Not enough sleep

I just wrote today's post for this blog and accidentally uploaded it to a different blog. I need to go to bed earlier. Later I'll correct it.

Remember, getting adequate sleep is important for writers. And other people, too.

Afraid to write (well, kind of, in a manner of speaking)

As I've said, I'm working on revisions for Ripples, the fourth book in the Echoes Series. (I'm waiting for the word on Turbulence. Very, very soon.)

But I have a problem. I'm at the point of revising a major scene. Much emotion. It has to be done just right.

So what am I doing these days? I'm shopping. I'm surfing the internet. I'm watching TV. I'm interacting with my family.

And every day I open my Ripples file. I look at the first few sentences of that scene. I minimize and run off to my next activity. Because I know once I get started on that scene, it will require all of me.

I won't be able to dabble with it. I can't change a few lines before picking up my purse or polish a sentence during the commercial break. It's not that kind of scene.

I'm stuck in limbo. I want to work on my book, but I know I have to deal with that scene. Right now I simply don't have the time or concentration it needs. I won't be able to do it justice. I simply open the file and think about else I need to be doing.

I can't wait until my life becomes a little quieter so I can jump back into Ripples and run with it. Soon, I hope.

I'm not really writing these days (I've said that a lot lately, haven't I?). But I am enjoying myself. And when I do get back to it, I will be so ready no one will be able to stop me.

I hope.

Don't give up

When I was in high school, I wrote many short stories. And one novel. None has been published. I did make a few hesitant attempts to publish one or two of my short stories. But I didn't really think it would happen. And it didn't.

It took me over 30 years to try again. When i did, I decided not to accept rejection or defeat. It's still a long, hard road somedays. Trying to get my books noticed. Searching for the marketing approach which could catapult me into the national spotlight. Wishing and dreaming. Sometimes planning.

Two days ago I was walking through the bookstore, determined not to leave until I found the perfect book to buy with my 15% off coupon (talk about marketing!). I chose many. Some I thunbed through. It took me nearly 90 minutes to decide. Partly because I wasn't satisfied with the quality of many of the books I browsed.

My mother tells me I can write well. And various other friends and relatives. But I needed that validation. I can write as well as others whose books grab the attention of major publishers and end up on the shelves of large chain bookstores.

If they can do it, I think I can too. Some write much better than I do, but all it takes is practice and determination. I think I can. . .I think I can. . .I think I can.

No best-selling author was born that way. Each had to work for recognition. And so will I.

(Although, actually, that's just a fringe benefit. I write because I must.)

Reading and Writing

I don't normally read another novel while I'm working on one of my own, but I recently made an exception. I started the book weeks ago, and recently returned to it and became hooked on the characters.

The book is The Kite Runner. It's been on my reading list for quite a while--I bought it about a year ago. I'm glad I finally took the time to read it.

The main characters were well developed and the story was gripping as it linked the lives of the characters with events in Afghanistan over the last 30 years. The conflict was real and the ending was satisfying. I won't say anything more, for those of you who may not have read it yet. I do recommend this book.

Writers are also readers. I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't love books. My mother began taking me to the library when I was a toddler. In grade school, my best friend and I spent our time together by reading. My husband, and sons, complain sometimes about the number of books in our house. Especially when we have to move. I feel a certain excitement when beginning a new story, and a certain let down when I finish it.

In recent years, I've begun reading much more critically. I note what the author did well, and silently criticize him or her when I feel I could have done better. When reading a mystery, I read the first 20 or 30 pages and then skip to the ending. After I know the solution to the mystery, I continue reading to see how the writer arrived at the conclusion.

Reading is not only enjoyable, it's an integral part of what it means to be a writer. And I would advise any young writer to read as much as possible. Words are our tools, and we learn by studying the craftsmanship of others.

Not in the mood

I haven't kept up with my blogs this week. And I don't have a good reason for that. My health is greatly improved. I have plenty of time. It's only that I haven't felt much like writing this week.

Which is okay, once in a while. If I make a habit of it, I will be in serious trouble. But sometimes writers need breaks from the written word.

I have made some progress on my newest novel, even writing in important revisions. But I've covered only a handful of pages. Still, it is progress.

And that's what's really important. Moving ahead, sometimes plodding, occasionally pausing for a break--but never giving up.

It's been said that many have books they could write. But the writers are those of us who stick with it. Sometimes racing to the climax. Sometimes making unimpressive gains. Always writing.

Or at least thinking about it.

Show and Tell

This topic is discussed often in writers' circles, and I have probably addressed it before. But it bears repeating because it is crucial to good writing.

I am in the process of revising Ripples, the fourth books. (BTW, Turbulence will be out in a matter of weeks, insha Allah.) In my early drafts, I told. The important thing was to get the story down and I didn't take time to work with the details. In my current and later revisions, I need to pay more attention.

For instance, in one passage I simply said, "Uncle Brad is irritated." Then I went on with another part of the story.

Uncle Brad is irritated. How can you tell? What did he say? What did he do? How did you react? All these are essential.

So I'm enjoying myself these days by filling in the gaps. Showing is so much more fun than telling. I love to write a good argument. (It's a great stress reliever.)

Don't just tell your readers that Mary is sad or the building is beautiful. Show them. Describe it to them. They want to see it too.

Getting new ideas

I didn't write again today. For the first time in over a month I felt normal. So I pursued one of my favorite pastimes. Going grocery shopping. I could explain, but that's not the purpose of this blog.

Just because I wasn't sitting at my laptop doesn't mean I wasn't working on my writing. I observed. Sometimes, if I'm in a very good observational mood, I will watch others--discreetly, of course--and imagine the spaces in their lives. The woman at the check out counter. Does she have children? A husband? How was her childhood? What clues can I gain from her mannerisms, her communication, and even the way she dresses?

What about the woman strolling the aisles of the health food store with her husband? Why were they there? Did either one have a major health concern? Were they looking at the juices because they like juice or because it helps with health concerns?

And what about the lone clerk in the bookstore? Was he counting the hours until the end of his shift, or did he enjoy his job as much as he appeared to? What does he do when he's not at work? What does he read?

This all sounds very nosy, I know. But I wonder. Even when I watch the other cars on the road, I wonder where they're going. And why.

And when I write, I fill in the blanks. I develop composite characters from the people I've met or come across, assigning them emotions, backgrounds, and preferences.

Other times I watch people to find those who look most like my characters. But that's another topic.

A Writer's Day Off

I read an article recently which suggested writers should not work feverishly to complete a book. Instead, we should write for only one hour a day. At that pace, according to author of the article, the book will be completed and ready for publication at the end of a year.

I don't follow any hard and fast rules for how much time should be spent writing. Some have day jobs or small children, and so must write whenever they can. Others are able to spend large blocks of time writing and refining.

When I wrote my first novel, Innocent People, I had to force myself to sit for two hours every day and write. The more I wrote, the more comfortable I became. Now I have days when I don't pay attention to anything but my writing.

Today was not one of those days. I watched the morning news, took a shower, dozed a little, watched my soap opera (oops--my secret's out!), ate lunch, checked my email, browsed the internet, watched the evening news and, later, a movie. I never even opened the file for my newest work. I didn't attempt to enter one of the contests which ended today (I actually have nearly 3 hours left). Except for a few short emails, and my blogs, I simply did not write.

Each of us has to find a pace which works best. I prefer to run headlong toward the finish line, and then take a day off. Or two. And even though I love to write, I don't have to do it every single day. I didn't accomplish much today, but sometimes that's enough.

Cliches

I was recently told that some of my characters, at least in one section, border on the cliche. I respect the person who told me this. He has many years of experience behind him. But I respectfully disagree.

It is easy to fall into cliches. Sometimes I make a game of it. A character--someone who is older--will use a cliche. Another character will comment on this. Or a character will consistently use the same cliched phrase. We all know people who do this.

Growing up in the Midwest, I learned some great cliches. I'm not going to let them go to waste. My favorite one, which I heard several years ago, was "I wouldn't wear that to a dog fight." Descriptive, isn't it?

But of course we must be careful. And it is especially tricky when we give our characters life situations. Sometimes life seems to be one giant cliche. But we need to make our writing stand apart. Find something different. My characters, who do seem in the beginning to follow the standard American lifestyle, end up being very different.

As with everything else, using and avoiding cliches is a balancing act. All of writing is. And all of life is, isn't it?

The better word

First I must apologize because over the last two or three weeks I seem to repeat my posts. I don't realize this until the new post has gone out. I don't think I can blame my age. Fifty is the new thirty, isn't it? Maybe I can still blame the flu.

I was reading over a story I first wrote last summer. It's okay, but it's not ready for publication. What it needs, more than anything, is the better word.

Correct use of language is an exercise in precision. In a story or novel, it depends greatly on the character. While one character may say "guys," another most certainly would not. I must know my characters and sense their language, their habits. Everything.

And I must choose the best words. Should I use "come back" or should I write "return"? Again, it depends greatly on the character and the mood I want to set. Is my character a teenager? What is his or her level of education? How comfortable is he or she with language?

My premier character, Joshua, is very comfortable. That's his nature. So even after he completes his college education, he is more likely to use the casual word or phrase. Other characters though, like Evie and Brad, pride themselves on a vocabulary which exhibits a higher level of sophistication. Though it also depends on the circumstances. When Brad is relaxing with his brothers, his language is much different than when he is speaking with his boss. Isn't that true for all of us?

In a sense, I am again repeating myself. Words are everything to the writer. I have my own favorite thesaurus which I keep close at hand. It helps me keep my writing fresh and crisp. Dullness of expression will kill even the most interesting story or article.

Write carefully.

Gotta write!

I don't remember which movie it was in, but one of my favorite musical scenes is the one in which Gene Kelly sings, "Gotta Dance." And he does.

I just sent the final copy of Turbulence back to the publisher. It won't be long now. I felt relieved to be finished. When I told my mother, she asked what I will do now. I replied that I'll take a couple days off from writing before getting to work on the next books--Ripples.

I've tried to stop writing at various times, but without much success. I can go for two or three days before my fingers itch for the keyboard. And browsing the internet doesn't cure the itch. Nothing does, not even blogging. I must work on another story.

I'm in good shape now. I have three completed drafts to work on, and the first eight pages of another book. This morning when I woke up I daydreamed about where I can go with that story. It's in my queue.

I should be using my time to write articles or promote my books. But I gotta write. I guess that's my weakness.

The thrill of it

I'm nearly finished looking over Turbulence. It's nearly ready.

I'll probably take a break for a day or two, maybe even three. Then I'll get to work revising the manuscript for Ripples, the fourth book in the Echoes Series.

I wrote when I was a teenager, and of course I wrote in college. I actually enjoyed writing my dissertation, and even my doctoral exams. But for years after that, I wrote little. I was raising children instead.

I wrote as a teacher, but my creativity went into assignments and tests. Later I worked on curriculum and wrote three textbooks. I delivered papers. All of this filled a need in me.

But when I sat down to write Echoes, I found a thrill I had never before experienced. The words slid onto the page. It needed revisions, of course, but that book actually made me feel like a writer.

Now I can't stop. I try to ignore it sometimes and concentrate on other things. Usually I can't manage to do this for more than three days. The laptop calls me. The story lures me.

After I finish the Echoes Series, I have two more books to write. One is completed in rough draft form. It was my Nano novel. The other has only eight pages so far. But this morning I was daydreaming about where I can go with it.

My career could have taken many different turns. I could have seriously pursued a career in teaching college. Maybe I would be a dean by now. I could have stayed with teaching. But I'm dong what I love. I write. I must.

Words, words, words

I'm in the process of reading through the final edition of Turbulence. It won't be too much longer.

It's amazing how much a single word can make a difference. My intrepid editor caught and corrected some of those places where one word improved the sentence. I've found a few more.

I know of some people who agonize over every word every time they write something. That approach drives me crazy. In fact, if I had that attitude I would never finish anything. I plunge in, at the beginning. The important thing is to get the story down. Later I refine both the story and the way I tell it. And no matter how careful I am, there's always some work for the editor.

Words are powerful. I think we all learned that in elementary school, either as the bully or the one being bullied. A single word can elate or deflate.

And in writing a story, each word must carry the tale to its ending. But don't get too caught up. First concentrate on the story. Everything else can be smoothed out later.

Family Feelings

Before I write anything else, I want to note that today is my granddaughter's first birthday. 2006 was a rough year for me, and January was very rough, but everything was better when Aisha Jamila came into our lives.

I have found I can write story lines I wouldn't have been able to manage five or ten years ago. I know how it feels to see your children grow up and move away. I've had experience with teenagers--years of experience--and children in their 20s. And I know how it is to be a grandmother.
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When I was young, everyone told me, "Write what you know." I've modified that advice somewhat. In every story I delve into less familiar territory. Heart attack. Federal prison. Disability--oops, did I give something away?

But I stick with the emotions I know. I understand having my husband gone for an extended period and getting by as a single mother. I know something of loss. And I have had a great deal of experience with teenagers. I'm glad I'm finally able to use it for something positive.

So my advice would be to write the emotions you know. I don't think I could have written about motherhood when I was a 20-year old college student. Not with the same level of emotion. At the same time, branch out. Learn something new and share it with your readers. Just make sure you have your facts straight.

Turbulence

I don't want to give too many clues. I could name many more new minor characters, but I think I would be revealing too much.

Both my publisher and my editor said this is a much different book than they expected. And they liked it.

I can't wait until you read it. I really can't. I want to discuss it with you. But I won't say too much yet. Enjoy the revelations.

Imagination

At its peak, the flu took a great toll on my body. I reached a high temperature--I'm not sure how high but I would guess around 104--and treated it only with water because most medicines bother me.

As I've rsecovered, I've noticed ways the fever affected my body. For several days my eyesight was weaker. I lost a great deal of weight. And for a while I was afraid I had lost my imagination.

In those early days of recovery, I tried to conjure up images and story lines. Nothing happened. Once I tried to imagine a room. My mind was blank. I was worried that my "imagination" brain cells had been damaged.

Fortunately, as my eyesight and weight have begun to return, my imagination is also returning. An imagination isn't necessary to live, but I have always depended on mine to take me to interesting places. And, of course, my imagination is what writes my stories.

Not everyone is creative, but I think the world could use more imagination. Approach situations from new perspectives rather than relying on the same old solutions every time. As John Lennon said, imagine a world where everyone lives together. No divisions.

I am very, very happy to have regained my imagination. Now I wish we had some in Washington, D.C.

Lack of imagination

I have always had an active imagination, but these days I feel it lacking. And I think I know why.

It's Maslow's fault. The 19th century psychologist stated that every person has certain needs. These are expressed in a triangle. At the bottom are food, water, shelter. The top is self-realization. We can't fulfill the higher needs, he said, until we take care of the lower ones.

So I'm still feeling a little sick. Not too bad, but it's there. How can I concentrate on wonderful things such as imagination while I'm working to get well.

I'm not sure that's really it. But it sounds nice.

A brief hiatus

I'm on an enforced writing vacation right now.

That's not quite true. I can always write poems, short stories, and articles. But I don't feel inspired today. And I'm anxious to get back to my novels.

Soon, I hope, the editor will send me the final polished ms for my perusal. I haven't read Turbulence for months, and while I could cheat--I have it here on my hard drive--I'll wait to look over that final copy.

After completing Rebounding, many ask when Turbulence will be available. Very soon, I hope.

Then I can get into my other novels, the last ones in the series. I'm anxious to polish Ripples and make it shine. And Silence, which still needs quite a bit of work, taunts me in quiet times like this as I inadvertently remember passages and think of how I can improve them.

All in good time. The writing life is a patient life. One who is not patient should never consider becoming a novelist.

I'm finally (panting) back

When I said last week I may be gone for a while, I wasn't kidding. It took me all last week to fight that flu. But I'm mostly recovered now and ready to go.

I haven't done any kind of writing, though, in order a week. Tomorrow I'll try to get back to you and present my report.

It is very good to be back.

Not today

No post today. I have the flu. Will be back soon, insha Allah.