Dragons, Dirt & Bones

Struggling Wordcount

2011-03-10T09:53:00.004-07:00

So I planned out a wordcount pace at the beginning of the semester so I could reach 50,000 words by the end of the semester without any major last minute writing-binges. Not having a last minute writing-binge was really important in my initial planning, because going on binges like that (for me) are neither enjoyable nor healthy and don't usually result in anything but garbage.

Honestly I think if I tried to run 3 miles out of the blue it would result in the same unpleasant experience. The same is for randomly writing significantly more than usual. Sure, I could do it if I really tried, but I would most likely half kill myself in the process. Writing large amounts in one sitting is something I want to work towards, definitely, but not something I can develop in one sitting!

One of the things that has been bothering me lately is a running theme in writing discussions I've been exposed to. I keep hearing how much work writing is. I've been feeling impatient as Brandon talks about how hard writing has to be, and how much writing you have to do, and I sit there thinking to myself, "Well, let's stop talking about it if it's so terrible! Let's work on writing!"

Another thing that has been bugging me is hearing a few authors talk about their workdays, and mention that they "don't seek out entertainment, because writing is an entertainment in itself." What if writing isn't enough entertainment for me? Does that mean I'll never ever become a writer? Am I condemned to fail in my career goals simply because I have other hobbies too?

I bring up the wordcount schedule because as the semester has drawn on, I've been falling behind. I had to push my schedule back a week, and while I'll still scheduled to finish on time, I dread the possibility of a last minute binge.

What are your writing habits? What do you do to keep yourself on schedule? And do you have hobbies other than writing?

Just Write

2011-03-08T15:34:00.006-07:00

I was glancing over some past entries and recalled my challenge over the summer of writing my Etol Arkhan book. It never really got off the ground, even though I wrote about 15,000 words by the end of summer.

I feel that, while I tried to write, I didn't really challenge myself enough. Being in Brandon Sanderson's class, having to write for a writing group, and writing to end up with 50,000 words by the end of the semester is very different. It's more fulfilling, somehow, even though I'm at a slower pace than the 1.6k I was trying to do over the summer.

Witch Hunter feels like it has a much more cohesive plot and is better all around.

Maybe it's because I work better when I'm busier, maybe it's because I've learned more. Maybe it's because I really like my writing group, or that I didn't try doing sci-fi again.

Honestly I don't know the right answer, but I feel that the biggest thing that has helped me write so far has been to, well, write. Really write. No outlines for procrastination. Just hitting it head on and trying to write a complete novel.

I love writing.

Plot Designs

2011-02-10T15:50:00.001-07:00

In brainstorming new ides for the novel I'll be working on in my creative writing class, I started blotting out a basic plot line. Many of my projects fizzle out because they have no actual plot to keep them together. I end up writing bits and pieces that are so disjointed and nonsensical that I often ditch the project.

Sanderson commented in class that a good way to form plots if we are having trouble is to look at movies we like, break down the plot to its basic skeleton, and flesh it with our own.

I have often heard it said there are only a few, select storylines. Things like "The Hero's Journey" and other story types that have persisted through time. Star Wars and Eragon, and maybe even Harry Potter, for example, follow the same plot line: Kid from humble origins, old guy is a teacher, kid discovers he is special, kid faces trials (vague because I am lazy), kid's teacher dies, kid faces evil.

Someone else could summarize it much better and get technical and break it down into acts, or draw that funny squiggly line with a climax--but there's my very basic overview. You get the idea.

I decided, as an exercise, to break down the movie Titan AE into basic outline that would be helpful for me. I didn't follow any theories of storytelling or terminology, just wrote up what I remembered as the story (in a more detailed way than my outline above).

(I was going to post it but have since lost it. :\ )

BUT in the end this helped me springboard into my own plot. I launched myself into writing something along the things I outlined. A month and 12,000 words later, it's evolved into its own story. The characters don't seem like the ripoffs from video games they are! Or, at least, not as much as before. I'm working on it!

2011

2011-01-07T15:31:00.003-07:00

Perhaps a New Year's Resolution for me should be to update my writing blog more often. :)

With Fall semester and an ENGL218 class behind me, I am now enrolled in Brandon Sanderson's ENGL318 class and quite excited. This year we are assigned to submit 1k each week to our writing group and by the end of the semester, have a 50k novel (or 50k's worth of fiction writing). Needless to say I am a little worried, because I was only able to crank out 15k for QuaNoWriMo in July.

I might like to blog about Sanderson's lectures. This week he made a few good points about writing groups that made me rethink how I was running my Quark writing group:

1. be descriptive, not prescriptive in your critiques,
2. help them make the best kind of book they want to write,
3. receive critiques in silence,
4. do not grow defensive of your book.

I think I have established 3 and 4 very well, but when he mentioned "help them make the best kind of book they want to write" I sort of choked in my handwriting and had a moment of why didn't I think of that before...!?

So I will want to change things around a bit this semester. I do not know how the Quark writing group will work out now that I am involved in 318. We'll see!

Working Things Out

2010-12-07T18:15:00.006-07:00

Whoa boy, it's been a while. I think I blacked out a few months back or something.

The Day with Dan Wells went wonderfully. I feel that we had a very valuable critique session. Hopefully, we can do more activities with other authors as well. I know I had more to say about it initially, but it's been months.

I had hoped this semester I would be able to get some of my own writing done, or at least work on personal projects for creative writing assignments. Instead, however, we were not allowed to write science fiction or fantasy, so I was sort of thrown completely off my feet with thinking of a new, literary fiction project.

It went well, though went a little deep into my own childhood and issues, so for a while after I was emotionally raw. Sort of like throwing up--got a lot of stuff out, felt better but shaky afterward. I really enjoyed exploring other genres.

Dan Wells mentioned at our group meeting that before he was writing horror, he had tried out a lot of different genres first before he found a spot where he fit. Over the months this has been crossing my mind. Perhaps science fiction and fantasy aren't for me? We'll see--plenty of time to try different things out!

Why do you like the genre you write?

Perseverance

2010-09-29T09:00:00.003-06:00

So yesterday I found out that I can get to my University's campus from my apartment in about 5 minutes, if I run until I'm wheezing.

Why was I running? Well, I sort of missed the bus, which, due to the conspiracy of bus drivers, comes slightly earlier on the days when I'm running late.

Running the writing group has been a learning experience and I am enjoying it. I haven't had much time to write my own stories to be submitted, but I would so much rather have what I am getting--tons of submissions from people who are coming week after week.

We were going to be doing an activity with Dan Wells this last weekend but because of some scheduling problems it had to be postponed. I'm really, really looking forward to it and I'm doing everything in my power to make it happen. I absolutely loved I Am Not a Serial Killer and am looking forward to his next book, Mr. Monster, which came out this week I believe.

In other news, I am making an effort to attend some of the The Leading Edge (BYU's sci-fi/fantasy magazine) meetings as an editor wading through the slushpile. It felt nice, actually, to read a story and write my critiques privately instead of prepare them for a group discussion.

I will have to work on some changes for the writing group, including altered meeting times and more moderation from me. All will come in time. It's weird being in a leadership position--I'm the same person, but now everything that goes wrong is my fault.

School time

2010-09-02T09:41:00.008-06:00

School has started again. I always find myself forgetting just how much work moving and school can be!

I am taking, however, a creative writing class. So I will be writing, at least to a certain extent. Sadly, that means my graphic novel project will be postponed for now. In my spare time, I think, I will still work on some character designs, but other than that...sigh.

As much as I want the Quark writing group to grow this semester, I worry that it will grow too large for our purposes. I am still working on ironing out a set meeting time and place, and due to some recent Quark developments our first meeting may have to be delayed.

My creative writing class is requiring that we keep a journal for our story ideas throughout the semester, which is something I already do but not as often as we will be required to do. I like what onelowerlight has been doing - posting ideas from old idea journals, so I may be doing that throughout the semester.

Something that has been bugging me--how do you get yourself to keep writing? When so many other things are going on, how do you find the time to fit it in?

2010-08-10T19:56:00.005-06:00

Quanowrimo finished a bit ago, and I reached my backup goal of getting to 15k. It's surprising how much vacation can take the will to work out of you! :)

When I'm back at school, I am unsure whether or not my writing will increase or decrease. We'll see how it ends up going! Good news: there will be another summer. Hopefully.

Continuing the work

2010-07-21T12:10:00.007-06:00

Little has changed since my last post. I've been continuing to work on our Quanowrimo effort. I was eventually able to write the daily goal of 1.6k in a day, but went downhill from there.

The most important goal of this month was to establish a habit of writing a bit each day, whether it be as few as 100 words. I of course have been trying to write much more than that, and most days I have. But I'm really just proud that I've been writing every day for three weeks. :)

Caught On the Little Things

2010-07-02T21:51:00.008-06:00

Whew I didn't mean to let the weeks slip by so much. :)

It is now July, the month that myself and a few others in Quark have decided to take the challenge of the (normally November) National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo). 50k words in 30ish days, averaging about 1.6k a day. It is now day 2, and I've barely passed the 1k mark.

So, not the most terrific start.

Each day I discover a little more how naive I am about so many things. Take writing 1.6k words in a day for instance--piece of cake, I imagined.

But then when the day came the job happened, and video games, and that thing they call food, and relationships, and so and so forth. Then it was 10pm and I had about 200 words written down.

Dang.

I feel that I am often stopped by the little things in the story. What's the shape of this room? What does it look like? What is the function of the crates in the warehouse? Does it have any connection to current judiciary powers? Often I don't even think that the things I wonder about have any importance in the scene at hand, but there they still are, nagging at me, begging to be reasoned out before I continue writing.

Perhaps I'll be able to write more each day as I keep working at it. I did eventually get to about 700 words my first day. Let's hope I can improve that today, in what little time there is left.

Comic Books

2010-06-10T08:29:00.013-06:00

It's about time for another post. I've been busy with wrapping up this Spring Term but have caught a few minutes now and then to start working on the actual writing of Etol Arkhan. But I find myself hesitating when writing because I start hating the scene every time I pick up the pen! I know that it's normal for some writers to begin to hate what they are writing about 3/4 through, but I'm about halfway through the third scene! Should I just plow on through and fix it up in a second draft? Oi.

Perhaps another thing that has been preventing me from frequent writing is my renewed interest in art. I find myself switching between writing and art in bursts, and it has always been an extraordinarily frustrating thing because I cannot physically write and draw at the same time. This brings me to the topic of comic books and graphic novels.

I never grew up reading comic books because I was never exposed to them, and to be honest I never really liked the superheroes (because I didn't think comic books were anything else). Characters like Superman and Batman never caught my fancy. I read a few Japanese manga series but the only one I really liked (and still love) was Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa.

Then a few years ago I was watching the first Hellboy movie, and the funny thing is that it wasn't the movie that interested me as much as the comic book samples shown during the commercial break. After some research online I went to my local comic book store and bought the first volume, Seed of Destruction. And quick as that I fell in love!

I have thought for a long time that the art of comics is the perfect fusion of art and writing, but I never wanted to be a manga artist. And until Mike Mignola's Hellboy opened my eyes to the world of non-Japanese comic books and graphic novels, I never recognized that much more appealing idea.

I've tried different comic experiments before but never seriously, and never successfully. And the other day when reading Jason Brubaker's reMIND blog I found some helpful posts that made me facepalm because of things I never really realized but were so...obvious. The most important one was the advice to find a story that you love and feel passionate about before you begin your graphic novel. Duh! And yet I have been putting so much effort lately in "killing my darlings" and detaching myself emotionally from a story in an effort to make it better that I was ignoring that I also need to love the story enough to be motivated to finish it. A tricky balance, I suppose.

So, Etol Arkhan has slowed down a little more than usual as I have been digging up an old story that I've considered one of my "darlings." But it has a solid beginning, middle, and end that I like, and that's more than Etol Arkhan.

Cliches

2010-05-25T11:33:00.017-06:00

I skipped a week of blogging since nothing much had changed the week before last. I have been slowly finishing up the outline and done some minor worldbuilding. I've found that I get the most work done during class or church (perhaps not the best habit!). But what I get done is not much.

I am still struggling with the climax for Etol Arkhan. I've never had such a problem--most of my other stories have been centered around some climax which in some cases was the reason I began writing the story, but not with Etol. I made characters, a setting, and a basic premise...and then the road sort of cuts off. I don't think it's because it's a poor premise or anything, but I just keep hitting a mental block.

So, another question about climaxes: how does one avoid the rooftop showdown between protagonist and antagonist in the rain? How does one avoid the cliches? What are some steps to take when your story starts going down those familiar paths, because sometimes it just seems to fit--but you know it's probably going to be seen as a big fat cliche?

Timeline

2010-05-09T10:29:00.005-06:00

I feel like a broken record repeating "I haven't quite started yet" but the outline is still not yet finished. I feel that I am slowly getting used to my new schedule, though often I'm so tired after classes or work that I just plop down and play video games instead of writing.

The book is in my thoughts, though. I bring around my notebook with me to work on the outline when I can, and to write down instantaneous inspirations. Where I am right now is hammering out the climax and end, as well as organizing some subplots into the mix.

This feels like a dumb question, but right now I am wondering about whether a good climax can be a more emotional one, where the main conflict is solved by a change of heart or mindset of the main character, rather than some sort of showdown with a physical enemy. I suppose I want to ask, how do climaxes work? What is it about them that makes them so important to the story? And how does one go about insuring that the climax works for the story?

Characters

2010-05-01T11:00:00.011-06:00

This week of moving and school has definitely been more stressful and time consuming than I thought it would be. It feels more like several weeks than just one, but at the same time it has gone by very quickly.

Part of me had hoped I would have a job that would allow me to work on some writing, but that is definitely not the case. Going to work feels like a trance sometimes, and all non-work related brain functions seem to shut down while I'm on the clock. When I get home I'm either trying to figure out this thing called "food" or working on "homework." Then I collapse into bed. So, you can probably guess how successful I've been with my writing goals.

The outline is not yet finished. My next roadblock is characters. I've spent so much time developing the main character in Etol Arkhan (heck, her name is the title) that when I realize I need more in the plotline I have trouble picturing them in my head. This issue has made me realize that I may have been a little bit too focused on the central character, leaving the others flat.

Characters: do you outline them and try to develop them? Or do they come to life once you start writing? I think the latter might be the case, so I'll probably plow ahead with my outline, adding some character depth, worrying about developing them further once I'm writing.

Let Summer Projects Begin

2010-04-20T21:21:00.012-06:00

I wanted to pace myself with posts, but my how this week has flown! I have completed my finals for this Winter Semester and am now free for a few days before moving into another apartment. Tomorrow is also my first day of work for a new job.

During finals I wanted to complete a rough outline of my summer project, which I'll call Etol Arkhan for now, but in the end I was too busy to complete much of anything. I am about halfway through but struggling ironing out a plot. That sounds terrible. I have a vague idea of where I want things to go, but I am just having a hard time putting it down on the paper. Regardless, I think I will begin trying to write 500 words a day starting tomorrow, or Thursday. I might put it off until after I move. I am debating whether I should finish this outline before continuing to write.

Outlines have never been my thing, but I frequently get stuck when just discovery writing. How much planning is involved before one dives in on a project? Is it something I just have to decide? Should I stop myself from worldbuilding too much and simply let the story create the world around itself? Does the same go for characters? These are the questions I wonder as I continue to outline Etol Arkhan.

Word Count Goals

2010-04-12T15:01:00.004-06:00

Surprising as it is, I don't think I've ever made any specific writing goals before. I never started a project with an idea of landmarks or a deadline when it would be done. So when onelowerlight of One Thousand And One Parsecs asked me when the deadline of one of my projects was, I was at a loss for words. After talking to him, I've begun to think that my writing may benefit from having a deadline.

I've only recently begun to think in terms of words instead of pages, and I still don't think my brain has completely switched. But I want to do a daily word count starting in the summer. My goal is to get up to 50,000 words by the end of August. My daily goal is to write about 500 words per day. Baby steps. I'd like to finish the book by then, but we'll see how it turns out at the end of August. I have no idea how long this book I have in mind will take, or how long it will be. But I'm giving myself a lot of leeway--it's my first (hopefully! I don't want it to be my only book) book, after all!

How does one choose how long a book should be? Is is preplanned, or does it just happen? I ask these questions, but know that every author most likely goes about it very differently. But I'd like to know how some people do it, to get an idea if I'm even in an acceptable frame of thinking.

I will most likely start the daily word count quota starting later this month, once finals are over with. Right now I am going about making a general outline, since so far I've been free writing but been encountering a lot of problems.

Welcome!

2010-04-11T00:07:00.002-06:00

Alright. Here we go. I'll be short and sweet.

This is Dragons, Dirt & Bones, the writing blog of an aspiring writer attending Brigham Young University in Utah. I am an Anthropology major with an Archaeology emphasis - though not to be confused with Paleontology, which the title of this blog may suggest! I also hope to complete an Editing minor.

I am the upcoming writing VP for BYU's Quark Club, and I am not afraid to admit that I feel woefully unprepared. But, well, I'll figure it out I suppose! It'll definitely be something to kick my butt into gear and get me to write regularly and work with a writing group.

I've never written a writing blog (or a public one, for that matter!), nor have I read any extensively, so this will be an interesting experiment. DD&B has been born to both document my journey on the way to becoming a writer and share that with those who care to read, as well as to help me in my effort to write regularly and consistently. I would also like to promote a general discussion about writing for those who care to read and respond. Not much else.

Professional writing has been a goal of mine since high school. On a particular day I looked at all my notebooks that I had carried over the years and realized that I had been writing for quite a while. And quite suddenly it came upon me that people write for a living. And I decided that was what I wanted to do.

A year at college has certainly changed my outlook on a lot of things, not excluding professional writing. I know that to make it, I can't sit around just thinking about writing. I need to do it. I will end on that note, and say, to whoever you are: thank you for stopping by and reading the blog of this fledgling writer.