Characters interacting in my imagination.
Hello Everyone- That time of year is here and I am pretending like I am ready. I am still finishing out my two classes, the quarter ends November 15th but I am not using it as an excuse. I am going to start strong and finish stronger.
Since we last spoke I had a character, now I almost have an outline. 🙂
I am also looking for writing buddies to keep me on track and to sprint with.
Send me a message and add me as a writing buddy: Liah2131
I took this picture from a coffee shop on the final day of my trip to Chicago. It is a busy street, numerous people walking by, it would have been the perfect place to sit down and write a novel.
Now that I am back to reality I realize the goal of writing a novel is quickly approaching (NaNoWriMo). Fortunately one of my two Grad classes reminded of one of my favorite Hemingway quotes, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know”.
My goal by Friday is to write that sentence, I have great words floating around in my head right now, “diatribe, bitter, lust, absolution, beauty, gold” but I haven’t made them work truly just yet.
When was the last time you wrote one true sentence?
Also to my fellow Nano participants- what are you doing to get your creativity / inspiration flowing?
It is that time of year again and I have been seriously considering what I want to write for NaNoWriMo. There are two things that worry me about the upcoming month of November and all if the fun madness that comes with it. The first and perhaps least concerning thing is that my two graduate classes will be coming to an end on November 15th, so for half the month I will be writing frantically while trying to perfect my class writing.
That, however, is not my biggest concern. Last year I have a full outline and a game plan going into the month. I am not going to have as much time to dedicate myself to that process this year. What I do have is a character, I have woman etched in my mind down to the last detail of her personality.
My question to my readers is this- Can you write an entire 50,000 word novel with just a character in mind?
Happy Friday Everyone!
Just because I am working hard on edits for my last novel does not mean I was able to stop myself from plotting and jotting down ideas for my next. I have been playing around with the opening lines for a week or so, this is my most recent attempt.
How do you know if what you find is real if you’re not looking for it? The question didn’t make sense to her, it frightened her. Before she agreed to the end, she had to find the beginning.
Let me know your thoughts.
The entire month of August I have been working my way through a very new experience. Over the last few weeks I have completed my first round of editing on my recently completed novel. This marks the first time I have gotten serious in the editing process of any of my longer works.
It was a surprising experience. At times some of the sentences were not even English and then they would be followed by great works of grammar. Not entirely sure how that happened but at least part of it was readable.
I found that I can enjoy my own writing in a way that I could not have predicted, it was over all an eye opening experience.
Is it done? No
Do I need to dig even deeper into my scenes and characters? Yes
Do I believe it has legitimate potential? Yes
Am I looking forward to round 2? I am as excited as when I sat down to write the first sentence.
Anyone else have this same kind experience in the editing process?
I have been toying around with the idea of writing my memoir. Yes, it is pretty early on in my life to consider such a venture but I have decided to go through with it or at the very least try and see what develops.
This is my part of my story.
When I meet someone new I know inevitably the conversation is going to happen. We laugh, we hang out, we share a few stories maybe we even a few secrets. It is then when people work up the courage to ask me what I rarely volunteer.
“So do you have a father?” I love this question because it seems so absurd, of course I have a father I wouldn’t be here without one. That of course is my sarcastic nature. Often I look at them contemplatively before I respond. If they ask a silly question the very least I can do is answer it that way. “Yes I do but he’s crazy”
Whomever I am talking to will laugh and then make eye contact with me, letting me know with their visual cue that it is time to elaborate. I never know what they are expecting me to say but I do know it is not what they get.
“No, really, he is legitimately crazy. He is a paranoid schizophrenic.”
Here is an excerpt on my most recent work in progress. It has been a long ride but I am pleased to say the first draft has one maybe two chapters left before the end.
Alison knew what was going on, on some level it made sense. It had always made sense. When she was younger it happened, back then losing a moment or two of time didn’t seem to matter. When she had been a little girl getting lost in the emotion of the moment had been an adventure. Occasionally she would remember what had transpired, other times she would wake up not having the slightest clue where the afternoon had been spent. Alison had never been harmed in those lost moments and from what little she could remember no one else had been harmed.
She had never once been scared. No, the excitement pulsed through her young body. It was the reason she never told anyone about the episodes, the loss of them was a reality she could not face.
Yes I am in the middle of three different projects… and yet I have also been contemplating starting yet another.
There is an idea that captures my imagination whenever I have a free moment. For now it is just a collection of thoughts in search of a way to be put to paper.
Here is what I am working on for the opening paragraph:
There comes a time when you must achieve the dream regardless of who you must use to get there. If you are afraid you don’t deserve it, quite simply you are too weak for your them. Chasing the elusive white rabbit will consume you. Regret and consequence are not your concern, that only thing that matters is what you seek most. Surely even you can capture love.
The scent is utterly recognizable. To him it is serenity. To some the musk, the leather and the age would bring up disconcerting emotions. For him, his blood pressure drops and his mind clears. There is no description that can do the ambiance justice. This is a place while full is vacant of any worries.
The need to escape now is greater than ever. Destruction, death and apathy weigh heavily on the soul. It ages a man far past his years, the lines are added to his face, the stress upon his heart. An escape if only for a moment can bring immeasurable relief.
He enters the room fully and makes his way to his faithful chair. Sinking into it, he closes his eyes and reaches for the side table out of instinct. His fingertips feel the etched writing on its spine. Opening his eyes the book, The Great Gatsby, was in front of him. His eyes adjusted to the text, he let go of any remaining grasp on reality.
Survival if only for a page was undeniably his.
So It Begins…
She was locked in an intense battle, the odds were neatly stacked against her. It was clear to all that saw her that she was fighting and unwinnable war. It was clear to anyone, everyone but her. To her it was only a matter of time before she would come out victorious. She had the answer tucked away in her pocket. She needed to wait for the opportune moment. For only a moment would be required to snatch victory.
A howl of pain and emotion escaped her throat. There wasn’t much time left now. The line between success and failure was beginning to fade into the morning mist. It was quickly becoming a battle just for survival, it was time. Time to pull out her last resort. Crawling across the break room she reached for it. Her finger tips touched than gripped the powerful mug. The coffee elixir would get her through her current work day.
But alas the battle would begin anew tomorrow.
HIKE. BIKE. DRINK.
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