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Grist for the Muse #27 -- December 2005
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mich-@flashwriting.com
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Dec 12, 2005 10:37 PST
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Grist for the Muse #27 - December 2005
The monthly creative writing resource that gets you writing and keeps you
writing.
"Do, or do not. There is no try." Yoda to Luke Skywalker, The Empire Strikes
Back (1980)
Musings
Did I try? Yes. Did I do? No. I managed to crank out 33,889 words in less
than 30 days on one novel writing project. As the day-by-day tracking below
shows, there were good days, and bad days, but ultimately I just ran out of
gas. I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo two days before it kicked off. I
followed the rules in so far as I had no idea what I was going to write
about and just pulled an idea out of the clear blue sky the day of NaNoWriMo
and really struggled to get going. I had some good ideas and as I moved
through things but ultimately I stalled out, realized that I still had a
column due for flashquake, and then started goofing around with the whole
writing 50K words in a month thing, meaning that I stopped working on the
novel, and started just writing whatever came to mind. That violated the
spirit of NaNoWriMo, and even though I probably could have had 50K words,
according to the NaNoWriMo site I managed to get 47,487 words, it wouldn't
have been a true attempt since about 15K of those words had nothing to do
with the novel attempt. And then, to cap off the entire month, the entire
family got the flu, with me getting it on November 30th.
What did I learn? That it is possible to have prolific output at any time
in your life. Writing 5 pages a day is not nearly the Herculean effort that
we all make it out to be. 5 pages a day is 35 pages a week, 140 pages a
month. The goal is just to get something down, and it doesn't matter what
it is. The resistance will be there, no matter how much you try to fight it
off. Here is the promised blog of my effort. Let me know what you think.
Day 1 - (1738 words) I can't believe that I'm really doing this. Crap!
I've written 5 pages are going nowhere. What am I trying to write about
here?
Day 2 - (1728 words) I hate myself and this book. I've fallen back on an
idea I got in 2003 and trying to pound it into the giant hole that I've dug
myself into. I'm still keeping pace though.
Day 3 - (2069 words) Better going today. Still see the words as telling not
showing, but the story is going in a direction I didn't expect and I take
great satisfaction in being a little ahead of the minimum number of words to
make the 50K by the end of the month.
Day 4 - (763 words) Wrote for about 30 minutes at lunch and about another 20
after 10:15pm. Stopped at Half Price Books today on my way home from work,
thought a lot about how I hate the main character (Elias), how he is not
real likeable, and he doesn't seem strong enough or interesting enough to
carry this whole thing. I need to make him less serious or give him some
sort of likeable personality or this story will sink into the muck fast.
Day 5 - (1998 words) I dreaded sitting down and writing all day (I had a Cub
Scout Fun Day from 9am to 4pm) and I'm feeling under the weather, but once I
got going after I got home, I cranked out some words. they still aren't
going anywhere though.
Day 6 - (705 words) Worst day of this journey so far. I thought that I'd put
together some serious numbers, but in reality today was a bust.
Day 7 - (About 380 words) Sick as a dog. Don't feel much like writing at
all. Not sure why I'm doing this at this point.
Day 8 - (2948 words) Matt's advice was great, cut the crap and kill
somebody. So creating some heavy-duty action really got me moving today and
I'm almost entirely back on track.
Day 9 - (2371 words) Another good day, starting to flesh out the main
character a bit.
Day 10 - A day off. Presented at B&N tonight and shopped for books. Matt
needs a chance to catch up.
Day 11 - (710 words) Busy day today, lots of Cub Scout pack drama, lots of
phone calls, and then I broke one of the cardinal rules of NaNoWriMo, I
downloaded a game onto the laptop with the intention of playing a game of
Bookworm Deluxe to unwind before beginning a writing session. The game took
a long time, and then Isaac came in and wanted to learn how to play, and
then Ben came in, then Leah and the next thing you know all three of them
are taking turns playing with me helping them. Kristen is hooked too and
after a late serving of Shake and Bake pork chops and applesauce, because
all of us were too into the game to prepare a proper green vegetable side
dish. So I didn't start until 9:00pm.
Day12 - (151 words) Two cub scout events, meeting with Mat, endless phone
calls and meetings with Den Leaders has really cut into my writing time
today. I have to put in a 3000 word + day tomorrow to get back on track.
Day 13 - (1258 words) Rough day. Very resistant to writing today. Played a
lot of games today. Wonder if I'm hitting the week 2 wall a week late.
Day 14 - (739 words) Some lunch time writing, but other than preparing for
the meeting tonight, hard to focus when something important needs to be
done.
Day 15 - (535 words) I hoped that I could get to work today, but I had to
write about last night's meeting and that was 1,400 words alone.
Day 16 - (1824 words) A better day, again got bogged down in too much
narrative and background, but kicked it back into action.
Day 17 - (975 words) Despite some time to write, I just couldn't get into it
today.
Day 18 - (1323 words) I really, really want to quit. The story is going
nowhere and I don't like it much at all. I don't see the benefit of
continuing, but I should see this experiment through to the end.
Day 19 - (about 870 words) Just phoning it in today, got a few words down,
but I don't know what to do from here.
Day 20 - (93 words) Why I bothered today, I have no idea. I still really,
really want to quit.
Day 21- (3914 words) This went very well today. Mainly because I just tossed
the story aside and began working on history, backstory and the rules of
magic use (since this is a fantasy story afterall).
Day 22 - (39 words).
--Michael
JumpStart Jars Update
The Basic Brainstorming and Brainstorming Boost #1 have been released and
are now available for sale!
The Fabulous Fiction jar has been a bit more problematic. (HEY! You try
making up 2,100 unique fictional elements. characters, situations,
complications, etc. It would take YOU a while to do this too. Hopefully by
the end of this month, I'll have wrapped up work on this and release it as
well.
Order them now on JumpstartJar.com
So if you are interested in ordering a Basic Brainstorming or Brainstorming
Boost #1, JumpStart Jar, they cost $14.00 each (plus $5.00 shipping and
handling) or buy both of them for $25.00 or combine a copy of Flash Writing
with a JumpStart Jar for $25.00.
If you want to avoid shipping costs and pick up a jar from me directly at a
writing workshop or event, please e-mail me at
<mailto:ma-@jumpstartjar.com> ma-@jumpstartjar.com for ordering details.
Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter
Nita Sweeney's wonderful monthly newsletter lists events of interest to
writers in the Central Ohio area, including book signings, writing classes,
writer's groups, writer's conferences, poetry readings, and more. To
subscribe click on this link: http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html
Writing Exercises - Courtesy of JumpStart Jar
Quick Topics
. Bad food
. Blazing
. Waterfront
. Unheard-of
. Do not cross
. Round up the gang
. Launching pad
. Gal pal
. Ship shape
. Collapse
Story Starters
. Where to begin.
. I've done it all.
. Do something about it.
. What else would I do?
. I'd traveled for.
. It's not just.
Shameless Self Promotion
Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center- Fiction Writer's Group
January 12t, 2006 - 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers
Group: UNBREAKABLE RULES OF FICTION WRITING
Fiction writing has many, many rules-Rules for creating characters, rules
for submitting your work for publication, rules for description and
point-of-view, etc. How do you know which ones to follow? Join Michael
Wilson to discover the rules of fiction writing that should never be broken.
A copy of Robert Masello's book: Robert's Rules of Writing: 101
Unconventional Lessons that Every Writer Needs to Know will be given away
to one lucky attendee. This event is free of charge!
February 9th, 2006 - 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers
Group: 7 SINISTER THINGS THAT YOU MUST DO TO MESS UP YOUR CHARACTERS LIVES
You love your character. He or She is absolutely perfect. But, perfect
characters make for boring fiction. It is time to mess up their lives.
Learn how to bring adversity and conflict to your characters to create
interesting and dynamic fiction.
A copy of Nancy Kress's book: Character, Emotion & Viewpoint will be given
away to one lucky attendee. This event is free of charge!
March 9th, 2006 - 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group:
CREATIVE HABITS OF CREATIVE WRITERS
Writers have always been a quirky group of people. Join local author,
Michael Wilson and learn about the habits, rituals and superstitions that
writers use to keep the words flowing and the bestsellers selling.
A copy of John Warner's book: Fondling Your Muse will be given away to one
lucky attendee. This event is free of charge!
Classes at Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning
CHARACTER, CONFLICT AND CHAOS
This all-day writing workshop explores how to create realistic and
multi-dimensional characters, how to engage them in interesting situations
involving conflict and how to provide a little shake-them-up chaos in the
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these techniques to help bring order back to the chaos you have created, all
the while keeping your readers motivated to the end. A workbook is included
in the registration fee. The class schedule includes a one-hour lunch break.
CLASS #: 441892 A
TIME: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday
DATE: March 4
LOCATION: Lower Lvl Conference Room, UA Municipal Services Center, 3600
Tremont Rd
COST: $45.00(R), $49.50(NR)
IF YOU THINK IT, YOU CAN WRITE IT
Spend a day indulging in creative thinking for creative writers. This class
seeks to answer the eternal question that all successful writers have been
asked: "Where do you get your ideas?" We explore the creative process,
examine some of the causes of writer's block and introduce fun and useful
techniques that address many of the common problems that all writers face
from time to time. We also delve into the generation of writing ideas and
inspiration. A workbook is included in the registration fee. The class
schedule includes a one-hour lunch break.
CLASS #: 441896 A
TIME: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Saturday
DATE: April 1
LOCATION: Lower Lvl Conference Room, UA Municipal Services Center, 3600
Tremont Rd
COST: $45.00(R), $49.50(NR)
There are three ways to register for classes at UA Lifelong Learning:
. Register online using your MASTERCARD or VISA, click the following
link: <https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML>
https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML
. Fill out a registration form here:
<http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf>
http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf and mail it to or
drop it off (with a check or money order) at Lifelong Learning & Leisure,
3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
. Call (614) 583-5333 between 9:30am and 3:30pm weekdays to register
using your VISA or MASTERCARD
Class at the Decorative Arts Center (the Reese-Peters House) in Lancaster
Poemcrazy: Creating Visual Poetry
DATES: Tuesday, February 21, 28, and March 7, 14
TIME: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
COST: $32 for members / $40 for non-members
This four-part class is based on the book Poemcrazy by Susan G. Wooldridge.
The class explores the creative use of words and how to combine them with
other visual media to create unique poetic expressions. Learn how to create
your own "word pool" and, through a variety of exercises, use it to enhance
your creative expression and description. Learn the techniques of writing
poetry and using visual media to produce poetic art.
NEXT MONTH:
The Grist is getting an all new logo along with an all-new look. Tune in
next month to let me know what you think!
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ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes
and facilitating writer's groups for almost a decade and was an
award-winning Contributing Editor for The Writer's Block at Suite101.com. He
has a BA (with Honors) in English from Ohio University, and has been a
featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writer's
Conference and the Columbus Writer's Conference. He is also the publisher
and editor of Grist for the Muse a free monthly creative writing
e-newsletter. His first book: Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and
Publish Stories Less Than 1000 Words Long, was published in October 2004.
You can get additional information about him at www.flashwriting.com
<http://www.flashwriting.com/> .
Copyright 2005 Michael L. Wilson. All rights reserved.
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