Shaking Things Up – Darla’s Writer Wednesday

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Tired of feeling like a lump, I recently discovered the joys of working out. I’m learning as a novice that increased fitness relies on alternating exercises. No surprise there.  No doubt circuit training has its place, too – set routines using the same equipment for X number of workouts. Switching seems to suit me well right now, though, especially as it keeps things more interesting.
Of course, “interesting” sometimes translates to wandering around until I find the correct machine. All devices are numbered, but some sadistic soul made sure their placement follows no pattern.
Anyway, the same principal applies to my writing.  (um… not the numbers, and usually not the sadism… ahem…)
Point being, I find my productivity remaining satisfactory with variation as the key. Whether editing or writing anew, I sit down to a document every day now. And breaking from a frustrating dry spell feels fantastic.
Flexing my muscles, on the page and in the fitness center, is something I intend to continue. I hope you’ll join me in creative reshaping. Whatever my future brings physically, though, I promise right now that I will never, ever refer to my upper arms as “guns”.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
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Writing Tools and Tricks for Getting on the Page

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Wisdom abounds about writing goals – so many words written a day, keeping certain routines, having accountability.  Many kindly authors will share their valuable tips when asked.  Yet each individual is different.  To this day none of these ideas have worked for me.
Once the glorious bustle of November’s National Novel Writing Month ends, so does my grand output.  Good habits fall by the wayside and my output trickles to little or none.  I don’t necessarily even wallow in editing.  Some of my novel manuscripts have remained untouched since the day I met that year’s NaNoWriMo goal.
This time I wanted to continue the joy of storytelling beyond November.  So far, I have.  As you can guess it hasn’t happened through goal setting, at which I’ve never been particularly good.  Nor have I set a particular routine.
The madness in my method seems to tie more into what many experts suggest to help break a habit.  I’ve shaken things up this time.  Routines are being broken.  Times, locations, even methods have been altered according to whim.
No longer do I feel the need to get my writing done early in the day.  The day is far from over by afternoon or evening.  Why not save the best for last?  Yet if I wake with inspiration from a dream, I may certainly get the words down before they’re lost.  The words may be recorded in a notebook, Microsoft Word, or the Scrivener software I recently purchased.
I also have been writing out some character and setting sheets in Scrivener, adding more topics as I go.  I usually just carried details around in my head.  Besides cementing a few characteristics, I’ve found myself learning new things about my fictional peoples/places.  And it’s been a pleasure getting to know them, whether those details make it into the story or not!
As for one huge change, I went to some write-ins during NaNoWriMo and blessedly got invited by some nice folks to year round gatherings.  I’ll be going to one tonight, in fact.  I just have to decide which project I’ll open.  Edit the latest novel or write something new?
On that note I’ve also rekindled my love of short stories.  Somehow, they seemed inferior to novels.  How could I consider myself a writer if I wrote tales under a few thousand words?
I seemed to have forgotten some famously beloved short story collections.  And as several wise folks have told me: the fact I’m writing makes me, by definition, a writer.  I hope you’ll join me and dive into whatever speaks to your heart.

Happy Writing!

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Writer Wednesday – NaNo’s Ovah!

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NaNoWriMo is over!  Holy cats, what do I do with my life NOW?

Keep writing.

Duh.

No, seriously.  Keep up the discipline that you played with during the month of November.  Maybe you don’t set your goal as high, maybe it’s something more sustainable.  But it’s like going to the gym:  if you go full-bore for a week and then nothing, you’re not going to get into shape.  You get into shape by going on a regular basis, doing exercises and routines, and sticking with it.

Okay, Squirrel moment here.

I went to search for the bit in the first Harry Potter movie, where Hagrid says to Harry, “Stick to your ticket.”  It’s funny and fitting.  So I go to Google, my go-to for finding stuff, and the above picture is what I got as a result for the query, “hagrid stick to your ticket.”

Hmm.

Anyway.  Where was I?  Oh, yes.  Write.  Follow your muse.  Allow yourself to not make sense, and to chase down flights of fancy.

After all, how else are you going to find a really odd looking Icelandic Viking ship from a travel site when looking for Harry Potter?


— 

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
– E.E. Cummings

**New** SEALED BY FIRE is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!

The Chicagoland Shifters series:
Book 1 BURNING BRIGHT, available from Samhain Publishing.

Book 2 TIGER TIGER, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!

The Persis Chronicles:

**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!

Check out EMERALD FIRE, available from Torquere Books.

Check out COOK LIKE A WRITER , available from Barnes and Noble.

My links: Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | LinkedIn | Pandora 

Knoontime Knitting:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Ravelry
Noon and Wilder links: Blog | Taurus and Taurus (NSFW) | Website | Facebook
The Writer Zen Garden:  The Writers Retreat Blog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter | Meetup
National Novel Writing Month: NaNoWriMo | ChiWriMo | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Darla’s Noveling Journey

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I read a very interesting list yesterday of forty quotes for pessimistic people.  Many are understandably bleak statements.  One, however, struck me as quite optimistic.
Robert Louis Stevenson reportedly said, “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”
How is that pessimistic?  I mean, sure, nobody can guarantee a fun time.  You might get crappy weather.  Occasionally, even, natural disasters strike resort areas.  ~shudder~  That makes my periodic rainy days at the beach a paradise by comparison.
Anticipation, however, presents its own reward.  Isn’t that last work week before vacation tinged with excitement? 
That’s how I feel during National Novel Writing Month.  Of course I want to complete my story, not to mention winning the 50,000 word challenge.  My favorite part, however, is the journey I’m taking with my characters.
(Hopefully, they won’t resent me too much for all their travails and still be talking to me come December rewrites.)
In fact, right now they ought to wrap up the dialogue that’s lasted several thousand words.  I need to light a fire under them.  But how?
I know!  The house can literally catch afire.  After all, I have a villain lurking out there somewhere.  Isn’t it in his job description to do something villainous?  I think arson qualifies.
Before I go type that scene, how is your November going?  Are you NaNoing?  If so, I hope you’re enjoying the trip (or your own fire!).  Happy noveling!
Oh, and here’s the link to those amazing quotes, in case you need a (brief) break from writing:

Darla’s Writer Wednesday – Dabbling with Drabbles

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Many years ago I discovered a website through which people shared their stories.  I met some really great people and read some remarkable fiction.  Another unexpected discovery turned out to be learning a miniature story format termed the drabble.
Each drabble should be a mere one hundred words and sketch a complete scene.  Some readers and writers despise them.  I became addicted, which is not necessarily a good thing.  But positive results have stayed with me to this day.  For one thing, pithy storytelling can be some of the best.
(Flowery language certainly has it’s place, though; don’t get me wrong.)
In addition, I have learned to tackle the challenge of National Novel Writing Month a hundred words at a time.  The concept is no different than taking baby steps, of course.  Still, it works for me.
On that note, I better get back to my NaNoWriMo story.  There are about five hundred more words to go before I reach today’s goal.
Oh, and if you decide to adopt my ploy, try not to be obsessive about counting.  ~grin~  Stopping to constantly hit alt→ t → w in Microsoft Word contributes unproductive key strokes and takes time away from the actual composition.
Happy writing!
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Darla’s NaNoWriMo Update

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Now that National Novel Writing Month has begun, I’m really finding my stride.
No, I’m not a horse.  ~rolls eyes~  But I am writing.  My word count is in a range I haven’t produced since last November.  Quite frankly, NaNo inspires me.
And inspiration is what I’d like to spread today.  I read a terrific pep talk on the NaNoWriMo website.  Author Chuck Wendig shared ideas very much like Julia Cameron with her creative workshops.  He essentially encourages writers to let loose their creative inner child.  Here is his amusing and perceptive insight garnered from observing his own toddler:
“…He’ll grab a Transformers toy and half-transform it into some lumbering robot-car monstrosity—and when an adult might say, “No, no, it’s like this or it’s like that; it’s a robot or it’s a car,” he’s like, “Uh, yeah, no. Go back to your tax forms and your HGTV, stupid adult, I’ve just created a Frankencarbot and you can go hide your head in the sand-swept banality of grown-up life, sucker.”
I’m all for creating a Frankencarbot.  What about you?  Has the NaNo bug bitten this fall?

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Darla’s Day of Synchronicity

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 “Rawr”
AKA
The Bisque on my Wishlist
 
Today I visited a pottery painting studio, wanting to do something relaxing yet creative. It fit in perfectly as an artist’s date for the Julia Cameron “Walking in This World” workshop in which I’m participating. Also, it wouldn’t cost a lot.

I ended up painting two discounted Halloween pieces. As I relaxed over my projects, the shopkeeper unpacked her Christmas collection. She just happened to be doing that earlier than usual because an empty storefront serving as her rent-free storage has been leased.

No big deal so far, right?

Well, she started wondering aloud how she would ever have time to paint samples.  Then she asked if I would be interested in painting one for her.

“Sure!” I exclaimed, having debated making the suggestion myself.

Then things get even more interesting.

“You said you have cats, right?”

“Yeah.”

So she hands me a cat shaped ornament. Though she has seen me add extensive detail to my paintings, she chose this one because of its simple design.  That way, she explained, I need not spend a lot of time. The next thing I knew, I was modeling the design upon my cat Luna who passed away on August 5th. I even included her name.

The gal praised my effort, which I considered diplomacy by a benevolent businessperson. Then, to my surprise, she offered to give me the ornament after the season is over. In retrospect I suppose my personalization had something to do with that.

But still, how cool is that?

When I pick up my purchased pottery, I may offer to paint another sample or two, making clear I don’t expect to be gifted every piece. It would just be a fun way to create without doling out cash.

In addition, if I decide to buy the big special order bisque monster pictured above, my technique will be that much better. We shall see.  It’s a pricey item.

Anyway, the universe was really good to me today. I’ll have to remember to take my camera and photograph Luna’s ornament next week after it’s been glazed and fired.

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Monday with Aunt Noony

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We’re ready for National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, at our house.  Can you tell?  That’s Kolya, doing his best to give his inspiration to my inbox.  He’s a little over a year old and is fitting in well at the Noonypad, terrorizing his big sister Nadya and alternately loving on, and beating up, our eldest Boria.  He follows the dog, Coyote, around like she’s his nanny.

Yes, we have a confused household.  My son thinks he’s half dog/cat too.

But I digress.  It’s only October, even though it feels like NaNoWriMo has begun, and that’s because I am super excited to report that I’m a Municipal Liaison this year!  I finally did it, I threw my hat into the ring.  This year, there are four of us volunteering to wrangle ChiWriMo into shape.  We have a Facebook group, a Twitter feed, and even a blog.  We’ll be doing online write-ins, in person write-ins, a Kick-Off and Thank-Goodness-It’s-Over (or TGIO) party, and all sorts of stuff in between.  I’m so excited, I can’t stand myself!

Write on!


— 

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
– E.E. Cummings

**New** SEALED BY FIRE is available from LooseId LLC. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!

The Chicagoland Shifters series:
Book 1 BURNING BRIGHT, available from Samhain Publishing.

Book 2 TIGER TIGER, available from Samhain Publishing. An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!

The Persis Chronicles:

**Coming Soon!** Watch for EMERALD KEEP from Torquere Books, out April 2015!

Check out EMERALD FIRE, available from Torquere Books.

Check out “Seeking Hearts“, available from Torquere Books.


Check out COOK LIKE A WRITER , available from Barnes and Noble.
Check out “Taking a Chance“, available from Torquere Books! An All Romance eBooks Bestseller!

My links: Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | LinkedIn | Pandora 

Knoontime Knitting:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Ravelry
Noon and Wilder links: Blog | Taurus and Taurus (NSFW) | Website | Facebook
The Writer Zen Garden:  The Writers Retreat Blog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter | Meetup

Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo

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Wow!  Is it really October eighth?  In another month we’ll be through the first week of National Novel Writing Month.
I’m attempting to stoke the artistic fire with activities like those mentioned in my previous post.  Likewise, I’ve joined a “Walking in this World” workshop.  There is a great group of folks delving into this Julia Cameron book together, so I’m excited about everyone’s potential.
Meanwhile, I have no firm idea what I’ll write for NaNoWriMo, but I am writing.  A little travel (for pure pleasure – good times!) seemed to boost my moral and give new perspective, kicking off this creativity.  In fact, yesterday was the first day I haven’t produced at least a few hundred words of fiction since returning home.
My WIP is actually a rewrite.  I felt the finished but un-submitted manuscript deserved a fresh take.  Maybe, come November, I’ll just keep going on it and count toward that 50,000 word count goal starting with whatever hits the page on the first.
What about you?  I hope you’ll join in the NaNoWriMo challenge.
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