Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Muse
I know I have been quiet about her for a while, but maybe I shouldn't be, as I have started reclaiming some of that life as a writer that I have valued so much I am drifting away from what has helped bring it back. Now I still think about her and hold an image in my mind of her, but I believe in some aspects if I share too much that I will lose that magic.
The Triskelion I am sharing is not mine, I do not know who has the rights to it, but to me it is the perfect symbol of creation and creativity and helps me to Summon Genesis.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Writers Block.
While I have not been here I have still been writing. Working through some of my own stumbling blocks I have gone through my filing cabinet, sorted out my budget and given myself time to get over the flu, now real life aside I am ready to climb back into the dream.
Writing. And writers block. I am a strong believer in logical process, in getting over the hurdle you need to know the cause.
Major blocks; Cookbook.
Writing. And writers block. I am a strong believer in logical process, in getting over the hurdle you need to know the cause.
Major blocks; Cookbook.
- I have the Recipes.
- Some Personal Anecdotes.
- Direction.
- A way to organize. Like a Template.
- Photos.
- I don't know if there is a length I should strive for or if once everything is written and cited I can move on.
- I hesitate because I don't want to accidentally plagiarizer anyone, as I read A LOT.
- I would say Time but anyone can manage a page a day.
- Direction
- Too much time since the last time I touched the project I'm not certain of where I was going. (Started this particular piece my last year of college.)
- Just moved, my notes are out of order.
- Research.
- Stress.
- Personal Life.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Writing Hypothesis: III
So last time we chatted I introduced "Thesis."
Next is the step everyone is familiar with, the one most authors are graded on the hardest.
Plot. A Plot is like the Road-map to a great story.
A good plot should be spanning, convincing, real (yes even in fantasy writing) and dramatic, there should be risk and intrigue with a healthy dose of conflict and the general feeling that success is impossible. But you should still be able to summarize it in less than a page.
Creating a plot can be easily done, but you have to have a discerning eye when reviewing it and writing it. Creating a good plot is not so easy.
I am generally wordier than I have to be at this point, randomly casting in names and general descriptions that can be subject to later change, but it helps keep the words flowing.
Idea: Aliens land in Paris
Thesis: After centuries of studying humans, human biology and human culture, the long lived race from the Cygnus nebula descended on Paris just in time for fall fashion week.
Plot: Lord Cobbe took on his assignment from Queen Pen with reluctance but grace. Handling the odd creatures on Earth was not how he wanted to spend his time. But her reasons were solid, there were resources available on Earth that they needed, and regrettably the people of Earth just were not advanced enough to warrant playing fair.
He would have to take his people in, un-noticed to relieve the previous unlucky Cygnet.
Something must have been missing in their reconnaissance. After centuries of studying humans unnoticed. Human Biology was no mystery. Human Culture was a snore or idiosyncrasy..
Centuries of work, and one single message didn't make it home, costing the Bevy the mission. And it would be up to Cobbe to save the Wedge as the long lived race from the Cygnus nebula descended on Paris. The arrival of the Wedge had to be diverted to an old neighborhood near the Opera House, fortunately obscuring the rest of the Bevy, but Lord Cobbe Anatidae himself was spotted by Evelyn Grace, designer at large.
Forced to masquerade as a Model for the Grace line Cobbe is thrust face first into Fall Fashion Week in Paris.
**Insert Various Tasks for Grace, and duties for the Wedge**
**Inevitable Discovery**
**Love**
**Sheltered by Grace**
**The Great Escape**
**Leaving Grace Behind**
**Trumpeted Out**
**Going Back**
**Getting the Girl**
See how I married, various ideas, introduced thesis all as part of the plot? I will use many different methods, gradually growing it into a story as it is fleshed out. In case you missed it, all of my working terminology is connected to Swans, if you follow that path and decide on a jargon to use when dealing in sci-fi or fantasy it gives a little bit of cohesion to your language choices while sounding just foreign enough to draw in the reader.
Next is the step everyone is familiar with, the one most authors are graded on the hardest.
Plot. A Plot is like the Road-map to a great story.
A good plot should be spanning, convincing, real (yes even in fantasy writing) and dramatic, there should be risk and intrigue with a healthy dose of conflict and the general feeling that success is impossible. But you should still be able to summarize it in less than a page.
Creating a plot can be easily done, but you have to have a discerning eye when reviewing it and writing it. Creating a good plot is not so easy.
I am generally wordier than I have to be at this point, randomly casting in names and general descriptions that can be subject to later change, but it helps keep the words flowing.
Idea: Aliens land in Paris
Thesis: After centuries of studying humans, human biology and human culture, the long lived race from the Cygnus nebula descended on Paris just in time for fall fashion week.
Plot: Lord Cobbe took on his assignment from Queen Pen with reluctance but grace. Handling the odd creatures on Earth was not how he wanted to spend his time. But her reasons were solid, there were resources available on Earth that they needed, and regrettably the people of Earth just were not advanced enough to warrant playing fair.
He would have to take his people in, un-noticed to relieve the previous unlucky Cygnet.
Something must have been missing in their reconnaissance. After centuries of studying humans unnoticed. Human Biology was no mystery. Human Culture was a snore or idiosyncrasy..
Centuries of work, and one single message didn't make it home, costing the Bevy the mission. And it would be up to Cobbe to save the Wedge as the long lived race from the Cygnus nebula descended on Paris. The arrival of the Wedge had to be diverted to an old neighborhood near the Opera House, fortunately obscuring the rest of the Bevy, but Lord Cobbe Anatidae himself was spotted by Evelyn Grace, designer at large.
Forced to masquerade as a Model for the Grace line Cobbe is thrust face first into Fall Fashion Week in Paris.
**Insert Various Tasks for Grace, and duties for the Wedge**
**Inevitable Discovery**
**Love**
**Sheltered by Grace**
**The Great Escape**
**Leaving Grace Behind**
**Trumpeted Out**
**Going Back**
**Getting the Girl**
See how I married, various ideas, introduced thesis all as part of the plot? I will use many different methods, gradually growing it into a story as it is fleshed out. In case you missed it, all of my working terminology is connected to Swans, if you follow that path and decide on a jargon to use when dealing in sci-fi or fantasy it gives a little bit of cohesion to your language choices while sounding just foreign enough to draw in the reader.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Writing Hypothesis: II
Last time we chatted I told you about my "Ideas" File. It occurred to me that not everyone would understand the importance of keeping the idea brief.
In keeping the Idea less than eight words it stays an idea, still a full sentence, but nothing evolved. In a single story I might revisit my "Idea's" several times.
When an Idea takes on a paragraph it becomes a "Thesis", in a thesis you lay out a thought, or argument towards the study of something or an event.
Taking Ideas and developing them into Thesis is a great tool for writing, not just because you can evolve an idea in many different directions but because it gets you thinking, most importantly it gets you writing!
Taking my earlier "Idea":
Idea: Aliens land in Paris
Thesis: After centuries of studying humans, human biology and human culture, the long lived race from the Cygnus nebula descended on Paris just in time for fall fashion week.
You see how that evolved? Beyond an Idea as a Thesis the thought starts to take direction.
When I am having a hard time with my writing I will often visit my "Ideas" file and take one and evolve it in as many directions as I can. When I run out of steam my new collection of Thesis' will be moved to a file labeled "Tidbits" and they might stay there for a long time.
But it keeps me writing, it exorcizes my mind.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Writing Hypothesis: I
In theory writing should be a creative process. And I am aware that
Hypothesis is the step leading into theory, so I titled this series
correctly. It would become theory after other attempted the experiment
with great success. I call it Hypothesis because rarely will you find
two writers who experience success with the same method.
Yes that was a random explanation. Moving on.
Writing formula in progress.
So I'm getting back on track with my writing, personal stuff aside, I am writing may way through it all. As you may have guessed this is another writing tips page, like I was posting in August. Help for other writers as I become more productive.
Some use note cards, or charts, I use lists, and more lists.
I have a file in my cabinet that is, strictly speaking vague ideas with no characters or universe in mind. This list has some ideas that I may revisit or use more than once, but it begins there.
You see the Idea is the embryo of creative process.
Get a notebook or small journal and keep it with you, and jot notes to yourself that you can use later, but if you are drawing a blank, while I did this readily in school when I had my backpack with me everywhere I went. After school it stopped and I was having to wait until I had a free minute to write things down and sometimes that free minute didn't happen and the idea was lost.
That is a miserable place to be, trust me.
To start your idea collection you can borrow idea's shared by others, NaNoWriMo participants are great about sharing plot ideas in the forums, and there are a few great books like 1,001 Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creative Spark: For Fiction and Non-Fiction Writers Who Want to Break Free From Writer's Block and Hone Their Writing Skills. Or one of my favorite ways to break a slump or get ideas going is by taking the first sentence of some article and running it as a start for fiction.
Ideas.
Get started with those bullet points.
Yes that was a random explanation. Moving on.
Writing formula in progress.
So I'm getting back on track with my writing, personal stuff aside, I am writing may way through it all. As you may have guessed this is another writing tips page, like I was posting in August. Help for other writers as I become more productive.
Some use note cards, or charts, I use lists, and more lists.
I have a file in my cabinet that is, strictly speaking vague ideas with no characters or universe in mind. This list has some ideas that I may revisit or use more than once, but it begins there.
You see the Idea is the embryo of creative process.
Get a notebook or small journal and keep it with you, and jot notes to yourself that you can use later, but if you are drawing a blank, while I did this readily in school when I had my backpack with me everywhere I went. After school it stopped and I was having to wait until I had a free minute to write things down and sometimes that free minute didn't happen and the idea was lost.
That is a miserable place to be, trust me.
To start your idea collection you can borrow idea's shared by others, NaNoWriMo participants are great about sharing plot ideas in the forums, and there are a few great books like 1,001 Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creative Spark: For Fiction and Non-Fiction Writers Who Want to Break Free From Writer's Block and Hone Their Writing Skills. Or one of my favorite ways to break a slump or get ideas going is by taking the first sentence of some article and running it as a start for fiction.
Ideas.
Get started with those bullet points.
- It started with an earthquake...
- Solar flare envelops Earth.
- Aliens land in Paris
- A weekend in Ontario
- Out of the cold and onto Jamaica
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Write what you know, cont. So Yeah.....
So I was thinking about my last post, and decided that I needed to amend what I said.
I do not disagree with writing about what you know, but I do think that you need to be creative about it. With the stuff that I was exposed to growing I and my own personal interests I could write an awesome spy novel if I were inclined, but most days I'm not.
That doesn't mean that you don't have the material, just that you need to change your approach.
So like many writers I was looking at what I have done before to find inspiration now, I was stunned its starting to work, the ideas started flowing again like they haven't in years.
But now, like I did then I had a journal with me now and I started writing it all down. If I trusted the internet to keep a secret I would post my idea list here, but I don't so you'll have to imagine a five point bullet list of awesomeness.
I wish I could explain the almost spiritual warmth I experienced when I realized I had successfully started reclaiming my writing.
Having the ideas is just a beginning, I have to develop them. It was when I started scribbling in my Journal that I realized that I have a process.
A formula if you will.
I do not disagree with writing about what you know, but I do think that you need to be creative about it. With the stuff that I was exposed to growing I and my own personal interests I could write an awesome spy novel if I were inclined, but most days I'm not.
That doesn't mean that you don't have the material, just that you need to change your approach.
So like many writers I was looking at what I have done before to find inspiration now, I was stunned its starting to work, the ideas started flowing again like they haven't in years.
But now, like I did then I had a journal with me now and I started writing it all down. If I trusted the internet to keep a secret I would post my idea list here, but I don't so you'll have to imagine a five point bullet list of awesomeness.
I wish I could explain the almost spiritual warmth I experienced when I realized I had successfully started reclaiming my writing.
Having the ideas is just a beginning, I have to develop them. It was when I started scribbling in my Journal that I realized that I have a process.
A formula if you will.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Write What you Know.
Everything that I have read on writing says that you should write about what you know. I disagree, what if what you know is boring? Who will read you? Why write if no-one will read? How do you make a boring topic interesting?
I'm losing track of what I have chatted about here to be honest, so forgive me if we have already discussed this.
I am writing a Cookbook of Heirloom family Recipe's. Which I know I have told you, but I am also writing a book (albeit a short one) on the process of starting and keeping a Diary. Something I have done since I was eleven. Pretty boring subject material, solid thesis not much plot, no story to hold the reader.
The other things I know, I cringe to write about given recent books on the Best Sellers list, I think I'll let Vampires and Werewolves hang out in my filing cabinet for a little while. Elves and Dragons, Wizards and Witches, while I dearly love them I don't know what to do with them.
I was spent the first half of my life in Seattle, the second half in Small Town Utah, now I am living in Historic York, Pennsylvania and working ten minutes from Downtown Baltimore Maryland. Professionally, I am in Customer Service, I am a Wireless Device Expert for a major cell phone service provider (I think I told you this) it is becoming a technologies industry. As a result I know mobile technology and I know people. My Dad is a conspiracy nut, so I know guns and explosives. I am a Witch, as a result I know herbs, rocks, spells and rituals. I am an avid reader so I know books.
Not very exciting.Unless you get creative. With a little research anyone can write about anything.
I'm losing track of what I have chatted about here to be honest, so forgive me if we have already discussed this.
I am writing a Cookbook of Heirloom family Recipe's. Which I know I have told you, but I am also writing a book (albeit a short one) on the process of starting and keeping a Diary. Something I have done since I was eleven. Pretty boring subject material, solid thesis not much plot, no story to hold the reader.
The other things I know, I cringe to write about given recent books on the Best Sellers list, I think I'll let Vampires and Werewolves hang out in my filing cabinet for a little while. Elves and Dragons, Wizards and Witches, while I dearly love them I don't know what to do with them.
I was spent the first half of my life in Seattle, the second half in Small Town Utah, now I am living in Historic York, Pennsylvania and working ten minutes from Downtown Baltimore Maryland. Professionally, I am in Customer Service, I am a Wireless Device Expert for a major cell phone service provider (I think I told you this) it is becoming a technologies industry. As a result I know mobile technology and I know people. My Dad is a conspiracy nut, so I know guns and explosives. I am a Witch, as a result I know herbs, rocks, spells and rituals. I am an avid reader so I know books.
Not very exciting.Unless you get creative. With a little research anyone can write about anything.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Happy New Years!
Okay so I'm a little late. Happy Holidays! Today I am looking at just getting some thoughts in writing.
So... Yeah, New Years resolutions...
On December 26th I went to the doctor, setting up as a new patient to discuss my asthma, and for the first time in my life I had a doctor talk to me about my weight. I know I'm thirty and getting older by the day, I know that for the last five or so years I have been heavier than I have wanted to be, but I thought that was just my vanity. Turns out tipping 200 lbs is when a 5'3" female needs to stop eating.
Now the Doc didn't put it like that, she delicately suggested I give up Soda, drink mostly water and increase my activity. That is a tactful "Dear you need to go on a Diet." Which isn't a real problem, its easy enough to lose weight, or simple but not easy.. For I am a foody. I love to cook and enjoy rich foods, the more flavor the better. Now my portions have never been large, so figuring out the right Diet for me has been fun.
Prepackaged Diets won't work, if I don't enjoy what I'm eating I won't eat.
My doctor outright told me that Fad Diets have really bad rebound rate, with people generally regaining the weight and then some.
So here is what I am looking at, I want to marry a few programs. I skip breakfast and that is a no-no, so I will be doing a slim-fast shake in the morning, I signed up for Weight Watchers two days ago, but for about the last year I have been looking at this book: The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss. You see I am a carb addict and I know that I need help making some choices.
Am I over complicating things?
So... Yeah, New Years resolutions...
On December 26th I went to the doctor, setting up as a new patient to discuss my asthma, and for the first time in my life I had a doctor talk to me about my weight. I know I'm thirty and getting older by the day, I know that for the last five or so years I have been heavier than I have wanted to be, but I thought that was just my vanity. Turns out tipping 200 lbs is when a 5'3" female needs to stop eating.
Now the Doc didn't put it like that, she delicately suggested I give up Soda, drink mostly water and increase my activity. That is a tactful "Dear you need to go on a Diet." Which isn't a real problem, its easy enough to lose weight, or simple but not easy.. For I am a foody. I love to cook and enjoy rich foods, the more flavor the better. Now my portions have never been large, so figuring out the right Diet for me has been fun.
Prepackaged Diets won't work, if I don't enjoy what I'm eating I won't eat.
My doctor outright told me that Fad Diets have really bad rebound rate, with people generally regaining the weight and then some.
So here is what I am looking at, I want to marry a few programs. I skip breakfast and that is a no-no, so I will be doing a slim-fast shake in the morning, I signed up for Weight Watchers two days ago, but for about the last year I have been looking at this book: The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss. You see I am a carb addict and I know that I need help making some choices.
Am I over complicating things?
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