Thursday, November 7, 2013
I had planned to write a post about making a schedule for NaNoWriMo before it actually started, but it seems a little pointless now. So instead, I'm going to report on my progress during this week.
It's been fun and rather productive so far. I had my doubts about entering; I'm a slow writer because I edit as I go, but this time, I needed something that pushed me into writing this draft so that I'd have something to pull a proposal from. I need to register for thesis. So NaNoWriMo sounded like a good idea, and so far, I'm glad I've done it. It's true that as I'm working on my novel, I know that I need to make changes, adjustments and even cut some of the scenes I've been working on; but I'm writing. You need to write first so that you have your story down on paper and then you can revise what you have done so far. There's always that fear that what you write during NaNoWriMo is utter crap; it may happen. But you did achieve something during the time you were writing: you wrote a draft. And also, you know what? A first draft is never going to be perfect; there's always some room for editing. So if you're beating yourself up because you think that what you're writing is crap, don't. The point of NaNoWriMo is not to produce polished drafts; it's to write. For further convincing that what I'm saying is not crazy, check out this post from Chuck Wendig. And if you find that you need a push to continue writing, check out the NaNoWriMo pep talks from some amazing authors.
If you want to keep an eye on my progress, you can check the widget in this blog and look at the word count. Hopefully I'll continue in track and either finish my novel or have a good chunk of it written. I can't wait to finish it and dive into edits to polish it. Because that's the other good thing about NanoWriMo; you know that some of what you're writing is so crappy, you can't wait to return to it to make it better even if it takes you some time. Because writing of any type takes time and effort.
We can do this. See you on the other side!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Have you ever felt like you want to write but lacked ideas? Or maybe felt like you were stuck writing your novel or short story because no idea popped up to take it to the next situation? This is a little more common than it sounds; sometimes you can run into a dry spell. So what can you do? Here are some tips:
- Go out and pay attention to your surroundings - Ideas are everywhere. Go out someplace and look at people, listen to conversations, look at the scenery and asks yourself questions. The smallest detail can spark ideas.
- Read - Books, newspapers, magazines and any other type of reading can spark ideas. All of them are stories of some sort and maybe one of them will have something that piques your interest and makes you want to write.
- Rest and relax - Stress and tiredness can block ideas. If you're tired and need more rest, try it. Your mind and body will feel refreshed and who knows, maybe ideas might just come knocking on the door when you sit down to try to write again.
- Keep and revisit your writing journal - A notepad, small notebook or even a writing app on your phone can work. Jot down the ideas that come to you, no matter how small or big they are. Maybe you've read a quote that stirs something in you; maybe you're drawn to the idea of enchanted forests. Write it all down and then look at these ideas. Who knows, maybe what you're supposed to write is there.
- Discuss it with someone - Maybe you have an idea that you've been toying with for a while, but you don't know what to do with it. Talk about it with someone who's willing to listen and bounce ideas with you. The conversation might jog something in your mind to get you started.
Friday, October 4, 2013
For the better part of 5 months, I've been working on a shiny idea for a novel. I'm very excited about it, but the road to writing it has had a lot of bumps. I haven't written a single word of it, much to my dismay and stress. You see, this shiny idea is supposed to be my thesis and I have to submit a proposal for it soon. So I'm working on a deadline, and in what I think was my attempt at trying to get something ready in a period of time, I gathered so many ideas that I sometimes feel like I'm losing the focus of what was originally to be.
I think this situation is a combination of deadline stress and my writing process. I need to know what I'm writing to submit a proposal, so I'm in a sort of deadline. But my writing process has added extra pressure; I'm the type of writer that likes to outline and plot beforehand because otherwise, I feel like I'm wandering through my manuscript with destination nowhere as a north. I've always needed to know the key points of my story because it makes me feel like I'm heading somewhere even though the story changes and evolves as I'm writing it. But this hasn't worked much in my favor for this project; I have a notebook almost halfway full of ideas to flesh out my plot, all of them workable and engaging, but none of them definite or not quite tying in with what the shiny idea I had so far.
Stories are dynamic and they change as the writer works and reworks them, but I'm wondering why I haven't been able to get an idea that seamlessly unites all the elements that were given to me. Is it because I haven't found the correct ones? Is it because I haven't worked enough on the others? Is it because this is not the right story to be writing now? I'm worried and terrified of this. I keep getting more and more ideas and trying to work through them, but they keep piling up on the others as I try to merge them with the story and I lose sight of what I'm supposed to be writing. I feel like I'm trying to look through wax paper and seeing just nondescript shapes and perhaps colors. I don't see a defined shape and bright colors. Yet.
Because this is happening; I have a thesis proposal to submit in a few months and I'm determined to make it. I've been trying out several things to address my problem and I feel like I'm on my way to solving it (please, let this be true). So, here's a list of things I do when I'm stuck. It works on most writing stages:
I think this situation is a combination of deadline stress and my writing process. I need to know what I'm writing to submit a proposal, so I'm in a sort of deadline. But my writing process has added extra pressure; I'm the type of writer that likes to outline and plot beforehand because otherwise, I feel like I'm wandering through my manuscript with destination nowhere as a north. I've always needed to know the key points of my story because it makes me feel like I'm heading somewhere even though the story changes and evolves as I'm writing it. But this hasn't worked much in my favor for this project; I have a notebook almost halfway full of ideas to flesh out my plot, all of them workable and engaging, but none of them definite or not quite tying in with what the shiny idea I had so far.
Stories are dynamic and they change as the writer works and reworks them, but I'm wondering why I haven't been able to get an idea that seamlessly unites all the elements that were given to me. Is it because I haven't found the correct ones? Is it because I haven't worked enough on the others? Is it because this is not the right story to be writing now? I'm worried and terrified of this. I keep getting more and more ideas and trying to work through them, but they keep piling up on the others as I try to merge them with the story and I lose sight of what I'm supposed to be writing. I feel like I'm trying to look through wax paper and seeing just nondescript shapes and perhaps colors. I don't see a defined shape and bright colors. Yet.
Because this is happening; I have a thesis proposal to submit in a few months and I'm determined to make it. I've been trying out several things to address my problem and I feel like I'm on my way to solving it (please, let this be true). So, here's a list of things I do when I'm stuck. It works on most writing stages:
- Step back and refocus - You can actually get stressed when you're writing, especially if you're in some sort of deadline. This stress can block your writing and your ideas. Sometimes, you just hit a wall. Either way, you try to force it. Don't try to; stop working on your manuscript for a while. Really. Take a walk, watch a TV show, go out with friends. You need to step back and do something that's not related to writing. This will distract you from your writing problem and once you return to it, you'll be able to look at it with a set of fresh eyes. Chances are you might find the solution faster than you thought.
- Talk about it with your critique partner - A critique partner is one of the greatest helps a writer can have. Maybe you don't have one, and that's fine; but if you have someone who's willing to bounce ideas with you, go to them. Sit down and have a chat. The conversation might bring out ideas that can help you find a solution.
- Read books that show you how to achieve that in your writing - Are you struggling with character's voice? Your antagonist? POV? Craft books are helpful tools for writers. But sometimes, you just need to read a book and see how these wonderful authors achieve that thing that you're struggling with. This isn't about stealing ideas; it's about learning how these authors did what they did.
- Beat it with a toy hammer - Yes, really. Sometimes your shiny idea wants to go all sorts of places at once and you can't split yourself into three. Or sometimes it's digressing and taking you places that don't help with plot. You have to reel it back and keep it in track.
- Do some free writing - Don't push yourself to find an immediate solution to that situation; step back and do some free writing for a while. It will keep the ideas flowing and maybe it'll give you one that will help you.
I hope these tips help you. They have always helped me whenever I'm stuck. I've used some of them in my outlining/plotting crisis and they have given me a few more concrete ideas than what I had when I started. But personally, I think I'm going have to beat my shiny and other ideas with a toy hammer; I'm going choose a few, throw them in there and start writing. I'm going to write the first draft of my thesis during NaNoWriMo. It'll be different from what I'm used to. But sometimes, your personal writing process changes. And sometimes, a novel demands that you write and work on it in a way you've never done before.
I'll keep you posted.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Welcome to The Paper Imaginarium Corner, a blog about a girl writing a creative thesis and everything in between. Shenanigans included. This is my space on the web to write about my thoughts on the thesis-writing process, writing in general, books, anime and manga, and any other things that interest me. I'm also going to be participating in NaNoWriMo with Jennie and Rayne, so you'll hear about the experience. You're welcome to join if you're interested! Stick around, this is just starting!
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