This past week has been quite exhausting. Sophie, my eldest got poorly on Sunday, the same day we went for a BBQ with my parents where we met up with my niece, who is 2.5 years old. On Monday I had a call from my brother saying she was sick, and on Tuesday Max had caught it too. Three children, all with the same disease, and after three doctors we had ended up with 5 possible diagnoses O_o
They are finally getting better, all though Max has become a real mamas boy, complaining about the slightest thing. He was with my parents yesterday and he was fine there, but the second I came in, the waterworks turned on =(
So yeah, this week has been busy and when I finally have put Max in bed fast sleep at 10 - 11 pm, the last thing I have thought about is writing.
This weekend as I mentioned I have been dancing. Norways best cheerdancers have helt a crash course on cheerdancing freestyle and hip hop. It was very difficult as I am stiff as a stone, but it was fun. I'm not as sore today as I dreaded, but am expecting today to be hell. Anything else is a bonus!
Hopefully I will have more work to show for next week, and hopefully a little teaser for my little handful of readers out there.
Have a great day!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
That was fun =)
As you may know my dreams aren't solely contained around publishing a book.
I just ended a fantastic day with an old friend I haven't seen for 6 years. It was great catching up with her again, and our day mainly consisted of singing and music. We both share the same interest for music, we're both cast aways from idol (neither of us made it past the first round), and we both share the same dream of recording a hit.
Will our dreams ever get this far? I dunno, but with my songwriting and her voice we migth be something! Anyway, here are two vids of me singing.
Want more???
Recorded a few days ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4yhbqjDHoE
Recorded last summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A4J9gfZtJI
I just ended a fantastic day with an old friend I haven't seen for 6 years. It was great catching up with her again, and our day mainly consisted of singing and music. We both share the same interest for music, we're both cast aways from idol (neither of us made it past the first round), and we both share the same dream of recording a hit.
Will our dreams ever get this far? I dunno, but with my songwriting and her voice we migth be something! Anyway, here are two vids of me singing.
Want more???
Recorded a few days ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4yhbqjDHoE
Recorded last summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A4J9gfZtJI
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
How I work #2
I previously mentioned that I don’t brainstorm, but I have also said that sometimes an idea just “bam” hits me smack in the middle. That’s when I grab my Dictaphone or mobile and record every thought. It’s only rough thoughts, but it sets the basis for just what I want. If that be a chapter, a section, a crucial point or something similar, it still really gets me going. In 98 % of the cases it’s at night after I have closed my eyes, and that’s how it always has been. Luckily my husband hasn’t noticed this yet, or I guess he would know all the spoilers by now.
After I have recorded the thought the next step is to write it down. That’s when I fill in all the details. I rarely use inspiration from other stories, but I may study the way other successful authors have written, and then try and form it my own way. Like how have they decided to separate the chapters, or how have they introduced characters to us. These are parts which don’t come naturally to me for the moment being, but I’m hoping I will find my own way in that jungle too.
I have a small goal that by the end of next week I will have completed chapter four. I am contemplating whether to only use the chapters now as a guide to how many pages I have written, and then sectioning them up in to smaller chapters when I am done. This is because everything I write is saved on to the computer, and I would hate to lose everything in one go. There for I divide what I have written in to so and so many pages and then send them off for reviewing. But lately I have noticed that when I finish a chapter it is as if a brick wall is formed that I need to tear down to embark on the next one. So another alternative is to completely forget all about chaptering for the moment and just write, and then divide it all in to chapters later. The last one sounds best, so I’ll see how that goes.
Back to work now!
~Nina
After I have recorded the thought the next step is to write it down. That’s when I fill in all the details. I rarely use inspiration from other stories, but I may study the way other successful authors have written, and then try and form it my own way. Like how have they decided to separate the chapters, or how have they introduced characters to us. These are parts which don’t come naturally to me for the moment being, but I’m hoping I will find my own way in that jungle too.
I have a small goal that by the end of next week I will have completed chapter four. I am contemplating whether to only use the chapters now as a guide to how many pages I have written, and then sectioning them up in to smaller chapters when I am done. This is because everything I write is saved on to the computer, and I would hate to lose everything in one go. There for I divide what I have written in to so and so many pages and then send them off for reviewing. But lately I have noticed that when I finish a chapter it is as if a brick wall is formed that I need to tear down to embark on the next one. So another alternative is to completely forget all about chaptering for the moment and just write, and then divide it all in to chapters later. The last one sounds best, so I’ll see how that goes.
Back to work now!
~Nina
How I work #1
So how do I work?
In school we were always taught how to brainstorm, so that we ended up with the most thorough story. We were also taught how to keep the red line. Well, whilst everyone was brainstorming their short stories, I was already away in far off place full of knights in armours riding up on white horses. Or I was the heroine saving lost souls. When we first began writing this brainstorming was a problem for me, as I had so many ideas in my head I wanted to write down. When I was 13 I would write a 12 page hand written essay, and it had no red line or meaning to it, to my teachers dissapointment. Of course I didn't get good marks on it, but all though I now have no problem keeping my story tight, I still find it difficult writing a short story.
I have always been a daydreamer, but when I was 13 my daydream used to be the same: Every day I escaped to a place where no one knew who I was, and I was free. I used to be bullied at that time, but would defend myself through what I had seen on Xena (I was a huge fan!). In this particular fantasy I was always the heroine - fighting off evil doers and having my dreams come true! As I grew older and attended a new school, I no longer had use of the heroine and my fantasy changed: Thankfully the bullying had terminated, so therefor I had no expectations of being the best of the best. When I was 18 I had still the same fantasy with the red line, but the story had altered completely! I was now the helpless, sourrounded my famous people or handsome guys - rescuing me from the claws of darkness! Years passed and I became a mother, and here is where my daydreaming really changed: Previously I had no problem fantasising that I had speacial gift, or that my hair could be short and blond, or I had a dog instead of a cat... But as I grew older it was as if my daydreams had shackles tied to them. It is difficult to explain, but they became dull and were always the same. I still had my red thread, but everything in it could just as well have happened in real life, and I was no longer free.
When I began writing again I really struggled with removing these blocks. How was I to write, when all I could write was litterally my own story? So I began daydreaming again! 12 years ago I daydreamed myself away from reality, but three months ago I started daydreaming myself back to when I was 13. How was I when I was that age? What did I do? I started to go through my old diaries and picking out the good memories I had. Then I drove to the places that had given me good experiences and recaptured the moments. The result is fantastic and I am back in to daydreaming myself away from the family life and in to my book. I am there, and when I write I want you to be there with me. I therefor close my eyes and imagine what I see, touch and hear and try to convey them as best as I can. It feels liberating to write whatever I want, and I almost feel like when I was 13 again, but in a good way. And I don't need to brainstorm, as I know precisely what to write.
I really look forward to sharing my daydream with you. It has changed since the first little thoughts I had many years ago, but for the better and more realistic.
I am now so lucky to have a new reader to the book. A young boy who is the age target of who I am writing for, and the same age as when my story first began to take form. Hopefully his feedback will make the book just how I want it!
In school we were always taught how to brainstorm, so that we ended up with the most thorough story. We were also taught how to keep the red line. Well, whilst everyone was brainstorming their short stories, I was already away in far off place full of knights in armours riding up on white horses. Or I was the heroine saving lost souls. When we first began writing this brainstorming was a problem for me, as I had so many ideas in my head I wanted to write down. When I was 13 I would write a 12 page hand written essay, and it had no red line or meaning to it, to my teachers dissapointment. Of course I didn't get good marks on it, but all though I now have no problem keeping my story tight, I still find it difficult writing a short story.
I have always been a daydreamer, but when I was 13 my daydream used to be the same: Every day I escaped to a place where no one knew who I was, and I was free. I used to be bullied at that time, but would defend myself through what I had seen on Xena (I was a huge fan!). In this particular fantasy I was always the heroine - fighting off evil doers and having my dreams come true! As I grew older and attended a new school, I no longer had use of the heroine and my fantasy changed: Thankfully the bullying had terminated, so therefor I had no expectations of being the best of the best. When I was 18 I had still the same fantasy with the red line, but the story had altered completely! I was now the helpless, sourrounded my famous people or handsome guys - rescuing me from the claws of darkness! Years passed and I became a mother, and here is where my daydreaming really changed: Previously I had no problem fantasising that I had speacial gift, or that my hair could be short and blond, or I had a dog instead of a cat... But as I grew older it was as if my daydreams had shackles tied to them. It is difficult to explain, but they became dull and were always the same. I still had my red thread, but everything in it could just as well have happened in real life, and I was no longer free.
When I began writing again I really struggled with removing these blocks. How was I to write, when all I could write was litterally my own story? So I began daydreaming again! 12 years ago I daydreamed myself away from reality, but three months ago I started daydreaming myself back to when I was 13. How was I when I was that age? What did I do? I started to go through my old diaries and picking out the good memories I had. Then I drove to the places that had given me good experiences and recaptured the moments. The result is fantastic and I am back in to daydreaming myself away from the family life and in to my book. I am there, and when I write I want you to be there with me. I therefor close my eyes and imagine what I see, touch and hear and try to convey them as best as I can. It feels liberating to write whatever I want, and I almost feel like when I was 13 again, but in a good way. And I don't need to brainstorm, as I know precisely what to write.
I really look forward to sharing my daydream with you. It has changed since the first little thoughts I had many years ago, but for the better and more realistic.
I am now so lucky to have a new reader to the book. A young boy who is the age target of who I am writing for, and the same age as when my story first began to take form. Hopefully his feedback will make the book just how I want it!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Happy birthday from Sophie
Today it is Norways' national day, and I have taken the time off from writing and thinking.
Here is a little song from my eldest daughter (click the title)
Happy birthday to Norway, from Sophie!
Here is a little song from my eldest daughter (click the title)
Happy birthday to Norway, from Sophie!
Friday, May 14, 2010
A new taste
I would like to give you a little taste of what's coming next. We are still in chapter number two, but I felt I couldn't treat you to chapter three, without showing you a little more of the second chapter.
...They were gathered around a large board which was dressed with food. They were laughing, joking and talking all at once. Instead of following my first instinct which was to run, I set that aside and decided that I didn’t want to escape. I wanted to laugh and smile, and eat and drink. I wanted what they had; I wanted to be a part of them! It didn’t take long before they noticed me, and Derrick was quick getting up and helping me to the square object in the middle of the room. Ma was the first to speak to me. She seemed taken aback of my being out of bed so quickly, and eagerly asked if she could get me something to eat. Before I could reply Derrick interrupted her, introducing me to everyone in the room. “Hey guys, this is Cerin”. Suddenly their faces went from being smiling and friendly, to being shy and almost hidden...
I know it's not very exciting, but again, I couldn't give you a little taste of chapter three, without teasing you with this.
...They were gathered around a large board which was dressed with food. They were laughing, joking and talking all at once. Instead of following my first instinct which was to run, I set that aside and decided that I didn’t want to escape. I wanted to laugh and smile, and eat and drink. I wanted what they had; I wanted to be a part of them! It didn’t take long before they noticed me, and Derrick was quick getting up and helping me to the square object in the middle of the room. Ma was the first to speak to me. She seemed taken aback of my being out of bed so quickly, and eagerly asked if she could get me something to eat. Before I could reply Derrick interrupted her, introducing me to everyone in the room. “Hey guys, this is Cerin”. Suddenly their faces went from being smiling and friendly, to being shy and almost hidden...
I know it's not very exciting, but again, I couldn't give you a little taste of chapter three, without teasing you with this.
Motivation
At the moment I have three people who read my book as it takes form. I would like to share some of their comments with you, as it has been real motivating to me on those days I've just thought: "bugger it". They are what got me through the third chapter, when my computer kept failing on me. Here are a few:
"At work today I was really looking forward to coming home and reading more of my new book, untill I remembered that it's not a new book! It's yours and you haven't finished it yet"
"When I came to the part where she jumped, I jumped myself as I hadn't expected it at all"
"I was so annoyed when it just stopped"
"It's relaxing to read the book, because of the details. Instead of writing "I sat down next to him", she puts in all the details of what she smelt, saw and felt when she was doing it"
"It's fun to read something so unpredictable"
Otherwise I have some exciting news! One of Norways top bloggers has opened a new blog which is constructed to inspire people. His blog is only a few days old, but on his last blog entry he already had 69 comments! And then immagine all of those who don't comment! It was only by chance I discovered his blog, and I told him that my own inspiration is Stephenie Meyer. To make a longer story short he now has written a blog entry about my dream, which is very motivating to me. He is now a reader of my blog, and it excites me to know that someone who knows blogs, is reading mine!
Here is a link to the blogpost (I'm sorry to say it is in Norwegian, but thank God for google translator):
http://inspirere.blogg.no/
This weekend I will start on the fourth chapter, and I have BIG plans!
Have a lovely day!
"At work today I was really looking forward to coming home and reading more of my new book, untill I remembered that it's not a new book! It's yours and you haven't finished it yet"
"When I came to the part where she jumped, I jumped myself as I hadn't expected it at all"
"I was so annoyed when it just stopped"
"It's relaxing to read the book, because of the details. Instead of writing "I sat down next to him", she puts in all the details of what she smelt, saw and felt when she was doing it"
"It's fun to read something so unpredictable"
Otherwise I have some exciting news! One of Norways top bloggers has opened a new blog which is constructed to inspire people. His blog is only a few days old, but on his last blog entry he already had 69 comments! And then immagine all of those who don't comment! It was only by chance I discovered his blog, and I told him that my own inspiration is Stephenie Meyer. To make a longer story short he now has written a blog entry about my dream, which is very motivating to me. He is now a reader of my blog, and it excites me to know that someone who knows blogs, is reading mine!
Here is a link to the blogpost (I'm sorry to say it is in Norwegian, but thank God for google translator):
http://inspirere.blogg.no/
This weekend I will start on the fourth chapter, and I have BIG plans!
Have a lovely day!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
And there...
chapter number three is finished.
All I need to do now is correct it and fill in some blanks, but now I need some sleep! I have a feeling my son will wake up at 6 am tomorrow, seeing that it is a bank holiday!
Sleep tight!
All I need to do now is correct it and fill in some blanks, but now I need some sleep! I have a feeling my son will wake up at 6 am tomorrow, seeing that it is a bank holiday!
Sleep tight!
Silly technical things!
I hate it when technical thingymajibs decide to not cooperate with you!
I had almost finished my third chapter the other day. I am almost certain that I saved it before I went to bed, but even so, it usually saves itself when I close my laptop. When I opened it the following day, it was still there, but then the computer crashed and i dissappeared. =( I was really annoyed, because nothing is as good as the first try (at least when it comes to me). So I sat down and started writing it again, only this time it wasn't as good, and I swear 100% that I saved it! Now the computer crashed again, and again it has just dissappeared. I think I must have some silly virus or something!
So now I'm guessing my third try will be 1/3 as good as I want i to be, but I will copy it and save it in a smarter place! Will also do a virus scan, 'cause something isn't right!
Cross your fingers! I'm hoping to finish off with the third chapter tonight!
I had almost finished my third chapter the other day. I am almost certain that I saved it before I went to bed, but even so, it usually saves itself when I close my laptop. When I opened it the following day, it was still there, but then the computer crashed and i dissappeared. =( I was really annoyed, because nothing is as good as the first try (at least when it comes to me). So I sat down and started writing it again, only this time it wasn't as good, and I swear 100% that I saved it! Now the computer crashed again, and again it has just dissappeared. I think I must have some silly virus or something!
So now I'm guessing my third try will be 1/3 as good as I want i to be, but I will copy it and save it in a smarter place! Will also do a virus scan, 'cause something isn't right!
Cross your fingers! I'm hoping to finish off with the third chapter tonight!
Saturday, May 01, 2010
A little quiet
As the spring finally showed herself, I couldn't resist the temptation of spending my days outside. My comuter screen does not like the sunlight, so I haven't finished chapter three as I had hoped for this week. My husband (who is a sailor), will be working from Wednesday and the next four weeks, so I will have plenty of time to myself in the evenings. Luckily I am not a tv-slave, and as long as I have my Desperate Housewives once a weekv - I'm happy.
Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend.
Care for a taste?
As I promised earlier on this week, here is a new little taste from the book.
"...the night became more intense by every minute, as its cold cloak gnawed at the inner depth of our bones. This time we cuddled up to each other without even asking, hoping that our bodies would heat each others. But they didn’t. The freezing cold was exhausting, and by midnight we were both drained from the tiny earthquakes our bodies had been pulsating out. I was comatosed, and the only thing that reminded me of life, was the nightmares and the biting cold that woke me every now and then. The night seemed to draw on in to infinity, and finally come morning the frost had left me incoherent of what was happening around me. I was able to hear Derrick’s faint voice, as if a fog had clouded up my ears. He was mumbling words every so often, but I was too drained to reply or understand the meaning of them. I now found myself awaiting the sun, but this morning she did not show. Just before passing out again, I felt myself almost floating from the ground. It was Derrick, and barely opening my eyes I was able to see him lifting me up and tying something around my waist. I didn’t understand what he was messing about with, until I felt the floating again. “Don’t move a muscle”, he said..."
"...the night became more intense by every minute, as its cold cloak gnawed at the inner depth of our bones. This time we cuddled up to each other without even asking, hoping that our bodies would heat each others. But they didn’t. The freezing cold was exhausting, and by midnight we were both drained from the tiny earthquakes our bodies had been pulsating out. I was comatosed, and the only thing that reminded me of life, was the nightmares and the biting cold that woke me every now and then. The night seemed to draw on in to infinity, and finally come morning the frost had left me incoherent of what was happening around me. I was able to hear Derrick’s faint voice, as if a fog had clouded up my ears. He was mumbling words every so often, but I was too drained to reply or understand the meaning of them. I now found myself awaiting the sun, but this morning she did not show. Just before passing out again, I felt myself almost floating from the ground. It was Derrick, and barely opening my eyes I was able to see him lifting me up and tying something around my waist. I didn’t understand what he was messing about with, until I felt the floating again. “Don’t move a muscle”, he said..."
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