Regulating Your Writing Time

A Writing Kind of Day (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Are You Regulating Writing Time to the Background?

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

It’s so easy to let time get away from us. Letting time slip away that’s reserved for writing here and there due to errands, appointments, life is hard to get back. I know I’ve been going through this for a while now and it’s like being stuck in a whirlwind. You promise yourself you’ll make that lost time up another day, another hour. The problem is, every day we face the risk of losing more. Soon, it becomes a pattern, dare I say, even a habit to skip? Surely when life stops being so complicated, we can get back to our Muse. If we don’t put up a stop sign—even for just ten minutes out of our day—writing becomes less important to us.

 

Now, I know there are days we can skip on occasion, but when it adds up to weeks or even months, we’re ultimately hurting ourselves. It’s tough enough to make it in the writing world without becoming our own worst enemy. Not spending time doing something you love (and I assume you love writing, why else would you do it?), makes it easier to let it slip to hobby status and then just fall by the way side. It’s hard to say, “No,” you can’t do something when you’re a writer. After all, the majority of people in your life assume it won’t be a bother to you to take care of something. Your writing doesn’t account for bosses, time cards, and set hours. So letting things slide shouldn’t matter.

 

Oh, if they only realized. Writing is a business. If you don’t do it, you don’t get a chance to be published, an opportunity to be paid by your bosses (the publishing house/s). So don’t feel guilty for scheduling time to write. More time writing also equals more growth in your work. Take the time. Stick to it. Schedule appointments around it as much as possible. Now, this is not to say, emergencies won’t come up and I’m not saying to ignore them when they do. Just don’t let your set time become less and less until there’s nothing there anymore. Because getting the Muse to work again, takes a long time. That’s time that could be spent moving on to the next level in your career. Lesson learned. Now, to get back to it.

 

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When the Muse strikes…

A classic fairy with a wand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

When the Muse Strikes…

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

Often, if you’re like me, the Muse strikes whenever it wants to. Sometimes, it’s convenient, sometimes not but if you’re a writer, you learn to deal. Do I lose some fragments of ideas when I’m driving or at the doctor’s office? Sure. It happens, but most of the time I can capture those clues with the help of the pens I keep in my purse and various post-its, scraps of notebook paper, even napkins. Hey, whatever works. This weekend I was recovering from surgery when I had some complications hit me. Needless to say, I spent a LOT of time resting and while I did so, who should show up? The Muse fairy. She tickled her wings and voila, the solution to some of my world’s problems rested in my palms.

 

Things that should have been obvious in my character’s universe suddenly clicked. Not only that, I discovered the title and plotline to how the 3^rd book (all of these written to be stand-alones) rocketed into place as well. Sometimes, it just takes a bit of quiet, a bit of reflection to uncover what will/or should be. I feel more on firm ground again and I’m ready to move forward. Happy writing, everyone.

 

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Procrastinating…and the details

Writer’s Stop (Photo credit: Stephh922)

 

Procrastinating…and the details

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

Procrastination has been a serious wrench in my editing/rewriting as of late. Doubts sometimes creep in when we’re working on a project and this was no exception. Not misgivings about the story, but, well, me as a writer. Around me, I’ve watched others moving on with their books, getting published, receiving awards etc. while I’m still in the same place. Although, really, I’m not. In the same place. I’ve been learning, growing, coming to terms with things. I think it’s a path a lot of writers take in their journey, sort of losing that momentum, falling behind. The truth is, we need that to happen in order to re-focus on why we’re doing this, who we are, and to realize everything will fall into place when the time’s ready.

 

This is the time when some writers fall by the wayside, lose hope, and walk away. What’s more, I’m sure from what I’ve read on other author’s experiences, that it won’t be the last time something like this happens. You’ve got to decide whether you’re going to let circumstances make you or break you. I’ve decided to persevere. It hasn’t been my time yet, but one day, it will be. Since last fall, my writing has slid to a crawl in pace. Slowly, now, I’m picking up speed. It didn’t happen overnight. I’ve had to fight to get there but Spring is dawning. There is hope. Reading over my wip, I realize, I have something here. I have only to open myself up to the possibilities.

 

Ideas are brimming, popping up when least expected. Avenues that make sense, that excite the story. One day, I hope to be able to write as fast as I used to, but for now, I’m taking it one day at a time, knowing that I’m headed in the right direction. I may not get there as fast as I wanted to, but I’ll get there. How about you? Do you feel like giving up or have you walked away in the past, only to return anew? Hold on. You’ll reach where you’re going, it just takes time. I know that’s a pulling teeth answer, but it’s the truth. Juggling this life is tough in itself. That’s why we need each other’s support in this. Cheer your fellow authors on because in doing so, you’ll lift yourself up to the next level and soon, it’ll be your turn.

 

 

 

 

 

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Update Feb. 7, 2013

English: Street scenes of fall (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Update Feb. 7, 2013

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

I’m still in the editing/rewriting stages on my wip. Although it may not seem like I’m making much progress (it feels like it’s been forever doing this), truly I am. My story has undergone such changes that will make it better, stronger, hopefully more fulfilling for the readers and that’s what matters. I know each time we query, we need to present the best story possible for us at that time. It takes a lot to get it to that “ready” stage. I’ve rushed in the past and found myself putting forth less-than-perfect entries and that’s not good. We want to earn an agent’s notice for writing well, not by something we should stuff inside our desk drawer as “lessons learned.”

 

What I’ve been working on with the book are the creatures. There’s different kinds and within one group, different levels. It’s tough to come up with something totally “unique” but I’ve tried to with mine. I’ve thought of the things that scare me and built on that in the development. What scares the characters also went into the consideration. It has to be a combination of both, I think, to get the “monster” to be at its worst.

 

You know from the last time, one of my characters went from being a brunette to a blonde. Well, I took a look at the rest of my cast as well and fixed those I needed to. Her brother is still dark-brown-haired but I’ve added glasses for him and more of a “stiffer” personality to accord his lawyer aspirations. His girlfriend is still a redhead, but more of a tomboy which will allow some conflict between them. Not to mention, the brother is torn between all that he’s learning about the legal world and the fact that his family is on the run because of his sister’s supernatural abilities.

 

The excitement is brewing is regards to this project and I’m so thankful. It really helps to love your story, your characters, what you’re doing. When you’re miserable, it shows. Right now, I’ve added another two chapters with the creatures pursuing my characters. I wanted to show not only their terror but how close to losing everything they love they are. I think that’s a key to horror. They have to not only be afraid of their lives ending, but the lives of those around them as well. When they care about someone other than themselves, it keeps the reader spell-bound. It shows what kind of character they really are: others come first.

 

I hope your own writing/editing is coming along well. Happy writing.

 

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Jan. 24, 2013 Update

Garden flower (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Jan, 24, 2013: Update

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

Editing is going well. I tend to pick at things writing-wise and it takes me longer than getting that first draft written which, I suppose, is as it should be. Editing takes times. It’s about looking at things and making sure you have everything where the camera-in-your-mind wants it. There is usually some pruning (whether it’s taking out a character/s, changing a situation, rewriting a scene) and some juggling (switching everything around to improve the flow), not to mention tweaking of material to get it just right.

 

In the past few weeks, I’ve concentrated on the people in my story more than the events happening around them. I’ve brought them front-and-center and shown how life around them bulldozes them or makes them stronger. You see, I’m learning the story is about the character with the problem not the problem itself. Now, there are writers out there who focus on the plot and not the protagonist and they’re skilled at the twists and turns, but for me, I “love” the story that brings me into the world of the hero/heroine and shows me who they are and how they react to the situation they’re put in.

 

I was having a particular problem with one heroine who I couldn’t get to “care” about the situation she was in. Turns out, I had the “wrong” character in mind for her and had to crush her and begin from scratch again. Her looks changed from a brunette to a blonde and I “cast” a different actress to play her. Instantly, the world opened up around her from my ability to see   how she’d face things, to who she was as a person. Sometimes it takes a bit of shaking up to get a character just right. Now, I know not everyone pictures particular actors for a part, but I feel it helps me if I can zoom in on their facial expressions, how they walk and talk, how they encounter a problem and persevere, or not.

 

Other unexpected things happened. My hero found out some things about the people in his life that he wish he hadn’t which took him to a darker place. Grief does that. As in reality, some people disappoint us, while others surprise us. It all works together as a whole, to enrich our story. Sometimes I think that’s why certain ones take us longer to write: we haven’t grasped the concept of what they’re all about yet. So, yeah, my work’s not done yet, I still have to continue on with the tweaking, doing all the things mentioned beforehand, and seam things back together but I’m happy and that’s what it’s all about: bringing your story to fruition. Good luck out there with yours.

 

 

 

 

 

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First Update for the New Year…

The other side of the Story (Photo credit: mumchancegaloot)

 

First Update for the Year

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

I intended to post this early this morning but got sidetracked by black ice and a fall. I’m okay, my knees are just a little banged up and hand and legs hurt but otherwise, A-OK.  Just wasn’t expecting the ground to slip out from beneath my feet, lol. I think that sometimes happens in our writing life too. We’re sprinting along on a project and then bam, something happens to set us back. I had plenty of that for the last 3-4 weeks with editing. Most of it involved not being sure of where I was going but some of it was a sneak-attack that left me crawling over a puddle of ice, trying to reach solid or stable ground.

 

I have learned SO much from The Other Side of the Story and taking the approach of having my character/s face a problem in every scene, usually stemming from something’s that’s gone before like little ripples on a pond.  It’s really shaped my story up nicely. Now, I’m not just giving them just ANY problem but one that relates either to my main plot or is an off-shoot of one of my subplots.  I can’t tell you how much stronger my characters are for doing this. I’ve had to step back and dissect each scene and figure out the heart of them. The result is amazing.

 

Never stop learning your craft. It’s so important to grow as writers. When it comes to my stories, I want to always reach beyond the ordinary. I want to make the reader laugh, cry, sing, dance, all the emotions available to us, but most of all, I want to leave them with hope. A hope that light can shine into the darkness and beat it back. My characters have gone from stick-figures to people you can almost hear breathe. That’s no accident. It’s pushing myself that stretches those boundaries, moves me into the next level. Don’t be afraid to reach for the seemingly impossible. You’ll love where it takes you and your work. Good luck and happy writing.

 

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Some changes…

Tennessee barn (Photo credit: knitgrrldotcom)

 

What do you think of the new blog design? I like the simpleness and the misty setting reminds me of where my books are set: in the fictional Akara Mountains in Tennessee. The bridge is an image that particularly jumps out at me because it’s important in my stories. Hint: the dead ones often walk there, waiting for unsuspecting trespassers. I’ve updated my “About Me” page and added a new one with members of YAFF links and other writerly ones. I will still be posting book reviews and updates/writer advice hopefully on Tuesdays and Thursdays still. Although this schedule may take a hit until the new year gets in swing. The only thing that may change about it is that I may post every other week. Although I LOVE blogging and keeping in touch with all of you, it’s getting harder to find topics that aren’t covered elsewhere. Another big issue: I need writing/editing time and a lot of times that’s pushed out of the way in favor of the blog. If I don’t work on my books, I won’t be able to strive to reach my goal of publication. I’ve been torn in this reality for half of this year, now I’m making a choice: my stories need to come first. I’m sure you all understand how hard it is to find time as it is to do this thing I love. Life gets in the way. I’ll slowly be backing off a lot of social media sites as well. They just occupy too much of our hours. Not that I don’t enjoy them, but the time just whittles away so fast and nothing’s left for storytelling. I know this may sound a little like “a goodbye” but it’s not. It’s just a pause to refocus on my creativity. Until my next post, take care, and God bless!!

 

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Where I’m At…

The photo was taken at 7:50PM EST on April 7, 2007 at the Cliff Tops on Mount Le Conte, in the Great Smoky Mountains of Sevier County, Tennessee, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I finished my read-through of my first draft. Monday, I began the slow but necessary process of edits. I’m pretty excited and happy with what I’ve come up with so far. I’ve changed one character from male to female and yesterday, I decided to put her in conflict-mode with the hero. I think this will bring many advantages to the story. Not the least is which to add more tension to the scenes and the outcome. My opening setting began with a graveyard in town originally, but I’ve moved it to the mountains and a burial pit to reflect the background of the young protagonist. He’s on a field trip with his classmates during which monsters attack and he gets delivered an ill-fated message. I’ve been working hard on getting subtle details into my story about setting and characters. It’s not easy but I think I’m coming up with the right mix. In all this, I’m not totally changing the first chapter. I’m just opening in a different setting, closer to their village, and tying this scene into what I had originally.  Digging deeper has helped me add so much to the work. I’ve been able to do away with some subtitles in the chapter line-up and shown instead the details of such in the writing. One major thing for me to tackle was fluid body movements. Often, I struggle with them in the story. They seem awkward and stiff at times. I’ve been studying how other writers handle them and I think I’m getting the issue resolved. This is where all that reading we do as writers pays off. Read and learn is really the best way.  Hope your own writing is coming along well. Good luck with your projects.

 

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Book Review: Writing & Selling the YA Novel by K.L. Going

 

Teen and Young Adult Fiction (Photo credit: Blue Train Books)

 

Writing & Selling the YA Novel by K.L. Going

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

2008 Writer’s Digest Books an imprint of F & W Publications, Inc.

 

Author of Saint Iggy and Fat Kid Rules the World

 

 

 

This book is set up like a class schedule with such chapters as: Homeroom (Time to Get

 

Motivated), GYM (Tossing Around—and Running With—Ideas), and Lunch (A Plateful of Healthy Plot) to name a few. Your instructor teaches in a friendly, no-bones about it manner of what it takes to write a YA Novel. There are little activities/homework at the end of each chapter to use.

 

The Author in addition to writing award-winning books worked as a literary agent at

 

Curtis Brown, Ltd. She’s even inserted questions and answers from real teens today to get their perspective on the market, what their reading, and their likes and dislikes. I admit to reading this book more than once because I wanted to absorb every nugget of advice she offered. Setting this up to read like courses at a high school evoked images of the past for me, although I didn’t get a flushed face when I didn’t know an answer, or have to slink in my seat at the back of the class to avoid the superior looks of other students.

 

I felt right at home in this learning environment and I’m sure you will too. From

 

Structure and Decision Making to Point of Views to Finding Fabulous First Readers, it’s all here. I like that she delved into the the goings-on inside the business side of the novel at the end as well. I’ve learned characterization can be my most valuable tool in filling in a character and getting them to be larger-than-life to others. I’ve learned that Grant of Right specifies who controls each aspect of your book. I’ve learned  that some of the biggest pet peeves for real teens are how they’re portrayed (not very nice), that they’re tired of books who don’t show them as having good relationships with their family members but always has them at odds especially with a parent, and that there’s no balance between the pretty girl or the awkward and shy girl in a love story.

 

Knowing your audience is key and some of the answers really helped me look at my own

 

work and ask the same questions. So drop those pom poms into your locker, jot down a note on your erase-board, or grab your book for Chemistry. School is in session and it will be fun, fun, fun.

 

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Book Review: How to Write a Damn Good Novel II by James N. Frey

 

Cover via Amazon

 

Book Review: How To Write A Damn Good Novel II by James N. Frey

 

Traci Kenworth

 

 

 

St. Martin’s Press 1994                                     `Fiction

 

 

 

I’m going to take a quote from the book: “This book covers advanced techniques such as how to make your characters not just dynamic but memorable, how to heighten the reader’s sympathy and identification with the characters, how to intensify suspense to keep the reader gripped, how to make a contract with the reader and stick to it, how to avoid the fiction writer’s seven deadly mistakes, and perhaps most important of all, how to write with passion.”

 

There is so much packed into this craft book that it’s heavenly to read. I’ve had this one sitting on my shelves for years and as part of my effort to re-read craft books and focus on the ones that truly helped me, this is one of them. James N. Frey has a no-nonsense approach to writing that I’m sure worked well during his lectures. This book will help anyone who wants to write fiction or non-fiction, genre or literary.

 

He took a winding path to become the published writer that he is and this is something I can identify with as I set aside my own writing during marriage and the early years of raising two children by myself before returning to it full force six years ago. Passion is indeed something I think that is vital to the business if you’re to succeed. It gets you through those dark times, the rejections, the absolute heartbreak you face. I believe it’s what motivates those of us who keep at it, to keep trying.

 

This book stresses the importance of communication with your reader. We need to gain their trust, their confidence, and in the end, tell them a story that resonates with them. Without our audience, we have no future. This doesn’t mean you don’t write the story you envision, rather that you enhance it so that they enjoy it as well as you do. There will always be critics, of course, but it is the reader who we must listen to and share our journey with whether that path includes hobbits or zombies. Readers want to care about your characters, cheer them on, cry at their losses, and in the end, part with them as friends.

 

 

 

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