novelist – I Write

Blogging

So, I saw a little symbol on my blog that indicated that I’ve been active on WordPress for 6 years! Really?! It was hard to believe! I want to be proud of that, but with my lack of writing activity lately, I feel a bit undeserving of the trophy icon. Regardless, I want to thank any supporters (likes and followers) that I’ve had on this and my other site Enjoy in those 6 years.

Although it’s very hard to connect with each and every follower and liker, I wanted to mention that before I like and follow sites, I do go out and take a peek at what the site is about and if I jibe with it, then I reciprocate the like.

On another note, recently, I’ve followed quite a few fashion/beauty websites that I admire and I don’t necessarily have anything in common with, but I believe in what they’re doing and how they’re sharing their fashion/ beauty knowledge (of which I have none) and how they positively present their face and body.

Now, as for me and my writing goals, well, let’s just say I’ve not given up, and that I’ve been mostly busy, but keeping the “head-journal” going as I go about with the other things I do. I read somewhere that some people actually “write” a novel in their head long before typing out the words on the keyboard. I think I’m experiencing that kind of data collecting lately. It’s fun and freeing.

It’s late, so thanks again for stopping in. Have a good rest of your week.

~Peace.

So, yeah, our story

So, what I should mention about our story, Extraordinary Girl, which I began promoting (finally) is that you can read it for free for a about a week or so. And more importantly, if anyone reads it, we’d really appreciate some constructive criticism. It is a first novel, so we’re prepared for this, so no worries if you have some hard things to say. We can take it! (I think?)

Anyway, in the meantime, I’m reading (attempting to) All the Light We Can Not See by Anthony Dooer and thinking, okay, well now and being humbled as I read. I’m probably going to have to read it again for pleasure because right now, I’m kinda reading it as a writer and as far as style, tone and such, I like what I’m reading and I’m learning.

As a teacher, I say, there’s no better way to learn than to dig in to the meat of what you’re trying to learn. Speaking of, my “day job” of tutoring is calling my name and I need to work on that.

~Peace readers!

The story

Hello fellow writers and readers…

I felt it was about time that I unveiled to you the first story that I’ve ever published on Kindle.

The book was conceived with from a piece of writing that my friend did and put away in her nightstand. One day, she read it to me and a story was born. We strived to put our words and voices together and our desires for the main characters. This was a challenge, but after a few years of working on it, we felt it time to put it out there in the hands of readers.

We are very open to feed back and criticism as long as you’re kind. We realize that as first timer’s, things won’t be perfect, but give it a read and share your thoughts.

Please let me know if the link works:

Extraordinary Girl

Monday’s Reflections

How am I doing? I’m great! I edited a blog for someone, started laundry and intend to finish my story before the frantic-ness of the holidays begins. I may not finish the latter in one day, but I vow to complete at least one chapter per day until frantic day-1.

That is the goal anyway.

Here’s what I’ve further learned thus far from my writing class:

Just because the story is a good story doesn’t mean it’s a story that is ready to be a story until it’s a story.
An author alone carries a magic wand in his own world. Rules guide her, but by no means, define her.
A well-read book is a book that read’s well.
Just freakin’ get the story down, forget all the other details that you’ll end up paying someone else down the line to do.
Let loose! rap, car-dance, karaoke or sprint until you fall, in real life and in your writing.

That is all for today.

~Peace friends.

Point of view

After some consulting with my hubby and reading over of my novel, I’ve realized that the point of view I’ve used is 3rd person omniscient. And after class, I’m not confident that this is the most effective choice for the story. I look forward to getting some more feedback as this has me a bit stuck. Ultimately, I know the choice lies with the author, me, so perhaps I’ll take a scene and practice writing in the different POV’s.

Here’s to a productive week!

~Peace friends.

Second Class and reality

It was only Monday that I was tooting my own horn, right? Don’t worry, after my second writing class, I was put in my place! There I sat with 20 or so other writers and yes, the room was quiet. We were all getting mesmerized and high on 3 hours of vital information for writing our prospective novels. I think I blew a few gaskets in my brain trying to absorb and process the writing craft. When it was all said and done, I will probably be rewriting for a while, but I’m not regretting the investment I’ve made in this class, on the contrary, after only two classes, I’ve gone from hopeful to completing this novel, to determined. Even if it takes longer than I expected.

~Peace friends!

Steppin’ out

She sat typing in the corner of her living room hunched over her keyboard typing about other non-existent worlds. Her brows were furrowed in concentration as the rest of the world went on about it’s cheery business right outside her picture window which she’d occasionally look out of thinking about the next scene. She did this day in and day out willing her novel to fruition, both excited and frightened as it neared, ever closer, to the public eye.

Okay, that’s me in real life lately, but I have gotten out of the house and interacted with actual humans and when I have, I realize there’s value in being present with another whether it’s my hubby or a trusted friend. As a matter of fact, I had two outings yesterday with friends and it was nice to “work-out” other parts of my facial muscles. I promised myself to have more of that kind of outing. Good for the soul!

~peace friends!

Writing journey

So, the post that was supposedly bubbling up inside me never made it out. Maybe it went out the other end! 😉 It’s Monday and interestingly enough I’m motivated to write on my novel, I’m on Chapter 14. I’ve been in kind of a roll with it, so I’m gonna keep this post short.

Just a tidbit of what I’ve learned (writing-wise):

It was truly a good thing to have not written on my story for a while. Now that I’m back to it, I see so many disjointed thoughts, unfinished scenes and of course, typos and grammar errors.
Even if I’m doing a fairly good job of re-knitting the story, I’ve pretty much decided that after this second draft run through that other interested people need to get involved. They will have even fresher eyes and can give constructive feedback and can help the forward motion continue.
There are many distractions from job searches, world news, Facebook posts, etc. all vying for my attention and it’s a challenge to remain focused.
You have to learn to continue living life as a social being if you’re gonna be any good at writing a novel which is supposed to be about relationships. (In my story)

~Peace friends.

I will write

I’m still here. After thinking about the goals for my site and I’ve decided to “try on” a different theme. The goal here is writing and my previous theme, though appealing, kept me from my goal as I was focusing too much on thinking of what photo to highlight or which would match the writing. So, for those of you that enjoy my photography, please visit my photo blog. The purpose of that site is photos. For this site, I will write.

I spent a few weeks in my hometown of Fort Worth, Texas visiting, thinking, reflecting and plotting as usual. Is there an artist that doesn’t plot, scheme, dream or wonder? Whether it was the sweltering heat, or the food choices or lack of chocolate, I came away from my vacation more sure than fearful about the path of my future career. I will write. Though the use of a comma evades me, I will write.

I even enjoyed the fantasy of becoming a novelist. But, it occurred to me that there is one thing that I don’t have in common with story writers. It seems to me that most novelists enjoy telling stories, while I fancy the weaving of a story. Makes me wonder if instead I just need to try to play Minecraft?

Eh, no, there’s something about the written word that is joyful, playful, and open to possibilities that appeals to me, is me.

~I will write.