Category: Thoughts and Ramblings

Making the count…

So, almost every day since early January, I’ve been posting Facebook status first thing in the morning. Since getting my new office job, I’ve been waking up first thing in the morning, writing and posting my word count.

Usually, I shoot for around 400 words or so. I do my best to stay positive about it, even on days when I don’t make my goal. I do my best to try and write a coherent story, working on one project. Some days I can only manage an out of place scene or a character sketch. More often, I make a continuation of the same story from the day before. Either way, I feel that having that time first thing in the morning is important for my mental health and my creativity.

But why post it on Facebook? What does a daily number mean in an endless stream of updates, photos, links and humble bragging (myself included)? I don’t use it to track my total word count or judge the quality of my work. So why do it?

One of the most important things when writing is accountability. It’s easy for me to say I’m gonna sleep in for the morning and skip my day, but people notice now. I once had my mother text me when I didn’t post a word count to make sure I was still alive (her words).

As I’ve been doing this, I’ve been seeing the same likes and comments and realized that I have a personal community that is supportive and encouraging. And, in an endeavor that’s primarily done in solitude, it’s a good feeling to have visual confirmation that friends and family are supporting you.

So, whether you have a Facebook or Twitter, I encourage you to celebrate your small victories. Cause working alone is hard, but the beauty of social media is having people to celebrate small victories with you. And those build up pretty quick into bigger victories!

Life through a lens

I have a lot of creative hobbies. I write, obviously, I doodle and I draw maps. I (attempt) to play the ukulele and, in my past, I used to do theatre and improv. Most frequently, however, I like to grab my camera and take some pictures.

All of the pictures I use connected to my blog posts or short stories are my own. I like taking pictures to help remember other senses. Taking pictures of the ocean, I can always recall the smell of sea air, the spray of salt water, calls of seagulls in distance and a dozen other sensory details that could easily fit into a scene. My favorite subject is wildlife, especially wolves (if you hadn’t noticed).

Here are a few photographs I’ve taken over the years. Some might seem familiar, but I hope you enjoy them all the same.

 

For the Non-Chatty Commuter

I’ve always been very jealous of anyone who could read in the car. I got motion sickness when trying to focus on anything in a moving vehicle. As I’ve gotten older, I listened to music in the car and eventually podcasts. I’m not what people would call a “chatty commuter”.

Recently, I’ve started listening to audiobooks that I’ve borrowed from the library while on my commute to downtown. Altogether, my normal commute takes an hour each day either way. The library here in Seattle uses the Overdrive program, so I can download books and keep them on my phone and enjoy listening to a novel as I’m coming or going from work. Most recently, I’ve listened to The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and it was wonderful (a good choice since it reads so much like an adult fairytale). As of right now, I’m listening to Fledgling by Octavia Butler.

I don’t know which I retain better, but I certainly feel like I’m doing more reading during the week. When I only have 30-40 minutes on my lunch break or a few minutes as I’m drifting off to bed, I feel like I’m enjoying more stories on a regular basis. I’ve heard that there’s no real difference between reading a paper book versus listening to audiobooks. but there are those who argue there’s a difference. Either way, for me, audiobooks make the commute in the morning one of the better parts of my day.

The Force of a Habit

So recently, a lot of things have been changing around here. Previously, I had been working at a technology center in a university store. However, this past week, I started my new job in an office cubicle (I’ll spare you the gritty details). This has been, needless to say, a big and scary transition for me coming from a place where I’ve never had a job with my own chair, let alone a desk! It’s still on a temporary basis, but it has the possibility of leading to a full-time position. However, one of the things that haven’t changed is something I’d like to talk about this week. It’s about making writing a habit.

I try to make it a point to write every day. Even if I only write a couple hundred words, I always make it a point to write something before I call it a night. Usually, this means waking up fairly early in order write before work. I wake up at 5:30, go through my morning routine and prepare a lunch. I’ll then spend whatever time I have left on my writing (usually about an hour or so I can dedicate to it). Unsurprisingly, this is usually the best part of my morning.

I have a system. After my lunch is packed, I brew a cup of tea, sit at my kitchen table and write with some music on in the background. It’s a simple set up, but the morning time can be some of my most productive time in the day. When I have to leave, I’m usually considering the next scene on my bus ride to work and consider problems and alternative solutions on my lunch break.

Making your writing time a habit (a ritual even) is important. On a subconscious level, doing the same thing each day sets your brain in the right place when that time rolls around again. On the days that I don’t have to go to work, I’m most prepared to write first thing in the morning. I’ve also started the habit of carrying a small notebook with me for when I think of those problems/solutions on the bus (as well as the occasional one-liner).

One of the most popular lies we tell ourselves is “I don’t have time for XYZ.” And in fairness, we don’t always have time for the XYZ in our lives. But if it really matters to you, sometimes the only thing you can do is become a morning person, grit your teeth and do it until it becomes a habit. Because I’ve found that these start as habits until they become a joy.

And when you get passed the grumbling and moaning of 5:30AM, mornings can be quite pleasant with a cup of tea and time to focus on your art.

Can I get a second opinon?

On Tuesday, I met a mermaid.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “It was January. How could he see a mermaid when they’ve all gone south for the winter?” I was quite surprised myself, but I managed to meet Georgia, who is a professional mermaid. In a combination of environmental advocacy and underwater performance, this mermaid travels around to aquariums and other public events to raise awareness about sea life and preserving the ocean. After talking with her for a while, I decided to add her to my list of experts.

Every author, whether writing fiction or non-fiction, should develop a list of experts. It’s impossible for everyone to know everything, but it is possible to know enough people that it’s nearly the same thing. I’ve been compiling a list of people who, in some way or another, are experts. Friends, family members, online and in person, I’ve been compiling a document of people I’ve met who are experts in something.

I’ve been talking with my friend who recently became a ship captain about which sails would be most functional on an airship. I approached a coworker and prefaced a question with “You’re nearly a mad scientist, what do you think of…?” I have two friends who, between them, speak the major Romance Languages and a fair amount of German. I’ve needed to assure my nurse and doctor friends I was asking questions, purely for fictional purposes. With only so much experience myself, I find that having a perspective from others (often globally) is crucial to creating real characters and stories.

The best source, arguably, is straight from the expert. If you want to know something, consult a specialist. And, since we all can’t have top scientists or historians on our phones to discuss fiction ideas, we need to find the experts in our own lives. I encourage everyone to create a list like this. Not only will it be helpful in your writing, but it will also lead to some really amazing conversations with friends who know about things you never even considered.

New Year’s Writer Resolutions!

Hello everyone! It has been…a while, hasn’t it?

Things on this end of the blog have been going at full speed! I had a wedding in Connecticut, immediately followed by the gauntlet of family holidays at home. Overall, my vacation was pretty action-packed.

Now that I’m back and a New Year has begun, I’ve got to start thinking ahead. So, below are some of my Writer Resolutions. I have a few goals outside of my writing right, but I would like to have a few writing specific goals that I can focus on and build towards. So, without further ado, Writer Resolutions 2018!

  1. Jump back into the world of agent queries and finding publishing opportunities. I’ve been putting this one off for far too long, but I’ve had a good long stint to let the book rest and settle, as well as some new edits to look into. Time to put on my war paint and buckle up for 2018!
  2. Be more aware of my writing weaknesses. No one wants to admit they need improvement, but I have some definite writing habits that need to be addressed. Trigger Happy Commas, Over Using Dialogue Tags, Weak Scenic Descriptions. These are all things I know need help and things I’ll be working to improve over the coming year of writing.
  3. Write freely. I want to keep posting the short stories and character sketches on here because it’s something that I enjoy doing. And I hope it’s something that you enjoy. I’m going to start doing 30 minutes of writing every day (forcing it into my schedule if I must).
  4. Write bravely. I need to remind myself that just because something hasn’t worked for me in the past doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I need to try and get out of my head and take risks when it comes to my work. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

So, those are my 2018 Writing Resolutions. What are some of yours?

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Video Games for Writing Tools

It’s no secret that I like video games. But one thing I love as much? Video game trailers.

One of the video games that constantly impresses me is Overwatch. In addition to big trailers for the game, they also have movies that highlight some of the characters and their backstory. I like watching these, both for the quality of the animation and the fun ways that they quickly show storytelling tools that writers should be aware of.

Take a look at this particular short about one of my favorite characters, Reinhardt.

What can we learn from this? This is a good example of a character arc. It’s short, sweet, and could use some more fleshing out. However, for the time that they used, it is a satisfying sequence towards character development. We start off with the young, cocky hero who’s a showboat and clearly a bit arrogant. But then, there’s an inciting action that eventually leads to Reinhardt having a realization on what his role is in the unit thanks to the help of an elder mentor. Again, short and concise, but a really lovely example of a satisfying character arc.

Here’s another one, featuring the loveable robot, The Last Bastion.

For me, this is a good example of two things: Storytelling Through Action and Effective Use of Flashbacks. Nothing is said in the entire video, but there’s a very clear story of what is happening. Some of it we fill in ourselves, knowing some of the lore of the Overwatch Universe, but it’s still a clear story told through action. They foreshadow the climax before jumping into a flashback to explain exactly what is going on for the rest of us. It’s a very short flashback, but its timing and use are very powerful and helpful to the story.

There are numerous other examples in the video game universe: betrayal, foreshadowing, worldbuilding, and many more elements that writers can learn from. What are some of your favorite video game trailers? What did you learn from them as a writer/storyteller?

Nanowrimo Advice!

It’s November and that means that many writers are looking at a Word Count Workout!

Yes, National Novel Writing Month (or Nanowrimo) is here again! Nanowrimo is a writing challenge that encourages writers to write 50,000 words over the course of a month. An incredible task for anyone in school or with a day job. Apart from that? Very few rules. Most people have a daily word count or try and push themselves over the course of a weekend (maybe scribbling along the side of their notebooks in class, I don’t know). Some places have meetups where people gather in a coffee shop or library, doing word battle with one another to try to get to their end goal! However you write, the point is that you’re writing!

I have done Nanowrimo 3 times in my life. My first attempt was in college. I honestly forget what it was about, but I failed. Miserably. It was a rough first go, but boy was it fun. So when I attempted the next year, I managed to pull it off! It was rough (to say the least) and it wasn’t pretty, but I had a draft! I still have and sometimes look back on it, trying to find that hunk of gold in the dirt. I rarely luck out. But think I had a noticeable improvement over the first and second attempt around attempt three. I think, honestly, this is the point of Nanowrimo. To just do something!

Lots of writers do Nanowrimo and I encourage others to do it as well! It’s fun, builds a community and motivates better than any other deadline. I know of a few books that have come from Nanowrimo (The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, for one). This isn’t to say that every Nanowrimo novel will be a success, but it shows the potential. Every fifty thousand words of crap you write are better than the five hundred words of pure gold you never write.

So, here’s my number one piece of advice for the first-time (or veteran) Nanowrimo Participant! You have permission to suck. Fail, but do it gloriously. You will learn so much more from a failure than from a success. It’s not called “Nation Novel Writing and Editing Month” for a reason. Try, fail, revise, start over. If your first draft is perfect, you’ve overlooked something.

So, without further ado, get out there and writer, Word Warrior! Your story won’t write itself, no matter how hard we try. Good luck and Godspeed.

Drafts, Editing, and Rewriting

“Picking up your first copy of a book you wrote, if there’s one typo, it will be on the page that your new book falls open to the first time you pick it up.” – Neil Gaiman

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about how we each write/draft/edit. There were a few things tossed around, but one thing we really disagreed on was editing. My friend needs to have a formal, well-thought-out outline before she starts with any word. I, on the other hand, have a looser outline. We jokingly said that my first draft was my outline, though I think that’s true.

I like taking my first draft and using that as a template. I get to think about my overall idea. What works? What doesn’t? Why are these characters doing things that are not in character normally? Do they even need to do these things? I consider a lot while reading through the first draft. It’s freeing, knowing that I may trash 90% of what I’m working with, but still getting the opportunity to say “That doesn’t work for John, what can I do to fix it?”

After research and worldbuilding (depending on the story), my writing probably breaks down to 15% writing, 35% editing, and 50% rewriting.
(Frantically checks the math on a calculator.) Yeah, that’s about right. Or at least some similar breakdown.

Recently, I had the privilege of working with my friend Melanie Venhaus (@libraryofmars on twitter) and have a whole new set of edits to work with! I can’t recommend Melanie enough for anyone looking for a freelance editor. I’m very excited to break into these new edits and hopefully rekindle some of the love I’ve lost in the last few months.

At the end of the day, your first draft should never be your final draft. Whether you have an 18-page outline that transitions from scene to scene or a loose story arc sketch on a bar napkin, you should always check your book for things that need changing. Your brain will only let you see so much and there are better ways to find typos before picking up that first copy.

Terry Pratchett, An Author’s Legacy and The Steamroller

Recently, fantasy fans around the world cried out in agony as Terry Pratchett’s hard drive (containing 10 unfinished novels) was destroyed as per his will. As was his wish, the hard drive was crushed by a steamroller and, honestly, I can think of no better send off. But reading the news got me thinking about other authors and what it means for a work in progress when it’s creator, for whatever reason, ceases to be able to work on it. Is death really the end for an author?

Despite his death in 1973, J.R.R. Tolkien’s works are still published regularly with revivals of legends of Middle Earth or companion guides to his world. Easily the most recognizable name in fantasy today, Tolkien’s impact on the realm of fantasy cannot go unnoticed, his stories still fresh and new 44 years after he died. His world and words live on by those who tell his stories and build upon them either on the page or the big screen. The Children of Hurin or The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, for example, were both published within the last ten years, drawing on the influences from the legends in Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.

Douglas Adams, on the other hand, was continued with the best intentions. However, And Another Thing… didn’t quite have the same feel as the previous iterations as the rest of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series did. It was written with the best intentions to honor Adams and his legacy, but it fell flat, in my opinion. It’s a nice, neat continuation of the world of Douglas Adams, but it failed to have that same charm that I had grown to love while reading the books.

I feel that an author’s world doesn’t have to continue after their death. But the unfinished worlds, defined only by the author’s own imagination and intent, should be left. I respect and agree with Mr. Pratchett’s final wish, though I am sad to know we will never read them. But if that’s the end of his unfinished novels, I can think of no end more fitting than what he asked.