The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

I have this feeling.  Like I could write so much more, add so much more to the story.  Yet, as soon as I open the document for the story, all I want to do is something else.  A feeling of not wanting to change what is there.  Every story needs it's tweaks and turns.  What once was part of the beginning of the story, getting hacked out or completely changed to another part.  I personally took out 30 pages of writing completely.  I may add bits and pieces later of what once was back story but most of that will remain on the editing floor, as it were. So how do I get focused enough to add or subtract from my creation.  It's hard for all writers, so it's nothing new.  My hesitation causes a form of writers block, so I need to just walk away.  The longer I stay away, the more the information I read in the meantime fills my head with other ideas, more to add or take out.  Not a bad thing, but today it seems that all of the inf...

I had a conversation with my family last night.  One of those after dinner random talks as one of us was on facebook.  We were talking about how no one seems to know how to create even the most simple sentence without adding lol or some thing of the like.  We also discussed the effects things like facebook twitter and texting has on the knowledge of words and grammar.  Even with built in spell check on most computers, the words never seemed spelled correctly and the grammar is always off.  I admit I am one of the afflicted of such mistakes. The new way of speaking through text could be considered similar to Tolkien's elfish language. Just sound out the words and you'll know what I mean. roflmao, lol, adip, urapita, fitb and so on.  I'm sure you could come up with much more then myself, since I am no master of txtng. It all makes me wonder how long it will be before the new words of our language are common place and words suc...

There was a phrase that I saw while looking at my twitter the other day.  It stuck with me, through dreams and waking moments.  I can't remember who said it, but it was so true its scary. 'Characters are not created, they are beings waiting to be discovered.' To anyone who writes, even if it's short stories, or just random thoughts, you find your characters seem to have a mind of their own.  I know this to be true in my own writing.  My MC will have a goal and be headed in that direction when something distracts her and I find myself being dragged along for the ride.  I didn't plan what happens, I don't anticipate the direction change.  It just happens and I find myself caught into my own story as if I am watching it from the outside and not writing it.  The writing itself is scary, with all the grammar mistakes and sloppy sentences.  It is all due to not noticing that the story is being written, its more lik...

Time for some more of my geekness to come out.  One of my friends is holding a contest on who is the biggest geek and so I entered, and now I'm realizing how much I truly am a geek.  I love it!  lol So I dug into the recesses of my mind for all the things that mark me as a geek .  To be honest, there isn't much that doesn't mark me as one.  lol  I guess that should be lame or bad or whatever, but I like it.  Loving anime, manga, Star Trek and Star Wars.  What's not to like.  ok well, I'm sure there is lots not to like if your not into it. But it's totally me. It's all about what is fun for you, and this is what's fun for me.  Yay fun.  lol

Ever imagine that your somewhere else, and that others are with you adding their thoughts to yours to create a different world.  I'm not talking about writing a book, or even reading one.  I'm talking about D&D, yes my geek is showing.  lol Roll some dice and bang, something happens.  Well, it's not quite that simple. First you need a good DM. (dungeon master- the guy or gal that sets up the adventure and leads you through the adventure throwing bad guys in your way). Then you act out what you would say and tell everyone what you are doing, it's not just between you and the DM Each player has a part in the action and role playing.  Taking everyone into another world, the world the DM creates, not just a dungeon as the name implies but forests and towns.  You have to play out the situation, with the limits of what you character can and can not do.  Something you would find in any fantasy book.  Weis and...

A fellow writer I know from AQC has set up a contest for writers to act out a scene from the novel of the winner, I think this is brilliant, now please every one enter, I'd love to see who wins this.  Also other contests that Tracy has found I've placed below.  Proves to be a great fun Friday. :) By:  Tracy N. Jorgensen Belief Suspenders: Friday Freebies 5: In which, I have my own contest... :  What can you win? We'll film a scene from your novel and post in on the blog. Epic Fail  : Win a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  3 books  : More for your time investment. Can't beat that, right? Pick Your Prize  : As always, the lovely Rebecca Hamilton has fabulous prizes for you (and free editing). 500 words contest  : Gotta love chance for books or agent feedback! Mini-Synopsis Contest  : Not a pitch, but a short synopsis. Interesting. Very interesting. Will you enter? Can you manage it?

The thing that has been getting to me the most lately is writers who don't do the research.  If you live from the south, and you want to write about winter in the North East, come to me, I grew up here.  I lived in MA for half my life, the other half has been in RI.  So I know the area.  The point is, please find some one who lives there and ask them.  Don't just guess.  The person I'm writing about had a good story going but didn't do the research, it ruined it dramatically for me.  Mass loves their snow plows! My responses were, wait what? The entire time, I could't focus on the plot, or on the characters because I was too baffled by ice storm= pretty white fluffy snow the next day=a snow mobile in Salem MA in December. (Wait, what?) It was a great story, if I could get past the holes.  However, I barely got through the three chapters that were sent to me.  I feel bad about it, cause I was supposed to help critique it ...