Inspiration or Obligation?

I think I can safely say that, for most of us writers, we feel guilty when we aren't putting our ideas on paper (real or metaphorical). The moment you declare yourself a writer there's this urge to prove that yes, you can write a novel, thank you very much. And no, it's not going to take you thirty years to whip out a draft.

Some people write every day and they can crank out the beginnings of a masterpiece in a month. Their imaginations are a freaking machine. These are the people we're jealous of. Or would be if we let ourselves feel such envious things--or if we weren't already those sorts. (No need to be modest, machines! It's a good type of envy.) 


Others of us have the ideas, but don't have the inspiration. Or we've got the inspiration, but not the ideas. There's always something. But, no matter which way, we take a day off from the MS, perhaps even two or three, until the guilt eats through your insides.

And then comes the sitting in front of blank word documents, struggling to get out whatever we can. Waiting and hoping for the day when our machine moment will come.

Now that I've been working on a different story, I've had less of those obligation days and more inspiration days. I can't say I'm anywhere near being the mental wonder of certain writers, but it's definitely an improvement.

So, what kind of writer are you? Mental machine? Guilt-tripper? Or perhaps somewhere in between?

Also, is anyone else joining the Rule of Three blogfest? It looks like it's going to be fun~ Some of you machines out there could do this in three minutes. :P

Are You a Juggler?

How many of you out there are the type that get yourself completely immersed in one story and have to get at least the first draft written--or hell, have to even get the entire set of revisions completed until it's query ready before you can move onto another story?

And what do you do when you've got other ideas itching at the back of your brain, trying to coax you into spending time with them instead of the characters you've already got dancing around on your temporal lobes? Do you ignore them with a promise of revisiting later? Or perhaps you choose to ignore completely?

I've had another story idea chirping in the back of my mind for some time now. So while I really like the idea of finishing a story before I go onto another one, I've decided that I can handle two at the same time. It's how I've always written when I was younger. Why not now?

It'll be exciting to get this one out, and to see the differences between the worlds in both my stories. Ah~ I'm just excited for it in general! This involved everything that I love the most! Magic, secrets, a backstabbing villain with a sexy voice (that bit is optional :P) and a lot of romance!

Yep. It's about as exciting as winning the lottery on your birthday. (Wouldn't we all like for that to happen?) So how do you like to work? One thing at a time or are you a story juggler?

If only I could juggle in real life too...

What's the Rush?

Yeah, that whole scheduling thing? Not working out so much, haha. But, I've gotta get myself on track somehow! And I'm going to be trying a bit harder at keeping it up. We shall see how it goes....

Anyway, my goal for finishing my first draft before my birthday is just not going to happen. 56k in 11 days? Not going to happen with this lady behind the keyboard. That's over 5000 a day. And even on a good day, I can't manage that much. My peak has been just over 3000. Some people are maniacs and can whip out chapters like nobodies business. They can crank out a first draft in a month. But that's just not me.

Whether I'd like to be fast or not, doesn't really make a difference. I've learned that while yes, people can change it's about as easy as sawing off your own arm. And not all of us have the balls of steel like Aron Ralston. (Would you be able to amputate your arm to save your life like he did? I don't think I'd be able to.) So I've learned to accept the fact that I like to take certain things slow.

Which in this world, just doesn't cut it. Everything needs to be done right now. If you don't cram enough into your day or work at the speed of sound (cause if you work at the speed of light, you're a busybody.) then you're just lazy. If you don't want to finish your book within three months, then do you even really want to get published?

I know I've felt that sort of pressure. If you aren't doing it as quick as you can, then do you really want it? Is your dream of becoming an author really true? Yes. It damn well is true.

My favorite teacher in high school instilled this saying that I've kept with me: Quality, not quantity. Of course, he was talking about plants... but I've found that it can be applied everywhere in life. He should be proud, because three years out of high school I'm still abiding by that motto--even though it's the opposite of the world at large.

So yeah, it's taken me six plots to reach one I'm happy with. And it's taken me about two months to write five chapters. I'm just going to keep at it and when I finish my first draft, I'm going to celebrate because I completed it. Not because I did it before some date.

Not that I'm not going to try to finish it soon, I'd like to, but I'm not going to beat myself up for being a bit of a turtle. Sometimes slow and steady really does win the race.

And even the slowpoke gets a prize at the end.

What type of person are you? Do you like to go, go, go? Or are you the take it easy type?

Getting in the Mood

Into the writing mood that is! There are so many ways to get inspired and get the creativity flowing. It's different for everyone. Sometimes just getting away from your ms and not thinking about it until your muse goes "IDEA!" helps or sometimes looking at pictures sparks the imagination.

But what about when we're actually writing? I know a lot of us play music when we write that goes with the feeling of the scene Action scene, fast paced music. Emotional scene, something with a down beat. I've also heard of people using scents to get into the mood (I've yet to try this one. I'll take any excuse I have to buy more scented candles though. :P) 


Most of the time I have to write to music that makes me happy, rather than listening to music that fits the emotion of the scene. And lately I've been finding that where I am also helps. When I'm at home, if it's sunny (which is a rarity at the moment), I'll take my laptop out back and chill out on the deck--let my legs catch some sun (under 2 layers of 70spf)--and start tapping away on the key board.

Being alone and away from the distractions inside my house help infinitely! There's also just something really inspiring about just relaxing. Feeling the heat--at an astounding 72 degrees F (yes, it's so hot. I'm positively melting.)--listening to the sound of the wind through the trees, chimes tinkling together and the birds. Even the sound of someone mowing their lawn four houses down and a plane with parachuters humming above. Plus seeing all the green! I just can't help but get in the mood when it's like that.

What gets you into the writing mood?

Also, the schedule has changed a bit. It's going to be every Monday and Thursday. :)

Playing the Game

This past weekend was Father's Day. So, like any good daughter would I suffered through an entire weekend of the US Open and the Seattle Mariners vs  the Philadelphia Phillies. (Though it really wasn't all that bad) We mainly watched the US Open--so I at least had some cute boys to watch. (Really.)

like this one: Rory McIlroy

I questioned my dad about terms and players (it makes them feel like you're really interested) and my dad repeated a phrase that I've heard him say a bajillion times. "In golf--even when you're playing against other people--you're really playing against yourself."

And it struck me. Golf and writing are totally siblings from different parents. We all compete against each other for book deals and contracts with agents. No matter how much we love our fellow writerly friends, we still wish to get those before they do. But the most challenging thing about writing isn't getting the contracts, the agents or the deals (though they certainly are a challenge). No. The difficult part is working against yourself to get the idea that's taken over your mind out and into words.

We've got to work against being tired, distractions, writers block, procrastination, our need to be perfect, MC's that don't do as they're told... the list could go on forever.

Of course, some of the obstacles in writing are easy for people to conquer. Others just make us want to cry and bang our laptops against a wall and then cry some more 'cause we just lost all of our work. (Hopefully no one has actually done this!) Either way, we're all working against our own personal challenges to complete the same goal. Writing a novel.

So whether you're the McIlroy of the literary world or the Frederick Jacobson (a fairly attractive swede) or the John Daly (not so attractive middle-aged man), we've all got to play the game and eventually we'll have our time to shine.

Where are you in the ranks?

P is for Pain and Pasts

How many times have you read something where either the protagonist or some secondary character has a really  elusive or painful past? Or where even the world has a dark tinge to its history? Often. Very often, I'm sure. It's one of those things that I don't think writers can really get away from because we have this desire to work our problems out with our characters (sometimes). Or we do it so our characters have an edge to them--something that can be brought back and haunt them for eternity. Do we need it to? Bad people don't always come from bad pasts. And good people don't always come from good.

Is it even possible to have a character without some sort of issue stemming from their past? I don't know. Nor do I think that there really can be. They've got to grow from something, right? Someone being good and getting better isn't something a reader wants. I know I wouldn't want to read that. Talk about boring.

But, do the pasts always have to be painful? I don't think so. Sometimes I think writers (not saying every writer!) make their MC come from abuse or abandonment... or anything else equally unpleasant because they think that that will create more sympathy. And I'd think it's safe to say that it does. But I don't think it's the right kind.

Do we only want our MC's to be sympathized with? Shouldn't we want to have the readers connect so they can empathize?

I also think that some more amateur writers also subject their MC's to a lot of pain during the story itself--not just the past. Sometimes it's okay and they've managed to write a horrible--but amazing--story. Other times it's just so much that I'm left wondering "why???" Firm believer of "Don't kick 'em while they're down." Exception being in the climax--that's where it's supposed to be! Even then though, there is a limit.

When's the last time you read something that was a bit over the top? Did you feel bad for the MC or did you just wonder why the writer hated their character so much?

M is for Magic and Mummies! (Otherwise known as Mommies!)

I'm totally stealing from the British (and where ever else) by calling the female who gave birth to me Mum. I think it sounds so much more fun than mom.  M-awwwwww-m vs M-uhhhhhhhh-m... I like the U better. Anyway. Moms or mums are some of the best people in the world. Perhaps I should save this for May when Mother's Day comes along, but meh. I feel like complimenting mothers everywhere now.

Seriously, there are no bounds to the love moms give to their children--and even other people's children. There's something really special about that bond. So, it makes me wonder: Why is almost every mom in YA non-existent? Especially when majority of the YA out there is from female perspectives. Let's get some maternal guidance in there! (All for fatherly love/guidance, too, but alas--father and dad don't start with m.)


As for magic! Well, I happen to think there's a little bit of magic everywhere. In everything--everyone--we've just got to know how to tap into it. I think that as writers, we definitely have cracked the shell that surrounds magic and are pouring it out, drop by drop. There is definitely something magical about being able to weave worlds, create characters and spin stories--breathe a book into life. (Yes, I did just get happy with alliteration.) 


Really, even if we never succeed in publishing (say it can't be so!) we're still magical for doing something that a lot of people never could--write. So, even when you're doubting yourself--when nothing is going right; getting all form rejections, someone saying your MC was annoying, you haven't written anything good in weeks--just remember that you, a writer, are magical.

Writing moms might be a little more magical than a normal writer, btw. (Dads too.)