Category: writing

The Muse Returns

I finished up the outline for Siren Song in January, and then promptly didn’t write a word until… late February. My “goal” (which I frequently find myself ignoring) is two 500-word sessions a week. I can remember writing 10,000+ words  a day for NaNo years ago, so 500 words twice a week should be ridiculously easy. Should be.

As it turns out, actually making myself sit down and write is almost impossible. But this morning, I made that my first priority, and wrote 1,000 words.

Not setting any records with that, but I’m thrilled with it.

I also started outlining my final project for my capstone class, which is a short story based on the mythos of Camelot. I’m actually looking forward to writing it, and using it as backstory for when I start writing the Camelot project sometime in the future (because my Muse gave me a fantastic idea with that months ago).

How is the Muse performing for you?

Currently…

Not much going on around here except work and school. Finals are next week, so….(Good news is that Spring Break follows, so yay!)

I’m currently still reading Fatal Revenant, by Stephen R. Donaldson, plus a faith-based book. About to start The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever.

Currently writing assignments for school, one of which is a re-telling of Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market from a goblin’s point-of-view.

Also trying to finish up watching the newest episode of The Walking Dead. I have 15 minutes left. Please don’t tell me what happens…

So. School. Work. Rinse. Repeat. That’s pretty much it for me.

Writing Inspiration: Reading and Watching

A question for all my fellow writers out there:  have you ever been inspired to write by a book or a movie?

And if so, what was it and why?

I’m not going to lie:  most of my inspiration–when it has originated in something I’ve seen–has been from dreams I’ve had. Possibly just my Muse’s way of communicating with my stubborn brain…I have a feeling it’s hard to get a word in edgewise sometimes, as busy as I am.

Several of my stories have their origins in dreams, but I admit that movies and books have their place as well.  Lord of the Rings seems to have influenced me more than I knew (although I started writing Witches before the movies ever came out.). Reading through the manuscript now makes me laugh sometimes, at the obvious influence that never occurred to me when first writing the draft.

So what about you?

Writing Prompts

I love the “writing prompts” pins I see on Pinterest. Some of them are horrible or not interesting to me, but some intrigue me. Here’s a few I’ve seen lately:

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What about you? Want to write any of these? Or have you seen another writing prompt that has you itching to get started?

Frankly, My Dear…

Friday I spent a little bit of time in a place I never really imagined I’d be:  the house where Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind.

The Margaret Mitchell House, where the tiny apartment the author and her husband lived in was located.

Gone with the Wind is my favorite book. I read it for the first time when I was 11 years old. I’ve probably read it at least 25 times. I’m reading it now (Sort of.). The name of this blog comes from the novel.  It’s not that I idolize the era it takes place in. I don’t. There was a lot wrong with that society, its practices, and its beliefs. It’s not that I wished I lived there. (Ha. I despise wearing dresses, so living where elaborate dresses was the norm is a joke.).

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This painting was actually used in the movie. Gorgeous dress, but not my style.

But the characters are so vividly realized I feel like I know them, as is the setting. I think Margaret Mitchell did an astounding job creating characters and bringing them to life. I still laugh, and cry, every time I read the book.

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Where she actually wrote the novel (Although not the actual desk or typewriter, which is on display at the Atlanta library.). She used a towel to cover her work when unexpected visitors dropped in.

I did not know that Ms. Mitchell had her husband burn the first draft (there was only one copy) of the novel after her death, as well as any other projects she was working on. I didn’t know that she never intended to publish it at all, and wanted it back after she did let a publisher look at it.

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A story the author wrote as a girl.

I knew she worked as a reporter for a while.

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Ms. Mitchell was so short that the legs of the desk she used as a reporter had to be shortened.

What I did know:  still my favorite book. Ever.

Weekly Update: the End is in Sight

This week has been plenty busy. Craziness at work (which should soon be resolving itself in a very positive way.). Trying to get everything for the first week of classes done, as well as the reading done for the second week (Just about have that complete.). And perhaps I should pack sometime today, since I’m leaving for Atlanta tomorrow. Perhaps…

However, HTRYN Lesson One is going well. Sort of. It’s a bit depressing, but I should finish the first pass through Witches today. I’m seeing a lot of the same issues. Being aware of them is the first step to fixing them, right? (Here’s hoping.) I’m seeing a lot of telling-not-showing, and there’s more distance from my characters than I’d like. I do have an idea about fixing one issue that’s been bothering me somewhat for a long time, however.

I’m also less than five scenes from finishing the outline of Siren Song! I’m really happy about that, even if it’s not the greatest outline ever. I’m hoping there will be less wandering about with an actual outline to work from. (Knowing my tendency to get distracted, I’m almost positive that will be true.)

I’m off to finish things up so I can enjoy my sort-of-mini-vacation!

Writing Inspiration: Too Busy

It’s true, I really am too busy to write (fiction) right now. I know that sounds like a cop out, but it’s not. Really.

School starts next week, and I’m going to be out-of-town M-F for work, so I have to attempt to get everything done for the first week, plus the second week’s reading, this week. So there’s that. Plus, an hour-long commute to work right now. Let’s not forget trying to work out, eat healthy, and not let the house become a complete disaster.

Priorities.

So, while I may not actually be writing fiction, I am outlining Siren Song (just a general phase outline), to the tune of 5 scenes a day. And I’m almost done with that, which will make the actual writing so much easier!

I love when my stories surprise me. On Tuesday, I had a character I never even thought of saunter onto the screen and inform me that he was there to provide conflict (And also scenery. Of course.). So there’s that.

I hope everyone else is getting more writing done than I am.

New Year, this Time with Some Actual Goals

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(I do not own this image.)

Happy New Year!

I used to make very complicated, intricately planned-out lists of resolutions every year. A few years ago, I stopped that, but this year I decided to give it another go. I ended up with three separate lists (Life, Writing, and Reading), each with eight goals.

Here are my Writing goals for the year:

1) Finish Witches HTRYN.

2) Finish 1st draft of Siren Song. 

3) Finish 1st draft of The Fall.   

4) Start Camelot

5) Revise Casting Shadows.

6) Finish copyediting classes and make X dollars at it per month.

7) Have 500 followers on this blog. (I can dream, right?)

8) Have 200 followers on my personal blog (It’s a goal.)

HNY

Here are my Reading goals:

1) Read Gone with the Wind (for at least the 25th time. I normally read it every year, but it’s been a few years.).

2) Read 1 book per month from my TBR shelf.

3) Read all books on the reading list for my American Women Writers class (8 total).

4) Read one classic per month.

5) Read one book of poetry.

6) Read 2 books per month to review.

7) Read one inspirational book per month.

8) Read 75 books total.

Writing Inspiration: Permission To Not Write

How is not writing inspiration to actually get words on the page? Well….

I set weekly writing goals, as a way to keep motivated. But, let’s be honest, work, school, and frequently sleep come before writing. This results in me feeling guilty and leads to resentment. Which makes me less likely to actually want to write, if things do not go according to plan or even remotely according to plan).

If I’m feeling guilty because I didn’t get my words in on Monday or Wednesday, then I feel like I have to make up those words today, and I just don’t have time for that many words. So I resent the prospect and end up not writing today, either.

However, if I give myself permission to not write whenever it’s necessary, without the idea of having to make those words up, then that instantly makes my brain less stressed. Which means I actually feel like writing.

Does this make sense, or am I just making excuses?

Writing Chatter: What I Accomplished Last Week (and goals for this week)

Last week wasn’t the best week–writing or otherwise–that I’ve had lately. I ended up working five days. My mom moved back to New Orleans. There was a lot going on. I didn’t get as much done as I had hoped/planned.

I think I got one writing session in. And approximately zero sessions in on my other projects. Only five blogs written as well, and the ones I did write were short at best. But that’s okay. Tomorrow is another day.

This week, I’m planning on three writing sessions, three brainstorming sessions, six blog posts (plus an extra book review), work on two essays plus a project, a midterm exam, cleaning my computer room again (why does everything migrate there?), and work on a couple of projects. Oh, and (hopefully) five or six workouts. Plus working four days.

Hmm.  When I list it like that it seems like a lot.

Here’s hoping.