They Did It, Not Me!

Hullo everyone. Legolas here with a thoughtful, rambled, somewhat discussion post.

So a few weeks ago, I went to a book signing for one of my favorite authors ever. Ever. And when I got up there to meet him, I actually had the nerve to ask, why he killed my feels at the end of one of his trilogies. His answer was so cliched and yet true. "I'm sorry, but they did it not me. It wasn't my ending to choose."

That's got me thinking lately about the writing phenomenon of  "They Did It, Not Me." It's interesting when you think about it, how often as writers we refer to our characters as real people. This used to confuse me back when I was a young twelve year-old writer, but lately I've really been able to see how true this is.

The more you get invested in your story, the more you write and develop it in your brain, and the more real your characters become to you. Right? Sometimes I've even had characters be the first thing that shows up. It's almost like we've got this psychic connection.

Such as my Pinterest board SKYLAR SAYS. When I met Skylar through a pin all I really know was two things. A) That she was blonde and she was part of a contemporary story, and B) That she loved converse shoes. But that alone was enough to give me a peek into her story. And as I pinned things I felt represented her, I've learned so much more about her story. She's one of the most vivid characters I've ever had, and I don't even know her full story yet.

Has this ever happened to you? When you've just been so emotionally and physically connected that you know things about them that you didn't know? That things show up and you just feel that it belongs with that protaganist? Hands down it's a wonderful feeling. That's writing at it's core. When it's not just telling your story, but feeling and knowing your story. It's more than words and it needs to be.

Which brings me to thinking about the "They Did It"  part. Once we know THEM and can begin to discover who they are without having to make things up, that's where it happens. For instance, I wrote a first draft and I produced a character that I loved. She was my baby and she character that brought out so much in my protaganist. And yet...she had to go. She needed to die. And I didn't give it a second thought. My friends protested loudly, but nope. I knew that was her story, and I was okay with that. It got the MC where I wanted her, and it just needed to happen. Yeah, I'm sad, especially since she's a marksmen herself, but it's her story, and it would be wrong otherwise. 

Okay, so what if you don't have that THEY part? What if you've never felt this inner connection? You're probably gonna need to find it, is my guess. So how do you go about this character discovery? Well there are many ways. I've heard lots of tips for these kinds of things and I'm just gonna mention a few.

Visualize It - This is my way! If you're a visual learner, chances are that's how you connect! Surf Tumblr or Pinterest for things you already know about your story. Create places to bunch them together and keep a stock. [hence why Pinterest is so great for writers] However you learn, is probably gonna be the best way to discover you character.

Think It - Go somewhere public and sit. Watch the people around you. Guess they're stories. Make some up! Imagine your character in their place. Would they react more like the shifty-eyed teenage boy in the corner over there? Or the shy girl? Who knows!

My dad and I used to drive by the same person walking to the same place at the same time each day. After a few weeks, we had his whole life story playing out that we could have written a book about him. Maybe we will!

Write It - So maybe you're not a visual learner. Maybe you need to pick a random and totally bizarre scenario and write a few different reactions to it. I did this once, and it was interesting to see what I came up with. Need a prompt?

• Your protagonist finds her/himself trapped during an Indiana Jones like mission. He or She is lowered by a rope to the ground and lands in a big pile of sticky goo. Write three scenarios in which your MC is afraid, annoyed, and curious.

• A giant squid just attacked your protag's cruise ship! Write three scenarios in which your character is terrified, wimpy and active(takes action).

• It's a sad day for your MC when the ex-love of his/her life starts to make moves on his/her archenemy to make him/her jealous. Write three scenarios in which your MC is feeling revengeful, bored and angry.

With that sad, I want to hear what you have to think! Tell me about your connections and how you find them? Do you think it's important? Let me know. And lastly, my challenge to you: Pick a character you don't feel connected too and DISCOVER THEM. Get to know they're personality. If you can't, they won't contribute to the story and they'll just be totally

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Originally Post HERE. 

What Archery Teaches Us

Admit it. Archers are so cool.. Like WAY cool. So I'm gonna do a little roundup and tell you about a few of my favorite Archers in literature! You've probably heard of them, maybe you're read or seen their own unique stories. And then, I'm gonna take a look at them from a writers perspective.

First up is Katniss from the Hunger Games. Are you really surprised? She kicks some serious butt. This girl knows what she wants and is passionate about it. She holds the things she loves close and protects it with the said passion. She's got a soul and not to mention she won a freaking gladiator match.

Second, we have Legolas from Lord of the Rings. Um, do I really need to say ANYTHING at this point? Nope. Didn't think so. 

Our third observation is Robin Hood from...well, Robin Hood. This guy is a legend. So many stories, movies, plays, re-enactments and stories have been done of his famous tales and adventures. (Like Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen) His efforts to bestow justice in a community where none exists. He's loyal to his people and his band, and is willing to do what is necessary, but on the side he has a romantic side. Gosh, darnit, he's pretty legit if I do say so myself.

Kudos must also be given to Princess Merida from Brave. First Disney princess anyway to break out of the Disney Princess icon. She's fierce and she knows what she wants. She'll fight for her freedom and she's pretty vocal about where the stands. But in the end she's still loyal to those she loves. She's a little fireball of independence with a pretty great aim.

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So yeah, just to name a few. But what exactly, can we learn from these great archers, and/or their skill sets? I'll tell you. Here are a few comparisons I've found:

#1) Writing isn't all Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo. Of course we all know that. Anyone can write, just like anyone could probably make the arrow leave the bow. But the real writers are the ones can perfect the craft. Those who learn how to do it just right and make it a skill, just like the archers that learn how to hit the bullseye  .

#2) In many cases with the above mentioned Archers, yes, they developed this skill, but they used it to defend themselves and the people they loved. They are using their skills to protect their beliefs and what they live for. For example, take Robin Hood, why was he an outlaw? Because he was fighting the wrong-doings that were made right by the corrupted leadership. He was helping because he knew it was the right thing to do. He was protecting the right. And I think writing can be a lot like that.

Sure, we all have genius imaginations. And some of us take action upon that to make a great story. But what I love to see in books, is when authors move beyond that. Beyond the imagination, to another level. Writing is usually at it's best when it portrays some belief or aspect of the human nature that you can connect with on a deeper basis. That's when it's .

#3) Writing can be pure fun. Take Merida for example. There is a scene in Brave where you see her galloping through the forest, as free as the wind, while practicing her archery at different set up targets. And what's the most obvious thing in that moment? Not that she's free of her duties, or an amazing archer, but that it's something she loves and is connected too. Writing and totally should be about it. It takes work, when the better you get, the funner it gets along with it! You can do so much, you can take your imagination to higher levels than you ever dreamer. It gets pretty legit.

So what is my point? A) Archers freaking rock. It's a legit skill and one that's totally fun to read about! and B) Archery is actually a lot like writing. Fancy that.

And with that, I will leave you now. But first, what connections I might have missed that you find in archery? Who are your favorite literary archers? Let me know down below! I'm off to do some target practice...

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Original Post made HERE.

They Said It, Not Me (1)

So, in the last post I talked about writing slumps. And I mentioned in the post, that one thing that helps you get out of one, or never get stuck in one, is to have supportive friends who can boost and encourage your creativity. It's totally one of the best solutions out there. But there's another thing that can motivate me.

Awesome Quotes. 

I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to quotes and funnies about writing that lift my spirits and keep me encouraged when it gets hard. So I'm going to share some with you. Because sometimes you don't need advice, just a little reminder to keep chugging. And basically, because them all and I can't paste a whole Pinboard on here, I'll come back every couple weeks with more. 

Way to keep it positive. I love the way this is put.

My knees hurt already. 

It's really hard to get that perspective sometimes. This is a great reminder.

*giggles* Hehe...okay

First, isn't this quote seriously eye-poppng? 

Second, Woot. All those grammar mistakes are worth something! 

This is a HUGE one for me. I love this tip. It's so easy as an amateur to get caught up in how amazing your writing is, but forcing yourself into a humble mindset like this, does wonders for development. 

And because we all need a little humor in our lives...

Okay. I'm gonna stop there before I paste my whole board onto a post. If you are looking for more, feel free to check out my BOARD. And with that inspiration get to it! Go write like the wind! 

The Dangers of Writing Slumps

My original post HERE. Edited to fit this blog.

What Exactly Is A Writing Slump?

A writing slump is a period of time - usually more than a week - where you don't want to write, or you can't bring yourself to write. Every time you try to make yourself write again, you just can't seem to pick up the story.

Now, in some cases this can be called writers block. But we're talking slump here. A step up from a lack of inspiration. In this case, to put it bluntly, it's laziness. For example, take this popular movie scene:

You probably know what I'm talking about here. Superheroes called to duty, spend hours being said heroes and then, bam, they crash in a schwarma shop for a break. However, they have a confession to make. After all that crazy hero schebang, they didn't want to go back to training and saving the world. They just wanted to sit there eating shawarma for the rest of time. Therein lies the problem. 

What's The Problem With Writing Slumps?

Let me get this straight. I have nothing against taking a short writing break to clear your head and get back in the right mood. But it's when you don't start writing again, that we hit trouble. Why? Because we simply aren't writing. Anything. We're relaxing and focusing on other things, slowly pushing writing to the back of our brain. And well, when we think about writing again, it's so much easier to push aside for another time.

And another..

And another...

I think it goes without saying from this point on. We don't want to get caught in a situation where we aren't writing because we don't feel like it. Cuz, if we never FEEL like it? We ain't never gonna write. And if we never write? Well down the drain go all your writerly hopes and aspirations. You can wave goodbye now. 

I'm talking from experience here, you do not want to be in a writing slump. For one thing, they are like a very bad habit. It grows super fast, and takes forever to break out of. Second, a part of you just feels gone. I admit this freely. I adore my characters however crazy they may be, and if I'm not writing at least somewhat regularly, I start to feel withdrawal. And it's not fun. At all. 

And going back to my definition, once you are in a writing slump, you won't WANT TO WRITE. I mean sure one side of your brain is all "I need to find out what happens to my characters next!" But the other side of your brain will be all. "It's so much Woooork. I'll do it later." So not wanting to, turns into can't bring yourself too, and that's when you turn into a quitter.

How Do I Avoid A Writing Slump?

or pull myself out of one?

The number one thing you're going to have to do if you are serious about staying out of these death traps, is Write. Force yourself to write. 

This is where you butt in, "But what about breaks!"

We do need breaks. But even if you're on a break for your most recent WIP, doesn't mean you have to stop writing. Write something new! Focus on a completely different genre. Have a secret project that is your guilty pleasure. Something you love. Something you can read without thinking how freaking hard writing is.

Breaking away from a slump is another matter though. In this case, I would surround yourself with your writing buds. People who you can relate to, who can encourage you. Positive peer pressure works wonders for the down-trodden soul.

You can also start small. Write a quick scene, or something related to your novel to get your brain back into the world you are focusing on. Brainstorm. If you keep a notebook full of notes, crack it open and read. Who knows what will inspire you. 

So it's up to you now. Draw the line between failure and success. Aim for the goal and shoot for the sky. No writing slumps can stop you! Go and write like the wind! You got this in the bag.

Jumping Back In

This past week I've started printing out and reading through my first draft of my most recent finished work. It's been about roughly four months since the draft was completed. When I first finished it, I was all relief that I had finished this hunky thing that had been following me around for two years. But the other side of me was all, OH MY GOSH, YOU FINISHED A BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are so many mixed feels that come with finishing that first draft and being able to set it down with the words The End written on.

And yet, after I got over the initial excitement, the first thing I thought was. "Oh crap. Now comes the revising." I'm going to be honest here. Revising scares me like heck. It's that whole LOVE IT, HATE IT relationship.

On the one hand, I'm thrilled that I can finally make my book that book I want it to be. After four months of thinking about it, I finally know how to take this ball clay and shape it into something worth loving.

But then we've got the fact that it's like SO FREAKING HARD to edit! Cutting lines, find the right words, scribbling out half of your novel, sometimes even cutting characters...it's kind of disheartening! And the thought of going down that road and repeating the process oh, like A MILLION times isn't exactly reassuring.

So I guess, for me, the challenge is finding the right balance between the excitement and the depression of jumping back into your novel. I don't even know if there is one! But I guess, just facing the fact that it's going to be hard and that I'm going to come face to face with my terrible writing, and then running on all the excitement is what's gonna get me through.

Which means there is only one thing left to do; JUMP RIGHT IN.

Well this has been working really well.....

So. As is fairly obvious I haven't in about 6 months. Obviously I can't keep up with two writing blogs eh? But. I'm trying to make writing more of a priority for me and therefore hopefully this blog will get more use and I will actually be able to start posting more about writing and things I've learned. Then I can make it publicly advertised. Although..I do love talking to a non-existent audience. *secret giggle*

Tehe. We shall see. But for now...KEEP WRITING.

Count Down To Crazy

Holy cow! It's already October. I don't know where my time is flying. November is just around the corner and that means.....

It's that time of month where a bajillion writers gather to cram out a 50,000 word novel in a moth. YAY for National Novel Writing Month! I totally love this program. I heard about it in 2010 for the first time a few days into the session. Needless to say, I didn't start because HELLO, what was I going to be writing? Okay moving on, so next year I was totally determined to do it. So I did. I grabbed a random idea from my Idea Bank, one that was from a genre I didn't even know how to write, wrote my butt off and ended up this:

It was totally one of the coolest things that I've done. I'm the kind of person who can do this and just WRITE my heart out -as long as the story is right- and compile a huge book. So it was a blast. At least in the sense that I WROTE A FREAKING SCI-FI NOVEL AND I LIKE NEVER READ OR WRITE SCI-FI! *hyperventilating happy dance*

Okay, so I love the concept of Nanowrimo and that fact that it helped me push and get my first DRAFT finished. Cuz, trust me, I've got a lot of UNFINISHED ones on the shelf. I'm already getting into the swing of things and planning my new hit. I"m REALLY excited about this book. I've been playing with it alot in the past couple months and just planning things as basic as a Power Balance (YES THERE IS MAGIC!) is so much fun.

But honestly I'm hitting the SAME road block I hit last year. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN MY BOOK? I mean I know like two scenes a few flimsy plo thappenings, but the one thing that is still veiled is ....Who are you Villain? What is your Goal? Characters are totally irritating sometimes. Trust me, I have dealt with some SASSY people in my brain.

Sometimes I try to force them to tell me what is going to happen and about themselves. But that just makes my brain hurt. Other times I just wait till they come to me. But that can take a long time! So I really don't have an honestly good solution to this problem.

How do you connect to your characters? Do you run through exercises  A list of questions? Take a field trip? Spill the Beans - I mean, share the beans- I'd love to get some tips.....

.........from my currently non-existent audience! ;)