Saturday, February 27, 2010
Apologies
Thank you for your patience.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Post: I finished it!
To make this triumphant announcement even sweeter, I finished the chapter just after my Post last week. Since then, I've made a small adjustment to the Laire in the form of a counter. Now I can see just how many people come to look at the blog, but I can't decide if I should have the counter record all hits or just unique visitors. Right now it's set for unique visitors. Dare I change it? I don't know. Many thanks to the 14 viewers out there who've visited since I've placed the counter on Friday.
Also, we have another follower. Welcome to the Laire, Ryan! If you or anyone would like to ask me a question, feel free to send a message my way.
Update: Now that chapter 6 is out and done with, I can start on chapter 7, but first, I have three first chapters that I need to review and submit to a contest before the month is over. In other words, I have less then a week! I better get started. The sooner those are out of the way, the sooner I can start chapter 7 with much tensity. I can't promise that it will be finished by next week, but I'll sure try. I better. I'm three chapters behind on my goal!
I'm off to work. Come back Thursday (or Friday) for more Aspiring Advice.
My name is David and I'm wearing sunglasses on my head.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Aspiring Advice: Priority
No matter what you are doing, there is one thing that is always in your way--Time. It may seem for a writer that there is never enough time to do everything that you want to get done. Life has many things to be taken care of, and I'm learning quickly that it doesn't get any easier with age. If any of you writers are a young person, a teenager, etc, you may not have as much responsibility as you will later. Hence, more time on your hands! While I do not and will never regret getting married or having a child, I won't deny that it has taken its toll on when I can write, and for how long. Housework, finances, and relocating lost spiders who had somehow accidentally entered our home (silly spiders) is just the tip of the glazier--berg--thingy. There are other interests on your plate too, I'm sure. Reading, blogging, flaming people on message boards, bodybuilding, or anything else you can imagine. Mine happens to be movies and Counter Strike. I know. I'm not into World of Warcraft. Heresy is me.
Now, do your interests get in the way of your time to write, as well as your other responsibilities? If the answer is yes (which I recently discovered in myself) then you need to "sort out your priorities," as a popular Harry Potter character would say. During the LTUE Symposium, a good acquaintance of mine, James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner (how's that for publicity, bud?), mentioned his technique for how he gets things done. Write a thousand words before you do any blogging. Ah, I thought, so I gave it a try and applied it to other personal areas that needed attention. Behold and low, my productivity has increased tremendously. I also earned that sense of accomplishment which made my other interests more exciting (and a more thoughtful blog post resulted as well).
Set yourself small goals that can be accomplished and stick to them. Remember to take care of what is real first before you let your mind wander into fictionland. Time can be on your side if you know how to manage it. If you want to become a writer, you've got to treat it like a job. It's your work. I'm sure your boss wouldn't appreciate it if you're playing Mafia on Facebook as often as you can. There is nothing wrong with a little diversion, mind you, as long as it doesn't consume you and your time (which is why I like movies so much, I guess. A good two hour flick and I'm good for the week. Terminator Salvation was my recent pick. Interesting, different from the others. The last half hour was worth watching. C+).
I hope this was helpful to someone out there, or at least I got your gears greased. Now let your fingers fly over that keyboard in front of you and show me what you're made of, fellow Aspirees!
My name is David and I ate my son's goldfish--crackers.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Post: Too Much Fun at LTUE . . .
. . . to get any writing done!
Oh, but the tips and personal advice!
What a goldmine this weekend proved to be!
Not only was I able to make new acquaintances and meet old friends, but I've figured out a system to help resolve some of the issues that has hung me up lately, so to speak. When I am not writing, I tend to look into movie news and keep myself fairly knowledgeable about films that are coming out two years from now, plus all the minor details and who is involved. It's kinda fun, actually. I've gained a sixth sense about movies now. I can tell if I'm going to enjoy a film or not before I see it, based on the background stuff that happens behind the camera. I think I've done far too much, so much so that it's getting in the way of what's really important . . . time with my wife and my writing!
So, thanks to a good friend of mine, James Dashner (Author of The Maze Runner), I'm going to follow his advice and see how it works. What is his advice? I think I'll share it on Thursday for my Aspiring Advice column, if you don't mind James. So far, it's working. I feel great and I have that sense of accomplishment before my day has fully started.
In short, I had a great and cold weekend, filled with Valentine fun and a red rose for my wife (not to mention the yummy chocolates that she won't share with me . . . not that I need any). Wait. I forgot to mention something rather sad. Our printer died. After 6 years of studious use, our little HP as kaput. Thankfully, it was President's Day weekend! You know, when stores have awesome sales? We found a new printer worth $100 and paid $60 for it, and we also saved $10 on spare ink cartridges. Low and behold, it comes with a scanner/copier! We can also print photos from home now, if we wanted to . . . if we wanted to.
Score another point for awesomeness!
Hey! I just noticed a new follower. Kate! Good to see you and welcome to the Laire!
I don't know why the words on my blog today are either too small or too large, so don't mind the mess while I figure this out.
Update: Okay. You are REALLY going to hate me. Chapter 6 is still not finished. Like I said, I was having too much fun at LTUE to do any writing. However, I am happy to note that I went away from this symposium feeling that everything I have done for this collaboration so far (up to chapter 5) is spot on, needing no further or extensive revisions. YAY! And I can apply what I have learned to my future writings. Not only that, but my wife, who is the most brilliant idea girl in the world, made a comment that totally made an element of my magic system make sense. I was all, WOW, why didn't I think of that before? This is going to strengthen everything, and what better place to put it than right when I am about to explain the magic? Perfect timing! Thanks, honey. You are the best!
Chapter 6 will be done this week.
I'm serious.
Promise, promise!
Writer's of the Future: Still waiting.
I'll make a post if anything happens.
Maybe we'll know in the next six weeks or so.
That is my three cents for this week. I'd like to dish out a little more, but you know, the economy and all. I have to pinch at something.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Aspiring Advice: A Few Convention-al Tips
If you can find a free conference, the more power too you.
I am fortunate to be sitting in a large room right now, listening to Brandon Sanderson's Main Address at LTUE (Life, The Universe, and Everything symposium). Great guy. Great writer. If you happen to read this, Brandon, I hope you're not offended that I'm blogging during your awesome presentation. This article should have been written yesterday, but a date with my wife was more important. Italian food and clothes shopping. The best date combination ever.
Onto the advice.
If you are a first time attendee, wherever your writing conference is (and you can do an easy Google search to find where writing conventions are held in your area), there are a few things that may be useful for you.
1: Take a friend. If this is your first time, you may feel awkward and out of place among so many other aspiring authors and celebrates. This will help you feel relaxed. Relaxed is recommended.
2: Take paper or a notebook (laptop) and take notes.
3: Give the panelists and celebrates space. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and ask for their advice. However, you don't want to stalk them or monopolize them. They are just as human as you are and other people would like to speak with them too. The last thing you want to get when you leave a convention is a restraining order. Allow them to direct the conversation, keep it short, and get to know another panelist that may not be as popular. Leave a lasting impression, not a creepy chill.
4: Make friends. You will meet people who are trying to write too, and they may get published before you. This is what networking is about. Be sincere and earnest in the interest in others, and they, in turn, will love you for it and do the same.
5: It's worth the investment. Whether you have to pay to get in or if you are taking a week out of your life to be somewhere that you wouldn't normally be, it is worth it.
6: Where something nice. I don't mean slacks or polo shirts, but something comfortable and casual.
I better start paying attention now. I hope this was helpful to you. To put it in prospective, I started going to writing conventions two years ago. I wish I had done this twelve years ago. I have learned more in two years than I have writing for twelve. Search for your next and nearest writer's convention and go! Worry about what will happen to you later. If you want to write and be published, you need to get out there, and you can do it. If I can, you can.
See you on Tuesday. I'm taking Monday off. Holiday, you know.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Post: Life, The Universe, and Everything
You can read more about it here.
http://ltue.org/LTUE2010.html
Update: You're going to hate me. Chapter 6 is STILL not done ::sigh:: The reason is because I didn't get much time to write last week. Chapter 6 proved to be a larger mess than I thought. The last three pages had to go through a rewrite. I finished the read-through, so it looks better than it used to. However, it's nowhere near as refined as the previous five. With any luck, I can finally tell you that I'm onto bigger and better things next week. For now, Chapter 6 is still numero uno on my to-do list.
I had an idea for another short story, but it's uncomfortable, sad, and disturbing to think about . . . the plot, that is. Don't know if I'll ever get around to writing it, but I'll put it on my "rainy-day" shelf for another time. Still awaiting word on Forerunner from WotF. Thank you everyone who has wished me luck! I'll let you know if anything comes of it.
Well, that's all for now. How about those Saint's, huh? I watched Winnie-the-Pooh with my son so I don't know what the final score was or anything. I could look it up, but I have 45 minutes until the official work day starts. I'm off to chapter 6!
Oh, and the guacamole was delicious, by the way.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Aspiring Advice: Dealing with Discouragement
But what is it, exactly? A state of mind, mood . . . an illusion? All of the above? It is a feeling that all are expected to feel, multiple times, throughout their life. It is a deprivation of courage, a lack of confidence, a dissuasion from our goals. I think no one understands this better than writers.
Well . . . actors and musicians, too, I guess.
Quantum theorists, maybe?
Why do I bring up such a dismal topic? I, too, must deal with discouragement. Last night, I lay in my bed, resting my head on a neck pillow that I stole from my wife, thinking about what I have done and accomplished, besides successfully stealing a pillow from my wife. Not an easy feat, I assure you. Five books, almost six, a few poems, fewer short stories, one of them being evaluated by Writers of the Future right now, and four novel rejections (two by publishing staff--trust me, those manuscripts are not worth the paper it's printed on, at least for now. They are revision worthy, I think). Next month, I will have written for twelve years. Twelve. That's a long time. Thankfully, having started so young, I'm only 27, but when I was trying to fall asleep last night, I couldn't help but wonder--will my time, that I have so arduously invested, pay off in the end?
I cannot tell you the answer to that. By all means, if you know something I don't, do tell. If I may summon but a few words, I was very discouraged last night. I felt worn out, my brain stretched paper-thin, and my vocabulary exhausted. There is nothing pristine, sulking in the shadow.
Meh. Enough whining. There's not enough cheese for it.
This may sound ubber depressing, but my point is that if you want to write, if you want to make a career out of it, expect discouragement. More so, if you decide to take college courses other than writing and literature. It's easier for you to know that discouragement will come, rather than ignore the inevitable and crash later. Write on. Some of the best writ has come from the hands of discouraged writers. John Keats for example. Bright Star. Good movie. Sad, but good.
The best way I have found to turn my frown up-side-down is to remember that the sun will rise. What you and I have to offer is unique. Words belong to everyone, but the way you use them will set you apart. Your view of the world, or another world, is one that only you can fabricate. Know that it will take time. At the end of that day, you will have something to show for yourself. A chapter, a page . . . a paragraph, a line! That is something! Keep going, every day. Your efforts will not be vain. Your talent augments with each quote, your refinement embellishes with each critique, and your spirit livens when you type that last period. Your voice will be heard someday . . . Today! Be stubborn. Be tenacious. Be affluent. We'll make it. Yes, we will.
This may not be much of an inspirational column, but it has helped me, more than you know. I hope you've been helped, too. Have a fantabulous Superbowl weekend. If you're wondering where I am, I'll be hiding in the kitchen with my notebook, hogging the guacamole. Mine!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Post: Another Blog Change
::shakes head:: This isn't good.
Generally I go to work early to write my blog entries or do a bit of writing before the workday begins. Since I have Fridays off, I help with watching my in-law's kids and for some reason my home computer won't let me access my blog, making it difficult to get around to writing my Aspiring Advice column. I could take out my notebook, sure, but you know how young children love to get their hands on neat looking, expensive electronic devices. Disaster in the waiting.
So I'm proposing, yet again, another blog change. Since I want two mornings to focus on creative efforts, that means I must remove one of my three blog entries. Word Rouse has got to go. My Monday updates are standard and Aspiring Advice, I think, is more important to me as well as to you, the reader. You would think that after a year of blogging that I would have some sort of system down by now, but I'm still very new to the art, if you can call it that. Please don't mind the mess. Expect to see Aspiring Advice on Thursdays, henceforth.
Update: Last week I said I would start my edits for Chapter 6 of the collaboration. This didn't happen. Much time went into the editing of Chapters 4 and 5 instead. I will say that many kinks have been smoothed out of these documents and they look better than ever. Having said that, I will start on Chapter 6 today, I hope, but I can't promise that my edits will be done before the week is up. I know it needs work, but work is good.
That's all the news for this week. Short, yes, but that's the point. I want to get started!