Posts Tagged ‘how to write’

Agh. So I got the flu. In August. What’s up with that?

And you’d think (and you’d be wrong) that I would use that time to sit at home, curled up in bed, plotting literary masterpieces.

Instead, I went to work.

What’s up with that?

Well, everyone has the flu. Seriously, it made the rounds of the town in less than a week. It lasted about 24-36 hours, made you feel quoozy and then it went away. But, I still went to work.

So I have a wonderful work ethic. Nothing comes before work, no disease/surgery/knee dislocation is strong enough to keep me from my work.

Now, why can’t I apply that same work ethic to writing? Is it because I consider it to be a hobby? A part-time job?

Both, actually.

Which is too bad, because until I change my mindset about writing and how important it is, I won’t be pushing out 4-5 books a year. I won’t finish the 4 manuscripts I’ve got sitting on my hard drive.

So, slap me upside the head, and help me change my way of thinking.

writing. is. important.

there.

=)

carrie

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So, I decided to try my hand at writing a YA. Y? No idea. One of the ladies in my crit group writes YA, and I love how she gets to use her humor. So, there you have it.

Except…..it’s not that easy. I mentioned Arnold Schwarzenegger in my first chapter. Do kids these days know who he is? What about Michael Jordan? Do they use the word dweeb? Geek? Does your average 12 year old have his own cellphone?

Now I’m going to have to research. Darnit. My kid is 24 (too old) grandkids are too young (4 and under).

If you’re in the restaurant one day with a twelve year old boy, and you see the waitress staring at you and writing copious notes?

Don’t panic, she’s not a stalker.

She’s a new YA writer.

=)

carrie

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We’ve all seen the publicity shots of famous authors. Nora Roberts is always dressed as a class act. The photos of an RWA conference show people dressed in business suits, high heels and pearls. But…what does an actual writing writer who’s writing right at this moment wear?

I’ll tell you what *I* wear. Anything elastic waisted and cuddly. At this particular moment I have on sweat socks, blue fleece pants with little Frosty the Snow Man’s on them, a 3XL men’s gray fleece sweatshirt and well…comfy undies. So I’m not going to be America’s Next Top Model, but hey, I’m comfy.

So what, you say, what does that have to do with a hill of beans?

Not much to do with beans, but a lot to do with distraction. If I was wearing a pearl necklace with my ensemble, I might be spending more time running my fingers up and down the pearls than up and down my QWERTY…..I might have to re-adjust my thong a few times, and squirm in my seat (ok, toomuchinformation!) rather than just plop down and start to write.

For me, I need writing with no distractions. No music, no cats dancing in front of my monitor, no television blaring in the background. I write especially well between 2-3am. Now no two writers are the same by any means! But go ahead and try it some time….put on those comfies, turn off the blare, sit yourself down and let your brain kick in.

Tomorrow’s ensemble will be the extra fleecy navy Christmas tree pants, the hooded pink sweatshirt with IOWA splattered across the front and again…the comfy undies.

What’s your favorite outfit?

carrie

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