Saturday, October 31, 2009

NaNo p3 - The Day Before

Ahh, Nano-eve. What are you doing today to prep yourself for the hell of November?

Me, I prefer to take the distraction approach. Ever since I signed up for NaNo, I thought about what I was going to write 1 day. Just 1 day, that's all I let myself really sit down and think about what I was going to write. I had a little pow wow with my bff over the phone, telling her what I got myself into and how I had 0 plot ideas, so I gave her a few I had been tossing around in my mind and she helped me figure out a 'base' of what I would write. Made a few notes (very random, very sparse point form - it's how I roll) and then saved it and haven't looked at it since.

I like to take the surprise approach, I think this will be the best way for me to go. If I think about it too much and make and outline and all that jazz, then I would get bored and not want to write about it anymore. The story will be a surprise to myself and I will go with the flow, get inspired (hopefully) as I write and just see where the story takes ME (opposed to vice versa).

So what am I doing today? This day before NaNoWriMo begins? Well so far I woke up, coffee, Canadian Tire (the bf) and Safeway for some ingredients and stuff for supper. Ingredients are for some bread makin'. That's right, I've had the urge to make bread (from the bread maker, I'm not Martha Stewart people), though I absolutely love to cook. I'm a little chef. Baking isn't much my forté, but I like to do it once in a while. Hence - today I will try some bread, haven't done it for a while.

I also am thinking of making love to my guitar because I haven't for a while. We will play some sweet, sweet music together (maybe). We must be reunited, my guitar and I.

After I'm done writing this, I have to go get my Hep A shot (Phase 2 of needles for Prep for Dominican!), then when I get back I plan on finish writing my part in mine and my bff's story so I can send it back to her before tonight (aka before I have to start on my NaNo). Then I may take in a movie with my bf, thinking of watching the Last House on the Left. Catch up on some True Blood (*cough* addicted *cough*).

All in all, I will do my best to distract myself from thinking of my NaNo. This way when I start it will be fresh. I'm the kind of person who if I think too much on something before I start it, then I bore myself before it even begins and tire myself of the plot idea.

Wish me luck!

p.s. Don't forget to change your clocks back an hour tonight before bed ;) Extra hour for sleeping in.

-A

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Music as Inspiration

One of the main inspirations that gets me going when writing is music. Whether it be soft and melody-like or a hard rock song from the 80s, this has been one of my go-to's when I can't figure out what to write.

Sometimes I will go to bed early just so I can lay in the dark, close my eyes and turn on my iPod - then I let my imagination flow. I even have a playlist on my iPod called "Inspire for iPod" (no joke). When I'm going through the gazillions of songs on my iTunes, or if I hear a song on a commercial or the radio the sparks a little something, I download it for future inspection.

This has helped me IMMENSELY with writing, especially the huge 3-part novel that I'm writing with my BFF. It's the longest piece of fiction I (or we) have ever written and music has played such a big part in it that whenever I hear a certain song I will instantly relate it back to a certain scene in the story.

For example: There's a slow, ominous song that I like and one night I was listening to it while laying in bed (Lucky You by Deftones), and I just try to "feel" the music (Ok, that may sound weird, but stay with me). Whenever I'm writing, probably 95% of the time I picture what is happening inside my head, almost as if it was a movie in my mind. As I listened to this song I could picture the exact way the characters were moving or talking, and it also made me think of grand ideas to go with. If you think of an idea you want to portray in your writing, grab some tunes and almost guaranteed you'll find a song that will match the mood of that scene and it almost boosts your imagination to think of how this scene will play out, or even spark ideas for what will happen before/after.

If I'm ever stuck (writer's block *cough* *cough*), I'll listen to songs that I know will relate to something in the story, whether it be a sad scene, intense scene, hate/fight scene, sex scene, etc, etc, and if I just listen to it a couple time your mind will relay what you want to happen and, in my head at least, plays out like a movie scene. Afterwards, when it comes to write that part (sometimes I'll know what can happen MUCH later in the story, just because I hear a song and know something will happen from it), I play the song and the reel starts going in my head, then transfers to paper (or computer screen).

All in all, music plays a HUGE part for me with plot ideas, inspiration, sparking the imagination, or even just something to have on in the background to relax so I can write.

As a special treat, here are a few songs from my iPod playlist "Inspire for iPod", that have really helped me out with scenes in my writing.

Apocalypse Please - Muse
Goodnight Boy - Arcade Fire
Asleep from Day - The Chemical Brothers
Change - Deftones
Crazy on You - Heart
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Eden - Hooverphonic
Fade into You - Mazzy Star
Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap
Lie in the Sound - Tresspassers William
Roads - Portishead
The Scientist - Coldplay
Heroes - David Bowie
Lucky You - Deftones
Sympathy for the Devil - The Rolling Stones
Time to Pretend - MGMT
Within You - Ray LaMontagne
Wake Up - Arcade Fire

-A

Saturday, October 17, 2009

NaNoWriMo p2

Ok, so yesterday I caved and officially signed up for NaNoWriMo. Otherwise, I signed my soul away for 1 month when I drive myself to insanity over writing 50,000 words.

Some of you are probably asking, Why???
Why would I put myself through all of this? Well for one, I love to write. Period. Even if it comes out as crap, at least I'm writing something, exercising my fingers, my mind, my *cough* soul. I also love a challenge and lately with all my other literary musings I've been having trouble with the Block, inspiration, MOTIVATION. So here comes Nanowrimo, and it seemed like it was fate. Maybe this will light a fire under my ass!

I admit, I'm a little nervous, anxious, worried (what if I get stuck, what if I can't think of anything else, what if, what if), but then I think, who cares! It's a rough draft. A first rough draft that thousands of people are spitting out at mach 1. So I have a plan, if I get stuck I will get over it. Simple, right? Well, maybe not that simple, but I'll figure something out.

Plot ideas? Not really. I haven't had too much time to think about it and I think that maybe this will be better. This way I'll just start from fresh, maybe as soon as Nov 1st hits the idea will pop into my head and flow to my fingers where I will immediately type 5,000 words (A girl can hope, right?). I'm thinking maybe something comedic mixed with something serious like a murder/mystery. Something that will be fun! Hey, this challenge is about FUN not STRESS, right?

Anyways, I'm off for more coffee now.

Wish me luck come November!

-A

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

National Novel Writing Month

Break out your pencils and grease up your typing fingers, y'all. November is National Novel Writing Month! It's a world wide group that any writer can join in hopes to complete a 50,000 word goal in just thirty days. I JUST found out about this literally like yesterday. Now I'm thinking it might be kind of fun to sign up for it and see if I can make it. It's kind of exciting, kind of nerve-wracking, but I'm debating if I should test my skills (and will power, procrastination, focus, imagination, etc, etc) all with a tight deadline.

Plus, I leave for Dominican on Nov 26, so I would get shorted 5 days... Not fair! lol. I worry that I won't be able to make 50,000 words, but then I think, 'Well, it's not like you'll get yelled at if you don't!'. This is all about having fun, motivation and seeing how far you can go. Everyone should get a huge pat on the back for just trying!

Ok, so maybe I'll give it a whirl. As long as I think of an idea... Hmmm... So many possibilities.

For anyone who wants to check it out, go to: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Blast from the Past

So my book muse reminded me of something the other day - Mentos. Well, not that, but the Mentos reminded me of my grad picture.



They really are the freshmaker.

Book Pimp

I now officially have a book pimp. Yay. This dashing young lady has so graciously agreed to provide me with yummy challenges, (good or kick you in the crotch horrible), I'll take it all.

Twitter can be of so many uses. Meeting great people, chatting with friends, and more recently, getting me a literary sugar mama. Follow her if you dare @LitConnection, this chick is 'da bomb' and she's definitely got game when it comes to the literary world of swooning, nerding, barfing, WOW-ing, kick you in the crotch-ing, pee your pants-ing, or just something fabulous to curl up on the couch with.

Now I just need to get to the library to renew my card. Then I can get on this. First up is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Apparently I'm missing out by never having read this one. I feel sheltered, small, insignificant.. Therefore, the first book up on 'A's Wonderful Dare Challenge' will be this nugget of a find (or rather suggestion).

I will post up a blog blurb with each challenge completed and give my thoughts on the read. We'll see how right you are LC, we'll see!!

-A

p.s. Read her blog, you'll be amazed, you'll be floored, you'll want to grab your computer screen and make out with it. Well, maybe not like I did, but still... Check it out: http://thelitconnection.wordpress.com/