Why Wait?

A common theme is emerging amongst all I read about the writing craft, the Podcasts I listen to with tips from Authors and the writing course I'm progressing through on completing a novel. It concerns those times that we want to continue with our novel but can't find the time or inspiration or words.

Don't wait, just write.

If you wait for the perfect words, they may never come - after all, what is perfection? Just start with anything, a character, a setting, a situation and write and write and write. Once the words start to spread across the page they will take on their own life and grow and dance and play.

When you give up control of the pen (or keyboard) the story will take form, characters will emerge to find out what is going on and hopefully join in.

After all, with the technology of word processing and computers, words can be edited and edited, they can change and disappear and appear again. I hear of the importance of the rewrite and I wonder how much editing went on in the day of quill and ink?

So instead of letting menial distractions take me from my writing (like cleaning house, writing blogs... oh), I'm going to get stuck into my writing and reach my 500 word goal for the day.

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Flashy

After finding and inserting a designer background from 'cutest blogs on the block', I heard back from some people that the background does not show up on all computers.

Sometimes I romanticise technology beyond its abilities. Now test driving a generic background in hot pink - if it is too much for the eyes on a cloudy morning, let me know and I tone it down (a little).

Cheers
Charmaine

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Interupting Characters

Where do characters come from? Well, when a Mummy character and Daddy character love each other VERY much.... Not quite what I was thinking, but probably as good as a response as any I could come up with.

My plan was to write a mystery novel set in Australia in the 1930's. I have the plot, I have the characters and I started to write. That piece of work has now gone to the waiting room, because there was another character forming that needed to be written first. She was a tomboyish 11yr old redhead that lived in the 16th century and wanted to be a pirate.

I resisted, after all it was a period I knew little about. However this little girl was adamant. So I started researching and writing the story of The Pirate Girl. Very quickly other characters formed around her, such as the Duke that has become an outcast and knows nothing about sailing...or survival.

While working away at this story, another 11yr old girl asked to be written; this time a contemporary young 'preppy' girl who, along with her canine companion, enters dog shows and solve mysteries.

Both girls wanted attention and I loved them both equally. How could I choose between my characters? So I write both and sometimes when I work on one too long, I hear the other complaining (kids!).

I'm not sure why I am drawn to this age. Perhaps it is the in between time of leaving being a little girl behind but not into the teenage years yet. The place of what is left behind and what is to come.

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Don't wake me, I'm writing a novel.

My desk is cleared, I have my favorite pen (after testing many for weight and texture), a brand new notebook, kids out of the room and I decide to work on my novel. Nothing comes.

I can work on plot elements, story structure, research details, but the creative writing does not happen on demand. When my brain is active, alert and ready to go, this is the time I can observe and take inspiration, think of different angles and solve character problems. It's only when my brain is switched off, in that soft space between wake and sleep that the narrative starts to flow.

I hop into bed, longing to just pass out, but thinking I'll just jot down a few notes before I drift off; before too long my head drops down and I have that quick moment of not being here. When I shake my head to wake myself enough to put down the pen and turn off the lamp, I realise I have already written pages of narrative, it just seems to flow. I think the key here is I don't over think what I am writing. I don't put up my own mental obstacles to block the story from moving forward. I get out of the way of my characters. I just write.

Perhaps this is where the theory of keeping a journal of dreams comes from. There may be a few plot ideas pop up from a bizarre dream, but possibly it is where you allow those words to lead when you keep writing in that 'not quite back in reality' space.

So alert time is for planning (and blog writing) and those times I'm too tired to write are for, well, writing.

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No time to finish that novel?

As soon as I felt the craving to get back into finishing my children's novel The Pirate Girl (possible choice out of... well not many yet), I had to have a chuckle at myself.

Yes this is the time to pick up the writing craft, when I am approaching the last run of my Graduate Diploma in Education at Uni, undertaking Prac teaching experience for 5 weeks, making costumes for my kids' school plays and parades, grooming a dog for show that needs to have his hair stripped back regularly and generally taking care of the family. Yep, I definitely needed something to fill all those quiet times.

Of course once I looked like I was making progress with The Pirate Girl I also just had to start a new series of children's mystery books about a dog show detective.

In order to inspire me to keep writing I took on the online writing course How to Think Sideways (which so far is brilliant by the way), because obviously it would help me to find more time to write if I had yet another obligation to fulfill.

You know what? It did. For some reason my schedule does not run well on empty, but fill it up and give me deadlines, and I absolutely whizz through tasks and seem to think more clearly. I am once again filling my days up with my much loved 'To Do' list (categorised and sub-categorised) and my creative ideas are rushing in again. I fill every spare moment with words (thus at 3.30 am, with the wind whistling and my tin roof clanking and while I'm unable to sleep, I am writing this blog).

I guess it's like they say "If you want something done, give it to a busy person to do", so it would make sense that if you want to do something new, make it seem like you wouldn't possibly have time, then you'll do it!

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Creative versus Creation

Browsing through other writer's blogs, I've notice a lot of advertisements for writing software. My mind has been racing. Does the software write the novel for you? Is it like the online poetry creation sites that I use with year 7 students - where they enter names, colours, nouns and verbs into boxes and the computer puts them out into a generic poem?
Do you just give the program a general plot outline and away it goes? Or does it just prompt you along the way for what comes next, like a pop up box "time for a conflict"?

Do writers who use these tools get published? Do they get all credit or is there a little hyperlink on every manuscript? If they do get published are we going to be bombarded with a range of one story for each genre with just the names and places changed? If a computer creates it is it still creative?

I love when one little thing can spark a whole quest for answers in our mind. I don't really need the answers, it's the questions I enjoy.

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I've got that Tingling Feeling Again!

I've been writing for pleasure since I could make the shape of letters with a crayon. I grew to create short stories, poetry, experimental pieces, scripts, blogs (obviously) and more. It makes me smile then that every time I approach a new piece, task or genre, I feel like I am approaching writing for the first time - I'm embarking on something untouched and unknown.

I feel that way now. I've created plot outlines, characters and begun writing on my Pirate Girl trilogy and now I'm also beginning a story about a young girl who manages to solve mysteries while attending dog shows. I've been there before, what's the big deal?

This time it feels different. The first module of a writing course How to Think Sideways (go to the ink-fever page for the link and a discount) has arrived in my inbox and I'm just starting to read through it. This is exciting. This is not just a course, this is the course that will take me from scribbling down ideas and plots and stories to working on completing and publishing my novels for children.

I chose dog showing as the setting for my most recent project and a young junior handler as the character because my 11yr old daughter is embarking on this activity. Write about what you know - isn't that what they tell you?

You also have to write to propel the story, as dubious as it may sound my setting will host many mysteries. I also like quilting, but can't imagine that craft propelling any narrative, 'the two men boldly stood, ready for the battle about to take place. One of them would surely die. Sarah pulled out her Irish Chain patchwork quilt and with her size 10 needle threaded with the special waxy thread, she began to stitch. One tiny stitch, then another. It was thick fabric with wool lining so the needle did not slide through easily...' You can see why I don't write about quilting in my fiction, now if I was a sky-diver, well that would be a different matter!

One of the things that impressed me when reading up on the How to Think Sideways course, was the mention of listening to your muse. I've always imagined I would write for adults, and even started a crime novel aimed at that market. When I create my characters, they have different ideas, they start to place themselves. The Pirate Girl evolved from a picture book idea for young children, but Grace became stubborn and stomped her foot and said she wanted to be in a big girl's book. Once the fight scenes commenced and some poor sailors lost their lives, I knew she was right - never argue with red-head (I should have known better).

Now I am finding inspiration everywhere. By attending a Commedia dell'Arte (Italian comedy theatre) yesterday with drama students, I was struck with desire to visit Italy. The costumes and masks were so expressive and colourful. I've now decided my little dog show detective is going to travel the world attending famous dog shows and solving mysteries. I may have to travel to Italy for research - darn it.

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Teach out Imagination

Attended Matilda's 'Three Way Conversation' last night (oldies like me remember it as 'parent/teacher' night, but the new title appears to include the student).

Matilda has loved school and more importantly, her teachers. She worked hard to please them. This year has been different. In a large class with several classroom management problems (disruptive and argumentative students), Matilda feels lost and is intimidated by her 'no-nonsense' teacher. Matilda feels she is not getting any praise and this is disheartening for her as it is what motivates her (a sense of responsibility for her own education does not).

It seems this year Matilda has not been completing her work in an acceptable amount of time and as a result has many worksheets half finished in her desk. The pile up of unfinished work starts to stress Matilda as it builds up. It is a visual reminder constantly that she has a lot left to do and is not keeping up with other students.

The teacher advised Matilda that she needs to work quickly, I suggested that faster is not always better (thank you Tovani for that advice in Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?). The teacher advised that Matilda's problem is that she constantly stops working to day-dream. I should have been disappointed, I should have scowled. But I didn't. Matilda's favourite activity is writing short stories, and she is good at it. I felt a rush of pride (my little girl is just like me!).

I asked if she enjoyed the worksheets and she said they were boring. Problem 1 - the work is not engaging.

I then asked the teacher what do the kids get to do after they finish a worksheet. The answer? Another one. Seriously. I asked if the kids couldn't get to do something like read, draw or write stories. The teacher quickly realised what I meant and said that the kids could take up something fun once they completed all the necessary work. A compromise was established where Matilda will have a list created of her work for that day and she can tick off her progress (she loves ticking off lists).

Matilda was also advised that this is year 3 and she is old enough to ask questions when she needs help.

Another teacher told me that the Primary students have to realise they will soon be in High School and have to be prepared. High School teachers talk about students needing to be prepared for work. If kids are always preparing for the next step how can they focus on the one they are currently up to?

So for my fellow students wishing to teach next year, lets remember to make our work engaging (yes kids can have fun and learn at the same time!), lets include motivation and not judge a students abilities based solely on speed.

And furthermore... Go Matilda! Keep on day-dreaming - lots of great story plots in the making!

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Pirate's Kidnapped my Imagination

Today I woke up at 4am with a burning desire to return to something left dusty and waiting for so long (no not that). OK it may be that I awoke so early because after having dental work done on me yesterday, I ended falling asleep before my kids bedtime.

I have housework to do, I have three pieces for uni to write, but I need to do something for me. I want to return to The Pirate Girl (yet to receive a better title) and start writing again. I suspect that my friend 'Inky' may have something to do with this (all budding authors should check out her site, I've never met anyone who gets more words on page within their deadline).

I've been quite fortunate in my life to have an enjoyable one, with most 'bad times' serving as life lessons or inspiration. When I want to try something in life, nothing significant has ever blocked me; this is probably why I've an eclectic career background. What I value most in my career (and indeed my home life) is feeling like I am making a positive contribution, feeling needed.

I desperately want to teach young people because I can identify a need amongst students. This is why I was a little disappointed to find out I will be prac teaching at a college this semester. Give me the troubled kids, the naughty kids, the ratbags that have been convinced nobody wants them there. Let me show them I do want them there and I value what they have to offer. I guess part of me wants to mother the students, and I'm sure that's the last thing they want. So I will get enthusiastic about attending a more high-brow school and see what I can offer these students, maybe I will learn from them.

But for today I want some me time. Time to do what I enjoy most: write. Here is the opening to The Pirate Girl, which I expect to span three novels aimed at 10-13yr olds (and maybe more).

The ocean is a wild and untameable beast. She is cruel with a passion and has been known to snap a ship effortlessly, while playfully pulling her victims down toward her belly. No man can overcome her, but there are men who attempt to endure her. The brave, that seek to prove she will not stand in their way, the desperate, so afraid but with no other option than to sign their soul over to the sea. And then there is another kind of man who takes on the bitter salt air, ferocious winds and forceful swells. This is the man that loves her. It is her darkness, the defiant stand she takes against anyone who tries to control her, even her sweet promise of death appeals to him. As you would expect, these men mostly travel under the flag of a pirate.

And yet, one small girl, off the coast of Ireland, in the year 1542, shared the same uncultivated passion for adventure and mischief and saw the sea as her friend.

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The Write Scene

The Write Scene

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I didn't do it!

Things I have left unfinished:

• Quilts - so many with just a few touches to go.
• Art courses
• Websites - Googled myself and found a lot of abandoned sites - I'm an Internet litterbug
• Careers - sooo many
• Stories - 2 novels in the making, not touched for a year
• Notes from the girls' school - permission slips, absentee notes, etc etc etc
• Diploma of Marketing - only had a few courses to go
• Renovating - I bought the paint, doesn't that count for something?
• Training my dogs - started but...
• Cleaning - it gets undone before I can finish
• Homework - that's what I'm supposed to be doing right now (oops)

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Hello Stranger!

So you think nobody reads your blog...

You've shopped around and finally decided between Wordpress and Blogspot, you've agonized over a theme for your writing and decorated your site to represent your personality; what's next? You pour your heart out in your posts. Perhaps, like myself, your interest is in creative writing or educational technology. Perhaps you post about your kids or your dogs or your new shoes.

But does anybody ready your blog?

Like you, I thought I was bloggin' out to empty space; a scrunched up note being passed by the busy busy Internet traffic zooming by. But not so.

Recently a friend of mine commented online that her phone service was rubbish, and not long after came a reply from the phone company. Another time was a Tweet about how even Potatoes can find love, she promptly received information about dating services.

I decided to blog for my own pleasure, to play around with my creative writing ideas. I stopped waiting to find an audience to post to. Some of my friends read my blog (not family, as I need to keep them separated from my writing so that I have someone to write about), but I was surprised to find there are others out there scouring blog pages for opportunities. After posting about Creative Writing topics, today I received, addressed to me personally, in the mail, an offer for a course on Creative Writing. Coincidence? Hmmm

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Do You Feel Lucky?

If at first you don't succeed - skydiving is not for you.

Lately I've been getting an itch again. No not some nasty rash, an itch to once again attempt something from my childhood. Every now and then toy companies re-market items that take us back to a nostalgic time of innocence and magic. The other day while shopping with the kids I had a "ooooh! I want, I want!" moment, my girls turned to see me mesmerised by the new-look Sea-Monkeys.

"No Mum, leave them alone." advises Emily, who can recall all too well my last attempt at growing these creatures which ended (as always) in a complete aqua civilisation lost.

I still remember my first attempt at raising these funny little monkey families; after seeing promises of happy little friends in the back of comic books (along with the x-ray glasses and the giant balloons), I finally found a packet of Sea-Monkeys at the local Markets. I couldn't wait to get my mysterious little packet of dried powder home to 'simply add water' and see the little fellows come to life.

Belief is the centre of magic, and as children we overflow with it. I believed Santa came every Christmas Eve to leave me a special gift, I believed there were Gnomes in my garden, I believed my teddy loved me and I believed in advertising. So I filled my little tank, waited for the water to be safe and carefully added my little friends. I was suitably amazed when tiny specks moved around in the water and devastated when only weeks later they had stopped moving.

It did not take me long to try again, and again the many specks ceased to exist. I think I have probably attempted this impossible task about half a dozen times in my life, all with the same tragic results. One particularly disturbing time was when I was 9months pregnant with my first child and accidentally killed my whole tank of swimming pets by putting them out in the sun (for fresh air). I was very concerned about my ability to raise a human life.

There is a kind of god-complex that comes with trying to 'create' life and in reflection I feel my responsibility to fail these little lives is nothing short of Sea-Monkey genocide.

Can I really try again, knowing that I will probably be killing hundreds? I think I am addicted to the rush of seeing those tiny specks move about, and besides I have a good feeling this time I will be lucky. After all - Rehab is for quitters.

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