No.. YOU wait your turn! Please?

Okay, quick show of hands: how many of you are writing more than one story right now?

I have one question for you...

HOW do you do it????

I'm currently writing two parts of the SAME story (the back story and Book 1 of my novel), and boy am I getting myself confused. The back story isn't even a real part of the book - it's strictly just for me and my own knowledge.

To make matters worse, I think I'm toying with ideas that shouldn't even come into play until three books from now. And on top of that one, I'm also getting ideas that shouldn't even be in this story PERIOD.

So I'm just jotting everything down and sticking with my guns, no matter how tempting that shiny...new...distracting...eye popping...amazing...grrrrr... idea IS. It's not even like my current story is falling to the wayside (thank goodness), it's still there too, and my mind feels like it wants to explode!

But despite all my frustration......I.... I love it! I absolutely love it, and wouldn't change it for the world. I would take being too creative any day to having my muse go on vacation again. Those were not fun times.

Do you ever feel this way? Do you have so many ideas from different (or the same) projects bouncing around your head that need to get out?

p.s. For those of you with more than one on the go, I bow to you - you guys are brilliant!

Shhhh....!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!

I was at the doctor's office on Friday and I took my book along with me to read as I knew the wait was going to be over an hour (it was actually nearly two and a half!). I was near the end of the book, at quite an exciting part, but I just couldn't concentrate.

Why?

The receptionist had the radio on, and the speakers were right above my head. Depending on how loud it is or how distracting, I can tune out the world around me when I'm reading or writing, but a lot of the time I need complete silence to get into the zone--especially when writing.

I know quite a few people can read or write or study with music, or some sort of background noise, but I am definitely not one of them. Never have been. My muse likes to go partying when the beat hits, and leaves me stranded at the back wall, watching and waiting for my turn (or banging my head desperately against said wall).

Which type are you? Do you usually read or write with music or any sort of background sounds for inspiration or are you like me, and need the silence to hear yourself think?

The Big ONE-OH-OH!

People!

Something incredible has happened! Earth shattering! Mind blowing! (at least to ME)

I. have. reached. 100. FOLLOWERS!!!!!! (Hi Nicole! :D *smiles & waves*)

I'm still looking at the number in awe. When I first started blogging, I honestly wasn't sure if I could do it. I wasn't sure if I had anything worthwhile to say that anyone would want to read about.

But that's the thing about the blogosphere - you're welcomed with open arms - everywhere I go, I feel the love :)

You have no idea how much your comments and support mean to me. The understanding, guidance and acceptance within this community is something I have not been able to find anywhere else.

Each and every single one of you is so amazing, and unique, and creative, and inspiring (I could go on forever) and I'm not sure what I would without visiting your blogs and seeing your comments. Amidst the rejoicing and cheering, commiserating and consoling, we constantly push each other forwards. You guys keep me moving.

Not only do I feel like I've made honest to goodness, genuine friends here, but I learn something new everyday, and I am so grateful for all of this.

Now I WILL be having a shiny, exciting contest very soon (I clearly wasn't planning ahead), but I'm not sure when as yet, as I want to it to be extra special to give back a little bit of the love you all have shown me in the past month and a half!

Thank you all again from the bottom of my heart and I hope everyone has an uber awesome weekend!

Thoughts for Thursdays

Today's quote:

"I know I was writing stories when I was five. I don't know what I did before that. Just loafed I suppose" P.G. Wodehouse

The first story I can remember writing was when I was six. It was grade one, and we had to write a very short piece for our unique class project. We were hatching chickens. Yes. Real, live chickens. We had incubators set up in the classroom and each group of 5 or 6 had an egg assigned to them.

When he hatched, my story was about Clutzy, the little yellow baby chick with the blue dot on his head. We wrote the stories up, illustrated them, and they were taken to our school's "copy" room for printing and publishing. Really, the little leaflets just came back laminated and nicely binded, but hey, we were six--this was a very big deal, and it made us feel extremely important.

I think I still have it somewhere. If I can find it, I will scan and post it for you guys.

How old were you when you first realized you wanted to write? When did you write your first story and what was it about?

For the Love of Reading

So Day 1 updates?

515 words.

Not great, and not quite where I wanted to be, but it's halfway there and definitely something, right? Baby steps.

I'll probably do a bi-weekly progress update for this--just to keep you all informed, and me on my toes. I don't want to be reporting nothing now, do I? :D

All this got me thinking about something else. I know we try to set writing goals for the day or the week or the year, whichever works best :), but you know what they say, if you want to write well, you need to read a lot. Like a LOT.

With the busy lives we all lead, it's hard to squeeze in precious time to do some reading, but like with writing, reading to me is essential.

I usually read in the train as that's the only part of the day that I can get some uninterrupted time for it - it's not much, usually about an hour or just over (depending on delays). But similar to making however much writing progress, it's something.

What about you? Do you find it's harder to find the time to read now along with your other responsibilities? When do you usually find time to read?

Ooh, and before you go! I want to say thank you to the fabulous Bec over at Gaining my writing wings... for this beautiful award that she made. Please check out her blog now if you haven't already - you won't be disappointed.

Set it, but don't forget it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got a bit (or a lot) of time to do some writing.

I have decided that I'm going to develop (and try to stick to) some sort of schedule. It may not work, because my days tend to be all over the place, ending at all odd hours, but it may help me to stay on track a LITTle more, and feel a lot more productive!

And ain't no shame in that ;)

My new goal is to write at the very minimum 1000 words per day. I've decided that I will try to achieve this goal every weekday between 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and every weekend between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

And of course the best way to stick to something is to TELL people about it, because once everyone knows, it makes it harder to not do it, because now other people have expectations of you too.

Wish me luck! Day 1 starts TODAY.

Time to share. Do you have some sort of writing schedule or daily writing goal that you currently adhere to? If not, do you have one in mind that you plan to implement SOON?

Searching for the Greener Grass

So I know I usually try to leave you with an inspirational post on Fridays to help us welcome the weekend, but I had an awful day yesterday and unfortunately, am not feeling very motivated :(

I hate my "day" job. I really do. The day stretched on for more than 12 hours yesterday.

But I'm scared to venture out there and change it for fear of the unknown. I've been there for almost 5 years nows, and while most people may be thinking that's high time for a change, I'm thinking that maybe I've just reached the epitome of the comfort zone (and shouldn't that be a good thing?).

But do you know what I'm really scared of? I'm worried this "day" job is going to suck the creativity right out of me. Like I will wake up one day and find that it's become my entire existence, and I've lost... well... me!

Now I know I just need to keep moving forward, and plowing through and believing in myself, but some days (like yesterday) prove to be more difficult than others! I'm so sorry to be a downer--I'm not trying to be--I just wanted to put this out there.

I think my dislike for this job should be pushing me to finish this book sooner - I need to redirect that energy.

Please tell me I'm not alone in feeling this way and that I'm not crazy. Do you ever have these moments/fears? If you're currently working, are you amongst the fortunate few that wake up every morning excited to go to work? Are you doing what you love?

Thoughts for Thursdays

I'm really liking hearing your thoughts on the past couple of quotes I've put up, and since I have so many, I think I am going to make it a permanent Thursday feature :)

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life. Organizations for writers palliate the writer's loneliness, but I doubt if they improve his writing. He grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. For he does his work alone and if he is a good enough writer he must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day" - Ernest Hemingway

I don't know if I'm allowed to disagree with this, because well, it's Hemingway, but I am going to.  I think the art of writing itself can be construed as being lonely--because most people do write when they are alone for that's when the ideas flow.  Yes, you probably do produce your best work whilst alone, but it doesn't have to be lonesome though.  Not all the time.  

To me, it's also about achieving that balance, which allows you to manage both writing and other aspects of your life.  And I know it's hard, especially when you're juggling several hats, and trying to fit far too many hours into one day, but somehow, we manage.  We make it work.  

Please share your thoughts on this - do you agree or disagree, and which side of the spectrum are you on?  What advice do you have for those who are struggling?

Before the beginning, there was.... uh, what?

Okay, so my story begins when my characters are ages 15 and 17. They have a history, but no one knows it. The characters don't even know it. It will be revealed to all as the series progresses.

The thing is - I don't quite know it yet either, and I want to. I want to know that back story. I want to know their history.

Unfortunately, since it hasn't been written yet, I'm as much in the dark right now as readers will be later. But the author should know, right?

So I have two little side projects along with writing my main MS -- I'm going to write that back story. It will really just be for my own edification, and probably no one will ever read it, but I will have it, and I think it will help with writing the novels.

Because as they say--you don't really know where you're going unless you understand where you came from.

They will be short, maybe about 30k - 40k each, 2 novellas which chronicle the beginning.

Do you ever experience this when you're writing? Or do you usually already know the history of your characters and your story when you start?

I'm late--I'm late!...Oh wait... I'm not???

In Tuesday's post, I alluded to "having all the time in the world" to write when I was younger. And looking back now, I really did. At least it seemed that way. And yes, the fact of the matter is I don't have so much now.

So I am going to play devil's advocate here, because I strongly believe in both sides of the coin.

Yes, you have all the time in the world to create, to write, to get back to it, to do it, and it's true that you should never rush your art. Because writing doesn't necessarily work that way. You need to feel inspired and motivated, and while much of the time, you can get into that particular zone just by simply writing, writing anything, if you try to force it, you might mess it up. But that doesn't mean you should be sitting around waiting for inspiration or your muse to strike.

Because on the other hand, if you're not doing something--anything--you won't finish. And you have to finish, regardless of when--if not for anything else, at least for yourself. And you will finish, you just need to believe in yourself that much. In the end, only you can push you to do what you have to do.

Life may not get easier, in fact, it might become more complicated (as I've realized), and we're always going to be searching for time to do things.

This isn't a race or a competition, just make certain you have no regrets and you're happy with where you are. There's always time to get there, but you have to keep moving forward and towards your goal.

Do you ever have these moments? Do you ever feel like you're running out of time or that you won't finish what you've started?

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend :)

p.s. Happy 4th of July to all you American bloggers out there :)