Novel, go write yourself

I am so excited about my second novel. It's fun and exciting and completely different from the first one. There's more action and it's definitely got a different feel. I know where I'm going with it in general, though, as always, the characters sometimes take me on pit stops.

So why have I not worked on writing for over two weeks?

It's not writer's block. Like I said, I know where I'm going. I want to get there. If I sit down to write, I know the words will come. But I've been so LAZY lately!

I have always written for fun. When it ceases to be fun, I stop. But I think there's also a point where I have to look at my motivation for NOT doing what I really do want to do. I think a lot of times I get scared. Of what? I'm not sure.

I think I need to be a little more proactive in forcing myself to do things that scare me, even just writing another chapter, which puts me that much closer to finishing and querying and the inevitable rejection that comes with that.

Alright. Time to suck it up and jump back into the world of writing. Here we go!

The Writing Process (Blah blah blah)

Sometimes I'll peruse the blogs of "serious" writers, just to get some inspiration. It helps to read what others are going through and how they're doing things. Often, there is at least one entry on the "correct" way to write. Now, that's not actually fair, because most authors are pretty up front about that fact that it differs from person to person. But there is the occasional blog that will talk about how you MUST do things and you are NOT a writer if you don't do them that EXACT way. Well, that's a bunch of bull-hockey. I have no idea what bull-hockey is, but it sounds dangerous and painful and like a not very well thought out sport.

Anyway. So this is my entry on the writing process. Keep in mind that while I consider myself to be a dedicated writer, I would probably never put myself in a category with the word "serious" in it. Still, what follows is a fairly accurate description of my writing process. Time frame on a weekday: 4pm-12am Enjoy.

- Think about writing. Get excited about next chapter.
- Open computer.
- Open Facebook. Spend time sharing clever witticisms with the world.
- Check email. Move rejections to folder labeled "Nah."
- Open document.
- Play Mah-jong
- Look on instagram. "Like" photos.
- Read last few pages written.
- Check Facebook again.
- Play Mah-jong
- Send an email to Mom about how hard it is to write.
- Check G-chat for friends. Chat.
- Type next chapter heading
- Think of idea for new novel, write a chapter for that one
- Play Mah-jong
- Start a blog about writing
- Write Facebook status about writing
- Research agents and query process
- Write query letter
- Play Mah-jong
- Write (approx 11:30pm)

Yeah. Sadly, that's how I roll. I only make it to the writing if I can stay up that late. Of course, if I start writing, I usually get in the groove and write for a couple of hours, which makes working the next day sort of unbearable. However, since they pay me to work during the day, I can't really call in sick. Much.

As far as structure and planning...I have none. I know. It's terrible. I'm a terrible writer for doing it that way. But seriously, I don't even know what is going to happen half the time! I have a general idea, of course, but I don't always even know which characters are going to turn on the others. Sometimes it just happens. Because my characters are real people. In my head. More about that later...

Where did THAT come from?

It was a lazy Saturday. One free of obligations. The apartment was clean, the weather was dreary, and it was the perfect day to go to the movies alone. I arrived at the theater ten minutes before the movie was due to start. Ahead of me in line was a guy about my age, also going to see Red Dawn alone. At the concession counter, we ordered the same "single person special," and sat seats away from each other to enjoy the movie.

As the movie drew to a close, my bladder decided to make its presence known. With a vengeance.  With the credits rolling, I flashed a regretful smile at my new friend and rushed to the restroom. Stupid liquid. If only I had chosen dehydration instead of the large size drink, things might have been different.

I exited the restroom and made my way to my car. Checking my phone for important missed calls and texts (there were none), I was startled by a knock on the window. It was my movie buddy!

"I looked for you after the movie, but you disappeared," he said after I rolled down the window.

"Oh? What for?" I asked innocently, batting my eyes.

"I noticed you were by yourself. Did you want to grab dinner and talk about the movie?"

I thought for a moment. "Absolutely."

...

Or that's how it might have turned out. In reality, I will never see my movie man again. But it would be a cute meet story, wouldn't it?

People often ask me where I come up with the ideas for my books. I always tell them I really don't know, but recently it occurred to me that most of my ideas really come from real life. From situations, real or imagined, in which I find myself, or hear about from friends. (One of my books is basically a compilation of my friend's dating stories, and those of her friends.) Of course, when I actually write them, I exaggerate or create new dialogue and situations. Maybe I see something happen and I can picture what the interaction might look like in the future, or in the past.

If you've ever people watched, you have probably tried to make up stories about the people you see. That's what writing is. Starting with a random idea for a character and adding your own ideas to their personality, what they would eat for breakfast, how they might interact with their family or friends, how much money they have. And yes, I do use people I know in real life for my stories. Sometimes just their names, sometimes aspects of their personalities. I always fictionalize them. There isn't a single character in a book that is completely like a real person I know. Rather, they are bits and pieces of people, with random other characteristics thrown in.

There are countless stories all around us, just waiting to be written.

What's your story?

Just Write

I have written and deleted several opening lines to this first blog post. That's as good an example as any of being a writer. Trying, and often failing, to find the exact right words to convey a certain feeling or atmosphere. My hope was to open this blog with some inspiring opening statement to hook the reader and want them to read more. Instead, I've started by confessing how incredibly inept I am at doing just that!

I've started this blog to chronicle my journey as I play at being a writer. To share the ups and downs, triumphs and frustrations, as I navigate the uncertain road towards being a published author.

The great thing about this journey is that I have no idea how it will turn out. Just like any story I write, I am on an adventure with an uncertain future. Publishing this blog may be as close as I ever come to the publishing world, but that's okay. I read a blog earlier today written by self-published author, and she titled the post, "Write like no one is reading." I immediately adopted the phrase, with credit to Megg Jensen. To me, a true writer doesn't write to sell books or impress people. They write because it's who they are, what they must do. There are stories and characters and adventures that they must get out.

I have been writing for years, just little things here and there. I've never been brave enough to try to get even a short story published in a magazine. In third grade I won the state of Iowa writing contest for my age group. That is my crowning achievement. The story was called "Jenny the Tooth" and was about a loose tooth that fell out of a girl's mouth and went on an adventure.

I recently finished my first full-length novel, called "Me, My Sister, and I." (This is a working title...I'm not in love with it, but it works for now.) The process of researching agents and submission guidelines for each, writing query letters and expecting rejections has been daunting, but I've found my courage. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

So that is a loose introduction to this blog. I will try to update with my progress on my agent search, as well as on one of the other four projects I have in the works. If nothing else, I'm hoping this blog is something I can look back on to see for myself how far I've come. I hope you'll join me on this journey!