Tag Archives: personal

Writing Various Ages

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As I come close to finishing the second draft of my novel, a certain thought keeps coming to mind: what ages am I capable of writing?  I used to believe it was almost impossible to write beyond your age.  I now know that not to be true.  I am now 23 and the core of my novel center around three characters in their late twenties.  Nowadays, my thoughts revolve around the more extreme ages.  Throughout the novel, I bring in random characters in their forties and fifties…but I worry that I can’t make them as well rounded as the other characters because I haven’t gone through that part of my life.

Then there is youth.  With this novel, I feel like I have done a good job with my youngest character.  She is 14.  When I think about it, however, I am not sure if I could go much younger.  I love reading books with young characters…but I don’t know how to develop such a character.  How do you enter the mind of youth?  I talked at length with one of my friends about this.  She just read “Room.”  It’s a book that centers around a five year old.  I can’t even imagine.  Maybe that’s another boundary of my abilities that I need dismantle through hard work and writing practice.

With Love,
Richard

The Intimate Sunrise

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It was strange watching the sunrise this morning.  It was the first time in many many months that I successfully stayed up all night and watched the sunrise.  It was beautiful, yes, but that barely explains it.  It’s almost like an intimate moment with a celestial object when you see it’s silver lining cross the horizon and fold into a dome over the next several minutes.  Those hours of waiting in darkness were well worth the wait.

Caffeine seems to be the perfect aide for editing.  I had three red bulls last night and got through about 20 pages of editing.  This afternoon, as I work my way through some espresso, I have almost completed another ten pages.  I now have only 28 pages of editing left to finish the second draft.  I’ve already worked out half the bullet points of things I need to work on.  This manuscript is already looking pretty clean.  My daydreams about sending it to an agent are starting to peak.  I need to control those daydreams until I have a clean manuscript.

With Love,
Richard

Editing While Stressed

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I spent a very frustrating morning at the DMV.  After realizing that I would accomplish nothing today, I decided to declare defeat until a later date.  The stress of days like today is palpable.  My job is to try to focus that energy.  As I felt like bursting into tears, I went to my coffee shop instead.  I’ve been editing for the past hour and will continue to do so for a while (free refills on drip coffee is pretty much the best thing int he world).

Refocusing stress into the perfectionist mindset that is necessary for editing is beautiful.  I remember always trying to erase my stress by jumping in a hot tub or going for a walk.  I still do that from time to time.  But this is so much better.  I feel like I am using that stress to do something productive.  I am now almost halfway through the second draft of my novel.  I’m going to get back to it.  I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow.

With Love,
Richard

Novel Number Five

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As I drove home today, I realized that a strange series of events I’ve been mulling over in my mind would be the perfect opening sequence for a novel I’ve been wanting to write for years.  I just spent the last hour rewriting the outline.  I really want to do this now.  I’m still going to spend a good deal of my writing time editing…but I think I’m going to try writing this book as well.

The thing is, the only way for this story to work is by making it fit into the literary genre.  That means approaching the novel from a third person present standpoint–something I have never been good at.  This will be good practice.  I’m starting to wonder why all my favorite authors stick to a single genre.  I like trying them all like I’m at a buffet.  Sci-fi here. Mystery there.  First person here.  Third Person there.  I love them all…so long as I get to express myself in a new and interesting way.

With Love,
Richard

Returning Home

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I meant to start the “50 Day memory Challenge” yesterday.  I ended up editing way too much instead…then life got in the way.  Today will be different.  I’m back in my hometown today to babysit my nieces while my sister goes to class.  When I am down here, I have a long list of things I need to get done: reading, editing, memories, and fix up a poem.  That’ll take at least a good two hours.  I’m ready for it.

I feel like I haven’t been creative in too long.  I kinda want to just write a random flash fiction piece.  I might do that.  There really is something to the idea of always having that creative outlet open.  I fear that if I don’t keep using it, it won’t get better.  That’s why I love having this website.  It forces me to write because I have an audience.  That’s all the the encouragement I needed to get back on track.  I hope I don’t slip off this wagon anytime soon.

God I’m Tired,
Richard

Dilemma: Writing & Working

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A couple weeks ago, I watched “Girl, Interrupted.”  In the movie, they ask the protagonist what she wants to do with her life.  Her response: Write.  The reaction is one that many writers know well.  There are blank stares and then the inevitable question.  “What’s your backup plan?”  Few non-writers understand the mindset of a writer.  We writers may do something else to make money.  That is not who we are.  We are writers first.

I have built a life that allows me to focus on my writing.  It is something I hope to maintain for years to come.  With my Bachelor’s Degree, I am able to substitute teach whenever I want for decent money.  With cheap rent and a cheaper lifestyle, I honestly don’t work very often.  I do, however, write at least three hours a day.  It’s difficult to build a lifestyle that allows you to be a writer first.  If you are able to accomplish it, it is well worth it.  I encourage all writers out their to honestly sit down and think about their priories.  If you can put writing first, you should.

I’m about to hit another major milestone in my novel.  More tomorrow.

Much Love,
Richard

The Plight of the Writer (Huzun)

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It’s strange being a writer at times.  Your writing depends so much on emotion.  The thing is emotion is ever-changing–much like a river.  The question that stands is: How to you harness the power of that river in order to produce something that will allow a reader to care.  If I write to fast, I worry about the quality of my writing.  If I write to slow, I worry about the changing emotion (of me) changing the state of the writing even when that is not what I want.

There is a reason depression and writing are forever bound.  For one, those who suffer from depression seems to have a more poetic view of their world.  Aside from that, the depressed mind is constant.  If you allow yourself to fall into depression, you need not worry about the changing state of your writing.  The question you are left with is: Can you sacrifice your life for your writing.  When writing becomes your life, the question is simple to answer.

For my readers: A poem.

Questions Deep in a Cavern
I go on regular hikes in the mountains behind my house.  I have found a beautiful waterfall where I’ve started to write.  I went there to write about a something very specific.  The idea merged with my surrounding and formed my favorite poem to date.

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.