Finished First Project

Those of you that have finished your first project know what this feeling is like.  Whether this story gets published or not, there is so much pride and a sense of accomplishment that just comes with actually finishing.  That stark realization of, "I wrote a book.  I actually did it."  Like me, you've probably heard many people say that they were going to write a book, yet for you, it's no longer something that you just want to do, but something that you've done and want to continue to do.  As I was driving home the other day with the first copy of my semi finished product, only gone through one round of revisions and edits, it felt really good to have an actual printed version of what I had put so much time and effort in for these many months.  It was no longer just a theory, but it had volume.  I could touch it, flip the pages if I wanted to.  It gave me a small glimpse of what it would be like to see my project actually printed in its final form with the cover and the smell and everything else that comes with it.  There have been many things that I've learned during this project that is not something you can prepare yourself for by reading it in a book.  Don't get me wrong, I love reading and there are some excellent books out there that really help with character development, plot development, outlining the story, and everything else, but nothing quite like struggling through your own plot and character development and throwing away your old outline and re-outlining your original thoughts into a more cohesive story line.  For any of you that is toying with the idea of writing a book, I'd like to give you this one piece of advice.  Write because you enjoy writing.  Creating a world, telling a story, weaving in and out of themes.  Don't just do it for the end product, because you will find yourself easily discouraged.  It is a marathon, not a sprint, and as such you should not only pace yourself, but enjoy every part of the writing process.

My New Writing Partner

The one thing that can get pretty overwhelming at times when I am writing is just the fact that I am by myself a lot. It is necessary for the concentration I need to put into my writing but at times can become all out depressing. Well, this guy has been supporting me since yesterday and I have already written about 3,000 words on the secret project this morning. It has been nice just to have another warm body at my feet, and as it turns out, she is a remarkable listener.

Creating New Worlds

Not being bound by the rules and regulations of this world is one of the most appealing things to me about writing.  After I have sat with person after person in my counseling sessions and listened to the limitations and frustrations that have been placed on them in their lives, it is nice to think and dream about a place in which we could break free from all that holds us back.  The possibility of being able to break through the junk that holds us down in this world...it's hope.  Hope of a future, hope of a difference that can be made, hope of a better place.  There's something about reading and writing that breeds the imagination to work towards new possibilities like nothing else.  My kids and I were walking out of the book store the other day, and I was able to snap this picture of my youngest as we were walking out.  I have to admit, my first thought was to tell her to hurry up and get in the car, but I held my tongue because I was struck by how she was being drawn in by the story and the possibilities of what could be inside those pages.  It is so easy to forget the possibilities of building hopes and dreams when you allow yourself to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the daily activities of this world.  Stop, take a breath, read, dream, and hope.

Distractions

One of the most frustratingly useful forms of procrastination that there is, distractions.  It can take on many different forms and be used for different ends, but the one result that always come through, is that it keeps you from doing what you should.  My distraction of choice you ask?  An hour of my time can easily result in over 1,000 words written, but let me just check Twitter real quick.  Alright I have my laptop set up, my chai tea ready and my notes at my side...ooh, Pinterest.  Tumblr...Facebook...

We've all been there, and what makes it even more difficult is that I end up finding a lot of inspiring things on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. but 9 times out of 10 it is quite simply what we in the counseling world call an Avoidance Pattern.  I know, fancy huh.  Avoidance patterns are easy to understand because it's not some deep seeded pathological disorder.  It's something we all do.  It's something I'm doing at this very moment, writing on this blog instead of working on the #secretproject.  With that said, my job is to examine these patterns and point out what is truly being avoided and work towards either processing that with the client and helping them work to change this avoidance behavior to break through that barrier to the other side.  Now, that's all well and good when I put it into words, but well, we all know action is a different beast altogether.  So it's time for me to lay down on the proverbial couch and examine the insides...bare with me...this might get weird...actually, it will most likely get weird...honestly it's probably already there.  T = Therapist and P = Patient, here we go...

T: So Josh, time to examine.  Why is it that you are avoiding working on your project?
P: What?  I'm not avoiding working on my project, I absolutely love my project, why would I do something like that
T: True, I can see that you love it very much, yet you haven't worked on it in a week now, is there something wrong?
P: No nothing wrong, I just have a lot of stuff going on, ya know?
T: A lot going on, such as?
P: Oh, ya know...just stuff
T: Stuff that you love doing more than your project?

Truth is, even though I absolutely love my project, there are times that I need to walk away from it and let things just, simmer in the brain, but there are still other times in which I straight up avoid working on a project because of where I'm at in it, and the pivotal point of the scene I am writing.  Some people call this writer's block, and who knows, it might be.  For me though, it is more of an avoidance pattern than anything else.  Worry about the pivotal moment, so I put off writing it, justifying it by saying that I am wanting to get the scene just right, until the therapist side of me points out the truth...It's just a manuscript dummy, write it and move on.  Allow yourself to develop the story by writing through the block instead of being controlled by it.  The best thing for writer's block, in my experience, has been...drumroll please... more writing.

Allowing myself the freedom to write a horrible first draft, and letting the nature of revisions and dreaming and creativity take its place as they come.

An Inspirational Time

My two kids reading at bed time

I absolutely love spending time with my family.  There are many times that we go out and have fun, and sometimes we will stay in and cook and have fun, and sometimes we are just present.  The times in which nothing is being done, or planned, or discussed or figured out and we can just be.  Those seem to be the times I remember most.  This past week I had most of my family in town and needless to say, one of the few things you can't get done, is writing.  So I didn't get much writing done, but my family seems to bring out many more inspirational thoughts while they are here.  As I'm looking back over all these new thoughts and ideas that I had over the past week, it got me to thinking.  I am sure that there are many other people and places that others might experience inspiration for their writing.  What are some of the for sure places or people you go see or talk to for inspiration?
My definite one place that I usually go to is my kids.  I have been fortunate in having two of the most wonderfully curious and inquisitive kids I know.  I have to be honest here.  I used to get very annoyed with the question, "Why?" especially when it was asked over and over with no end in sight.  Now though, what used to be an exercise in frustation has become an opportunity for imagination.  The question of why do the leaves turn colors has turned into a grand story of the fae nation and the changing of the seasons.  I've come to learn that I don't have to go to some far off place for inspiration, it can be found right at my snack bar eating waffles.  After all, isn't that what writing is all about, creating new worlds and stories to experience.

Outline? What Outline?

My Workstation at Starbucks...yes, I'm the mean
guy hogging the couch all to himself

Most of my writings start out with an idea and a question and then they begin to develop from there.  After I write a while, I get a sense of the direction the story is going and the main plot and get some ideas of how I want to support this plot.  One thing that really helps me do this is outlining.  The important thing to remember about outlining it to use it as a guide and not a script. 

For instance, last night I looked at the outline that I had plotted for the chapter I was writing before I began.  Now that I have finished the chapter, I look back at my outline and notice the two arent even close to being similar.  What is written is so different than the outline that its almost comical.  I worried that I might should try to fit what was in the outline in the story somewhere, but then I remembered what the outline was for.  To guide the story along.  The outline is just a step in the long process of getting the story on paper.  Just like the first draft of the idea I had for the book, which quite honestly looks like a completely different project. 

Much encouragement to all you writers and aspiring authors out there.  Here's to hoping the story of your life develops way beyond an outline.  Happy Friday!

My quote of the day: "Focus, Josh! Focus!"

Writing Style...What is it?

I guess this is what I am trying to figure out at the moment honestly.  I am now almost 60,000 words into my first project and I have found that my style is different now at the 60,000 word mark than it was back at the beginning.  I knew this would happen but I am surprised at the vast difference in writing style as I continue. 

Something else that has surprised me is how much I am noticing other people's writing styles now that I have begun writing myself.  It's interesting to see how other's present their stories and develop them over time.  Is each character introduced and developed before the story is told or does the story itself develop the character?  I find myself doing both at time, but I am enjoying the latter more.

Well, there is something that I have come to understand and appreciate the more I write and that is the understanding of the need for edits, rewrites, revisions and outright deletions.  As painful as it sounds, and it is painful, it must happen.

My quote of the day: "Damn back story, why must you tempt me so!?"