I think almost everyone knows a writer of some kind nowadays. With blogs being so prevalent and independent writers publishing all kinds of content on their own websites and different odd ball news and info sites it's really not that surprising.
I happen to know several writers but there's one that really inspired me when I was younger and still does. My father had a rather unusual medical life and ended up documenting it in a manuscript. Sadly by the time
the manuscript was finished his medical history was getting to be rather more commonplace and the manuscript was rejected by publishers. At least that's the story my mother told me with some details added in from my dad. My father has since passed away and the manuscript was written before the computer age so there are no backups. I wish I could have found his manuscript but my father was a very practical person. He kept anything I gave him but a manuscript that was rejected was probably tossed somewhere during one of our many moves. It's unfortunate. I really wish I could have read it and seen my father's writing style. Fortunately I have many letters that my father sent to me but I know that they just aren't the same, you know?
My parents have always encouraged me in my writing and praised my early efforts. It was my father's history though and his particular encouragement I think that really gave me that "oomph" to write.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Anticipation for 2013 - Projects Ahead
Every year it comes down to it...my least favorite question: "So what are your writing goals/projects for the year?" I hate that question with an undying passion. Mostly I hate it so because it reminds me that another year has gone by with what I feel is little to no progress on any of my projects.
In reality I do get quite a bit done and as my DH is so anxious to point out I do have a whole house, family and two jobs to maintain as well. I remind myself that I've done at least fifty thousand words for NaNoWriMo. I try for another 50K during one of the NaNo Camps as well. I'm not so hot at editing but I'm getting better. I've also logged on to Scribophile to get some feedback since I've moved away from my previous writing group. I miss the camaraderie of that group and it certainly helped me get my word count in once a week. Anyways...I suppose I should actually think about my goals now for the year. I'll set them below.
1. Complete Summer of the Sword.
Yes this was my NaNo project two years in a row but I'm still not content with it. Not to mention I'll lose a bunch in editing, I'm sure. I'm still not sure how it's going to end.
2. Post one chapter of above work on Scribophile for critiques per month.
The intent is that after being on for one month I'll have at least 3 good critiques and can get to editing while the next is getting looked at.
3. Rework my ideas for Nighttime Reading and make a functioning outline.
Another project that I started and still not completely satisfied with it. I'm doing a class and possibly will use that for my work there.
No, I don't have publishing in there but I'm still working at making myself a good, habitual writer and editor. Writing once a day is fine and all but that's not all there is to it. I'm hoping that this year, by throwing some editing in I'll be making myself a better over all writer and more prepared to publish, eventually.
In reality I do get quite a bit done and as my DH is so anxious to point out I do have a whole house, family and two jobs to maintain as well. I remind myself that I've done at least fifty thousand words for NaNoWriMo. I try for another 50K during one of the NaNo Camps as well. I'm not so hot at editing but I'm getting better. I've also logged on to Scribophile to get some feedback since I've moved away from my previous writing group. I miss the camaraderie of that group and it certainly helped me get my word count in once a week. Anyways...I suppose I should actually think about my goals now for the year. I'll set them below.
1. Complete Summer of the Sword.
Yes this was my NaNo project two years in a row but I'm still not content with it. Not to mention I'll lose a bunch in editing, I'm sure. I'm still not sure how it's going to end.
2. Post one chapter of above work on Scribophile for critiques per month.
The intent is that after being on for one month I'll have at least 3 good critiques and can get to editing while the next is getting looked at.
3. Rework my ideas for Nighttime Reading and make a functioning outline.
Another project that I started and still not completely satisfied with it. I'm doing a class and possibly will use that for my work there.
No, I don't have publishing in there but I'm still working at making myself a good, habitual writer and editor. Writing once a day is fine and all but that's not all there is to it. I'm hoping that this year, by throwing some editing in I'll be making myself a better over all writer and more prepared to publish, eventually.
Monday, January 28, 2013
My Dream Space
Someone challenged me today to write about my dream writing space. So I'll attempt to do this without too much gushing and without too many pictures.
I suppose my ideal writing space would be a tree house with an interior decorated in a rich library-esqe feel. Rich cherry or mahogany paneling with forest green paint, filled with built in bookshelves stocked to the brim with books and nick-knacks. There would be Tiffany style lamps, a large roll top desk with room for my laptop a cork board/white board for my ideas and notes. There would have to be a small kitchenette for beverages and snacks. As well as a small turret with a futon and three hundred and sixty degree views for an alternate writing space and a place to crash in case I get carried away. The exterior would look like one of the places below. Think I've thought about this much??
I suppose my ideal writing space would be a tree house with an interior decorated in a rich library-esqe feel. Rich cherry or mahogany paneling with forest green paint, filled with built in bookshelves stocked to the brim with books and nick-knacks. There would be Tiffany style lamps, a large roll top desk with room for my laptop a cork board/white board for my ideas and notes. There would have to be a small kitchenette for beverages and snacks. As well as a small turret with a futon and three hundred and sixty degree views for an alternate writing space and a place to crash in case I get carried away. The exterior would look like one of the places below. Think I've thought about this much??
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