A Writer's Challenge

I know I haven't posted anything in quite sometime as I found myself lost in transition I guess you can say with work picking up because of graduation. Going to the gym with a friend and I also joined a locate writer's group that other friend introduced me too.

I've had quite a lot of things to juggle lately but I noticed more and more that despite all the wonderful advice from my fellow writers I still couldn't find the inspiration I was looking for and the creative flow was stopped a by a dam.

Everyone around was either typing away furiously on their laptops knowing what they need and had all the pieces to the puzzles while here I am grasping at straws barely getting anything at all.

Other then writing in my agenda how the day went or something nothing at all. I was trying to see the small victories at least I was writing something even if it wasn't creative.

So since I couldn't sit down and write anything creative, I decided two things: to watch anime and to get a lot of reading done during this period.

I started reading more about the writing process and what works best for writers when they are writing. Two things jumped out at me: to write all of my ideas down no matter how small and the other is that I didn't have much of writing process, if I did wasn't consciously aware of it.

It also didn't help that I was consistently getting distraction by my family when I was sitting down to try to get something on the blank screen. When frustration was at it's peak, I am done fight everyone and even myself. And I sat done to really mediate on the situation.

I had to work things out for myself. I realized then that I was comparing myself to my other fellow writers and was even jealous of a few of them because they know what they wanted and how they were going to do it.

It's the reason why I keep hitting a wall so every time any frustration, irritation or annoyance and oh yes even jealousy. I had to remember myself everyone is different in the way they work.

And they inspired me to find my writing process and really play attention to what works best for me. Once I lock that way of think it seem that things became much more easier for me to handle. I didn't beat myself up for not being productive. I just took that time to absorb as much information that I could to have some sort of foundation to make my writing easier.

I am doing plenty of reading now which really helps with my writing as it helps to expand my vocabulary as well as helps me to give constructive feedback to my fellow writers at the group session.

I really had to shut out of the outside distraction to be even able to write just my ideas down on paper once that happened I was able to expand on the each time I wrote.

Now I've gotten into the habit of doing that, I've had a breakthrough with my writing. I've written about half a page for the second book for The Beastly Covenant but for the second trilogy those I am still doing research on. I only got about a paragraph worth of beginning though. I am not sure where I am going with this but I wanted it to organic as possible I don't want to force anything.

So yes dear friends all writers go through the same dread blocks that I was going through but I got tell you hiatus aren't bad because you can get burnt out after a big project like I did.

I needed that break but when you are ready to get back in the game and you find that you've got nothing that is the block I am talking about.

The best thing that worked for me when I was in that place was to follow the advice I read in the a book. Write all your story ideas down no matter how big or small it is write it down. Keep the notebook handle where  you go or if you can record things on your phone do it that way. Just so that your in that place where the ideas are flowing and that will help with all the rest. Good luck!

New Projects In Process (PIP)

I have started working on the second book in a trilogy although it took me a while to get up from the drought that I experienced since my first book was published in Feb 2012.

Better is the book publishes with mistakes than the polished book that just sit on your computer collecting cyber dust. After two edition later my first book is where I want it to be.

But this second book in the series is proving to be a bit of challenge which I don't mind all that much since each project is a opportunity to learn, grow and evolve as a writer.

I have of late join a writer's group which has really helped in opening up endless possibilities for me. It has been a godsend since I need constructive feedback from others how else came you improve if you don't have others looking over your work.

This is a perfect place from me to voice my opinions and I won't be squashed for them. I do have a challenge when it comes to reading my work out-loud due to past experience during my school years. But in this environment I feel that I can do it with out the scoffing off others.

I am still in the gathering information stages of this second book, I don't even have a title of it yet so I am still taking notes here and there.

Lately, I haven't been able to come up with much since I haven't been able to go to the last couple of meetings. The well of creativity dried up on me but I have decided that I am going to make the effort to make it every two weeks to the meetings.

I am going to challenge myself to write this book in one years time and have it ready to be published in Feb 2016 at least that is the plan for right now but it can change if things progress smoothly.

Keep my fingers crossed.

What To Write When You Don’t Know What To Write?

We, writers, get hit with this question a lot of times. We are staring at a blank screen or down at a sheet of paper the words that were there one minute ago flowing so nicely so effortlessly but now are gone within a blink of an eye. That’s because your expectation for those words were high at which point you decided that they weren’t good enough and you dismissed them, yes you dismissed them.

Now don’t go beating yourself up over this just acknowledged the fact that your expectations were high for those words that had yet to be put on the page. So just acknowledge that you are doing this, that you are doing this because now you have the awareness to change that habit.

So instead of having any sort of expectation for these words that are flowing from the Divine Inspiration, just let them be words simple words with nothing attached to them. Because often times when our standards are too high, the intern afflict ourselves with the dreaded Writer’s Block.

I learned a great deal while reading Jeff Vandermeer’s Wonderbook, the best things that came from this book so far has been the section about Writer’s Block. There are two things I got from reading the section, first was to change your perception of Writer’s Block to the actual blocks with letter, like the picture. And secondly is to distract yourself from that writing issue at hand. Through distracting yourself, you leave yourself open for the Divine to inspire you without hinders from anything or anyone.

Just remember to TAKE ACTION and write down whatever comes to your mind no matter how silly it may seem to you at the time. Suspend all judgment and attachment to the words that come through and just write them down or type them down if you are at your computer. 

Letter Blocks *wink wink*

I’ve had my battles with Writer’s Block over the years when I started to take up writing and for me it won’t be days or weeks for me it would turn into month and even years. The stories sitting in a notebook on my desk or sitting in my computer folder collecting cyber dust, begrudging me that I hadn’t complete them. But since reading this book, I haven’t finished it yet but it’s amazing how years of battling with Writer’s Block it all changes within a matter of a couple of pages from this book.

Even before sitting down to type this post up, I started to wonder what I was going to write about today. What knowledge that I have that no one else has? What can I give you, the reader that no one else has given them before? That’s the when the title came to me, so instead of judging and attaching any meaning to it, I let the words flow and here I am doing something I love and following the whisper of my heart to type just the words that need to be heard with zero attachment or judgment.

Freedom for Writing

Started the day the just right as I was able to get up somewhat early. I am still a bit exhausted but thanks to my protein shake I've got the energy I need to get my things done. Good News! Yesterday, I've registered for a free creative weeks course that last for seven weeks and I plan to take again in June. I am going to take every opportunity that I am given to improve my writing. I'll use the course to complete The Masquerade I am working on. Everything happens for a reason and I am glad that I took action with little hesitation on my part. I've only started lately to set intentions and I am glad that I've started because now I am seeing how useful they really are. Somehow those simply words 'I intend...' get things going a lot faster and without those words they is simply no motivation at all. Of course that is what I think. 

Goals of the Week

1. Focus on getting my manuscript polished
   
2. Complete the writing project: The Masquerade