So why change the title of my Blog? Well, I had been doing a lot of thinking lately. It happens from time to time, I just get lost in a well of thoughts that masqurades as dreams. Okay, maybe that's too poetic.
I guess the thing is that as I read over old posts here I realize that I'm not always talking about just writing, I'm talking about the things that make up who I am. Since writing is an integral part of that the reality is that I'm talking about my journey. It's not one of becoming a writer, no I'm that already, it's a journey to self-discovery through my writing.
I've been having a bunch of confusing dreams lately and unfortunately I don't remember enough of them to put them to words. I just know it's confusing because I wake up confused or out of touch. Like I'm not inside my skin until I'm awake. I suppose I could be astral projecting, but I've only done that once under very controlled...and lucky....circumstances. I'd go into it, but honestly I think it's more for my private journal than for anything someone might find on the internet. If I do figure it out I'll probably mention it here because I think it plays a big part on my journey. I just don't know how though.
Thursday 30 July 2009
Friday 24 July 2009
Ah HA! I'm not alone!
Periodically, I re-read books that I already know. I do it for several reasons. The first is because, well, it's a good read. The second is because it sometimes helps get me in the mood to write. The third is because they ask me to. It's like this subconscious desire to just reach out and take the book. Only a few authors do this for me though. David Eddings, who recently passed away, Anne McCaffrey, though I mostly just re-read the Harper Trilogy. Last, but never least, is Laurell K. Hamilton. I would have to say she is one of my favorites. The reasons are numerous.
First off all, she writes really well. The second is that her books are all done in first person from the perceptions of the character in question. I've read very few authors that pull this off really well and she's one of them. Another is that both of the series that I'm a major fan of has a very strong female character. This speaks to the feminist in me. I get so tired of women being depicted as someone needing saving, needing a strong male to do the dirty work. In the Anita Blake series, Anita Blake is the one they call to do the dirty work. She's a Vampire Executioner and Hunter. Her nickname with the Vampires is The Executioner just to give you a hint. The only other Hunter that's better than her is a guy named Edward who is my other favorite character in the whole series.
Her other series, the Gentry Series, also has a strong female character is who is a Faery Princess of the Unseelie Court. I could go into the whole bit about it, but I'll be honest, if I did this post will be about her instead of what I really want to talk about. Another reason I enjoy her writing is for a more personal reason. I have suspected for a long time now that Laurell Hamiliton is a Wiccan. My suspicions came from the very realistic descriptions she gives in regards to rituals and other such matters in her books. I finally received confirmation recently in her blog. I was thrilled for more reasons than I'm willing to go into.
Anyway, I just recently re-read her book called Bloody Bones which was written a little over ten years ago. I had bought the book again when it was released in hard cover again because those last longer. She had included in it an Afterword which is always neat in my opinion because often writers put their thoughts, explanations and reasons for why characters do something. In reading this I realized that I'm not as nutty as I feared.
In an earlier post I had talked about two problematic characters that simply wouldn't cooperate (for any interested Cyrilla is stilling having problems, but Tim and I worked it out). In it I also often referred to both of them being real and being a pain in the ass on purpose. I had tried to keep it down at a dull roar because I was a bit worried that it would make me seem crazy.
Then tonight I read the Afterword and the first thing I said to my husband was "I'm not alone!" That's right folks, Laurell Hamiton talked not only about Anita, but also about Jean-Claude, Jason and Larry as if they are real people. "Anita would miss him." And various other comments like that. I was thrilled! I'm not crazy!....Or at least if I am then I'm not the only one.
It has gotten me thinking though, why do writers tend to look at their characters as if they are people too? Is it just something we started doing? Did we learn it? Or are really deranged?
Hmm, well, I don't seem to remember reading in any book that I should start considering my characters to be real. I also can't recall when that habit actually began. I suppose that this might fall under the category of things that make you go Hmmm. I just don't know and I would love to hear other opinions on the matter. Why does anyone that writes or even role-plays feel like their character isn't just a character, but a real person?
First off all, she writes really well. The second is that her books are all done in first person from the perceptions of the character in question. I've read very few authors that pull this off really well and she's one of them. Another is that both of the series that I'm a major fan of has a very strong female character. This speaks to the feminist in me. I get so tired of women being depicted as someone needing saving, needing a strong male to do the dirty work. In the Anita Blake series, Anita Blake is the one they call to do the dirty work. She's a Vampire Executioner and Hunter. Her nickname with the Vampires is The Executioner just to give you a hint. The only other Hunter that's better than her is a guy named Edward who is my other favorite character in the whole series.
Her other series, the Gentry Series, also has a strong female character is who is a Faery Princess of the Unseelie Court. I could go into the whole bit about it, but I'll be honest, if I did this post will be about her instead of what I really want to talk about. Another reason I enjoy her writing is for a more personal reason. I have suspected for a long time now that Laurell Hamiliton is a Wiccan. My suspicions came from the very realistic descriptions she gives in regards to rituals and other such matters in her books. I finally received confirmation recently in her blog. I was thrilled for more reasons than I'm willing to go into.
Anyway, I just recently re-read her book called Bloody Bones which was written a little over ten years ago. I had bought the book again when it was released in hard cover again because those last longer. She had included in it an Afterword which is always neat in my opinion because often writers put their thoughts, explanations and reasons for why characters do something. In reading this I realized that I'm not as nutty as I feared.
In an earlier post I had talked about two problematic characters that simply wouldn't cooperate (for any interested Cyrilla is stilling having problems, but Tim and I worked it out). In it I also often referred to both of them being real and being a pain in the ass on purpose. I had tried to keep it down at a dull roar because I was a bit worried that it would make me seem crazy.
Then tonight I read the Afterword and the first thing I said to my husband was "I'm not alone!" That's right folks, Laurell Hamiton talked not only about Anita, but also about Jean-Claude, Jason and Larry as if they are real people. "Anita would miss him." And various other comments like that. I was thrilled! I'm not crazy!....Or at least if I am then I'm not the only one.
It has gotten me thinking though, why do writers tend to look at their characters as if they are people too? Is it just something we started doing? Did we learn it? Or are really deranged?
Hmm, well, I don't seem to remember reading in any book that I should start considering my characters to be real. I also can't recall when that habit actually began. I suppose that this might fall under the category of things that make you go Hmmm. I just don't know and I would love to hear other opinions on the matter. Why does anyone that writes or even role-plays feel like their character isn't just a character, but a real person?
Sunday 19 July 2009
Writing Space
I'm reading this interesting book talking about our Writing Space and it got me thinking about just that, my writing space. I look over my physical space and realize, yikes, talk about counter-productive. Let me see if I can describe it for you.
I have a desk that's shaped like an L. The shorter part of the desk holds the brunt of my stuff. To the the right sits a little cubby that holds five binders. One of the binders has my playing cards (Star Trek....yes, I'm a nerd and proud of it), one holds the printed copy of the Golden Crown, another holds half of the printed copy of Memory Lane and the other half is upstairs currently asking me to take it downstairs, but more on that later. Next I have a binder with my household chore list and a few other household business information in it and as to why I need this binder, well, that's complicated. The last binder holds Star Trek scripts that a friend...acquaintence....had sent to me eleven years ago. I haven't heard from him since and I should shred it and dispose of it, but it just seems to go against my genetic code.
Below this cubby is my Bamboo Fun pad which helps me in regards to my various hand problems that I have. If I was to use a mouse instead I'd last about twenty to forty minutes, with the pen tablet I last for several hours. In the area beside the cubby is my computer stuff and a container for my pens. I have a lot of pens, I guess you can say I collect them. So the pen container is on the right side of the monitor while on the left are two notebook/book holders. One has three notebooks and two magazines plus some other odds and ends while the other holds my school book.
Next comes the little space with a door that I throw technical wires, envelops plus a few odd and ends. I'll go weeks or months not looking in there if I'm not careful. Under the cupboard are a stack of books ranging from organizing, web design, Wicca books and a few health books, stacked neatly out of the way then we hit the turning point.
From there is a small notebook holder, meaning the notebooks it holds is small. I have my character development notebook in there...which I haven't worked in for a while, plus a few other books that have nothing to do with writing. In fact one has information about great places to visit in San Antonio. It comes with a drawer that again has a few odds and ends that I haven't looked at in months. Next is my set of dictionary, thesaurus and a Style Guide. I've used the dictionary occasionally, the other two not yet. One of my favorite writers said once that if you have to pull out the thesaurus you're using the wrong word. I guess you can say I take that to heart.
Beside that, and I really mean a few inches on down the desk in reality, is all the paperwork that I have to sort through. This includes paid bills, printed up story information, unpaid bills (though I really hope not) and who knows what else is in there because I haven't sorted through it. Next to that is another pile of stuff that I have to sort from notebooks to magazines and to who knows what else. Between the edge against the wall and myself is a stack of CD's/DVD's plus a few notebooks of information for my web design.
This desk of mine sits in a corner of a large room. Moving out in the room on the left wall are three bookcases while on the right is the printer and my husbands desk. Behind me is the playing area of my kids..........
Hmm, I wonder why I can't focus on my writing?
And I didn't even mention the top shelf which really only holds the decorative things on my desk. Apparently putting it on the bottom part causes them to either be lost or broken...perhaps both. Then of course there is the area under my desk that has stuff from the CPU of my computer, several software booklets and two small portable filing boxes that has magazines or notebooks.
Space is more than the physical area certainly, the book mentions that and I already knew it (though I believe it's going to go into more detail about it later on). I have to be in the right mind frame for it. If I'm not it's a waste of time. However the key is trying to create the mind frame because I should be writing every day. I'm not, I never have and I suppose if I had then it wouldn't take me quite as long to actually finish a book.
It's just that, and excuse the sudden need for justification, I have a lot of activities on my plate that require some kind of creative energy. All these projects are of my choice of course, I also want to make that clear. I don't feel pressured to do them...okay, most of the time I don't... so I guess it could be say that while I don't necessarily write every day, I am creative every day. That's almost the same thing right? RIGHT?
........Okay, even I have to admit that I'm sounding a bit petulant and that's probably because I'm feeling like I'm focusing my magnifying glass a bit too close to the skin.
Well, one thing that a magnifying glass shows someone is if they need a change. Once you see the reality, the truth of perception, it becomes a matter of deciding to do something about it or just shrug it off.
Writing space is important, not just for the practical reasons, but also for the mental. If you have things that distract you, that pull you from what you need to focus on then you'll only ever be able to type words and not work on a story. Our space is more than just the physical though, it's the mental. It's doing that mental sabotage of yourself just to get things going. It's just like when I had talked about editing where you need to lie to yourself to make it possible.
If you can get these two spaces set then you're on a better path than before. The book is sure to talk about other types of spaces that make it easier and better for us to tap into that creative zone that works with the words instead of pictures or web sites. Perhaps as I learn more from this book I'll share it with everyone.
Obviously I have to make some changes though what I'm not sure about yet.
I have a desk that's shaped like an L. The shorter part of the desk holds the brunt of my stuff. To the the right sits a little cubby that holds five binders. One of the binders has my playing cards (Star Trek....yes, I'm a nerd and proud of it), one holds the printed copy of the Golden Crown, another holds half of the printed copy of Memory Lane and the other half is upstairs currently asking me to take it downstairs, but more on that later. Next I have a binder with my household chore list and a few other household business information in it and as to why I need this binder, well, that's complicated. The last binder holds Star Trek scripts that a friend...acquaintence....had sent to me eleven years ago. I haven't heard from him since and I should shred it and dispose of it, but it just seems to go against my genetic code.
Below this cubby is my Bamboo Fun pad which helps me in regards to my various hand problems that I have. If I was to use a mouse instead I'd last about twenty to forty minutes, with the pen tablet I last for several hours. In the area beside the cubby is my computer stuff and a container for my pens. I have a lot of pens, I guess you can say I collect them. So the pen container is on the right side of the monitor while on the left are two notebook/book holders. One has three notebooks and two magazines plus some other odds and ends while the other holds my school book.
Next comes the little space with a door that I throw technical wires, envelops plus a few odd and ends. I'll go weeks or months not looking in there if I'm not careful. Under the cupboard are a stack of books ranging from organizing, web design, Wicca books and a few health books, stacked neatly out of the way then we hit the turning point.
From there is a small notebook holder, meaning the notebooks it holds is small. I have my character development notebook in there...which I haven't worked in for a while, plus a few other books that have nothing to do with writing. In fact one has information about great places to visit in San Antonio. It comes with a drawer that again has a few odds and ends that I haven't looked at in months. Next is my set of dictionary, thesaurus and a Style Guide. I've used the dictionary occasionally, the other two not yet. One of my favorite writers said once that if you have to pull out the thesaurus you're using the wrong word. I guess you can say I take that to heart.
Beside that, and I really mean a few inches on down the desk in reality, is all the paperwork that I have to sort through. This includes paid bills, printed up story information, unpaid bills (though I really hope not) and who knows what else is in there because I haven't sorted through it. Next to that is another pile of stuff that I have to sort from notebooks to magazines and to who knows what else. Between the edge against the wall and myself is a stack of CD's/DVD's plus a few notebooks of information for my web design.
This desk of mine sits in a corner of a large room. Moving out in the room on the left wall are three bookcases while on the right is the printer and my husbands desk. Behind me is the playing area of my kids..........
Hmm, I wonder why I can't focus on my writing?
And I didn't even mention the top shelf which really only holds the decorative things on my desk. Apparently putting it on the bottom part causes them to either be lost or broken...perhaps both. Then of course there is the area under my desk that has stuff from the CPU of my computer, several software booklets and two small portable filing boxes that has magazines or notebooks.
Space is more than the physical area certainly, the book mentions that and I already knew it (though I believe it's going to go into more detail about it later on). I have to be in the right mind frame for it. If I'm not it's a waste of time. However the key is trying to create the mind frame because I should be writing every day. I'm not, I never have and I suppose if I had then it wouldn't take me quite as long to actually finish a book.
It's just that, and excuse the sudden need for justification, I have a lot of activities on my plate that require some kind of creative energy. All these projects are of my choice of course, I also want to make that clear. I don't feel pressured to do them...okay, most of the time I don't... so I guess it could be say that while I don't necessarily write every day, I am creative every day. That's almost the same thing right? RIGHT?
........Okay, even I have to admit that I'm sounding a bit petulant and that's probably because I'm feeling like I'm focusing my magnifying glass a bit too close to the skin.
Well, one thing that a magnifying glass shows someone is if they need a change. Once you see the reality, the truth of perception, it becomes a matter of deciding to do something about it or just shrug it off.
Writing space is important, not just for the practical reasons, but also for the mental. If you have things that distract you, that pull you from what you need to focus on then you'll only ever be able to type words and not work on a story. Our space is more than just the physical though, it's the mental. It's doing that mental sabotage of yourself just to get things going. It's just like when I had talked about editing where you need to lie to yourself to make it possible.
If you can get these two spaces set then you're on a better path than before. The book is sure to talk about other types of spaces that make it easier and better for us to tap into that creative zone that works with the words instead of pictures or web sites. Perhaps as I learn more from this book I'll share it with everyone.
Obviously I have to make some changes though what I'm not sure about yet.
Friday 17 July 2009
Ohhh Baby!
I was looking at templates for my class and I found this. I love it so much I just had to have it here. Maybe I'll find something else in time, but for now, this is so much COOLER! Don't you think?
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