A Writer's Journey

Steven Wright

2010-03-01T15:13:00Z

Just read this Steven Wright quote and instantly loved it ... "I got food poisoning today. I don't know when I'll use it."

E-Books: Fad or Fantastic?

2010-02-23T18:48:00Z

I spent the weeks immediately preceding Christmas doing what I suspect a lot of readers did, comparing the Nook and the Kindle. I read a lot, and frequently have a book stuck in my desk at work, one in my Blazer, and another at home. Having three books going at once is a bit of a pain, and I would love to be able to carry one thing around with me all the time that wouldn't be as hefty as a "real" book and it would also be quite nice to simply start another once I finish one. I've purchased e-books and read them on my computer (my first experience with an e-book was the serial novel Stephen King offered). My problem is not with the e-book format, but rather with being tied to my computer. It would be oh, so nice, to be able to be portable! And imagine a week at a beach . . . without back strain from lugging a full book bag along!

I tend to be a bit anal about things, and research things before I purchase. Also, I'm a bit afraid of taking the plunge, because I know (I KNOW!) that once I take the plunge, something bigger and better and faster and cooler will come out. My fears were confirmed when I saw the first video of the iPad (am I the only one that hates that name? Yeeesh!!). If you've been living a science/tech sheltered life, click here to see what I'm talking about.

I've held a Kindle, and really liked the way it felt. The weight was good and the screen was easy on the eyes. To me, the biggest selling point is 60 seconds to a book. I'm definitely not a fan of delayed gratification, so this is a big selling point for me. I do wonder, though, if I could buy a book even in remote locations (I live on a hobby farm in the middle of nowhere - I have to hold the phone just right and stand by a window to get cell phone coverage at home), and I wonder if the grayscale screen would irritate me. Also, a leather book cover would be a must. The keyboard throws me - would I like it? Seems like it takes up valuable screen real estate.

I've also held a Nook (thanks to the local Barnes and Noble for having a couple available to play). I like the idea of ordering books from Barnes and Noble, and being able to "browse" books in the store in a great incentive to get me into the bookstore. The split screen was okay, though it seemed a bit slow and awkward in real use. The color screen is a definite selling point.

I also looked at the Sony e-reader, literally looked at it. I made a special trip to Staples purely to put my hands on one. It was okay. Reminded me a lot of the other two e-readers, but the fact that it was wired and required a computer to purchase books is a huge downside.

I'd like to get my hands on an iPad, because it seems like the perfect solution - an e-reader that allows me to do more. As a writer, I would think this would be especially useful - to be able to read and write, all in the same handy-dandy little piece of equipment! (By the way - this is yet another example of Star Trek technology coming to life. Watch Star Trek: The Next Generation sometime - they use devices that look suspiciously like iPads!) And that makes me wonder what is on the horizon for e-readers. Will they last, or will they be like my Palm Pilot m100 that is sitting in a drawer at home gathering dust, destined to be a curious antique when my grandchildren clean out my house?

The Importance of Being Accountable

2010-01-14T18:32:00Z

If you're going to succeed as a writer (by the way - that's a post for another day, but in a nutshell, YOU determine your personal bar for success), you have to be accountable to someone. You have to set goals, then take steps to reach those goals. And, just my humble opinion, but I think goals should be plural. Don't set one lofty goal like "write a best selling novel". That's just setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment. It's out of your hands. The ability to meet your goal should be something under your control - no one else's (see where the accountability is coming into play?).

So, write down 5 goals for 2010.

Mine are:
1.     Continue working with my critique group.
2.     Continue querying agents about Widow's Web.
3.     Pick a new novel to polish (decisions, decisions . . . so many manuscripts sitting in the drawer).
4.     Edit that novel every week.
5.     Read two books a month and review them on Amazon.

See how that works? No overly lofty goals. They're all within reach, but they will definitely cause me to stretch (not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do). The next step is to take those big goals and break them up into workable bits. For instance, I need to block out time this evening and tomorrow evening to prepare for my critique group meeting on Saturday morning. That means there will be little time for anything else, so I will probably have to do more agent research on Saturday so that I can send out another query to an agent this weekend. Little bits - things you can actually schedule into your day.

Here's where the accountability really comes into play. Those goals that I had you write down? Print out two copies of them. Post one on your closet door (or the back of your bathroom door, or on the mirror - someplace you'll see it every day) and give the other to a trusted friend. Think of this person as your accountability partner. Your friend's job is to hold onto the list, then talk to you about your progress quarterly. So, plan to talk to that person in March, June, September and December. Put it on your calendar. Tell that person to be tough on you. This does two things - it makes you accountable to yourself, because you will see your list every day and it makes you accountable to someone else. This improves your chances of success, because this way it is much harder to ignore your goals if you are accountable to someone than if you merely paused for a few moments in January and said to yourself, "Self, this year we're gonna do X, Y & Z!" (resolutions quickly fall to the wayside . . . ask anyone who works the reception desk at a fitness facility).

If you don't have someone who can be your accountability partner, email me and I'll do it.

What are you waiting for? Go write your goals down!!

Technology is great, when it works . . .

2010-01-11T20:39:00Z

And when it doesn't, it just plain sucks! I've been fighting my laptop since the beginning of December, which has really put a dent in my writing time. I hope to get back in the groove in 2010, and hope my computer woes are behind me.

It will never cease to amaze me the way the universe works. Various things tend to cross paths, like cosmic strings strung across the universe, linking things and creating a web of interrelativity. OK, that's my deep thought for the day. What prompted it was that a co-worker put me in touch with a young woman who is interested in writing a memoir of her life story (so far). And then I ran across a blog entry on that very topic. You can see it here. Whether or not you write memoir, it is an interesting post.

More later,
Elle

I Came, I Saw, I Wrote (or . . . How I Won NaNoWriMo 2009)

2009-12-10T21:24:00Z

I don't know why I'm surprised that December is nearly half over. It happens faster and faster each year. I used to think it was because I was getting older and quit looking forward to things so much (you know, when I was a kid I couldn't wait for Christmas but it seemed to take forever to get here . . . the watched pot never boils - like that). But now, I think the world is just spinning faster. I can almost hear the wind whistling past my ears.

Oh, wait . . . that was just the cold, December wind. Never mind.

It has been 21 days since my last post.

Oh, wait . . . I'm not giving my confession.

Sorry. My NaNo fried brain isn't functioning quite right just yet. What I wanted to tell you is that (drumroll, please . . . ahem . . . really - make that drumroll sound or drum your fingers on your desk, whatever works best for you) . . . I WON!!! That's right, you are now looking at (sort of) one of the proud winners of National Novel Writing Month 2009. I finished with a grand total of 50,629 words. (OK, I'm bowing now . . . thank you, thank you . . .).

What was my secret for success?

1) Write every day. My goal was to write 1,667 each day. (Some days I made it, some days I didn't.)

2) Don't read.

3) Use every available moment. If you work, eat at your desk and write yourself an email. Carry a notebook with you. If you commute, carry a handheld recorder. You don't have to dictate your story, but you can talk to yourself - what if this, what if that, how can you screw with your main character's life . . .

4) Bribery. I want a Nook so bad I can taste it. So, I promised myself that if I win, I'll buy one. Now, I'm just waiting for the money to appear. (wait! what the? there's no prize $$ for winning NaNo? Dang!!)

And how do I feel about my winning story, Gateway to Hell? My story is just getting wound up, just started at about 47K words, actually, and part of me really wants to finish it. But first, I need to get through the holidays. I've got a house to decorate, Christmas cards to make, dinner rolls to make, gifts to buy. And since I've only got 2 weeks 'til the Big Day, I think I'll take a break from writing and focus on the holiday and family. Probably should, since I kind of neglected the fam last month. So, my plan is to smother them with attention for the next two weeks, and then start a serious rewrite of Denim & Diamonds. Those characters have been talking to me again (and so have my characters from NaNo '08. I hope this doesn't mean I'm schizo. Then again, for a writer, is that a bad thing?), which is like slipping into my favorite pair of faded Tommy jeans on a Sunday morning. It feels right. Who knows, maybe with a touch more suspense and a dash more sex . . . it might end up being a whole new book!

So, that's how I did it and those are my writing plans now that NaNo is over and I must return to the land of mortals . . . what are yours?

NaNoWriMo: Day 18

2009-11-19T17:17:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Backstory can add layers to your character. Recount a memory of something that happened to your character as a child.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: a dozen Red Ryder wagons

And in my world: Michael and Daniel just passed through the spider-webby Gateway to Hell.

NaNoWriMo: Day 17

2009-11-17T02:29:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Describe your character from his/her point of view. Focus on the internal motivations, fears, dreams.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: a sidewalk with a crack in it

And in my world: Michael is feeling very introspective.

NaNoWriMo: Day 16

2009-11-16T02:27:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Do word wars. If you have a friend doing NaNo, challenge him/her to a 20 minute word war. Winner gets bragging rights. BTW, a word war does not consist of a verbal joust. I mean start the timer, start writing and whoever ends with the most words wins.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: Don, the jailbird

In my world: Daniel, the attorney who sold his soul, and Michael, my hero, have joined forces and are getting ready to go through the Gateway.

NaNoWriMo: Day 15

2009-11-15T02:24:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Kill someone. Yup, that always works for me! ;o)

NaNo Prompt of the day: moldy oranges

In my world: Daniel, the attorney, has made a deal with the Devil to save his family and his business from financial ruin. But is being able to travel through the Gateway to Hell a bonus or a curse?

NaNoWriMo: Day 14

2009-11-14T02:17:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Describe your main character from someone else's point of view. This gives you a chance to explain in detail what your character looks like, how he/she carries him/herself, that sort of thing.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: a barista at Starbucks

In my world: Michael is feeling very introspective, and his mom is drinking the Kool-Aid.

NaNoWriMo: Day 13

2009-11-13T21:31:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Interview one of your characters. A great way to do this is to actually have someone - a character, add a new one if you need to (an aspiring reporter, if nothing else!) - interview your character. This could be a reporter, a cop, a potential employer.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: Angelo, with the lover in Long Island

In my world: Whew, I don't even know where to start!

NaNoWriMo: Day 12

2009-11-12T20:03:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Write a dream sequence. Do this as if either your protagonist or antagonist is dreaming, and you'll get insight into their motivations while upping your word count. Surprisingly, the dream often fits in quite well with your story!

NaNo Prompt of the Day: a man standing alone in front of a window

In my world: Life as we know it in Columbia is over. The streets are empty, no one is driving, no one is walking . . . people are holed up in their houses, wondering what is going to happen next.

NaNoWriMo: Day 11

2009-11-11T14:51:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Another down and dirty trick to help you up that word count - don't use contractions. Wait, I mean, do not use contractions. ;o)

NaNo Prompt of the Day: The Traveling Shovel of Death

In my world: Michael is joining forces with Tanya and Julie to form a resistance to The Cause, and to attempt to rescue those souls trapped in the Gateway to Hell.

NaNoWriMo: Day 10

2009-11-10T14:30:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Set small goals - say 500 words at a time, then give yourself a reward for reaching that mini-goal. It can be sitting with a cup of herbal tea, or an oreo, or a rousing game of catch with your puppy. Meeting those small goals gives you (almost) instant gratification. I don't know about you, but that's definitely what I need!

NaNo Prompt of the Day: Sid and Marty Krofft (what? you've never heard of them? Oh, my - I'm showing my age!). By the way . . . Electra Woman and Dyna Girl ROCK! ;o)

In my world: Supreme General Greene has taken over the local television and radio station broadcasts, and Michael just escaped his clutches by moments.

NaNoWriMo: Day 9

2009-11-09T19:48:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Post your word count where you can see it daily. I have mine on a small whiteboard, propped up against the TV - so it's a reminder BEFORE I sit down to watch a favorite show. Write it on sticky notes and stick it to your monitor, put it on your bathroom mirror, stick it on the refrigerator door, etc. This isn't just motivation for you - it's a reminder to those around you that you're working towards a goal.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: Germany

In my world: The drones have been activated, and their first order of business was to commandeer vehicles from the people of Columbia.

NaNoWriMo: Day 8

2009-11-08T18:56:33Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Conflict drives your story. Make two characters argue. Give them opposite points of view and make them argue the point. Remember to show the action, too. Their facial expressions, white knuckles, fight . . . whatever you can do to amp up the tension.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: jury - you know, like jury duty . . . that thing that many people try to creatively avoid.

In my world: Michael is caring for Tanya's cuts (did I mention that she's now CUTTING the words into her skin?)

NaNoWriMo: Day 7

2009-11-07T18:47:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: One of my favorite moviemakers is Alfred Hitchcock, and one dayI caught an interview with him - it was basically his tips for building suspense. His tip was "Show the bomb." He gave the example of two men sitting in a restaurant, chatting. Not suspenseful at all, right? But make the tablecloth transparent, or lift it up a touch to show the audience the ticking bomb under the table. Instant suspense. That's a great thing to keep in mind in writing - show the bomb to your reader. Let them know what the suspense is. And showing that bomb is a great way to build up your word count! You can go back later to make it more suspenseful, more polished. For now, just build the bomb and show it off.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: a can of Easy Cheese

And in my world, the Lost Ones are writing descriptions of Hell on themselves and have begun to gather outside the theater to beg others not to see the movie, but those waiting to go in are convinced it is simply a viral marketing ploy.

NaNoWriMo: Day 6

2009-11-06T22:35:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Give your characters titles, and use them often. For instance, my bad guy is Supreme General Robert T. Greene. I can add words every time I say "Supreme General Robert T. Greene opened the door. Supreme General Robert T. Green sat down." You get the picture. This is a down and dirty way to win, but . . . if it helps you get over a hump, go for it. Sometimes you just have to keep your fingers going any way you can!

NaNoWriMo Prompt of the Day: use the character "Frank, the painter"

In my world, we are learning WHY Supreme General Robert T. Greene chose Columbia, Missouri as the prime location to wreak havoc - it's where his arch enemy's daughter lives! I feel revenge coming on . . .

NaNoWriMo: Day 5

2009-11-05T23:18:00Z

NaNoWriMo Tip of the Day: Have a talisman. This is something that you wear or hold, something that you associate with writing. Think of it as a good luck piece. I've been doing this for years, and have built up quite the collection: a NaNo t-shirt that I wear every time I sit down to seriously write (and I don't wash it 'til I hit 50K), my Star Trek Enterprise hat, my glow in the dark strobing necklace, and . . . new this year, my pet WriMoRock. His name is Brock. Oh - I also wear fairy stuff (my muse is a fairy named Jennie). One on our MLs got us started with the glow in the dark necklaces. And he used to bring a little alien to the write-ins. Another writer in our group has a tiki.

NaNoWriMo Prompt of the Day: Gummi Eyeballs. 'Nuf said. :o)

And in my world: Michael is locked away in his basement, plotting his next move . . . while Supreme General Greene is in the Mobile Command Center doing the exact same thing. All Hell's gonna break loose when their moves collide!

NaNoWriMo: Day 4

2009-11-04T21:56:00Z

NaNo Tip of the Day: Bribery is a good thing. Think about it - what do you do without bribery? Nothing! (seriously - do you work for the fun of it? Do you do nice things for people just 'cause?) So, bribe yourself to get your writing done. For me, once I hit 1667 words for the day, I can have Oreos or a glass of wine. And I usually do something big for myself at the end of the month if I win. I haven't decided what I'll do this year. Maybe take a day off and watch Lost reruns.

NaNo Prompt of the Day: Use the character "Amanda, with amazing legs" in your story.

What's going on in my NaNo world? Michael learned that he has a kind of immunity to the Gateway to Hell. And he's beginning to wonder if it's really a Gateway, or hypnosis . . .