You Know You're a Writer When Part 2

1. Every social media account you open feels like ripping out another piece of your soul. In other words, you're Voldemort creating horcruxes.

2. Writer's block is the devil.

3. And you secretly know it's an excuse but you will never admit it.

4. You believe this is one of the most romantic gestures of all time.

5. And you want to just live in Belle's library. So bad.

6. These are the villains in your life,

7. You will do this before you die,

8. Let's face it. You relate to Princess Belle on so many levels.

9. You have a special writing place.

10. And sometimes you improvise.

11. You proofread EVERYTHING you write on social media because you've already shared something like this on your wall. And you can't be a hypocrite.

12. This is also true,

13. This is your favorite smell,

14. You are a psychic. Well, whenever you watch TV.

15. Which is why when you find a show that surprises you this happens,

16. You can't help but read rejections this way. At least once. Or ten times.

17. You've handled a rejection by pretending to be okay. We all have to be rejected, right?

18. But when no one's looking . . .

19. Your characters have minds of their own.

 

20. When you actually like what you've just written, you think something must be wrong with you.

21. While reading you want grab the two love interests like barbies and make them kiss already!

22. While writing you are maniacally laughing because you won't let them be together until the end of the third or tenth book.

23. Replace squirrel with bookstore and this is your life,

24. This is your internal response when people say they've boughten your book but haven't read it yet.

25. This is your reaction when someone asks you what your book is about, 

26. This is your state of being after you've written 10,000 words,

27. This is your reaction when someone says 10,000 words isn't really that many,

28. And you can't help your reaction when someone asks you why it's taking you so long to finish your novel,

Or have your work published,

29. Which is why this thought enters your mind daily,

30. Except you've already given bits of your soul away

BECAUSE YOU'RE A WRITER

Spring Cleaning is not just for your house—or spring time.

Recently I have had the opportunity to help my sister in law move from a 3 bedroom home to a 2

 bedroom apartment. All of her furniture didn’t fit into her new home—to be honest, I don’t know how it fit into her old home. Every time I walked into her home I wanted to turn around and run. Everything was big, bulky and in my face. Finally, I took a deep breath and told her it drove me crazy to come visit her. She was a good sport and agreed to let my husband and I rearrange her living/dining room. After hefting a piano, a couch, an entertainment center, dining room table, a display cabinet I could breathe again. The room was open and inviting.

She called me up the next day to thank me and asked if I would help go through some of her boxes. I agreed and the next weekend we turned 11 boxes into 5—no need to keep cotton pasted to a piece of paper her son did 15 years ago. I made her promise to call someone to pick up all the things she decided not to keep or throw away. I got another call a few days later after her extra piles were picked up, thanking me again.

This motivated me to go through my house and make sure it was open and inviting. I became the world’s meanest mom and made my kids clean out their rooms and get rid of things they didn’t use anymore. I rearranged rooms, and got rid of bulky furniture. As I sat in our game/library room—my new favorite room—I was soaking up all the positive energy in it and thought to myself, “I love this feeling. What else can I clean and declutter?” My WIP came to mind.

So, I sat down and cut 5 chapters. No need for an overstuffed chapter that tells not shows. I also got rid of an entire POV. Too many voices your head can make you feel unwelcomed and Closter phobic. Then I spent time cleaning it up—adding a bit of back-story here and throwing in an extra death, just to keep my readers interested. As I have been working on this I have felt a huge lift happen to me. My story is stronger, inviting and cleaner.

If you know me, you know organization is something I struggle with, but when I do it, I find peace and joy in it. Now I’m on a kick and I want to get rid of anything that clutters my life and drags me down. There are more things in my life than I realized that effect my happiness and I’m ready to take back my life.

-Tiffany

Be Our... Guest

Greetings, MMW friends.  I've decided to take a little time off to ponder my chances of winning a Hugo Award.  Hence, it is my great pleasure to introduce my guest writing substitute and friend: Alex Mathai.

Howdy! My name is Alex Mathai and I am a fellow writer! I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and have a Master’s in Library Science. I have been working at the Texas A&M University alongside Mike for about a year now. We became fast friends when we discovered that we both “dabble” in writing and decided to motivate each other by forming a small writing group. After just one semester, we each completed a novel. Mike jumped right into the challenge of self-publishing while I decided to go the traditional route with an agent (still waiting to hear back from them…). Although I am not yet a mommy, I still have plenty of great writing advice to share. Hope you enjoy!

As writers we tend to view the world a little differently. Some might call us strange, but we have our reasons for staring at strangers for an uncomfortably long time, or pulling out a paper napkin at Whataburger and scribbling seemingly meaningless dialogue on it. Our brains are just wired differently than most people.  So in honor of our collective weirdness, here is a list of the top ten things writers tend to do:

1.       Writers tend to have animated conversations…with themselves

I will admit that I do this all the time. It’s not so bad when you keep it well hidden, but when you start making facial expressions and hand movements to go along with your inner dialogue, that’s when it can get awkward. And don’t even get me started if a stranger catches you doing this.

2.       Writers get really great story ideas at very inconvenient times.

Have you ever been about to fall asleep after a really long day and suddenly inspiration strikes? Or maybe you are mowing the lawn or bathing the kids when a vital plot point comes to mind? You scramble for something to write with and something to write on. If you are lucky enough to find something, you end up writing your idea down with a red crayon on the back of the phone bill, which will later be discovered by your very confused significant other.

3.       Writers listen to instrumental music for inspiration.

I thought I was the only one who collected soundtrack music from movies, movie trailers, and video games so I could study/write. But I recently read a couple of Twitter posts, both from two of my favorite authors, who claimed to be listening to the same music! I felt justified in my nerdiness.  

4.       Writers read expansively

The number one thing a writer does is read. They read good writing and bad writing and know the difference between the two. They read voraciously and extensively. They expand their normal, comfortable genres to encompass others that are more challenging and thought provoking. They know what’s “hot” on the market right now, and where the next niche could be.  On top it all, reading is just fun and it’s been shown to relieve writer’s block!

5.       Writers listen and learn from author’s interviews

I recently discovered author’s interviews on YouTube. Just type in your favorite author’s name and so many options pop up. Hidden in their ramblings and musings, there is some very valuable writing advice. Also, you can find lecture series from authors such as Brandon Sanderson that not only offer advice on writing, but also the business aspect of being a professional author.  Plus you can imagine yourself in their shoes: famous, successful, and promoting your next bestselling book.

6.       Writers get excited/terrified at the opportunity to meet a favorite author

My favorite author is Brandon Sanderson.  I don’t just enjoy his writing, but I admire his entire philosophy behind writing. He writes two to three books a year, which is amazing compared to some authors who write one book a year…maybe. Now, I have yet to meet Sanderson, but it is on my bucket list. In my head I imagine myself striking up an interesting conversation with him, he will find me fascinating and filled with writing potential, we will become best friends and then he will promote my book. But…I know myself too well. I will probably just turn red in the face, mumble thank you when he signs my book and scurry away. But one can imagine!

7.       Writers stare off into space

I know, out there somewhere, I have some horrified victims of my staring. It’s super embarrassing when that person catches you, but they don’t seem to understand that it has nothing to do with them. Your faraway, glassy-eyed look should say it all. You are currently in the middle of a climatic fight scene, or the hero is finally profession his love for the heroine, or you are trying to remember all the items on your grocery list…you know, important things.

8.       Writers procrastinate

I think procrastination is every writer’s unwanted best friend. It sticks by your side, constantly pulling you to do other tasks instead of sitting down behind the computer and writing. You think “now would be a great time to expand on that new plot point” but procrastination whispers seductively in your ear, “But you’ll fall behind on the laundry and that next episode of Castle isn’t going to watch itself.” We writers just have to be strong and say no…or at least after just one episode.

9.       Writers get in slumps

Every writer has had their fair share of “slumps.” I know I’ve had plenty of moments where I am just not in the right place to write. I don’t feel it in my heart. All the words that I type sound wrong and horrible and I have convinced myself that I will never be published. But these moments pass. One day you’ll wake up and feel light and airy. You’ll sit down at the computer and 10,000 words just come pouring out from your fingertips. If you aren’t really in the mood to work on the project you currently have going, choose something else. Work on a fun, quick short story that has nothing to do with your major project. I do this all the time. The short story might not ever see the light of day, but that’s okay. It works to get my creative juices flowing and back in the mood to write.

10.   Writers are meant to write

I once heard a wise man (my dad) say that if you lay down to go to sleep and the last thing you are thinking about is writing, and if the first thing you think about when you wake up is writing, then you are meant to be a writer. We write because we enjoy the feeling of accomplishment of creating something out of nothing. We like feeling the power of emotion our words create and the characters that spring to life as our story unfolds. We love (even if don’t want to admit it aloud) the struggle and the frustration that makes all victories that much sweeter. You don’t have to aspire to be published to be a writer. You don’t have to have a major book deal with a hit motion picture on the way to be successful. You just have to write! 

Am I Still A....

"I recently started a new full-time job."  It's telling that I recall writing that line many times as the start of a blog article, or an email, or a text. Often those articles, emails, and texts are written to explain flaking out on a commitment, not going to something I planned on attending, or just disappearing from my previous circles of influence. 

So yeah. I started a full-time job. It's about 35 minutes away (on a good day), and I work all night. So my schedule is completely messed up. I have given up quite a few things; sacrifices that are necessary--and given in full realization of the huge blessing that this job is in my life--but sacrifices nonetheless. 

I never see my husband. If I stay awake when I get home, for an extra 45 minutes, I can kiss him good morning/good night and have a few minutes' worth of conversation. I see him when I am ready to leave for work, long enough to figure out what I'm taking for dinner and kiss him goodbye. Then we text when we can at night to try and communicate household needs. 

Am I still a wife? 

I spend some time with my two younger children, and I see my oldest for a few minutes in the afternoon. But three of my kids only see me in passing in the evening, and it's usually "did you do your homework?" "Please clean your room," "don't forget to do the dishes," "PLEASE don't be jerks to your dad tonight, be helpful," things like that. 

Am I still a mother?

My friends, my extended family, my visiting teaching sisters, all of them have gotten those "Sorry, I have to work," or "I'm just exhausted," or, in the case of some, just my absence and silence.....

Am I still a friend? A daughter? A sister?

I've not been to church for a few weeks. I've been sick, mind you, but that sickness has been exacerbated by my exhaustion from working with little sleep and trying to hold it together for my family. 

Am I still an active member of my ward?

As you read this, you're probably emphatically thinking, "YES! Just because your role has changed, doesn't make you any less of a wife, mother, friend, member of your ward, etc. etc." I have to make adjustments to those roles, but nothing changes the fact that I am all of those things. 

I now work every week night. I work, I come home and try to sleep, I get two little kids ready when they wake up, get one to school, try to nurture the youngest for a few hours until my high-schooler gets home, I try to get a couple more hours of sleep, I rise and shower, get dressed as fast as I can, grab dinner, kiss the hottie, hug the kids, and go to work. There's no time for ANWA meetings, in person or online. I won't see a conference center for a few years, until I've gained permanent status and vacation days at my job. Blogging----well, I've been (maybe) noticeably absent and totally flaky. NaNoWriMo.... hahahahahahahahaha. Enough said about that, since my job started the middle of November.  My characters, stories, poetry, everything--they (might) miss me. I miss them. When I have time to think, which isn't often. 

Am I still a writer?

It's funny. I let my ANWA membership expire. On purpose. I didn't think ANWA and I had anything to offer each other in my current "season." 

Then, I got an email telling me it had expired. Whoa. Within five minutes of receiving the email, I had renewed it on the website. I'm not ready to say goodbye.

Because, at the heart of it all, YES! I am still a writer! Writers write and all that be damned, I am a writer. My writing consists of grocery lists and amazingly competent answers to questions about SEC filing document processing, but I write. I still have the urge. The characters and stories are still there, calling out to me amidst the fog of sleep deprivation. 

In the same way that my changing role and abilities don't make me any less of a wife, mother, friend, etc., I am not any less of a writer because my role and ability to dedicate time to writing have changed. Nothing changes the fact that I am a writer. 

So, I'm back in the fold in ANWA. I'm learning how to mother my children with much less time. Adjusting things to give me better time with my superhero husband (who has had to make major adjustments and totally be Mr. Mom every weeknight now).  I will adjust and learn how to fit the what and the how of writing into the who of "writer." 

If you're a writer, you're a writer. Don't give up, and don't ever think you can escape it. It's who you are. 

--Leann 

To write, or...crochet?

By: Kristi Hartman

I started the beginning of the month with a goal to sort of do Nanowrimo.  I already had about 75 pages of my novel done, but was going to use November as a jump start to hopefully get the book complete.  For awhile, I was doing really well.  I was setting aside a specific time each night to write, and had a word count I was shooting for and meeting every day.
Then, I started to slip back into my old habits.  The writing was becoming more difficult as I progressed in my story, and I was starting to question my direction of the storyline.  I started asking myself questions like,
"Where is my character going in this scene?  What is she doing there?  Why?  What is the point?"
And mostly,

"What is the point at all?!"

I guess to distract myself from my lack of writing, or my weird little funk I was in, I decided to start working on a crochet project I had stashed away in the corner of my family room.  The yarn was new and ready to go, the crochet hook, unused and waiting.  I pulled out the stuff, shrugged my shoulders, and thought, "how hard could this be?"  I had crocheted in the past, but only doing edging patterns on baby blankets. Never a complete project with just some yarn and a hook.
I watched a YouTube video about getting started, and with mounds of confidence, got to work.
All seemed to be going well for awhile, until it was curling and was starting to resemble a fan more than a rectangle.  After some google searching, I realized I was crocheting too tight. Apparently there is this thing called tension.  ;)  I sighed, and started pulling, unraveling all those hours of work.
Then, I forced myself to stop doing it so tightly and started over again.  After awhile, I was feeling confidant, and the yarn was starting to resemble something other than a ball of yarn.  I worked on it for a couple of nights, while my computer still sat, unused.  I had started to get fairly far along when I looked into my bag and noticed my yarn supply was smaller than it should have been.  If I kept going at the rate I was, I was going to make a rather long and skinny dish towel instead of a throw blanket. I went back to the website I had originally seen the pattern from and did some research.  I was crocheting the wrong blanket.  I was mixing up two different patterns.  Fabulous.
At this point, I was so determined to get it right, I gritted my teeth, and started pulling my blanket apart again.  Which, unfortunately, was not going to be the last time.  After two more failed attempts at counting wrong and ending up with a crooked blanket again, I had now restarted this 'simple' little distraction project of mine FOUR times.

So why the story of my mediocre crocheting experience?  Well, it got me thinking.  Why was I so dedicated to getting that dang blanket right, when the second my writing started to get difficult, I bailed?
I asked myself what I could learn from this whole process, and it was of course obvious.
Don't give up on your writing when it gets difficult.  And it will.  Like anything that is of worth or value, it takes time to learn and perfect, and sometimes starting over 4 (or more) times is the only way to learn.
Sure, the blanket will be nice to cuddle with on chilly nights, or when my Mom friends come over and I can pretend I'm so domestic and craft blankets from almost nothing, but the satisfaction of having my dream of a finished novel in my hands is so much more worthwhile.

Who knows, maybe someday I can read my published YA fiction novel while cuddling with my finally finished crocheted blanket.