Juggling September 27, 2007

Okay, I am a spasmodic blogger at best.

I’ve been trying to juggle school and writing. I consider writing part of school, but since someone is actually pushing deadlines on me at school, that sort of takes priority. *sigh* But I miss my writing.

My WIP in progressing slowly. I am not yet sure how long it will be, but I do know it will be at least 50,000 words (a rather short novel). So my word counter is set at that. After I reach that, we shall see.

I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I plan on teaching with my English degree once I’m finished. To be honest, I hadn’t expected that, and I almost recoil in horror at the thought. Teaching my own kids – sure. That’s a big reason for actually getting an accredited degree. But teaching in a school setting? Please spare me. I’ve never, ever, wanted to be a teacher. I don’t have the patience required for dealing with kids that really don’t want to be in your writing/literature class. Those that live for that class – great. I like being with those kind. But those are far and few in between. Absolutely not. I will NEVER be a teacher. Oh wait. Never say never. Umm…okay….I certainly HOPE I’m never a teacher. 

Rant over.

I dislike working on a book from an outline. It takes away some of the creative outlet of the whole thing, at least in my case. Even though I try to work in sequence, I inevitably find that my mind races ahead of my typing fingers, and sometimes I just have to jump ahead on the timeline and scribble out that particular scene that won’t leave me alone. Then after I do that, I find myself wondering if everything I thought needed to be in between really needs to be there. After all, if I find it boring to write, won’t the reader find it boring to read?

Possibly not. I know my characters, because I created them. I know their motivations, I can see their faces, watch their actions.

My reader cannot do this. So there are some things – boring writing – that simply must be filled in, or I will lose the reader. This is why good writer friends are necessary – they can point out places where you have assumed the reader knew your character as well as you did.

Motivation September 7, 2007

“If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow.” ~ Louis L’Amour

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Thanks to Victoria. Great motivation to start writing, even on a day I don’t feel like I’m “with it.”

Middle Names September 5, 2007

I was tagged by Michelle. So here goes!

WHAT’S IN A NAME?1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.

4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

 M – Musical. I love music, both listening to it and playing it myself.

A – A***. My sweetheart’s name begins with this letter. ‘Nough said. J

R – Reading. I’ve loved to read ever since I could read. So much that as I was growing up, being grounded from reading was the WORST punishment my parents could bestow on me.

Y – Young. I constantly hear exclamations about 1) how young I look or 2) how young I am. It gets tiring.  

Um, I don’t know enough people to tag! LOL. So… 

M – Um, no one there…

A – Alessandra. Though I doubt she’ll do it, as she appears to have abandoned her blog.

R – No one here either….

Y – How often would one come across a person whose name began with a Y, anyway?

Tired Brain September 4, 2007

I am almost done with that article for the Guild lesson. However, I don’t think what it’s turning out to be is exactly what they had in mind. *sigh* Oh well. I tried, honestly I did. And, as a result, my brain feel like it cannot function at all right now. Chocolate, running, and music are about the only things that I think would help. Um, hmm. Those don’t seem to belong in the same sentence, but oh well. It’s MY sentence.

See what I mean about the tired brain???

I think I’ll clean my room and blast some music. That should help. Then I can finish the article and send it on its merry way.

Back to School September 3, 2007

Well, school has been back in session for a week. I’m taking a rather unconventional approach to college (see the CollegePlus! website if you’re interested), one that will hopefully allow me to complete an entire Bachelor’s in less than a year and a half. No, it is not a “purchased” degree. I will learn everything other people in my major learn, but by using accelerated learning techniques I will greatly speed the process and save a lot of money.

But, as for writing – I am currently groaning over my next Guild assignment. A seasonal article (i.e., one centered around some aspect of a certain holiday). In my opinion, most holidays are greatly overrated. Even Christmas. Yes, I know I’m going to get a reputation as a cynic, but that’s just too bad. I love celebrating my Savior’s birth, and His resurrection, but they have been so incredibly commercialized that I don’t typically associate worship and fellowship with them. Holiday = hassle. Blegh. Anyway…I need to find some way to get around this. I doubt my mentor will let me get away with, “I really don’t like holidays, so I’d like to write about something else instead.” Which is good. Getting out of my comfort zone is what I need.

I’ve been tossing the idea around of writing a “practice novel.” A practice novel being, one that I have no intent of ever publishing, merely one used for the practice of writing so many words a day, reaching my goal, finishing the plot, and revising it. A big waste of time? I don’t think so. I need to know that I can finish a novel-length work. I also need to rid myself of the pressure of “no one’s going to want to read this!” and “this is so dumb the publishers will laugh in your face.” So we’ll see how this goes…