F is for Friday Five (and Flu)

I'm going to cheat a bit with "F" and I can do that because it's my blog. Let me explain. Right now "F" is for Flu, because for the second time this year I have it. You didn't read that wrong - 2nd time!  Due to my current state I'm slightly less enthusiastic about sitting at the computer, which is why I'm going to combine posts and use "F" to satisfy my A to Z goal as well as participate in Friday Five for the the group blog, Paper Hangover, I contribute to.

Don't forget to link your blog post on the Paper Hangover site and we'll all check it out.

Without further ado...

Friday Five prompt: The Five things you wish you'd known before you became a writer...

In no particular order:

1. If you have an idea and don't know how to make a story out of it, start asking yourself questions to flesh the story out. The good old classic who, what, where, when, and how is a good start to learning more about your idea.

2. Characters are vital. An idea will only get you so far, but fully developed, well thought out characters drive a story. Do this by studying people. Their movement, behavior, manorisms can become your characters'.

3. Become a member of Verla Kay's Blueboard. The wealth of information there is invaluable as is the community of writers. Writing is lonely, you should try to surround yourself with people who who share your passion.

4. Read, read, read!!! (Write, write, write!)

5.Pay attention during English class when you are working on vocabulary and grammar. These are two powerful tools you'll need in your toolbox, and it's more work having to learn it when all you really want to do is focus on creativity, not the structure of a sentence, which doesn't come naturally because you weren't paying attention.

I seriously could go on, but I'll stick to the rules (even if I did technically combine more than one piece of advice into some of the five).

E is for Efficiency

       As a follow-up to my distraction post, I hope to make my time more efficient. I am a lists and charts type of person and I try to be as organized as possible. But more often than not, my life is chaotic. I have three kids under the age of six and many responsibilities (no more so than any other mom) but unlike my non-writer friends I have this responsibility to myself to write.
       With this said, I must find a way to organize my life to balance my children, house, and writing, without letting distractions take over. I've often thought about turning the internet off using one of those websites like Freedom that disconnects service for said amount of time, forcing you to be productive. I just don't know if this will work, after all there are ways around it - I have an iPhone. Not to mention my obsession with reading, which doesn't require an internet connection and can be ALL CONSUMING. Help!

        What are some of your distraction avoiding techniques?

D is for Distraction

I love to write!

I love to create stories, situations, scenes (the alliteration is coincidental) charcters, I could go on and on. But for some reason, and I know I am not alone, I am easily distracted by a million and one other things. My blogs, editor blogs, agent blogs, author blogs, Twitter, the Blueboard, email...oh especially email. I don't know what I think I am expecting because I must check it like thirty times a day, no exaggeration.

What is it that forces us (and when I say us I really mean me) to do everything but what we really want to do. Some people say it's fear, I don't know that I buy that. Sometimes I think I'm being lazy. I've often thought that it would be really cool if someone would create a device that "magically" processes your creative thoughts without you having to do any of the actual work. Like if I have a thought about a scene, I've plotted it in my head, and then I've plotted the next scene and the scene after that, this device just gets it all down for me. Poof! Instant novel.
             But no, I have to sit down and flesh those scenes out. Give them description, dialogue (more alliteration) action, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy that process. I don't know what my problem is. Maybe it is fear. Fear that what I've created in my head won't make it to the page in the way I hoped or intended. But I preserve, and I manage to get some creativity in amongst my procrastination.

Do you procrastinate? How so?

C is for Character

Or chicken. That is, in the old which came first debate, the chicken or the egg?

There is so much talk amongst writers about which comes first in their own writing. Is it the character or the plot? Many say the best stories are character driven, the literary type. Others say the best kind are those with high concept plot and great characters. Sure that seems easy enough. I happen to be the chicken came first type of gal and tend to start with plot. I ask all of the same writerly questions like “what if,” and “why” when elaborating on my plot and creating characters who fit into my story. I just do it in a slightly different way. But I know I am in the minority, and that’s okay – I like being different. 

How about you? Which do you start with?

B is for Books

Writer's Library:

Some of you may know that reading books about writing is part of how I learn how to be a better writer. With that in mind, today’s post focuses on some of the writing books in my library.

On Writing by Steven King -  4 out of 5 stars

Biographies, Autobiographies, and memoirs are among my favorite genres. This book combines memoir with craft all in King’s signature style.

Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks – 4 out of 5 stars

Offers great techniques and insight into plot and character.

Writing Fiction for Dummies -  2 out of 5 stars

This book is geared for the beginning writer.

Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel by K L Going - read too long ago to rate.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott on the shelf. Haven't read yet.

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass on the shelf. Haven't read yet.

A is for Author

A to Z Challenge                           So today is April 1^st, well since I'm writing this post at 10:25pm, it's almost April 2^nd. Better late than never. The A to Z Challenge has begun and for everyday in April (excluding Sundays) my posts will begin with each letter of the alphabet. They will most likely be brief and since I’m a writer and avid reader, they will be Reading and Writing themed.

I’ll start with A is for Author. Growing up my favorite author was Lois Lowry who wrote the Anastasia Krupnick  books. My best friend would read one and then pass it on to me. It was a love we shared and it was my first experience as a reader. Today my experiences have broadened and since I am a children’s librarian I have too many favorite authors to choose only one. I will say that Chris Van Allsburg is my favorite picture book author. His eccentric, out-of-the-box style has a special place in my heart and my imagination. His stories leave you thinking and spark those writerly questions like “what if” and “why?”

As for my favorite Middle Grade and YA authors… I don’t think I’ll ever be able to commit to just one. Who are your favorite authors?

Flash Fiction Friday #3

This is Flash Fiction Friday #3 over at my group blog Paper Hangover.

Here's the way it works: Each week you're given a writing prompt that is meant to get your creative juices flowing and help you stretch those typing muscles. It's meant to be fun, no pressure. If you participate,link your post in the comments section at Paper Hangover and then we'll pop over and give it a read.

This week's topic:

"In 300 words or less, write a story that begins with "It's not you, it's me..."

“It’s not you, it’s me, Max.” I say as I rub his back. “I knew this wasn’t going to work from the beginning, but Suzy couldn’t stop gushing about how cute you were, I just had to see for myself.” I start to back away. I can’t risk standing this close for too long. 

“Of course she was right, but our relationship has become unbearable, really. You have to know that, or at least sense something is wrong. I just can’t handle being around you anymore. When I see you my eyes start to water, my breaths become short and quick, my heart races. It’s just not healthy. And no matter how much medication I take, it just doesn’t help.” My hand is on the doorknob, poised to dash out the front door if necessary.  

“Please don’t look at me like that. You’ll find someone else, I promise. Someone who can appreciate you, and love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

“Meredith it’s time,” the woman from the agency says.  

“Please don’t cry,” I say to Max as the woman closes in on him. “You’ll be happy I promise.”

“You know if we can’t find a home for him, he’s going to be put down?” she says.

My eyes dart from the woman to Max, and then I rush back over to him. He jumps up on me, licking my face, wagging his tail, and I melt all over again.

“Okay Max you win. Medication for life it is,” I say just before the sneezing fit starts. 

The woman huffs. “We won’t need your services after all,” I say to her. “You can let yourself out.”  

Hope you liked it! Give it a try next week.