Remind Me To Write That Down!

Good afternoon, followers! The new word of the week is chary, which means heavily cautious or hesitant about dangers and risks. It can also mean slow to gain or give. It comes from the Middle Ages, when "chary" meant "sorrowful," dating back to the Old English version of the word, "caru" (an early form of "care," and another word that originally meant "sorrow"). Wow! I guess even the word for sorrow had a sad beginning/origination.

Anyway, today's blog post is about lists. You may be thinking, "Lists? What does that have to do with writing?" But it does! Not only is writing a list, well, writing, but it also helps you to formulate thoughts and get inspiration. I make tons of lists in my writing journal: likes, dislikes, things to do, memorable events (sad, happy, tragic, etc.), everything. It can be about anything. You can even write a list in the form of your character to get to know them better and see what they might think about.

Here's a sample list. I wrote about things I like.

Sleeping in darkness
Bubble baths
The beach
Tea with honey
Music
Singing, especially in the shower
The color purple (not the play)
Theater (Drama Club and Broadway)
Writing – fiction
Making cards
Using colorful pens
Making people laugh and smile
Flowers – scent and appearance
Traveling
Spring
Eating seafood
Dressing up and wearing jewelry
Dessert, especially chocolate
Sunshine
Dark chocolate
Maraschino cherries
Licking cake/cookie/brownie batter
Chips Ahoy in the microwave
Romantic movies and novels
Penguins
Star-gazing
Harvest moons
Getting a back rub or foot massage
Organization
Calm
Evening
The Sun
White clouds
The daytime
The sound of crickets at night
Watching a thunderstorm
Stars
Blue
Nature
My bedroom
Warmth

You should also include the date, since sometimes you can look back and be like "Oh, I might have been thinking with this in mind because this happened that day." Certain events put people, as well as characters, in different moods. People's thoughts also change often, sometimes each day, so it's interesting to look back on old lists. Maybe a year from now I'll think the sound of crickets chirping is annoying. Perhaps there's an event that caused me to think that way, like I was bit by a cricket or something (I'm not sure if that's possible, but bear with me here). Throughout the story, your characters develop and, although they may think the same way, they could have very different beliefs than when the story began. It's kind of like watching your character grow up.

Well that's all for today, bloggers! I hope you enjoyed today's post. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you make lists? Either for writing or for other things in life?

Open Yours Eyes to Love

Good evening readers! Today I'm here to bring you the lovely topic of romantic-fiction (no pun intended, if you can find it).

Today's word of the day is venerate, meaning to idolize, honor with devotion, or worship something or someone. Sometimes people venerate the ones they love, which can show the depth of either their affection or their stalker tendencies. Anyway, onto the topic.

My inner hopeless romantic would simply enjoy reading a sappy love story with passionate kisses and a happy ending, but my inner writing would find that a terrible, terrible book. Despite the fact that many people read romance for, well, the romance, a romantic fiction novel needs to have all of the juicy goodies any other novel has: complex characters, a well-developed plot line, a setting for all of the interaction, and more. Romances aren't always about "boy meets girl" and there doesn't have to be a "happily ever after." Many novels also include romance a subplot, not wanting the entire novel to revolve around a romance, but also wanting to include it as a large part of their story. Let's face it: only the die-hard romance fans can stand reading a novel with a terrible plot and bad characterization, even if it is an overall romance.

Some people like reading "fluff"-like novels, ones that are sappy romances, but only if they are written well and have some substance to them. However, it's very hard to write a romance novel well without making it sound cliched. From the meet-up to the kiss scene, it's hard not to make everything sound completely stereotyped and incredibly corny. Even romance fans will groan at the appearance of yet another overused plot line or a typical character. No one wants to read a repeat of a book, even if it was good. Some writers will make a relationship progress way too quickly, just to get to the "good part," which I suppose varies for each person.

But don't get me wrong, there are some romance novels with a great use of language. There have been a few romance books that made me laugh out loud, brought me to tears, or both! The caliber of a romance novel depends not only on the writer but on the reader's taste, as does any novel. Don't think of a romance novel as a different concept entirely. It's just a different genre, like how every other type of novel falls into a genre. They're all in the same category; they're just different species. Take care when writing your romance, keep an eye out for overused plots/characters/phrases and avoid cliches, but overall, try to include some unique, creative spice into your romance. As long as you do that and follow any other techniques for writing a well-written novel, you'll be more than ready.

That's all for tonight, writers! I'm exhausted, but I hope you enjoyed today's post. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you like to read/write romance? Why or why not?

I'm a Huge Fan of Yours!

Good evening, bloggers! Before I get started with today's topic, I'd just like to inform you that the word of the week is perfidious, an adjective meaning "treacherous," "faithless," or "disloyal." The actual Latin root of the word, "perfidus," means "faithless." Wow!

Today's topic is fan fiction. There is a big debate when it comes to fan fiction: some love it, while others hate it. Some find it helpful for gaining writing experience, while others think it's a waste of time. Personally, I think it's fun to read, but this isn't a blog on my personal opinion. This is a blog on information, and that's what you're going to get.

For years, people have extended the joy of a good book, band, movie, play, or game, by using the pre-existing characters from that entertaining past time and creating stories with them. The name comes from the fact that they, the fans, are creating fiction on their favorite past-times. Whoa!

Pro: For starters, it's a great way for someone to stick their toe into the writing field. Instead of starting out with the whole deal, having to create the characters AND the plot AND the world they live in, fan fiction gives the new writer an template of characters and settings to use, subplots to dive into, that way they only have to mix them around and mold them into something new, rather than starting from scratch. It's a lot easier for many people to write fan fiction than original fiction. After all, everything's all set; all you have to do is set the formulated characters on a new adventure.

Con: However, some people, like myself, find it harder to write fan fiction than original fiction, since they find it hard to get into the characters' heads. When you're writing your own story, you need to get inside the character's head in order to learn his personality and learn what he would do in certain situations. In fan fiction, there's an extra step. You have to step into the author's head so you can understand and step into his or her character's head. Some people write fan fiction without playing the character very well, but as a perfectionist, I prefer to do it right or not do it at all.

Pro: Some authors/creators/imagineers find it flattering that fans would create fiction based on their original works. They take it as a compliment.

Con: Others think of it as stealing. Think about it: Would you want someone publishing a story about the characters you worked so hard on? It's like they took the easy way out. That could be YOU with the published new book. Even though fan fiction is hardly ever published, people still post it online on different websites, such as Fan Fiction.net and Live Journal.

Pro and Con: Some authors become such great writers from the frequent practice and they can't get out of the habit of writing fan fiction. I find so many stories online that I can't help but think, "This is amazing! If only he or she changed the character names, this would be an original story!" Not only are some fan fiction pieces extremely well written, but the settings and characters get molded so much that they become completely new people. It really helps people discover their own writing style with the easy practice.

Con: It's really sad that amazing authors get stuck in the habit of writing fan fiction when they could be doing so much more.

Pro: It helps people create a name for themselves. If you're popular enough in the world of fan fiction, it's much easier to get a fan base once you hop onto original fiction. For example, Sarah Rees Brennan started out in Harry Potter fan fiction, then wrote her own original novel trilogy with a ready-made fan base of people continued to love her writing after reading her fan fiction.

Con: Some publishers will refuse to support an author that posts work online, as if part of them is already published to Live Journal or other sites, their work being seen for free instead of published. Even if it's fan fiction, publishers dislike the fact that a prospective published author is posting his work online, and thus will not publish his original fiction if and when he ever starts writing it. It can be a big road block for aspiring published authors. This happens a lot more for people who publish their original fiction online than it does for fan fiction, but some publishers just dislike it.

In the end, fan fiction has its pros and cons. It's up to you to make the decision, I just supply the facts.

That's all for tonight, writers! I'm exhausted, but I hope you enjoyed today's post. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you read or write fan fiction? Why or why not?

What's Your Name Again?

Good evening, reader! It's Moon. Today's topic is going to be on naming your characters, but first let me start with the weekly Word of the Day (which I guess should be the "Word of the Week," huh?) This one is thaumaturgy, which is a noun referring to the performance of miracles, usually magic. (This makes me think of Harry Potter, tee hee. <3) It comes from a Greek word meaning "miracle working." There's also "thaumaturge" and "thaumaturgist," (nouns, meaning a both of which mean "a performer of miracles" or "a magician," ) and the adjective "thaumaturgic," (meaning "performing miracles" or "of, relating to, or dependent on thaumaturgy." Like most writers I know, I always want my characters to be detailed and 3-D. Sometimes I went on a baby naming site and looked up meanings to certain names. Though, then I realized that people in real life usually don't match their name, and that it's more important to be time-appropriate than personality-appropriate. After all, the parents didn't know what you would be like when they had you. I mean, "Penelope" is Greek and means "With a web over her face." That means nothing to me. Here are the main things to keep in mind when naming your characters (keep in mind that I embarrassed myself by breaking all of these to help share with you what I've learned):

1. Cultural and story context: A name usually reflects the culture and life of the character, sometimes the genre of the book as well. Aeon Daggercult would be great for a fantasy novel, but not for realistic fiction. People in the 1800s named their kids Martha and Hulda, but you wouldn't see someone with those names in present day. If a character has a Native American background that goes to a high school in New Jersey, his name won't be "Misty Rain" or "Big Bear." They've assimilated. His name might be John. His last name could be an Americanized last name too, but it could also be something from his culture.

* Just a quick note: If you're naming your character from another culture, be sure to do your research. Just because a name sounds like fun doesn't mean you should just name your character that off the bat. Look it up. It could be a boy's name instead of a girl's name. It could mean something completely offensive (You wouldn't name your kid Ass would you?) and the character wouldn't be taken seriously in his culture.

2. Keep the names to a minimum: I know some people have two middle names or five names, but just leave your characters alone. Even if you have a fantasy novel, your reader will just get confused or overwhelmed or just not take the character seriously if her name is "Misty Jessica Clefairy Winefred Humbleton." Not gonna happen. Keep it to two or three names, unless you really feel it's necessary to expand. And keep nicknames to a minimum too: you don't want to confuse your reader. If your character's name is Joseph, keep it to Joe or Joey (but if you have a more creative nickname, use that one, but don't use ALL of them).

3. Avoid stereotypes: This one should be obvious, guys. Seriously. If you have a story based around stellar, celestial things, please don't name your character Luna Moon. Please, I beg of you. You'll get laughed at. I, personally, will laugh at you. You don't want that; I have a very loud, obnoxious laugh.

4. Keep pronunciation in mind: So you don't want a bland name, that's fine. We all want names that our readers will remember and associate with our characters. However, out of desperation, don't name your character Fwejfoievnujsri, because even though that LOOKS awesome on the page of your fantasy/sci-fi novel, your reader will rip out the page in their anger and damn their tongues for all eternity.

5. Don't freak out: In all seriousness, a name is a name. If your character has an awesome, perfect name and a terrible, 2-D personality, you're character will still be unsatisfactory. Name, although important, shouldn't be at the top of your list. Work on learning about your character. You may even change his or her name after getting to know the character more. You can even refer to the character as "Girl" or "Boy" or "Awesome Guy" until you find a name you like. It's not the biggest deal in the world.

That's all for today, guys! Have a good night! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: How do you go about naming your characters?

It's a Plot...Within a Plot!

Good evening, fellow writers!

New favorite word of the week: triskaidekaphobia. Try to say that three times fast. In fact, try to say that at all. It's pronounced "triss-kye-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh." Basically, it's the fear of the number thirteen (which, in some cultures, is considered an unlucky number). It's hard to say where 13's bad reputation came from. You can look to Christianity, Hindu beliefs, Norse mythology or superstition, but it's hard to tell for sure.

Anyway, today's topic is subplots! That's right, those extra smaller story lines that keep the reader, reading (besides the 3-D characters and awesome main plot, obviously). Maybe throughout the novel, your protagonist has to figure out who is stealing his or her shampoo. It could be the antagonist, or it could be someone else, who knows? Maybe at some point in the novel, a robbery takes place and your character has to prove himself innocent at times throughout the novel. Little events like that really make the novel, because, if you think about it, you life doesn't only have one main story in it, right?

They can connect to the main plot, helping the reader realize something subtly without having it thrown in their face. It might be a thread linking to a future event. Their impact can be indirect, or it can smack your character in the face (figuratively, but if your subplot involves literal smacking, that's okay too).

The subplot(s) should have some reason and connection to the main story. It can't just be for comic relief or to use up the previously-deleted scenes that you loved so much but didn't fit in before.

Subplots should take fewer pages than the main plot, and many are on-going, though some are short and can occur anywhere in the story. But one main difference between subplots and plots is that in subplots, not all of the events have to occur "on stage," if you will. Some of the events can happen "behind the scenes," and even if they aren't written in the final draft, the characters can still discuss the event, showing the reader that the event occurred without writing the whole scene out. This keeps valuable information in the novel and the less interesting information (that doesn't move the plot along) out of the final draft.

However, as much fun as subplots are, keep them to a minimum. Most novels can only support one to three subplots before your main plot just gets completely off-track and nothing is accomplished. It just leaves the whole story unorganized.

Three final words of advice on subplots:

1) They take place at the same time as the main story.
2) They stress and idea or play with an idea from the story to make it stick out, impacting the novel later on or drawing the reader's attention to it.
3) Impacts the end of the novel. (Now, it doesn't have to impact the resolution, but it is usually best if it has an ending that somehow affects the characters, at least a little. Granted, some subplots have more meaning than others, but it's always good to have some impact on the novel.)

That's all for the night!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you purposely create subplots for your writing, or do they just happen naturally as the story goes on?

Similes Are Like... Similes

Good evening, writers! Penelope Paige here, reporting from her bedroom beside her piles of notes. I've been cramming for midterms all weekend, so this is just a quick post.

New Favorite Word of the Week: supercilious. The single most fun word you will ever say. It basically means haughty or overly proud, patronizing, etc. (I dare you to say superciliously three times fast). Anyway...

Similes. We love 'em and some of us use them all the time in real life. Depending on our personalities, senses of humor, and interests, our comparisons change, right? For example, I was reading a fan fic the other day where a girl compared herself to her crush like a small planet revolving around the sun, itching to get closer. Although I thought this was a great comparison, I didn't really see it fitting to the girl's personality. A teen might not say that a "butterfly flies like a child twirling in its first tutu," but perhaps a mother might, or a ballet instructor. Cliches sometimes fit in with similes, as certain comparisons have been made over and over and OVER again, all in the same taste. Try to make creative, fun similes for your characters. Who knows, you may start using it yourself.

In my current WiP (work in progress), I have a character who is very blunt and arrogant sometimes. He definitely would not be using the butterfly simile above, but he might compare getting a crush to a slap in the face (blunt, frank, just like his personality). Or, he may not use similes at all, and simply say it was "like BAM!" As you can see, he has a very undistinguished vocabulary (Haha).

That's all for now. I have to neglect my writing (once again, sadface) because of my midterms. My midterms are like a large to-do list--I hardly get to cross anything off! (See, that was a good comparison for me, since I always make to-do lists that seem never-ending). Happy comparing!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you use similes in your writing? If so, do you consider your characters when making them?

You Know What I'm Talking 'bout!

Good evening, writers! I'm here on this lovely evening to discuss the controversy of using pop culture references in writing.

One of the main things we've been discussing on the forum lately is the use of pop culture references. Everyone has their own opinion on the use of pop culture in novels. It's up to you to decide whether or not you want to use them, so I'll give you my pros and cons and you can choose.

Pros

1) Realism and Relate-ability:> For example, when you want a cup of Sprite, you don't say, "Pass the lemon-lime soda." No, you say, "Pass the Sprite." The dialogue flows a little easier and is a little more realistic with the brand name rather than the actual noun. The reader immediately knows what the character is talking about without an explanation. You could make up your own lemon-lime soda brand, like L2L (or some other letter-number combination), but you will then have to explain what the brand name is. Is it popular? Is it a rare soda found in a market at the edge of town? Is it what the cool kids drink?

2) They add to the setting: In different parts of the world, people eat, drink, and use different things. In Japan, people may use chopsticks more and eat more rice and fish than people in the U.S. If you see a woman dressed in a kimono and sandals with socks and using chopsticks, you might be able to assume the story takes place in traditional Japan.

Cons

1) They date your novel: A character using Windows 98 who is obsessed with the band 98 degrees might be very relate-able to anyone in 1990s, but in the 2000s, we laugh and joke about old-fashioned things like Windows 98. If I were to use Windows 7 in a novel, it would only be up-to-date for so long before the novel would seem old and dated. It's only "cool" and "hip" for a limited time.

2) Your novel doesn't seem as original: Sure, having your characters go to Krispy Kreme sounds like fun, but isn't having your characters get their doughnuts from Dori's Donuts much more exciting? In my opinion, having original references make your novel 100% original and just keeps it timeless and enjoyable.

Just remember: less is more. Some references are good, giving the reader a connection to the character, yet some should be avoided.

Well, that's all I have for you today. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Questions: Do you use pop culture references in your novels? Why or why not?

Dreams Come True...

Good afternoon, glorious writers! I hope you're awake, because today's topic is dreams.

Dreams. Hmm. Who ever knew a word could hold so much emotion? Relaxation, distress, anger. They can be, well, surreal, or they can be nightmares and hold your deepest worries and stress-producers.

A dream in your novel should hold some sort of premonition or foreshadowing for what's to come, or at least give us the mood. They don't have to be smack-in-the-face obvious, but certain dreams can definitely hint oblivion or that something bad is going to happen.

To get ideas, I usually go on a dream dictionary site and look up some of the words to see their meanings, like I do whenever I'm trying to decipher one of the dreams I've had. I also look around the dream forums on the website, looking at the dreams other people have posted. I've used similar ones, just changing them around to fit my purpose. I sometimes use similar dreams to my own, or completely make them up entirely.

I think dreams are very useful in stories--they're much better than flat out telling--but you have to make them foreshadow something. Foreshadowing is never clear-cut, so don't worry if the dream doesn't shout out its meaning, as dreams never do. Happy sleeping!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you use dreams in your stories? If so, what information do they tell us?

Creative Nonfiction: A Reflection of the Past Year

Good evening, fellow writers! This is just a quick update, since the holiday festivities have me beat. Just a quick note: look at the top of the page and notice the beautiful banner I created. Procrastinating revisions? Hell yes.

Since many of us have been thinking about the past year--our regrets, our accomplishments, etc.--so I've been using those contemplative times for inspiration for my writing.

One thing I've been experimenting this semester is creative nonfiction. For those that don't know, creative nonfiction (in my opinion) combines some great aspects from both fiction and nonfiction: writing real life events in a story-like format. I find that I can really get a lot of emotion out of the events that really happened to me, and writing them in a novel format helps me improve my writing.

So this is my prompt for you this week. Think back on any event at all this past year, one that stands out in your mind. It can be elating, devastating, angering, anything. Then write about the moment, describing as much as you can remember (from the scenery to dialog) and write it like you would a short story. It should have a beginning, middle, and end, but it can be as long as it takes to tell the story. Happy writing!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Have you ever written creative nonfiction?

To-Do List: Ally or Enemy?

Good afternoon, writers! Today I've been thinking about how I hardly have time to write. However, something I recently learned is that you have to MAKE time. I always say "I'm too busy to write," when in reality, I just don't make time. I always lower it and lower it on my priorities list. I have homework and studying, yes, but then I decide to go out to eat with my friends or go to the movies or write Christmas cards. How serious you are as a writer and how high writing is on your to-do list will show how determined you are to finish that novel or to get that article published.

This post is a short one, because, of course, I have many other things on my priorities list. But do me a favor: try to inspect your to-do list and see how you can rearrange it. Then you'll discover how much writing truly means to you.

If you have any comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. I guess it's time to pick up that pencil...

Question: How often do you write? Do you "have time" to write?

Writer's Block: Curse or Myth?

Good evening, bloggers! Today's topic is writer's block, the plague to us all. We often blame out lack of a word count for days, weeks, or even months on this little disease. Some people say it's the death of writers while others believe it's only a state of mind.

It can be a lack of inspiration or just a lack of motivation. Personally, you can have no ideas for a certain story you're writing, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you have writer's block. If you lack ideas for one story you may very well have a surplus of ideas for another. Or, it can be that you have so many ideas for a story that they get jumbled in your brain and the excess amount of ideas just boggles you and seems too overwhelming to work on.

If you have a plot hole, I see it as more of an obstacle to overcome than a block. A block, to me, sounds permanent, while an obstacle sounds like something to work hard for and achieve. If you have no ideas for it, try working on something else and coming back to it later. I solve many of my plot holes just out of the blue, either getting ideas from school assignments or conversations with friends or during a shower. Inspiration just hits you like an oncoming train sometimes--fast, unexpected, and hard.

One thing I'm sure to do is that, no matter what time it is or where I am, I write down any ideas I have. Even though an idea might seem like nothing down, it will someday grow. You can be pondering over it later and it can turn into a full-fledged novel idea. At 3am when I awake from a dream, I always groan and get up to turn on a light to write down my story idea from my dream. If I'm in school I write it on the corner of my notes to remember it.

If you just get lazy, that's your own fault. Or if you're just so busy that you find it hard to write, start off small with a prompt or a poem. Try a short story or something else before going back to your work in progress. Perhaps your WIP is boring you and you need to spice it up. If it seems like you have such a long way to go, think of it in sections and just remember how happy and accomplished you'll feel when it's done.

Sometimes writer's block is just a menace that prevents the right words from being released from your ballpoint pen. If you can't get the words out, try an exercise to get the juices flowing, like being really descriptive with something (look at an object and describe it in great detail with all five senses). Learning some new vocab can help too; I get Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day. If I just need to reconnect with my characters, I write a short scene or some drabble with them. Sometimes I even wind up altering them and inserting them into my story!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil..

Question: Do you believe in writer's block? Do you suffer from it often?

Retrace Your Steps--Don't Get Lost!

Good evening, writers! Picture this event in your head: You write a great story with a flowing storyline and a solid plot, then suddenly--BAM--your manuscript is read and pulled apart, the beta (or whomever) shedding light to the small plot hole that ruins your story. What you have to do then is go back and retrace your steps to change the plot while still producing the main result. Ever experience that? I have. I'm sure many of you have, too. That's why I'm going to share my advice on retracing your steps to edit your plot. Don't give up or get lost! If you don't go back and change it, you'll never finish it! :[ All that effort, forever wasted. You don't want that, do you? I'll provide some tips, plus some reasons to keep going.

1) Know how the story is going to end. Having a clear idea of how the story will end definitely will help you decide how to advance. If your character has to get from A to B, it helps narrow down the options.

2) Use the experience to your knowledge. The second time around, you know what went wrong and what went right, so not as much experimentation is needed. You have better knowledge of grammar than before (I would hope) and you know which things don't work in certain situations. It will be faster this time around.

3) You already know your characters! You know your characters a lot better since you have spent more time with them. You have their catchphrases and behaviors, plus you know how they would react in certain situations. This will help you think "Hmm, if So-and-So did this, then this would happen." Knowing you characters will help you greatly.

Plus, the best thing is, you're not starting all over. You have the majority of the story in your mind, from the ending to the characters to the setting. Even if it's a major change, you still have most of the learning already done. See? It won't be so hard. You can do it!

P.S. The Quill and Ink Forums (a forum I moderate) is having a Thanksgiving writing contest. Check out the forum for more details. In one contest, we are giving out Chris Baty's [i]No Plot? No Problem! A Low-Stress, High Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in Thirty Days[/i], so check out the blog for more details.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Have you ever hit a plot snag in your novel? Found a plot bunny hiding in the bushes? How did you fix it?

Welcome to Halloweentown

Good evening, writers! Halloween is less than a week away and I can't wait! I love it all: the candy, the parties, the costumes. One of my favorite things about Halloween is the horror stories.

Horror stories, Halloween shorts, filled with blood, gore, and guts galore! Don't you love horror stories? They're so much fun to write, especially when goosebumps start forming on your skin with every word. I think many people are intimidated by the thought of writing horror because they can't be too soft (then it's not horror), but if it's just blood and gore, that's not a very good read (and it's gross). You have to find a good balance between gore, a good plot line, and enough horror to make it interesting without being a disgusting turn-off. Still, you need the chill-down-the-spine spook factor that all of those scary movies have. You have to create tension and suspense in an attempt to actually frighten the reader.

Here are a few tips:

1) Study the classics. One of the best ways to learn, in my opinion, is by learning through example. Pick up a copy of Dracula (by Bram Stoker) and see how it's done. Then you can adapt your own style and ideas.

2) Research. Please, please, do your research. If you're writing a scary vampire story, read different myths and adaptations on the vampire before creating your own version. Try to make it as original as possible, yet pay attention to your audience.

3) Think about what scares YOU. Do creepy, crawly insects freak you out? Write about something that has to do with bugs. What would happen in your worst nightmares? Put it on paper. Surely if something scares you, it's bound to scare somebody else.

4) Rhythm and Intensity. These two elements are very important for creating tension and fright in your reader. Scary movies are scary when they have a character walking down the street in a slow rhythm, when suddenly--BAM!--a monster appears out of the bushes. Set the mood with intense description, the angry, thrusting tree branches can make for a spooky appeal in the nighttime horror of suburbia.

Here are some elements to make your horror's villain, horrifying: Make him a mystery and make him completely unexpected. We find fear in what we don't know. The darkness scares people because we have no idea what may be lurking there. Also, who would have thought he creeped through the shadows into your bedroom before you shut the door? Who would have seen him bust through the wall? It's all in the element of surprise that spooks us out. Make him creep up slowly.

That's all for now! Now start spooking! Feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Ever try writing a horror story? If so, how did it turn out? If not, why not?

Practice Makes Perfect--Keep At It!

Good morning! What? It's not a very good morning for you? I'm sorry to hear that.

Have you ever just felt sad or worthless? Felt that your wriitng just sucks and no one loves you and you need a big hug? We all have. It's important to keep in mind the old idiom that "practice makes perfect." If you want to get better, you have to write. You don't have to show anyone your embarrassing first short story, but writing and recognizing what you liked and disliked will help you become a better writer. Plus, realizing if things are just incorrect, such as grammar and facts, will teach you to research and learn your rules. You can learn which writing rules you want to break (such as the controversy over dialogue tags--use 'em or lose 'em) and which you like, and that will help you form a wriitng style of your own. You can cross the bridge from "okay" to "great" with practice and a little bit (or a lot) of faith.

Remember that when you're exhausted from schoolwork, projects, work, homework, and balancing your social life. Exhaustion can take a toll on you, but you have to aim for your goals. Writing can be very rewarding, and that happy, accomplished feeling is one thing I love about writing. It makes me feel so proud of myself, whether the work is good or bad, finished or incomplete. Never give up something you love because you're scared or afraid of doing badly. If you feel like you're not good enough, pull yourself up and pick up a pencil. Show yourself who's boss. You can write as well as anyone else as long as you keep at it. One of my English teachers always said, "Perfect practice makes perfect," but I completely disagree with that. Practice makes perfect, because you find what is and isn't perfect for you. There isn't one perfect way of writing; that's why there are so many different published authors. Everyone has a different way of writing and you'll find yours with time. Stick to it! You can do it!

Well, right now, I have to go work on my three AP projects and my homework, but while doing so, I'll think about how I'll get to work on my story later, so that will motivate me to get all of this boring stuff done. =] Email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com if you have any questions or comments! Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Do you ever have those days when you feel unworthy and not good enough? How did you pull yourself up? And do you find writing rewarding?

Wake up, Muse! It's Saturday!

Welcome all, to another lovely weekend. I love the weekends. Why? I give my life five days a week for others (school, homework, job hunting, etc.) The weekend is mine to do with as I please (except for AP projects. Eep!) A picture-perfect weekend for me would be sitting in my room, relaxed with nothing to do, and writing on my laptop. That's it! I'm a simple person.

Thus, because of my lovely weekend (I am home because I am sick, not very "picture-perfect"), I have decided to post more prompts for those of you who just can't get themselves to write. I myself have done all of these prompts in the past, so I can assure you that (at least for me) they definitely get the writing-juices flowing.

1. Pictures! Picture prompts are so helpful when writing a scene, a poem, or any prose, because there's a vivid image already there for you. If you find a good picture, print it out, take a picture with your phone, something to keep that image fresh in your mind. You can even take short notes of what it looked like to you. Feel free to write anything: a poem, a scene, a short story, even random drabble. Just get writing. A few pictures to get you started: One, Two, and Three.

2. Wikipedia! Wikipedia's "Random Article" button is my best friend. Why? It creates prompts for me, for free! The link is on the left hand side of any Wikipedia page, in the top section. The words read, "Main page," "contents," "featured contents," "current events," "random article". Granted, some will be harder than others, but you're free to continue clicking it until something piques your interest. (I got "human anus" once, that was fun.)

3. Quotes! I know I mentioned in my previous blog post about how you can go onto a quotes site and write. However, why does it have to be a formal quote? It can be something you heard on T.V., something your friend said, hell, it can even be from something you've written previously! You can use the quote however you wish, just as a jumping off point for inspiration or include it in your story.

4. Moods! Pick an emotion or mood. Come on, any will do! Be it fear, contempt, or joy, write something that relates to that emotion. Whatever that word makes you think about, jot it down on paper. You could also do the opposite and take an idea (ex. waiting for relatives) and make a mood (ex. anxiety). Have fun with it. (Some of my favorite moods for this activity are anxiousness, rage, and contentment).

5.Music! I received a comment last week from someone that uses music to awaken their muse. I happen to agree with them; there are many songs that can make me angry or make me want to cry. Although I mentioned this last week, I'll say it again: music is amazing. There are lyrics to listen to and instruments to speculate. Either put your music player (I use iTunes) on "Shuffle" or pick a favorite song and write with whatever comes to mind. Try writing for the duration of the song and see what you have and then switch to another song, or keep with the same song (I put mine on "repeat") and continue your prose. (Some songs I've used are "Accidentally In Love" by Counting Crows and "Face Down" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus).

Feeling more creative this time? Good, I'm glad. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: What are your favorite prompts? Why?

Procrastination & Writer's Block

Welcome to the first meeting of Procrastinators Anonymous.

Just kidding. Though if that was a real group, pretty much all of us would have to join.

Procrastination. Just combining that word with "writing" makes me want to cringe, since I'm guilty of neglecting my writing and watching it slowly descend to the bottom of my priorities list. I procrastinate on things I enjoy and the thing I hate wind up being at the top of my to-do list. But that's life, isn't it? School, work, sports, clubs. They fill up our lives, defining them, but not allowing us to do what we love most.

Many claim that writer's block has prevented them from writing. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I don't think writer's block should stop you from writing at all. If I get stuck on a story and can't think of what to do next, I simply move on to something else. I have so many ideas floating around in my head, so when I am stuck with one idea, I pluck the next one out. The theory of writer's block shouldn't keep you from something you enjoy. Laryngitis can keep a singer from singing, but writer's block can't keep a writer from writing. You will not get worse if you write with writer's block. In fact, for me, writing when I have writer's block helps me get rid of it. Sometimes, if you're procrastinating writing or just have writer's block, try a small prompt to get your juices flowing.

Writing prompts to wake your muse:

1) Put on a song you like. Really listen to the lyrics and mood of the song. Then begin to write. Don't be distracted with grammar. Just write. You can stop when the song is over and choose another one to put on, or you can continue on. Sometimes putting the song that really inspires you on replay helps.

2) Pick an object, any at all. If you are at a loss, pick something around the room. Now write a short story (not long, as long as you want to make it) and make that object central to the story line.

3) Write about something that has happened to you and either write about your experience in depth or alter it and make it a work of fiction. It could be from a heated argument to a first kiss. Make it as long as you want.

4) Go onto a quote site such as Quoteland and pick any quote that appeals to you. Then write about whatever comes to your mind.

I hope this helped awake your muse! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them here or email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: How do you awake your muse? If you use a prompt, which ones do you enjoy most?

Stick to It!

Ever have trouble sticking to your writing? Every writer does. It's human nature; we get distracted easily. We all have undiagnosed A.D.D. It's just how we are.

One of the most popular ways to stay on track is to make goals, both large and small. Many authors try to have a minimum word count per day. As well as a daily work count minimum, many writers make long-term goals, either for a month, a season, or until a set date. Sometimes people like to make a time line of their progress so they know how far along they are and how much more time they need to reach their goals.

The old "rewards and punishments" comes into play as well. I've met people (such as on the lovely Quill and Ink forums I moderate) who punish themselves for not reaching their goals. People cut away their favorite snacks or hobbies.

There are always small time slots for you to fit in a couple hundred words here and there. Free period in school? Definitely. Fifteen minutes before leaving the house? Can do! If you can compile the few minutes we waste in between activities, you could have a thousand words without even trying!

Well that's all for this week. You are feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com if you have any questions or comments. I'll respond as soon as I can. I would love to hear what you think about this topic! Now it's time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: Ever feel like you just can't write anymore? How did you overcome it?

Welcome to Intent Forgotten!

Hello! I have created this blog as a way to help young aspiring authors like myself to improve their writing. Many of us only dream of having a novel published and I hope to teach all of you what I have learned so far about writing and perhaps we could reach our dreams of publication together.

I came up with the name of my blog because, as usual, I was distracted from my writing. As much as I love to write, I get distracted so easily. I always forget what it was that I had to do, why I was in such a place, etc. So, if you ever lose your muse or intentions, feel free to stop by and leave a comment or simply read my newest post.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. You can also leave a comment if you so wish to. Time to go sharpen that pencil...