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GWW

Writing With Friends

January 25, 2011 Leave a Comment

As a writer, one is also an artist.  You might say to yourself, “Oh, you’re that kind of person?”  Yes, yes I am, and am proud of it.  It’s because of this, that I’m thankful for having so many writer friends.  They experience the same things you do — the blood, sweat, and tears of creating something grand.  They understand what it’s like when you have to create likable characters, they are there to support you when you have writer’s block, they are there to critique your work from page one to THE END.

For those of you who do have friends who write, start a writing club.  Share your work, have it critiqued, and critique their work.  (I’ve found that critiquing can really help you as a writer).  I also encourage you to talk about your writing to your friends, even your non-writing friends.  Getting them interested in your book, may spark up questions from them, helping you write your book.  In March of 2010, I started taking writing classes at Gotham Writers’ Workshop, not only helped my with my writing, it also introduced me to a lot of great people, some of who I still talk to.

Have a great day!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: GWW, Isabella, Random, Writing

Endings…

January 10, 2011 Leave a Comment

THE END!  How can two short words, cause so much trouble for a writer?

Earlier in today, as I sat here on this snow day, I  was faced with a writing assignment that is due on Wednesday.  I was racking my brain on how to begin the ending paragraph/scene of my book.  This is impossible, I thought.  I don’t even know the ending, at least right now, because the more I write, the more things change, along with the ending.  I’ve come so far, (over 50,100 words), that what I thought would be my end, isn’t that way anymore.  Finally, after about two hours, I finally decided to go the “Internal Change” way, and wrote what I thought was a nice ending to my book.  It showed how my Heroine had grown up, and how though life threw in a few curve balls, life has a way of working out.

I’m curious, how have you/are you/did you write your ending to a book?

Happy Writing!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: Chick-Lit, GWW, Isabella, Random, Writing

New Year! New Writing Goals?

January 5, 2011 Leave a Comment

Last month, I was a little panicked!  2011 was coming SOON, and I had a deadline.  (Thank you, honey, for coming up with a great idea about a date change).  With a month full of obligations and celebrations — my dad’s birthday, my 1st wedding anniversary, family gatherings and Christmas, I honestly asked myself how this was going to get done.  With three days, of consistent writing, staring at the computer, deleting the word count option from Word, which allowed me to focus more on the story, and with a lot of inspiration from my husband,  I DID!  I started what will hopefully (cross your fingers), be my first book in March, and before midnight, on December 31st, 2010, I had written 50,120 words.

 

After finishing over fifty thousand words, I took a step back to think about what I AM going to accomplish this year.

1: Finish my book by March 18th, my 30th birthday!

2: Take better notes about my story, and maybe even begin to outline.

3: Finish the classes that are needed, and get my Gotham Writers’ Workshop Fiction Certificate!  (I have two more to take).

4: Begin looking for a possible agent by July 1st!

5: Start book number two!

6: Write more when I take vacations.

7: Try and write something, even just a page, every single day.

8: Remember to always click SAVE on the PC, and not to touch the “trashcan” on the iPad, AND to sync correctly!

9: Don’t stress!  Know that the story will come to how it’s supposed to be told.

10: On New Year’s Eve of this year, I will sit back and smile, knowing I’ve done my best!

 

Overall, I learned a lot in 2010, thanks to GWW and the friends that have helped me become a better writer.  (Y’all are all awesome, and I thank you).

What are your writing goals for 2011?

Happy Writing!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: Chick-Lit, GWW, Isabella, Random, Writing

The Thrill of Having Deadlines and Why I Love Them

September 21, 2010 Leave a Comment

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!  All deadlines are meant for a reason, whether it be meant for work, school, or even for your personal gratification.  A lot of people do not like having deadlines, though a lot of people thrive on them, and I’m one of them.

When I’m trying to meet a writing deadline, I tend to work really hard at first, but then I get a little burnt out, so I take a day, two, or five off.  I give myself time to reevaluate the piece and think about the storyline, the characters, what should be changed, deleted, and added.  A couple of days before the deadline, I then begin writing my heart out until, very happily, I meet the goal.

I also must say, and this goes out to a few people who call me an “overachiever,” I’m not that at all.  I have been known to turn my work in early, but I would prefer to be ahead of schedule.  I (try to) keep a tight schedule, and not just follow it, but stay way in front of needs to get done.

My advice: (1) Make a schedule, and put writing time on your calendar.  (2) Take it day by day and page by page.  (3) Don’t stress.  (4) Try not to edit until you’re finished writing, because this can lead to distractions.  (5) Submit your work, and pat yourself on the back for doing a job well done!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: Chick-Lit, GWW, Isabella, Random, Writing

Helpful Writing Books…and Why I Use Them!

September 18, 2010 Leave a Comment

How many of you have bought a book to help you write?  At a young age, I began buying books, hoping that by reading them, would help me along in my writing journey.  To this day, I cannot even begin to count how many of these books I have collected.

As some of you know, I seriously begun writing in March, and am proud of the accomplishments I have made.  Over the past six month, I have learned A LOT, but I can’t say I’ve done it all alone.  The classes that I have and am taking at Gotham Writers’ Workshop, have taught me so much about my writing life, and about myself.  During this time, a few books are to be given credit for.  They are as follows:

(1) Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Oxford-American-Writers-Thesaurus/Oxford-University-Press-Staff/e/9780195342840/?itm=21&USRI=thesaurus

I have had many thesauruses, but I really think the title says, “…Writer’s Thesaurus.”  In this book, there is every word that a writer would possibly use.  This book is very concise, direct, and easy to understand.  The synonyms that are suggested, can be very usable in any way that author wants.  I do prefer book thesauruses because you can be searching for one word, but then see another word, which can give you another idea…and so on.  As for an internet thesaurus, http://thesaurus.com/, this is another source I use.

(2) See Jane Write: A Girl’s Guide to Writing Chick Lit, http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=see+jane+write

I am only a quarter through this book, but I already love it.  If you’re a woman who wants to write a Chick Lit, this book is for you!  (And no, I’m not joking).  When you first pick this book up, you plan on it being one of the do this, do that, and you’re published, but no…this book will test you to see if you are really Chick Lit writer material, and then explains on why you want to write a book like this.  As the book continues, it will guide you step-by-step, on how to write your book — dealing character descriptions, style, with writer’s block, working on personal deadlines, editing, and the manuscript submission process).  The two women who wrote this book, Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs are two smart ladies who know what they are talking about!

(3) On Writing Romance: How to Craft a Novel That Sells, http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Romance-Craft-Novel-Sells/dp/1582974365

Ahh…Leigh Michaels’ book…It’s absolutely brilliant!  I have taken two of Leigh’s classes, thanks again to GWW, and am about to start my third.  I owe everything I’ve learned about Romance Writing to her.  She is a brilliant wave of information, but no only that, she’s like a lighthouse, who asks you questions, and you find the answer.  She lets you write your story, but gives and helps you write what needs to be told.  Through the an classes we will learn even more — it’s like she’s with you every step of the way, during your journey.  Her book answers your questions, and will help you in any way gain all the knowledge to help you write your perfect Romance book.

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: Chick-Lit, GWW, Isabella, Link, Random, Writing

Distractions When Writing! (Oh, I did something stupid tonight!)

August 17, 2010 Leave a Comment

For about the past week or so, I haven’t really focused on Second Thoughts of the Sexless Fiancée as I want to, and I think I know why — it’s all because of being distracted way too easily!  Yes, it might be the excitement of the renovation process (YEA), annoying E-mail alerts that are invading my inbox, Thorndike crying (yes, I mean crying), the phone ringing, I’m either too hot or too cold, and worse of all, I have a brain fart and have no idea what my characters want to say or do.  These are only a few reasons why I can’t get motivated to write and I don’t even know where to start!  I have read, taken, and have tried my best at trying to stay focused, but nothing has worked, but I’m hoping to change that, and so far, since March, I have — thanks to the classes at GWW. (That reminds me of the stupid thing I did tonight, but I’ll get to that later).

Anyway, in search of really good advice, I decided to Google “distractions when writing.”  On the 9th (sad, I know) result, I finally found a very well written article.  I didn’t feel like the writer was like, “sit there until you come up with something to write” “train yourself to focus,” “don’t take breaks – they’re bad…,” and the list goes on.  Along with what he writer said to not do, he gave examples, which seem to make sense.  Here is the article: http://writetodone.com/2008/01/09/how-to-write-without-distractions/.  All 10 of these tactics, seems pretty reasonable, so I’m eager to get started!

So…I’m sure you’re wondering what stupid thing I did was, aren’t you?  Well, last night, I signed up for Fiction Advanced.  That begins on September 8th, and ends on November 17th.  I was cool with just that, because of all that is going on right now (a few very exciting things), I thought that would be enough…but then tonight, I was in the Lounge with some great and inspiring ladies, and one amazing instructor, and I found out that there is a Romance Advanced class, and…yep, I signed up.  That class begins on October 6th, and ends on December 15th.  Oh, yay, for overlapping!  After I took a breath and calmed down, only after realizing what I had done, I feel like I’m more energized in my writing than I have been, though really it never stopped, but merely came to a slow speed.  In all honesty with myself, I truly believe that if I continue on with thee GWW classes, I will maybe have a completed manuscript, and then comes the fun part — writing a query letter!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: GWW, Isabella, Link, Writing

A Day of Playing Catch Up!

August 16, 2010 Leave a Comment

So, today’s been quite a day.  (I still can’t believe that I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning, though I did absolutely nothing except for dream about the day I sell a book).  After a few errands in the morning, and a good lunch, I finally caught up on some class stuff, and wrote a comment on the lecture question, and then wrote a critique.  (Yes, it sounds like I didn’t do much of anything, but it takes a lot of work to write).  Tonight, I will finish reading the lecture and organize my GWW notebook, and hopefully take some notes over the first two Booth’s that I have submitted, and lastly, maybe it will be a “Cosabella Night,” and I’ll get inspired.

Tomorrow, I’m hoping to continue writing in the earlier part of the day, and then I look forward to joining the ladies in the Lounge, while drinking a glass of Mommy’s Time Out…

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: GWW, Isabella, Writing

My Writing Life

August 16, 2010 Leave a Comment

So, I’m currently on this amazing journey of writing what will be my first book.  It’s a sub-genre of Romance, a Chick-Lit.  With five Gotham Writers’ Workshop classes behind me, I have an am, gaining the confidence to keep working as hard as I can, because this (writing a book), is what I want to do.  I’ve never been so sure of myself (except for the time I accepted my husband’s proposal).

With the love and support from my family, I know I that my pseudonym, Isabella Louise Anderson, will achieve anything she wants to!

Filed Under: Isabella Tagged With: GWW, Isabella, Writing

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