Checklists and Goals

Hey guys! See I told you I would write more. And I bet you didn't believe me...

Right now I'm working on an old series that I don't think I've mentioned before; Fighting Samuaii. I know I used to have an old website that was pretty much dedicated to it, but I shut it down a while ago and lost the URL. I'm really passionate about this idea (it's one of the few I call "all mine" because it was inspired purely from a dream, not something I saw one day) but I have to admit I'm really cautious. Last time I attempted writing it I got 33,000 words in before I realized I wasn't really focusing on the plot enough. There goes a few months of work down the drain. The names I had chosen were also too close together and there were a couple redundant events/characters and just things that didn't make sense.

It sort of became obvious I didn't spend enough time on world-building and if I was going to continue the book I would need to flesh that all out first. World-building can be the most fun and trying process in writing. On one hand it's literally you just making a bunch of stuff up and putting it all together into a cohesive history. But it's easy to get carried away or run out of compelling ideas. You have to really monitor yourself. What's your general process for world-building? Or does your genre not have to deal with any of that silly stuff? : P

So that's where I'm at now. But I have a whole week of free time (Well not completely free but I'm going to force myself to write everyday anyway) and I'm hoping to get all the background stories set. As you can probably see, I'm one of those "planned" writers. Or I try to be.

So, here's my checklist:

• World-building complete (including regional people/religions)
• Character backgrounds
• Character name changes (if needed) 
• Plot scene outlines
• Notes on the scenes 

I'll check in in a few days and we'll see how well everything's going. How are your WIPs?

-Jessie

I'm back from the dead

I know, this blog has been dead for months. Not that I was good at updating anyway. Truthfully guys, I'm just coming out of a writing hiatus. I can't point my finger at something to blame - Oh, I could tell you it was all the work from school, or ideas that were not working but honestly? I stopped writing because I couldn't do it anymore. Everything I tried to write was awful. It sounded stilted and gimmicky, like I was playing pretend and my flow was just an imitation. During these months I was no longer a writer. I forgot how.

I just read my post on how writers listen, how their brains instinctively look out for ideas because they're never satisfied. I've been trying to recycle old ideas for months now and I get the same result. But I've stopped finding things around me to make me wonder what if.

I stopped reading too. I was too busy and just didn't have the time, but I know the real reason was it was just too depressing to read successful stories and no longer feel connected to that world. I used to read and see a particular line and smile, knowing not only how clever the line was, but the exact nuances and reasons behind keeping it, including it with the finished project. I couldn't do that anymore. And these are realizations that I'm only now seeing as I sit here typing for the first time since October 2011.

I have laid dormant for too long. And I know that I do not know enough right now to write what I need to. But you know what? I have time. And I can grow and learn with the best if I keep trying. And stopping isn't going to help anyone. My road ahead is difficult and I've got more things against me than for me. But I am a writer. And I know I always will be, even if sometimes I need to give up.

I'm taking up the burden again, and I'm opening my eyes and my brain for ideas. I know that it may not show up immediately and that just accepting the facts won't get me to the end that much quicker, but you know what? I'm not going to give up anymore. I will get to the top of the hill one day, book in hand. And though this post seriously borders too cheesy to take seriously, it's the first time since October where I've written for this long and haven't erased my words. And I'm not gonna lie, that feels pretty good.

So welcome back to my brain. Find a seat and get comfy because I'm sure this adventure will be even more fun than the last ones.   

- Jessie