Chick Lit Goddess

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Writing Backwards

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I have two Booth reviews in my Gotham Writers’ Workshop mystery class, each consisting of at least 3,750 words.  My first Booth submission isn’t due until the middle of November but since I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month, I thought that it would be a good idea to get ahead on some projects that might conflict with NaNoWriMo.  Anyway after a sudden thought of a story, I jotted down some notes and thought I really had something.  After completing a few other items on my To Do list, it was time to start my murder mystery!

I finished the night with over 1,300 words and love what I’ve written so far.  After closing my laptop off for the night I thought of the next few events, but don’t know how to write from A to Z, but rather from Z to A.  Have you ever wanted to write the story backwards?  I’m seriously considering this!  BUT HOW?  Do I write line by line, from ending to beginning, or Scene Z to Scene A?  Have any of you done this before, or even thought about doing this?  I know it sounds crazy, right, but for you writers, is it really that insane?  You know how it is, Mr./Mrs. Writer’s Block comes for a visit and won’t go back home until you’ve had some time to mull and stress over until it hits you, and you beginning writing like a mad woman or man.

As I write this I’m beginning to think I’ve lost my mind and have too many things on my plate, but really it’s not that bad.  (See THIS blog for what I have coming up during the month of November).

Any backwards writing comments or advice are much welcomed!

Thoughts For Tuesday

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Preparing for NaNoWriMo

I spent a lot of time this weekend trying to come up with a type of outline for my book during National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo.  I jotted ideas down in my phone, but whenever I opened Word, ready to start typing, I had nothing!  I must have opened and closed the document three or four times the entire weekend, each time excited that this would be it and I’d have an outline.  No luck!

While I’m not exactly stressed about this, I am wondering if I should even be participating in NaNoWriMo, but something tells me that I can do this, so at least my confidence isn’t completely busted.  I know that it will come to me eventually, hopefully before November 1st, and when it does I’ll be ready!

For now I will be focusing on what I know I need to do to help me write a book in a month:

  • Work on creating a conflict and go from there
  • Create strong characters; a Hero and a Heroine and their character description
  • What do I want the message to the reader to be?
  • Do I need to do any research for my work?  (A destination perhaps?)
  • Make a schedule that ables me to at least write 1,633 words a day, along with two GWW classes, a girl’s only weekend with my sister, and Thanksgiving all in my favorite month!
  • De-stress!
**Any help, tips or thoughts are greatly appreciated**

How Twitter Can Help Writers

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I’ve been really into the Twitter world for about three weeks now.  I can’t say that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t quite understand why most everyone that I know “tweets.”  I’m still learning all the signs, but so far it has helped me along in my writing journey.

As an unpublished Chick Lit (not a dying genre like some think) writer, I have been graciously welcomed into a whole new way of communicating and publicizing myself and my work.

  • By tweeting about your WIP or your blogs, it can help get the word out about you.  This can create more “Likes” to your Facebook page, more hits on your website and more fans over time.
  • By “Following” people, blogs or companies, they will often tweet advice, tips or quotes that can help you along the way, no matter what stage you are at on your journey.
  • Since a lot of writers seem to be tweeting, it’s easy to communicate with people.  It’s a quick way of sharing a quick message or a to give a “congratulations.”  Often times they will reciprocate when you’ve accomplished something.  It’s also nice to have a cheerleader in your corner on your side when you need a little pick me up.
  • While only 140 characters are allowed, I think it makes the writer in all of us try to sum up what we’re saying and learn how to only use words that are necessary.  This can also make for a quick read for your reader.
I encourage you to at least give it a shot.  What’s the harm in trying something that might help your career?
Follow me on Twitter @ ILA121209

It’s Savory Saturday

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I love pizza so much that I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all in the same day!  Most of the time my lunches consist of Lean Cuisines, Smart Ones, or something healthy.  Pizza isn’t really healthy so when I found the 200 Calorie DiGiorno pizza, I was thrilled, but had my doubts.  How can pizza that’s only 200 calories be good?  I was so wrong!  This pizza is delicious, and there are four tasty selections (Chicken with Peppers & Onions, Cheese and Tomato, Pepperoni, and Supreme).  I struggle with finding healthy meals to eat for one which is why the freezer is filled with frozen meals.  The meals range from Lean Cuisines, Smart Ones and DiGiorno pizzas!

DiGiorno Supreme Pizza
Set your oven to 400
Place it on the rack and cook 13 minutes

I highly recommend these pizzas for anyone who is trying to watch what they eat, because most of the time pizza is a splurge.  While the size of the pizza is small, I would add a salad,  (THESE Caesar salads are SO good!).

Sprinkle with crushed red pepper and enjoy!

Bartlett’s Roget’s Thesaurus

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A few months ago I was at the library and asked for a thesaurus.  The librarian said that she didn’t know if they had one because everyone uses the internet, but that she would look.  Minutes later she came back with their “only” thesaurus that they had.  How can a library only have one?  While I understood how and why this could be true in my generation, especially with the growth and advances in technology.

As a writer, this really bugged me.  How can one of the most beloved type of resource for writers be not in use (print) anymore?  Aren’t libraries supposed to have books in print?  (I know that they are now carrying audio books now, but would you really listen to a resource book like that?)  Most of the time when I flip through a thesaurus or even a dictionary, it can give me inspiration and help me learn more new words.  Anyway, HERE is the thesaurus that I was handed.  At first I was confused at the layout of this book, but once I got that down, I was in love with such a brilliant book.  While I was there that day I was so amazed with this book that I didn’t want to leave, but I couldn’t check it out (you can’t check out resources).  Weeks later I was still thinking about that book and couldn’t find it at my local library, so I bought it online.  Below are some pictures that I took to show you how much I love this book:

Bartlett's Roget's Thesaurus

Index 1
Index 2

 

Categories

Definitions

Extra tidbits

Back cover

Your Memoir Character & Your Fiction Characters

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Yesterday I started my Memoir class.  After reading the introduction, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s okay to exaggerate some.  The advice that was given was to write it how you saw and/or remembered everything about it, even if it wasn’t exactly true, (ex: stretching the truth in a conversation).

Like fiction, memoirs can be short or long.  They both have to have some kind of plot, with a beginning, middle, and end, but the most important part, especially in memoirs, are the main character.  You stories in either genre, have to make the reader want to turn the pages.  We the writers, want you, the reader, to connect with the story or characters that have been created.

HERE is a blog that I wrote awhile back and I’d like to revisit the following question: When writing, how much are your characters like or unlike you?

To My Readers, Thank You

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As a blogger and unpublished author I’d like to thank the readers.  Recently I made the 5,000+ hits on my blog and I couldn’t have done it without y’all!  When I started this blog I didn’t think that it would be something that I would keep up with, nor anyone would read.  I was very wrong!  Yay, someone’s reading my stuff!  Now it’s, I wonder what my faithful readers/subscribers will say about this!  While it has been a struggle at times to come up with topics to write about, I thrive on the anticipation of the day-to-day topics!  This leads me to a new though, Why do we blog?

For most people there might be many reasons (keeping family and friends up to date, publicize your project(s), give your opinions and/or reviews, and to use your blog somewhat of a journal).  My blog is about all the above, but mainly it’s for my readers.  I write for the people who read my blog and take something away from it and  I write for the people who come across my blog and are generous enough to comment.  I write for the readers because without them, the writing wouldn’t be nearly as rewarding.

Here’s to another great year of blogging!

And The Week Begins

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This week will start off busy, but that’s okay.

By the end of today I will (hopefully) have turned in another batch of edits to my editor and have written tomorrow’s blog.  I will have started on the loads of laundry that have been piling up, along with the other piles of clothes that we have (finally) unpacked this weekend.

Oh, Monday here you are to greet me with your glory.

(Yes readers, I’m STRESSED out).

This week consists of the following:

  •  Blogging, editing, starting my Nonfiction class from Gotham Writers’ Workshop, working on the assignments and preparing for my other GWW Mystery class which starts a week from Tuesday, writing an outline of some sort for NaNoWriMo, and of course the day-to-day wifely duties (laundry, dishes, shopping, this list never ends)!

Wish me luck!

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

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Like I announced on my LAST POST I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month.  I have a little over a month to prepare for this monthlong journey and I’m already panicking with preparation, so I’ve decided to make a list on what I need to do:

  • GET ALL THE NECESSARY ITEMS: Notepads for scratching down notes: legal-sized is best because it allows you more space to get creative.  Get a Mobile File Folding Cart.  This filing cabinet if wonderful!  It’s light and very portable.  (If all goes well I am planning on beginning my filing system soon).  Get a mini-notebook to keep with you at all times so if an idea pops in your mind all you have to do is write it down.  File Jackets have saved my life as far as keeping things organized.  These large folders are big enough (depending on if you get the large size) to put your legal-sized notepad in.  Of course you’ll need pens, but you will need an eraser.  Since I’m in the editing process, you will need an eraser, on you love.  HERE is a link to the eraser that I have.  Sticky Notes are my favorite item to use when writing, editing or jotting down reminders about your characters to place on your computer screen.  Write an outline for your novel.  If you’re like me, you probably are beginning to wonder what to write.  Using an outline will prevent you for completely stressing out and might help writer’s block stay away…or postpone his visit until you write your next book.
  • MAKE GOALS: Writing 50,000 words seems like a lot, but it averages to be around 1,650 words a day.  It doesn’t seem that bad once you see the number, right?  I’m not saying that there won’t be days when you can’t even write 500 because there will, and that’s okay.  You can create a writing schedule for yourself, similar to a To Do List.  Say you write 500 words a day at the least and if you don’t make it, make it up during the weekends.  Don’t worry, you can do it!
  • GET A SUPPORT GROUP: Having a friend or a writing support group during the month of November, can be a wonderful thing.  If you’re up for it, have them read what you’ve written and talk things over.  If you bounce thought between each other, most of the time you’ll be lucky enough to get a burst of inspiration.
  • PUMP YOURSELF UP: Get excited!  If you’ve never taken part in NaNoWriMo before but have always wanted to write a novel, this is your chance.  You can do it!  If you have, then remember how it felt when you finished writing your first book.
  • WAIT FOR IT TO BE 12:00:01 ON NOVEMBER 1st of 2011: Now that you’re ready, all you have to do is wait for time to pass.  Remember to breathe to calm your nerves.  It’s important to not stress before you get going.
  • WRITE: It’s time to start writing and by then end of the month, you’ll be able to say, “I wrote a book in a month!”