Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Writing to Music
For those of you who don't know, I was a music major for a bit in college. Ultimately I loved it too much to make a career out of it and switched to English, where the professors didn't suck the life and love out of the subject for me. Even though I was no longer a music major, I continued to take lessons and play in ensembles; this confused some of my peers, as they couldn't understand why I would put myself through the horror of recitals and end of the year playing exams (juries) in front of a panel of music professors. I still wonder if they really love playing their instruments if they have to ask me why I continuously sought to improve my skill and learned to embrace the stage.
Anywho, as a musician music is an incredibly huge part of my life, and one that bleeds over into my writing life as well. Why? Because art inspires art. Music can be soothing and inspirational or so passionate it can move you to tears; it can also be angry and hateful or sad and heartbreaking. It lends itself well to writing, just as literature can for the creation of music.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
RIP Diana Wynne Jones
I read The Darklord of Derkholm when I was little, and it stuck with me. I loved it. And years later I discovered the film adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle. Let me tell you, it was the best thing since sliced bread. When I finally read the book, I was blown away. Imagine my reaction when I made the connection that two of my favorite books were written by the same author. (In my defense, I'd forgotten who wrote Darklord and was too lazy to look it up for the longest time, not that that's much of a defense, but still.)
Diana Wynne Jones was one of the most influential and well known fantasy authors in the world, and her death is an incredible loss to us all. She did amazing things for young adult fantasy and was an inspiration to many authors. Her books were an inspiration to me.
If you have no idea who I'm talking about, if you've never read one of her books, please, go out and buy one right now. Experience the wonders of Howl's Moving Castle. See the incredible things she did with world building.
Be inspired. Be a better writer. Be amazing. Because we lost one of the greats, and she left some pretty big shoes behind to fill.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Be True to Your Writerly Self
But the thing about writers is we're all unique. Each and every one of us does things a little differently. Some people spend months hammering out their storyline with sticky notes and whiteboards. Others sit down at their computers, open a blank document, and begin typing furiously until, less than three months later, they have a first draft. And then there are some who toe the line, doing a little of this and a bit of that; but no two writers follow the exact same method. We each bring something of ourselves to the table, just like we do in our actual writing.
Now this person, I'm sure, didn't mean any offense when they told me I couldn't edit until I was finished writing. Only there's something about my writing that person didn't know: I wasn't just writing. I was editing.
You see, like all of you, I have my own method, and it's still growing and changing as I do. I thought about my TSA during school last semester, and I refused to work on it until I had free time. I jotted down notes, made comments on plot points, just little things (mostly during Biology, I'll be honest). And when I finally sat down to write it, it took me all of about three months to hammer the entire first draft out. My first draft, read like a third draft, something that's never happened to me before. So I know this method works for me. I let my idea simmer, so that when I wrote my first draft I already knew my story, which allowed me to focus more on the characters and the writing. It was awesome.
Now here's where my method branches off a little. When it came time for me to edit, do you know what I did? I opened a brand new word doc, and I started completely over. This draft is 100% new words. I don't copy and paste from the 1st draft at all. I may open it up, as I occasionally do, to double check some things, but this draft is both writing and editing. I'm changing the story and the characters with every new word I write. Making it better in so many ways.
My method, is not your method. In fact, my method may be the exact opposite of yours. But the point is, that we all have our own way of doing things, and we'll all write our books and make it to the finish line whenever we do. It's not a race. It's not a competition to see who can write a first draft fastest or best. Though I'll admit a little friendly competition can be nice. It's about the story. It's about us. We're writers. We're unique, and each and every one of us is made of awesome.
So when someone tries to tell you how to do your job, remember, they aren't you, and they couldn't possibly know what works best for you better than you do. Go, be awesome. : )
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
In Which I'm Having A Bad Day
So without further ado, I present some of my favorite quotes about anything and everything:
You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars. - August Rush
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Seuss
There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil— a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome. - Pride and Prejudice
I looked perfect up in one of my etymological dictionaries and found that the word perfect comes from the Latin and means "to do thoroughly." So perhaps we need to redefine perfect. If it really means "to do thoroughly," then one might say that it means to be human, to be perfectly and thoroughly human, and that is what is meant by being perfect: human: not infallible or impeccable or faultless, but human. -Madeleine L'Engle
The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. Resist it and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden itself. -Oscar Wilde
Be the change you wish to see in the world. -Mahatma Gandhi
Have any quotes you want to share? Feel free. Any happy news? I'll take anything today, guys. :) I hope wherever you are, you're having a wonderful day.
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