I'm so very pleased to announce that I have, much sooner than I thought, jotted something down that is actually usuable!
Last time I wrote (only yesterday, wow!), I said tht I'd begun keeping a dream journal hoping for some ideas and inspirations. Well, one of the first nights that I started this, I had a dream, and in it was a man. I don't know who he is, I've never seen him before in my life, and I don't remember even what he was doing in my dream. But he was there. And he's been more or less stuck in my head since I woke up that next morning.
I just haven't been able to shake this feeling that this guy is supposed to MEAN something to me; his image is still so incredibly vivid! So...
HELLO MAIN CHARACTER!!!!!
Super exciting! I can't even begin to explain it! I spent an entire class today jotting down notes for a Character Sketch for this all-important mystery man.
(character sketch: Background information about a character that may or may not be important to the story. Making a character sketch allows the writer to really feel that they "know" their characters.)
So for this entire class I wrote down things about this man's personality, what life was like when he was a child, what his home looks like, the clothing he wears, hobbies or quirks, the list really goes on and on. Writing about him then helped me to develop another character--the "leading lady" of sorts. So now I'm developing two characters!!!
I'm gonna save the details until I know these people better, but I'll tell a bit about them now...
The main character is the sort of man that every woman loves to love and loves to hate. He is the very essence of 'handsome' and perfect on paper, but somewhere along the line became emotionally damaged and jaded. Women are more of a hobby, something to fill the empty spaces but provide no real satisfaction.
The leading lady is incredibly intelligent, always up for a challenge, a think-outside-the-box kinda gal. She's incredibly beautiful, but not in the typical super-model way. She doesn't play hard-to-get, she just IS hard-to-get. She's not shy and definitely not afraid to say what's on her mind.
This is just the beginning, there are soooo many details to figure out! The best part of this stage is that I get to just completely make these people up out of thin air. They can be any way I want them to be--there's really no right or wrong!
Let me just say...I don't intend for this to be some sort of mushy romance novel (or a trashy romance novel) but it will be interesting to see how far the characters can take some sort of romance, or if it even happens.
23 February, 2010
22 February, 2010
Now more than ever...forgetful.
Over the last week or so I have been reading up on tips and tricks that writers (published writers, usually) offer to aspiring or struggling writers. As far as inspiration and fresh ideas are concerned, many writers say that keeping a dream journal is a helpful practice and can often produce many new and creative concepts.
So, what did I do? I followed the advice and decided to start keeping a dream journal of my own. Oh my gosh is it hard!! I often wake up in the middle of the night with the memory of the dream fresh in my head, but I just can't roll myself over to grab the little notebook on the corner of my nightstand and jot down some scribbles which will likely be incomprehensible the next morning.
Now when I wake up in the morning I try to reach for my pen and paper as quickly as possible and write down what I remember dreaming, but it's suddenly become difficult to remember ANYTHING AT ALL!! It's strange--I used to have some incredibly vivid dreams, and the details would stay with me for hours, sometimes through the entire day. Now, I'm lucky if I remember any dreams at all, or even any part of a dream.
This is so frustrating!! Interestingly enough though, the dreams that I am able to remember all have some essence of violence. Several nights ago I had a dream about a kidnapping in which a female friend and myself were taken while walking to our respective cars on a roof-top parking lot. Last week I had a dream in which I was on a train, and next thing I knew I was holding a pistol and was in the middle of a foot-chase, which lead to the footsteps of a courthouse where a man in a long dark trench coat was being convicted of some crime or other. I think I was supposed to be his body guard. After my kidnapping dream, I actually woke up in the middle of the night, laying on my side, with a very intense feeling that somebody was behind me with a knife. Can you say SCARY?!?!
I think I've been watching too many violent movies! Or, maybe this is my subconscious telling me that I should be writing a murder mystery!!
The funny thing is, these dreams are nothing compared to the recurring, always vivid dream I have of a gigantic marshmallow attacking the city (think Godzilla or Cloverfield, yes). The only way to defeat the marshmallow monster is for the entire city to get a GIGANTIC bowl of melted butter, trip the monster so he falls into the bowl, and dump boxes and boxes of Rice Krispies cereal into the bowl. Then the whole city eats a colossal rice krispie treat in celebration of our victory. Yes, this is seriously a recurring dream. Anybody think I should be seeing a therapist?? Yeah, sometimes I wonder that myself.
Hopefully next time I write I'll have some more wonderful and wacky dreams to report, or maybe the beginnings of some great ideas!!
So, what did I do? I followed the advice and decided to start keeping a dream journal of my own. Oh my gosh is it hard!! I often wake up in the middle of the night with the memory of the dream fresh in my head, but I just can't roll myself over to grab the little notebook on the corner of my nightstand and jot down some scribbles which will likely be incomprehensible the next morning.
Now when I wake up in the morning I try to reach for my pen and paper as quickly as possible and write down what I remember dreaming, but it's suddenly become difficult to remember ANYTHING AT ALL!! It's strange--I used to have some incredibly vivid dreams, and the details would stay with me for hours, sometimes through the entire day. Now, I'm lucky if I remember any dreams at all, or even any part of a dream.
This is so frustrating!! Interestingly enough though, the dreams that I am able to remember all have some essence of violence. Several nights ago I had a dream about a kidnapping in which a female friend and myself were taken while walking to our respective cars on a roof-top parking lot. Last week I had a dream in which I was on a train, and next thing I knew I was holding a pistol and was in the middle of a foot-chase, which lead to the footsteps of a courthouse where a man in a long dark trench coat was being convicted of some crime or other. I think I was supposed to be his body guard. After my kidnapping dream, I actually woke up in the middle of the night, laying on my side, with a very intense feeling that somebody was behind me with a knife. Can you say SCARY?!?!
I think I've been watching too many violent movies! Or, maybe this is my subconscious telling me that I should be writing a murder mystery!!
The funny thing is, these dreams are nothing compared to the recurring, always vivid dream I have of a gigantic marshmallow attacking the city (think Godzilla or Cloverfield, yes). The only way to defeat the marshmallow monster is for the entire city to get a GIGANTIC bowl of melted butter, trip the monster so he falls into the bowl, and dump boxes and boxes of Rice Krispies cereal into the bowl. Then the whole city eats a colossal rice krispie treat in celebration of our victory. Yes, this is seriously a recurring dream. Anybody think I should be seeing a therapist?? Yeah, sometimes I wonder that myself.
Hopefully next time I write I'll have some more wonderful and wacky dreams to report, or maybe the beginnings of some great ideas!!
16 February, 2010
Here we go...
This is it...the beginning! Before doing anything else, let me explain my purpose here.
I've always had a love for creative writing. I took several creative writing classes throughout high school and college, have been the editor of a literary magazine, and I've even submitted a couple poems into contests. Creative writing has always been an outlet, a way of self-expression. When it felt like nobody else was listening, I always knew I could put pen to paper and come out of the experience feeling better.
Over the past several years my focus has shifted away from writing just for the joy of it. I've become much more focused on just trying to figure out how to make it as an adult--juggling work, school, learning how to teach, and a social and personal life. It hasn't been easy, but it's been great. I've missed my writing though, and this is my attempt to get back into a creative state of mind.
I've always wondered what it's like to consider oneself a novel-writer. For as difficult as it is to get published, there are so many success stories (think Stephenie Meyer...do it, even if you don't wanna) and I can't help but wonder what it would feel like to be able to tell someone, "Yeah, I wrote a novel". A couple weeks ago I was catching up with a friend, and out came the words, "I want to write a novel before I die". Yes, one complete, table of contents, permanent title (no working titles here), has-a-real-ending novel.
Recent class assignments have allowed me to tap into the creative part of my brain again, and I'm remembering how much I used to enjoy writing. So instead of waiting until graduating or until getting settled into my career, etc. etc. I'm starting now! "There's no time like the present", they say. Who cares who "they" is, they are right! Procrastination is a writer's worst enemy (second only to the infamous writer's block)and I'm not going to let it defeat me!
So here is your opportunity to follow me, to help me develop some good ideas, or just to tell me I'm crazy for attempting this. As often as I can (or as often as life permits) I'll be writing my novel. Throughout this experience I'll be posting updates here so that anybody who is interested can follow my progress, and hopefully cheer me on! There may be times where I ask for comments that answer specific questions to help me develop a character, plot, setting, or just to help me find the right word. I welcome any comments, help, and reactions to my insane ramblings. And yes, there will be many insane ramblings!
So to start with, let me ask you all...where the hell do I start?!
I've always had a love for creative writing. I took several creative writing classes throughout high school and college, have been the editor of a literary magazine, and I've even submitted a couple poems into contests. Creative writing has always been an outlet, a way of self-expression. When it felt like nobody else was listening, I always knew I could put pen to paper and come out of the experience feeling better.
Over the past several years my focus has shifted away from writing just for the joy of it. I've become much more focused on just trying to figure out how to make it as an adult--juggling work, school, learning how to teach, and a social and personal life. It hasn't been easy, but it's been great. I've missed my writing though, and this is my attempt to get back into a creative state of mind.
I've always wondered what it's like to consider oneself a novel-writer. For as difficult as it is to get published, there are so many success stories (think Stephenie Meyer...do it, even if you don't wanna) and I can't help but wonder what it would feel like to be able to tell someone, "Yeah, I wrote a novel". A couple weeks ago I was catching up with a friend, and out came the words, "I want to write a novel before I die". Yes, one complete, table of contents, permanent title (no working titles here), has-a-real-ending novel.
Recent class assignments have allowed me to tap into the creative part of my brain again, and I'm remembering how much I used to enjoy writing. So instead of waiting until graduating or until getting settled into my career, etc. etc. I'm starting now! "There's no time like the present", they say. Who cares who "they" is, they are right! Procrastination is a writer's worst enemy (second only to the infamous writer's block)and I'm not going to let it defeat me!
So here is your opportunity to follow me, to help me develop some good ideas, or just to tell me I'm crazy for attempting this. As often as I can (or as often as life permits) I'll be writing my novel. Throughout this experience I'll be posting updates here so that anybody who is interested can follow my progress, and hopefully cheer me on! There may be times where I ask for comments that answer specific questions to help me develop a character, plot, setting, or just to help me find the right word. I welcome any comments, help, and reactions to my insane ramblings. And yes, there will be many insane ramblings!
So to start with, let me ask you all...where the hell do I start?!
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