Contest Results - Time Again To Celebrate

I have been running a contest for a couple weeks now to celebrate my 200th post. I had planned on choosing the winner this morning, but what can I say. My day job had me busy - on a weekend no less - and I honestly forgot all about it until now.

Thank you for all of the people who stopped by to comment or add their own story of celebration. The stories and poems were fun to read, and I'm happy you all honored me with your entries.

To make things fair, I had my youngest son do the work for me. I typed the names on a page. He then cut the names out, folded them, put them in a hat, and drew out the winner at random.








Before I announce WHO the lucky recipient is, I'll mention the prizes. These prizes come care of the awesome Elana Johnson, who graciously agreed to help me out. They are:

1. A critique of the first 10 pages of a work in progess/final draft/whatever.
2. A critique of your query letter.
3. A free copy of Elana's magnificent e-book From The Query To The Call.

Now if those aren't awesome prizes, I don't know what is.

Are you waiting on the edge of your seat? Can you feel the tense anticipation? Okay, I've made every wait long enough. The lucky winner is:

B.J. Anderson

Woohoo, congratulations B.J.!! I'm pretty sure you already have Elana's email address, but if not, let me know and I'll get you in touch.

Thank you once more to Elana for being so awesome. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support of newbie writers like myself. And thank you everyone else for being a part of this. Maybe I'll do another one of these sometime soon.

Friday Fun - Contest Reminder

It's the last day of the contest folks. If you haven't put in your comment or (better yet) sent me a copy of some celebratory story, poem, etc, then you need to get on the ball. Click here and do your part. Then I can do my part, meaning randomly drawing your name. And then Elana will do her part, namely awarding the prize. Thank you again Elana, for contributing so much to my celebration of 200 posts.

I will perform the random drawing of a name sometime tomorrow morning, so join in on the fun before it's too late. Actually, I'm thinking I will have my youngest son pick the name randomly, and I'll maybe post some photos of said selection process.

On another note, I do plan on discussing how my critique session went with my short story class very soon. Unfortunately it's the end of the month, and that means I have articles due at Brighthub.com and possibly articles to edit as well. My post on the critique may have to wait until tomorrow.

Have a great Friday everyone, and good luck to those who have entered the contest.

Writerly Wednesdays - Consequences

There should always be consequences for our characters' choices. There's a movie I love to hate that really illustrates what happens when we DON'T keep this in mind.

The movie The Family Man (starring Nicholas Cage) is a tragic example of characters lacking consequences. Allow me to explain. Cage plays a single, rich, successful president of a huge corporation. He's insanely rich. An angel (played by Don Cheadle) decides to give Cage a glimpse into how his life would have been different had he made different choices, and Cage wakes up the next morning with a wife and kids. The wife is his old girlfriend from college, whom (in his real life) he didn't stay with because he was pursuing his career. The resulting scenes while he is in this glimpse are actually hilarious and fun.

The ending is where the story fails however. Cage wakes up from his experience back in his old luxury apartment, rich once more. He rushes off to get in touch with his old girlfriend and (after a dramatic speech) they are together again.

The problem with this ending is that he is still rich, his girlfriend is a rich lawyer, and all the choices that brought them (and kept them) together as a family during the glimpse don't exist. They are able to ride off in the sunset and have an even better life together. There are no consequences though, because they are able to have their cake and eat it too. They've attained success in their various careers, and it is assumed that now their marriage (after the end of the movie) will also be successful, full of romance, etc. Every bit of the movie that made it entertaining up to this point has just been completely invalidated.

To take this discussion into the realm of writing, if we make the same mistake in our own story, we will invalidate our own characters and maybe even infuriate our reader. Consequences are a necessary part of writing. Every choice we make in our lives has a consequence. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. Our characters have to be exposed to this as well - even if they are unaware of the consequences or blatantly ignore them. This is a reality of life, and including it in our stories keeps the writing honest and authentic.

If we're writing a murder mystery for example, there has to be a consequence for the killings. If our MC chooses to marry Beth instead of Susie, there should be something given up (or lost out on) as well as something they attain. Becoming a bricklayer instead of a politician for example, means a difference in salary and social echelon. All of these are consequences our MC must experience and face up to if we want our writing to resonate with truth.

What are you thoughts on consequences in writing? Do you consider them as you create your characters?

Edit: Don't forget ladies and gents - only a couple more days to enter the contest. C'mon, you don't want to miss out on these awesome prizes, do you? Get your butt over here and drop off a comment. There's not much time left and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't.

Ten Word Tuesday - Careful Anticipation

The revisions are coming!

The revisions are coming!

Um...Yay?

Monday - I've Finally Decided

I don't remember if I've mentioned this before (primarily because it's not completely writing related) but I've been pondering where I want to go with my professional life. You see, I'm currently a govt IT worker and while I get paid decently enough, I find it no longer fulfilling like it used to be.

The problem with making good money is that switching jobs might mean making less - something that can be difficult when you're supporting a family. I have spent the many weeks since graduation examining where I am, where I'd like to be, and figuring out what it would take to get there. I take my role as my family's provider very seriously, and I have included my wife in all my thoughts and musings.

I decided on basically three possible courses of action. I could remain where I am and retire in another 16 years. I've worked there 16 already, but because of my age, I can't start receiving retirement for some time to come (age 55). This is a sobering thought, because I'm fairly certain I don't want to do this type of work for another 16 years and there really isn't anywhere to advance to.

Another option I have been considering is going back for my Masters degree. I could either go for a Masters in IT - Security or choose a degree in an entirely new direction. The IT degree has some great benefits, one of which is that the program fulfills the basic certifications required for employment by the National Security Agency (as well as other comparable security employers). Such a degree might open significant doors for me.

A third option I have been weighing is working towards becoming a full time writer. This is what we'd all like to do, isn't it. Be able to sit at home and just write all day, in our pajamas no less. There are significant drawbacks to this choice however, most importantly the lack of benefits of any kind (i.e. medical, 401K, etc). I know there are plenty of you out there who do it all the time (and probably make a decent enough living), but this one scares me more than any other.

Last but not least, I have been considering a mentor position working for Western Governors University - the college I recently graduated from. You see, every student at WGU is assigned a mentor that guides them through their degree and helps keep them focused, all the way through to graduation. I was extremely impressed by my own mentor, and I have thought for some time now how much fun that would be. I have also thought how fulfilling it could be, helping people make it through college. The kicker of course is that the entire school is online, so (after a 4-6 month training period at WGU) I would be able to work from home. They also have great benefits, which satisfies the provider in me.

In the end, I've decided I am going back to get my Masters degree after all. I haven't decided WHICH one I will go for, but I'm scheduled to talk to an enrollment councillor soon. I have also decided that I will keep my options open, but I will either be using my degree to go somewhere security related in IT or become a mentor. It will just depend on what opportunities present themselves when I am done.

Don't worry though, fellow writers. Despite the fact that currently I am discounting becoming a full-time writer, I have no intention of stopping. I am just not ready to bet my family's farm (so-to-speak) on it. If I do manage to write a best seller (that sells millions of course), you can rest assured that my plans will change once more. I will continue to write every day, and I will probably still take a writing class here and there where I can.

I feel much better now that I've made a decision - now that I know where I want to go. Kind of ironic, isn't it? In my real life, I like to know where I'm headed. I like to know that my world is safe and secure. In my writing however, I'm content to let the story go where it will, no matter what dangers it holds for my characters. Kind of funny, actually.

Friday - Criticisms and Class Notes

Today I'd like to talk about my thoughts regarding my short story class session this past Wednesday. Jody Hedlund is responsible for getting me going on this though, since she put up a great post on handling feedback on our writing. This particular topic is important to me because (as I've mentioned previously) I just handed my short story to everyone to workshop it.

This is an interesting feeling, putting my work out there to a group of relative strangers and waiting for their feedback. On the one hand, I like to think I enjoy sharing what I write whether it's first draft quality or revised a bit. I know how good (or bad) a writer I am, and I don't have a problem facing up to the mistakes I make.

On the other hand, this is the first thing I have written where I am actively hoping to work it up to publishable quality. What I mean by this is that with the WiPs I've written before, I would like to publish them but that destination is a long way off. With this short story, I can actually see the glow at the end of publication tunnel (and I'm hoping it's not a train). With this thought in mind, I guess I'm a bit more nervous about what these other people might say. I'm trying to remain positive, trying to remember that whatever criticisms they have will only improve my writing. I won't deny however, that part of me hopes they aren't cringing or feeling frustrated at having to workshop a story that (in their viewpoint) obviously isn't ready.

No matter how it turns out, posts like Jody's helps me keep in mind the positive things that can come out of criticism.

Besides turning in my story, class was really fun. We had a few people read off their flash fiction exercises (I didn't do any since I was getting my story ready). I was extremely impressed by the quality of the writing that my fellow students displayed. If I can capture even a little bit of what these people do so well, it'll be awesome.

We also had some on-demand, timed writing exercises that really challenged me. I liked it alot though, because the pressure of time made me just write and not think. That's not to say I didn't pause a couple times, but for the most part I just kept my fingers typing away and it was fun. The exercises involved being given a single word and using that as a launching point for writing something creative. If you've never done this before, I highly recommend it. Just pick a noun or a verb at random, set yourself a short time frame (like 5 - 10 minutes) and write. It was really cool and it was probably the first time I've ever felt like I was writing almost nonstop.

I will pick things up again probably on Monday, since I have alot of reading and class exercises to do this weekend. I also want to mention that I received my copy of Hearts Of The Morning Calm by Galen Kindley a couple days ago. I'm a few chapters in and I am blown away. His writing is phenomenal and I am so happy to be the recipient of this book. I will say that I'm not exactly thrilled by the cover though. Pink is not a color I spend much time with (okay, I actually avoid getting anywhere near pink), and this book has lots of pink on it. The words within the pages however, are more than worth dealing with the barrage of pink.

Sir Kindley has been gracious enough to agree to an interview, which I will conduct once I'm through reading his wonderful tome. Keep your eyes peeled for that coming up soon. And if you haven't entered my contest, get on it. There is only one more week to go, since it ends on April 30th. The prizes to choose from are awesome folks; you'll be kicking yourself if you miss out.

In closing, remember this:

You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose.

But you can't pick your friend's nose.

Ba dum dum dum!

Happy Friday, everyone.

Hit 39...Turn The Page

I have been toying with the idea of this post and I almost wasn't going to put it up until I read something Sandra wrote. It's an interesting post you should read.

People mention the 40th birthday as a significant event, but I'm sitting here at 39 (as of Monday the 19th) and thinking it has more of an impact. It's the silent breath before the battle, the toes extending out over the cliff. Okay, that's a little melodramatic, but hitting 39 does make you think about things.

For starters, my birthday is not as fun as it used to be. I live in Denver, so my birthday is too close to the tragedy at Columbine High School. I even have a cousin who was a teacher there. Then of course there's the Oklahoma City Bombing, another terrible tragedy. And of course, having your birthday right next to Hitler's isn't exactly cool either.

I was not personally affected by these things, but they weigh on my mind nonetheless. When I think about these events, I am saddened by the loss of life for no real purpose.

Turn the page...

Time to get back to more optimistic things. I finished my short story (tentatively titled "The Job") for my writing class. I even managed to do a bit of editing on it. I changed the first section because I felt it didn't catch attention quick enough. The ending is a little abrupt, but I think that's how it has to be.

Since I'm turning it over to the workshop crew this evening, I'm feeling more anxious than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. To make matters worse, I had a co-worker read it this morning and I typed the wrong word in a sentence halfway through. But they're already printed and I really don't want to re-print 10 new copies. Grrrrr.

Oh well, at least I know the error is there and it's not a HUGE error, just a wrong word. Here's hoping there aren't ten million more.

Last but not least, if you haven't entered my contest, get your butt over here. The prizes are awesome, folks. You don't want to miss out on this, and entering is as easy as commenting on a post. Get to it!

Ten Word Tuesday - Criticism

Which is worse...

Preparing for criticism or actually receiving it?

Blog Chain - Different Characters And Exercises

Before I launch into the blog chain question, I want to make sure everyone knows about the contest in progress. If you haven't stopped by this post, you need to. The contest is fun and the prizes are awesome (care of Elana Johnson, writer extraordinaire). Get your butt over there and enter today. I'll wait.

Okay, now that the housekeeping is out of the way, let's get to it. The amazing and talented Sandra has started off this round with two questions. She gave the option to answer one or the other, but I'll do em both. Sandra asks:

Have you ever created a character different from yourself in some significant way, such as (but not limited to) different gender, race, ethnic group, religion, or sexual orientation? If so, what, if any, research did you do to portray these differences? Was this character a main character, secondary character, or walk-on? Did these differences have an impact on the story?

And:

Have you ever written writing exercises? If so, did you find the experience useful? What type of writing exercises were they, and did you do them on your own or as part of a writing class or workshop?

My first attempt at a novel (before I really knew anything at all) had a young Hispanic woman as one of the main characters. Other than being married to a wonderful Hispanic woman who is eternally young (that's right baby, I won't put your age in here. You're 29 and holding, right?), I had no background to pull from. This woman is also homeless, which is another aspect of life I thankfully have not had to deal with. Did I panic? I think not.

I searched around and was able to interview a woman who was working at a place that assists homeless women. She was a young Hispanic woman who had been homeless herself at one point. I wish I could relate her story to the world because it was so amazing. I will say however, that she had a profound effect on how I viewed my main character from that point on. Although I have put the story on hold for now, I will go back to it someday when my writing is significantly improved.

As for the second question, I am currently embroiled in a short story writing workshop. Although we're only a few classes in, we've already been doing some really cool exercises. The first one involved writing an entire story in only 550 words. That was pure torture for me. I guess I'm a masochist though; I didn't quit the class and I can actually say I'm glad I worked through the exercise.

We've also done writing-on-demand, where the teacher gives us a sentence and tell us to go from there. We're dealing with flash fiction currently, something I've never worked on before. Oh, and of course we're writing our own short story, to be workshopped by the group. Did I mention that I get the honor of turning mine in first tomorrow? Can you say stressed out? I'm more than a little nervous.

In any event, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Michelle Hickman is following me tomorrow, so make sure you stop by and read what she has to say.

More Contests

If it's not enough to enter my contest, you can always head over to Sarah With A Chance. She's holding a contest that makes mine look positively weak by comparison. Still, if one of you manage to win it, that'd still be cool. If I do, you know I'll be shouting to the rafters. So head on over, fill out the form, comment on her blog, put up a post about it. Oh, and if you do manage to announce it (successfully) to Oprah, I definitely want to know you have those kind of connections.

Good luck!

Friday Celebrations - Contest Alert!

Since I recently put up my 200th post, it's time to celebrate. And what better way to celebrate than with a contest?

What are the details of this contest? It took me a few days to decide how I wanted to do this, but I've come up with something I think will be really fun. I love reading what others write, so I'd like you to write something for the contest. The topic is a celebration. You can relate a funny story involving a real celebration or you can make up something completely fictional. It can be short or long, any genre. If you don't want to put it into the comments section (because you don't want anyone else reading it), email it to me at estallsworth@comcast.net. Just make sure you put in a comment mentioning that you did that. I will then randomly select a winner.

Just to make this clear, I will NOT be judging the quality of your writing. I just enjoy reading how different people handle the same topic. And I am learning how important it is that we keep writing all the time, so this is a great excuse to motivate you all.

Now, I can hear some of you out there groaning. You don't really want to share your writing, you hate writing exercises, whatever it is. I'm not about to be an ogre, so if you just want to be entered in the contest without being forced to write, that's fine. Just get me a note from your mother (just kidding). All commentors will be included in the drawing regardless of whether they actively participate or not. I'm of course hoping that alot of you WILL write, but I'm not going to require it. This is about fun and celebrating, after all.

The closing date for this contest will be in two weeks on April 30th. That will (hopefully) give everyone plenty of time to write something (if they so desire).

The prize for this contest is awesome. Somehow I have managed to convince the extremely talented Elana Johnson to pony up her services. Whoever wins this contest get their choice of one of the following:

1. A critique of the first 10 pages of a work in progess/final draft/whatever.
2. A critique of your query letter.
3. A free copy of Elana's magnificent e-book From The Query To The Call.

Don't ask how I managed to obtain the prizes from Elana. I offered up my soul, but Elana replied she'd rather have cash. Kidding people, kidding. She was actually okay with a soul contract.

In closing, enjoy the following video. Feel free to dance along in your office/cubicle/living room.

Bare Bones Homework

Here is what I finally ended up with, though it's not completely finished.

Peter grabbed the rough wooden rail with a calloused hand. He exhaled and straightened with effort. Today marked his third attempt at impressing Cynthia, to no avail. His complete lack of agility made Peter nothing more than a practice dummy for the real knights. He wished there were an easier way to win Cynthia’s heart than combat on the practice field, but gallantry seemed to be the only thing she cared about.

With these thoughts in mind, Peter ignored the pain and puffed his chest out. He nodded at the man who’d sent him sprawling and strutted off the field. Peter kept up the pretense until he was out of sight of the castle, even though every step reminded him of the bruises he’d sport tomorrow.

No matter how often Peter practiced with sword and shield however, his skill never improved. Peter refused to give up. Every afternoon he swung a rough wooden sword at a makeshift target. His daydreams were filled with the sounds of steel upon steel, his body encased in brilliant armor, and Cynthia cheering him on. Every evening however, Peter faced the grim reality of his destitute life. There was no beautiful, wealthy woman to admire his prowess – only barren farmlands and a crumbling home.

Then one evening as Peter was rubbing sore arm muscles and cursing his luck, a knock came at the door. Nobody ventured out here, he thought. Maybe it’s a bandit. He shrugged and headed for the door. He had nothing to steal, and killing him was probably not worth anyone’s time. The well-dressed man at his door was not what Peter had expected. The man caught him off guard, so much so that Peter didn’t even object when the man strode in without so much as a word.

“You are in need of help, young man. And I can provide it…for a price, of course.” The man’s deep voice sent chills down Peter’s spine.

“Sir, I don’t know what you’re selling, but I ain’t got a single coin to hold in muh hand.”

The man touched a finger on the dusty table, clucking his tongue. “Oh, I think we can come to an agreement, my young friend.” He turned to face Peter. “You wish to win the girl’s heart, don’t you? I can provide you with a sword that rivals all others. And all I need is your signature.”

None of this made sense to Peter, but any chance to win Cynthia’s heart was worthwhile no matter how odd. He signed the paper with an odd quill the man provided, and then the odd man folded the document carefully.

“You don’t have a seal, do you?” the man asked. Peter shook his head, so the man said, “Don’t worry, a drop of your blood will do in place of wax. I will seal it myself.” A prick from the man’s long fingernail, and the agreement was sealed. Then the man pulled forth a magnificent sword that gleamed in the faint light. “With this sword, you will never lose.”


Feel free to comment. I've got thick enough skin so don't worry about hurting my feelings.

Week Two Of Class - Almosts and Uh Oh's

This week's session in my short story class was...interesting. For starters, I arrived a few minutes early rather than stumbling in late like last week. That helped a bunch, since I don't enjoy the embarrassment I feel whenever I arrive late somewhere.

We had a writing assignment to create a bare bones story. We were supposed to write something very short that adhered to a basic framework. Somebody wants something. They are striving to obtain it. Something blocks their way. They overcome this with the help of something supernatural. Tada, The End. Note, I'm keeping this very general because my teacher asked me to not re-iterate the workings of the class. But this is the general idea of our homework.

Those of you who remember I'm a pantster, raise your hands. Can you imagine how much I struggled to plot out the story? I fought against my natural writing instincts, I wrote passages and abandoned them as either inept or not following instructions. I even wrote the entire thing before realizing that while it was a decent story, it didn't really fit the proposed exercise. I started over too many times to count. And in the end, I wasn't able to completely finish the story (though I did come extremely close). I just ran out of time, to be honest.

I will post an excerpt of this final version of my story in the next post. Then you can all point, giggle behind your hands (the ladies, that is. I'm hoping none of you men out there would giggle behind your hands), and see what happens when I am out of my comfort zone. It's not my best work, I fully admit.

The one good thing I got out of this however, was a clear understanding of why I need to do something similar to this when I am writing. While I might not want to plot everything out, I do need to answer the basic questions. Why is my character here? What do they want? What is keeping them from it? So the exercise did help me, even if I didn't quite finish it successfully.

One other thing I noticed during the class was how much it reminded me of a group meeting. The only thing missing was each of us standing up to say "Hi, my name is Eric and I'm a writer." I've never been involved in this type of atmosphere, and I honestly can't say whether I really like it or really hate it. Sometimes I feel like I talk too much, and then other times I feel like I should speak up and I don't. I have this war going on inside my head, pride fighting against my lack of self confidence. Or maybe it's the idea that what I have to say will sound incredibly idiotic, as if everyone else views the sky as blue and for some reason I'm seeing purple.

The 'Uh Oh' hit at the end of class when we had to pick workshop dates for our short stories (the ones we will be receiving direct feedback on). The teacher started the signup sheet going the other way around the circle, so of course by the time it got to me, the only spot left was to be the first one to submit. So yeah, I have to have my story ready to go by next Wednesday. I'm so glad I started messing around with this thing a month ago or I'd really be stressing. I'm still stressing a bit because I know how rough it is. It's a first draft still. And I still have the last quarter of it to write. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I should have the results on it in two weeks.

A question for you all as I wrap this up. Have you been in a writing class or something like this before? If so, how did you deal with feeling comfortable about speaking up, being a part of the discussion?

Ten Word Tuesday - It's Good To Be The...Writer

What other industry allows you to commit murder with impunity?

Monday Moments

There are a couple of things I've been meaning to mention, just in case you haven't stumbled upon them yourself. These are posts by others that have piqued my interest and are noteworthy for one reason or another.

For starters, if you haven't heard about Shaun's book The Deathday Letter, you're missing out. If you want to see what all the fuss is about though, Shaun is offering a glimpse at his work in the form of the first chapter (and the second as well, if you become a fan of the Facebook page). I have read excerpts of what Shaun can do, but this view into his book is awesome.

Once you come back from reading Shaun's chapter, you need to dance your way over to a post by The Surly Writer. Michelle takes a simple idea like walking around and turns it into an incredible experience. She depicts those around her with an unnerving accuracy - would that I could grab even a sliver of that skill. Her post left me visibly shaken, because of how wonderful it is to see the world through her literary eyes for a moment.

Finally, I wanted to talk about a story from another medium that I recently re-watched. I sat down with my sons yesterday to watch Soylent Green. If you've never had the pleasure of watching this one, I highly recommend it. It's understandably an older flick, but I think it has still aged well. In fact, my 16 year old and 11 year old sons enjoyed it as well. The big stars you may recognize are Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson. I won't spoil the story for you either, other than to say it's apolyptic sci-fi fun.

In ending this post, I just realized this is post# 199. Wow, where did the time go? I am going to have to think of what to do for my 200th post.

Blog Chain - Marketing For 100, Alex

That's right sports...er...literary fans, its blog chain time. The question this time around comes care of our own wonderful Michelle Mclean (yeah, we have two Michelles on the blog chain now, so I gotta specify). She poses the following question:

Do you write for the market or for yourself? Why? Are there times you do both? Or times when you've written something specifically because it was "hot" at the moment? If so, how did it turn out?

This is a fairly easy question for me to answer because I'm the resident newbie on the blog chain (or at least I feel like one most times). You see, I am not yet at the level where I am ready to market my works, put myself out there, etc. So when I write, it's for me and me alone. Now this is not to say that I don't wonder if what I am writing will ever be marketable, but I don't feel educated enough yet to worry too much about it.

For just a moment however, I will expand my thoughts and answer the question as if I WERE ready to market my writing. Knowing myself, I think I'd still have to write what I write because it's in my head at the time. I've never been very good at writing what others expect me to write. I don't think it helps my creativity at all, and in the end the writing just comes out forced. The times when I feel like I've written something well confirm this; the writing is good because I lose myself in the words, not because I am writing something I think will sell.

I'm an eternal optimist I guess. I truly do believe that if the writing is good, it'll sell no matter what. A perfect example of this is Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet by Jamie Ford. Yes, I'm a vocal champion of his work, but that's beside the point. The story involves the time period right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. While there may be older generations who can directly identify with this time period, there are a ton of us who can't. For many people these days, the bombing of Pearl Harbor is something that happened in the history books, not something they identify with. Regardless of this fact however, it is my belief that the writing on the page is incredible enough that any generation could get happily lost in the story. I also believe (after interviewing the author himself) that he just wrote the story because it was a good story, not because he thought he could sell it.

My heart tells me this is true. The part of me who believes that good writing is marketable, no matter what the subject matter. Optimistic to the extreme perhaps, but it keeps me working at my craft so that I can improve.

Someday I hope to be ready to put my works out there, to be querying alongside all the rest of you. I'm quite certain however, that whatever I put out there will be whatever I manage to scrawl on a page. It may not be part of the current trend, and then again it might. What I hope it will always be is my best work.

If you haven't had a chance to read my predecessor Sandra's answer, you really should stop by. And tomorrow, you can read an answer from one of our newest members of the blog chain, Michelle Hickman a.k.a. The Surly Writer(she's not really that surly, btw).

What are your thoughts on this question? Do you write for the market or yourself? And no, your answer doesn't have to be in the form of a question.

Class Writing Prompt #1

Henry’s gift to Clara was a cruise to the Arctic, just for her. He’d been planning this for months. The day he was ready to present it however, Clara was late coming home from work. 5 PM came by. 6 PM. Where the heck could she be? Her law firm was known for late hours, but he didn’t know of any pending cases she was working on.

“Yes, I’m looking for my wife. Is she in a meeting?”

“I’ll have to check, Mr. Robbins.” The hold music dragged on. “I’m sorry Mr. Robbins, Mrs. Robbins has left for the day.”

Too many unspoken questions waited on his lips. He didn’t want to cause a scene , but he was getting worried. Clara was too well known by the city’s underbelly. Death threats were almost becoming commonplace, despite her assurance that they amounted to nothing. Truth be told, he was the timid one. Clara was a bulldog with a law degree.

“Thank you for checking. I’ll call her on her cell.”

He hung up and dialed again, knowing that she wouldn’t answer. Clara was a stickler for turning off her cell phone while driving. The fact that she should already be home didn’t escape him, but Henry was ignoring the warnings pounding in his head.

There was a knock on the door. Clara wouldn’t knock. He jumped towards the door and yanked it open, but he wasn’t surprised by the badge and the gun. Henry just leaned against the doorframe and closed his eyes. Too late.

Where Have I Been? Man, Let Me Tell You...

I hadn't planned on being unplugged from 'Da Muse for an entire week. But like my writing, life rarely works out as planned.

Today is the beginning of a new series of posts. I am currently enrolled in a class about writing short stories, and I intend to chronicle my thoughts on each Thursday (for the next 8 weeks, anyway). I promised my teacher I would not discuss the details about the class, I wouldn't post the work of others, and I would make this just about me. If you get anything out of this (even if it's laughter at my feeble attempts), the posts are worthwhile.

I arrived barely on time (maybe even a minute or two late), which is not a good thing for me. Arriving fifteen minutes early was burned into my brain before I even left the womb. Being late made me a tad bit nervous, which I didn't need since my stomach was already doing flips.

The class was already involved in an exercise to get to know one another, and ironically that helped make me feel better. It was fun, I got to see how similar and different we all are, and I didn't feel THAT different. There are some people in the class who are very experienced (maybe) and there are those like me who need more guidance. The range of personalities is across the spectrum too, which is cool. Me, I'm not the quietest of the bunch but I don't think I'm the most vocal either. Another guy holds that title.

After we got to know one another, we read a short story and discussed it. I like and yet don't like this type of thing. I like the fact that I get to hear so many different perspectives. There were things I didn't notice when I read the story that others did. That was interesting. What I don't like however, is trying to discuss why the author wrote one thing as opposed to another. That type of discussion just bugs me, primarily because I don't think that's a question anyone else can answer. But overall, it was still fun and useful.

The last thing we did was a writing prompt. We were given one sentence and told to write the rest. I'm going to post what I wrote on the next entry (since this one has dragged on a bit), but I'd like to say this was the most enjoyable part of yesterday's class. It challenged me to write without thinking. I did a very good job of not editing, and I kept typing the whole time (pretty much anyway). And despite the first draft nature of the writing, I like what I churned out. It has potential anyway. I now have some homework to work on, which involves some reading AND some writing. I'm really excited and looking forward to next week.

Do Your Characters Order You Around?

For most writers, I can guess the answer to that question. I was talking to some friend's last night though and the conversation cracked me up inside. My friend's daughter was talking about Stephanie Meyers and a quote that she said. She basically stated that the characters in the Twilight series made her write the books a certain way, that she had no choice in the matter.

The daughter thought that idea was crazy. I explained to her that I didn't think that was all that bizarre and that alot of writers feel that way about their characters. She gave me a weird look, but didn't really say anything.

This morning though, I was thinking about this again and I had to laugh. If you had told me a year ago about something like this, I would have thought the idea was a little crazy too. It's funny how I don't think that's too weird now. I can hear all you plotters out there siding with my friend's daughter though. If I planned my novel out, I'd be in control, right? Yeah, that particular habit is something I doubt I'll ever adopt in any big way. For one thing, I get a thrill out of seeing where my characters are taking me. It's that bit of unknown that makes me chuckle and keep writing.

On the other hand, I can see how being in control might make it easier for me to guide the story. I'd be telling the character what to say and where to go. But in the end, they wouldn't be themselves; they'd be mirrors of me, walking through the storyline. By letting them work their own way through the story, I believe it lets me envision them in clearer detail and with more realism.

What about all of you out there? Do your characters order you around? Do they tell you how the story needs to be? And how often do you listen?

Has Your Writing Run Its Course?

I hope everyone enjoyed the courtroom drama. I thought about putting up another post to finish things up, but then I realized there was nothing else to say. For one thing, the courtroom series was more for me than anything else. If you didn't catch on, the unnamed defendant was myself and the witnesses were main characters in my various WiPs. The purpose of the exercise was to do some characterization, to feel out my characters for a bit. It worked well I think, and I got a clearer idea of who these people are.

I've never been one for making lists. Sitting down and listing my character's favorite color or personality quirks is not my thing. I'd much rather put them in a situation and watch how they move through it. I also have a very short attention span, so I envisioned how my characters would feel knowing that I have put them to the side for a while. In their mind, they probably felt abandoned though in mine they are still a character I'll come back to. I also got some really awesome feedback from Kat that identified some phrasing I need to tighten up. Thanks Kat, I appreciated the insight.

What I mean by the title of this post is that my courtroom scenes have run their course and I don't really feel like writing more about it. I get this way from time to time, where I start a scene or story and get into it for a while. And then I'll come upon a place where I just don't feel like continuing. Either I don't like where the story is going, or I'm not feeling the characters. See attention span comment above. Yeah, it's a serious problem that my eons of life and experience has not eradicated. Okay, maybe not eons. Just a few decades.

Have you ever been writing a story and decided that it's over, before you really expected it to be?

Ten Word Tuesday - Story Ideas

Want a story idea?

Borrow the eyes of a child.

Blog Chain - Can We Talk?

This latest edition of the blog chain is Kate's fault. So go to her blog and blame her. Just kidding, Kate. You always have cool questions, and this one is no different.

The question she poses to those of us working the chain is the following:

Do you enjoy writing dialogue? Do you use a lot of dialogue in your writing (for our purposes "a lot" will be defined as more than a smidge and yet not so much that the quotes key on your computer is completely worn out.)? Do you have example(s) of dialogue you especially enjoyed from something you've read? Do you have example(s) of dialogue from your own writing? What about these examples makes them special?


Okay, she is actually asking a bunch of questions, but it's all on one subject - dialogue. So lets talk, shall we?

When I first read this subject, I was thinking how much fun it would be to explore this. Then as I began to ask myself these questions, I realized something. I really do not like dialogue. I've never enjoyed creating dialogue, probably because it just doesn't seem to come naturally.

When I first began writing dialogue, I would constantly make that terrible mistake - trying to find another word for "said". For example:


"That was exactly what I wanted you to think", Derek breathed.

"No", Sheila screamed.

"Yes" Derek exclaimed. "And now you will suffer for it".


Yeah, terrible dialogue. Thankfully I learned, and I try not to make that mistake these days.

As far as an example of dialogue I have liked, I take you to the words of J.R.R. Tolkien in The Hobbit. The following scene is when the trolls are discussing how they want to cook their newly captured dwarves.


"No good roasting 'em now, it'd take all night," said a voice. Bert thought it was William's.

"Don't start the argument all over again, Bill," he said, "or it will take all night."

"Who's a-arguing?" said William, who thought it was Bert that had spoken.

"You are," said Bert.

"You're a liar," said William; and so the argument began all over again.


I like this section of dialogue especially because of a few things. There's a hidden speaker here, but Bert and William don't figure that out. This speaks to their apparent lack of intellect, giving us a glimpse into their character. It also speaks to the talents of the hidden speaker, who turns out to be Gandalf the wizard.

Okay, it was probably too easy to pick something from Tolkien, but he's about the only author I could remember off the top of my head. I do pay attention to dialogue more these days, so maybe the next time this comes around, I'll have a better example.

As for my own writing, I'll give you a glimpse into my current WiP. In this scene, the main character Trevor just got grilled by his boss. He is not himself, and his friend Brent notices.


“Trevor, you listening? Man, you were this close to serious trouble. What the heck has gotten into you?”

“Nothing Brent”, Trevor shook his head. “I just had a bad night, didn’t get much sleep. I wasn’t paying attention and I took a wrong turn, that’s all.” He tried to smile at his friend, “Thanks for trying anyway.” How the hell was he going to get two specimens done in one day?

“It’s okay. Boy, Stein really has it in for you. Sure, he’s not great under any circumstances, but he seems to enjoy watching you squirm.” Giggles erupted from Brent’s mouth, smothered only barely by his meaty palm.

“Thanks a lot, pal.” Trevor tossed Brent a glare, more brutal than he intended.

“I’m just kidding, Trev. Really. Don’t be mad.”


I hope I am improving in my use of dialogue, but I honestly can't say if it's good enough. What I do like about this example is that I can feel their character coming through. I can visualize what is going on here, see these two having this conversation. I at least feel that I'm on the right track, but I do still feel unsteady when it comes to dialogue.

One thing I can say is that I am paying attention to everyone else on the chain with these questions. While it's been difficult to answer these, I have to thank Kate because I have the opportunity to learn a great deal from my fellow blog chainers.

Now that I've done my best with this one, head on over to Kat's blog to see what she has to say. If you haven't read my predecessor Sandra's answer, you need to go check that out too.

Contest Fun

I'm not feeling completely recovered yet, so my unplug period will have to extend just a bit longer. But I wanted to tell everyone about the contest Beth Revis is holding in celebration for her recent book deal. If you haven't visited her page before, you really need to. She is an inspiration to all of us writers, and now she is an example of how determination will help you succeed. So drop by her blog, sign up for the contest (did I mention she is giving away some super duper cool prizes for both readers AND writers), and then browse through all the previous content she's put up. Trust me, if you haven't visited her yet, this is one mouse click you won't regret.

Congratulations Beth. And good luck to everyone who enters her contest.

Ten Word Tuesday - Relief

What is relief?

When a sinus headache finally goes away.

Out Sick

My wonderful son brought something home with him on Friday. Now I've got it. So yeah, this is probably going to be a couple unplug days.

I hate being sick. I get grumpy, I'm always tired, and I'm so not myself. And I don't have time to take off work, which really sucks.

Anyway, if I'm not commenting like usual, this is why. I hope to be back to normal asap.

Wednesday Wonderings - Is Your End Abupt?

I just got done reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. A few words of note however, before I plunge into the discussion. This book isn't my usual type of thing for two very distinct reasons:

1. It's a YA-genre book, which is definitely not my first choice.
2. 1st person writing, which I'm usually do not like.

I did not know that it had sci-fi elements when I picked it up, but it was a nice surprise. Honestly, I didn't know alot about the author or the book, other than I had seen quite a bit of mention here and there about it. On the whole, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Until the very end, that is.

Without spoiling the story for any of you haven't read it, I will merely say the end of the story was very abrupt. It just ended. There are all sorts of questions in my head at this point, wondering what will happen to the various characters. I also noticed the final line which reads "End Of Book One", an obvious clue that this is part of a series. So there is a reason for the book to end this way. But it got me to thinking about endings.

In this particular case, the author had a really good reason. The MC has done some things that have severe implications within her world, and it goes beyond just saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. In an interview in fact, Suzanne Collins even stated that she hadn't intended to write the story as a series but that it became one due to necessity.

The topic of endings is especially important to me at the moment because I am working on ending my current WiP. I am not intending for this book to be part of a series, so I am trying to tie up all the various plot threads into a neat package. The question that bugs me is how to end it properly, without being too abrupt. There will be hanging questions of course, because my story ends with a cataclysmic change in human society. Deciding which questions to answer and which to ignore is one of my difficulties.

This got me to thinking about the idea that no story truly ever ends. If you think about it, there really is no way to end a story. For example, let's say the MC of a story dies at the end. A tale could still be told regarding those left behind, dealing with the loss of this person. What if the MC leaves for greener pastures? There's a story to be told regarding what it's like when they get there or what the place is like now that they are gone. Let's face it - unless you are writing an ending in which everyone lives happily ever after, there are threads of stories hanging off the edge.

I don't yet have any concrete ideas where I will draw the line and finally type The End. How do you deal with endings in your respective stories? How do you decide a particular plot thread is so secondary that it needn't be resolved?

Ten Word Tuesday - Working In I.T.

If we take away the users...

...computers work just fine!

Wednesday Winnings And Comparisons Of Skill

Thanks to the talented and successful Galen Kindley, I'm a winner! Galen's book Hearts of the Morning Calm is about to be published, and he is holding a contest to win some free copies. Jane Kennedy Sutton and I were the first lucky winners. Time to do a happy dance, Snoopy style!

I have been a fan of Galen's work from the moment I first stumbled on his blog, and it's an understatement to say I am excited to receive his book. Ecstatic might cover it. Because of this honor, expect to see an interview of Sir Galen (he's unofficially a knight, we're just waiting for the Queen to acknowledge it) here at The Muse soon. I will also be posting a review of the novel, once I'm done enjoying it that is.

This brings me to the topic of comparing ourselves to other writers (aspiring or otherwise). Christine got me thinking about this, thanks to her recent post. Her post hit home as I realized I have been doing this writing/blogging thing for over a year now. When I look back at where I started...well, let's just say only force of will keeps me from deleting those first posts. But what I can say is that I have learned so much in the past year. I had to stop for a moment though and take stock. Do I compare myself to other writers I've met here in blogland? Sure I do.

Christine had an interesting quote that I don't entirely agree with:

"When I compare myself to anyone else, I negate the power of my own journey. And I lose the purpose of the journey in the first place."

While I understand her meaning, I disagree with the idea that comparison mandates negativity. I prefer to approach comparison from a different perspective. When I compare myself to other writers, I get the chance to evaluate what they are doing right, what I may be doing wrong, and figure out how to improve overall. Rather than viewing comparison as a disintegration of self, I see opportunity.

There are a few writers/authors I've had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with (online, anyway). Each of these people have had an effect on how I think, how I write, and how I view literature. Some leave me daunted, with the feeling that I'll never be able to write as well. But most have something to teach me, whether they are aware that's what they're doing or not. I have watched success stories like Jody Hedlund unfold, and her example gives me hope. I marvel in awe at the writers in The Literary Lab, as all three of them challenge us to think deeply about our craft. I keep a sliver of hope alive that someday I'll be ready for Elana's book about querying.

Christine is an author I have a great deal of admiration for, and so this post is not meant to be a detraction. While I may disagree with her statement, I see the determination and drive behind it. These are wonderful qualities, and they are one of the many reasons I look up to Christine. What I take away from her post is that I need to remember who I am at the core and not let anything deter me from continuing my journey towards publication.

Do you compare yourself to other writers? If so, how do you deal with the results of your comparisons?

Ten Word Tuesday - Ego Boost

Writing something good...awesome.

Readers expressing they like it...magnificent!

Blog Chain - Are You Writing Large?

Normally you wouldn't be seeing two blog chain posts in a row. But for the first time, I am the lucky individual who gets to start things off. Let me tell you, I put in the time on this one. I went through every question my fellow chainers have asked over the past year, just to make sure I didn't repeat a topic. That was probably a mistake too, because there have been some really awesome questions. I have to say, it's a little daunting to be in the company of such fine individuals.

In any event, I racked my brains for a while and came up with the following question:

Do you create characters that are larger-than-life or are your characters more like the average Joe?

First off, when I think larger-than-life, I think of people who are exceptionally talented. The hunky knight who's 6'5", 250 lbs of muscle, saves the damsel without getting his armor smudged, and brings about the sunrise just by staring at the horizon. Okay, that's a little overdone, but hopefully you get the idea.

With regards to my own writing, I generally choose characters that are average Joes. This is probably because I really enjoy exploring the capability of people, their ability to adjust to unexpected circumstances, and how average people can come out on top even when things look impossible. Despite how dark some of my writing gets, I'm probably the eternal optimist.

The other aspect I like about the average person is how realistic they can be. This depends on the genre of course, but if you put an average person into any circumstances, there is a story waiting to be told. How does this person deal with conflict? Do they fall in love with someone who is unattainable? Do they have the quirks that can impede their success as much as further their progress? Add to this the fact that the average Joe needs to struggle to overcome larger-than-life problems and you have a tale really worth telling.

The problem with larger-than-life characters is that sometimes it's too easy for them. Their abilities allow them to do things that others can't. While this might be more exciting, it lacks the drama of the average Joe trying to succeed similarly. All of this is not to say that I don't enjoy larger-than-life characters when I read or watch a movie. But with my own characters, it's rare that they are anything other than average (at least when the tale begins).

Finally, it needs to be said that I don't always choose my characters. More often, they choose me. There are a whole host of average characters out there looking for me, waiting for me to tell their tale. Almost like stalkers. Kind of creepy, when you think about it. Anyway, all I know is that I will be more likely to tell Gulliver's Travels than Rambo.

What type of characters do you create?

Now that I've given my take on it, I'll pass the virtual torch to Kat. Stop by her page and see how she answers this one.

Blog Chain - What World Am I In? And How Did I Get Here?

Thank God today is a blogchain day, because I can talk about things that are much brighter and fun than yesterday. Yeah, don't ask me where that morbid post came from. I almost didn't post it after I re-read it, but in the end my muse grabbed the mouse and did what he wanted to do.

Enough of yesterday though. Today, I'm here to talk about characters and their worlds. Specifically, the talented Cole poses the following question:

How do you get inside your character's world?

Since I'm usually typing by the seat of my pants, I learn about my character's worlds through their eyes. Let me explain with a few examples.

In one of my WiPs, the idea for the story sprung from driving by a bowling alley's darkened parking lot. The look of the shadows and the way the streetlights cast pools of pale amber just lit my muse on fire and suddenly I had an idea. But even though the world began from a real place near my home, that didn't mean it would stay that way. My MC began to take me on a tour through the world as he worked his way through the story. I learned about the world he lives in as I wrote, rather than planning or building it.

My NaNo WiP is set on Earth in the far future, and I am still discovering all of it's intricacies as I write. I didn't initially envision an underground base deep below the city, abandoned by humanity for eons. But my characters took me there and showed me how the world had changed over the centuries. Each step they take in the story helps flesh out their world for me, and I just try to keep up.

The only exception to this freeform world-building is the first novel I attempted to write. The MC is a homeless woman on the streets of Denver, and I chose this location purposely. I've grown up here in Denver and have lived here all my life. And although the story is mostly about the character, I didn't want to put it in a city that I would have trouble describing. I felt that if I had to tell this particular story from a location I wasn't really familiar with, the focus would drift off the character as I tried to describe her surroundings.

I guess my real answer is that I am pulled into the world of my characters by the characters themselves. They are my tour guides as they walk through the story. I also know that these days my writing is description-light, because I have been concentrating on writing a good story first. I hate research (although I enjoy learning about real places, so figure that one out), which is probably why I discover the worlds in this manner.

If you missed out on my predecessor BJ's post on the subject, you need to go check it out. Tomorrow, you can read what the awesome Shaun has to say as he rounds out this topic.

Ten Word Tuesday - Graduation

Graduation is awesome...

Now time to start learning some more!

I've Figured Out The Problem

If you haven't noticed, I've been having a problem. I sit down to write a post, and...nothing. It finally dawned on me what the heck is wrong with me.

When I first began this blog, it was for a purpose. I wanted to have a place to explore writing, share with other writers, and learn what I could. I also wanted a place I could write whatever I wanted and share it with all of you. Up until recently, I'd been able to do this. But I started thinking about what I post and wondering if I should post my writings here.

Then I realized that by putting my stories here, they would in all likelihood not be publishable later. I then decided not to put excerpts up here, for fear that I'd stumble on great idea and not be able to develop it into something later. The problem is that this effectively shut down the main reason I am on here - to have fun.

By stifling myself and restricting what I post, I closed off that part of my creativity, and I've really been struggling to find the words for posts. For the last few days, this has been the only thing on my mind. I didn't even manage to put up a Ten Word Tuesday post, which I regret.

Anyway, after thinking it over at great length, I've decided to return to the roots of what this blog should be about - my writing. I am throwing caution to the wind, and from now on I will be posting whatever thoughts happen to crawl onto the page. If nothing else, I'm all about having fun. And the last few days have not been fun. So it's time to get back to what I enjoy, which is just writing for the sake of writing and not worrying about what becomes of it.

Alas, you will need to bear with me a bit longer however, because after today's post I will once again be unplugged until Tuesday. You see, I'm headed out on the road tomorrow to drive to Salt Lake City, UT, where I will be donning the ceremonial graduation attire and walking across the stage. Since my family (my wife, my kids, and even my parents) are making this trip with me, it'd probably be rude of me to ask them to be quiet so I can put up a post or two. You can expect however, that upon my return (assuming we don't get lost in the snowstorms or crash along the way), I'll post some pics from the trip.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that the weather doesn't get too bad. And starting next week, I'll get back to what this blog is really about - fun with writing.

My Outlines Are Premises...Sort Of

I had an awesome story idea this morning, and I decided to start a project on it. Rather than do my usual however (see, I'm learning), I grabbed a notepad and pencil and started writing a rough outline. Have no fear, all you pantsters out there. I have not gone to the darkside. I'm just trying to improve my writing so that I can still write by the seat of my pants - albeit within a rough framework.

As I started writing it out however, I noticed that instead of writing Chapter 1 - do this, Chapter 2, do that, I was writing ideas. I'm not completely disappointed in my process though, because I was able to map my way through the story (sort of).

One interesting thing I notice (looking back on it) is that I was thinking about some important things, such as why my MC wants to do this instead of that or why the antagonist(s) are in conflict. I scratched out this sentence or that one, realizing that it wasn't working. It was really fun.

Now I have a (extremely) rough framework, but at least I know the rough path the story should take. I know where to begin, what the middle will consist of (okay, a little shaky here, will need filling to be good), and how the story will end up. There's still plenty of room in there for being a pantster, which satisfies my creative muse quite fine.

The question I pose to all of you is this - what makes it an outline as opposed to a premise or synopsis? And does it really matter?

Rapping About Books

I had to put up a link post about a video I saw on Notes from New England. Rather than embed it here, I'll just urge you to go there and check it out. Besides, the blog she hosts is pretty awesome too. Enjoy.

Ten Word Tuesday - Voices

Hearing voices in your head is crazy...

...unless you write.

Blog Chain - Mistakes

This blog post brought to you by the number 4 and the letter "R".

Oh wait. Actually this blog post is brought to you care of Rebecca, who asks:

What is the best mistake you've made so far in your journey as a writer? How has that mistake helped you grow :)?

Wow, where do I begin? There have been so many mistakes I've made in this journey so far, sometimes they feel like they outweigh the successes. There's the whole "trying to do NaNo at the same time I'm trying to pass my last class in college". Yeah, that was a big mistake.

Then there's the "pay attention to what you choose to post here, because duh stupid, it's considered published." Yeah, that was a dumb mistake too.

Probably the best mistake I've ever made involved arrogance. When I first began this writing journey a year ago, I figured I could just plunge in and start writing. People had been telling me forever I could write, right? They must know what they're talking about. Oh, and I guess the fact that they are family and friends doesn't mean they're being less than objective, huh?

I figured out how much a mistake this was once I had someone with real talent critique my work. The big hammer came slamming down, and I realized just how much I have to learn. This was a hard lesson to learn too, because it was a huge blow to the ego. But it taught me something I should already be familiar with - humility. It's okay to believe in yourself, as long as you remain realistic.

I truly believe this mistake has given me the opportunity to become a better writer and not embarrass myself by querying something that is really not ready. It also prompted me to take some classes, so that I CAN become a better writer. I'm learning that altering the way I thought I should write is not necessarily a bad thing. It's not set in stone, and changing my ways doesn't mean I need to sacrifice my story - or my writer's voice.

This is a great question because it highlights something we should all know and accept. Mistakes are a good thing; they challenge us, put our feet to the figurative flames. And hopefully after we rub the pain from the burns, we can stand up once more and begin walking in a new and better direction.

Now head on over to Sandra (who preceded me) or put a note on your calendar for tomorrow so you can read Kat's response. Which may or may not be brought to you by the number 4 and letter "R".

Contest Entry - Why I Write

This post is my entry in the contest B.J. Anderson is holding. What can I say, I want me some Twinkies (and the gift card wouldn't be half bad either).

The question she asks for this is "Why do we write?"

Unlike so many other of my fellow writers, I am not one who feels the call. I don't have so many little voices in my head having convoluted conversations, begging me to tell their tale. I don't sit up late at night with my fingers upon the keyboard, the words flowing out like so much golden honey on warm biscuits (okay, sometimes I'm lucky enough to have those moments, but it's rare). Oh, and yes I am incredibly envious of all you writers who DO experience these things.

I write for three reasons:

1. I've discovered I have the knack for it (even if it's only the rare occasion when I can look at a passage I've written and declare it brilliant).
2. Writing provides a platform for my creativity, a facet of my being that has been ignored (or forgotten) for far too long.
3. Writing makes me feel good, not only about myself but also about what I can give to those around me.

The first reason may sound arrogant, but I'm proud of myself when I write something worthy. If you can't recognize when you're writing well and give yourself a pat on the back once in a while, you may not want to consider continuing the pursuit. The other times when you feel less than worthy are just too depressing. This first reason is also me being practical. When you find something you do (especially if you can do it well), you need to embrace that. There are so many things we know that we can't do, that we need to acknowledge the things we can.

The second reason is more significant than the first. You see, my day job is that of a computer geek (a.k.a. server admin). Other than being an accountant or a taxman (no offense IRS), I cannot imagine anything less creative. After living too many years ignoring my creativity (or not having a decent way to express it), writing has given me an outlet for all that creative energy. I've heard you can explode if you bottle that stuff up for too long. Whew. Thank you, Muse.

The third reason is the most important of all however. I am a firm believer that we need something of our own that makes us happy. We need to have something that makes us smile, something we can throw ourselves into. Now don't get me wrong. I'm a parent, and nothing makes me smile more than my wife and kids. But they are not solely mine. I share my wife with my kids and visa versa. My writing however, is mine alone. And selfish as it is, my writing gives me great joy (even the difficult parts). I willingly struggle with silencing my internal editor (a herculean task to be sure), and I am so elated when I manage to write a paragraph without second-guessing my choice of words. I bask in the glow when I manage to write really well and someone else out there feels the same intense vibe after they read it. All of these things together sum up the fact that writing makes me feel good, like nothing else I've ever done.

Other than marrying the right woman and being blessed with two wonderful children, that is.

Though I have had doubtful moments when I thought I would never try writing again, I honestly cannot imagine really quitting. It's way too much fun.

Today is the last day you have to enter B.J.'s contest, so what are you waiting for? Drop a comment on her page or create a post of your own. It's Twinkies and a gift card at stake here, people!

Process? You Mean I'm Supposed To Have A Process?

Yesterday I mentioned how the members of The Literary Lab were walking through their own writing processes for us. After reading Lady Glam's post, I decided it would be fun to put up my own version. Since my process has been evolving over the last year or so, I thought I'd give everyone a glimpse into where I started and where I'm headed. It's a long post, so I hope you'll bear with me.

When I first decided to write, I had an idea that popped into my brain. What was really awesome was that I came up with the title immediately (which is really rare for me - I still haven't named my NaNo WiP). It is called "A Moment To Breathe" and it's about a homeless woman and the man who decides to help her.

My process at that time consisted of sitting down and writing. I just started with a first sentence and wrote continuously. Names were made up on the fly (I'm terrible at deciding on names), and twists and turns occurred whenever they wanted. I don't think I consciously paid attention to rules, sentence structure, anything at all. I was just getting the tale down, as quickly as I could type.

Then I had a writer friend critique part of it, and the results almost made me quit writing. My lack of "thinking" about things as I wrote made for HUGE holes and embarassing problems. For a long time, I actually doubted I could ever write anything again. Then I buckled down and thought seriously about what my friend was really saying. I took her advice, and I learned to pay attention. Well, a little more anyway.

So began phase two. I put the homeless story to the side, primarily because it's a tale close to my heart and I want to tell it right. I didn't think at that time (and still don't) that I had the skill to write it well enough. I chose to start something fresh and new (still untitled, mind you). I began writing as before, just writing. But in my mind, I was thinking more about where I was going with it. I did alot more with characterization, thinking about who the main character was, why they would do this or that. The process was still in my head though, with nothing being written down. No org chart, no listing of chapters. No overall idea where the story began and where it would end.

So began NaNO '09. I was finally beginning to realize the importance of an outline, of structure. I sat down and tried mapping out some chapters, character names, overall storyline. I got nowhere. It was too alien, and I could not be creative that way at all. I already had the story idea (yes, still untitled even though I'm about three chapters away from finishing the rough draft). I did manage to (in my head) envision the beginning, the middle, and the end. There have been twists to the plot I did not initially plan on (like the MC killing his mother...I still don't know where that came from, but it works), which satisfies the pantster in me. Keeping the overall goals in mind has helped me become slightly more organized though too.

After all of this, what is my process now (or in the future going to be)? Well, I see some really neat things I can borrow (okay, I'm stealing 'em, heh heh) from Scott, Davin, AND Lady Glam. I would like to be able to (either on my current WIP's second draft or a future project) actually write down a basic plotline like Scott's example.

1. Guy signs up to be foreign exchange student.
2. Guy is actually exchanged to another planet.
3. Guy finds a way to cope and/or return home.

Yeah, the above is one of those story ideas I have in the back of my mind. I have more details than that, but this is a good example. I would also like to be writing down the questions that Davin poses to his characters:

1. Why is Guy choosing to be a foreign exchange student?
2. Why did they lie to him about where he is being sent?
3. Does Guy really object to the new environment or is he just scared?

I still want to be able to go chaotic from time to time, like Lady Glam.

1. Maybe Guy is actually secretly CIA and carries a secret decoder ring.
2. What if I toss in some talking alien geckos who want to sell Guy interplantary insurance?
3. What if Guy's girlfriend gets jealous of the green alien females and chases after him with a futuristic rocket launcher?

The final answer is that my process is still very much changing. I am trying to become more organized but still maintain a high level of creativity. Sometimes I just start writing and see where it goes. Sometimes I have nothing more than a scene in mind. From that scene will spring a whole story.

Eventually, I'd like to be able to take that little spark of creativity and build it (on paper no less) into something way more cohesive and well developed. I don't ever see myself being completely organized, to where I map out every chapter, every character, every plotline from the get-go. Ain't gonna happen folks. That would probably take divine intervention. But I WOULD like to be able to organize things prior to writing (or before I get too far along in a story) and actually use that information to improve the writing.

If you haven't already answered this question in the Lab's comments, what is your process for writing? Are there things you wish you could do better in this area? If you feel the need to do your own post on the subject, let me know so I can come check it out.

Wednesday Wonderings - Blog Excerpts To Published Material

Before I plunge into today's question, there are a few housekeeping items I need to mention. If you haven't stopped by The Literary Lab in the last couple of days, you need to. Scott and Davin have been walking through their writing processes, and it is very interesting reading (particularly for those of us trying to improve and refine our own processes). If Lady Glamis can share her ideas on the subject (hint hint), it'll be an awesome finish to the topic.

My friend (at least I hope I'm still a friend) Rebecca Woodhead is trying to win the literary category in the Shorty Awards and she could use your vote. She already won Ms. Twitter UK, but this would be an even great accomplishment on top of that. I have been woefully remiss in mentioning her progress, so I don't blame her if she wants to thump me on the head with an oversized fountain pen. She is doing awesome, but she could really use your votes. Make me proud all you wonderful followers and vote her to the top.

And last (but not least), Jody Hedlund - newly agented and on her way to publication - has been providing us a glimpse into her journey as she wades through the process. I have found it fascinating, and I think you will too.

Now on to business.

Yesterday I joined the Lighthouse Writer's Workshop as a member so that I can take a course on writing short stories. I have decided that this is a great place to begin my creative writing education.

This morning I began thinking about short stories and what I would bring to this class. I have started quite a few meanderings here on my blog, many of which I can see expanding into a full-fledged story. As I was thinking about these, I experienced a horrific moment. What if I am not allowed (or not encouraged) to use the writings I have posted here?

What I am concerned about is whether posting a writing on blogger makes it less likely that I could ever publish that story in a real magazine/anthology/publication. I'm not concerned that anyone else owns the rights to the story, since I write everything here myself. I am more concerned though, that someone else would not want to publish it in their media since a rough draft/previous version exists out here on my blog. I actually enjoy using this medium as a way to test out story ideas, work my way through them. But am I limiting myself by doing so?

If anyone can shed light on this, I'd really appreciate it. While I'd hate to stop posting my creative thoughts here, I would really hate to miss the opportunity to take those writings and actually get them published as a completed story later in the future.

Why Can't I Create Conflict?

I understand if the title throws you. Most people want to avoid conflict. In writing however, we have to create various levels of conflict. It's what helps propel our story along (among other things).

You can imagine then, my frustration at not being able to create the final conflict for my MC. Twice now I've been writing along, setting things up to put my MC in a do-or-die situation with the antagonist...and everything goes awry. It's almost as if my subconscious is trying to keep my poor MC from having to deal directly with the conflict.

As I sit here reasoning this out, I'm left wondering if my initial impressions of my MC are completely wrong. Perhaps he is not the brave, jump-into-the-action hero type. Maybe he is trying to speak out to me and say, "Hey, you trying to kill me or something? I know we have to fix this situation, but do I have to take of it personally?"

This train of thought leads me into the realm of characterization. I don't know about the rest of you, but I rarely know all the in's and out's of my characters. I usually discover their individual traits as the story goes along. The question that this particular situation leads me to is whether I should morph the character to fit what I need or adapt the story to fit around the character? After all, if I adjust the character now, I will very likely have to go back in other parts of the story and alter how they react in other situations as well.

I suppose with each revision, every character morphs a little bit, solidifying into a more concrete and identifiable character. The tightrope I'm walking here though is how to keep the core qualities of this character intact as I complete the tale.

Have you ever had a character act in ways that you thought were "out-of-character"? Do you reign them back in or alter the story?

Ten Word Tuesday - Habits

Forming writing habits is hard.

Managing to write daily? Awesome!