Starting at midnight November 1st, I will once again be partaking in this crazy writing adventure known as NaNoWriMo. For the next month, I'll be trying to once again write 50,000 words in 30 days. It's completely insane and exhilarating and tiring but it's crazy fun! Why do me and all the other crazy writers in the world attempt this? Why put ourselves through the sleepless nights and tired days? I don't know why they do it but I know why I do it.
What better way to keep your writing skills up to date than to write nonstop, at least when you're not sleeping of course or eating dinner with your family which is about the only time they see me during the crazy month of November. For me, I get a feeling of accomplishment in writing something without checking to see if the grammar is correct or the spelling is correct but just getting my crazy thoughts down on paper into some form of novel. When all you're worried about is writing the story then you have more of a story to read. I think I've done some of my best writing by taking part in NaNoWriMo. Of course the novel won't be fully finished by one month but it will be almost finished and after that well who knows. It could be complete crap or it could be a hidden gem. That's the best part. Not everything written is great but there are some stories written during this speed writing that are fabulous. I guess I'll know at 11:59pm November 30th.
Happy Writing!!!
April
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
I'm Coming New York
For years I have been bugging my husband to take me to New York City. For years he told me no. He surprised me a few months back and asked me, "How do you feel about going to New York City for our anniversary?" I was completely shocked. My first thought was Is he really serious? I mean he's never had any interest in going to the Big Apple. He's more of an outdoorsy kind of guy. You know, rock climbing, camping, sailing. He likes to become one with nature. Here he was offering me something that I've always wanted. All I could say was YES, YES, YES!!!! Now, my anniversary is coming up and we are heading to New York this coming Friday!!!! It's a dream come true!
That's only half of it. I also love musicals. I've been bugging him to take me to see Wicked for a few years now. Once I discovered the music, I fell in love with it. He of course being the outdoorsy man that he is, had no interest in seeing a show. I mean real men don't go to Broadway Shows right? Wrong!!! He decided to take me to see Wicked also. Finally!!! A musical I've wanted to see for a long time on Broadway of all places!!! I'm the happiest woman in the world right now I'm tellin ya!!! Times Square, Gramercy, Greenwich Village and Central Park have been calling me and now I'm answering the call. Hellloooooo New York! I'll be there shortly.
That's only half of it. I also love musicals. I've been bugging him to take me to see Wicked for a few years now. Once I discovered the music, I fell in love with it. He of course being the outdoorsy man that he is, had no interest in seeing a show. I mean real men don't go to Broadway Shows right? Wrong!!! He decided to take me to see Wicked also. Finally!!! A musical I've wanted to see for a long time on Broadway of all places!!! I'm the happiest woman in the world right now I'm tellin ya!!! Times Square, Gramercy, Greenwich Village and Central Park have been calling me and now I'm answering the call. Hellloooooo New York! I'll be there shortly.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
How Cameron Crowe Helped Me Find Myself Again
When I was first introduced to the power of Cameron Crowe, he already had one story turned into a movie. That of course would be "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." When that movie came out however I wasn't old enough to see it and I wasn't in high school anyway. No my first love was his directorial debut "Say Anything." I fell in love with this movie and I fell in love with the music. I thought to myself this man understands how teenagers think and feel.
The next movie I had to see by him was of course "Singles" which opened the door for me to that fabulous Seattle sound and Grunge craze. I could relate to the way the characters thought and felt because I was their age. I was married of course but I understood the need to find someone, to start making a name for yourself and of course the music. Generation X is all about the music. My thoughts turned to Cameron Crowe again and I thought to myself, 'this man is the coolest person ever.' After that of course came "Jerry Maguire" which is another one of my favorite movies. I thought to myself, 'this man knows the meaning of love and isn't afraid to show it in all it's imperfection and beauty.'
It wasn't until I saw "Almost Famous" however that I figured out what I was meant to do. Seeing his own biography basically coming to life in a beautiful film with the amazing Kate Hudson finally did it for me. I became curious about what real groupies were like and how they ticked. I started reading everything I could find about the music industry from the business side of it to the magical, musical side of it. I wanted to know how rock musicians looked at the world and what made all those girls become shameless and inspiring to them.
Now I would never try to be like Cameron Crowe and I couldn't anyway. This is a man who knows the music industry better than I could ever hope to know it. I will probably never work for Rolling Stone Magazine and will most likely never come close to even experiencing what life is like for the travelling musicians and their entourage. What I do understand is the power and beauty of music. I understand the yearning to be loved my many and to inspire people to greatness.
I've known since I was a young teenager that I wanted to write but had lost touch with that side of my personality over the previous 10 years before that enchanted and moving movie came to life. A lightbulb went off in my head and I thought to myself, 'Why not try writing a novel about the special people who make up the music industry? How do these musicians, their wives, groupies and business people really think and what is it about music that makes people come alive?' I had unanswered questions that I wanted answered, was fascinated with the idea of writing something that I hadn't seen before in a novel. That became my focus. That's what I aspire to have published. The inner workings of a creative mind are far different from the logical mind. Now, I'm just trying to understand it myself.
The next movie I had to see by him was of course "Singles" which opened the door for me to that fabulous Seattle sound and Grunge craze. I could relate to the way the characters thought and felt because I was their age. I was married of course but I understood the need to find someone, to start making a name for yourself and of course the music. Generation X is all about the music. My thoughts turned to Cameron Crowe again and I thought to myself, 'this man is the coolest person ever.' After that of course came "Jerry Maguire" which is another one of my favorite movies. I thought to myself, 'this man knows the meaning of love and isn't afraid to show it in all it's imperfection and beauty.'
It wasn't until I saw "Almost Famous" however that I figured out what I was meant to do. Seeing his own biography basically coming to life in a beautiful film with the amazing Kate Hudson finally did it for me. I became curious about what real groupies were like and how they ticked. I started reading everything I could find about the music industry from the business side of it to the magical, musical side of it. I wanted to know how rock musicians looked at the world and what made all those girls become shameless and inspiring to them.
Now I would never try to be like Cameron Crowe and I couldn't anyway. This is a man who knows the music industry better than I could ever hope to know it. I will probably never work for Rolling Stone Magazine and will most likely never come close to even experiencing what life is like for the travelling musicians and their entourage. What I do understand is the power and beauty of music. I understand the yearning to be loved my many and to inspire people to greatness.
I've known since I was a young teenager that I wanted to write but had lost touch with that side of my personality over the previous 10 years before that enchanted and moving movie came to life. A lightbulb went off in my head and I thought to myself, 'Why not try writing a novel about the special people who make up the music industry? How do these musicians, their wives, groupies and business people really think and what is it about music that makes people come alive?' I had unanswered questions that I wanted answered, was fascinated with the idea of writing something that I hadn't seen before in a novel. That became my focus. That's what I aspire to have published. The inner workings of a creative mind are far different from the logical mind. Now, I'm just trying to understand it myself.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Another Story Begins to Form
I admit, I am beginning to do what all writers are not supposed to do. I have another story brewing in my head without having finished my last three attempts! Aaaggghhh!!! It all began when I discovered the social networking site known as Facebook. Yeah, you might've heard of it? I am sitting here as I type, smirking at the fact that all the drama and excitement of my high school days has returned fully loaded complete with ex-crushes and old friends who have returned full-throttle! I'm enjoying it immensely but it's hitting the point where it's a full on addiction! Yes pretty much everyone I've ever known is on this very addictive site, including people from my not so distant past and my very present and far too comfortable life right now. With these people has come back all the joy and all the pain, all the missed moments and comforting memories of days gone by.
Now, I'm at a crossroads once again. Do I take the reigns and finish what I've already started or begin anew with a new story and new characters in a more ordinary but still interesting setting? The answer is already there. Alright then, Charisma Zena my darling drummer heroine, we are back on! My new story will have to wait a little while longer.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Beginning of a Blog
I'm a writer-at least I like to call myself a writer. I have three unfinished novels that I just can't seem to finish. All three could be really great stories with exciting characters that hopefully will come to life for others somewhere down the road as they've come to life for me. All deal with the music business in some form.
My first unfinished novel began in an attempt to get back into the writing groove I used to be in way back in high school, despite current work and family matters. I hadn't put pen to paper in 11 years and damn, I needed some way to get my thoughts out of my head and onto something concrete. It worked even though I was a bit rusty. Monthly writing classes helped bring the writer back from the depths of decay into the light of day once again. The problem? It took me almost a year to get almost 50,000 words down and then I stopped. Why, I really don't know.
In the back of my mind, I would go over and over it in my head and each time I would look at my story, something I didn't like would always pop out at me. I was consumed with perfecting it before it was even finished. Finally, I put it away for good-well at least for the moment. It's still there, waiting for me to return and I will one day. Right now, the two other unfinished novels are only a couple years old and the story is still fresh in my mind, if only I can get back to them.
My next attempt at writing a novel began after I'd worked at a magazine for a short time where I got to write everyday. It was part of my job description, sort of. I was given the gift of my own monthly column on something I'm a "so-called" expert at-motherhood!! What better way to become a stronger writer than to write a column with a due date? It was an amazing stroke of luck and belief from my editor who thought I was a good writer.
While I worked through the daily tasks my actual job description entailed, I looked forward to the precious moments when I could write something personal and fun for me. I became more confident in my writing abilities and seeing my monthly columns come to life in the finished product of the magazine fueled my inner need to keep on writing till there was nothing left to write about! Like that would ever happen. In this game we call life, how can there never be anything to write about?
The job came to an end but not my love of writing. Just to prove a point to myself, I decided to try NaNoWriMo and see where it would take me. I wrote like a crazy woman for a month. That's the great thing about NaNoWriMo, you don't have enough time to go back and check what you wrote. You only have a month to write 50,000 words or at least try to get 50,000 words. My first attempt failed. I didn't quite make my goal-but I came pretty damn close! Not bad for someone who spent an entire year getting the amount of words down in my first attempt at a novel that it took me only a month to do in my second attempt. It's a much better story also, if I do say so myself. I will finish that book definitely-at least I will once my third novel is finished.
This of course brings me to my third unfinished novel. The baby I worked on this past NaNoWriMo. My main character is still in the front seat with me, waiting for me to finish her story, which is by far my most favorite story yet. A girl of almost 18, a rebel with a daddy who's a famous ex-Rock Musician and a mother who's a former debutante, classic pianist and groupie. It's her coming of age story and I love the story, my characters, everything. Now why in the hell, can't I get back into the story? What's keeping me from finishing it? That is the question that needs to be answered. That is the problem right now. I just have to get to it.
My first unfinished novel began in an attempt to get back into the writing groove I used to be in way back in high school, despite current work and family matters. I hadn't put pen to paper in 11 years and damn, I needed some way to get my thoughts out of my head and onto something concrete. It worked even though I was a bit rusty. Monthly writing classes helped bring the writer back from the depths of decay into the light of day once again. The problem? It took me almost a year to get almost 50,000 words down and then I stopped. Why, I really don't know.
In the back of my mind, I would go over and over it in my head and each time I would look at my story, something I didn't like would always pop out at me. I was consumed with perfecting it before it was even finished. Finally, I put it away for good-well at least for the moment. It's still there, waiting for me to return and I will one day. Right now, the two other unfinished novels are only a couple years old and the story is still fresh in my mind, if only I can get back to them.
My next attempt at writing a novel began after I'd worked at a magazine for a short time where I got to write everyday. It was part of my job description, sort of. I was given the gift of my own monthly column on something I'm a "so-called" expert at-motherhood!! What better way to become a stronger writer than to write a column with a due date? It was an amazing stroke of luck and belief from my editor who thought I was a good writer.
While I worked through the daily tasks my actual job description entailed, I looked forward to the precious moments when I could write something personal and fun for me. I became more confident in my writing abilities and seeing my monthly columns come to life in the finished product of the magazine fueled my inner need to keep on writing till there was nothing left to write about! Like that would ever happen. In this game we call life, how can there never be anything to write about?
The job came to an end but not my love of writing. Just to prove a point to myself, I decided to try NaNoWriMo and see where it would take me. I wrote like a crazy woman for a month. That's the great thing about NaNoWriMo, you don't have enough time to go back and check what you wrote. You only have a month to write 50,000 words or at least try to get 50,000 words. My first attempt failed. I didn't quite make my goal-but I came pretty damn close! Not bad for someone who spent an entire year getting the amount of words down in my first attempt at a novel that it took me only a month to do in my second attempt. It's a much better story also, if I do say so myself. I will finish that book definitely-at least I will once my third novel is finished.
This of course brings me to my third unfinished novel. The baby I worked on this past NaNoWriMo. My main character is still in the front seat with me, waiting for me to finish her story, which is by far my most favorite story yet. A girl of almost 18, a rebel with a daddy who's a famous ex-Rock Musician and a mother who's a former debutante, classic pianist and groupie. It's her coming of age story and I love the story, my characters, everything. Now why in the hell, can't I get back into the story? What's keeping me from finishing it? That is the question that needs to be answered. That is the problem right now. I just have to get to it.
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