Oh boy, I'm bad at blogging, aren't I?
Obviously, I've been away from this blog for quite some time now. I've been away from writing Meowsie for quite some time too. As I've said before, I have serious attention problems (and lots of other projects to work on) so this is probably something you should expect as much as I hate to admit it.
Anyway, I'm writing some Meowsie right now but I'm not gonna commit to writing everyday again and I'm not gonna promise to reach a word limit at some point because I know it's unlikely I'll do it. But I'll try.
Anyway, this is just to let you know I'm still alive... But barely writing. I wish I could focus better, but I just can't. It's the quality I hate about myself.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Names, Names, Names.
Oh Boy.
I have two secondary characters in Meowsie, each best friends with one of the main characters. And I like alliteration in names, which is why I called them Stacey Stem and Joe Jackson.
Anyway, with all the recent media coverage of Michael Jackson and his family, I learned something I never knew before. Michael Jackson's father is called Joe Jackson. Frick!
So what do I do, do I change the name or keep it? Thoughts, please.
Also, I've set up a poll about book length, please take a few seconds to vote.
I have two secondary characters in Meowsie, each best friends with one of the main characters. And I like alliteration in names, which is why I called them Stacey Stem and Joe Jackson.
Anyway, with all the recent media coverage of Michael Jackson and his family, I learned something I never knew before. Michael Jackson's father is called Joe Jackson. Frick!
So what do I do, do I change the name or keep it? Thoughts, please.
Also, I've set up a poll about book length, please take a few seconds to vote.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
My Short Attention Span
Sorry for the absense of posts in a while, I've been quite busy. And yes, that also means I've been a bit too busy to write much more of Meowsie. But now I'm back and ready to get more written!
Unfortunately, I'm still gonna be a bit busy and I predict I may end up falling behind again this time, so to make sure I'm not gonna stop writing it completely, I'm going to set my daily goal at 500 words, and only on weekdays. Sure, this is a big step down, but if it keeps me writing...
Yes, I do feel very guilty about not being the most dedicated writer on this, but I do find it hard to stick to things like this and this lower limit should help be get more written and get my enthusiasm back.
Wish me luck.
Unfortunately, I'm still gonna be a bit busy and I predict I may end up falling behind again this time, so to make sure I'm not gonna stop writing it completely, I'm going to set my daily goal at 500 words, and only on weekdays. Sure, this is a big step down, but if it keeps me writing...
Yes, I do feel very guilty about not being the most dedicated writer on this, but I do find it hard to stick to things like this and this lower limit should help be get more written and get my enthusiasm back.
Wish me luck.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Creating Worlds
So, as promised, I'm talking today about creating worlds for your books to be set in. Some people create large, extensive worlds for their books, such as L Frank Baum's creation, Oz. This works for some people, no for others.
Then there are people who set it in a fictional place but all they do is give it a name and if a certain part of that place is needed for the book, they can just make it up as they go along, basically. This also works for some people.
As for me, I have it extensively planned out. Not to the point that I have a map of the place (although, I'm tried) but I do have all the information thought out in my head. I have it thought out as detailed as who the mayor of the city is, the school, the magazines, the celebrities and all kinds of things. A lot of this does come into the story at some point or another, but a lot of it doesn't, too.
You'll see worlds like this planned out more in fantasy that any other genre, I think, but it works for others too. I think a lot of my inspiration for the world I've built has come from The Simpsons, which is certainly not a fantasy show. But it is a comedy, and so is Meowsie.
I'll be sure to tell you more about the world I've created once I get more of the series written down, but for now, that's all I can competently explain.
Have you got a fictional world you've built, on paper or in your head? Feel free to comment and share.
Then there are people who set it in a fictional place but all they do is give it a name and if a certain part of that place is needed for the book, they can just make it up as they go along, basically. This also works for some people.
As for me, I have it extensively planned out. Not to the point that I have a map of the place (although, I'm tried) but I do have all the information thought out in my head. I have it thought out as detailed as who the mayor of the city is, the school, the magazines, the celebrities and all kinds of things. A lot of this does come into the story at some point or another, but a lot of it doesn't, too.
You'll see worlds like this planned out more in fantasy that any other genre, I think, but it works for others too. I think a lot of my inspiration for the world I've built has come from The Simpsons, which is certainly not a fantasy show. But it is a comedy, and so is Meowsie.
I'll be sure to tell you more about the world I've created once I get more of the series written down, but for now, that's all I can competently explain.
Have you got a fictional world you've built, on paper or in your head? Feel free to comment and share.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Naming Characters
My (limited) experience has shown me that if you write a lot and have a lot of characters, you're eventually gonna meet someone with the same name as one of your characters.
I have a lot of trouble with names. I find the ones that you think up on the spot without putting any thought into it work the best. They're probably quite common and boring but once you get used to them, they just work.
I find that over thinking and trying to come up with a name is just a waste of energy. Still, that doesn't stop me from doing it. I could spend hours thinking up names and never manage to get one!
Anyway, back to the point. The other day I was looking at an old plan for a screenplay i was thinking of writing and there were only four characters and one of them has the same name as a friend of mine. Of course, I didn't know the friend when I chose the names. This, luckily, doesn't really matter as I don't intend to write that script anymore.
But in Meowsie I have a character called Stacy. She's a minor character, but quite an important one. But since naming her I have become friends with a girl called Stacey. And now I'm so used to writing her name that I keep spelling my character's name Stacey rather than Stacy. Only a minor problem, but that's not the point.
Anyway this post is getting a little long and is a bit scattered and nonsensical, so I'll cut the final part short.
Meowsie has lots of characters. I've had to write a list of them all just so I don't forget their names, which has happened before. There are five main characters (three of which are main-main characters (is there a word for that?)), about four secondary characters, lots of tertiary characters and a good handful of villains. So it gets a bit confusing sometimes.
That's what you get, though, when you develop a whole world for your books. I'll touch on this in a later post, but for now, see ya.
I have a lot of trouble with names. I find the ones that you think up on the spot without putting any thought into it work the best. They're probably quite common and boring but once you get used to them, they just work.
I find that over thinking and trying to come up with a name is just a waste of energy. Still, that doesn't stop me from doing it. I could spend hours thinking up names and never manage to get one!
Anyway, back to the point. The other day I was looking at an old plan for a screenplay i was thinking of writing and there were only four characters and one of them has the same name as a friend of mine. Of course, I didn't know the friend when I chose the names. This, luckily, doesn't really matter as I don't intend to write that script anymore.
But in Meowsie I have a character called Stacy. She's a minor character, but quite an important one. But since naming her I have become friends with a girl called Stacey. And now I'm so used to writing her name that I keep spelling my character's name Stacey rather than Stacy. Only a minor problem, but that's not the point.
Anyway this post is getting a little long and is a bit scattered and nonsensical, so I'll cut the final part short.
Meowsie has lots of characters. I've had to write a list of them all just so I don't forget their names, which has happened before. There are five main characters (three of which are main-main characters (is there a word for that?)), about four secondary characters, lots of tertiary characters and a good handful of villains. So it gets a bit confusing sometimes.
That's what you get, though, when you develop a whole world for your books. I'll touch on this in a later post, but for now, see ya.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Writer's Block
Today I sat down to tackle my 1,000 words and I found myself a little blocked. I tried, but I really just wasn't in the mood for writing. I managed to get down around 200 words. Of course, even if you're not a writer, I don't have to introduce this long-feared condition to you. But I will anyway.
Writer's block.
Luckily, in my case, I think it was just due to being in an unpleasant mood. I've recently fell into a very, very bad sleep cycle (last night i fell asleep around 6:30 am), so I intend to spend some of that time tonight writing and hopefully getting to a 12k total.
Of couse after that I have to tackle the sleep cycle, which won't be easy. I think I'm officially nocturnal now, since the sun was up the whole time I slept last night/morning/afternoon.
So wish me luck.
Writer's block.
Luckily, in my case, I think it was just due to being in an unpleasant mood. I've recently fell into a very, very bad sleep cycle (last night i fell asleep around 6:30 am), so I intend to spend some of that time tonight writing and hopefully getting to a 12k total.
Of couse after that I have to tackle the sleep cycle, which won't be easy. I think I'm officially nocturnal now, since the sun was up the whole time I slept last night/morning/afternoon.
So wish me luck.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Forget 'Beginning, Middle, End...'
First point: The daily goal thing has been going pretty well and I've been regularly exceeding it. I've aimed for 1,000 words per day and by the fifth day I have just over 8,000 words written. Yay me.
Second point: As much as it pains me to say this, I was wrong. I take back what I say about the chapter-by-chapter plans, at least in my case. But hey, we all make mistakes. It seemed like a good idea at first and the point still stands that it is a big help for writer's block, but after five days of writing i've found that it stifles my creativity.
I'm still following a basic version of the plan that I have stored in my head, but I'm mainly making it up as I go along now, which is working well and I'm starting to get into the flow of things, which brings me to --
My main point: after getting past the difficult opening, which I always struggle with in everything I write, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Now everything's coming to me quite quickly and boy, I'm loving it!
This had led me to a little theory of mine. I think a manuscript - be it a novel, novella, novelette or whatever - can be split into three sections, from a writing point of view that is.
These sections are the opening - the awkward part where nothing much is happened because you can't just jump to the point, but you have to introduce everything and still be interesting. This is, in my opinion, the most difficult stage or writing.
Second, the body - the majority of the manuscript, where the story unfolds and it gets easier to write. The most enjoyable part from most writers, I reckon.
Third, the very end - the last chapter or even just the last page where the writer has to think of an ending that will wrap the story up nicely and make the reader pause for a moment and smile before moving onto their next book. It can be easy to worry about this and fret about what you're going to write, although, thankfully, it's not as difficult as writing the opening. Plus, once you've finished, it'll make you pause and smile, too. Nothing like the sense of accomplishment in finishing something you've written.
So, it may just be me, but that's my opinion. Thoughts?
Second point: As much as it pains me to say this, I was wrong. I take back what I say about the chapter-by-chapter plans, at least in my case. But hey, we all make mistakes. It seemed like a good idea at first and the point still stands that it is a big help for writer's block, but after five days of writing i've found that it stifles my creativity.
I'm still following a basic version of the plan that I have stored in my head, but I'm mainly making it up as I go along now, which is working well and I'm starting to get into the flow of things, which brings me to --
My main point: after getting past the difficult opening, which I always struggle with in everything I write, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Now everything's coming to me quite quickly and boy, I'm loving it!
This had led me to a little theory of mine. I think a manuscript - be it a novel, novella, novelette or whatever - can be split into three sections, from a writing point of view that is.
These sections are the opening - the awkward part where nothing much is happened because you can't just jump to the point, but you have to introduce everything and still be interesting. This is, in my opinion, the most difficult stage or writing.
Second, the body - the majority of the manuscript, where the story unfolds and it gets easier to write. The most enjoyable part from most writers, I reckon.
Third, the very end - the last chapter or even just the last page where the writer has to think of an ending that will wrap the story up nicely and make the reader pause for a moment and smile before moving onto their next book. It can be easy to worry about this and fret about what you're going to write, although, thankfully, it's not as difficult as writing the opening. Plus, once you've finished, it'll make you pause and smile, too. Nothing like the sense of accomplishment in finishing something you've written.
So, it may just be me, but that's my opinion. Thoughts?
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