A few nights back, after work, I was sucked into the internet. I broke down and read the last 40 years worth
of interviews conducted between the media and Stephen King, including
his family. I have never been a "King Fan" its not a genre that I get
into, I just don't scare easily; aside from that there is something in
his writing style, word use and choices in plot device that are a
literary turn off for me. Though with my most recent move, I have found
myself embracing the art that goes into good horror, mostly because
friends and the new roommate are avid fans, but while I don't enjoy it, I
understand it a lot better. And while I am rebuilding myself I thought
that I would take a look at some parts of the Craft that I have ignored.
'Lo and behold I found that Stephen King wrote an awesome book on the
subject of writing, now I don't normally read this kind of book, but I
have read a lot of things that I generally don't care for, so what does
it hurt? I hated this sort of book in college it felt so pointless and
it was obvious that the same info I learned in the sixth grade was going
to be rambled back at me, on repeat, ad nausea.
So as a sort of double blind I am going to take two books on writing and writing theory both with the end goal of taking rough to published.
The first book is "Writing advice for Teens: Creating Stories" by Mike Kalmbach, he heads up a large writing group in Minnesota as well as several online forums on the subject. I chose this book firstly because it was free with Kindle Unlimited while available for purchase in print and secondly because the tone in his writing is familiar, similar to the tone I use when I write.
The Second book will be "On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft" by Stephen King, a well known author, married to an author and two out of his three children, plus his daughter-in-law are all writers. While there is something in his writing style that turns me off, there is no denying his general success in the field, particularly when weighed against the fact that he holds a degree in the subject.
Wish me luck, as I fully plan on dragging you through these books with me!
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Writing again
Hello there!
I have written many times on my focus of the writing environment, and I have almost finished crafting my writing space to be an inspirational font. I feel that I have to say, no matter what goals you have, you should never let an objective (such as my writing space) interfere with the goal (writing). I certainly haven't, I keep writing and have a few ideas fermenting in anticipation of NaNoWriMo and hope to be able to list a few of my projects on Amazon and Barns&Noble by this time next year.
My writing area now has my Altare Musa assembled, the desk which is a small Parson's Writing Table with just enough space for my laptop, a second monitor and a mouse. As I said before it isn't in a private space so I have to keep things cohesive to my living area but still have some inspirational items around me, it takes creativity. For anyone looking to set up a space for writing, my advise is to first claim the space, decorate it so that you can easily close your eyes and feel like you are in a different place or time. Then include:
A Blank Journal or Notebook - this is to represent all the stories that have never been written. Its handy when you are at the point of starting something new. Just pick up the book, flip through its pages and visualize it full of words, run the gamut, when you have that oh so important first sentence figured out, turn back to your computer, type writer, or the paper that you will actually be writing on and begin to scribe.
A Notebook - This one is for general use, so you can take it with you and even write those first words in it.
A Catty of 3x5 Index cards - You can use these to scribble odd ideas or plot points on, maybe even ideas you have for new characters.
An 8x10 picture frame - This is for your current project, the internet is full of pictures. Find one that starts those gears turning, something that acts as a visual queue for what you are writing and print it out. This is particularly helpful if you don't have a window, or if your view is lousy.
The Writers Block - You read all over the internet "writer's block is what happens when your imaginary friends won't talk to you." (Mary Papas) it is really the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. In other words Ennui "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement" is what we creative types are experiencing. To represent the Block keep something heavy and solid at hand, a block of wood, a brick, a rock (or pet rock), or even a crystal ball. This gives you that reminder that when things start to slow down you should get up and do something before they grind to a halt, additionally if writers block does set in you can remove it from your desk as a physical way of removing a psychological barrier, and in the case of the block of wood you might even think about burning it, or with a rock you might take it out and toss it in a lake, the crystal ball I would just move to another room for a while. My mother quotes Ruth Burke at us kids all the time "Only boring people get bored" so have a plan for when you need to change it up.
An Anatomy Doll - Like the pose-able kind artists have. These figures have uses a mile long, first when you have a lull in writing you have something you can do with your hands, second you can name it and talk through whats going on, get that silent second opinion and three it will give your desk a point of interest so people who poke around won't always be reading over your shoulder.
I have written many times on my focus of the writing environment, and I have almost finished crafting my writing space to be an inspirational font. I feel that I have to say, no matter what goals you have, you should never let an objective (such as my writing space) interfere with the goal (writing). I certainly haven't, I keep writing and have a few ideas fermenting in anticipation of NaNoWriMo and hope to be able to list a few of my projects on Amazon and Barns&Noble by this time next year.
My writing area now has my Altare Musa assembled, the desk which is a small Parson's Writing Table with just enough space for my laptop, a second monitor and a mouse. As I said before it isn't in a private space so I have to keep things cohesive to my living area but still have some inspirational items around me, it takes creativity. For anyone looking to set up a space for writing, my advise is to first claim the space, decorate it so that you can easily close your eyes and feel like you are in a different place or time. Then include:
A Blank Journal or Notebook - this is to represent all the stories that have never been written. Its handy when you are at the point of starting something new. Just pick up the book, flip through its pages and visualize it full of words, run the gamut, when you have that oh so important first sentence figured out, turn back to your computer, type writer, or the paper that you will actually be writing on and begin to scribe.
A Notebook - This one is for general use, so you can take it with you and even write those first words in it.
A Catty of 3x5 Index cards - You can use these to scribble odd ideas or plot points on, maybe even ideas you have for new characters.
An 8x10 picture frame - This is for your current project, the internet is full of pictures. Find one that starts those gears turning, something that acts as a visual queue for what you are writing and print it out. This is particularly helpful if you don't have a window, or if your view is lousy.
The Writers Block - You read all over the internet "writer's block is what happens when your imaginary friends won't talk to you." (Mary Papas) it is really the condition of being unable to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing. In other words Ennui "a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement" is what we creative types are experiencing. To represent the Block keep something heavy and solid at hand, a block of wood, a brick, a rock (or pet rock), or even a crystal ball. This gives you that reminder that when things start to slow down you should get up and do something before they grind to a halt, additionally if writers block does set in you can remove it from your desk as a physical way of removing a psychological barrier, and in the case of the block of wood you might even think about burning it, or with a rock you might take it out and toss it in a lake, the crystal ball I would just move to another room for a while. My mother quotes Ruth Burke at us kids all the time "Only boring people get bored" so have a plan for when you need to change it up.
An Anatomy Doll - Like the pose-able kind artists have. These figures have uses a mile long, first when you have a lull in writing you have something you can do with your hands, second you can name it and talk through whats going on, get that silent second opinion and three it will give your desk a point of interest so people who poke around won't always be reading over your shoulder.
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