in at random. If you're worried that your readers will be confused, try to make sure you are clear about these things at the beginning of the scene, or weave the information in as the story progresses. It's okay for the reader not to know everything from the start. A story is like life. Secrets and wisdom are revealed as we go along.
I'd love to be able to tell you some sure fire formula for handling descriptions, but there just isn't one. It really all depends on what you want to say and what type of story you are creating. It never hurts to do a little research, especially if your setting is more realistic or historical. Then again, if your story is pure fiction, just run with it. If it's a world of your own creation, then there is no way you can be wrong. Right?
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Outlines Are My Frenemy
I said once before that outlines are something I never saw the merits of as a teenager. I used to think that they hindered the creative process by restricting what you could and couldn't say. I always thought I had to strictly follow the outline. This is not the case. Well, it is in respect to scholarly papers. Outlines keep you on track with the facts and keep you from straying too far form the point you're trying to make. However, when it comes to creative writing, outlines are like frenemies.
I'll explain. After I had kids, I lost the freedom I had to drop everything and lock myself in a room and write until I passed out in front of my computer. I now have to stop in the middle of a great flow of creative energy to make dinner, pick kids up from school, or take sick kids to the doctor. This often causes me to lose my train of thought. Sometimes, I get a great idea when I'm cutting the crusts off bread and by the time I finally get to my computer, the words are gone.
Outlines can save you from the stress of starting and stopping and forgetting. If you're lucky enough to be able to write all your main points out without getting interrupted, then do it. Fill in with little details: snippets of conversation or description of the scene. These are guidelines that you can use to kick start your brain when you come back later, and will help you pick up where you left off. They also give you the chance to look over your story and see if it has real legs to stand on: that is, can it make sense somewhere other than inside your head?
An outline gives you the opportunity to work out any kinks in your story and character relationships before you commit to writing 50,000 words or more. And the best thing, is that you can throw in any idea you think of. During the pre-writing phase, any idea can seem great, and most times they are.
On the other hand, outlines also can sometimes get in the way. Right now, I'm working on a project and I'm finding myself using only about 1/3 of the ideas I wrote down. While not using every idea isn't a bad thing, I just hate leaving good dialogue to collect dust. But what can I do? The story needs to evolve and improve and while that patch of dialogue might be amazing, it just doesn't fit into the story anymore.
Outlines also become a problem for me when I'm trying to rewrite a chapter. It's hard to change the story when my brain remembers it so vividly another way. I then have to write a new outline of what has actually happened in the story and what I want to happen next. I then compare the new outline to the old one and see if anything repeats or if the ending for the story has changed all together. Again, this is not a bad thing, but it is time consuming.
All the stress that comes with the ups and downs of using outlines, are just part of building a story from an idea into something amazing.
I'll explain. After I had kids, I lost the freedom I had to drop everything and lock myself in a room and write until I passed out in front of my computer. I now have to stop in the middle of a great flow of creative energy to make dinner, pick kids up from school, or take sick kids to the doctor. This often causes me to lose my train of thought. Sometimes, I get a great idea when I'm cutting the crusts off bread and by the time I finally get to my computer, the words are gone.
Outlines can save you from the stress of starting and stopping and forgetting. If you're lucky enough to be able to write all your main points out without getting interrupted, then do it. Fill in with little details: snippets of conversation or description of the scene. These are guidelines that you can use to kick start your brain when you come back later, and will help you pick up where you left off. They also give you the chance to look over your story and see if it has real legs to stand on: that is, can it make sense somewhere other than inside your head?
An outline gives you the opportunity to work out any kinks in your story and character relationships before you commit to writing 50,000 words or more. And the best thing, is that you can throw in any idea you think of. During the pre-writing phase, any idea can seem great, and most times they are.
On the other hand, outlines also can sometimes get in the way. Right now, I'm working on a project and I'm finding myself using only about 1/3 of the ideas I wrote down. While not using every idea isn't a bad thing, I just hate leaving good dialogue to collect dust. But what can I do? The story needs to evolve and improve and while that patch of dialogue might be amazing, it just doesn't fit into the story anymore.
Outlines also become a problem for me when I'm trying to rewrite a chapter. It's hard to change the story when my brain remembers it so vividly another way. I then have to write a new outline of what has actually happened in the story and what I want to happen next. I then compare the new outline to the old one and see if anything repeats or if the ending for the story has changed all together. Again, this is not a bad thing, but it is time consuming.
All the stress that comes with the ups and downs of using outlines, are just part of building a story from an idea into something amazing.
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