Wednesday 17 October 2012
Inspirational Picture of the Day...Day 9
This photo was taken during the 2011 Vancouver riots. The story goes that this couple were knocked down by Police when attempting to get to safety, the girl hit her head and started to panic and here shows her boyfriends attempts to comfort her. Such a beautiful photo!
Monday 15 October 2012
Writing Prompt of the Day...Day 2 - Tears
Recently, whenever I have read a book in which a woman is badly treated by someone, or they feel upset about something, I've always felt furious that they never cry, and instead carry on as normal.
Maybe it's just me, as I know that I'm quite an emotional person, but I hate that characters don't seem to cry enough!
Crying is important. Everybody needs a good cry once in a while, it's therapeutic and makes you feel so much better. So why is it that so few heroines seem to cry?
I'm not suggesting that a character should cry every time something goes wrong, but why shouldn't they cry when something really affects them, and they feel at a loss of what to do.
So give your girls some therapeutic crying and venting time. They deserve it just as much as we do!
So here is my writing prompt of the day: Tears.
Whether they are happy or sad tears is up to you, but tears are important and everyone has the right to cry.
X
Maybe it's just me, as I know that I'm quite an emotional person, but I hate that characters don't seem to cry enough!
Crying is important. Everybody needs a good cry once in a while, it's therapeutic and makes you feel so much better. So why is it that so few heroines seem to cry?
I'm not suggesting that a character should cry every time something goes wrong, but why shouldn't they cry when something really affects them, and they feel at a loss of what to do.
So give your girls some therapeutic crying and venting time. They deserve it just as much as we do!
So here is my writing prompt of the day: Tears.
Whether they are happy or sad tears is up to you, but tears are important and everyone has the right to cry.
X
Friday 12 October 2012
Writing Prompt of the Day...Day 1 - Separation
Feeling a little uninspired? The first thing I do when I can't get the words to flow when I'm writing is to find a new prompt.
Grab a dictionary (every writer should have one) and turn to any page. The first word you set eyes on is your prompt. (see my post: The Dictionary Game at http://oldvictorianquill.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/dictionary-game/)
Today my prompt was 'Separation'.
Just this one word has got my muse running riot, I sat in my lecture thinking of all possible short stories or short drabbles I could write purely from the inspiration I had from that one word.
Does the prompt 'separation' get your creative juices flowing?
Grab a dictionary (every writer should have one) and turn to any page. The first word you set eyes on is your prompt. (see my post: The Dictionary Game at http://oldvictorianquill.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/dictionary-game/)
Today my prompt was 'Separation'.
Just this one word has got my muse running riot, I sat in my lecture thinking of all possible short stories or short drabbles I could write purely from the inspiration I had from that one word.
Does the prompt 'separation' get your creative juices flowing?
Saturday 6 October 2012
Inspirational Picture of the Day.
This photo really inspires me to write a short story about drinking hot chocolate when it's a chilly day outside and you're curled up under a blanket next to the fire.
Wednesday 3 October 2012
NaNoWriMo. Will you be writing?
November is fast approaching and for the second time I’m planning away my NaNoWriMo project for 2012
I’ve always been sceptical at the idea of me rushing to finish a 50,000 word novel in the space of 30 days, especially as I can’t spend whole days at my computer, having to go to uni and plan my dissertation and assignments. The general idea is a good one, as it allows you to take one month out to focus solely on a novel when it may have taken you years to ever have taken the time out to even start it, but can you honestly write a good novel in 30 days?
Of course it entirely depends on the type of novel. Creating a fictional land in a sci-fi or fantasy setting means you can make up your own world and how the characters can behave, but is it as easy to write say a historical based novel in 30 days?
I myself have been writing a novel set in the Victorian era for nearly five years, with two years of this suffering severe writers block. After all, writing a historically accurate novel requires more research than writing, because in my view, if you’re going to write a historical novel, you have to write it properly. Would I have been able to research everything their was to know about the Victorian era and write a well-written 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Definitely not, and I wouldn’t even attempt to.
It’s different for all writers of course, as I know some writers work best on a deadline, not having time to doubt what they have written and constantly delete paragraphs at a time in annoyance of their writing skills. But I personally never feel happy with anything I have had to rush and always think; “what if I had just added in this bit?” Or “I wish I had had time for someone to proofread it for me.” I really admire all those writers out there who manage to write brilliant novels in NaNoWriMo, as I know I myself could never achieve it.
But as I did last year, here I am planning on entering NaNoWriMo again, as I know I will then have to make time to do some writing rather than having to fit it in around my uni work. But having said everything I have, I don’t plan on writing a novel, I know that I’d be severely disappointed with any story I had to write in such a short space of time, therefore I am approaching NaNoWriMo from a different angle this year.
I’ve recently discovered my love for writing short stories when I feel I need to escape from the world for a bit. I love creating a character and telling their story in only 1500 words, who they are, where they are in life, and whether or not they will get there happy ending. It’s comforting to know that there can be a happy ending to a story just because I chose that I would like those characters to have one. Therefore, this year I have decided to write a collection of short stories for NaNoWriMo, which if I write up to 50,000 words of in November, I’ll be able to order in book form and have for my own collection.
So what are your thoughts on writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Will you be joining thousands of other writers in NaNoWriMo this year? What do you plan on writing? Could you manage a novel, or would you stick to short stories? Share your thoughts in a comment.
If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year and wish to add me as a ‘writing buddy’, my account is: oldvictorianquill
X
NaNoWriMo 2012 - Will you be writing?
November is fast approaching and for the second time I'm planning away my NaNoWriMo project for 2012
I've always been sceptical at the idea of me rushing to finish a 50,000 word novel in the space of 30 days, especially as I can't spend whole days at my computer, having to go to uni and plan my dissertation and assignments. The general idea is a good one, as it allows you to take one month out to focus solely on a novel when it may have taken you years to ever have taken the time out to even start it, but can you honestly write a good novel in 30 days?
Of course it entirely depends on the type of novel. Creating a fictional land in a sci-fi or fantasy setting means you can make up your own world and how the characters can behave, but is it as easy to write say a historical based novel in 30 days?
I myself have been writing a novel set in the Victorian era for nearly five years, with two years of this suffering severe writers block. After all, writing a historically accurate novel requires more research than writing, because in my view, if you're going to write a historical novel, you have to write it properly. Would I have been able to research everything their was to know about the Victorian era and write a well-written 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Definitely not, and I wouldn't even attempt to.
It's different for all writers of course, as I know some writers work best on a deadline, not having time to doubt what they have written and constantly delete paragraphs at a time in annoyance of their writing skills. But I personally never feel happy with anything I have had to rush and always think; "what if I had just added in this bit?" Or "I wish I had had time for someone to proofread it for me." I really admire all those writers out there who manage to write brilliant novels in NaNoWriMo, as I know I myself could never achieve it.
But as I did last year, here I am planning on entering NaNoWriMo again, as I know I will then have to make time to do some writing rather than having to fit it in around my uni work. But having said everything I have, I don't plan on writing a novel, I know that I'd be severely disappointed with any story I had to write in such a short space of time, therefore I am approaching NaNoWriMo from a different angle this year,
I've recently discovered my love for writing short stories when I feel I need to escape from the world for a bit. I love creating a character and telling their story in only 1500 words, who they are, where they are in life, and whether or not they will get there happy ending. It's comforting to know that there can be a happy ending to a story just because I chose that I would like those characters to have one. Therefore, this year I have decided to write a collection of short stories for NaNoWriMo, which if I write up to 50,000 words of in November, I'll be able to order in book form and have for my own collection.
So what are your thoughts on writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Will you be joining thousands of other writers in NaNoWriMo this year? What do you plan on writing? Could you manage a novel, or would you stick to short stories? Share your thoughts in a comment.
If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year and wish to add me as a 'writing buddy', my account is: oldvictorianquill :)
X
I've always been sceptical at the idea of me rushing to finish a 50,000 word novel in the space of 30 days, especially as I can't spend whole days at my computer, having to go to uni and plan my dissertation and assignments. The general idea is a good one, as it allows you to take one month out to focus solely on a novel when it may have taken you years to ever have taken the time out to even start it, but can you honestly write a good novel in 30 days?
Of course it entirely depends on the type of novel. Creating a fictional land in a sci-fi or fantasy setting means you can make up your own world and how the characters can behave, but is it as easy to write say a historical based novel in 30 days?
I myself have been writing a novel set in the Victorian era for nearly five years, with two years of this suffering severe writers block. After all, writing a historically accurate novel requires more research than writing, because in my view, if you're going to write a historical novel, you have to write it properly. Would I have been able to research everything their was to know about the Victorian era and write a well-written 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Definitely not, and I wouldn't even attempt to.
It's different for all writers of course, as I know some writers work best on a deadline, not having time to doubt what they have written and constantly delete paragraphs at a time in annoyance of their writing skills. But I personally never feel happy with anything I have had to rush and always think; "what if I had just added in this bit?" Or "I wish I had had time for someone to proofread it for me." I really admire all those writers out there who manage to write brilliant novels in NaNoWriMo, as I know I myself could never achieve it.
But as I did last year, here I am planning on entering NaNoWriMo again, as I know I will then have to make time to do some writing rather than having to fit it in around my uni work. But having said everything I have, I don't plan on writing a novel, I know that I'd be severely disappointed with any story I had to write in such a short space of time, therefore I am approaching NaNoWriMo from a different angle this year,
I've recently discovered my love for writing short stories when I feel I need to escape from the world for a bit. I love creating a character and telling their story in only 1500 words, who they are, where they are in life, and whether or not they will get there happy ending. It's comforting to know that there can be a happy ending to a story just because I chose that I would like those characters to have one. Therefore, this year I have decided to write a collection of short stories for NaNoWriMo, which if I write up to 50,000 words of in November, I'll be able to order in book form and have for my own collection.
So what are your thoughts on writing 50,000 words in 30 days? Will you be joining thousands of other writers in NaNoWriMo this year? What do you plan on writing? Could you manage a novel, or would you stick to short stories? Share your thoughts in a comment.
If you are doing NaNoWriMo this year and wish to add me as a 'writing buddy', my account is: oldvictorianquill :)
X
Tuesday 2 October 2012
A Day of Writing...
The house is empty and quiet, outside is autumnal and chilly, and here I am inside wrapped up in a blanket, drinking tea and writing. That's what I call a perfect day :)
Talk it through...
Hello everyone!
Sorry for the long delay in updating. Although I told myself I'd make time to update my writing blog whilst I'm at uni, I'm afraid that was easier said than done. It seems I forgot just how much work there is to do *sigh*.
After skyping my Mum last night, I finally realised how excited she is about the fact that I'd like to become a published author one day. Our conversation consisted of her squealing with excitement when I told her that I've finally broken through the writers block I've had with my novel for two years, and she immediately asked if I need any more books on the Victorian era to continue my background research. Unfortunately I had to decline the offer, as I have far too much reading for University waiting in a pile on my desk without me being tempted away by far more interesting reading ;).
My Mum has probably heard more about this novel than anyone, and after the amount of complaining I've been doing for the past two years when the characters, storyline and history refused to cooperate, I'm surprised she still wants to hear any more about it. But no, instead she listened attentively when I tried to explain my new storyline, and felt relieved as she told me that she honestly thought it was a much better way of approaching the story and seemed much more realistic.
So anyway, the point of this rant is to find someone to talk through your ideas with. I can never discuss my ideas with other authors, having always felt the need to protect my story fiercely against anyone who could very easily write the same idea much better than me, but it can always help to talk through the thoughts in your head, and if you can find someone you trust to do that, I find it a really useful tool.
See you all soon :)
X
Sorry for the long delay in updating. Although I told myself I'd make time to update my writing blog whilst I'm at uni, I'm afraid that was easier said than done. It seems I forgot just how much work there is to do *sigh*.
After skyping my Mum last night, I finally realised how excited she is about the fact that I'd like to become a published author one day. Our conversation consisted of her squealing with excitement when I told her that I've finally broken through the writers block I've had with my novel for two years, and she immediately asked if I need any more books on the Victorian era to continue my background research. Unfortunately I had to decline the offer, as I have far too much reading for University waiting in a pile on my desk without me being tempted away by far more interesting reading ;).
My Mum has probably heard more about this novel than anyone, and after the amount of complaining I've been doing for the past two years when the characters, storyline and history refused to cooperate, I'm surprised she still wants to hear any more about it. But no, instead she listened attentively when I tried to explain my new storyline, and felt relieved as she told me that she honestly thought it was a much better way of approaching the story and seemed much more realistic.
So anyway, the point of this rant is to find someone to talk through your ideas with. I can never discuss my ideas with other authors, having always felt the need to protect my story fiercely against anyone who could very easily write the same idea much better than me, but it can always help to talk through the thoughts in your head, and if you can find someone you trust to do that, I find it a really useful tool.
See you all soon :)
X
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)