For Christmas, I really wanted a Moleskine journal. I’m not sure anyone understood why because, well, it’s blank paper.  BUT, my mother came through and bought it for me – which I had an idea she would because she called me the other day and said, “So, if you were going to buy a journal for someone, would you buy the three pack of smaller ones or the one bigger one?”

I got the bigger one. ;-)

Why am I talking about this, you may ask? Until this point, I’ve done all brainstorming, writing, etc. on the computer. Last night was the first time I’d actually taken pen to paper to forumlate ideas. I’d been struggling because I knew I had some glaring plot holes and I couldn’t figure out how to fix them. Well, within 15 minutes I had all of them sewn up, just by writing it down, playing with different things, etc. It was so empowering!

So my suggestion to anyone who may be stuck is to write it out – not type it out. It really helped me, anyway!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Time to start thinking about those 2010 resolutions!

This is something that has been plaguing me lately.  Mostly, because I’ve hit that moment of panic where I think, “I’m spending hours on this…what if I’m awful?!”

So, yeah.  That’s where I’m at.  Do I think I suck really bad?  No, but am I talented?  No idea.  Does anyone really know?  I’m honestly writing my stories for pure entertainment, but if someone else decides they like them and wants to publish them, then I’ll be thrilled. 

However, as I’ve entered into the writing world and have started learning a lot about it, I’ve started putting pressure on myself.  I get nervous because I don’t feel like my stories are as clever as some, nor do I think my descriptions are as eloquently described as others.  But is that all there is?

Really, I just need to chill, but it does make me think – what is it really that makes someone good at this?  Is it the ability to create worlds, extensive language and vocabulary, voice, all of the above, a little bit of some, what?   

What if you are strong in one area, but severely deficient in another.  Are you completely out of luck?

*Insecure rant over – here’s hoping I can look back on this post and laugh while I’m on my way to pimp my book on Letterman*

I love me a book with some good sexual tension.  It’s an important piece of Vintage and I could really use some books with good examples of it.  You know…all in the name of research.

I want it to build to the point where you want to shake the book and scream, “Just DO something already!!!”  But then, I don’t want it to drag on so long that it’s just frustrating.  The happy balance.

I can’t stand when people are all up on each other two chapters in, but I also can’t stand a constant cat and mouse game.  So much to consider!

So, any suggestions?  Comments?  Just feel like saying, “Wud up?”

Side note, my child is so adorable when he wants something.  He looks up at you with those big blue peepers and says, “Pwwweeeesseee!”  Who could say no to that?

My writing has been a process.  I started out slow as Christmas, then I hit my writing stride and started pumping out words, ideas, etc.  Then – I stopped.

Argh!  I’m in my seventh chapter itch or whatever!  It’s not that I want to stop writing and move onto something else, really (though I do have flashes of that), it’s just that I know where I want to go, but I can’t decide how to get there. 

I’m pleased with the bones that I’ve laid down in the previous chapters (it’s a first draft, so its all crap, but the ideas make me happy and I know pretty much what I need to change for my second draft).  The problem lies in what the heck to do next! 

I open up my word document and just stare at it.  I might write a paragraph or two and then it’s like a deer staring into the headlights. 

Der.  No clue what to write.  I’m stizuck.

I guess this is that whole writers block thing, huh?  It’s just frustrating because I know where I want to take it, but the middle of this story is giving me fits!  I’m beginning to get flashes of ideas, so hopefully I’ll start working my way out of it.

So seventh chapter itch or slump or whatever – I’m in it.

It would make me happier if I could make it cool like Marilyn.

So, I just finished the fourth book in the Vampire Academy series.  I loved the range of emotions that I felt throughout it: suspense, tension, fear, happiness, sadness, one of those “holy crap” moments, etc.

Now, is this series without flaw?  No, of course not, but those emotions that the writer leads you to feel make a story great, in my opinon.  I think it’s one of the magical keys to leaving a reader wanting more.

So it got me thinking.  Will my story do that?  I know I don’t want it to be a total rollercoaster where the reader feels drained at the end of it, but will it have those bumps at the right times to hit the reader hard?  I have some things laid out in my head, but I hope that they translate on paper.

So basically, I’m rambling, but it was a reminder of the emotional element I want my readers to feel. :-)

My brain is farting out on me.  I need some different ways to describe someone smiling.  I’ve got grinned, corners tugged upward, you know, the basics, but I feel like I’m getting redundant and using a lot of cliches.  I’m on my first draft, so I’m not stressing about it right now, but I’d love to hear some ideas of how to describe a smiling person!

The Absolute Write November Blog Chain theme this month is to list your writers survival kit, of sorts.  Benjamin Solah passed it to me and so, here goes it!

Ok, let’s talk about the first thing: a computer.

Mine is dead and I haven’t had time to buy a new one, yet.  This has seriously hampered my writing, as you can imagine.  Mine meeting it’s beverage death couldn’t have come at a worse time, so I’m majorly behind in my NaNo manuscript.  I’ve been bringing my school lap top home when I can, but it is still different than having your own.  So…yeah.  A computer.

Second: time.

This one has also been tough for me.  I wear many hats (teacher, photographer, mom, writer, superstar), so time is limited.  I’ve tried to set aside the time after little man goes to sleep, but I get up every morning at 5:30 and have been falling asleep around 10:00 pm as a result.  That doesn’t really leave me much of a writing window.  I forced myself to stay up late last night and was finally able to make some good progress, so I think I’m going to have to just make myself sleep deprived for the rest of November if I want a prayer of winning.  We’ll see!

Now for the thing that I have a lot of: support.

I’m very lucky that my husband is supportive of my exploring this new venture.  He’s known I’ve enjoyed writing as long as we’ve been together and he’s pretty proud of what I’m creating.  I think everyone needs at least one cheerleader in their life if they are going to try their hand at this.  Thankfully, I have quite a few cheerleaders that keep me going when I feel like a giant dork and want to quit.  I think anyone reading this can relate to that moment where you tell yourself, “You suck, you need to quit.”  Having people in your corner to keep you going is pretty much essential.

Lastly: food.

I’m a snacker when I write.  I love having a plate of chips and dip, a bowl of popcorn, whatever beside me while I write.  Now, this may not be so great for the waistline, but whatever.  It keeps me happy!

Next up is: Angyl78

1. DavidZahir – http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/
2. shethinkstoomuch – http://shethinkstoomuch.wordpress.com
3. Lost Wanderer – http://lostwanderer5.blogspot.com/
4. aimeelaine – http://www.aimeelaine.com/
5. Ravencorinncarluk – http://raven.youareannoying.us/
6. Bsolah – http://www.benjaminsolah.com/blog/
7. Charlotte49ers – http://www.amandaplavich.com/
8. Angyl78 – http://jelyzabeth.wordpress.com/
9. truelyana – http://expressiveworld.com/
10. Claire Crossdale – http://theromanticqueryletter.blogspot.com/