tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70771131494065633762024-03-13T06:33:02.156-06:00Blissfully BrennaBrennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-69313183619848499552014-03-31T17:13:00.001-06:002014-03-31T17:13:53.968-06:00The secret truth about world buildingReady for this?<br />
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Are you sure you want to know?<br />
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<i>Really</i> sure?<br />
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Okay. You asked for it.<br />
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The secret truth about world building is ... it's never done. Crazy right?<br />
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Is you might be able to tell, I'm world building again. And the sad truth that I'm only slowly coming to realize is: I'll never be done with it. There will always be more to learn. There will always be more to consider. It's an entire <i>world</i>. I don't even know everything about the real world, and I've lived there my entire life! (Twenty-six years, for those who are counting.)<br />
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I think there are some greats out there who have fantastic and well-rounded worlds. J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, even J.R.R. Martin and probably a whole lot more. These are people that have spent a lot of time thinking about the world.<br />
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But you know what? I bet there are <i>still </i>questions they have not considered. There are things they have never thought about and may not know the answers to. I'm sure they could think about it, and eventually give us an answer.<br />
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But then, that would be more world building, right?<br />
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It never ends ...<br />
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(What do you think? Am I alone in my never-ending quest to build my world?)Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-32294728922870383522014-03-19T06:00:00.000-06:002014-03-19T06:00:06.395-06:00When things just don't work (WIP Wednesday)<h3 style="height: 0px;">
Stats:</h3>
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<li>Chapters edited: 5 of 44</li>
<li>Word count: 101,000</li>
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This week I'm struggling with my vision of a chapter, and what readers take away from it. While I know what I want, sometimes getting there is the hard part. </div>
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So what do you do? Go back and do it again. </div>
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This, I think, is one of the hardest parts about writing. You're never done. There will always be more to do. Yes, eventually you have to stop, but up until then it's seemingly endless. </div>
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I'm stuck in that endless part right now. </div>
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I've done and redone my first few chapters <i>several </i>times over the last couple weeks. It sucks, because I just want to let them go. But every time I go back to them, every time I get some comments back from people whose opinions I trust, I'm one step closer to my goal. </div>
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A (close enough to) finished manuscript. </div>
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Keep going. </div>
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What are you all struggling with this week? Do you get disheartened when there's still more to do on chapters? Let me know in the comments. </div>
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Happy writing!</div>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-30187239299614951852014-03-07T10:44:00.000-07:002014-03-07T10:49:31.671-07:00A WHISPERED DARKNESS cover reveal (and giveaway)<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Guys! Guys! I have a special treat for you today. One of the amazing new people I met through Maggie Steifvater's Critique Partner Love connection is the lovely Vanessa Barger. I am already convinced of her amazingness. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">But to make sure you have an idea of it, I GET TO HELP REVEAL THE COVER OF HER DEBUT NOVEL TODAY. (Can you tell I'm super excited?)</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">So without further ado... scroll down to see!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_6cL8MGDeE/UxoA7Z5_2OI/AAAAAAAAAbY/iy49ibG7eQY/s1600/A_Whispered_Darkness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_6cL8MGDeE/UxoA7Z5_2OI/AAAAAAAAAbY/iy49ibG7eQY/s1600/A_Whispered_Darkness.jpg" height="640" width="414" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Blurb: </b></span></span><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">When a soul breaks, it isn’t pretty. The pieces are sharp; they cut and bite and rend at flesh. They seek blood, want vengeance. They congeal, become something more than they were, something dark and beautiful and terrible.</em><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Isn't it <i>gorgeous?</i> I love the font and the pop of the super pink lips. And if that weren't enough, THERE IS A GIVEAWAY. Clicky <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e167/" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a> for a chance to win a copy of the book and a $10 Amazon gift card! And don't forget, guys. The book COMES OUT AUGUST 26, 2014.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLQREf7OKQc/UxoA-x_uyHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/asCXP9LYmhA/s1600/me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BLQREf7OKQc/UxoA-x_uyHI/AAAAAAAAAbg/asCXP9LYmhA/s1600/me.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">More about Vanessa:</span></span></h3>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in graphic design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance literature, and a Masters in technology education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and the Virginia Writer's Club. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and she can often be found baking when she should be editing.</span><br />
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Links:</h3>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20657721-a-whispered-darkness" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Add the book on Goodreads</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanessa-Barger-YA-Author/169674883067474" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Like Vanessa's Facebook page</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/vanessabarger" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Follow Vanessa on Twitter</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.vanessabarger.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Vanessa's website</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c08c9e167/" target="_blank">Link to the giveaway</a> (in case you missed it)</span></div>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-56291387394689225222014-03-05T11:11:00.000-07:002014-03-05T11:11:32.592-07:00The importance of being excited (WIP Wednesday)<h3>
Stats:</h3>
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<ul>
<li>Chapters edited: 2 out of 41</li>
<li>Word count: 102,000</li>
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I have reached a breakthrough this last week.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I hit a low with my WIP. I was surly and depressed and considering shelving it. Everything seemed so hard, and the things that needed fixing seemed overwhelming and I wondered if I would ever finish. It also doesn't help that shiny new project seems so much better than old cranky project. (You all know that feeling, right?)<br />
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But then something brilliant happened. I participated in <a href="http://maggiestiefvater.com/blog/2014-critique-partner-love-connection/" target="_blank">Maggie Stiefvater's Critique Partner Love Connection</a>. I exchanged my first three chapters (rough as they were) with a few people, got some good feedback and some not so much my style. I met a couple people who I think I'm going to continue working with. (I'm not naming names yet.)<br />
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But most importantly? This experience have given me a renewed excitement about my book. Other people seemed to like it for the most part. Sure there are thing that need fixing, and yes it's going to take me quite a while to fix them. But what I lost sight of is that even though it's hard, I'm making my book better and I'll be one step closer to my dream.<br />
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Big revelation.<br />
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So, how are your projects going? Did you learn anything new this week?Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-65460828637354890822014-03-03T06:00:00.000-07:002014-03-03T06:00:07.553-07:00Holy snow!I live in Montana, where it's been a hell of a winter. <div>
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We started out fair last fall, but then the EXTREME COLD came. My home state made news for being the coldest place on Earth with temperatures in the negative 30s before windchill — and this was before the whole "polar vortex" that hit most of the rest of the U.S. </div>
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Following that, we had this brief period of, well, really nice weather. It was nearly in the 50s, with sun. The little snow we had was gone, and it was great! It felt like an Arizona winter, which I didn't mind so much. At that point, I was soooo sick of having to scrape my windows every time I wanted to go anywhere.</div>
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Then we got snow. Lots of snow. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! Snow!</td></tr>
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And then more snow. It's snowed many, many inches now in just Helena, where I live. I couldn't park in my parking space because there was so much snow piled up.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WB1eX_F6yz4/UxPl9GScLcI/AAAAAAAAAag/LjmUvupvIKI/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WB1eX_F6yz4/UxPl9GScLcI/AAAAAAAAAag/LjmUvupvIKI/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car? What car?</td></tr>
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And then we got a blizzard. In my college town, Missoula, <a href="http://helenair.com/news/local/state-and-regional/avalanche-speed-estimated-at-mph/article_588cac9a-a1d4-11e3-a1ee-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">there was an avalanche in a subdivision that destroyed a home and buried three people.</a> (They were all rescued alive.)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFFPaXWv47s/UxPmAFoaEBI/AAAAAAAAAaw/NF4ZHGge0LU/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFFPaXWv47s/UxPmAFoaEBI/AAAAAAAAAaw/NF4ZHGge0LU/s1600/image.jpeg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This truck hasn't gone anywhere since the beginning. </td></tr>
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All this snow is crazy, and it makes me really appreciate all we have today. I have a home that is able to heat itself; I have snow plows that allow me to travel places; I don't have to go outside to pee.<br />
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So that's what I'm thinking about today. I swear I've been writing. I may even have a new CP soon, which is really exciting.<br />
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What's the weather like where you are?Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-37208996485810442382014-02-17T13:31:00.000-07:002014-02-17T13:31:02.641-07:00Plot vs. Characters: A writing smackdownI have to admit something to the world. I'm a plot writer.<br />
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Much like plotters and pantsers (and the various degrees of people who fall in between those two), I believe there are two main types of people when it comes to writing: those who dream up vivid characters and then construct plot around them, and those who have fantastic plots in mind and must create characters to play into the story. (Or, as always, those who are a shade of grey and are both.)<br />
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For me, I'm a plot person. I like the idea of an interesting story, and those are the things that first grab me when I'm brainstorming my next project. So take DIVERGENT, for instance, a world where people are split into factions based on different ideals. This idea has no specific characters, but it's got the bones of conflict. This is pretty much how I construct all my stories.<br />
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Other people may get ideas for characters first. Take Batman: A rich man who lost his parents at a very young age and has a strong sense of justice. We don't really have any conflict yet, but we have a killer character.<br />
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So, after we have these initial ideas, we start filling in the holes as writers, right? For me, creating characters that fit into the world/plot, and for many others, creating conflict for the amazing character. I don't think there's a right or a wrong way with plot and characters. Both ways can make great stories. But I think starting with one or the other in mind does create interesting challenges.<br />
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I'm currently editing my WIP — the first real editing I've done on a long project. Now I've already redrafted several times to fix the plot issues I had with my first drafts, so I'm now into the developing of the craft, building sentences and paragraphs and chapters in a way that's very close to what I think they'll be in the end.<br />
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In the process, because I started with plot, I feel like I'm rediscovering and redefining who my characters are. It's exciting, and also a little scary. I'm learning so much about them that I didn't know in the past. These characters are only just becoming whole in my eyes.<br />
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It's a pretty cool experience, actually.<br />
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Am I the only one who thinks like this? Do you generally come up with one kind of idea before the other? What challenges do you have with creating plots or creating characters? Let me know in the comments.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-11210532171995429882014-02-07T07:00:00.000-07:002014-02-07T07:00:03.810-07:00Writing is hardI never really had to question this idea before. But it's come to new light for me.<br />
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I have been struggling with my current WIP for more than three years now. Three whole years. I could have a published novel by now, if I would have gotten my butt into gear and got things done.<br />
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Several things have hindered this.<br />
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First, moving. I have moved three times in those three years. And while every move has been good for me and my life in general, it has wreaked havoc on a decent schedule for writing. I'm still working on that.<br />
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Second, I'm still working through learning about writing and about myself. I haven't done any editing on a project longer than a 2,000-word short story ever. In my entire life. So, it's a learning process. I have to figure out how to edit, how it works for me. And that's something that can't be taught. It must be discovered.<br />
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Third, I've spent more time dreaming about writing and being an author than putting the work into it. I'm not trying to sugar coat it or hide the fact that I've been lazy. I have. I own up to it. And you know what? I'm going to work on that.<br />
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<b>I have a new goal for this year. </b><br />
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I'm going to finish my book by the end of May. Like, edited and have it sent off to Beta readers while I work on a query letter. It's going to be hard. And I'm seriously going to have to work at it to make that deadline. Because I'm lazy, I told you. But also because I have a full-time job, and full-time weekends with the boyfriend and the kiddo. So busy. But I came to the conclusion yesterday that I wasn't doing enough to ensure the future I want for myself.<br />
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<b>And so I'm going to work harder for that future. </b><br />
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Maybe this is overly honest. And I may or may not be three o'clock in the morning as I write this. (Okay, it is.) But that shouldn't change the truth of the matter, right?<br />
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Got any goals you're working toward? Let me know in the comments.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-82073593705392692732013-09-17T15:02:00.000-06:002013-09-17T15:02:01.031-06:00September #writemotivation check-in No. 1Wow. I was supposed to do this last week and kept getting busy. Well, at the very least, I'm getting to it now, right?<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">Anyway, here are the goals:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDTt3ZIHgg/TwtI812tUsI/AAAAAAAAAQc/r_qOuIgY33s/s1600/writemotivation-and-progress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #444444; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDTt3ZIHgg/TwtI812tUsI/AAAAAAAAAQc/r_qOuIgY33s/s1600/writemotivation-and-progress.jpeg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Thumbnail by Hugh Lee </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 26px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Write one blog post a week. Probably will be a #writemotivation check-in post.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Edit two chapters in my WIP a week (on average). So, that's equal to at least eight chapters by the end of the month. Not a lot, but I've had wacky schedules lately, working overtime and a lot of other stuff this month (including a wedding) that will more than likely throw me off for a goal of more. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Comment on others' blogs at least three times a week. Not much, but I haven't been commenting AT ALL lately, and that's just sad.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strike>Finish editing my CP <a href="http://squidinksarah.blogspot.com/" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">S.M. Robertson's</a> manuscript.</strike></li>
</ol>
So the good news is, I've completely finished one of my goals! Huzzah! I have finished my critique for my CP and we've talked and talked and talked about it, so she's off and editing!<br />
<br />
As for the rest of them, I missed my blog post last week, but I'm doing it this week, so that's great. And I was commenting on blogs for the first two weeks, so I'm doing okay there too.<br />
<br />
As for the most important of my goals, edit two chapters in my novel a week on average, I'm slowly falling behind on it. The problem lies in the fact that my CPs had a lot of questions about my world in them that I didn't have answers for, so I'm world building and researching. And you know what? I REALLY hate it. There is so much thought that goes into world building. So many questions I have to answer. And EVERY TIME I think I've done enough world building, there are always more questions my people ask. And that SUCKS.<br />
<br />
My other problem with getting to the editing is that I have to write a new first chapter, and honestly? I'm afraid. I'm afraid it's going to suck. I'm afraid it won't be as interesting as my now-second chapter. And all the mundane things I think of that may have worked and been fine in any other chapter, they just don't seem good enough or exciting enough or special enough for the FIRST chapter. And so I find this fear of starting crippling. I can't get any work done on it, because I can't start. And I can't edit my now-second chapter until I know how much of my background is going to be in the first chapter.<br />
<br />
So, that's where I am. Have you ever run into this problem with a chapter of yours? What would you do to get out of it? How are you doing with your own goals? Let me know in the comments below.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-70088003061035462922013-09-06T16:19:00.000-06:002013-09-06T17:03:49.101-06:00September #Writemotivation (and no, I'm not dead)Well, it's been a long time. Hi everyone! Anyone still around here?<br />
<br />
As you can see, I'm not dead. Just haven't been blogging lately. That's not to say I haven't been thinking about the blog. Every so often I come up with really good topics to write about (at least, they're really good in my mind), but I just haven't found a balance for writing.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's going to change at least a little bit this month. I'm participating in September's #Writemotivation. I've done it before, but I'm going to actually meet my goals this time. Or, that's the goal. We'll see, I suppose. Haha.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here are the goals:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDTt3ZIHgg/TwtI812tUsI/AAAAAAAAAQc/r_qOuIgY33s/s1600/writemotivation-and-progress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HDTt3ZIHgg/TwtI812tUsI/AAAAAAAAAQc/r_qOuIgY33s/s1600/writemotivation-and-progress.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7c7c7c; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Thumbnail by Hugh Lee </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ol>
<li>Write one blog post a week. Probably will be a #writemotivation check-in post.</li>
<li>Edit two chapters in my WIP a week (on average). So, that's equal to at least eight chapters by the end of the month. Not a lot, but I've had wacky schedules lately, working overtime and a lot of other stuff this month (including a wedding) that will more than likely throw me off for a goal of more. </li>
<li>Comment on others' blogs at least three times a week. Not much, but I haven't been commenting AT ALL lately, and that's just sad.</li>
<li>Finish editing my CP <a href="http://squidinksarah.blogspot.com/">S.M. Robertson's</a> manuscript. </li>
</ol>
<div>
That's everything!</div>
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So for updates, I'm hoping to have #4 finished today. I have just more than 100 pages left, so that's totally doable. </div>
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Also, if you guys can remember back that far (or look at the last blog post) I was supposed to finish my WIP by the end of March? Yeah, well that didn't happen. But I did make my next goal when I made it this summer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hey, I had a lot going on. I know that's not much of an excuse, but it IS what I have. I moved again. This time back to Montana. I started a new job. I was dealing with a lot of stress about a horrible moving company and getting new things set up and unpacking and whatnot. And, I have to balance my free time with getting to see my boyfriend again. So, I've had a lot going on!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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But, I'm still going to try to make my end of the year goal of being at the point of querying. It's getting more and more unlikely that I'll actually make that goal, especially since I'm planning on doing <a href="http://nanowrimo.org/">NaNoWriMo</a> this year like normal. So, I guess we'll have to see how it goes? I'm still going to try my hardest for it. </div>
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So tell me! How have your lives been, people who are still around? Also, drop a line if you're new! Tell me about yourself. </div>
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As always, subscribe to replies and you'll be alerted when I reply to you. I love starting conversations, don't you?</div>
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Happy Friday, everyone!</div>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-40943157647987574172013-03-20T14:42:00.001-06:002013-03-20T14:42:03.298-06:00WIP Wednesday 6 and a new goalSo, remember last month when I said I was going to finish the current draft of my WIP by February 27th?<br />
<br />
Yeah, who put money on me not making that goal?<br />
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Well, if you did, congratulations. You were correct. I owe you... something. Not money, because I don't have a lot of that. Maybe I'll give you Internet cookies. (The yummy kind, not the annoying kind.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, so for this WIP Wednesday, do you think that I wouldn't have something to talk about? Well, there you're wrong my friends. You see, I have a new goal. I plan to finish my WIP by the end of this month.<br />
<br />
You heard right! March 31st. That is the last possible day I can finish this draft. And you know what? I have actually been doing some writing to make that goal. Not an overwhelming amount, mind you, but enough. Enough that I'm really excited about this deadline.<br />
<br />
So, some things that I've been noticing in the past couple of weeks of writing:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>I am so much more wordy than I thought. I mean I go into something thinking, "Oh, this will be a chapter" and then it ends up as three. THREE?!? </li>
<li>My story is falling into a good place, filled with tension. Or, at least I think so. </li>
<li>I need to write down what's going to happen for the rest of the book. </li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See, when I started this specific draft, I knew that I was changing everything about the first half of my novel. And so, I did. I thought that meant, however, that I was going to have the second half of my novel to fall back on. But, I realize that since I changed so much about the first half, I need to rethink my second half. Not major things need to change, just specifics. Because my characters used to know things before that they don't now. So, I have to figure out how that works. </div>
<div>
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But! I think I'm well on my way. And yes, I still have to write almost half a novel in the next two weeks (zomg... two weeks!) I'm still hopeful. </div>
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Anyway, how are your projects going? Have you been writing lately? Do you have any deadlines coming up? Let me know in the comments!</div>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-87402162539828252282013-02-04T08:00:00.000-07:002013-02-04T08:00:01.898-07:00My next goalHi everyone!<br />
<br />
Wow, so last month I didn't do so well with keeping up on blogging. But! It was successful with some of my other goals. Including running a 5k. While I've run/walked 3.1 miles before, this was the first time that I was ever able to jog the entire way. Not one walked step at all. And let's face it, I couldn't even jog a whole mile when I was in high school.<br />
<br />
Anyway! This blog is about my writing. Go visit my fitblr for more on my healthy life.<br />
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So, a while back I told you guys of my goal to get to the querying point with my current WIP. Well, I have another goal that will lead me to that one.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Izux4oRNAAY/UQ7RH7uV7WI/AAAAAAAAAXw/P-G3EUnwWlk/s1600/Feb+goal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Izux4oRNAAY/UQ7RH7uV7WI/AAAAAAAAAXw/P-G3EUnwWlk/s1600/Feb+goal.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>I plan to finish the current draft of my novel by Feb. 27. </b></div>
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This goal kind of has to do with a friend and a date that she set (or really, someone set for her) to finish her current draft. I'm pitching it as my own goal as well, so we can get some work done.<br />
<br />
So, we both have less than a month to finish up our drafts. That's a really scary thought because we both have a lot of work to do. But, it's a good, and manageable goal. And if we both try hard, we can totally do it.<br />
<br />
So, if you guys want to help me out, I'd sure appreciate it. How? Well just hit me up with a comment here or maybe a twitter shoutout asking me how my writing is going. I'm hoping you guys will help hold me accountable for this goal, because I really want to make it.<br />
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Anyway, that's all for me today. What have you guys been up to? How are your projects going? Got any goals you want to share that I can help you out with? Let me know in the comments.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-88240147252010138502013-01-07T13:36:00.000-07:002013-01-07T22:16:02.105-07:00Taken by stormSometimes there's something that sneaks up on you and takes you by storm. It could be a book. It could be a movie.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VchZqFT7Mpo/UOsqZqo015I/AAAAAAAAAXg/T_X05NH_wWI/s1600/Dance-Academy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VchZqFT7Mpo/UOsqZqo015I/AAAAAAAAAXg/T_X05NH_wWI/s320/Dance-Academy.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, for me, is a TV Show.<br />
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I put Dance Academy on my Netflix instant cue on a whim. I like dancing, and I like music. I also like teen drama. So, I would like this... maybe... sometime in the future.<br />
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It was a literal blind choosing that had me watching this after I finished the show I was working on (Angel... I'll talk about that later, though).<br />
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The premise of this Australian show is the characters are students at a private classical dance school in Sydney.<br />
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There are a couple of things that make me love this show.<br />
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<b>One: </b>Compelling characters. I <i>love </i>Abigail (dark haired girl), the misunderstood, cool and aloof girl with a heart of gold and just wants to be a principle dancer at a ballet company. I also really love Kat (blonde girl), the free spirit who just can't get her life together. And you have to love Sammy (boy on the right). He is <i>so</i> cute. But really, they are each different and flawed, and I love watching them interact.<br />
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<b>Two: </b>Suspense. The night before last, I was watching this before I went to bed. I told myself I would watch one more episode. Just one more. And then, the end of the episode came and something crazy happened. Some *gasp* moment where my heart stops and I just can't leave it at that. I need to see more. I need to know what's going to happen next.<br />
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<b>Three: </b>Not over-the-top plots, but real situations where you feel for the characters. They all have so many hardships to overcome, and despite the fact that all the characters are so different, the each have specific issues they must face. Although sometimes I roll my eyes at their relationship spur-of-the-moment decisions, it as a whole is still good.<br />
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<b>Four: </b>Beautiful dancing. What can I say? I'm a sucker for it. <b>Bonus:</b> It makes me want to get up and dance. And to work on being as flexible as these kids. Holy cow! I wish I could make myself move the way they can.<br />
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All of these things can be taken to writing. Well, maybe not the dancing. But everything else? That's just good writing. I sometimes need to remind myself that good writing can be found everywhere.<br />
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How about you guys? Anything recently taken you by surprise? Care to share?<br />
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<b>Edit later that day:</b><br />
So this stupid show made me break down and cry at work. Stupid show.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-15579078603755543382013-01-04T07:00:00.000-07:002013-01-04T07:00:01.092-07:00A new year, a new blogHappy 2013 everyone!<br />
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Man, it's going to be really hard for me to get used to writing that now. 2013. Two. Zero. One. Three.<br />
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Hey! Fun fact: This is the first year in <b>25 YEARS</b> (i.e., since the year I was born: 1987) that there are four different digits in the year. Go figure.<br />
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Anyway, it's that time of year when I'm going to talk about my goals for 2013. Because I'm tired of every year not getting much done. And this year, things are going to be different. I just know it.<br />
<br />
Best. Year. Ever.<br />
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<b>First off, I'm going to be a better blogger</b><br />
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I'm tired of this intermittent crap that I've been doing lately. And I want to get back into it. So, that's what I'm going to do.<br />
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You can expect three blogs a week from me, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. And once a month, I'll actually get to doing a vlog for you all. I don't know if you'll enjoy them, but there you go. The first vlog will be next week.<br />
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Also, Wednesdays will be my check-in days to tell you how I'm doing with my writing. Because, guess what? That's one of my goals too.<br />
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<b>Write every day</b><br />
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EVERY. DAY. I'm not really into the specifics of exactly how much I'm going to write. At least 500 words a day. Not a lot, I know, but there are just some days that I don't have a ton of time. And to squeeze in 500 will be good. But on other days, I'm obviously looking to be getting more. On days off? More.<br />
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<b>Secondly, finish my WIP STAR RUBY</b><br />
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I have been working on this specific story now for more than two years. It's about time I get it done. This year, I'm looking to be completely done with it. That will require finishing my current draft, editing my current draft, sending it out to my lovely critique partners, getting it back and making edits and then maybe some other readers and edits as well.<br />
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So that will mean by the end of next December, I will be working on a query letter and readying it for sending it out. There is no reason, NO REASON, that this should not be happening.<br />
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<b>Get healthy</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This doesn't really have to do with writing or this blog specifically, but it's something that I'm putting out there. I've struggled with my weight and being healthy for my entire life. So this year? I'm going to change that. I won't be updating anything about that on this blog, but at <a href="http://myhealthy2013.tumblr.com/">my tumblr blog "My Healthy 2013"</a> for anyone who wants to check it out. I'll be doing a variety of things each week, as well as updating on my progress.<br />
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<b>Read more</b><br />
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It doesn't matter to me if it's blogs, books or articles. I want to be reading more than I did last year. Easy as that.<br />
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<br />
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So that's it. All that I want to do this year spelled out for all of you. Can you relate to any of my New Year's Resolutions? Think I'll be able to keep them? What are your goals for the year? Let me know in the comments!Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-1196373100388648842012-12-21T09:00:00.000-07:002012-12-21T09:00:04.242-07:00How I won NaNoWriMo in Five Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXW-R_MYk0E/UNQcbto39OI/AAAAAAAAAXI/WwuCeqoSF6M/s1600/Winner-180x180.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXW-R_MYk0E/UNQcbto39OI/AAAAAAAAAXI/WwuCeqoSF6M/s1600/Winner-180x180.jpeg" /></a></div>
Okay, I didn't actually win in five days. Not five total days. But, that was basically where it was won and nearly lost for me. Let me tell you how I did it.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">First, the backstory</span></h3>
See, this was my seventh year competing in NaNoWriMo. Only one other year had I ever not finished, and that year has always weighed heavily on me. I've always regretted giving up. So, when I headed into this year, I knew that I was in it to win it.<br />
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I got off to a good start with nearly 7,000 words the first day. This tapered off the next six days as I had to work a TON, leaving me with only 16,000 words – just above where I was supposed to be.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">The problem</span></h3>
After the first week, I went on vacation to visit the boyfriend, whom I hadn't seen in three-plus months. Where I had full intentions of writing. As you can imagine, they totally went awry. I enjoyed my time off from writing. I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed it so much that the 200 words I wrote that week turned into another piddly 4,000 the next week.<br />
<br />
You realize that left me with about 20,000 words total heading into week four. WEEK FOUR, PEOPLE!<br />
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Well after that, I knew I had to get my butt into gear. In it to win it, remember? So I hunkered down and got my little butt to work.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">The final week</span></h3>
<div>
It started with an all-night write-in. I thank my lovely Phoenix ML for swooping down in the nick of time with that one. </div>
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<b>Sunday (six days left): </b>After work on Saturday, I headed to a Denny's half-way through the write-in. At 1 a.m. I started writing, and I didn't stop until 7 a.m. I managed 7,000 words. After a few hours of sleep, I managed another 2,000 before work and another 1,000 at work bringing my total to <b>10,200</b> that day. That took my total to <b>30,200</b>.</div>
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<b>Monday (five days left)</b>: Managed another <b>3,000</b> before and slightly after work. Total=<b>33,200</b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tuesday (four days left)</b>: Had a great day with another <b>5,000</b> words between writing after midnight before I went to sleep and before work that day. It was fantastic. Total=<b>38,200</b>.</div>
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<b>Wednesday (three days left)</b>: Another <b>3,200</b> this day. I really wanted more that, but it was all I managed. Total: <b>41,400</b>. It felt really fantastic to have broken the 10k-left line however.</div>
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<b>Thursday (two days left): </b>My day off. I had Friday off too, but at this point I had this idea in my mind that I could finish. If only I could finish today, then I could take off Friday and not have to do any writing whatsoever. So I pushed. I wrote and I wrote all day long. And then I went to a write-in where I wrote and I wrote some more. By the end of the write-in (when the place we were at was shutting down) I was only 200 words away from winning. I went home, plugged in my computer and got to typing. Less than an hour later, I'd finished. A total of<b> 8,900 </b>words. Finishing total=<b>50,309</b>. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">How I did it</span></h3>
</div>
<div>
So that's my story. But how did I do it, you ask? Easy. I just did. I didn't let myself make any excuses. I didn't let myself slack off. And because of that, I wrote just more than 30,000 in five days. While yes, I did have the luxury of an all-night write-in, I did have that extra day too. </div>
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But anyway... I'll talk about that Friday that I had off soon. In the meantime, tell me about your November! Did you do NaNo? If so, how did you do? Or if you've done it before, have you ever come from this far behind to win it? Please let me know in the comments!</div>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-81985209749384316942012-12-12T21:50:00.001-07:002012-12-12T21:50:10.049-07:00Looking at 2013Man, I can't believe that it was September the last time I posted here.<br />
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Mind you, I've been a bit busy lately. Between work (I was pulling 6-day work weeks with little time off in between) and some vacations (traveling vacations... you know where you mean to get all this work done while you're there and you don't because your just too busy with everything else?) and NaNoWriMo... I've been busy.<br />
<br />
This is just going to be a short post today letting you know what's coming down the line.<br />
<br />
You may see some changes on the blog. I'm going to be messing around with stuff as I prepare for 2013.<br />
<br />
Why, you ask? Well, I'm looking to start fresh. I've got all these ideas and aspirations clamoring around in my head. I want to be better at blogging regularly. I want to be more productive. I want to start getting in more conversations with you guys.<br />
<br />
So, I'll be posting sporadically over the next month letting you know about how I did at NaNoWriMo and some other holiday madness.<br />
<br />
Come 2013 though? That's when it's going to get fun.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-89192714870288349952012-09-18T11:55:00.000-06:002012-09-18T11:55:57.716-06:00I have an obsessionI don't know if it's just me, but I have an obsession with office supplies.<br />
<br />
For a long time, I honestly thought it was just me. As as kid, I used to get really excited about going school shopping. And once I had everything, I would derive sick pleasure out of busting everything out of its packaging and packing it in pencil cases and storing it in my backpack. Then, unsatisfied with just that, I'd have to break out my most exciting pen and the brand new notebook and start making lists or describe what I wanted to happen during that year.<br />
<br />
(Off topic sidebar: Once I did write one of those letters where I predicted all sorts of awesome things like "You'll get a boyfriend" and "You'll make tons of friends" and other such things, which all pretty much happened that year. I'd completely forgotten about it until I found the note in my backpack at the end of the year and was so pleasantly surprised! Needless to say I wrote another note the next year, but it didn't work, and I didn't forget about it like the first one. Funny how those things happen, right?)<br />
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I am lucky enough to have friends with whom to share my addiction. Friends who walked the aisles of Staples or Office Max and got excited by the little things, like liquid mechanical pencils (not kidding) and then split the purchase so we each have one.<br />
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I don't get to go school shopping anymore. But I do have a desk at work that I've begun populating with amazing office supplies. This is what it looks like:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFIAcUdFqpc/UFi1KL0wBfI/AAAAAAAAAVs/do5ditimRAw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xFIAcUdFqpc/UFi1KL0wBfI/AAAAAAAAAVs/do5ditimRAw/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm... pens, highlighters, sharpies, color-coded <br />paperclips – what else does a girl need?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yes, that is an entire of jar of M&Ms in the colors of my university. Don't judge me!<br />
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So I want to ask, do you feel about office supplies like I do? Is there anything really awesome you can think of that I need to add to my desk? What other guilty pleasures do you guys have? Let me know in the comments!<br />
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As always, happy writing!Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-80251423265848760472012-09-13T16:45:00.001-06:002012-09-13T16:45:56.167-06:00WIP Wednesday 5 (#writemotivation check-in)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOcL-oNUT0Y/UEksijOd_qI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4qdc-6XIWME/s1600/WIP.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOcL-oNUT0Y/UEksijOd_qI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4qdc-6XIWME/s320/WIP.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
This isn't really my fifth WIP Wednesday post. And, it's not really Wednesday. But, you guys don't really care about the particulars, do you?<br />
<br />
Oh you do? Too bad. I can only do so much.<br />
<br />
So this week I get to tell you guys how I'm doing on my writing! I am really high and really low. It's going very well and horrible at the same time.<br />
<br />
I'm a bag of contradictions today, aren't I?<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;"><b>First the highs</b></span></h3>
I have written every day since my last post.<i> Every. Single. Day.</i> And I can tell you, that makes me feel great. Awesome, even. I've not let laziness or my weird sleep schedule keep me from it. Every day (well, mostly night) I've sat down and written.<br />
<br />
This is HUGE for me, since I haven't been writing at all, let alone sticking to a ridged schedule like writing every day. It makes me feel like I'm on the way to rewriting my habits again (see Monday's post).<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Now for the lows</b></span></h3>
I'm not really doing all that much. I put my goal at 200 words a day, which was a low bar to hit, I know. I did it on purpose because I knew that it was going to be hard for me to get back into a schedule of writing. And I'll admit it, some days, even getting those 200 words was really hard for me mentally.<br />
<br />
And while I've written 200 words, sometimes more, every day, that doesn't really equate to a lot of words. So I feel like I haven't gotten much done.<br />
<br />
And besides that, I've been running into way too many roadblocks. Times when I'm feeling uninspired or stuck in the scene I'm writing. I've been complaining a lot to my CP, who has graciously not told me how lame I'm being - at least not yet.<br />
<br />
And I realized that I'm not going to be anywhere close to what I need to be writing come November, which scares me. NaNoWriMo looms over my head like a big, scary thing.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple;"><b>So what am I going to do about it?</b></span></h3>
I'm making a new plan. First, I'm going to spend tomorrow (my day off) to sit down and plot out my next few scenes, maybe even my full novel. This should (hopefully) allow me to not hit the wall of I-have-no-idea-what's-coming-next-despite-the-fact-that-I-know-what-happens-after-that when I'm writing.<br />
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Then, starting on Sunday, I'm going to up my daily word goals by 200 words every Sunday. That will allow me to reach 1600 words a day by the time November hits. That should put me in perfect shape for NaNoWriMo.<br />
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Lastly, I'm going to spend five minutes a day plotting out and researching for my next novel - the one I'm tackling in November. I'm doing that because I'm terrible at plotting a book ahead of time. And that means that I have SO MUCH WORK to do after I finish a draft. I'm currently on the fourth draft of my WIP. FOURTH!!! That's way too much drafting.<br />
<br />
<br />
So those are my plans. How are your writing projects going? What goals do you have? Are you doing anything to gear up for NaNoWriMo? Let me know in the comments!<br />
<br />
Happy writing! Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-18746978705976610912012-09-10T06:00:00.000-06:002012-09-10T06:00:09.594-06:00HabitsThis is the first of four blog posts coming this week to make up for my missing one last week. And darn it, if I didn't blog three times a week like I said I was going to, I will at least have blogged an <i>average</i> of three times a week for the month. And that's just fine with me.<br />
<br />
So, I'd like to talk about habits today. Funny little thing, habits. They can be the best thing in the world or your worst enemies.<br />
<br />
For instance, it's generally habit to brush your teeth and comb your hair in the morning. Awesome habit so that you don't look and smell like a hobo. That's a good thing. But when you're trying to break a bad habit like biting your fingernails or picking your nose, oh lord can they suck!<br />
<br />
This means for me, a person with an addictive personality, I'm constantly picking up bad habits. They're easy to form. Instant gratification always outweighs the long-term happiness of something.<br />
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For instance, I haven't been writing for months. Lots of months. Probably not really hard since last year's NaNoWriMo. And that's a sad thing to admit, but true. So after months of not sitting down and grappling with my writing, it's my habit to just ignore it. <br />
<br />
But I'm trying to change that. This month, as I've told you, I've pledged to write every day. And so far I have. Some days it's really hard. Some days I'm tired and I want to go to bed, but I've been doing it anyway. Getting my words in whether or not I <i>feel</i> like writing.<br />
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Research says it takes 66 days to make something a habit to a point where it's just automatic for you to do whatever it is you're trying to do. Cool huh? The payoff of forcing yourself through all this pain is it becomes easier! Hurray!<br />
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The downside of this is, just like you can break bad habits, you can break good ones too.<br />
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For almost an entire year, all I did was work and write. When I was done with work, I'd go write for three or four hours. On the weekends, I'd spend both days at my favorite coffee shops, writing. Hours upon hours of writing. It was so easy.<br />
<br />
But I (obviously) broke that habit. And other good habits can also be broken the same way bad habits can be broken (but with surprisingly less work).<br />
<br />
So, whatever it is you have in your hearts to do, do it. Do it every day. Don't make excuses. Just do it. Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-60531674474713871652012-09-06T10:58:00.000-06:002012-09-06T17:20:06.533-06:00WIP ... Wednesday?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOcL-oNUT0Y/UEksijOd_qI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4qdc-6XIWME/s1600/WIP.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XOcL-oNUT0Y/UEksijOd_qI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4qdc-6XIWME/s320/WIP.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
I realize this isn't Wednesday. I overslept yesterday and I had cooking to do before I went to work and I know these are lame excuses and I'm sorry, okay?<br />
<br />
Besides, this is the first time in MONTHS I've had anything to report on my project. That HAS to count for something, right? (Please?)<br />
<br />
Anyway, I know I haven't been writing. Sometimes, you just have to live. Don't get me wrong – I thought about writing. Literally every day (and yes, I mean the actual definition of literal there). Just because I wasn't writing didn't mean I wasn't thinking about writing. Of course it would have been better to have been thinking about where my story should be going, but that's beside the point. I was thinking about writing, darn it, and that's a good thing.<br />
<br />
So, for the past several days, I have actually been writing. The first two days were not that great. In fact, they were terrible and near tear-filled. But I muscled through, and I actually had a pleasant time writing last night before I went to bed. It was so nice and refreshing to be enjoying myself again.<br />
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Also on the radar: I think I've come up with the very shaky start of a story idea for NaNoWriMo this year. Yeah, I'm already thinking about that. Which is a good thing, because if it was suddenly halfway through October I think I'd have to have a panic attack. I work best on NaNo when I can let a story idea marinate. I don't necessarily plot or do anything of that sort. But just having it on the back burner somehow makes it so much nicer for me come November.<br />
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Anyway, that's all I have to talk about today. I'll be back tomorrow when I get back to your regularly scheduled blogging.<br />
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Happy writing, folks!<br />
<br />
(Also, how are your WIPs going this "Wednesday"? Are you doing NaNo this year? Do you have a story idea? Let me know in the comments!)Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-8728570588834656552012-09-03T08:00:00.000-06:002012-09-03T08:00:04.949-06:00It's worth it<br />
I read several blogs last week that focused on writing a sequel under contract. About how hard it is to be writing under expectations. People have believed in your first book enough to publish it, others have read it, and both want more out of you. People have expectations that it be good.<br />
<br />
Enter PRESSURE.<br />
<br />
Here are my thoughts on the issue, as posted on The Intern's blog:<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>I'm an unpublished author and have thought of these things. I've been told before about deadlines, about the need to get things done on a strict time schedule. I have read countless blogs and tweets from other writers doing the same things. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>And yet, I don't think it's a pressure that one can truly understand until one is in those shoes, staring down the deadline. I used to be a reporter for a newspaper, so I know all about deadlines. Maybe better than novelists. I have had an hour to get something done that needs to be coherent, intriguing, grammatically correct, factual and have no inconsistencies - all knowing that people will be READING it in just a few hours. So I know about deadlines. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>However, being under contract to write something that people enjoy, that they will hopefully fall in love with. Something that will take a lot of time and effort. That is something of which I still don't know the full extent.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>But as an unpublished writer, I would say just about anything is worth getting published - getting that first offer of someone wanting to print your book. It's the goal of every unpublished offer. And yes, there will be consequences after that. Things like deadlines and working under contract and have immensely more pressure than before. But I think writers need to remember they were once unpublished, as I am. That they once would have given an arm and a leg (Well, maybe just a leg? Arms are useful for writing.) to get published. Remember that it's totally worth it. </i><br />
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So<i>, </i>I'm curious: What do you guys think about the pressures of writing under a deadline and a contract? Is this something you've considered before? Have you experienced something like this? Leave a comment with your thoughts.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0Phoenix, AZ, USA33.4483771 -112.074037333.024432600000004 -112.7057513 33.8723216 -111.4423233tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-72348427735612939722012-08-29T12:24:00.000-06:002012-08-29T12:24:24.087-06:00Writers paying for reviews?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3M8jh-aqAnM/UD5eD92UULI/AAAAAAAAAVI/e6NMVtQFkbc/s1600/tumblr_m95c3eNnES1r8qs4to2_500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3M8jh-aqAnM/UD5eD92UULI/AAAAAAAAAVI/e6NMVtQFkbc/s320/tumblr_m95c3eNnES1r8qs4to2_500.jpeg" width="320" /></a>I was going through my reader this morning, and I came across <a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/08/what-do-you-think-about-authors-paying.html">this post on Nathan Bransford's blog</a> about a service where writers can pay someone to give good reviews about their work. And, it's expensive, but obviously people are doing it (the guy was getting 28,000 a month!).<br />
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<br />
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Now I'm sure you've all heard about this by now, since it's been pretty loud this week.<br />
<br />
Here are my personal thoughts, which I left in comment form on Nathan's post:<br />
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<br />
<i>Generating attention is one thing. Getting your book out to as many people as possible to help spread the word about it is fine, in my opinion. Sharing good reviews in blurbs is also okay. Showing how other people liked it is fine - but I feel it must be genuine. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I do read reviews. I'm a watcher of them. I like to research things before I do them so I'm prepared. I like reading reviews because they are what I thought were honest opinions of other people. While I've never passed on a book because of a less-than-enthusiastic review, I feel there's a sort of covenant there that reviews should be the honest feelings of a review. As a person who has reviewed, I'm appalled that people would lie, as I wouldn't. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>On the other hand, as a writer, I'm a little disgusted that people would pay for this service. Getting the word out is one thing. Paying for false praise is a little sad. I understand the temptation of wanting to have people say good things about your work. We work on hard on our stories, and it hurts when people don't enjoy them as much as we do. And it hurts when people don't know about them because there isn't a lot of news out there about it. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>However, I think a person's art should stand on it's own. If a story isn't good enough to deserve 50 stellar reviews on its own, then go back to the drawing board and write something new and better. Having fictions about your fiction is kind of tacky. If it's good enough, just getting the word out that it exists should be enough.</i><br />
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So, I'm curious, though. Do you guys agree with me? What are your thoughts on the whole issue? Please let me know!<br />
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Also, happy Wednesday, everyone!Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-85297725479633047742012-08-27T16:58:00.000-06:002012-08-27T17:00:22.707-06:00Big news!So, I realize that right after I told you all I was going to be blogging more often, I didn't blog again that week.<br />
<br />
Well, ironic. And that's life.<br />
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But I also promised you I was going to have big news. And here it is!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJ2EFcrCP0U/UDv5ycak1FI/AAAAAAAAAU4/br0DIMmTl1U/s1600/phoenix-downtown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YJ2EFcrCP0U/UDv5ycak1FI/AAAAAAAAAU4/br0DIMmTl1U/s320/phoenix-downtown.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I'm now living in Phoenix!<br />
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This may not be exciting for some people. But I'm just a small-town Montana girl. This is a huge city with endless possibilities. And I'm planning on making the most of them.<br />
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I ended up here because my job in Great Falls, Montana was transfered. (Well, technically it wasn't transfered. I was transfered because I applied for the job. If not, my job may have disappeared. Not really. They love me there. And I will probably head back eventually.)<br />
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So, now I'm working in downtown Phoenix, living in a huge apartment complex with a POOL and AIR CONDITIONING (Only places I can't afford in Montana have central air) and so much more. I may even get a pet while I'm out here.<br />
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Anywho. I'm going to get back to work. No, not work work. <i>Writing</i>. That's right! Me and S.M. Robertson are hanging out on Google+ doing word sprints and such. Want to join in? Please do. Contact info is above (in contact info, no less!).<br />
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Hope some of you can make it!Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-73538483712643009392012-08-22T08:00:00.000-06:002012-08-22T08:00:04.086-06:00Umm. . . Hi guys! (#Writemotivation?)Yeah, so . . . May. It's been since May. You know, since I've written a blog post.<br />
<br />
Sorry for the long absence. I'm going to be picking this up again and blogging more regularly. I may have said that before, but I promise the distractions in my life are much less than before. So, it's actually likely that I'll bee keeping that promise.<br />
<br />
One of the ways I'm motivating myself to do so is by participating in <a href="http://www.kthanna.com/2012/08/371/">K.T. Hanna's #Writemotivation September 2012</a>. My goals are pretty simple this time around, and I'm hoping all of you out there will get involved!<br />
<br />
Here are my goals:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Write every day, at least 200 words. </b>While I'm really hoping to get more than that, I really needed to set the bar low for myself on this one. Being that in addition to not blogging, I haven't been writing, I decided to keep things simple.</li>
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<li><b>Write a blog post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. </b>See? See how motivated I am to keep up with my blogging? It's one of the goals. And there you have it. A promise. </li>
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<li><b>Make one vlog. </b>This, I'm hoping, shouldn't be too hard. Just one little video. I'm going to try to work on getting them to be a little shorter. I hate having to cut down everything to make it a managible length.</li>
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<li><b>Comment on at least one blog post a day. </b>I knew you all were wondering what my little goals were going to do for you (besides the obvious of having tons new things from me to read, of course). Well, here you all go! In fact, I want to make sure I'm getting to my readers! Let me know you're listening in the comments. Make sure I can find my way easily to your blog, unless your confident I can find it easily on my own (blogs I already read are a good bet). I'm not going to spend a lot of time looking, unfortunately. But, I promise to read and comment on the blogs of those who read and comment on mine. I may even make a list of them later. Who knows!</li>
</ul>
So there you have it! My list of goals for the month of September. I'm kind of excited. Do you guys think I can manage them? Go a head and let me know! And, if you want to participate with me, <a href="http://www.kthanna.com/2012/08/371/">here is the link to sign up again</a>.<br />
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Oh, and for some exciting news, stay tuned on Friday! <br />
<ul>
</ul>
Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-19093101886875108012012-05-22T11:37:00.000-06:002012-05-22T11:37:10.477-06:00So long been has itSo today, for the first time in a couple months, I actually opened up Net News Wire – my blog reader.<br />
<br />
I have exactly 3634 blog posts to read.<br />
<br />
I will not be reading all of them. I probably will only be reading 100 blog posts. Maybe fewer. But, I will be getting back on a blogging schedule and a reading blog schedule.<br />
<br />
So hello, my readers, if any of you are still out there.<br />
<br />
Tell me: What have you been doing in my absence?<br />
<br />
I have been vastly enjoying no doing anything of importance. And I seriously mean that. I have done no writing, no real cleaning of my house, or anything. I did, however, get some lawn care finished, and I've been going to work every day. Is that much of an accomplishment? No.<br />
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Anyway, it's nice to (kind of) see you guys again. You'll be seeing me around more. I promise.Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077113149406563376.post-4264806294074436502012-03-14T13:21:00.001-06:002012-03-14T13:22:05.385-06:00WIP Wednesday, Week 4 (and 5 Things I Did Instead of Writing)So, it's Wednesday again, where I'm supposed to tell you all the amazing work I did on my WIP. But to tell the truth, I haven't been writing. Like, for the last two weeks. I know - such a slacker, right?<br />
<br />
So, instead I'm going to give you a list of five things I've done instead of writing (or blogging, for that matter!):<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Slept. Lord, do I love sleeping. I'm a big proponent of sleeping. I very much want the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night. So yeah. But also, I think I was getting sick over the weekend, and so I slept a lot. And I mean, a LOT. But I feel better now. I call that a win.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Read. I finished two and a half books in the last couple of weeks. And I think that's fantastic. I like to read. And my reading had been vastly suffering. So it's good that I'm getting back to that, right?<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Worked out. That's right, folks. I've been going to the gym instead of writing. And the fact that I used to use writing as a way to ignore my health means this is actually a very large step forward for me. Now I just need to find the balance.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Commented and read blogs. Oh yeah, that's right. You people are part of my problem. Between the Writer's Campaign and my friends who blog, I've vastly fallen behind on reading and commenting. And so every time I sat down to write, instead my time was taken up by countless blog posts. *sigh* I need more hours in the day.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Pinterest. Oh, how bad that site is for me. Yeah, I spent a good portion of my time online scrolling through endless pages of pretty hair styles and gorgeously decorated rooms and inspirational phrases and hilarious images and more. The plus side is I now know how to do a french and a fishtail braid. The downside is now I'm planning for things that I don't even want to think about including engagement photos, wedding ideas and baby shower things. I don't want to spend time on thinking about these. *headdesk*</li>
</ol><div>So, that's what I've been doing instead of writing. But I'm here at my coffee shop now. I'm fed (with a delicious and healthy lunch) and I have my latté. I'm reading to get started and I'm not going to stop until I have at least 500 words. (Or I have to go to work. Because, you know, that's something I can't really neglect.)</div><div><br />
</div><div>And what about you? What have you been doing instead of writing?</div>Brennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03852146274411023781noreply@blogger.com0