I haven't done much work on my novel recently (bad Charlene, I know), mostly having a case of writers block; I don't have any dialogue to write or really know how to get from point A to my point B, and between how hectic my life has been and my own personal problems I haven't been able to do much anyway.
A week ago I picked up a collection of Urban Fantasy short stories to read then decided after indulging in a few that I wanted to try my hand at one myself. I've already been wanting to try writing a short story anyway and it seemed like the time to try something different. I don't know how it will come out or if any magazine or contest will accept it but at the least it will let me know whether I'm as good as others tell me I am, or if I need a lot more experience before I can have a work submitted.
So, what does everyone else write? Novels? Shorts? Just share you experience here if you like.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Buckling Down
I haven't posted anything in awhile, what with me having nothing post-worthy, haven't done much writing either...well untill today that is.
I've been alternating between writing four novels and revising one (well not so much writing as wasting time staring at a blank page), but I've been doing some thinking and I think I may try to devote the majority of my writing time (which is limited now, with all the procrastination and lack of motivation) on Serpenttongue and Wanted, as they're the two I feel the strongest about completing with possibility of submitting to agents. The other two will take some definite work.
I surprised myself, it was slow work (somewhere around five hours) but I managed 1,800 words of Serpenttongue today, which is saying something for me, as I just finished spending weeks not writing a word. I'm now to 44 single spaced pages and possibly a chapter or two away from what I consider to be the middle (or close to the middle) of the novel.
I am a little worried though, 25,000 words is pretty far away from being novel length...I can't help but wonder if I have enough ideas to make it to novel length.
I've been alternating between writing four novels and revising one (well not so much writing as wasting time staring at a blank page), but I've been doing some thinking and I think I may try to devote the majority of my writing time (which is limited now, with all the procrastination and lack of motivation) on Serpenttongue and Wanted, as they're the two I feel the strongest about completing with possibility of submitting to agents. The other two will take some definite work.
I surprised myself, it was slow work (somewhere around five hours) but I managed 1,800 words of Serpenttongue today, which is saying something for me, as I just finished spending weeks not writing a word. I'm now to 44 single spaced pages and possibly a chapter or two away from what I consider to be the middle (or close to the middle) of the novel.
I am a little worried though, 25,000 words is pretty far away from being novel length...I can't help but wonder if I have enough ideas to make it to novel length.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Life Experiences
I was reading a chapter in the Characters and Viewpoint book yesterday that talked about pulling from life experiences for your story. Sure, it was talking about life experiences to use for character development, but it still made me think.
It's interesting that I'm revising a story I first wrote years ago (and haven't revised or read for over a year or so) and there's a scene where one main character gets hit by a car and the others go to see her in the emergency room. Because of experiences within the past year revolving around the emergency room of hospitals I can fill more information into this scene to make it more believable (or even relate now). I never thought when I wrote that part that I would ever be in a situation similar to it in the future.
It's interesting that I'm revising a story I first wrote years ago (and haven't revised or read for over a year or so) and there's a scene where one main character gets hit by a car and the others go to see her in the emergency room. Because of experiences within the past year revolving around the emergency room of hospitals I can fill more information into this scene to make it more believable (or even relate now). I never thought when I wrote that part that I would ever be in a situation similar to it in the future.
Something New
I haven't been able to post anything in some time, been either busy or um...we'll say under the weather, so finding something to say is a little difficult.
I can say that I finally managed to check out a few books from the library to help with my writing, one of which is Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, I find it very helpful.
What surprises me is how much of it I was already attuned to unconsciously. I don't know how I obtained the information as this is the first book on writing I have ever read in my life, but it's there. It makes me wonder if in some way I'm picking up on these skills through just reading novels somehow, which amazes me that the mind would be capable of that.
I'm certainly going to continue reading this book, and when I get the money buy it for myself. Hopefully that book, along with the other one on syntax, and the editing class I plan on taking next month will help me in all the areas I've been needing work with.
I can say that I finally managed to check out a few books from the library to help with my writing, one of which is Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card, I find it very helpful.
What surprises me is how much of it I was already attuned to unconsciously. I don't know how I obtained the information as this is the first book on writing I have ever read in my life, but it's there. It makes me wonder if in some way I'm picking up on these skills through just reading novels somehow, which amazes me that the mind would be capable of that.
I'm certainly going to continue reading this book, and when I get the money buy it for myself. Hopefully that book, along with the other one on syntax, and the editing class I plan on taking next month will help me in all the areas I've been needing work with.
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