Grammar battle

Rhiannimated: ok, I have a question. Does this sentence make sense to you? 90% of all the good music in the world did not happen in the past 10 years.
Joey-seph:  no
Joey-seph: 99% of all the good music in the world did not happen in the past 10 years … is more like it
Rhiannimated: I love you
Joey-seph: haha, I love you too
Rhiannimated: Ryan has been fighting me since yesterday that that sentence doesn’t make sense grammatically
Joey-seph: and, although we don’t agree 100% on music … I think we both can agree … there ain’t much good lately, lol … oh
Rhiannimated: so when you said no , he was like HAH! Then he walked away and you sent the rest
Joey-seph: oh, HAHAHAHAHA!
Rhiannimated: and I burst out laughing
Joey-seph: hehehehe
Rhiannimated: and he came over and read it and just shook his head and walked away
Joey-seph: oh, I am SO glad that just happened

Sorry for the long absence, all! We’ve been busy bees with our day jobs and writing the book and tweeting our Taftkan adventures. Don’t worry, I plan to post weekly updates when I have enough tweets, expanding on why I needed certain buffs or how I ended up banished to Ebwidar with no armor.

“It’s a jungle out there, kitties. Have a very fruitful day!”

Hard Times

Hard Times

by Charles Dickens

Honestly, I picked this book next, because it’s the shortest of the Dickens I have purchased for the project.  Little Dorrit and Bleak House are long books.

Book the First | Sowing

Chapter One: The One Needful Thing

Hah, you’ve got my attention Dickens.  Tell me what you believe are the facts, sir.

Chapter Two: Murdering the Innocents

I see this is going to be a moral fairytale.  I hope there weren’t school masters like this during the industrial revolution.  Dickens definitely has me.  I’m eager to see where this story is going.  This is clearly a story about “fact” versus imagination.

Chapter Three: A Loophole

Wow.  We can tell Mr. Gradgrind doesn’t like his neighbors.  He’s playing off indifferent, but the way Dickens reprises the images of horses and flowers from the previous chapter leads me to think he feels otherwise.  It’s no surprise he finds his children there.  They’re bound to wonder … just as I wonder about Mr. Bounderby.  I wonder what he DOES think, and I hope it’s not as solemn as Mr. Gradgrind suggests.

Also, Sissy Jupe … Signor Jupe … father and daughter?

Chapter Four: Mr. Bounderby

Not only is Mr. Bounderby not nice; he is also creeptastic.

Chapter Five: The Keynote

The sad part is, out of these two Mr. Bounderby seems to be the leader.  Mr. Gradgrind is very much a sycophant to him.  I think they’re both in for a wild ride though.  We’re about to meet Signor Jupe!

Chapter Six: Sleary’s Horsemanship

It’s a shame Sleary isn’t going to be in the whole book.  It’s sad that Sissy’s father ran away “for her own good.” I’m interested in seeing what happens to Sissy–especially considering it’s the name of a very important character in OUR stories.  The only difference being Dickens’ Sissy is short for Cecilia, our Sissy is short for Carissa.  I’m wondering Dickens, what exactly does Sissy have waiting for her at this dreadful school she’s now tied to?

Chapter Seven: Mrs. Sparsit

This chapter makes it seem like a female version of “Great Expectations.”  I’d also put this book on the shelf right next to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.  What Dickens is talking about in this book, trying to kill imagination, definitely something I identify with, and enjoy reading about.  I’m being inspired by Dickens now.  I have an idea.  I must throw it by Rhiannon!  That, and keep reading …

Chapter Eight: Never Wonder

I’m frowning, but I’m smiling at the same time, because I know Dickens is only setting us up emotionally.  Must.  Keep.  Reading.

Chapter Nine: Sissy’s Progress

I feel so sad for Sissy, and I wonder what Louisa is going to do with this information.  Clearly she is effected by Sissy’s imagination, and the way she recounts the events of her life up to this point.  It’s not all fact.  There is emotion, heart, love in the whole of it.  This probably won’t end well for either of them.  I wonder which side Tom (the younger) will choose?  Oh, wait, I’m not supposed to wonder.

Chapter Ten: Stephen Blackpool

Holy moly, Dickens.  You managed to inspire me in two directions with that chapter, once for the Taftkan Materials and once for the Dickens Project.  You, sir, are a genius.  You also managed to surprise me at the end of this chapter.  Not only did I love the awkward relationship Blackpool has with Rachael, but who in the world was that alcoholic woman that so overpowered him in the end?  And does this tie into the rest of the plot?

Chapter Eleven: No Way Out

The drunk woman is Blackpool’s wife, and he’s gone to Bounderby looking for information on how to divorce her.  Alas, there seems to be no hope–without a TON of money–for Stephen and Rachael to ever have a chance to be together.  Although, I’m not sure Rachael WANTS to be with Stephen.  Unless she was just being distant for propriety’s sake.  It does seem like he’s reading into her words where there is nothing to read into … Dickens has said as much.

Chapter Twelve: The Old Woman

That was surely Bounderby’s mother who walked with Blackpool back to the mill.  Dickens is going to make it so I don’t get any sleep tonight I see.

Chapter Thirteen: Rachael

That was an unexpected turn of events.  Lots of interesting dreaming going on here.  I like it.

Chapter Fourteen: The Great Manufacturer

Oh. My. God.  Louisa is going to marry Bounderby?  What!

Chapter Fifteen: Father and Daughter

Come on Louisa!  I thought you were making a turn around.  You know, rebelling against your father and his messed up way of teaching you guys.  You were starting to get an imagination.  It leaked out everywhere in this chapter.  Don’t ignore or mistreat Sissy.  It’s not right.  She doesn’t understand why you’d do such a thing as marry Mr. Bounderby.  Neither do I, for that matter.  I get it; I understand the logic behind it.  It’s just that … he’s such a jerk, and that DOES matter.

Chapter Sixteen: Husband and Wife

I’d have to disagree with you, Tom.  Yes, things could, indeed, be jollier.  Loo has made the biggest mistake of her life, and now we reap the benefits in this beautifully told story.  Dickens, I can almost hear you whispering in my ear … the way you write.

Book the Second | Reaping

Chapter One: Effects in the Bank

I couldn’t find a clear definition of the word coriolanian online.  The closest I could find was on Dictionary.Com and it was Coriolanus, who was a “Roman military hero” from b. c. huz-buh-chungle … Also a play by Shakespeare.

So, who was that Mrs. Sparsit just saw?  Was it a good idea to give him Mr. Bounderby’s address?  Was he really sent by Mr. Gradgrind, and why was Mrs. Sparsit perturbed after he left?

Chapter Two: Mr. James Harthouse

He’s a rich kid who is looking for a place in the world?  That’s what I got out of the chapter.

Chapter Three: The Whelp

Well, it is clear that Dickens doesn’t like how Tom has turned out.  Jaded, in a way.  He thinks he’s discovered life, but Dickens describes him as a very unhappy person because of his breeding.

I have to say, I am liking Dickens in a way I never expected.  Usually “classics” have a certain feel when I read them.  Sometimes I have to be in a specific mood to “read up,” but the way Dickens writes … I can see everything.  It’s like reading something that was published this year.  I totally recommend this book already!

Chapter Four: Men and Brothers

What in the world did Stephen Blackpool do?  Did I miss something?  They said something about him not following regulations, and it sounded like he was late for work a few times–maybe everyday–but that would be because of his wife and also why he doesn’t want to talk about it at the assembly.  What could Mr. Bounderby want with him as well?

Chapter Five: Men and Masters

Poor Stephen!  What’s with this sudden turn of events Dickens?  I didn’t see this coming!  These chapters must have thrown your readers for a loop when they first read them in 1854.  It’s been a while since we heard about Blackpool, and all-of-a-sudden he is blacklisted.

Chapter Six: Fading Away

And there goes Stephen.  I don’t remember Louisa telling him not to join the union.  This was all … so sudden.  I wonder if we’re going to see him again.  Dickens has a knack for cutting things short and tragic.  Alas, this also makes his happier endings all the more worthwhile.

Chapter Seven: Gunpowder

What, exactly, is Harthouse up to?  It can’t be good.  It seems like he’s playing with Lousia and Tom, but why?  What is his angle?

Chapter Eight: Explosion

Tom BETTER not let Stephen take the fall for the bank robbery.  It was Tom that did it, it HAS to be … and I bet Harthouse has something to do with it.

Chapter Nine: Hearing the Last of It

Awe!  It was IMAGINATION Mrs. Gradgrind!  That’s what Mr. Gradgrind forgot to teach his kids!  Oh, this chapter was sad.  I am glad to see Sissy again, though.  And I’m happy to see that she’s had some impact on the youngest Gradgrind.

Chapter Ten: Mrs. Sparsit’s Staircase

Mrs. Sparsit is trying to topple Louisa.  Well, we knew Mrs. Sparsit felt slighted by Louisa’s marrying Mr. Bounderby … and I half expected this, but EVERYTHING seems to be working against the Gradgrind kids.  I surmise Dickens is trying to tell us that less the imagination, human existence is hellish.

Chapter Eleven: Lower and Lower

Clearly Mrs. Sparsit has an imagination.  She’s not using it for GOOD right now though!  It’s almost like she’s working a spell.  Single-minded to her “task” of seeing Louisa fall from Mr. Bounderby’s good graces.  It has been established that divorce is a possibility for those well endowed within this story.  Having Louisa take her place must have been the straw that broke Mrs. Sparsit’s back.

Louisa didn’t ACTUALLY do anything but accept Bounderby’s proposal.  It’s not like she was TRYING to cheese Mrs. Sparsit off.  It is stupid–yet strikingly human–that Louisa is having an affair with Harthouse.  However, I’m not entirely convinced she’s not just being USED by him.  I’m pretty sure he’s manipulating Tom too.  What’s with this guy?

Chapter Twelve: Down

Now THAT was completely unexpected.  Of all the places I expected her to go, it wasn’t home.  I’m glad to see Mr. Gradgrind was finally saved from his own mind.

Book the Third | Garnering

Chapter One: Another Thing Needful

Sissy is definitely going to be some sort of hero in this book.  She’s going to help set Louisa right.  Maybe she’ll make ALL of the Gradgrinds happy.

Chapter Two: Very Ridiculous

Hrm.  Well, go Sissy for getting rid of Harthouse.  Though, I’m not sure he’s gone for good in the book.  He deserves to feel the way he feels, I think.  I’m still suspicious about him.  He’s GOT to have something to do with Tom and the robbery at the bank.

Chapter Three: Very Decided

I’m not TOO sad about this.  Louisa never would have been happy with Bounderby … even if she COULD be with Harthouse.  Not that I want her to be, with what I think went down.  Mrs. Sparsit finally got some of her own back.  She jumped to entirely the wrong conclusion when she lost Louisa.  The plan backfired.  I guess it could have gone worse though.  Bounderby could have fired her as well.

Chapter Four: Lost

Okay, so Stephen Blackpool is coming back.  Will he and Rachel EVER end up together?  Louisa just helped clear his name, but he’s still got to show himself.  Was it Tom after all who committed the crime?  Will he ever confess it?

Chapter Five: Found

That’s interesting.  I mean, I guessed that was Bounderby’s mother, but I was thrown off when he said his parents were dead and he was brought up by a evil, drunken grandmother.  It’s hilarious that Bounderby got caught in the huge lie … and sad that he’s blocked out his mother from his life.  I think this might be the end of Mrs. Sparsit though.

Chapter Six: The Starlight

*BIG frown*  Stephen Blackpool fell through a pit in the ground and died holding Rachel’s hand.  He knew it was Tom, or at least he suspected.  Louisa and Sissy suspect.  Come on Tom, don’t bury and innocent man with your lie.  It’s not right.

Chapter Seven: Whelp-Hunting

All that just to end the chapter with Tom getting caught after all.  Dickens seems to have been up on the old tricks of modern writers.  Suspense is his best friend.  Especially in this book.  I was happy to see Sleary again, but sometimes it’s hard to read his dialogue.

Chapter Eight: Philosophical

Okay, so Tom gets away.  I don’t know if I like Tom getting away.  He DESERVED to be caught … especially after what ended up happening to Blackpool.  Poor Rachel.  Dickens seems to have let Tom off the hook due to the way he was brought up.  I heartily disagree with that choice.

This may be an insight into the morals of the English during the Industrial Revolution.  Tom is pardoned by Dickens because of his upbringing, therefore on the side of nurturing rather than nature for the source of your character in life.  If you consider Ebenezer Scrooge, you can come to the same conclusion with the shadows of his past.

Sleary was a good man for doing what he did for Tom and the Gradgrinds though.  It’s sad that Sissy never reunites with her father in the story, but we know he still lives … Sleary’s seeing the dog indicates the possibility.  Maybe it would come in the future.

Chapter Nine: Final

Haha!  I never DIS-liked Mrs. Sparsit, but she did get what she was asking for.  All that determination to topple Louisa … it wasn’t right.  It’s funny, because if she’d just had patience, Louisa would have made everything better on her own, and Mrs. Sparsit could have resumed her old place in Mr. Bounderby’s home.  Alas, she put her foot in her mouth one too many times, and it was her undoing.

I’m glad Sissy had kids, and Louisa became like a loving aunt to them.  Tom got WAY better than he deserved, and Mr. Bounderby never changed ’til the day he died.  Not surprising.

This was a great choice for my first full length Dickens in this project.  I heartily recommend it.  Of course, I’ll probably recommend many Dickens-es this year!  The story was a lot simpler than I thought it might be.  I was looking for things in many places–and some of those things Dickens honestly says will never be explained.  That’s my problem with Dickens.  I love him to death, but I hate it when he says something, but never explains it or follows through with it.  At least he acknowledges it though.  It’s not like he forgot about it, and just left it unfinished.  It’s very real, the things in life that never get explained, but this is a novel, by god, and it SHOULD be explained.  Haha.  Okay, I’m going to end this final rant here and post this baby.  I really did enjoy the book!

The Cricket on the Hearth | A Fairy Tale of Home

The Cricket on the Hearth

by Charles Dickens

I’m reading this as my Christmas book for the season as well as the beginning of a research project for next year’s NaNoWriMo novel.  I apologize for remaining secretive about this project, but I CAN say it involves reading a butt-load of Mr. Dickens!

I am very enthusiastic about this project, and I’m glad Rhiannon feels the same.  I’m glad I begin this year with Mr. Dickens with Cricket.  I’ve never read it, and it’s nice and short.  This commentary, on the other hand, may not be.

Chirp the First

Interesting.  It seems Mr. Dickens is trying to recreate the feel of the opening lines in A Christmas Carol, here.  “Marley was dead: to begin with.” “The Kettle began it!”  And both begin with a discourse which introduces the setting of the story.

However, in Cricket, Mr. Dickens spends the first few pages giving us his opinion on where the story should start.  He even ventures to argue with one of his characters about it.  For the first few pages I wasn’t sure who was telling the story.  I assumed Dickens’ voice in the opening lines was that of a character within the story.

I understand Dickens got paid by the word, and a writer has the need to experiment with his work, but this only confused me.  I, myself, played with the idea of giving the reader my opinion in such a way, and even interact with the characters.  Rhiannon was never receptive to the idea though.  Reading this only reinforces her point. I found it rather disorienting.

As for the rest of this first chirp … it’s great in the way only Dickens is great.  Sure, at times he can be too verbose in his descriptions for the modern reader, but his dialogue is still flawless.

Because I don’t know anything about the plot of this story, I’m not sure what I’ve just seen here in this chapter.  It was a night in the life of a delivery man and his family.  We were introduced to the whole cast (I assume, since the book only has three chapters), and he’s set up a lot of things.

Mr. Tackleton sounds like an interesting man.  He’s obsessed with his work and his hatred of those who it benefits.  He adores the ugly, and tries to project it into the toys he makes.  Oddly enough, Mr. Tackleton makes it sound like people actually admire what he does.  Such a mixed up man.

He stirs up trouble for John too.  John’s revelry at the end of the chapter is beautiful and finally terrible.  The meditation the Cricket gives him is interrupted by a virus in the mind put there by Mr. Tackleton.  There’s no way I can stop reading at this point.

Chirp the Second

Pleasing, in an unexpected way.  I didn’t think we’d be changing settings at all.  I wasn’t expecting that … whatever that was, with Mrs. Perrybingle and the stranger.  I assume we find our more about this in the conclusion.

There seems to be quite a few possible redemptions in this story.  John, Dot, Caleb, and Mr. Tackleton promise to have revelations, confrontations, and changes of heart.  This is where I start to get worried.  Mr. Dickens has many things to do in such few pages …

Other than A Christmas Carol, I’ve only ever read one Dickens novel:  Great Expectations–and that was for high school.  I remember loving every moment of the read, but, when I came to the end, my stomach was ripped out.  You see, through his narration, he lead me to believe there was more to the story from the very beginning.  When he didn’t deliver, it hurt.  I’m afraid that my expectations might be too high here.  Let’s hope my disappointment with my first experience with Mr. Dickens was a fluke … and misunderstanding youth.  Oh, c’mon, you knew I was going to end up read that book again too.  That’s a SHORT one–haha!

Chirp the Third

My fears were unfounded!  Mr. Dickens manages to fulfill every promise made in the previous two chapters.  Dot and John are a happy family again.  May doesn’t have to marry the miser, Mr. Tackleton comes around, Caleb and Bertha find comfort in the truth … everything.

As I was reading the chapter, at times, I thought to myself, “now this seems contrived,” and some of it was.  There are some pretty miraculous turn arounds here, at the end of the story.  Bertha would have known she wasn’t surrounded by luxury, I think.  She also would have known the true nature of Mr. Tackleton.  Once I was finished reading, I flipped over to the title page again, and meditated for a moment … “A Fairy Tale of Home.”  That did it.  Miraculous turn arounds and mysterious ignorance are completely acceptable–encouraged–in fairy tales.  Brilliant to the last drop.

I’m not sure how much this has done for my research for The Dickens Project, but it has given me a peek at what I’m in for in the coming year.  Bring it on Mr. Dickens … bring–it–on.

Generating Novel Ideas

So you want to write a book.  A lot of us do.  Some of us are born geniuses with a sense of knowing–a destiny–and the story brews inside our youth, blossoming on the page in adulthood.  Ideas and thoughts come easily.  This is true of, maybe, two percent of writers who ever existed.

Some of us can experience the sentiments above.  They may be fleeting, but those moments of pure inspiration hit us all at one point or another.  The muse calls at strange times.

It almost always takes the writer off guard.  Dashing for the paraphernalia of his craft.   Ink stains his skin like obsidian blood the story sucks; as an immortal god, keyboards are crushed under his devastating fingers; tears well in his eyes: a storm he can only ride out to the end.  He is left disheveled and panting–clothes and hair torn asunder–in much need of sleeping and sustenance.

A beautiful image, yes.  An ideal writers life, with moments of writing abandon … a lust that can only be satisfied by telling the story brewing inside.  Then there are those of us who know we want to write.  We may even feel it’s our destiny to write, but we don’t have a CLUE what to write about … or even where to begin to look for ideas.

Making Decisions

There is obvious advice when it comes to writing.  First of all, you need to be a big reader.  If you want to be any sort of writer at all, it is unavoidable.  I expect some of you came to desire writing from a love of books.  If not, let the temptress win you over.  Devour books as if they were your manna from heaven!  Each book, whether fiction or non-fiction, is a lesson in writing.  Those things you like and dislike about a book … those are the things you take with you to your writing.

Some real–hard earned–advice I can give you is strengthening your ability to make decisions.  A writer has to make choices.  Whether it’s his own point of view he’s choosing from, the point of view of his characters or his intended audience, the writer is making choices.

Where To Begin | Your First Choice

You have to begin somewhere.  Say you have NO idea what you want to write about.  The first thing you need to figure out is what you like best about a story.

Is it the characters?  Is it a gripping plot with absolutely no holes?  Is it a setting that is so true to life, it’s as if it is secretly dwelling in the space between the pages?

Start writing up some character descriptions.  One of the first things Rhiannon and I did before starting to write our novel was look up Character Sheet Questionnaires for generating RPG characters, and we answered all the questions about each of our main and important secondary characters.

Write a general outline of a plot you think you’d like.  Take that outline and write a detailed summary of each potential chapter in your new story.  The characters can be nameless, or you can give them temporary names and attributes.  We also did this before we started writing.  A lot of our character information changed between those outlines and what we’re writing now, but–let me tell you–it made getting started a million times easier.

One More Piece of Obvious Advice

Keep a journal of some kind.  Especially if you don’t know where to start.  Even if all you write is the dull ordinary details of what happened that day.  Write something.  The act of putting thoughts to paper is a learning tool in writing.  I wrote about that late last week.  When all else fails, you’re journaling will save you.

It can also provide volumes of inspiration … not to mention fun reading when you’re too old to care. *Waves at self of the future … who’s probably rolling his eyes*

How I’ve Learned to Write

Writing can take a lot of mental power.  For instance, coming up with an idea for a daily blog post.  Most of the time, as the case was today–and many days–it is simply lack of willful focus on the task at hand.  As soon as I sat down with the intention to write, the words sprang from my fingers and into life.

I don’t really have a “secret” as to where I get my inspiration.  I get it form everything, every moment or every day.  I become interested in a story, and a pick up models and character types I’d like to try out.  I see a person walking down the street, muttering into a cell phone–or to themselves–and my mind leaps to fill in the blanks; a story is conceived.

For the longest time, all I had were these notebooks filled with ideas.  None of the stories ever got written, but I was ceaselessly barraged with new and newer ideas.  I even tried to write some of them.  A lot of my past explorations in writing reflect the journey of the past year: when I learned how to write.

The Struggle

First, I get excited by an idea which needs to be repeated and repeated and repeated in my head until I am obsessed with it.  That obsession takes hold of my life and I see some marvelous things come out of it.  Things that never existed before this obsession.  People, events, entire universes … they are both my servants and my dictatorial masters.  It’s a struggle.

This struggle usually happens when I try to put this obsession into words.  Inspiration demands attention, and the mind power needed to create new worlds can not be shared with the focus needed to tempt perfection from my fingers.  Not to mention, the thrilling feelings are hard to come by when trying to recreate something so perfectly formed in my head.

Here and now … in this moment of doubt … when I find myself wondering why I’ve even devoted all this energy to such a silly idea … this is when I know I’m onto something.

The struggle isn’t all that’s needed though.  I knew how to struggle for a long time.  I’d annoy myself with the struggling … never able to finish a story, nor even blog posts!  Almost didn’t finish this one.  Impatience is a writer’s enemy.  No, there was one thing more I didn’t learn until these past two years of writing.

The Flowing of Ink

The most important thing to do at this point in the struggle is write.  Write whatever it is that comes to mind.  Whether it ends up in the final presentation or not: it must be written down!  By this point I’ve worked over this blog three or four times, changing the focus and tampering with the voice.  The struggle is part of the process.  The only way I’ve found to overcome this struggle is to write.

It doesn’t have to be good.  That’s where redrafting comes in.  I learned to write by writing.  When I look at the first few chapters of the novel now (which I do very seldom) I see how my style and my knowledge of the characters has improved.  I also see how the words I began with can be made better, but I will not rework them until the whole of the first draft is finished.  On that endeavor I am resolute.

If there is anyone else out there, stumbling in the dark–but having the time of his/her life–like I am, just keep on writing.  We’ll get there.  Hopefully with as few bumps and bruises as possible.  I know there is much more for me to learn about writing.  I learn more everyday.  I can’t wait until this stage of the writing is over, but I know it will be sorely missed when it is.

So Long NaNoWriMo

I wrote over 80,000 words in the month of November, and the novel still has ten chapters left to go.  Sure, I didn’t follow all the rules, but it was a very productive month nonetheless.  I hope to get the book done before the holidays, but if that doesn’t happen, I won’t be too disappointed.

I’m in it for the long haul though.  Here’s to getting draft one done!

Did’ja Eva Have Da Feelin’ Dat Ya Wanned NaNoWriMo?

Word Count: 63,265 of 50,000

I wasn’t going to do one of these tonight.  Then I thought, what the hell (you know?)–I needed another distraction from reading.  Yeah, reading.  I need to STOP myself from writing at this point.  I’ve found such a great flow in the story, and I’m doing everything I can to prevent burning out.  I want this to keep going.

Reading regularly usually helps me to write.  If I don’t read for a long period of time, it gets harder to keep myself in the chair and surrendered to the powers of inspiration.  At present I am reading Pride and Prejudice AND Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  I should have the commentary to it up in a few days.

I guess I’ll get to it then.  Thanks for reading!

Oh My NaNoWriMo!

Word Count: 55, 435 of 50,000

Officially surpassed the NaNoWriMo word count goal today!  We’ve been making exciting leaps and bounds in the story.  It’s fun discovering things that work themselves into the plan, but are entirely unplanned.

I find that that is very helpful when it comes to writing.  Allowing for surprised.  New characters spring themselves into the story, adding flavor to “boring but necessary” scenes that come in between the big events of the story.

Does anyone else find their characters running into unexpected, yet great turns?  They don’t necessarily effect the plot, but they add a dimension that wasn’t there in the planning stages.  It’s exciting.

I have tomorrow off from the J. O. B.  I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of writing done.  My goal is 10,000 words for tomorrow alone, but that is pending on getting other things done as well.  Gotta write with Rosie for a bit, I want to pound an article out for the site, and I have to get some reading in.

I’ll probably read tonight.  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is rather entertaining.

NaNoWriMo Boo Boo

Word Count: 41,467 of 50,000

You can’t catch me!  I’m off and running.  More than halfway through the story, and I’m feeling good.  The kids are back in the magical world, and things continue to play out better than planned.

There are all kinds of elements coming together in this story.  I feel like I’m racing towards the finish, seeing the sum of all the hard work that has brought me her.  I’m proud of this journey.

Anyone else experiencing an easier time than they thought?

Writing With Rosie

If I’ve never introduced my sister to you all, let me take this opportunity.  She is not a WriMo…at least not yet, but she is a writer.  She’s had this story in her head for AGES (three years to be exact), and I’ve tried my darnedest to get her to start writing it.

Collaboration seems to be the way I do things nowadays.  Working in a team is my ideal way to work.  Go figure.  Me!  I used to be such a loner.  I digress.  I’m headed over Rosie’s house this afternoon.  Gonna play with my nephew and we’re going to write some of her story.

I’ve planned for Rosie’s funny stories about two middle aged “ladies” of Vermont to be a regular feature on this site.  “The Misadventures of Miss Happs and Miss Fortune” are sure to make many chuckle…or at least raise a few eyebrows. The first chapter will be posted either late tonight or tomorrow.  Check back or subscribe to our RSS feed.

There’s No Place Like NaNoWriMo

Word Count: 34,647 of 50,000

Not bad for the sixth day of writing.  Hah.  I’m sorry.  I know we got a head start, but it’s working!  The drive I was hoping to get from NaNoWriMo has delivered.  Even Rhiannon is getting excited about what’s coming out.  So much better than planned.  Sometimes all it takes is a force to get you through.

Motivational Forces

There are times–for every writer–when coffee, pixie sticks, and other biological forms of motivation just don’t cut it.  You may be sitting in front of your keyboard all day intending to write, but the distractions are too high.  You can’t bring yourself to unplug the internet (you mean disconnect from the world? Scary!), or turn off the cell phone.  How do you focus yourself?  You have to write, but you can’t.

Let’s talk magical forces.  There are as many different kinds of magical forces as you can think of, and the magical force of motivation is a very powerful one.  With motivation, any task–even dreaded ones–take on a life, are quickly completed.  To seek and use a motivational force is to add power to whatever you intend to do.  First, you have to know where to locate it.

In the pit of your stomach, that place that hurts when you feel hungry, that is where motivational forces live.  Go there in your mind.  Feel around.  Whenever you get excited about something, it usually comes from here.

It has been said there is a flame inside all of us.  I believe this is where that flame resides.  Whenever the distractions around me are getting to be too much, I focus on this place.  I feed the fire in a minute’s meditation.

When I feed this fire, it grows, and my fingers find their way through the story–blasting into scenes unthought of.  These are times when it’s just you and your story.  It’s almost as if you are watching it in action.  I find I write the best stuff when I have to do these meditations.  I’ve been doing them daily for NaNoWriMo.

Strike a flame with me!  Add inspiration to your story.   Tell me, what do you do to inspire yourself when you’re not feelin’ it?