In my blog I've used my lil cherry notebook to symbolize the posts where I talk about writing. The writing I do besides blogging. Writing with a pen not hitting buttons. Writing a story that I hope maybe someday will find a lil spot on someone's bookshelf somewhere out there. Woa that sentence has a lot of "Some's". lol. Someday....hmmm...why don't I try to make that someday actually today?
There's so many novels, stories, articles, periodicals, & photos with quotes...It's been done. My goal is to try to be original. I know that's hard. But think of this way. Just changing your routine in one small way can open a whole new life of possibilities. I'm writing a zombie novel. Zombies have been done. Yeah, I know. But what if you made them act like a tinker toy that is low on its batteries instead of a raving lunatic?? What if you made the main character not a big-boobed running teenage girl who is just trying to start her film career?? What if she was a girl who just happened to be going to her car with the Christmas presents & when she saw people roaming in the parking lot she dashed into her Honda so she was safe from the attack? Or it's the world after the invasion...What really would happen?? How would you go back to your lives if you survived?????
Brainstorming. It's so UNDER-rated. It's possible but I imagine its pretty hard to just sit down with a deadline staring at you & a blank word document smirking. You gotta think it out. You gotta take the time to write & put your effort into it. You gotta make it your own. Give it your brand. Make your stamp like your blogs. =)
However even after brainstorming it can be a bit of bitch to sit & write. Things start popping up that make your brain fuzzy. That's why I made the above picture of me blurry. I'm a little stuck on the names of the characters. Names. It should be easy to come up with a name right? I looked at a baby name book for ideas but hmmm...I want a punchy name for my main character that flows...that when someone one day is telling another person to read it the name of the character will roll off their tongue. Also I think my problem is I read too many romance novels. lol. I'm picking extravagant names like Cole, Gabriel, Xavier, Rhett, Copper, Jack, Bartholmeu. Or like Chastity, Roberta, Katrina, Victoria...lol. I think I need to start a lil smaller. I think I'll figure this out tomorrow. See there's so much that goes into writing...But I'm enjoying every minute of it. =)
I'm looking forward to the snow tomorrow because I want a day off. lol. I live in Southern NY state near New York City & we are supposed to get about a 12" of snow tomorrow. If I have the day off Pretty please) I want to clean, then write. It's my turn next Writer's Group in 2 weeks to showcase some of my zombie novel project. You can't just keep saying your going to write it. It has to come alive. lol. Kinda like a zombie. =P
Thank you everyone for your comments on my last post. I will make the day special. =) I have to go prepare for tomorrow's snow. I'll have to put my cherry notebook on my desk & pick it up again tomorrow. Ohh the possibilities of when that someday will come...the possibilities....
42 comments:
I think I have acculturated to this technology, I just can't do hand writing anymore. Last semester I had a written final where I had to write seven hand written essays in class. I was going to die. I felt my hand was going to fall off.
On the other hand, in terns of names, I can think of Spanish names; Ricardo, Javier (H sound for the Spanish J), Rodrigo, Juan Carlos, Sergio/ Antonieta, Lucinda.....
P.S. Sometimes I wish I had a set routine like you (I think). The same things everyday, rather than my usual class-going,HW-doing, dinner-eating at random times. Right now, at midnight, as I write to you, I am having dinner. I did not have time to eat earlier. I have been sick since Sunday, but I havent had the time to go get some medicine at CVS. It has been crazy. Maybe you could compare and contrast your college life to your current life in a post.
Anyway...now I am just being random. After all, you are the one who is supposed to be random here lol.
Sorry for such a long comment,
Aquiles
whatever you do, please never ever name your character chastity haha. I have a problem with names in stories as well. I need to just come up with a brilliant name immediately otherwise nothing sounds right. I have some stock names that sounds good together, but they never fit just so into a story. then again, what am I even saying, I haven't written anything in months. and I know you're supposed to try and draw on your own life for inspiration but right now everything seems to close to home. don't want to give my ex roommate the satisfacation of an entire book about her haha
I was blessed with a brain that refuses to turn off, so all I have to do is sit down (OK fine. Lay down. With a bag of Fritos. You happy now?), start writing (in between Fritos), and away I go!
sometimes its just fun to let your mind grab hold of a thought and just RUN with it...see the possibilities...let your mind wander! oh man, i miss writing! good luck with the zombies, tell them i say hello :)
I've always been a fan of the name Antoinette, Toni for short. Not just because she's the one the that got away either, it's pretty.
I am sure it will be a better story than "Zombie Land" the movie.
Secretia
Its lovely!
good luck with the zombie novel! your perspective sounds interesting already :)
i agree, brainstorming is the hardest part. but from experience, it helped me if i just wrote - could be your idea in the middle of the novel, but just keep on writing & writing. and then you can build around it & edit later. maybe the names will come to you later on :)
Good luck with that my friend! Writing can be so hard. I now all about it. I've been "working" on mine for a year and only have one page lol..I think I overthink. I just need to get a flow and go with it..I do love the name Chastity..sounds innocent yet sexy..
I like that idea, a zombie tinker toy...
It's all yours tho, zombies aren't my thing, but I'd read your story!! :)
As for V-Day, my DH and I don't even do anything, we go to the store on the 15th and buy the stuff on sale!! We're dorks but we'd also go insane if the 15th didn't come.
Good luck with your writing and the snow. We're supposed to get about 9 or 10 inches here.
Write the story and use letters for each character's name as a placeholder. As the story unveils, the characters will tell you their names.
I love your idea of a zombie novel, follow your heart! And the cherry notebook is just adorable.
This is cute :) I always dip in and out of writing, and get the urge to just sit down and WRITE.. I like it, it feels much more extravagant than typing away at a laptop.
If you like Romance novels, check out Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Sooooooo good. Good luck with your writing on your snow day. :)
What if those damn zombies wrote the novel for you and all you had to do was dictate the words. If only the were good with grammar, I BE SET!
I'm not into zombies, but with writing like that, I'd forgo a few grande skim lattes just so I'd have the money to buy your novel. DO.IT!
http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
You are such an amazing writer, so I am definitely looking forward to the day you finish your zombie novel. :)
You are SO right about personal writing being way harder than professional writing. News writing was so easy for me because the deadline forced me to finish and get my act together. But when I sit in front of the computer now, to write for myself, I get distracted and not as motivated, because there is no deadline. Its too open-ended...So, what I end up doing is giving myself pretend deadlines. It's hard but it kind of gets me going...lol.
I would think your writing group is kind of like a deadline. Does that motivate you at all? I'm thinking about joining one myself and didn't know if it was worth it...
Melanie, bring the cherry notebook with you all the time. Place it inside your bag so that when inspiration strikes, you can write anywhere. xoxo
You are amazing and inspiring. You really inspire me to go for things that I want to do, thinking outside of the box always.
Enjoy your day off, and glad you have time to do what you love! Stay safe with all the snow! :)
xoxoxo
Rachel
hope you are off today and writing up a storm, while safe and cozy inside!!!!
I totally love the idea of your zombie novel. And I'm coveting that cherry notebook...
Hello sweetheart,
Hope you are keeping safe with all the snow and get to utilize your day off. :) Don't worry Feb 15th is soon approaching and it will be all over with... :)Keep smiling, pretty lady.
xoxo
Good luck with the zombie novel. My BF loves them so you will be sure to get at least one buyer. :)
have fun with the zombies, should be very entertaining. you are such a good writer - I am sure the new notebook is going be be amazing!
I totally turn to the old pen and paper when I'm outlining posts! Nothing beats it. : )
I can see that you really have passion for this. If ever you do come out with a novel, it would definitely be on my list of books to read. =) I know it's going to be really good because you have put a lot of thought into it. =)
I would love to read your cherry notebook from cover to cover ... I'm sure I'll unearth so many treasures inside?!
I would love to read a zombie novel! Have you read the Max Brooks zombie books? As much as I enjoyed them, I think there's definitely a relatable-heroine void in the genre. I have a similar problem with writing; no matter how much brainstorming I do, once I start to actually write the story somehow twists away from me. Good luck with your writing!
I love this post. You are so fantastic.
can you believe i'm so not a writer? i know i know, i have a blog but it's not m'thang...not really my passion which is why my writing is not the best. but who cares about me...you go with your bad notebook and write write write!
Oh good luck with finding THat name....and with the story honey. xxx
The zombie novel! I have a love/hate relationship with that title - love the way it sounds; hate the sentiment it represents. Brainstorming is a challenge. I find that I come up with the most ideas when I'm, of all things, working out. Do not even bother asking me why!! :)
Ok Melanie;
This post is just so much a reflection of what I am experiencing right now. I have been writing this script for a short or movie (whatever comes first)the last 4 weeks; I have the idea, I have like 2 well defined characters..
However, writing is a bitch, and that staring blank page is a killer!!!!!
so I open The words Document, look at it, walk off and wonder off from my computer, sit down, type a couple of words, and then somehow I always seem to remember about an image I need to work on, or about an idea I need to be pressing on for the blog, or about a client I need to be following up on, and there it goes the script easily goes down the drain, consciously and sub-consciously...
What can we do to move forward?
A dare?
Good Luck with your writting..
That is awesome that you are going to start your novel! I have one I started last year but never finished... I think I'm like 30 pages into it too... /sigh I should really get back on that huh?
WRITE WRITE WRITE!! just let your pen go and smile!! Follow your passion!! Follow your heart.
I know what you mean! I'm trying to write a novel too (though mine is in the young adult and/or historical genre), and writer block ALWAYS gets at me. Right now it's really bad.
Hmm with names, I usually scour babynames.com. I start with the most popular names from this year and then move backwards until I come across one I like. The problem for me is that I don't want to use the name of someone I know, and that narrows it down quite a bit!
Good luck! And I'd totally buy your book!!
your cherry notebook is so cute!
love your blog!
xoxo
thanks for visiting my blog dearie! :D
you have one lovely blog!
i loved this post!
i consider myself a writer as well, so I understand where you're coming from
i want to encourage you to pursue your dreams and write whatever you want...passion can take you great places! :) i can't wait to hear what you write and the places your writing is going to take us! :) stay safe and warm with all that snow!:)
So I assume you had a snow day? :) You guys got snow- in Boston we were supposed to get 8-12 inches and we go A DUSTING! Worst forecasting EVER!! lol
Just found your blog! Now following! :)
A zombie book! you're so freaking cool. i love it. hope you get that day off. :D
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