Ghost

You make me a ghost
You push me into the dark
But I am alive

Invisibility is where you drag me
You may have hit your mark
You make me a ghost

I don't know what to be
You extinguish my spark
But I am alive

Drown me in the sea
In the mirror, you see a monarch
You make me a ghost

Maybe that is the key
You are a shark
But I am alive

From you, I will be free
To courage, I embark
Make me a ghost
But I am alive

How to Rock your Character Profile

So your ready to make an awesome protagonist but aren't sure where to start. Well, today, to get you started, we're going to do an example character profile, perfect for explaining those little darlings of yours. And to do so, we're using me as the example character.
Here we go:

BRITTANY OLDROYD

Biography:
Brittany Oldroyd, at almost twenty years old, is a struggling novelist. She moved around a lot when she was little (Utah, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arizona). She now goes to school in Idaho.

Physical Appearance:
Brittany is a bit of color chameleon when it comes to hair. She has gone from brown to blonde to red. Her eyes are light brown and her skin is fairly tan (for a writer at least).

Personality: The Creator

Internal

Ø  Artistic, intuitive, sensitive

Ø  Observant; sees the big picture

Ø  Unconventional; does not like conformity

Ø  Brainstormer; easily absorbed by ideas

Ø  Introverted, has an internal focus

Ø  Allows disorder

Ø  Content with her own company

Interpersonal

Ø  Undependable in areas outside of focus

Ø  Good-natured with others but not always sensitive to them

Ø  Not swayed by the group

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  Okay! So that's how this works! A character profile, as short as it might be, is an amazing resource for keeping track of characters and feeling like you know them.

  Thanks guys!

Separating the Editor from the Writer

Writer: creator of the story and designer of the plot and characters
Editor: number one critique and the voice of reason

Ah, the editor. That wonderful voice that says you can't do this, do this instead. As writers, we sometimes create stories that are less than...amazing because of a lack of editing. Which is fine, really. In order to make good fiction, you've got to take some risks. But you also need someone (whether that person is you or someone else) to tell you when it's time to be sensible.
Today, in the light of this matter, we are going to talk about how to separate the creative writer and the sensible editor in all of us.
In my mind, there is no better way to do this than give a couple of lists. One for the drafting stage, one for the editing stage. During drafting stage are rules for writing without letting the editor barge in. During editing stage are rules for editing.
Well, here we go:

Stay Back Editors!: Rules for Drafting
1. Do NOT edit as you go. Write straight through without a backward glance at what you've already written. No fixing grammar, plot, characters, anything until the draft is complete. This ensures that you don't get lost in your editing before the story is done.
2. Repeat after me: It's not perfect and that's okay. Who ever heard of a perfect draft? Heck, who ever heard of a perfect book? Writing is not about perfection, it's about truth. And to find that truth you are going to have to experiment a little.
3. Be cautious about sharing your work at this stage. Now, I am not saying you can't show anyone and it must be locked down tight. Trust me, I know the troubles of a writer's secrets. What I am saying is that you should be careful who you show. Some may critique the writing you are just beginning to have confidence in it. Even if they are trying to help, sometimes you need to get through the draft before any kind of editing (self or otherwise) is done.

Listen to Me: Rules for Editing
1. Look at your writing with a critical eye. It can be helpful to look at your writing as the reader would. If you were reading this book, would you be confused? Would you find it enjoyable? These are crucial questions at this stage.
2. Split the editing process up. This is a long, often times, strenuous stage. It's best to do several revisions, with several different kinds of editing (such as plot, characters, setting, voice, grammar, etc.).
3. Don't get overwhelmed. Easier said than done, I know. Sometimes, while editing, it may seem that you have far too much work to do. Don't get discouraged! Writing is a process and an adventure. Often times, opinion overrides fact. Be critical but not overly so. You have something to bring to the world of books, don't you forget that!

Alright! So those are my two pieces on writing and editing. Tune back in tomorrow for my plan from prewriting to publishing in Ideas to Print: My Plan on the Road from Prewriting to Publication.

Thanks guys! Leave a comment below!

A Call to the Writers

Writing is lonely.
We spend hours upon hours locked up in offices and bedrooms and basements, writing words we hope will somehow mean something. It's a lot of work and it's not the kind of work that is going to make you a lot of friends. You'll miss out on a lot of opportunities to meet new people and mingle, etc, etc.
So why do we do it?
Writing is a duty.
It has been said that the job of the writer is to reveal the faults of mankind, give them a reason and a way to change.
That's some pretty deep stuff. We, as writers, are charged with the duty that doesn't make friends. Either you don't have time for a social life, or your writing doesn't make you any friends.
It's a brave work. We are charged to show the world what is wrong with it. A great many people don't want to know that.
A great many people believe writing is only entertainment. And, while it does entertain often, that is not it's true purpose.
And so, dear followers, darling writers, you must be brave and be bold. You must write what you believe. You must write the hard truth. And above all else, you must not be afraid to stay true to the story you are telling.
Many writers think it is all just entertainment. That the point is to give readers a "good ride". To you, I say no. Because writing  has never been about joy rides. Because stories have never been about the fun.
We write to discover the truth. We write to reveal the truth. We write because we have something to give the world.
Do not compromise your story with your fear of others' reactions.
This is my call to you.

Using Spotify to Your Advantage

So today the plan was to actually talk about making a killer character profile today. However, I've been browsing through Spotify this evening and HOLY COW COOLNESS! 

Spotify users, did you know how much you can do with the browsing option?! (Very excited here)

If you browse through music, you can find all kinds of cool playlists, premade and full of awesome songs. 

Here are some of my favorites:

1. "Who Runs the World? Girls."
2. "Sleep"
3. "Creativity Boost"
4. "Nature Noise"
5. "Guided Meditation" 
6. "Audiobooks"

What really surprised me is that you can get audiobooks like The Great Gatsby or Great Expectations on Spotify. I mean, how awesome is that?

So with this in mind, I would like to point out a couple ways writers can use Spotify to their advantage.

1. You can listen to books and grow your writing vocabulary. For free.

Need I say more? Audiobooks aren't cheap. The fact that Spotify has some good classics for free is pretty darn incredible.

2. You can find a playlist for basically anything.

And I mean ANYTHING. For absolutely anything you'd do. Write, sleep, meditate, shower, you name it.

3. They have playlists for every mood, too.

Doesn't matter how you're feeling. Angry? Sad? Angry and sad? You got it.

Alright, so that's all I've got to say on the matter. Point is, Spotify is a great option. A great free option. And at the end of the day, what could be better?

Questions? Comments? 

Developing Story Ideas

So today I want to take a moment to talk about story ideas and how to develop them, in honor of the five year anniversary of the day I came up with Segolia. That's right, it's been five years since I thought up the world of Segolia (YAY!).
With that in mind, this is how I develop my ideas:
1. I start off by taking a basic note. Usually this is only one sentence long and, for me, it is often just a "what if" question. For example, what if everything we knew about vampires was false? (that's from Forbidden).
2. I take the basic note and develop it into a complex web. I just start writing down everything I know about the story. And I mean EVERYTHING. How the plot goes, background, etc.
3. You turn that into a basic outline describing each chapter in detail.
4. Tada! You have an outlined story now.
That's my process. Of course, it's not the only way to do it. If you have a way that works better for you, do it! This is just something to get you started.
Write on!

First Drafts: Do's and Don'ts

So, I haven't written a first draft of anything for a couple of years. Normally, that wouldn't seem like a very good way to start this post. You're probably thinking I'm not the best resource for you right now. But I have written four or five rough drafts, even if it's been awhile.

Right now, I'm working on a rough draft of a new novel. And I'm reminded of how incredibly hard it is. No wonder I haven't written anything new for awhile. So I've decided that others are probably struggling with rough drafts, maybe even for the first time.

Here is my advice.

1. Do write a little every day. Perfect practice makes perfect. If you aren't writing pretty consistently, it's going to be a lot harder to write when you actually try. Habits are important to make as a writer.
2. Don't edit as you go. This is practically law in my mind. If you're always going back to fix things you are never going to get through a single draft. If the first draft sucks, good. That means you're doing it right.
3. Do your research when you start. Know your characters and plot and backgrounds. But don't be tied down to them. Things can change.
4. Don't worry about how it sounds. This goes back to no editing during the drafting. Until that first draft is done, no editing and no deciding what to keep and what to throw out. Basically, anything goes in a first draft.

And that's it. This is my recipe to getting through the first draft. And it all gets better from here, scout's honor.

Have fun with it. You only get to write this rough draft once.

Planning a Story: Part 2

And we're back with more pre-writing advice!

After making a web, I start outlining. Here's what an outline might look like:

Chapter title

1. Event number one

2. Event number two

3. Event number three

Chapter title

1. Event number one

2. Event number two

I continue doing this for every chapter until I've outlined the entire book. And that's it. Voila! An outline!

What's your outlining method?

Planning a Story: Part 1

Today we are going to talk about the first step of writing: planning. For some people, this doesn't mean very much. Some writers do very little planning for their novels. They just jump straight in. I, however, do not. Everyone has their own writing process but here is mine.

I start off by making a web of sorts, like the one in the picture above. I write down everything I know about the story, connecting the ideas with arrows. I've found that as I write these things down, I think of more details to add to it. 

And that's it as far as the web goes. For more planning info, check back here tomorrow.

How do you plan your stories?

Editing Process: Waiting for Readers

So, you're down with your draft. You've got a few friends looking at the manuscript even. Now what?

Well, there's not a whole lot to do but wait. However, I TOTALLY understand that sometimes you just can't seem to stop thinking about writing. Here are some things you can do while you wait for your readers to send you their comments:

1. Read the manuscript...just make sure you don't add or change anything until you here back from your readers.

2. Record the manuscript. This not only keeps you busy, but it can help you figure out what sounds good and sounds awkward.

3. Find a good book to read...distract yourself with other authors' writing.

4. Find a hobby to keep yourself busy with.

Lots of love, all! And please feel free to share and comment.