At last week's meeting, we met at Jo's house and watched a bunch of YouTube. But fear not, for we also read each other's stories and gave them probably more attention than they have received the past few weeks, at least from me. I really liked what everyone brought. I'm really glad to see everyone being productive, and our stories are really taking off in exciting directions.
This week, Rachel and I have set a goal to write 1,000 words per day for 35 days. They don't necessarily have to be consecutive days, but... well, that would be nice. So far, I don't think we've done very well. But fear not again! I think this week will see me finishing Chapter 2 of my new draft. Think I can do it?!
So anyway, Rachel made up this cute little chart for putting stickers on, and I think I'd like to have something like that too. Anyone else interested in taking this challenge with us? It can extend into NaNoWriMo if you want, since the daily goal for that is even higher. If you'd like to do this 1,000/35 challenge with us, let us know and we can print you up a little chart or something. Be sure to set a reward for yourself if you complete it. The reward for Rachel and me is a date to Red Robin. Love that place...
Jo has set up an account for us on fictionpress. You can find it here. This will be a great place for us to post our stories (or at least parts of them, if you're concerned about copyrights and whatnot) so members of our group can read through the backlog if they've missed something. If you need the password or other account information, email me at fridgecrisis@gmail.com.
Next meeting is this coming Wednesday at my house at 7 pm. At 6, I'll be doing some free writing, if you'd like to join in. See you there!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Meeting #12 - 10/07/09
For our writing exercise this week, I took a few passages of description from some books and dumbed them down into very simple sentences with general imagery. We rewrote them, adding our own style and specific images to create more colorful descriptions. It was cool to see how everyone's was different.
Then we talked a little about the pieces we brought. Jo suggested that we get a Fictionpress page where we could all post chapters of our stories and keep them all straight. I think that sounds like a great idea. Jo, if you want to be in charge of that, you can go ahead and create it. I'd also be willing to create it if you need me to.
I'd like to start focusing more on writing goals--I think that's a very helpful part of being a productive writer. If you have a specific, measurable weekly or monthly goal on the goals post and you can report back to everyone that you've achieved your goal, I'll buy you a candy bar or ice cream or something. A reward of your choice (but nothing too expensive, obviously). Feel free to reward yourselves as well for a job well done. Try telling yourself that if you write five thousand words by Friday night, you'll buy yourself a pizza or that new shirt you've been wanting. I know that's helped me a lot.
NaNoWriMo is coming up. I'll be participating, and I'll let you know when I sign up on the site. Anyone else going to do it with me?
Next week, we're meeting at Jo's house at the usual time on the usual day. Hope to see you there!
Then we talked a little about the pieces we brought. Jo suggested that we get a Fictionpress page where we could all post chapters of our stories and keep them all straight. I think that sounds like a great idea. Jo, if you want to be in charge of that, you can go ahead and create it. I'd also be willing to create it if you need me to.
I'd like to start focusing more on writing goals--I think that's a very helpful part of being a productive writer. If you have a specific, measurable weekly or monthly goal on the goals post and you can report back to everyone that you've achieved your goal, I'll buy you a candy bar or ice cream or something. A reward of your choice (but nothing too expensive, obviously). Feel free to reward yourselves as well for a job well done. Try telling yourself that if you write five thousand words by Friday night, you'll buy yourself a pizza or that new shirt you've been wanting. I know that's helped me a lot.
NaNoWriMo is coming up. I'll be participating, and I'll let you know when I sign up on the site. Anyone else going to do it with me?
Next week, we're meeting at Jo's house at the usual time on the usual day. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Adding a Look into a Mind
So before the small run in with the tall guy at the table, I was thinking to put a small look into his mind before it occurs. Just tell me what you think, I'm not sure if it will be too soon to see into his thoughts or not.
Watching, waiting; the assignment he had been given. His lip curled in disgust, this was the last time he would ever let himself be manipulated. But apart from that he was distracted something that he rarely—if ever—was, he could still feel her eyes on him and he didn’t know why it was so important to him that she continued to look at him; he simply just felt that it was. He looked down as his computer and at what he had unconsciously written. His eyes widened in surprise and he quickly erased it. The message didn’t even make sense.
But then he didn’t really have time to think about it when someone with red hair walked by him. A deep feeling of pure hate went through him and when their eyes met the red head flinched, recoiling away from him, looking frightened and almost surprised to see him sitting there. The red head left quickly, stumbling on a chair as he nearly ran out the door. He smirked; he always enjoyed the feeling of making others uneasy with his stare. He was in the mood for a confrontation, something to send a message to the boy sitting somewhere behind him. And that was when he saw the boy’s friends coming toward him. It was a quite a simple idea really and it would get the boy jumping to the rescue...and perhaps she would follow.
But then he didn’t really have time to think about it when someone with red hair walked by him. A deep feeling of pure hate went through him and when their eyes met the red head flinched, recoiling away from him, looking frightened and almost surprised to see him sitting there. The red head left quickly, stumbling on a chair as he nearly ran out the door. He smirked; he always enjoyed the feeling of making others uneasy with his stare. He was in the mood for a confrontation, something to send a message to the boy sitting somewhere behind him. And that was when he saw the boy’s friends coming toward him. It was a quite a simple idea really and it would get the boy jumping to the rescue...and perhaps she would follow.
***
Jeremy wasn’t paying attention to where he was going. He was too busy laughing at something the twins were ranting about when he felt his right foot catch on something and force him face first onto the hard, ugly carpet.
Meeting #11 - 09/30/09
Our meeting tonight was a little different from the usual. It just so happened that Michele Ashman Bell, local author, was coming to speak about writing at the Taylorsville Library tonight at 7 pm. The timing could not have been more perfect. Thanks to everyone who came and I hope everyone took something valuable from it. Some major points of her presentation were:
I got a few new ideas for future meetings, too. Next Wednesday will be at my house again. We've all been doing really well with bringing new material. Let's keep it up! I'm thinking about devising some kind of reward system for people who set goals for themselves and achieve them. Does that sound helpful?
Happy writing, everyone. Enjoy the break!
- Don't be afraid to break the mold and be original.
- Your setting is like another character--know it well.
- Internal conflict is one thing books can do that movies usually can't.
- Formatting is very important when sending a manuscript to a publisher, but while writing a rough draft, the most important thing is just getting it down.
- Everyone has their own voice and style. Find your strengths and use them to your advantage.
- Be specific and include details. Don't assume your reader will fill in blanks.
- The writer who gets published isn't necessarily the most talented writer. The one who gets published is the one who is passionate about what they're writing and keeps pressing on.
- There comes a point where you have to stop listening to other people who tell you how to write your story and do it yourself, the way you know it needs to be.
I got a few new ideas for future meetings, too. Next Wednesday will be at my house again. We've all been doing really well with bringing new material. Let's keep it up! I'm thinking about devising some kind of reward system for people who set goals for themselves and achieve them. Does that sound helpful?
Happy writing, everyone. Enjoy the break!
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