Books!

I just went through my kindle and sorted everything into collections...let's just say, I won't be needing to buy books this year. I have over 30 books on my Kindle that I bought but never read. Sadly, I have some books that I still want to buy so I can read them...at least 3. I'm going to restrain myself though. If I can't use the gift card my brother gave me, then I can't buy it until I finish everything on my Kindle. So, I hope these books will entertain me.

My first book for January will be On Writing by Stephen King. I have it packed away in my backpack so I can read it at work once the new year rolls around...if I'm not writing.

How about some music. This song was introduced to me by a writing friend a few years ago. Enjoy

Have a wonderful New Year!

Going About It Wrong

I was having issues with my novel this week, which isn't surprising at all. This novel has been giving my a hard time for awhile. I have a feeling that perfectionism is part of my problem but my other big problem was that I was focusing on the wrong side of the story. I focused on the poison when I should have been focusing on the other minor detail that I knew was a fairly big part of the novel.

After staring at a blank screen for an hour, I decided to write down my thoughts on my novel. This is part of my journaling that I do on occasion except...a lot less organized. I type out everything that should happen in the novel and somethings I want to happen in the novel until my muse starts to take over. I have a 6 page document on everything that had gone through my head.

Now, writing isn't such a struggle but I'm going to hold off on writing my novel until January rolls around. I'm going to be doing some planning instead.

Oh and the novel name changed to Sea Foam. It might change again but I can see it staying that way. Now I just need to change my cover art.

This song is probably my favorite by fun. I like a lot of their songs but this one is the one that sold me and the best part was...it was free on Amazon. Notice my pattern with music? Usually, it's free. I'm so cheap.

How about some music?

I just thought I'd share a little music with you. It was a song I heard on the radio today when my sister and I went out shopping. I had no idea that my favorite radio station played this song. This song was free on Amazon. I'm not sure if it still is.

The video kind of makes me dizzy but the song is good.

Writing Struggles

So, today, I sat down to write, only to struggle on the female POV. I guess I spent too much time writing and thinking in Gerard's POV that doing Talin's became a problem. I did try just g oing with the flow, inserting the POV needed to make the novel go but it was choppy and didn't work well so then I tried just Gerard's POV but really important parts of the plot went missing and there was no way to draw them out without it becoming dialogue. It took away from my novel.

So, I went back to how I originally wrote it. It became and every other chapter sort of thing. It worked really well the first time I wrote it so I think I should stick to it. Actually, I've come to the conclusion that I shouldn't have changed much of the first draft anyway. The style worked really well. I just second guess myself...I really need to stop doing that.

I'm actually going to try to stop doing that when I write. I always go back to how I originally planned something. Maybe it's perfectionism.

 Well, anyway, I'll leave you with more music from the band The Lumineers. You should see me listening to this song when I drive...I love this song.

Here I Go Again

I'm rewriting this yet again. Well, I guess I wouldn't say rewriting. I'm editing the first four chapters and adding things to it. I had to add Talin's point of view in there or else a big chunk of important events will be missing. I tried in just Gerard's point of view but it didn't work as well.

Most of the things I wrote are staying. Some are being redone. That map is slowly coming along. I'm at a loss of what to do so I'm considering just adding the buildings and roads so I can finish the details later. I still have to add my marks to it. I'll be sure to share that when it comes down to it.

So, that's what I've been up to lately. Just writing. I'm actually rather far. I'm taking my time with this novel. I feel like I need to make a new cover...I keep staring at the one I have and I'm extremely unhappy with it. I mean, it's okay but...I'm just not pleased. Maybe it's because I think I have a title for the novel, like a real one. I'm still testing out other titles for the novel.

Okay, I'm stopping here for now. I should be writing my novel but I'm sleep deprived and not in the mood so I'll write when I get home from work tonight or at work.

Here is what I'm currently listening too. It's a great song.

Better Than the Original

So, Tanghin is a rewrite to one of my other novels that I wrote two years ago. It's coming out better than before but the title is going to change. I already know it is. Tanghin is the name of a poison so it's the reason why I use it. Everything is temporary.

Anyway (sidetracked already), I'm barely finished with the second chapter and I'm already seeing a huge difference. As in, this is way better than what I've written before. Anyone who follows me on twitter might be getting sick of me saying that so, I'm hoping that this will be the last time I mention that this one is starting to make sense. There is a big process that I'm actually bringing to light because in this book, little things sometimes matter.

My issue will be how I pull in my female character into the main plot. She's already part of the main plot unknowingly but she somehow has to be a huge part of the main picture since this novel and the next one revolve around her. I'll figure it out.

Ugh, I'm starting to go on one of my rambling writing entries I do when I can't figure out the direction I need to go into. So I'll shut up and give you a song. Something old-ish

Maybe some Cartel. I've been listening to this song a lot lately. Sometimes I think going back to the stuff I used to listen to in high school and before that is better than listening to the new stuff that has been coming out...but that's just my opinion.

WriYe 2013 rambling

WriYe 2013 is going to begin in a month and I have things that I need to plan. I want to finish Tanghin and the other novels that go along with it...loosely. I also want to get through How To Think Sideways, completely. I've never been able to finish it. I have a really short attention span. That is my main reason. So in 2013 I am going to finish the class completely while I'm writing.

I have yet to decide what I want to aim for. I know that in November,  my goal is to write 300,000 words. And I know I can do it if I keep a steady writing pace. At the very least, I'm going to write 3k a day. I'm going to try to go for 1 million words this year. I sat here looking at my screen for 20 minutes, trying to decide.

It's a goal I try to reach every year and I never make it. I'm always 100,000 words off. I'll get it this year. I will. I'm going to push myself. I'll probably spend half of my time on twitter doing annoying updates every day telling everyone of my progress.

Maybe this year will be dedicated to the Fantasy Genre. It's my favorite to write but I'm going to throw in one novel that will not be Fantasy and I think it will be the last one I write for the year. It will be a rewrite for that general romance novel I wrote two years ago. Nothing smutty. Smut is what I write when I'm freaking out about my word count. I'm going to try to keep away from those as much as possible. I don't want that in my novels.

Oh, and I want to have one complete novel - edited and everything by the end of March. It looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

For now, I'm signing off and going to write a list of everything that I need to do during 2013.

Writing Inspiration?

I don't know about you but when the weekend comes around I start feeling lazy when it comes to writing. I always want to get some art in, which isn't at all a bad thing. Just this week, I was inspired to create artwork for my novel. Now, this isn't the first time I've made artwork for my novels but it's the first time I had this idea.

My sister is taking an art workshop where mapping the area you live in is one of the little lessons given. I thought the whole idea was awesome so I decided to adopt it for Tanghin as I write it. It will be a map of the city and where all of the bodies are found. I started it all today and just got a huge burst of inspriation. I don't know if it was because of the art or the music but it worked.

I'll try it a few more times and if I find it helpful, I'll definitely add it to my list of writing tools.

Here is the song I was listening to. This has been my favorite song since it came out now it's all over the place. Sorry if you're sick of hearing it.

Making a Schedule or Just Finding Time To Write

I'm not sure how many of you have made a daily or weekly schedule just to fit in writing but I've discovered that it really does work. Noted that I've lost sight of the schedule too but I'm forgetful. After making a schedule, I just leave it in my notebook but this time I'm actually going to post it on my wall because I need to remember.

This NaNoWriMo was lacking for me. I know 50k is the goal and that it really isn't that bad but that really wasn't my issue. My issue was my determination to write. Clearly, I wasn't writing anything that I loved and that is where my problem was. So, I need to either scrap the idea of writing Cyberpunk or make it into something that I do like to write. That is something that will have to worked on at a later date. Right now I just want to work on a daily writing schedule.

Sorry for getting side-tracked. It's not a good Monday morning for me.

Mornings always work best for me when it comes to writing. If I want to write anything, it has to start in the morning. My schedule looks something like this. It changes of course but at least I have the basics. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and weekends will probably have more writing and crafting in the schedule but this is just an example.

Monday:

5:30am - Wake up
6:30am - Start writing (yes, it takes me an hour to fully wake up)
8:00am - Breakfast (I need to start eating regularly)
8:30am - Leave for work
9:00am - 5:00pm - Work
6:00pm - 10:00pm - Free time. This includes, writing, reading, art work, anything to do at home.
10:30pm -Sleep

Let's see if I can do this. I have a hard time following a schedule but as long as I get writing in everyday then I achieved my goal. My work schedule isn't the same and let's face it, I sleep in on the days I don't work. So maybe, instead of making a schedule I should just tell myself that I have to write for at least an hour a day.

Hmm...I think finding time to write would be easier.

The Finish Line

I won't lie, I only managed 50k this year. I just wasn't into my novel and writing 50k was hard for me. Nothing like last year when I hit 50k within the first week. I'm a bit disappointed in myself but I'm going to try to write regularly again. This last year, I stopped writing. It was mostly stress that stopped me but I won't let that happen again.

Right now, I'm going to start working on the second novel I have planned, Tanghin. I will take my time with it and hopefully have it finished by the end of December so it can be ready for the first edit. Nested will be something I tuck away for another day. I'm going to have to do some serious rewriting of that novel in order for me to like it. Though there are some parts that I'm willing to keep. One of them being the little twist that happened during the story. I think that it made my plot stronger and turned it more into a mystery than anything else.

I will definitely try to keep up with this blog while I write. Give updates and comment on other people's posts. I've been awful at that recently. I will also being doing a better job at keeping my writing journal updated.

I Would Rant....

But I took it out on my journal instead. I'm just stressed and annoyed with everyone. Well mostly a certain someone...I live with her.

With all of the interruptions today, I managed to get over 13k written. I'm a bit disappointed in myself. I've never had this problem before. Of course, my stress didn't live with me at the time. It was work but I like work now. My new job is great. The girl is super cute and fun to hang out with and the family it down to earth. I can go on about it.

I'm annoyed with my sister. It was just petty things today that started to set me off but this is years of pent up stress and annoyance with her. My solution is that I need to move out. I think I let her walk all over me for too freaking long...

Well, I'm going to sleep on it. I'll feel better in the morning.

A Day of Writing

Since I'm so far behind on my writing, I'm spending all day writing today. I'm updating my twitter ever hour as well. It's not really excited but it's motivation for me. I can use all the motivation I can get.

In the last week, I've fallen behind. I've also been very busy. I have a lot of words to catch up on. I'm only at 28k as I write this. It's my five minute break right now. I give it to myself after ever 2000 words. If I wrote straight through an hour, I could probably write 3k but I need to break sometime, right?

So yes, I'm writing all day. I started at 8:30am. And I'm finally on my desk top. It makes a huge different in my writing performance, I think. I mean, I feel like I'm more focused.

Except right now.

I'd better get back to writing.

Have a good day!

The Start of a New Novel

I am starting the planning for this novel today (it should have been yesterday). I'm currently seeing a difference between the first novel I planned for November and this novel. That's just with how to go about planning.

Since this is a plot driven novel, rather than a character driven novel (like Nested), I need to approach it differently. I need to start with research on poisons. I'll probably use some of the poisons that I had used during the first draft but I'm going to aim for a few more specific poisons. Tanghin being my main poison. It's what's going to start the novel and will keep reoccuring.

I'm not sure what others I will include but I have my trusty book of poisons with me so it shouldn't be that hard to find one that suits the situation.

This novel will probably not have a mindmap unless I really need one. If I do, it will be small and I'll probably make it on the computer rather than using up my poster board. Instead, after the research, I'll need a sequence board. This isn't like a story board. It's far more general than a story board. I just need to know which order the poisons will go in my novel, etc. These aren't scenes. I guess I'll have to show you in my next post when I take a picture of it.

I will be working on this tonight and tomorrow when I'm not doing last minute babysitting jobs...I seem to be the only one who can do it today. I'm okay with that. I need the money. I need a job.

- Cylee

Finally doing my mindmap

Yeah, the title says it all. I'm finally doing my mind map and I have to say, it's harder when I do my storyboard first. I really can't let my muse have fun with it because I already figured out my novel. I did find out some interesting things about my MC's family. So, I guess that's good. It kind of explains a lot with my MC's "upbringing" and the state of the government.

I'm learning a bit about Austin as well. But, it's hard. It doen't help that my poster board is huge. I can't write on it very well but I'm going to try to finish this by tomorrow before I put it up on my wall and start working on my second novel. This time I'll start with my mind map and then work my way to the storyboard. I also have a playlist on my iPod that I need to transfer to my desktop sometimes before November. At least I have time.

I hope everyone's plotting is going well...for those who are planners.

Cylee

Still Working On My Storyboard

So, I was going to post last night but I fell asleep as 6 o'clock but I manage to wake up at 8 this morning so I think my sleeping schedule is going back on track...one can only hope.

 As the title says, I'm still working on my story board. It's really the last thing I need. It's going to take me the rest of the week to finish this at the rate I'm going but I'm getting somewhere for Austin's part of the story. His parts are mostly when he is feeling out of his comfort zone...which is a lot but he never complains about it to the man he works for (name to be determined). This was actually something new that I figured out last night when I was journal writing because I ramble like crazy and things just jump out of my head.

After that was written, several other crazy things come out. These are all going on my storyboard. I might not use them all but they are going to be there just in case.

Oh, I lied, this isn't the only thing I have left to do for this novel. I need to do the bubble mapping...I mostly do that for my entertainment but I get a lot more ideas from it too. I should probably do that now. And I have my playlist...that will be last.

 I have until Saturday to finish the plotting of this novel before I work on Tanghin.

Nested - Novel Cover and Plotting

I've been working on the storyboard of my novel and I think I have most of it finished...kind of. Okay, I'm just barely over halfway done but it's further than I was. I just need to get my male character Austin's side a little more since he is awesome. Not really, he's a bit of a jackass at first but he gets better...I hope. I've decided to put a hint of romance in my novel. It worked really well for my character development and some weird plot element so I added it. But the romance is going to be in the background so it doesn't take over the plot.

 Ugh, Cyberpunk and Romance. I'm just trying to make NaNoWriMo hard, aren't I? Well, I might as well kill two birds with one stone.

I also made a novel cover for Nested and I rather like the simplicity of it. Really if you saw it in a store you'd have no idea that my novel was Sci-fi which I find rather suiting. If I decided to do something with this novel, I probably wouldn't use this cover because the image used was from a deviantArt stock image. Most people don't like their photo distributed like that - I understand. I will post image information at the end of this post. Please be sure to check out her stuff. Her stock is awesome and I'm certain this won't be the last time I use it. But that will probably be for my own amusement that I'll post on deviantArt rather than here. Anyway, constructive criticism welcome. I'm slowly starting to get back into this photomanipulating stuff so anything will help.

More to come...later today.

...I need to do something about this insomnia.

Cylee Blake

Stock Links:

• Stock Image
• xStockx's Gallery

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

New Goal

So, I discovered something by looking through old messages in my NaNo Mailbox. 300,000 isn't my goal this year, it's 250,000 words! I don't think anyone knows how relieved I am. I thought I had completed my 250k goal last year but I didn't. I fell behind. So this year, I will have to complete that. If I don't, I'll try again during CampNaNo because for my 10th year at NaNoWriMo, I would like to aim for 300,000 words. I think that would be a perfect goal.

Yeah, I just wanted to clear that up...with mostly myself. This will make it so much easier to work and write.
More things going on.

At this very moment, I can't get to sleep. It's 3:30am and I'm wide awake. The same thing happened yesterday and the day before. Both times I had to get up early in the morning. If my sister comes in my room at 10 in the morning, I will have to throw something at her. She knows very well that I don't sleep well and she just come right into my room when she gets bored. It makes me mad sometimes...I think I need to start taking melatonin. I'm starting to worry about my sleeping patterns (or lack there of).

Be prepared. Starting Monday, I'm going to be posting my NaNoWriMo Preparation details. Starting with my novel Nested. Then it will be my novel Tanghin. Those two I really want to finish during November. The other one that I have in mind is called Once Inhabited. I figured the one word titles were getting a little overused. Heh...

Tanghin - Quick Cover

Here is my quick cover for my novel Tanghin that I'm going to write this year. It's just a temporary cover that I threw together. It doesn't look half bad but I know I can do better. Though, I do like the simplicity of the cover. I think the cover has a lot of elements to the novel too.

Tanghin is a poison, if you are wondering. I was reading about it in my book of poisons and decided that this one was a good one to use.

This book is a rewrite of something I wrote back in 2010 for NaNoWriMo. It is not really a series...it's part of a group of novels that are loosely connected. I mean, extremely loose. If someone has the set of them he or she will be able to read them in any order.

I liked the first draft of this novel but the plot was thin and I knew I could make it better so I'm going to rewrite it. I had made so many changes from the first draft to now that a rewrite would only make sense.

Now a little about Tanghin

Genre: Fantasy/Mystery
Word Goal: 100,000 words
Synopsis: Give me time to write this. I get really nervous about these things.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Since we're getting closer...

I'll probably be posting a lot more. I mean, I'll probably be posting my preparation as I go...and since I don't have a job then I'll be posting quite often. I hope you can handle my chaos.

I have various methods of plotting. While I use Holly Lisle's class a lot, I don't use all of her methods. Everyone has their own style, mine seems to be a chaotic mess of things. You'll soon be getting a glimpse into mine...though you won't see my color-coded bubble maps or my journaling that goes along with plotting and preparing.

...unless you really want to get a glimpse into my chaos...I wouldn't suggest that you do.

It's just a month away

National Novel Writing Month is coming up quickly. I'm still preparing for it though I haven't really been doing much on here. I'm still looking for a job as well. I've got one possible ending picked out  and I have the beginning...sort of. It's still a little uncertain. I've decided to let that part play out itself. There are some events in the middle that are a bit iffy. I'm going to sort through those soon to figure out what I need. I'm not too worried about getting everything ready for the month. I have my jar of writing prompts and some other things that can help me along. I've always been better at winging a good portion of my novel.

As long as I get the basic plot down, I'm good. And I've got the basic plot. I did most of my world building. Really, there isn't much left to do...for this novel at least.

I've decided to try to reach a goal of 300,000 words this year. I believe that was my goal last year but I failed after I finished my first novel.  The two novels I have picked out are both part of a series...but aren't the same series. One is a little more sci-fi while the other is completely fantasy. The three genres I'm going to work at are:

Cyberpunk - First attempt to see if I like it.
Science Fiction (Not Heavily) - Post apocalyptic - no dystopian/utopian societies. It may seem more like a fantasy and can easily be changed to fantasy with a little tweeking. It might change later. Then all of my reasearch and notes will be wasted. 
Fantasy - these novel I've been working on for the last nearly 7 years. I've been fine tuning them and now I have everything I need to create these novels.

I probably won't start a new novel until I finish one.

Sketch #1

Here is a sketch of something that might be in my novel. I can't draw people or wings so this is how it turned out. Yes, I'm aware she doesn't have hands. Hands are my enemy but I did try to draw them. Her hair is orange...the color changed a bit after taking a picture and editing it. I don't really mind it though. The concept of what I was trying to draw is there, so I'm happy.

To color the sketch, I used watercolor paint. I always paint my sketches because my sketch turn out better when I do. I'm much better at painting than drawing. Hopefully with practice I'll get better.

Other than the sketch, I've been working on possible endings. This is how I usually plan my novel. I have the beginning that starts the plot and then I figure out a possible ending. The one I want is a bit dark but it would work really well for what I have planned latter in the novel. Yes, I have an idea for the middle of my novel too but those ideas are very loose. All of my ideas are loose but I'm trying to nail down a few. The beginning for sure needs to stay - at least the concept of the beginning needs to stay. I've got a few characters that might play a role but I'm uncertain.

What I really need to get cracking on is my setting. That's going to be my issue. I can't jump into the novel not knowing something about the world so I have to start building that. Or at least some key things about it. In other words, I've still have a lot to do.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Talecraft Cards

Back of the cards

I ordered these cards about three weeks ago and they finally arrived! Talecraft is a storytelling game from the Philippines that I discovered through an acquaintance. You can read more about them through their site here.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to play with them. I went out to the store to see what kind of phone I wanted to upgrade to. After that, I had to get cracking on some work. I did manage to paint something for my NaNoWriMo novel. So, I still have yet to play with these cards but I'll get right on it.

Front of the cards

Preparing for NaNoWriMo Early

My Prompt Jar

November is approaching and that means National Novel Writing Month. I always look forward to November for this reason. This year will be my 9th participating in this event and I'm hoping for my 9th win.

Since I'm writing something different than I usually write so I need to get started on outlining and plotting. My first task is prompt writing. I have a jar of writing prompts that will help me continue to write. There is a chance when I won't use these but I will keep my jar at my desk throughout November.

I've decided to take my novel Nested, that I started, and write it for NaNoWriMo instead. I started it and decided that I needed to change the P.O.V. but then I decided that I would build onto the plot more before I started writing it. I have a long way to go when it comes to the world too.

Next will be my sketches and some world building. This might take a good chunk of the month if not the whole month.

Music, anyone?

Music. I can listen to my iPod all day if I could and I've done it before. When I'm trying to work something out in my head, I listen to my music. I'm one of those people who can read and listen to music at the same time. I can always remember what I was reading when I listen to an album.

I love The Hush Sound. They will always be one of my favorite bands (Linkin Park will always be my all time favorite band).

And because for some reason, I have to listen to Spinnerette after I listen to Steel Train. I have no idea why.

I could continue but for the sake of some internet speeds, I'll stop at three songs.

Keeping a Journal

I know several people who keep a journal, and they all do it for different reasons. One of my friends does it because her therapist told her it would help her cope with her issues and it will keep her from harming herself. Another friend does it because she wants to remember every freaking moment of her life. There isn't anything wrong with that. It's just...how can she find all this stuff to write about when we live in such a small town where nothing happens?...She probably gets out more than I do.

Just recently, I started keeping a journal. I find it rather...helpful. I stress out about a lot of things and writing in a journal helps me pull myself together. Journaling helps me vent and helps me relax. Since I started this journal writing, I've been able to sleep better.

Another thin I realized is that I've been able to write easier. That writer's block that I battled for so long is no longer an issue. So, I've decided to keep up with my journal. I don't writing about anything in particular, just whatever comes to my head. Trust me, a lot of weird things come to my head. 

For my journal, I like to use a blank Moleskine or something similar to it. I don't just write in my journal, I sketch or doodle. By using a journal with no lines, I don't feel so restricted. Of course, if there is something really big on my mind I like to type it out so that way I can keep up with my thoughts when writing it down.

I kind of wish I had thought of this before now.

Stuck in my Head

I have this stuck in my head. It's a silly song by the Barenaked Ladies that is quickly becoming one of my favorites because of how odd it is. This is a song a certain friend of mine would come up with if she wanted to but I won't encourage her.

It's Coming Along

I haven't been slacking on my writing. In fact, it's been the opposite. I've been writing and outlining. Yeah, I decided to outline. I wrote part of my first chapter which helped me figure out how the rest of it might play out. I say might because my writing likes to change directions. There won't be romance, at least not hard core romance. Maybe a little something in the background but I don't like to base my novels on romance. I'm such an amateur at it and my relationships were pretty bad. Lots of cheating from partners. Currently not interested.

That's not the point of this post. I just got side-tracked by my shitty love life. So, yeah, got the basics down. I started the first chapter. Now I'm going through How to Think Sideways (HTTS) by Holly Lisle (a writing course). Buying the course a year ago was probably the best thing I've done in years. Because of this course I manged to come up with an awesome novel for Nanowrimo. Seriously, I loved my novel from last year. I didn't even have to use a sex scene for filler which is a first in a long time. When I finally edit it, it will be even better.

I'm not saying that HTTS is for everyone because I know it's not but it's something to try.

Anyway, I'm going through HTTS again. I'm on lesson two and decided to make a new "Sweet Spot" map. Weird shit appeared on that thing and I'm still wondering how it ended up where it did but I'll get over it soon.

For my, currently, untitled novel, I'm still deciding on first or third person for point of view. I'm going to try a little of both to see what I like. Right now, my MC is very cynical. Of course, I would be cynical in her situation too. That will change later in the story. She won't always be like that.

So, anyway, I'm getting into my writing. That pretty much sums up the whole post.

A Day of Brainstorming

My brainstorming processes is a bit odd, I admit. I'm happy that Liquid Story Binder has a journal function or else I would have to use a word doc or something like that.

So, first thing I did...

I picked words that were rather random to me.

1. Unknown (Unseen) - two technically but I added the other.
2. Security
3. Birdcages
4. Mysteries

With those words, I began to build my plot. How I do this is strange to me. I practically have a conversation with myself and ask myself questions. I started with unknown/unseen. The first thing I came up with was fear. Fear of whom or what? Eventually, it connected with security, birdcages, and mysteries. In the end, I decided that my novel is going to be a Cyberpunk novel.

I've never written Cyberpunk before. I've read Cyberpunk. I've watched Cyberpunk-like movies but I've never written it before. So this is new for me. I've done some research on it before but I'll still have to look things up here and there as I write.

Yeah, it's going to be a pain in the ass writing a new genre while overcoming writer's block but I think this will be fun. Maybe I'll do some art along with it. That's a maybe, it isn't for certain. I'm afraid that once I start on the artwork, it will take over the writing...I'll just stick with the writing. Between the first draft and the second draft is when I'll start the artwork.

Starting Over

I just deleted every post in my blog. I kept staring at my older posts wondering how in the hell did I mange to get inspiration. Let me be honest, I was hoping that I could get my inspiration back. Unfortunately, it didn't help. I mange to spit out one chapter of several ideas before it falls flat. I'm having a really hard time concentrating on anything right now.

So, I'm starting from scratch. A new clean slate. A new idea that I'm going to push myself to finish. Writer's Block is starting to annoy me. I'm just going to wing it as I go. Normally, I like to plot things out but lately, plotting is as far as I go. I can look at everything I have and NOTHING will come out. Maybe it's just laziness - who knows?

I was going to begin my process of writing right now...but then I saw the time. No wonder why I'm all scattered. So tomorrow I'll be working on my new novel and I will get more than one chapter done. Hell, I'm going to finish the damn novel. Every step I take will be posted in this blog so I can encourage myself to continue.

I'll be up bright and early. It's the best time to write for me.

Until then.