...off the face of the (blogging) universe! And the writing wagon for that matter.
I haven't written since I hit 50K. I haven't even opened up my ms. Blah. That's pretty bad. I'll get back into it (and I'll read all the millions of blogs you guys have been posting) soon. The weather in Cali right now is just too beautiful to stay inside. It's sunny, and hot, and just generally nice. It's a welcome change from the rain storms that plagued February.
Be back soon. April is supposed to bring showers, right?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Five-Oh
Untouched... word count... at... 50,000!!!!!!
Weee!
Yeah, so, I have been slacking lately, I should have reached 50K sometime last week, but it's all good. I've spent a lot of time editing, and I know I told myself I wasn't going to edit until I was done, but I just got sucked into it. So even though I haven't been writing further into the story, I have been writing, and I have been working on my manuscript, so it's all good.
Besides, I've gotten over that habit where I can only write when I'm "inspired" so regardless I have been writing much more lately than I have in the past. I think for now I'm okay not reaching that 1K a day goal. Of course I still try, but if I don't make it, I don't beat myself up about it. Because no matter what I am progressing. I am writing more. And that is what really matters.
Time to go play Halo 3 for a couple hours to let my brain rest. Be back on and writing soon. :p
Weee!
Yeah, so, I have been slacking lately, I should have reached 50K sometime last week, but it's all good. I've spent a lot of time editing, and I know I told myself I wasn't going to edit until I was done, but I just got sucked into it. So even though I haven't been writing further into the story, I have been writing, and I have been working on my manuscript, so it's all good.
Besides, I've gotten over that habit where I can only write when I'm "inspired" so regardless I have been writing much more lately than I have in the past. I think for now I'm okay not reaching that 1K a day goal. Of course I still try, but if I don't make it, I don't beat myself up about it. Because no matter what I am progressing. I am writing more. And that is what really matters.
Time to go play Halo 3 for a couple hours to let my brain rest. Be back on and writing soon. :p
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Accidental Theme
Untouched word count @46,600.
I'm going to write as much as I can tonight. I got a red bull, I'm all jazzed to write. It's gonna be great. With any luck I'll reach 50K. (A very lofty goal 3.4K words in an evening.) I might be able to do it. But I will be happy with any writing I get done.
I noticed an interesting possible theme in my WIP that I hadn't consciously decided to add as a theme. I'm at a point in my novel where Gwen and James begin their relationship. The obstacle here is that they cannot touch, Gwen's touch will kill James, hence a "normal" teen relationship is out of the question.
But I'm starting to feel like Untouched has a "chaste relationship" theme going on. Because, hey, G&J are falling in love, but they can't touch. At all. No hand holding, no kissing, no... you know. Which isn't what you'd expect from two hormone riddled eighteen year olds. And of course the paranoia kicks in, and my first thought is "Oh, no, is this going to sound all preachy and all abstinent-y?" (Sorry for the made up word there, but that's actually the word I thought in that moment.)
In addition to that, of course Gwen and James want to touch each other, but they can't give. Hence another theme of practicing will power to overcome temptation.
The concepts I mentioned just happen to be hardwired into the story- James and Gwen want to touch, but can't. So I am a little worried, but I don't think it's going to come off as preachy. I think the main themes will be much more obvious, but then again, I see so poorly when it comes to my one writing.
So I ask: What themes have you used/wanted to use in a story? Have any themes accidentally slipped into your writing and what did you do about it?
--Kat
I'm going to write as much as I can tonight. I got a red bull, I'm all jazzed to write. It's gonna be great. With any luck I'll reach 50K. (A very lofty goal 3.4K words in an evening.) I might be able to do it. But I will be happy with any writing I get done.
I noticed an interesting possible theme in my WIP that I hadn't consciously decided to add as a theme. I'm at a point in my novel where Gwen and James begin their relationship. The obstacle here is that they cannot touch, Gwen's touch will kill James, hence a "normal" teen relationship is out of the question.
But I'm starting to feel like Untouched has a "chaste relationship" theme going on. Because, hey, G&J are falling in love, but they can't touch. At all. No hand holding, no kissing, no... you know. Which isn't what you'd expect from two hormone riddled eighteen year olds. And of course the paranoia kicks in, and my first thought is "Oh, no, is this going to sound all preachy and all abstinent-y?" (Sorry for the made up word there, but that's actually the word I thought in that moment.)
In addition to that, of course Gwen and James want to touch each other, but they can't give. Hence another theme of practicing will power to overcome temptation.
The concepts I mentioned just happen to be hardwired into the story- James and Gwen want to touch, but can't. So I am a little worried, but I don't think it's going to come off as preachy. I think the main themes will be much more obvious, but then again, I see so poorly when it comes to my one writing.
So I ask: What themes have you used/wanted to use in a story? Have any themes accidentally slipped into your writing and what did you do about it?
--Kat
Monday, March 9, 2009
Hookable
Untouched word count @ 45,500.
When I opened my WIP today I paused on the first page, and I paused for too long. See, I told myself that I wouldn't bother with editing until I was done, because I wanted to finish a first draft before starting the meticulous process of nitpicking sentences. But I stared at that first page for a moment too long, and I found myself scratching the opening paragraph and writing a new one.
This is the original:
I stopped fearing death a long time ago. Once I accepted that death would claim me before I was ready, there was nothing left to be afraid of. Or rather, there was everything left to be afraid of, there was just nothing I could do about it. All I could do was wait.
And this is the new one:
As I lay on my death bed I was sure of only two things. First, that at the young age of eighteen, death was claiming me long before I would ever be ready. And second, that there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Little did I know, I was only half right.
I'm not sure which one is more 'hookable'. Which paragraph draws you in more? There is a fair chance that severe lack of sleep has left me slightly deluded-- I'm so close to the writing I can't even see it anymore so it's hard to tell.
Time to get some sleep!
Cheers!
-Kat
When I opened my WIP today I paused on the first page, and I paused for too long. See, I told myself that I wouldn't bother with editing until I was done, because I wanted to finish a first draft before starting the meticulous process of nitpicking sentences. But I stared at that first page for a moment too long, and I found myself scratching the opening paragraph and writing a new one.
This is the original:
I stopped fearing death a long time ago. Once I accepted that death would claim me before I was ready, there was nothing left to be afraid of. Or rather, there was everything left to be afraid of, there was just nothing I could do about it. All I could do was wait.
And this is the new one:
As I lay on my death bed I was sure of only two things. First, that at the young age of eighteen, death was claiming me long before I would ever be ready. And second, that there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Little did I know, I was only half right.
I'm not sure which one is more 'hookable'. Which paragraph draws you in more? There is a fair chance that severe lack of sleep has left me slightly deluded-- I'm so close to the writing I can't even see it anymore so it's hard to tell.
Time to get some sleep!
Cheers!
-Kat
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Random
Untouched word count @ 42,900. Man, I'm exceeding my daily goals now. Nice!
So I've decided that Thursday is a random day; not quite the weekend, but still on the downward slant from the work week. So today my blog post is going to be a bit random.
See, I have about a dozen college ruled notebooks laying around my apartment: in the bedroom, in the living room, surrounding my computer, and I think there's one in the kitchen right now. I keep writing implements with all of them, so whenever an idea strikes I can scribble it down in a notebook and make sense of it later. Only some ideas are so random I can't make sense of it later. I thought I would share some with the blogging world. :p
Random #1: These are some random titles that I've thought of, but never outlined a story to go along with them. For whatever reason the title struck me as cool, but the awesome plot hasn't followed... yet.
1. "The Midnight Mistake" (Involving a masquerade ball and a midnight mystery kiss.)
2. "Served!" (About working in a restaurant. So love this title.)
3. "That's What She Said" (A woman who writes for a popular men's magazine. Her column is titled 'That's What She Said' and it gives advice to men about women.)
4. "Dreamweaver" (About a girl with power over other people's dreams.)
5. "Wanted" (A futuristic story in which a bounty hunter is strangely moral.)
Random #2: Random plot lines with no title! Some of them I might just use, some of them I must have scribbled down when I was zoned out on NyQuil.
1. Girl Messiah who doesn't know her own powers accidentally cures a terminally ill boy and the secret's out!
2. Every time Girl sleeps with a guy he proposes... to someone else! Kind of like 'Good Luck Chuck' but without the SUCK.
3. "Perfect World" - The government has a scary new ideal of what the world should be like, and unfortunately we're too imperfect, so they bring in the genetically altered 'perfect' humans to replace us.
4. "Until the End of Time" - a girl is stuck in a time loop that gets increasingly smaller and must correct it before time freezes altogether.
5. Room Raiders-esque TV crew invades the house of a boy, not knowing he's in witness protection. Now he's being escorted across the country as criminals try their luck at the bounty on his head.
Random #3 Statements and scribbles that, when taken out of context, are pretty hilarious.
1. ...Like 'Twilight' but with better characters, better writing and elves- sexy Orlando Bloom elves.
2. Wha-ha-how-ow... uh, ok. Um. What?
3. Takes crush to fanciest ass restaurant in town. And that's where the FBI agents apprehend him.
4. Robertsons Mart. No apostrophe. Even though the guy who owns the place is named 'Robertson'. We're in the middle of an apostrophe shortage here people! It's a grammar war out there!
5. Britney Spears' PR people are amazing. Her comeback-- seriously??
And that is all for now. Hope you got a laugh or two!
<3 Kat
So I've decided that Thursday is a random day; not quite the weekend, but still on the downward slant from the work week. So today my blog post is going to be a bit random.
See, I have about a dozen college ruled notebooks laying around my apartment: in the bedroom, in the living room, surrounding my computer, and I think there's one in the kitchen right now. I keep writing implements with all of them, so whenever an idea strikes I can scribble it down in a notebook and make sense of it later. Only some ideas are so random I can't make sense of it later. I thought I would share some with the blogging world. :p
Random #1: These are some random titles that I've thought of, but never outlined a story to go along with them. For whatever reason the title struck me as cool, but the awesome plot hasn't followed... yet.
1. "The Midnight Mistake" (Involving a masquerade ball and a midnight mystery kiss.)
2. "Served!" (About working in a restaurant. So love this title.)
3. "That's What She Said" (A woman who writes for a popular men's magazine. Her column is titled 'That's What She Said' and it gives advice to men about women.)
4. "Dreamweaver" (About a girl with power over other people's dreams.)
5. "Wanted" (A futuristic story in which a bounty hunter is strangely moral.)
Random #2: Random plot lines with no title! Some of them I might just use, some of them I must have scribbled down when I was zoned out on NyQuil.
1. Girl Messiah who doesn't know her own powers accidentally cures a terminally ill boy and the secret's out!
2. Every time Girl sleeps with a guy he proposes... to someone else! Kind of like 'Good Luck Chuck' but without the SUCK.
3. "Perfect World" - The government has a scary new ideal of what the world should be like, and unfortunately we're too imperfect, so they bring in the genetically altered 'perfect' humans to replace us.
4. "Until the End of Time" - a girl is stuck in a time loop that gets increasingly smaller and must correct it before time freezes altogether.
5. Room Raiders-esque TV crew invades the house of a boy, not knowing he's in witness protection. Now he's being escorted across the country as criminals try their luck at the bounty on his head.
Random #3 Statements and scribbles that, when taken out of context, are pretty hilarious.
1. ...Like 'Twilight' but with better characters, better writing and elves- sexy Orlando Bloom elves.
2. Wha-ha-how-ow... uh, ok. Um. What?
3. Takes crush to fanciest ass restaurant in town. And that's where the FBI agents apprehend him.
4. Robertsons Mart. No apostrophe. Even though the guy who owns the place is named 'Robertson'. We're in the middle of an apostrophe shortage here people! It's a grammar war out there!
5. Britney Spears' PR people are amazing. Her comeback-- seriously??
And that is all for now. Hope you got a laugh or two!
<3 Kat
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
40K
Untouched word count @ 40,500.
Didn't I just hit 30K? Yes, yes I did. I've been trying really hard to keep up the writing. After I decided I wanted to take a break, I realized that that was NOT what I wanted. Because a short break would turn into a long break, and a long break would turn into an indefinite break, and then I would let my poor little novel get pushed to the back of my mind as I got sucked back into World of Warcraft. No, I'm not exaggerating. I know myself, and that is exactly what would have happened. (Besides, I miss my pally and I've just been itching to get back into Northrend...)
But I didn't take a break. I stuck with it, even though I was feeling, well, stuck. And now I've made it past that little hiccup and I'm breezing through it. 40K meets the almost-halfway point. I'm guesstimating that my finished novel will end up somewhere around 90K. But the chapter I'm on doesn't feel like the halfway part, so I'm slightly worried that my word count is going to be excessive. I've decided I can live with anything under 100K. 100K or over and I'm busting out the pruning shears to start chopping scenes away... and that thought makes me shudder. My poor little manuscript...
<3 Kat
EDIT: I stayed up and wrote a bit more, I'm actually at 41,200 now. And my '40K' blog was my 40th blog post. Hee hee, isn't that funny? It makes me want to blog at the rate so that when I break 50K it will be my 50th blog post.
Didn't I just hit 30K? Yes, yes I did. I've been trying really hard to keep up the writing. After I decided I wanted to take a break, I realized that that was NOT what I wanted. Because a short break would turn into a long break, and a long break would turn into an indefinite break, and then I would let my poor little novel get pushed to the back of my mind as I got sucked back into World of Warcraft. No, I'm not exaggerating. I know myself, and that is exactly what would have happened. (Besides, I miss my pally and I've just been itching to get back into Northrend...)
But I didn't take a break. I stuck with it, even though I was feeling, well, stuck. And now I've made it past that little hiccup and I'm breezing through it. 40K meets the almost-halfway point. I'm guesstimating that my finished novel will end up somewhere around 90K. But the chapter I'm on doesn't feel like the halfway part, so I'm slightly worried that my word count is going to be excessive. I've decided I can live with anything under 100K. 100K or over and I'm busting out the pruning shears to start chopping scenes away... and that thought makes me shudder. My poor little manuscript...
<3 Kat
EDIT: I stayed up and wrote a bit more, I'm actually at 41,200 now. And my '40K' blog was my 40th blog post. Hee hee, isn't that funny? It makes me want to blog at the rate so that when I break 50K it will be my 50th blog post.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Under the Influence
As a writer, does reading affect your 'voice'?
We all know what 'voice' is; it's that special something, that personal flare that you hope is unique and strong enough to carry your story. It's more than just your MC's voice-- it's the voice, the tone, the feeling of your writing.
Voice is that je ne sais quoi factor. Voice is something that isn't tangible; you can't see it, you can't touch it, you can't grab it-- but you want to channel it. You want your writing to have a voice that makes people want to read; a voice that amazes agents and makes publishers want to publish.
So my question is this: Do outside factors affect your voice? If you read a published book do you "pick up" on the author's voice and does it change your own writing style?
Do you even read a book hoping to be influenced by the prose? I suppose it doesn't even need to be a book that influences your voice- can you be affected by music or tv as well? Do you play certain music or shows to get into the desired mood/mindset? And does your voice change from story to story, or is it always the same?
I'm very curious to hear from others about this! I spend a lot of time analyzing my own voice, (writers are told over and over again how important a strong voice is) and I wonder how everyone else views this concept.
We all know what 'voice' is; it's that special something, that personal flare that you hope is unique and strong enough to carry your story. It's more than just your MC's voice-- it's the voice, the tone, the feeling of your writing.
Voice is that je ne sais quoi factor. Voice is something that isn't tangible; you can't see it, you can't touch it, you can't grab it-- but you want to channel it. You want your writing to have a voice that makes people want to read; a voice that amazes agents and makes publishers want to publish.
So my question is this: Do outside factors affect your voice? If you read a published book do you "pick up" on the author's voice and does it change your own writing style?
Do you even read a book hoping to be influenced by the prose? I suppose it doesn't even need to be a book that influences your voice- can you be affected by music or tv as well? Do you play certain music or shows to get into the desired mood/mindset? And does your voice change from story to story, or is it always the same?
I'm very curious to hear from others about this! I spend a lot of time analyzing my own voice, (writers are told over and over again how important a strong voice is) and I wonder how everyone else views this concept.
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