Hi! I'm Brooke, and I'm an author. I love writing; I always have, and I love anything that has to do with words and poems and reading. I also like to sing, act, swim, and laugh (a lot.)
“As a writer you ask yourself to dream while awake.” ~ Aimee Bender
If you want to be a writer, you should find yourself daydreaming. It’s perfectly normal to be scolded in class for daydreaming, to “dream while awake.”
Dreams are often the inspiration we need to begin a story, to continue writing when we are stuck, or to finish a story. But how could we ever turn writing into a career if we only “dream” at night?
I like this quote because it reminds us that as writers, it is important to keep a look out for the things that may cause our minds to wander. I often find myself sitting in history class, daydreaming about what life would be like in this time period or that time period.
Different places, experiences, music, people…all of these things give us excuses to “dream” while awake. It’s so exciting.
“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” – Virginia Woolf
This quote says it all to me. It accurately describes the result of being an author – your soul and your experiences are woven into your works. I always find it interesting to listen to other authors talk about this very topic.
They are often asked: “Were any of these events/characters inspired by your life?”
The responses are usually very different, as well they should be. Just as your experiences are unique to you, the way in which you incorporate your soul and your experiences into your writing is unique.
Many authors agree that their personality traits and characteristics are a part of each of their characters. If you “know” a character, it is easier to write about the character.
Real life events or people may inspire the name of a new character, or a plot twist, or a street name (in the case of J.K. Rowling).
Either way, it is impossible for the author to keep himself/herself out of their own works. The author gives the story the “spark of life,” if you will, by weaving themselves into the story.
Many writers believe it is important to have a “special space” in which to write. This “space” must be quiet and peaceful. This “space” must provide the writer with an ideal location in which to, well, write.
Recently, I rearranged my bedroom, and sold some of my older furniture, including my large cherry wood desk. I truly loved this desk, and it was tough for me to let it go. In it’s place I now have a vintage white desk that is significantly smaller. So instead of writing at my desk, lately I have been writing in my new armchair, which is also a swivel/rocker. (Does it get any better than that?)
I sit in this chair with my laptop in my lap and write until my heart is content.
I came home from school today, however, and found that my chair was missing. The books I had piled behind it (this chair doubled as a “reading space” as well) remained.
The chair is currently being re-upholstered. It could be gone for weeks.
Oh, the horror.
My first thought: I won’t write until it’s back.
My second: That’s silly.
Yes, it’s important to have a “space,” and I am a firm believer in having a “space,” but it’s time to realize that if I’d like to be a serious author, I need to learn how to write anytime, anyplace.
When I wrote my first book at age 12, I did not fully appreciate the amount of time I had on my hands.
Now, I hardly have any.
The last thing I want is for this post to turn into a whiny complaint – because it is important for me to remember that my extra-curricular activities are things I have willingly chosen to do. And I love doing them. Unfortunately, this leaves me with very little free time to do the other things I enjoy – writing and reading, for instance.
If I’m not doing homework, or studying for a test, or working on a school project, I am probably volunteering, rushing to a club meeting, playing tennis, working, or babysitting.
I am currently involved in four clubs offered at my high school. I am an officer of two of these clubs.
By the time my day is done, I am tired and ready for bed by 9:00 or 9:30, which is early for the typical high school student. I wake up at 6:05 and leave the house for school by 7:05.
I believe my writing deserves more than 30 minutes here or there. I believe it deserves more than the hour and a half I am able to knock out on a Saturday.
Solutions? Anyone?
I believe that if someone truly enjoys doing something, they will find the time to do it. I’ll admit I’ve been making excuses lately because I’ve faced some serious writer’s block. But it’s time to make time for the hobby I consider to be a very important part of my life.
If every other author can balance writing and life, I can do it, too!
I would like to think I have a “natural talent” for writing.
Let’s assess the validity of this statement. I am beginning to believe that “talent” is only a small part of what goes into our achievements – in my case, writing three books. There are many other ingredients involved – perseverance and consistency, for instance.
Writing is something I have always loved to do, and therefore I do it often. Practicing something, or doing something consistently over a long period of time, makes you better at it. Looking back, I realize that I would not call my 8 or 9 year-old self a “talented” writer. My writing has improved over the years because of the hours I spent practicing the craft.
So this is the 10,000 hour rule – 10,000 hours of consistent, deep practice is what it takes to become an “expert.”
This means it would take me 27.4 years to become an expert author if I wrote for an hour every day of the week, 365 days a year. 27.4 years is a considerably long period of time, and that is only if I practiced consistently for an hour EVERY day, which does not exclude holidays and lazy days.
Let’s be honest. I may spend an hour writing over a period of two or three days – inconsistently throughout the week.
What point am I trying to make here? I have a really, really long way to go.
It is Day 12 of NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.
How is your novel coming? They say that Week 2 of NaNoWriMo is the toughest, because writers have gotten over the initial excitement of writing a book and have come up against a brick wall. You doubt yourself, second-guess yourself, and begin listening to that inner-critic that drives you crazy. Don’t give up!
Each weekday during November, the Writer’s Digest website will be offering free tips for NaNoWriMo participants, called “giveaways.” If you click “read more,” you are required to submit an email address before you are allowed to download the “giveaway.”
This week’s giveaway is about pacing your novel, taken from Nancy Kress’ Elements of Fiction Writing: Beginnings, Middles & Ends.
A fast-paced novel increases tension, which intrigues readers and causes them to keep reading. Sometimes it can be difficult to keep the action escalating, but it is essential to plot. Without action, there is no conflict. And without conflict, there would be no story.
The following are tips to “quicken the pace of your story” from the giveaway piece written by Nancy Kress:
Start your story in the middle of a dramatic sequence, not before the drama commences.
This is a tough one for me. I don’t know about you, but I tend to “set the scene” before I make it to the action. However, I realize that when I read back over my work, I bore myself to tears. Maybe “setting the scene” is something I need to do in order to get started, but something I delete later.
Rely on dialogue. A lot of story can be carried by spoken conversation.
I believe that this is something I do well. For the longest time, I have worried that I put too much dialogue in my writing and that I need more description. It’s nice to know that I might be doing something right.
Keep backstory to a minimum. The more we learn about your characters through what they do now, in story time, the less you’ll need flashbacks, memories and exposition about their histories.
Whoops. I give my characters so much backstory it is probably impossible for the reader to form their own conclusions. I think backstory is necessary for the author, not so much for the reader.
Keep chapters short.
For some odd reason, I have always believed longer chapters meant I was writing “a real novel.” But I have noticed that books with shorter chapters are the books I finish more quickly.
Have these tips helped? What do you believe you can improve upon? What do you believe you’re doing well?
I’ve been told countless times that if I’d like to be a writer, I should carry a notebook everywhere I go. A notebook, regardless of size or style, would enable me to record my random ideas and the whims that I would forget if not immediately written down.
For some reason, I’ve never really been into keeping a consistent notebook, because my writing is saved in various folders on my computer. I’ve tried to keep a notebook, but when I often forget to place it in my purse, I decided that an “idea notebook” just wasn’t for me.
However, I recently read A Writer’s Notebook, by Ralph Fletcher, which completely changed my mind.
For some reason, I had forgotten that customization of my notebook is entirely up to me. If I don’t want to carry it with me everywhere I go, I don’t have to. If the notebook isn’t solely for “ideas,” that’s okay too. The notebook, really, is just like a journal. It is meant to be completely personal, most likely different for every writer. (And who says you have to be a writer to keep a notebook?!)
So far, the composition book I have started is coming along well. The notebook houses a variety of things – journal entries, ideas for novels, lists, photographs, song lyrics, poetry, quotes, and articles I printed off the Internet.
I absolutely love the notebook because I can be so creative with it. The idea is that when I am writing, and need an idea for an interesting character, or an interesting name for a character, or an interesting plot line, or an interesting quote, I know right where to look for inspiration.
Use the notebook as a diary, an idea catcher, a sketchbook…whatever floats your boat.
The book signing for local self-published Tallahassee authors took place this afternoon, and was extremely fun. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other authors and visiting with my family and friends who showed up to support me.
Highlights of the afternoon:
1. The Fiji water bottle I found on my table when I walked in at 1:30 to set up.
2. Discussions with the other authors about self-publishing.
3. Having my picture taken with the oldest author participating in the signing, who will be turning 96 years old in a few days. (As the only 16 year old, I was the youngest participating author.)
4. The delicious shortbread cookie my sister brought to me after about an hour at the bookstore.
All in all, I would call the signing a complete success. I really hope to have another opportunity like this again – maybe with a new book to promote. No promises.
Rick Riordan, young adult fiction writer, is one of my favorite authors. I have been reading his books since middle school.
I admire him for writing two series simultaneously (the Kane Chronicles and Heroes of Olympus), that are both unique and engaging. Riordan’s three series feature very different characters and unique plot lines, as well as mythology.
(I take Latin…I’m really into Greek and Roman history.)
So which series is your favorite?
Percy Jackson was the first Rick Riordan series I read, which makes me slightly biased, but I’ve got to admit I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Percy’s return in the Heroes of Olympus series.
VOTE for your favorite Rick Riordan series…poll is located in the sidebar!
Songs are just another type of poetry. These poems are put to music, and are just as moving and inspirational. Tonight I attended a Chris Tomlin concert, and I’d like to share the lyrics of one of my favorite songs of the night. 🙂
Where you go, I’ll go
Where you stay, I’ll stay
When you move, I’ll move
I will follow…
All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I’ll go
Where you stay, I’ll stay
When you move, I’ll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I’ll love
How you serve I’ll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you
Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You’re the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone
In you there’s life everlasting
In you there’s freedom for my soul
In you there joy, unending joy
and I will follow.
