Thursday, January 31, 2013

Writing Update #3 - January Wrap Up

January Goals

  • Word Count Goal: 70,302/85,000 
  • Finished 1st drafts: 0/1 
  • Books Read: 6/3 
  • Blog Posts (Every Friday): 4/4 
 I managed to finish half of my goals this month. I didn't know whether or not I could finish a first draft because this novel is so heavy in plot but I'm happy to say that I'm half way through Sea Foam. I'll continue to write it slowly but I think there are some things that I need to go back and fix before I move on. I know exactly where it started to go wrong so if I fix that and a few other minor things, I'll able to finish it soon.

I'm not disappointed that I'm 15k behind. In fact, I'm rather proud of myself for reaching 70k. That's the most I've written in a year. Yes, it's sad, I haven't been writing much. My muse likes to hide from me a few times during the year and I'm too damn lazy to try to find it. Not anymore. I've decided that I'm going to try to make writing a regular thing, even after long work hour. It doesn't matter how much I write, I just want to write something. I do have a story I started on my cell phone that I write while I'm working. Nap times are perfect for that. I have no idea how many words I have from that but I'll transfer it to my computer when I'm finished with it.

So, back to January. It was a good month. I'm breaking out of my shell a little more and starting to comment on people's posts. Slowly, I'll have a little more confidence in replying. Is it sad that I have a hard time posting a reply? I think it is. That's why I'm working on it.

As far as reading goes, I think I've read enough books for both January and February. I didn't mean to go over my goal (which is completely okay) but I just was in the mood for some reading. I wanted something light and funny to take my mind off the pressure I found myself in earlier this month.

I've been pretty good about posting on my blog regularly. I wrote more than 4 posts this month, this post will be the 6th one but I just wanted to post regularly so I wouldn't abandon this blog like I did last year. Trust me, I'm going to try to keep this up.

Overall, January was a pretty good month. I hope this means that I will go back to writing 100k novels within a month but I'm not going to get my hopes up. Things happen. I'll just go with it for now.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting my February Goals and start my newest novel. Those progress meters on the left side of the blog will probably become a long list of my projects. I'll try not to start anything new...but we know that might never happen.


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Writing Day!

I woke up a bit late but today is going to be my day of writing. I'm behind, like usual, but with good reason. I've been busy with actual work. I had orders and I've been working on something else. I have been planning my novel for February. It's a rewrite of the novel I wrote in November, Nested. This is going to be much different though. I'm changing the genre. After putting much thought into it, Cyberpunk was not the best choice for Nested but it was worth a shot.

For now, I'm going to continue writing Sea Foam. That is the only thing I'll be doing...and maybe a little grocery shopping but I need food.

I'm starting today at 57,969 words.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Inspiration is Random



 

Where do you get your initial spark of inspiration? Is it from anything important? What else about inspiration intrigues you? What is your advice to other people to kick start their inspiration? 


I'll try to keep this short and simple.

Inspiration is rather random for me. It comes from everything, even the smallest thing. I was once inspired to write a novel around a necklace that I made. If I’m desperate for inspiration, I look around DeviantArt and look at all of the amazing work posted on there, or I listen to music. I’m a daydreamer and I tend to get caught up in them while music is playing. I have no idea why. The music doesn’t even filter in to my daydreams. Other places I look for inspiration…prompts. Lots and lots of prompts or I use my Tale Craft Cards or my Story Cubes (not so much anymore but I love to play the game with the kids).

I have a love/hate relationship with these random bouts of inspiration. I accept them willingly but they always come at the wrong times. Sometimes it happens when something goes wrong at work or when I’m driving. Inspiration never fails to hit me while I’m in the middle of writing another novel. The best thing I can do is write them down while I can. If not, then I’ll probably forget. Some of the things I come up with have me questioning my sanity. Where do some of these ideas come from?

Everyone has a different way of finding inspiration. My friend takes her inspiration from the History Channel. My other friend gets inspiration from her old relationships – she can create some pretty good poetry from it (not in a Taylor Swift sort of way). Knowing where you can get an idea is always a good place to start. Constantly questioning things can help turn that idea into something more. It’s a method I use with my writing buddies whenever they get stuck. Just start questioning everything. Your muse will start answering eventually. There are tons of ways to help you move an idea forward, you just need to figure out what works for you.

Well...I hope that made sense...

Friday, January 18, 2013

Writing Update #2

January Goals

  • Word Count Goal: 44,621/85,000 
  • Finished 1st drafts: 0/1 
  • Books Read: 6/3 
  • Blog Posts (Every Friday): 3/4 
 I'm getting further into Sea Foam but I have a feeling that this novel won't be finished by the end of the month if I don't pick up the pace. I need some sort of encouragement to help me get by. I've been stressed out lately.

*Rant Warning*
My sister is bothering the shit out of me. She's constantly badgering me about money...all of the time. I've never had an issue when it comes to money. She's just in so much debt that she's taking it out on me. I also think I spoiled her for far too long. My sister had gotten used to me paying for rent or making sure we were up on everything but after I quit my good paying job and started this part time job, she's been getting on my ass about everything.

Every time we talk, it's about money or ways we can make more money. Part of the reason why I don't follow through with the plans is because of her constant nagging. I hate nagging. It's one thing if it's my boss doing it but it's a whole different story when it's my sister.

...I'll cut my rant short. Let's just say, that my novel Doormat Syndrome (Temp title) is all about all the things I had gone through from when I was about 15 years old until now. The Doormat Syndrome has faded a bit after quitting my other job but it seems to have made my sister really pissed off.

I just can't bring myself to care. Is that awful? I'm not sure anymore. I know I'm done letting people walk all over me.
*End of Rant*

Anyway, back to my writing progress. I've been doing really well. I did some plotting today for another story, just to get it out of my system and I'm thinking about doing a little more outlining for my novel novel. It took a turn but it should be a good turn. I can work around it.

I have to get started on the blog post for the WriYe Blogging Circle. I'll probably write it tonight just so I can avoid my sister and the annoying sighs she gives me whenever I don't respond the way she wants me to.

Goodness, my head hurts. Maybe some music will help with that.


Friday, January 11, 2013

Writing Update #1

January Goals

  • Word Count Goal: 21,153/85,000 
  • Finished 1st drafts: 0/1 
  • Books Read: 6/3 
  • Blog Posts (Every Friday): 2/4 
 I just updated my progress meters and I will probably have to do it again tonight before I go to sleep because I'm still writing. Everything is going well with writing. Like I said yesterday, I'm behind. Instead of doing 10k days, I'm cutting it in half to 5k days. It will be easier and I think I'll be able to keep focused until I write 5k.

My novel Sea Foam (temp title) is coming along nicely. I'm actually rather pleased with what I have. There will be some scenes that I'll need to rewrite but I don't think I'll have to go through a huge rewrite like before. Definitely an improvement. Now, I just need to get to the point where my characters meet...It will have to be soon. Probably in the next chapter. I have no idea. I'm going to have to journal to get my muse out of hiding.

I also started two other novels. These ones I probably will work on slowly throughout the year. Doormat Syndrome is a novel that is for my own amusement...kind of. It's based on a lot of real life experiences I had between being a nanny and my dysfunctional family. It's not really a fun-loving story as much as it is a depressing story. My MC is just like me. Doormat Syndrome sucks, just so you know. I had it for some time but I'm getting better since I quit my job. Portland is my last step.

My Untitled novel is that damn romance novel I'm writing for the BOYB challenge on the WriYe forums. I'm taking my dear sweet time with this novel...partically because I have no idea what I'm doing with this. I have some things planned out but not much. I'm trying to create a decent plot for it...I'll probably have to journal about that too.

Hmm...what else. My next blog post will probably be for the WriYe Blogging Circle I joined. I'm just making a note of it here because I'll forget about it. I know I will.

I think my blog needs renovating. I'll probably work on making the headers and icons and whatnot but it won't be finished until later...I wish I paid attention in my AP Comp Sci class. I would have been able to make my blog look just the way I want.

For now, I'll leave you with some music. I was debating on Parachute but I settled on Keane because this song is stuck in my head.


Thursday, January 10, 2013

I've Been Hit!

So, I was supposed to post on here every Friday. Unfortunately, last Friday, I got sick. Nausea, headaches, breathing issues. Fun stuff. I still have the headaches but I'm feeling better. I sleep my sicknesses away usually.

I'm getting really distracted right now...Sorry.

So, I'm behind on my word count for the month. I'm not too worried since I'm starting on having 5 day weekends now! I love 5 day weekends. For today, tomorrow, and Sunday, I'm going to write 10k a day to catch up on my word count. By the end of next week, I should be at 60k and on track!

I did get a lot of planning done and finished my reading goal for the next two months.

I need to remember to update my progress bars...see, distracted.

I'll just leave with a song and come back tomorrow for another post.