With this blog I hope to inspire people to live out their full authentic selves, no matter what other people might tell them is or is not appropriate. Follow me for noveling helps and articles about how to live your life freely and openly.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Fitting In?

Coming down here to Atlanta has been an experience. We're "living" in the corporate part of town - so everywhere you go and everywhere you look you see people in suit and tie, hurrying about their work. I'll be honest, it's hard for me not to "conform" to looking like them. I'm a jeans and hoddie kinda girl... but I can dress up, if I choose. Lately I've been putting on a little extra makeup, wearing my heels, and making sure that I look extra special just to "fit in". As I got dressed this morning though, I decided to change all that. Being "fake" in order to "fit in" was only hurting me and confusing my poor little brain. The more I mulled this thought over in my head, the more I realized that it applies to my writing as well as my dress.

Think of it this way -

The more we focus on what that publisher will say about our work (or, shall I say, fitting in with the publishing industry), the less we focus on the one thing that will really sell our work - us and our individuality. Publishers won't buy your work if you are "just like" another author, they will buy your work if you bring new ideas to the table, and are, in fact, different, and not trying to fit in. Now, don't get me wrong, we can always learn how to write better from other authors, but we should not be trying to copy them or conform to them.

I've spent countless hours trying to "fit in" with society. Today, I say enough. I will be myself in my dress, my behavior, but most importantly my writing.

Cheers,
L Finch

Monday, May 23, 2011

To be, or not to be...

I'll be honest, I've never read Hamlet. Ever. Ever ever ever. I mean to, one day, I really do mean to.
With that key piece of information aside -

I struggle because I am the kind of person who throws herself into something full heartedly. It's all or nothing with this gal. While that trait can be very helpful, it can also hold me back. It's hard for me to focus on two things, ie, running AND writing.

And when it comes down to it, I'd rather call myself a writer then a runner.

It's not that I hate running - well, I kinda do, except I love the endorphin rush that I get after I run.

But I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I love writing MORE. I love putting the words on the page. I love speaking my mind to the "masses".
Writing makes me feel special, and powerful. Probably it's because it's something no one else in my family does, which sets me apart.

Well, off I go to work on my novel. Wish me luck.

Cheers!
L Finch

Sunday, May 22, 2011

And So It Begins

IMAG0135
Outlining Map, Story-Cards


And so it begins. I have an outline plotted out, a flash drive so that I can switch between computers, a Springpad account to save the drafts to, a scheduler with my next week of writing and reading mapped out, etc etc.

This book is the hardest thing I've ever written. I consider my first two works stepping stones to this. And this book will be a stepping stone to...? God only knows.
Why is it the hardest book that I've ever written? Because it deals with cutting, and it was only a few years ago that I fought that demon, and won. It at least is my hope that maybe that gives me perspective on the subject, so that I can relate to readers in a fuller sense.

My plan of attack for the novel is simple - take it day by day, week by week. I don't do well with long-term planning, I need the reassurance that when I do fall off the track, nothing is lost, that I can get right back on the horse and keep going.

I'll keep you all updated.
Cheers!
L Finch

Friday, May 20, 2011

Slowly but surely

Slowly but surely my novel is coming together. I wrote over 70 scene cards yesterday, and plan to write more today to fill in the gaps.
The hotel that we are staying at has blocked google programs, by mistake or purpose I know not. So hence, the long absence on my blog posts across the board. Today I did find a local library about five minutes away that offers free wifi, so here I am, taking advantage of it.

To add insult to injury, after deleting by accident part of my novel, my laptop is now in possession of my husband, who is using it for work purposes. I am now stuck with his MacBook. While I like the way the MacBook types, I am having other problems like "how do you left-click on this thing?!?". I don't want to have problems with a computer, I want to be writing my novel! UGH.
((End Rant))

To be fair, hubby is none-too-happy about having to use a windows computer. My dear, Mac-loving husband HAS been kind enough to let me use his computer, so I must make the best of it. To be quite fair and honest with you, my readers, I do plan to make the switch to Mac ASAP because that's the safest place to store your work. It'll just take some adjusting to, that's all.
((Deep breath))

Now that I've confused the heck out of you, let me sum it up -
1) My husband took my computer for work purposes. I'll have it back this weekend (hopefully)
2) He gave me his mac to use (I use windows/dell)
3) I'm struggling with learning how to use mac, which frustrates me because -
4) I hope to start draft 1 of ??? of my novel tomorrow

Well, if I have any hope at all of accomplishing my goal of starting to write my novel tomorrow I'd better get crackin'.

Cheers!
L Finch

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

You know you need new glasses when you look down at your leg and freak out about a "big black spider" on your leg, only to find out you just need to shave... EEK!!! Gotta watch that whole shaving business....

I've been in a writing slump for a while now. Not really writer's block, just more like, "I don't know what to write". Not writer's block, mind you, because in my mind that comes in the middle of a project. To be quite honest, I'm back at the beginning and I'm struggling with fitting all the pieces together. It's like there's a great, big, road block in front of even beginning my novel, and it's screaming at me, "You need to know x, y, and z before you begin!". And honestly, I think that there is some truth to that. I need to know at least some backgrounds, names, and history of this new world that I'm developing before I go running off writing a bunch of crap that I'll just have to scrap later.
My slogan: Plan now, save time in the long run. It also prevents writer's block to plan ahead - really, I promise you, it does. The other side of the coin is that you can spend so much time planning that you neglect to actually write the story. As I'm sure you can figure out, that's not good either.

So to light a fire under my behind, I'm making public a to-do list for this week, so that I can start officially writing on Monday.

1. Finish outlining using the snowflake method
2. Main Character outlines on Ava, Finn, Alisa, Aurora, Bernice
3. Change main character's names (ha! too many A's in there)
4. On the car ride, finish "Making a Scene" and "Dynamic Characters".

Oh yes, did I mention that I'm going to Atlanta for almost a month?!? It's exciting!!! I love new environments for writing. The only question is what to pack... I'll probably end up bringing my whole office with me!! :P

Cheers!
L Finch

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Back on track in May!

April was a crazy month for us. I was out of town for a week, which left me away from my desk, my books, my workstation.
How DO traveling writers do it? No idea.
Blasting Shinedown over my iPod - probably not the best thing for my ears, but it drowns out the TV in the other room.
BIG NEWS - the local library wants ME to teach a class on writer's block... which means that I have to find enough information on writer's block to cover an hour. I've taught for up to 20min before, but never an hour +. Should be a blast - I'm really looking forward to it. Any tips that you might give for a writer struggling with writer's block? :)

Cheers!
L Finch