02/28/2014
2080 words today!
And it was a busy one. At work, I had a lot to get done (and still do!) and barely was able to finish writing on my lunch break.
One of things I've been seeing a lot of is the debate about planning vs pantsing in writing. Pantsing, as it's often referred, is the idea of just writing by the seat of your pants, typing furiously to add to the story in progress without a care in the world as to planning out the plot. I find myself between the two of these methods, as I plan out the major plot points, who kills who, what big events will eventually happen, but I also pants. Each individual scene is completely fresh and I let my characters act as the wind-up toys they are. Today I wrote a scene that turned into something completely unexpected as the characters spoke in my mind and made things go differently than I'd originally planned. I had to go back and change a few little things from earlier scenes in order to maintain continuity, but it kept the pacing better and made for a more interesting twist to the story.
That sort of technique is what I love about the craft, and the surprise that comes with it. Everytime I write something new, it's just that: new! I didn't necessarily expect X to happen, but it's awesome! And it might lead into Y, or even just jump to Z! So, I suppose between the two, I'm a pantser, writing with speed and unknown direction, but I like that. This isn't to say anything's wrong with the other methods, but they're just wrong for me.
Bishop
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Sleepy Dialogue 02/27/2014
02/27/2014
2240 Words today, and a very sleepy set as well.
Didn't sleep well last night and had some odd dreams, as I often do, so I'm a bit groggy this morning. I powered through my words before lunch, though, which is something I'm rather proud of. It's getting easier and easier, as I've said, the more I build toward the more climactic points of the book.
I've been discussing dialogue a little lately, and I wanted to put my thoughts in here. Dialogue is one of the most important elements of any story, obviously. We see more of the characters through their words than through their action sometimes, and that makes it infinitely important to get these elements right. One thing I try to do with dialogue is write it to be read as the character would say it. In my book, there's a character with a Texan accent, so instead of "Yes sir," he says "Yes'suh," or something to that effect. I've heard of people disliking this type of dialect inclusion, but I find it's essential to "hearing" the characters in your head. After all, without it, a small child's dialogue might look identical to that of an adult's, which would be obnoxious if you ask me.
Anyway, the weekend's coming up, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Work's been very busy this week, with a lot of equipment to manage and data to process. As much as I love working on computers, though, I'd prefer it be a little slower. Let's me write more.
Bishop
2240 Words today, and a very sleepy set as well.
Didn't sleep well last night and had some odd dreams, as I often do, so I'm a bit groggy this morning. I powered through my words before lunch, though, which is something I'm rather proud of. It's getting easier and easier, as I've said, the more I build toward the more climactic points of the book.
I've been discussing dialogue a little lately, and I wanted to put my thoughts in here. Dialogue is one of the most important elements of any story, obviously. We see more of the characters through their words than through their action sometimes, and that makes it infinitely important to get these elements right. One thing I try to do with dialogue is write it to be read as the character would say it. In my book, there's a character with a Texan accent, so instead of "Yes sir," he says "Yes'suh," or something to that effect. I've heard of people disliking this type of dialect inclusion, but I find it's essential to "hearing" the characters in your head. After all, without it, a small child's dialogue might look identical to that of an adult's, which would be obnoxious if you ask me.
Anyway, the weekend's coming up, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Work's been very busy this week, with a lot of equipment to manage and data to process. As much as I love working on computers, though, I'd prefer it be a little slower. Let's me write more.
Bishop
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The Periodic Table of Story Elements
The Periodic Table of Story Elements By James Harris
I love this thing. I just discovered it today thanks to a friend linking me to writingprompts.tumblr.com (Another great site!) and have been toying with it a bit this morning. I probably would have gotten my 2K done a lot faster had I not discovered it!
It does a decent job of connecting storytelling to many of its elements, using references to pop culture and some classics. I also like the idea of taking some of the major story elements to make a "molecule" of the work. Obviously, some works (particularly novels, which are longer) incorporate many, many elements of this table as they're so universally used in great story telling. While obviously not intentional, these elements are formed by the culture around us, using and reusing these tropes and telling great tales with them and influencing us to do the same.
In any case, it's a nice summation of some simple ideas that can be built into great tales.
Bishop
I love this thing. I just discovered it today thanks to a friend linking me to writingprompts.tumblr.com (Another great site!) and have been toying with it a bit this morning. I probably would have gotten my 2K done a lot faster had I not discovered it!
It does a decent job of connecting storytelling to many of its elements, using references to pop culture and some classics. I also like the idea of taking some of the major story elements to make a "molecule" of the work. Obviously, some works (particularly novels, which are longer) incorporate many, many elements of this table as they're so universally used in great story telling. While obviously not intentional, these elements are formed by the culture around us, using and reusing these tropes and telling great tales with them and influencing us to do the same.
In any case, it's a nice summation of some simple ideas that can be built into great tales.
Bishop
Editing Another's 02/26/2014
02/26/2014
2312 words today, and I might write more when I get some time after lunch. I'm really into this section of the story, things are heating up!
I've been editing a fellow writer's work, and I really feel that the practice I get from that is offering me a different perspective on the process. I'm honored to have been asked to give my notes on the piece, and will be working pretty hard to get through it in a good timeframe. I know my writing can only improve by editing this piece, especially since his work has some aspects I really admire. So far I'm only a couple of chapters into the work, but I'm already learning from it and from my own edits.
I've also been feeling better. Yesterday was a pretty taxing day and I felt like I couldn't do anything right, but today I feel much better. I don't know if it was the headache or something else, but I felt overly anxious yesterday too, but this morning it all seemed like it melted away. Felt good.
Bishop
2312 words today, and I might write more when I get some time after lunch. I'm really into this section of the story, things are heating up!
I've been editing a fellow writer's work, and I really feel that the practice I get from that is offering me a different perspective on the process. I'm honored to have been asked to give my notes on the piece, and will be working pretty hard to get through it in a good timeframe. I know my writing can only improve by editing this piece, especially since his work has some aspects I really admire. So far I'm only a couple of chapters into the work, but I'm already learning from it and from my own edits.
I've also been feeling better. Yesterday was a pretty taxing day and I felt like I couldn't do anything right, but today I feel much better. I don't know if it was the headache or something else, but I felt overly anxious yesterday too, but this morning it all seemed like it melted away. Felt good.
Bishop
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
One Headache of a Day 02/25/2014
02/25/2014
2215 words today, and another rough one.
I had a headache and a stomach ache all morning, and only now in the afternoon is the stomach part starting to clear up. My head is still pusling with pain, so I can only imagine that my writing might have suffered a little. Even still, I'm proud to have finished. Tuesdays are already the most depressing day of the week, methinks, so to get 200 words above the goal feels good.
A suspenseful conclusion to a particularly tense little scene was the subject of my chapter today. It was a short chapter, clocking in at only about 2.5K in word length, as opposed to my usual 4K average. But that's okay, it served its purpose well and if I need to add more in editing, well then that's what's going to happen. I'm afraid I don't have much else to say today, I'm really not feeling well. So, for now, I'm going to close this blog entry.
Bishop
PS: RIP Harold Ramis, you were one funny guy and your work will be sorely missed.
2215 words today, and another rough one.
I had a headache and a stomach ache all morning, and only now in the afternoon is the stomach part starting to clear up. My head is still pusling with pain, so I can only imagine that my writing might have suffered a little. Even still, I'm proud to have finished. Tuesdays are already the most depressing day of the week, methinks, so to get 200 words above the goal feels good.
A suspenseful conclusion to a particularly tense little scene was the subject of my chapter today. It was a short chapter, clocking in at only about 2.5K in word length, as opposed to my usual 4K average. But that's okay, it served its purpose well and if I need to add more in editing, well then that's what's going to happen. I'm afraid I don't have much else to say today, I'm really not feeling well. So, for now, I'm going to close this blog entry.
Bishop
PS: RIP Harold Ramis, you were one funny guy and your work will be sorely missed.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday Madness 02/24/2014
02/24/2014
2,050 today, and barely made it.
Work was rather busy this morning and I had to spend much of my lunch hour on the phone with customer service representatives, so you can guess how that went. I had to push hard to motivate myself to get work done, and was able to write my 2K in about an hour flat. I worry that the prose suffers a bit under the speed, but that's future Bishop's problem. Editor Bishop's problem.
Yesterday was a good day off, but I was itching to write. It's strange, some weeks my days off are easily handled, I have no care or concern in the world, and other days I'm itching to get back to work. Obviously, if it hits, I try to write a little bit, but at the same time I find that having the time off can really refresh my brain and make my work that much better, so I try hard to maintain the schedule.
It's going to be a good week, I've got some doctor's appointments to tend to, but they shouldn't get in the way of the work. As usual, you'll hear about my adventures here on this site. See you tomorrow!
Bishop
2,050 today, and barely made it.
Work was rather busy this morning and I had to spend much of my lunch hour on the phone with customer service representatives, so you can guess how that went. I had to push hard to motivate myself to get work done, and was able to write my 2K in about an hour flat. I worry that the prose suffers a bit under the speed, but that's future Bishop's problem. Editor Bishop's problem.
Yesterday was a good day off, but I was itching to write. It's strange, some weeks my days off are easily handled, I have no care or concern in the world, and other days I'm itching to get back to work. Obviously, if it hits, I try to write a little bit, but at the same time I find that having the time off can really refresh my brain and make my work that much better, so I try hard to maintain the schedule.
It's going to be a good week, I've got some doctor's appointments to tend to, but they shouldn't get in the way of the work. As usual, you'll hear about my adventures here on this site. See you tomorrow!
Bishop
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Wind-up Toys 02/22/2014
02/22/2014
Another 2132 words done!
And it feels really good. Today is a particularly slow Saturday here at work, so it's been really easy to get the work done. I wrote a somewhat suspenseful scene, and I think I did well with it--we'll see for sure in editing.
One of the things that I was discussing with other writers recently is the way that characters seem to act and breathe on their own, and I got to use my favorite analogy about characters I write. In my eyes, the character is like a wind-up toy, where I build it and paint it and wind up the key, then it goes and moves all on its own. It's very true. A lot of times, as a writer, I find myself just pouring words onto the page that the characters act out by themselves. They act on instinct and intuition and sometimes legitimately surprise me with what they can do.
I worry it's something that non-writers or non-creative types might not understand, and even then there are writers who disagree with or simply don't subscribe to this theory, but it genuinely works for me. It continues to surprise me everyday that I write, and it makes the process that much more entertaining.
Bishop
Another 2132 words done!
And it feels really good. Today is a particularly slow Saturday here at work, so it's been really easy to get the work done. I wrote a somewhat suspenseful scene, and I think I did well with it--we'll see for sure in editing.
One of the things that I was discussing with other writers recently is the way that characters seem to act and breathe on their own, and I got to use my favorite analogy about characters I write. In my eyes, the character is like a wind-up toy, where I build it and paint it and wind up the key, then it goes and moves all on its own. It's very true. A lot of times, as a writer, I find myself just pouring words onto the page that the characters act out by themselves. They act on instinct and intuition and sometimes legitimately surprise me with what they can do.
I worry it's something that non-writers or non-creative types might not understand, and even then there are writers who disagree with or simply don't subscribe to this theory, but it genuinely works for me. It continues to surprise me everyday that I write, and it makes the process that much more entertaining.
Bishop
Friday, February 21, 2014
6 Ways Writing Is Sexier Than Stripping (You wont believe this!) 02/21/2014
02/21/2014
2,039 Words Written
After a critique of my prologue for book 1, I spent 1,000 words today rewriting the entire thing. Originally, the prologue occured after a certain incident took place, but I moved it so that the narration is actually when the incident is taking place. Effectively, the issues that the beta readers had, that I came to agree with, was an overly slow pace with almost no action. It was rather dry, and slow, and sad.
It was that way originally in order to get a sense of mystery about what happened, but I think I was able to keep that sense of mystery by offering just the right amount of information during the incident. The new prologue is more exciting, and pulls the reader in more, and it keeps some of the suspense alive for the climax of the novel.
Other than that, not a whole lot going on. I still wrote another 1,039 words on the second book, mostly part of a short action scene that builds into a more suspensful section. It was easy and fun to write, and helped me get that much farther into the story.
Usually, that would be all I write until Monday, as I take Saturdays and Sundays off from writing. But tomorrow is my work Saturday (I have one per month) and so I'll be able to get another 2,000 words done then as well. I'm excited about that, as the office is empty on Saturdays and I can really iron out my work and often times I write a lot more than just 2,000 words, just because of the solitary time. I can really make up for the 1,000 I had to spend on the rewrite and get a bit more ahead in book 2.
So, until tomorrow...
Bishop
2,039 Words Written
After a critique of my prologue for book 1, I spent 1,000 words today rewriting the entire thing. Originally, the prologue occured after a certain incident took place, but I moved it so that the narration is actually when the incident is taking place. Effectively, the issues that the beta readers had, that I came to agree with, was an overly slow pace with almost no action. It was rather dry, and slow, and sad.
It was that way originally in order to get a sense of mystery about what happened, but I think I was able to keep that sense of mystery by offering just the right amount of information during the incident. The new prologue is more exciting, and pulls the reader in more, and it keeps some of the suspense alive for the climax of the novel.
Other than that, not a whole lot going on. I still wrote another 1,039 words on the second book, mostly part of a short action scene that builds into a more suspensful section. It was easy and fun to write, and helped me get that much farther into the story.
Usually, that would be all I write until Monday, as I take Saturdays and Sundays off from writing. But tomorrow is my work Saturday (I have one per month) and so I'll be able to get another 2,000 words done then as well. I'm excited about that, as the office is empty on Saturdays and I can really iron out my work and often times I write a lot more than just 2,000 words, just because of the solitary time. I can really make up for the 1,000 I had to spend on the rewrite and get a bit more ahead in book 2.
So, until tomorrow...
Bishop
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Internet Today
Source: A Zillion Dollars Comics
This is something that has baffled me since it came into existence, and azilliondollarscomics.com has done a fantastic job illustrating it here. It's obviously something that came around simply for the reason of: It works. People click in this crap. I do it, and you probably do too.
From the eyes of a writer, it shows a waning society, one where every single factoid of life is turned into a sound byte or spun into a pseudo-terrifying/titillating/funny list. Unsurprisingly, I'm rarely shocked by the 10 things I'm supposed to be shocked by. In fact, more often than not, these articles are hastily researched (if researched at all) or are offering the findings of a mathematically insignificant portion of the population. Sometimes, they're outright lies, and other times they're just opinions. It's a degradation of the media, and we're stuck with nothing else to look at in every banner ad on the web.
That being said, look forward to my next blog post, "6 Ways Writing Is Sexier Than Stripping(You Wont Believe This!)"
Sensations 02/20/2014
2,363 words today.
I got done with my goal a little earlier than usual today, mostly because of the momentum I gained from last night's work. I powered through some of the slower sections and am really building into the "act 3" of my book.
I did have some issues today, but mostly they were in my own head. I think something that a lot of writers worry about, especially when writing fiction, is authenticity of feeling. I worry that my writing is not quite conveying the feeling that I want it to, the feeling that I'm feeling while I type the words. It goes along with the old cliche of "there's no words to describe it" which is a phrase to which ever writer says "challenge accepted."
I think I did alright, in conveying a character's overpowering sensation of shame followed by a coin flip of a sensation of great honor and joy. It seems so simple to condense that down into one little sentence, but in the prose I felt I was struggling with it. I suppose we'll see how it went in the end when someone other than me reads it. Here's hoping for the best!
Bishop
I got done with my goal a little earlier than usual today, mostly because of the momentum I gained from last night's work. I powered through some of the slower sections and am really building into the "act 3" of my book.
I did have some issues today, but mostly they were in my own head. I think something that a lot of writers worry about, especially when writing fiction, is authenticity of feeling. I worry that my writing is not quite conveying the feeling that I want it to, the feeling that I'm feeling while I type the words. It goes along with the old cliche of "there's no words to describe it" which is a phrase to which ever writer says "challenge accepted."
I think I did alright, in conveying a character's overpowering sensation of shame followed by a coin flip of a sensation of great honor and joy. It seems so simple to condense that down into one little sentence, but in the prose I felt I was struggling with it. I suppose we'll see how it went in the end when someone other than me reads it. Here's hoping for the best!
Bishop
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Plot Thickens! 02/19/2014
02/19/2014
2018 Words written today!
I'm about 1/3 the way through the second book, and things are starting to pick up in the plot. A lot of the first few chapters gave an air of mystery and built relationships on the crew--something I was really excited to write. But I'm relieved to be adding some more action to the mix now.
Things are starting to type themselves again, and I'm having to do little thinking before each scene. Just like in the last few chapters of book 1, I am really just letting the characters act themselves out in my mind. There's still a ways to go before the action hits hard, but the plot is thickening, and even while I'm writing it, that's exciting.
Anyway, I had some trouble getting to the goal today. I didn't go to work, I had a doctor's appointment, so I was a bit worried I'd not have the time, or I'd be too distracted to actually sit and get it done. This blog is the motivation that kept me on it, though. I know no one's reading it yet--it's far too new and I've done nothing to advertise it--but still I know I need to write the entry and hold myself responsible for it. Thanks, Internet, I owe you one!
Bishop
2018 Words written today!
I'm about 1/3 the way through the second book, and things are starting to pick up in the plot. A lot of the first few chapters gave an air of mystery and built relationships on the crew--something I was really excited to write. But I'm relieved to be adding some more action to the mix now.
Things are starting to type themselves again, and I'm having to do little thinking before each scene. Just like in the last few chapters of book 1, I am really just letting the characters act themselves out in my mind. There's still a ways to go before the action hits hard, but the plot is thickening, and even while I'm writing it, that's exciting.
Anyway, I had some trouble getting to the goal today. I didn't go to work, I had a doctor's appointment, so I was a bit worried I'd not have the time, or I'd be too distracted to actually sit and get it done. This blog is the motivation that kept me on it, though. I know no one's reading it yet--it's far too new and I've done nothing to advertise it--but still I know I need to write the entry and hold myself responsible for it. Thanks, Internet, I owe you one!
Bishop
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
And so it begins... 02/18/2014
Greetings interneters! My name is Bishop, and this is the first in my continued efforts to catalog my journey through writing. Shall we begin with introductions?
I have a B.A. in English from an honest-to-goodness university, with a concentration in British Literature. I am still unable to find a job with the title of "British Literaturer" so I currently work in the field of Information Technology, one of my other passions. This job is unique, in that it gave me a laptop and a ton of downtime. My coworkers spend this time shopping online or some-such, but I opt to spend it writing, as I did back when I was in college.
On December 6, 2013 I began a novel. This wasn't new to me, I'd begun a hundred novels and they are cataloged on my home computer in a file marked "OLD CRAP." Because there are no two more accurate words for those novels. None ever got to a finished point, and most were just horrendous in one way or the next. But on December 6, I started something new. Something original, in a world that I built inside my head.
Forty-three days later, I finished the novel. It clocked in at 105,000 words, by far the longest writing I'd done up until that point, and the quality was far better than all of my other attempts. It was still garbage, so I began the extensive editing process. I cleaned up the prose and am still working on it to this day.
But that's not the end of the tale. Literally, it was book 1 of a series, because I loved the characters so much that I wanted to know what else was going to happen to them. I am currently in the middle of book 2, and loving every minute of the misadventures of my characters more and more. I had found the secret.
No, there's no universal secret to writing, everyone has to find their own way. I had found mine in a goal. 2,000 words, everyday I work, without fail. So, Monday through Friday (And one Saturday a month) I use the downtime I have at work to write. 2,000 words, without fail. I keep track as I go and I don't stop until I'm done. If for some reason, work gets too busy or I am unable to complete my 2K-A-Day at work, I finish it at home.
I'm going to catalog--here on this blog--my continued efforts. Complete with how many words I write each day, I'll shoot a post onto this blog and hold myself accountable for what I work on.
Someday, you'll see my books on shelves.
PS: Today I wrote 2143 words.
Bishop
I have a B.A. in English from an honest-to-goodness university, with a concentration in British Literature. I am still unable to find a job with the title of "British Literaturer" so I currently work in the field of Information Technology, one of my other passions. This job is unique, in that it gave me a laptop and a ton of downtime. My coworkers spend this time shopping online or some-such, but I opt to spend it writing, as I did back when I was in college.
On December 6, 2013 I began a novel. This wasn't new to me, I'd begun a hundred novels and they are cataloged on my home computer in a file marked "OLD CRAP." Because there are no two more accurate words for those novels. None ever got to a finished point, and most were just horrendous in one way or the next. But on December 6, I started something new. Something original, in a world that I built inside my head.
Forty-three days later, I finished the novel. It clocked in at 105,000 words, by far the longest writing I'd done up until that point, and the quality was far better than all of my other attempts. It was still garbage, so I began the extensive editing process. I cleaned up the prose and am still working on it to this day.
But that's not the end of the tale. Literally, it was book 1 of a series, because I loved the characters so much that I wanted to know what else was going to happen to them. I am currently in the middle of book 2, and loving every minute of the misadventures of my characters more and more. I had found the secret.
No, there's no universal secret to writing, everyone has to find their own way. I had found mine in a goal. 2,000 words, everyday I work, without fail. So, Monday through Friday (And one Saturday a month) I use the downtime I have at work to write. 2,000 words, without fail. I keep track as I go and I don't stop until I'm done. If for some reason, work gets too busy or I am unable to complete my 2K-A-Day at work, I finish it at home.
I'm going to catalog--here on this blog--my continued efforts. Complete with how many words I write each day, I'll shoot a post onto this blog and hold myself accountable for what I work on.
Someday, you'll see my books on shelves.
PS: Today I wrote 2143 words.
Bishop
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