Derailing from your dreams is a very easy thing to do when there are so many distractions.
I can't think of anything to write, and when I have an idea it eaither seems stupid to me or I can't develop it. Maybe I'm just sitting around waiting for an idea to just drop on my lap and for it to be perfect without me even trying. That's me lying to myself, because I know that won't happen. Just because it happened to J.K. Rowling, it does not mean that it would happen to me.
I haven't written anything at all in a LONG time. I am full of excuses. School, no ideas and "I have a life" are just the beginning of it. And come to think of it "I have a life" is not a good excuse at all. I want writing to be my life, but I'm not doing it.
I have to find again, the dream that I lost.
GMH Story
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Saturday, March 06, 2010
With the help of Twitter
I'm so excited! I don't know exactly why I shouldbe since I don't have anything ready, but I am.
I decided who I'm going to submit my first book to (when I finsh it)so that she can be my agent. I won't say who, but the fact that now this makes day dream about how cool it would be if my book was picked up.
And I found her through twitter. I find that so funny!Since I follow a lot of YA writers on twitter they sometimes recommend their agents and then I follow them. So while I was at work today I went to their websites. I actually got a lot of information of a querie letter should be written and submitted. I've also learned a lot about the publishing process. Never thought I'd get so much out of Twitter. If my book actually gets picked up by someone I found on Twitter, my boyfriend should never say anything against Twitter ever again! :p
....Now to write a book...
GMH
I decided who I'm going to submit my first book to (when I finsh it)so that she can be my agent. I won't say who, but the fact that now this makes day dream about how cool it would be if my book was picked up.
And I found her through twitter. I find that so funny!Since I follow a lot of YA writers on twitter they sometimes recommend their agents and then I follow them. So while I was at work today I went to their websites. I actually got a lot of information of a querie letter should be written and submitted. I've also learned a lot about the publishing process. Never thought I'd get so much out of Twitter. If my book actually gets picked up by someone I found on Twitter, my boyfriend should never say anything against Twitter ever again! :p
....Now to write a book...
GMH
Too late for the old-fashioned way
I've said before that I reallly like writing the old fishioned way on pen and paper (hence the name of my blog), but lately I've come to realize that doing that is so inpractical.
I knew that it wasn't efficient before and I always realized I would sooner or later have to move everything to an electonic file, but as things have started piling up, the prospect of doing so looks less inviting than ever.
Writing on pen and paper renders my work useless because in this day and age no agent is ever going to look at my stuff if it so inconvenient to read. I can't e-mail it and my handwriting is so sloppy even when I try my hardest to make it look neat. Putting everything I've written on a word document also takes up so much valuable time that could have been better spent on writing new material. Yes, having to re-write everything could help in the editing process, but when it comes to it not even I can read my own hadwriting!
When I start writing thoughts come to me faster than I can translate them into written word so my handwriting gets sloppier and sloppier as I go, and typing on a keyboard is a lot faster.
And now in result of my love of outdated methods I am faced with the reality of having to write on a computer all the time.
At least I have one readily available at work, and my laptop, although not as lightweight as my notebook, is not too hard to carry around school with me.
This weekend I will be moving everything from my notebook to my flashdrive...hours well spent.
I like close calls They always make me appreciate my life even more.
P.S. I have created an account at goodreads.com I haven't done much to it yet, but I will be writing reviews on some of the books I've read. Looking forward to it.
Later!
I knew that it wasn't efficient before and I always realized I would sooner or later have to move everything to an electonic file, but as things have started piling up, the prospect of doing so looks less inviting than ever.
Writing on pen and paper renders my work useless because in this day and age no agent is ever going to look at my stuff if it so inconvenient to read. I can't e-mail it and my handwriting is so sloppy even when I try my hardest to make it look neat. Putting everything I've written on a word document also takes up so much valuable time that could have been better spent on writing new material. Yes, having to re-write everything could help in the editing process, but when it comes to it not even I can read my own hadwriting!
When I start writing thoughts come to me faster than I can translate them into written word so my handwriting gets sloppier and sloppier as I go, and typing on a keyboard is a lot faster.
And now in result of my love of outdated methods I am faced with the reality of having to write on a computer all the time.
At least I have one readily available at work, and my laptop, although not as lightweight as my notebook, is not too hard to carry around school with me.
This weekend I will be moving everything from my notebook to my flashdrive...hours well spent.
I like close calls They always make me appreciate my life even more.
P.S. I have created an account at goodreads.com I haven't done much to it yet, but I will be writing reviews on some of the books I've read. Looking forward to it.
Later!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Essay contest
At school this month they are having an essay contest. The promt is "How I've positively influenced someone's life". The prizes are, $150 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third, and I've decided to enter!
I wrote the essay this morning at work. Turns out the first draft only took half an hour. Now there's a lot of editing to do!
For starters I can't even enter my essay yet because it is too long. I had gone between 50 to 75 words over the maximum word count of 750, and after some changes I went down to only nineteen words above. The funny thing is, I suspected that was going to happen. I always get carried away! Only once or twice have I had problems meeting the minimum word count.
I also don't like one of the paragraphs or the conclusion. They get the message across, but I don't like the way I wrote them, so I gotta re-write those. That's what writing is about anyways, editing. I've heard of a couple of writers give the same advice: never be happy with your work,you can edit and edit and edit and always get it to be better.
Now depending on the outcome two things will happen. Either A) I will win, even if it's just third price and I will feel SO unbelievably good about my writing. It would kind of be like proof to me that it's not just in my head, I might actually have a talent for this(Also getting at least $50 for such a short essay seems amazingly cool to me). Or B) I will lose and I will shrug my shoulders and take it. Choosing to be a writer for a living is taking a huge risk, and rejection is something I have to get used to. I just hope I am actually able to just accept it if I lose.
And to encourage me that things are possible through perseverance
Wish me luck!
I wrote the essay this morning at work. Turns out the first draft only took half an hour. Now there's a lot of editing to do!
For starters I can't even enter my essay yet because it is too long. I had gone between 50 to 75 words over the maximum word count of 750, and after some changes I went down to only nineteen words above. The funny thing is, I suspected that was going to happen. I always get carried away! Only once or twice have I had problems meeting the minimum word count.
I also don't like one of the paragraphs or the conclusion. They get the message across, but I don't like the way I wrote them, so I gotta re-write those. That's what writing is about anyways, editing. I've heard of a couple of writers give the same advice: never be happy with your work,you can edit and edit and edit and always get it to be better.
Now depending on the outcome two things will happen. Either A) I will win, even if it's just third price and I will feel SO unbelievably good about my writing. It would kind of be like proof to me that it's not just in my head, I might actually have a talent for this(Also getting at least $50 for such a short essay seems amazingly cool to me). Or B) I will lose and I will shrug my shoulders and take it. Choosing to be a writer for a living is taking a huge risk, and rejection is something I have to get used to. I just hope I am actually able to just accept it if I lose.
And to encourage me that things are possible through perseverance
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Caring
I had a horrible day at work about a week ago. I have a horrible tendency to get in a bad mood about everything once something upsets me. So I ended up taking it out on my usual target: my boyfriend
After the fighting and the crying (yes, I'm a huge cry-baby) we finally talked.
He pointed out something very smart to me, (as is usually the case with him).
He says that I care too much, and not just about the customer who is being mean to me or people leaving their carts in the handicapped spot (how heartless can you be?!), but that I care too much about the small things.
I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting people to be a bit more civil to each other. But it turns out that that is exactly what is making my life harder. I don't let it all just roll off my shoulder.
Either way, I read this Gives Me Hope story today that reminded me of just that. Small things like this are what's going to change the world.
After the fighting and the crying (yes, I'm a huge cry-baby) we finally talked.
He pointed out something very smart to me, (as is usually the case with him).
He says that I care too much, and not just about the customer who is being mean to me or people leaving their carts in the handicapped spot (how heartless can you be?!), but that I care too much about the small things.
I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting people to be a bit more civil to each other. But it turns out that that is exactly what is making my life harder. I don't let it all just roll off my shoulder.
Either way, I read this Gives Me Hope story today that reminded me of just that. Small things like this are what's going to change the world.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Quick post from class
Hi! It's been exactly a month. I've had plenty to think about and loads to write. I just don't have the time to write it!
The thing fresh in my mind right now is desperation. I am suffocating. I need a new job. I can't stand it anymore. I started looking for a new one but I was halfway through that when something struck me.
Why don't I just try to get a job as a writer? It's what I love doing and I wouldn't have to deal with customers like I do now (I hope). I could do that even if I'm not quite ready to publish a book yet.
So I went online and found a couple of sites that pay people for writing article for them. I haven't writen anything yet. I'm still trying to figure out how it works, but I'll get there.
Also, I started writing a new book. This time not a fantasy, but somethinga little bit more serious. It's about a girl in an abusie relationship who decides to get out and have adventures.
I haven't got much yet or worked all the details out, but I'm excited about it. I like it.
GMH:
When feeling hopeless.
Ok, time to get back to class. I will try to post more often
The thing fresh in my mind right now is desperation. I am suffocating. I need a new job. I can't stand it anymore. I started looking for a new one but I was halfway through that when something struck me.
Why don't I just try to get a job as a writer? It's what I love doing and I wouldn't have to deal with customers like I do now (I hope). I could do that even if I'm not quite ready to publish a book yet.
So I went online and found a couple of sites that pay people for writing article for them. I haven't writen anything yet. I'm still trying to figure out how it works, but I'll get there.
Also, I started writing a new book. This time not a fantasy, but somethinga little bit more serious. It's about a girl in an abusie relationship who decides to get out and have adventures.
I haven't got much yet or worked all the details out, but I'm excited about it. I like it.
GMH:
When feeling hopeless.
Ok, time to get back to class. I will try to post more often
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
My new unexpected lesson
This semester I I'm taking an Acting I class as an elective. I chose it because I figured it would help maybe come out of my shell at least a little bit. Today on only the second class, I got an idea.
Me and a group of another 4 kids had to act out a scene. The first time we did we only did what the teacher told us to do verbatim, then he told us a little bit about the character we were suppossed to be playing, and when we did it again there was huge change in the scene. We knew a little bit more about what to say, or how to react to the other characters' lines.
This got me thnking. What if I start small?
What if I first create a character? And get to know this character?
Maybe I'll identify better.
Then I could add the story, and then other characters. Maybe the story will flow better if I try to become the character rather than be the puppeteer.
I'll give that a try, see how it works out. I just wish I had more time to wrote. I seriously have not in a WHILE. Not even the required page a day. This is why I never get anything done. I'm always too "busy".
Doing what? Twitter? I have got to get my priorities straight.
OK
Gives me hope story for the day
Good night
Me and a group of another 4 kids had to act out a scene. The first time we did we only did what the teacher told us to do verbatim, then he told us a little bit about the character we were suppossed to be playing, and when we did it again there was huge change in the scene. We knew a little bit more about what to say, or how to react to the other characters' lines.
This got me thnking. What if I start small?
What if I first create a character? And get to know this character?
Maybe I'll identify better.
Then I could add the story, and then other characters. Maybe the story will flow better if I try to become the character rather than be the puppeteer.
I'll give that a try, see how it works out. I just wish I had more time to wrote. I seriously have not in a WHILE. Not even the required page a day. This is why I never get anything done. I'm always too "busy".
Doing what? Twitter? I have got to get my priorities straight.
OK
Gives me hope story for the day
Good night
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