The retreat was great! Everyone gave a little 'class' on different aspects of the writing process (query letters, character bible, metaphor and symbolism, writer's block, etc).
We read aloud some of our pages (which I highly recommend), and did a couple of writing exercises.
One of my favorite exercises is this: we all put 3 characters into a hat and draw out 3 random characters (make sure you don't get your own). From there, we have to write up a scene with the characters and then we read them aloud to the group. The situations are so unlikely, and usually the characters end up out of character, and we laugh until our sides are sore. ^_^
It was an awesome weekend and I'm energized to do more work on my book(s).
Thanks CRAMP-ers!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Writer's Retreat
Look! It's my monthly post. ^_^
I'm going on a writer's retreat with my awesome writing/critique group (the CRAMP) this weekend. I'm so excited! :D
I've written up my first query letter for a workshop we're going to do, and I'm all proud of myself. My first step toward querying agents for my book(s). Woot!
Now I just need to finish a manuscript.
But I've been writing pretty steadily for the past few months, so things are progressing and the CRAMP is giving me awesome feedback on the stories.
Progress is being made!
The dream is being lived!
Victory is on the horizon!
Hoo-ra!
I'm going on a writer's retreat with my awesome writing/critique group (the CRAMP) this weekend. I'm so excited! :D
I've written up my first query letter for a workshop we're going to do, and I'm all proud of myself. My first step toward querying agents for my book(s). Woot!
Now I just need to finish a manuscript.
But I've been writing pretty steadily for the past few months, so things are progressing and the CRAMP is giving me awesome feedback on the stories.
Progress is being made!
The dream is being lived!
Victory is on the horizon!
Hoo-ra!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Just DO It
I read a blog post by Sara Zarr (http://www.sarazarr.com/archives/1782) and it got me thinking.
I think I let fear dictate to me too often in my writing. Especially in my blogging (hence the reason I update maybe once a month). I think ‘what on Earth do I have to say that’s so important? My ideas can’t be all that original, so why should I post them up here where anyone could read them?’
Maybe my ideas aren’t that original. But then again, maybe they are. They’re my ideas, with my own unique background influencing how I see them. And true, my ideas might not change the world, but they might, just might, touch someone. One person who needed to hear what I had to say.
I promise to myself to keep on writing. To keep on dreaming and hoping. To keep fear at bay by doing, instead of letting myself be paralyzed.
To quote Galaxy Quest: Never give up. Never surrender!
I think I let fear dictate to me too often in my writing. Especially in my blogging (hence the reason I update maybe once a month). I think ‘what on Earth do I have to say that’s so important? My ideas can’t be all that original, so why should I post them up here where anyone could read them?’
Maybe my ideas aren’t that original. But then again, maybe they are. They’re my ideas, with my own unique background influencing how I see them. And true, my ideas might not change the world, but they might, just might, touch someone. One person who needed to hear what I had to say.
I promise to myself to keep on writing. To keep on dreaming and hoping. To keep fear at bay by doing, instead of letting myself be paralyzed.
To quote Galaxy Quest: Never give up. Never surrender!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Attack of the Pizza-wielding Psycho
Oh, it's been way too long since my last post . . .
So, I thought someone was robbing my friend’s car Saturday night, and apparently I’m very polite just before I attack with a box of pizza.
My friend, A, had exited the Little Caesar’s Pizza before me, when I noticed a rump (not hers) sticking out of what I thought was her car. Now it was dark, and this car was a very similar color to A’s, and other than the color of the car, all I really noticed was that it was a man’s rump and shoes sticking out of my friend’s car.
My brain cries thief! and my adrenaline kicks into high gear.
I approach the supposed thief (keep in mind I’m carrying 2 boxes of Hot-n-Ready) and say, “Excuse me, sir?”.
Right about this moment, my brain also starts to notice details about this car. The interior is different from A’s car, and there’s a pair of humongous headphones hanging from the rear view mirror. And the gentleman is extricating himself from his car to face the person who’s addressed him.
Before he can fully exit the vehicle I mutter “sorry” and rush over to A’s car, where’s she’s been standing wondering what the heck I’m doing. (Apparently she and the guy made eye contact and had a silent “what’s she doing” “how should I know” conversation).
I jump into A’s car and tell her to drive (Drive, you fool!), and when we’re away, she asks what that was all about. I tell her “I thought he was robbing your car”, at which point she starts to laugh hysterically and says “That was the politest confrontation I’ve ever seen”.
So next time you hear someone say, “Excuse me” from behind you, make sure that you’re in your own car and not about to be clobbered by the pizza-wielding person who thinks you’re robbing their friend.
So, I thought someone was robbing my friend’s car Saturday night, and apparently I’m very polite just before I attack with a box of pizza.
My friend, A, had exited the Little Caesar’s Pizza before me, when I noticed a rump (not hers) sticking out of what I thought was her car. Now it was dark, and this car was a very similar color to A’s, and other than the color of the car, all I really noticed was that it was a man’s rump and shoes sticking out of my friend’s car.
My brain cries thief! and my adrenaline kicks into high gear.
I approach the supposed thief (keep in mind I’m carrying 2 boxes of Hot-n-Ready) and say, “Excuse me, sir?”.
Right about this moment, my brain also starts to notice details about this car. The interior is different from A’s car, and there’s a pair of humongous headphones hanging from the rear view mirror. And the gentleman is extricating himself from his car to face the person who’s addressed him.
Before he can fully exit the vehicle I mutter “sorry” and rush over to A’s car, where’s she’s been standing wondering what the heck I’m doing. (Apparently she and the guy made eye contact and had a silent “what’s she doing” “how should I know” conversation).
I jump into A’s car and tell her to drive (Drive, you fool!), and when we’re away, she asks what that was all about. I tell her “I thought he was robbing your car”, at which point she starts to laugh hysterically and says “That was the politest confrontation I’ve ever seen”.
So next time you hear someone say, “Excuse me” from behind you, make sure that you’re in your own car and not about to be clobbered by the pizza-wielding person who thinks you’re robbing their friend.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
NaNoWriMo
Yay! I finally signed up for NaNoWriMo!
I've been meaning to do it since I first heard about it a few years back, and this year I finally did it. *does a happy dance*
I'll try to keep y'all updated on the writing, as well as doing my usual posts about what I'm reading/watching at the moment, but this could be a very busy month. ^_^
I've been meaning to do it since I first heard about it a few years back, and this year I finally did it. *does a happy dance*
I'll try to keep y'all updated on the writing, as well as doing my usual posts about what I'm reading/watching at the moment, but this could be a very busy month. ^_^
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tantalize
So I'm on Facebook the other day and see an ad on the sidebar for some school in Vermont where you can study to be a writer with Cynthia Leitich Smith and others. The ad showed the covers of two of Cynthia's books, Tantalize and Eternal. I was intrigued, so I went to my library home page and looked up Tantalize. There were 5 reviews.
The first I basically ignored because of bad grammar, spelling, and other pet peeves (it irritates me when people don't know which there/their/they're to use). The other reviews were a little more insightful with descriptions such as: "depressing" "learning how to deal with what's been done to you" "vampires and cooking, two of my favorite things" "slow to get to the middle of the book then a whirl of confusion 'til the end" and finally, a lengthy review that gave a synopsis of the book.
I was intrigued, despite the negative reviews, and put the book on hold.
So far, I haven't been disappointed. The author has a strong writing style that I'm enjoying a lot. In the little bit I've read (I'm only on page 54) I've come to care for her characters and I'm interested to see how they grow and develop. How they'll handle the trials that they're dealing with.
Hopefully the book will be a new one to add to my growing library.
The first I basically ignored because of bad grammar, spelling, and other pet peeves (it irritates me when people don't know which there/their/they're to use). The other reviews were a little more insightful with descriptions such as: "depressing" "learning how to deal with what's been done to you" "vampires and cooking, two of my favorite things" "slow to get to the middle of the book then a whirl of confusion 'til the end" and finally, a lengthy review that gave a synopsis of the book.
I was intrigued, despite the negative reviews, and put the book on hold.
So far, I haven't been disappointed. The author has a strong writing style that I'm enjoying a lot. In the little bit I've read (I'm only on page 54) I've come to care for her characters and I'm interested to see how they grow and develop. How they'll handle the trials that they're dealing with.
Hopefully the book will be a new one to add to my growing library.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Quickie
Watched Bones and Fringe tonight. They were okay, but nothing to write home about (though I love to see Booth and Brennan work. ^_^ I love their chemestry).
The water was turned off when I got home, so dinner was take out (yay). Don't try that burger that Carl's Jr. is advertising as their version of the Big Mac. It's not worth it. Too much burger, not enough 'special sauce'. Blegh.
I was in WalMart today and stopped in the books section just to see if Maze Runner had been put out early. It hadn't been, though I hear a K-Mart in Provo put it out early (oops). And I've seen several people on Facebook stating that they're reading, or have read Maze Runner. *jealousy!*
I started listening to Keys to the Kingdom (Mister Monday) by Garth Nix. Thank Heaven for books on CD! I love Garth's writing! His creative mind just gives me goosebumps. The Old Kingdom series is still my favorite, but I'm only on book 1 of KttK.
Didn't finish I am Legend. Well, I finished the story, but not the book. There are several short stories after the main story is over, and I couldn't see that they tied into the main story at all. I didn't find the shorts as engaging as the main story, so I just returned the book to the library.
The water was turned off when I got home, so dinner was take out (yay). Don't try that burger that Carl's Jr. is advertising as their version of the Big Mac. It's not worth it. Too much burger, not enough 'special sauce'. Blegh.
I was in WalMart today and stopped in the books section just to see if Maze Runner had been put out early. It hadn't been, though I hear a K-Mart in Provo put it out early (oops). And I've seen several people on Facebook stating that they're reading, or have read Maze Runner. *jealousy!*
I started listening to Keys to the Kingdom (Mister Monday) by Garth Nix. Thank Heaven for books on CD! I love Garth's writing! His creative mind just gives me goosebumps. The Old Kingdom series is still my favorite, but I'm only on book 1 of KttK.
Didn't finish I am Legend. Well, I finished the story, but not the book. There are several short stories after the main story is over, and I couldn't see that they tied into the main story at all. I didn't find the shorts as engaging as the main story, so I just returned the book to the library.
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