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
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
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, April 12, 2010
Unfinished business
How do I start my first blog entry? What do I write?
I have wanted to start one for a while now, mostly because I want to write about my family, which isn't my plan for now. But I also do like my family (duh), so maybe I'll share them with you in small portions?
Some dream... I dream... since I was 7 I have dreamed of becoming an author. When I was 12 I began imagining myself to be elsewhere, fantasising my way to a different country - an adventure. It never got further than the thought. But my fantasy was always there - developing. I have made attempts to write it down for some time now. My first try was 5 years ago, but I never even finished the first chapter - bummer
Leading to my want, I WANT to write a book. It's far beyond a dream, far beyond a want - it's a craving! I originally wanted to call this blog "unfinished business". Why, you ask? I have ADD (attention deficit disorder), which doesn't affect my life so much. It probably affects my husband more - as I have half finished projects stacked away in boxes in my hobby room. (Which by the way also is another add on to my unfinished business. When will I ever find the time to unpack the rest of it?) My unfinished projects by the way include:
* A scrap book for my daughter. Half done of course, and then I need to start one for my son, and one for our wedding. Last worked on: 10 months ago
* A big crochet thing which really will be lovely when it's finished (!) Last worked on: 6 years ago
* A knitted jacket for my daughter (it will be too small by the time I'm done with it) Last worked on: A year ago.
* The ceiling in the kitchen and hall needs to be finished painted. Last worked on: 2 months ago
Therefor maybe you could say that this blog is for my husband, so that he won't get too stressed out for all of my projects - too soon.
So these are my dreams and hopes for the future. Now I am on to doing, and there I fall back to the reason for why I have commenced this blog: A book - My biggest project so far!
Have I any experience with writing? No!
Did I suck writing short stories in high school? Yes
Did I learn from it? YES
Did every teacher I had in college encourage me to write more, seeing I was "such a fantastic writer and that I would become something one day?" Yes
And then leading me to December 2009, when I sat down and began writing my first chapter, of a series of three books. Since December I have moved and have been busy with packing, unpacking, painting and decorating, but I am now back on track and have almost finished my second chapter. My DO!
I'm not really sure about these chapters, but if anyone ever reads this blog, I would love to know how many pages in a chapter you mean are appropriate! Right now I'm up to about 16 - 20 pages, with the possibilty to take small pauses in between, so let me know please.
Quotes and updates from the book, pictures from finished projects, and ideas for new ones will be posted now and then. Untill then, I thank you for reading, and I really hope you enjoy following the creation of my book.
I have wanted to start one for a while now, mostly because I want to write about my family, which isn't my plan for now. But I also do like my family (duh), so maybe I'll share them with you in small portions?
Some dream... I dream... since I was 7 I have dreamed of becoming an author. When I was 12 I began imagining myself to be elsewhere, fantasising my way to a different country - an adventure. It never got further than the thought. But my fantasy was always there - developing. I have made attempts to write it down for some time now. My first try was 5 years ago, but I never even finished the first chapter - bummer
Leading to my want, I WANT to write a book. It's far beyond a dream, far beyond a want - it's a craving! I originally wanted to call this blog "unfinished business". Why, you ask? I have ADD (attention deficit disorder), which doesn't affect my life so much. It probably affects my husband more - as I have half finished projects stacked away in boxes in my hobby room. (Which by the way also is another add on to my unfinished business. When will I ever find the time to unpack the rest of it?) My unfinished projects by the way include:
* A scrap book for my daughter. Half done of course, and then I need to start one for my son, and one for our wedding. Last worked on: 10 months ago
* A big crochet thing which really will be lovely when it's finished (!) Last worked on: 6 years ago
* A knitted jacket for my daughter (it will be too small by the time I'm done with it) Last worked on: A year ago.
* The ceiling in the kitchen and hall needs to be finished painted. Last worked on: 2 months ago
Therefor maybe you could say that this blog is for my husband, so that he won't get too stressed out for all of my projects - too soon.
So these are my dreams and hopes for the future. Now I am on to doing, and there I fall back to the reason for why I have commenced this blog: A book - My biggest project so far!
Have I any experience with writing? No!
Did I suck writing short stories in high school? Yes
Did I learn from it? YES
Did every teacher I had in college encourage me to write more, seeing I was "such a fantastic writer and that I would become something one day?" Yes
And then leading me to December 2009, when I sat down and began writing my first chapter, of a series of three books. Since December I have moved and have been busy with packing, unpacking, painting and decorating, but I am now back on track and have almost finished my second chapter. My DO!
I'm not really sure about these chapters, but if anyone ever reads this blog, I would love to know how many pages in a chapter you mean are appropriate! Right now I'm up to about 16 - 20 pages, with the possibilty to take small pauses in between, so let me know please.
Quotes and updates from the book, pictures from finished projects, and ideas for new ones will be posted now and then. Untill then, I thank you for reading, and I really hope you enjoy following the creation of my book.
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