Category Archives: Uncategorized

Multiple Climaxes?

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With the end of today’s writing, i have entered the core climax of my novel.  With a minor outline through the end, I find that my story will have three climaxes.  A small one at 35,000 words.  The major climax at 50,000 words.  A medium-sized climax around 65,000 words.  I am writing this story under the idea of “write what you would read.”  None of my favorite novels have a storyline shaped like a bell curve.

So, I can’t help but ask: how many climaxes?  Is there a certain formula that works for most stories.  Or does each story need to be taken on a case-by-case basis?  I know certain things don’t work.  I don’t like books that don’t have a true climax or only have one real climax.  Is there a limit to how many?  If so, what is the range?  I’m going to be thinking about this one in the months ahead as I continue to read random books.  Anyone have any ideas?

For the first time in a while, some actual writing.  Here is a poem:

The Wailing Wall
I wrote this poem following a bad breakup.  I tend to allow my mind to wander…and that usually leads to worst-case scenario thoughts.  The combination led to this poem.  It sat in a folder for more than a month.  I rewrote it today and finally like it.

Outlining versus Free Writing

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When it comes to short stories and novels, I’ve always had trouble with the question of free writing versus outlining.  In my first two novels, I outlined them to death.  One of the reasons I have problems with them is that over-outlining lead to less of a realistic flow.  A good flow comes building a good base to your story and building realistic characters.  Then you set them free.  The magic happens when you let them do what they would normally do.  You no longer control them.  They are their own person.

However, such free writing is often difficult.  If you don’t set up “checkpoints” for how far the story has to go in a certain amount of time, it will lead nowhere.  I think I have found a good in-between with my new novel.  In no way am I outlining the piece to death.  At the same time, I am putting together the right amount of checkpoints.  I know that these checkpoints cannot be the end-all.  Everything must be flexible.  Otherwise you are trying to stuff a story into a box that it should not fit in.

I’ll try to have a poem or flash fiction piece for you tomorrow.  And yes, I did reach my 2,000 word goal for today.  I also extended the outline toward the finish line.  The end is within reach.  I can almost taste it.

Writer’s Block in the form of a Head Cold

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Today is the first day since I started writing my new novel that I haven’t written.  I felt sick most the day.  Then I spent three and a half hours on my dream-job application.  After trying to rest, I went to see a movie with my friends.  Suddenly it’s eleven at night.  The day just ran away from me.  Luckily I am at a change of pace in the novel.  This rest might be exactly what I need to clear my mind and start anew.

I have a lot of free time tomorrow. My plan is to write at least 2,000 words tomorrow to make up for today.  Today wasn’t a total waste.  The second half of the novel is complicated enough that I’ve spent several hours trying to work out specifics.When I sit down and write tomorrow, I hope to knock out some of the final kinks.  I am so tired.  It’s time for me to go pass out.

Until tomorrow.

36,000 Words in 22 Days

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Things have settled down considerably in my life.  I am getting used to a house with only two roommates.  There are only a couple weeks left in the semester for them.  I have about a month of possible subbing until the district is out.  I can feel summer hiding around the corner.  And it sounds like we are going to be able to start it off with a kick-ass party.  I feel like I can let out a sigh of relief after hold my breath for far too long.

One of the reasons I like writing quickly is that the tone of a story unintentionally changes when your life changes considerably.  So, as my life changes, I find myself grateful.  I am at the exact middle of my novel.  I knew I wanted this to be the point in the story that everything shifts gears.  Today, I completed the first part of the story.  I wrote a miniature outline for the second half.  It’s going to be a different style and probably more difficult and technical to write.  I almost feel lucky that this is coinciding with a major change in my life.

In honor of my favorite genre, I present you with two influences from the realm of dystopian novels.

The Hunger Game Series by Suzanne Collins
I first read this book in the Fall of 2011.  I heard a few people say it was amazing and realized it was going to be turned into a movie.  I ended up picking it for a new book club.  I didn’t even realize it was dystopian until I started reading it.  I was utterly blown away.  Collins created a beautiful character in Katniss and found a way to end a series that even the like of J.K. Rowling couldn’t achieve.

The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld
Another young adult title, but incredible nonetheless. So many dystopain novels are built on the idea that our current world will fail, but the people of the future will still have access to our technology.  The mixture is frightening yet incredible to read.  No one does this better than Scott Westerfeld.  The world he creates (read all four) is unlike anything I have every encountered.

When Life Interferes With Writing

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I have always been one to say that writing is 10% skill and 90% experience.  I almost never let my writing get in the way of life.  Doing so would be counterproductive.  If you spend so much time writing that you do not experience life, you writing with suffer significantly.  However, this does cause a problem from time to time.  Sometimes life has so much to throw at you that you don’t have time to write.

The last few days have been…intense.  Although I knew I was learning a lot, I couldn’t let it interfere with my writing completely.  I gave myself plenty of time to figure out what I thought about the situation, and plenty more time to talk it out with my friends.  Luckily, I’ve built a life that gives me plenty of free time.  Thank god.  I had enough time to write and make sure my life was being attended to.  As a result, the drama has concluded and I am staring at the 35,000 words I’ve written over the last 21 days.  Incredible.  With 35,000-45,000 words left to write, I am at or closely approaching the halfway point in my novel.

…and I’ve only been writing for three weeks.

Today’s update includes influences in the way of viral videos.


Sometimes a simple idea can be astounding.  Noah  did just that with his video.  This video shows age and change in a way I have never seen before.  I even started my own Everyday Project.

Drama-Induced Writing

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Sometimes drama is unavoidable.  Luckily, I’ve come to realize just how to deal with it.  In the end, I simply channel it.  I’ve always written my best and quickest when experiencing heightened emotions.  So, as the world shifts around me, I’ve grown to simply accept it.  Any stress or frustration that goes along with the events is poured into my writing instead.  So far this morning, I’ve writing 1,300 words.

I’m about to leave for a half-day of subbing at a high school.  I’ll be the gym teacher today.  It’s an easy job.  When I am done, I’ll likely come back to my coffee shop and write even more.  I am quickly approaching the halfway point in the novel.  The further I get, the easier it is to write.  All the characters have shifted into deep people that I would love to get to meet (either to have a conversation with or to punch).  The storyline might get more difficult to write here soon, but I am up for that challenge.

More influences for today.  This time, a bit more music.

Evanescence
When I think of Evanescence, I mean only two albums–Fallen and Origin.  Nothing live and nothing new.  I do not respect this band. They completely and utterly sold out and can’t sing for shit live.  Still, their older albums are fantastic.  Aside from “Air,” Evanescence is one of my favorite bands to listen to while I write.

Ben Folds
In my mind, lyrics are far more important than sound.  On this level, Ben Folds is a genius.  I can laugh or cry along with his discography.  I have a rule when it comes to music.  If I can’t hear what you are saying, I won’t like it.  Ben Folds is able to construct stories in his writing that are unbeatable.  I hope to attend one of his concerts some day.

Substituting, Peace Corps, Writing, OH MY!

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What a busy day.  I spend today substitute teaching at a third grade classroom way across town.  Luckily they were a great class.  The day flew by.  Having a conversation with a 9 year old can be more inspirational than anything else.  After the day of subbing, I when to a Peace Corp meeting and realized I likely may be sent out on my 27 months far earlier than I expected.  More on that later.

By the time I sat down to write, I was exhausted and pissed off (people can’t drive for shit in this town).  Then things started turning around.  I got two cups of coffee for free, put my music on, and started writing.  It started off rough.  By the end, it was flowing out of me.  I ended up doing 1,300 words today.  I hope to do at least double that tomorrow considering I have much more free time and know exactly what I want to write next.  But, for right now, I am exhausted and hungry.  It’s time to go home.

Before I go, a couple more influences.  This time, BOOKS!

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Science Fiction at it’s best.  The entire series is breathtaking.  Card’s imagination is on a whole other realm.  His ability to give his characters incredible depth and intelligence is something I have never seen before.  I use this book to gauge someone’s intellectual level.  Give this book to a elementary or middle school student.  If they identify with Ender, you know that they suffer from increased intelligence.

Testimony by Anita Shreve
Probably my favorite literary book ever.  Shreve writes so beautifully.  Each character is so unique that you don’t really know who to root for.  Her ability to make you cringe, laugh, and cry is unmatched.  When I think about how I want to develop characters, I look here.

Writing Without Wisdom (Teeth)

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I went into the dentist today to deal with a few cavities.  They ended up telling me that it would be safer to remove my wisdom teeth than to put fillings in them.  A few minutes later, my first wisdom tooth was being extracted with pliers. Fun stuff.  It’s more than six hours later and the last of the numbness is finally fading from my face.  I can finally eat and taste things again!

I was worried that the dreariness of the antithetic would stop me from doing my thousand words today.  As the numbness started to fade, however, I decided to go to my coffee house anyway.  That was two hours ago and I just finished pumping out 1,700 words.  I’ve never been this dedicated to writing.  Off days don’t stop me.  Full days don’t stop me.  Surgery doesn’t stop me.  This is my 18th day of writing and I just passed the 30,000 word mark.  Only 40,000-50,000 words to go!

Today, I present a couple more movies that inspire me.

American Beauty
This is probably the most beautiful movie I’ve ever seen about the internal plight of every human being.  What I especially like about this movie is that it means something different to me each time I watch it.  No matter the message, it is always profound.  I want to be able to produce something this subtle and beautiful.  A story without at least a hint of the human condition isn’t worth it to me.

Remember Me
This movie is on my list for several reasons.  For one, I love the characters.  The character that Robert Pattinson plays is absolutely incredible.  The other aspect I like is the hidden storyline.  I am a junkie for twist endings.  However, I know they cannot come out of nowhere.  Remember Me is genius in it’s placement of subtle clues.  Even if you do realize what the twist is before the end, the tension will make it impossible to look away.  I need to learn how to do this.

Writing on an Off Day

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I am having a bit of an off day.  I know I should have accepted a substitute position today, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.  My mind is throbbing with anxiety and fear.  I waited all morning for a call about a loved one’s surgery.  Finally I got it and felt relieved.  Now, I am without a schedule and wish nothing more than to be at work rightnow.  Instead, I am at my coffee shop–working on this and that.

Luckily, the knowledge that the rest of my week is scheduled puts me at some ease that today is open.  I spent my morning updating this and that.  I read a bit as well.  With all these petty assignments down, I can focus on the main attraction.  I need to pound out at least 1,000 words on my novel.  I guess I might as well get started.  Here is a poem for all my readers.

At the Base of the Waterfall
One of my favorite hikes is to a place called Horsetooth Falls.  The trail winds through a few valleys and ends in this beautiful little pond.  I rested at the waterfall for a while during my most recent hike and wrote this.  I am practicing being concise and reading my work out-loud.  I hope it works.

1,000 Word Minimum

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Today was the first warm day in awhile.  I spent the first part of my day hiking in the mountains.  I wrote a piece of poetry up by the waterfall that I hope to upload in the next few days.  I love the feeling of completely exerting my body.  Afterwards, I came to my coffee shop to write.  The coffee never tasted so great.

Today is my 16th day of writing my new novel.  Take a look at my daily word totals:

8 April 2012: 600 Words
9 April 2012: 2,700 Words
10 April 2012: 4,300 Words
11 April 2012: 4,800 Words
12 April 2012: 8,700 Words
13 April 2012: 9,900 Words
14 April 2012: 10,700 Words
15 April 2012: 11,600 Words
16 April 2012: 13,800 Words
17 April 2012: 15,900 Words
18 April 2012: 17,500 Words
19 April 2012: 20,000 Words
20 April 2012: 21,100 Words
21 April 2012: 22,100 Words
22 April 2012: 25,300 Words
23 April 2012: 26,200 Words

I am now squarely in the second third of the novel.  At this point, I will not let myself stop until I finish.  I have decided to implement a 1,000-word minimum rule.  Even if my day is packed, I will schedule time to write and pump out 1,000 words.  I am so thoroughly enjoying where I am in the novel that the past few days have had a few 2,000-word writing binges.  Whatever it takes.

Today’s update includes musical influences.  I always listen to music while I am writing stories (not poetry).  I listen to music mainly for it’s lyrical content, but I won’t deny that it needs to sound good.  Some music, although not much, I listen to remind myself of certain ideals and to rejuvenate my mind.

Flobots
This band is probably the most influential band I have ever listened to.  Their music is political and angry in nature.  I have been to two of their concerts and was completely blown away by their talent and passion.  Nothing moved be more than when thousands of people screamed as one the lyric, “We the people did not want war.”

Air
I first came across Air while listening to the soundtrack to my favorite movie: Lost in Translation.  I borrowed one of their CD’s from the local library and was in awe of their originality.  For my most recent novel, their Talkie Walkie CD is almost always on in the background.  They are well worth a listen.