Is it just me or am I going to rejoice in the end of winter?
This winter has been one of the worst I have ever remembered. Once things have finally warmed up, we end up getting another ton of snow. And it's on a day when I was going to be giving a presentation to our college's Writer's Guild.
WILL IT EVER END?!
I swear, I need to write a story about it. Then again, that doesn't make for a bad idea....
WRITER'S TIP OF THE WEEK
Inspiration, it's everywhere. When you get stuck, you need to look at events around you and find a way to exploit it into a story. For example, the snow I am getting up here could be made into a great story (and I'm formulating the idea as I write this).
So, for an exercise, try to write out what is happening in your life. Then, see if you can try to use each one as a title of a story. If you can't seem to get started with it, try writing out more details about each event and see what stems from there.
WRITER'S BLOCK HELPER
The snow poured down upon the ground, calling young James to bed.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"You fail only if you stop writing."
~Ray Bradbury
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Busy, Busy, Busy
It seems like my life is getting full of stuff I have to do anymore. Between school work, volunteering, working on starting a Writer's Guild at the college, work, and writing, I am finding fewer hours in the day to work on everything I want to work on. 5 classes in 1 semester should not be considered full time here. It's filling up my life with a lot of work and I'm just hoping I don't burn out before the semester's over. I'm already about 1/3 of the way through. I just need to push on ahead and finish up.
WRITER'S TIP OF THE WEEK
One way which has kept me sane and on track with my creative writing is scheduling out time to actually write. I really suggest writer's do this every day so they can continue to improve their skills. Isaac Asimov took a 9-5 approach to writing and he had hundreds of books published.
My suggestion for breaking down your scheduled time should be this way.
1/3 for brainstorming
1/3 for writing
1/3 for revising
So, for the first part of your writing time, you should be brainstorming of new stories. This kind of stuff helps to not only build the number of stories you can write (and perhaps sell), but it will help prepare your mind to write and get the creative juices flowing. Then, working on writing will keep the creativity going while changing your focus to a more formal format. Finally, revision is key to ensure the story stays on track, so it goes at the end because there are times you can use new information you may have thought of before to make the story come alive in a different way.
RANDOM SENTENCE OF THE WEEK
The cloak surrounded the dark mage, almost seeming to engulf his very existence.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I wonder sometimes if the motivation for writers ought to be contempt, not admiration
~Orson Scott Card
WRITER'S TIP OF THE WEEK
One way which has kept me sane and on track with my creative writing is scheduling out time to actually write. I really suggest writer's do this every day so they can continue to improve their skills. Isaac Asimov took a 9-5 approach to writing and he had hundreds of books published.
My suggestion for breaking down your scheduled time should be this way.
1/3 for brainstorming
1/3 for writing
1/3 for revising
So, for the first part of your writing time, you should be brainstorming of new stories. This kind of stuff helps to not only build the number of stories you can write (and perhaps sell), but it will help prepare your mind to write and get the creative juices flowing. Then, working on writing will keep the creativity going while changing your focus to a more formal format. Finally, revision is key to ensure the story stays on track, so it goes at the end because there are times you can use new information you may have thought of before to make the story come alive in a different way.
RANDOM SENTENCE OF THE WEEK
The cloak surrounded the dark mage, almost seeming to engulf his very existence.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I wonder sometimes if the motivation for writers ought to be contempt, not admiration
~Orson Scott Card
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Progress!
Yes, progress indeed. I have finished up the rough drafts of two more stories, making 4 short stories now in the revision process. This should be interesting if I can get them all finished by March (I won't know what to submit to Writers of the Future by then). But, at least I am breaking through the barriers of writer's block and working on getting several of my short stories finished. On the other hand, I don't want to get so back-logged it makes revisions into a damned pain.
Which leads me into the writing tip of the week...
Get organized
Yes, I hate to admit to it since I am one of the must unorganized people around, but you need to at least set a game plan on writing and revising them. Without that, you'll end up with tons of rough drafts and an overwhelming revision ahead of you (believe me, it's not fun).
So far, I'm trying to bang out each story's revisions every week. If they need more than one, they just go to the end of the list. Rotation between stories will also help because they will allow your mind to remove itself from the story and, once you get back to it, have a fresh perspective.
Random Sentence of the Week
The cold wind seemed so inviting to Richard, calling him to shut his eyes.
Quote of the Week
"I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it."
~Ray Bradbury
Which leads me into the writing tip of the week...
Get organized
Yes, I hate to admit to it since I am one of the must unorganized people around, but you need to at least set a game plan on writing and revising them. Without that, you'll end up with tons of rough drafts and an overwhelming revision ahead of you (believe me, it's not fun).
So far, I'm trying to bang out each story's revisions every week. If they need more than one, they just go to the end of the list. Rotation between stories will also help because they will allow your mind to remove itself from the story and, once you get back to it, have a fresh perspective.
Random Sentence of the Week
The cold wind seemed so inviting to Richard, calling him to shut his eyes.
Quote of the Week
"I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it."
~Ray Bradbury
Monday, January 31, 2011
Snow Coming to the Midwest
So it looks like my area is going to be dowsed in snow for the next couple of days, so I figured I would end up writing my blog today instead of on the usual Tuesdays. It will probably keep me home for a few days instead of going to class, but I know at least being snowed in will get me caught up on homework but further along on my other stories as well. Currently, I wrote down all of my short story ideas and found I have 30 potential sales (amazing since I have only one which I felt was ready for reading by the WotF judges for this past quarter).
Which eventually leads me into my writing tip for the week. I hate to sound like my High School English teacher in saying this, but this is very true...
DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FIRST DRAFT!
It is easy for us authors to see what we have created and say, "I love this because it's like a child to me." However, we need to remember we need to help raise that child into maturity as well. This is why I always tell other authors there is one important rule in writing. Revision, Revision, Revision. It is here where you hone your ideas from the "Idea Sheet" I posted last week.
As for peer revision, it's a good idea, but do not rely on it too much. If you keep on tapping one person to help you edit your work, it will not be your work but their work as well. You can do it if you're a young writer to find what patterns you fall into (like my long-windedness and telling not showing). However, ultimately you need to be in charge of your works, making the final decisions on what rules to follow and, more importantly, what rules to break.
BTW, last week's sentence caused me to write a few paragraphs on Arthur being the reincarnation of King Arthur and seeing flashbacks of his death with the rain. So, here's next week's sentence:
As the general stood upon the hill, he smiled at the senses which surrounded him.
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster.
~Isaac Asimov
Which eventually leads me into my writing tip for the week. I hate to sound like my High School English teacher in saying this, but this is very true...
DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FIRST DRAFT!
It is easy for us authors to see what we have created and say, "I love this because it's like a child to me." However, we need to remember we need to help raise that child into maturity as well. This is why I always tell other authors there is one important rule in writing. Revision, Revision, Revision. It is here where you hone your ideas from the "Idea Sheet" I posted last week.
As for peer revision, it's a good idea, but do not rely on it too much. If you keep on tapping one person to help you edit your work, it will not be your work but their work as well. You can do it if you're a young writer to find what patterns you fall into (like my long-windedness and telling not showing). However, ultimately you need to be in charge of your works, making the final decisions on what rules to follow and, more importantly, what rules to break.
BTW, last week's sentence caused me to write a few paragraphs on Arthur being the reincarnation of King Arthur and seeing flashbacks of his death with the rain. So, here's next week's sentence:
As the general stood upon the hill, he smiled at the senses which surrounded him.
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster.
~Isaac Asimov
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Writers of the Future Contest
Well, I have entered the Writers of the Future Contest for the second time. Contest regulations dictate I cannot give any details about the story I have submitted, but I can ensure you it is some of my best work. Hopefully I'll hear the news by mid-March.
As for the other stuff I'm writing, I am waiting on one story to finish up sometime this week (I may ask for an editor's take on it, but I think I can get it from here). I can't help it, there are so many universes floating around in this head of mine and it's taking a long time for me to sort them all out and get them down on paper.
Which leads me into my writer's tip for the week. If you get an idea in your head, make sure to jot it down as soon as you get it. You don't need to feel like you need to complete the story right away, but at least get the idea down on paper so it can grow in your mind. This is typically the format I take.
Background - The basic synopsis of the story (what happens)
Setting - The backdrop of the story, such as where and when it takes place.
Characters - Don't be afraid of character names change. A good tool is a name-searching website that gives you the meaning of the different names. Believe me, it helped me find a good name for one story.
Message: If the story has a purpose, make sure you write it down. You would hate to argue with yourself in the story and lose.
Symbols: If you story is going to have a recurring theme, be sure to remember it throughout the story. Don't drop it mid-way through or you will leave your readers (and editors) wondering why you left it out.
And, for the random sentence of the week to write on, try this one on for size.
Arthur stood waiting at the bus stop, wondering when the rain would stop soaking him to the bone.
Quote of the Week
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury
As for the other stuff I'm writing, I am waiting on one story to finish up sometime this week (I may ask for an editor's take on it, but I think I can get it from here). I can't help it, there are so many universes floating around in this head of mine and it's taking a long time for me to sort them all out and get them down on paper.
Which leads me into my writer's tip for the week. If you get an idea in your head, make sure to jot it down as soon as you get it. You don't need to feel like you need to complete the story right away, but at least get the idea down on paper so it can grow in your mind. This is typically the format I take.
Background - The basic synopsis of the story (what happens)
Setting - The backdrop of the story, such as where and when it takes place.
Characters - Don't be afraid of character names change. A good tool is a name-searching website that gives you the meaning of the different names. Believe me, it helped me find a good name for one story.
Message: If the story has a purpose, make sure you write it down. You would hate to argue with yourself in the story and lose.
Symbols: If you story is going to have a recurring theme, be sure to remember it throughout the story. Don't drop it mid-way through or you will leave your readers (and editors) wondering why you left it out.
And, for the random sentence of the week to write on, try this one on for size.
Arthur stood waiting at the bus stop, wondering when the rain would stop soaking him to the bone.
Quote of the Week
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury
Thursday, January 20, 2011
One Small Step for Pen, One Giant Leap for Write-kind
Well, I finally decided to start my own blog. On here, I may post thoughts for the week to consider from story ideas I have.
I will also try every week to help provide a possible cure for the condition of Writer's Block, or WB. Every day, thousands of authors suffer from WB, one of the widest disabling conditions around the world.
Okay, I know, kind of humorous...but, seriously, what I will do is post a sentence and authors are urged to write a short story or poem with the starting line of what I post. Who knows, it may help you break through the Writer's Block of other stories...
Keep on writing my friends,
Michael
Quote of the Week
"I write for the same reason I breathe. If I didn't, I would die." ~Isaac Asimov
I will also try every week to help provide a possible cure for the condition of Writer's Block, or WB. Every day, thousands of authors suffer from WB, one of the widest disabling conditions around the world.
Okay, I know, kind of humorous...but, seriously, what I will do is post a sentence and authors are urged to write a short story or poem with the starting line of what I post. Who knows, it may help you break through the Writer's Block of other stories...
Keep on writing my friends,
Michael
Quote of the Week
"I write for the same reason I breathe. If I didn't, I would die." ~Isaac Asimov
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