writing

Books & Reading & Writing & Goals

I have a new favorite author. Lara M. Zeises (zeisgeist). Her books are phenomenal. I just read Bringing Up the Bones and I am in love with it. Now, the funny thing is that I read Contents Under Pressure first, and I think it should have been the other way around. I LOVE how Lara has certain characters pop in and out of different books. I do the same with mine. I pray that ONLY YOURS get published, and that the one I am working on now gets published (title has been changed yet again), because then you’ll get to meet some characters, then revisit them. Yay.

Another thing I love about Lara’s books is that they’re not sugar-coated. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy reading “sweet YAs” (how sad am I that the Smooch line went under?) but I definitely prefer … how shall I describe them?–risque?–books where teens do things like have sex and try drugs and *gasp* actually NOT die or have something else horrible happen to them.

I watched How to Deal yesterday, I mean Saturday (damned Springing Forward. I am wide awake right now). The actor who played Macon. Yum. It was really good. Interesting adaptation–taking two books. I enjoyed it. Of course, it was based on Sarah Dessen (writergrl) books, so how could I have not loved it?

Went to the library on Saturday. Checked out eleven items. Ten of them were books. I got ahold of the newest A-list novel. First borrower–the spine hasn’t even been broken on it yet! It smells so good, too. I don’t know if I was supposed to have it yet–the publication date is April 2006, and seeing as Saturday was April 1st… hmm. Anyway, I’m excited to read it. I got the latest Lara M. Zeises book out as well, and a Jax Abbot book. Yeah! Can’t wait to read and read and read. Or write and write and write. Argh, I am so torn!

In Writing news:

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
37,055 / 50,000
(74.1%)

I’m moving right along, yes? I was on a roll this weekend, despite my best efforts at slacking. :D There really is something about those late, late nights/early mornings. I was up until 4am on Sunday, down in the family room, wrapped in a blanket, the fish tank on, and surrounded by books. I had grape Kool-Aid and chocolate chip cookie dough. Typing away. It was heaven.

I always talked about how much more productive I’d be if I could write all day. But I don’t think that’s true. I think I’d be better if I could stay up all night. It’s so quiet. No interruptions. No daylight or sunshine or open stores to distract me. Just silence and stillness. Night time has always been my time, and the only times I get to dwell on that is the ocassional Friday or Saturday night. I don’t even get to fully enjoy it then, because I know the next morning, I’ll have to be up to do this or that and you know, raise my child.

I’m really enjoying writing this. I love when I get to this point. :) I’d love to be able to knock out thousands of words a day, but if I focus, I usually get to squeeze out 1000 or so in the midst of constant interruptions and distractions. I hope I can have a 50,000 word first draft completed by June 1st. That would be amazing–to complete a third novel, and to have a bank for more.

March Goals check in:

– 32,000 words – CHECK. I surpassed that goal by more than 3000 words.
– read two new books – CHECK like whoa. I lost count of how many new books I read. :D

I’ll post the April ones over to the side once I figure them out.

I’m gonna run. We’re supposed to get hit with a thunderstorm in about seven minutes and I want my computer unplugged. We’ll probably lose power or internet or something. :( That’s the only bad thing about spring. The storms. Ugh. I hate them.

‘Til next time.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Oooh, Naughty Girl, I Am!!

So, I TRY to get to bed around 10:30pm. I usually don’t turn out the lights until about midnight or so. Well, last night/this morning, I ended stayed up until after 1am. Guess what I was doing. GUESS!

Okay, I’ll tell you. I opened my WIP just to do a quick read-through, and the next thing I knew–I had written several hundred words. I love when I get into those zones. When out of the blue, I’m typing like whoa, and the words are flowing out of me. It doesn’t happen often enough to make me happy, and when it does, it’s usually when I:

a. should be in bed
b. need to get ready to go somewhere
c. should be doing something else

Yeah, it kind of sucks. But the weekend is coming, I’ve beat my March goal, and who knows what April has in store for me? :)

I came across this list on the LJ community: (more…)

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Word Count

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
35,055 / 50,000
(70.1%)

Not only did I surpass my March goal, but I already surpassed my planned April goal by 55 words!! I still have loads more planned to write–I am on fire. YAY!!!!

I need to go to bed. Aidan will be up early and I’m going to pay for staying up so late/early.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Hmm…

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don’t just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

Wow. Just… wow.

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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Word Counts! :D

March Goal

Zokutou word meter
32,635 / 32,000
(102.0%)

Overall Goal

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
32,635 / 50,000
(65.3%)

YAY!!

I also:

Got a smaller notebook for all of my WIP notes. It’s three subject with hard covers. So far, it’s very nice. I have a section for general notes, one for plot points, little things I need to add it, the calendar, setting details, things like that. The WORLD building, I guess. Another section for character information. Another one for specific scenes that need to be written. I’ve also gone through several magazines and cut out lots of info to use. Pictures of the MC’s bedroom. Clothing she likes. Quotes that are relevant to the story. Those will get taped into the notebook once I get my hands on some removable tape. I’m telling you, that stuff is the best.

I feel so productive! :)

I also realized why my word count goes up so slowly. It’s because I keep revising as I write. So I can write like 3,000 words but it doesn’t really make a difference when I delete 1000 words from a different time, you know?

I also think I have a title. But I’m still not sure yet, so for now, it will stay UNTITLED. :D

‘Til next time!

(Originally published at Anywhere Is…)

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