Resolve to Write #23: Patience

I hate waiting. I’m terrible at it, which is one reason why I think God puts me into situations where I have to wait so much of the time. I guess He figures that one of these days I’m going to learn it.

The Writing Life is filled with waiting. We submit a story and wait forever it seems to hear back. Even if we get the contract, it’s ages before we get to see our work in print (and often even longer before we see any of the fruits of our labors). We wait months for a Writer’s Conference only to have it over in a crazed, sleepless, insanely paced weekend.

On top of that, we spend ages on honing our craft, and even longer thinking we’re never going to get it all figured out. Hours until we feel like our dialogue rings true, and hours more to finally have someone else ‘see’ the room our main character is standing in without the description seeming forced.

Whew! Aren’t we a persistent bunch!

Today we’re looking at the things we’re waiting for – and at the things we do to pass the time. Write about your favorite things to do while waiting. How do you make time pass a little faster? What do you do to hold onto your sanity as the days pass with no word from those sadistic editors who don’t recognize talent when it’s right in front of their faces (and we know this because they’ve HAD our submission for 47 hours, 23 minutes, and 14 seconds already…)

If you like share your best techniques in the comments. Let’s learn from each other today as we wait…again…for the next challenge.

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #22: Words in Motion

By unknown c1815 (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons

A couple of days ago, I asked you to talk about your favorite words, now let’s use them.

Poetry gives us an excuse to drag out the big guns in the literary words. Here we can revel in purple prose, extend a line out to several syllables with a single word. The sky is the limit with poetry! Think about you, you can rhyme…or not. You can play with meter and tempo. You can wreak havoc with punctuation. And put CaPiTaL letters anywhere you want and say it’s for emphasis.

OK, maybe that one was pushing it.

Or is it?

Either way, let’s write a poem today. I want to keep it simple, so how about something fun. Look around your room and pick an object. Here is your focus. Now think about it – is this object suited to a long drawn out monologue along the lines of “Ode to a Grecian Urn” or is it more suited to a limerick? Can you only think of a couplet? Or is a sonnet more your speed?

Play with the words upon a page and see where they lead you. As always feel free to share. Or again, keep it for your own pleasure. Though to be honest, poetry begs to be read out loud. Dare you to share it with a friend today.

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #21: Technical Difficulties

Whew, we think we have this daily thing nailed down and it turns out we don’t. What we think will post at a certain date and time doesn’t because I misread something. And in the meantime the clock ticks away, time is lost and suddenly we have no momentum.

Scary scenario, huh? But how many times have we experienced just that thing.

So here we are, having not gotten a challenge out on time for a couple of days and there’s that huge temptation to throw up my hands and call it a day. Writing can be like that. We have a great idea, get seven chapters into the story and stop for whatever reason, only to find out that later on we have no momentum, and can’t even remember how the next scene was supposed to go.

The mark of a true writer though, is that they don’t let these kinds of things get to them. They press on, and refuse to bow down to defeat. Writers are by nature fighters, and they won’t go quietly into that good night.

Er. Unless they’re poets perhaps?

So today let’s write about technical difficulties. What do you do when you hit a roadblock? How do you press forward when you don’t see a clear path, or even something a bit more overgrown and resembling vaguely a deer trail (anyone besides me ever spend an afternoon in the wilds following those?)

Spend at least 250 words talking about your strategies on getting through. And then share them here, so others can learn from your experience. Who knows, you might learn something too.

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #20: Wordplay

If you’re here, I’m going to make a wild guess that you’re a writer. And like most writers, you have a certain…shall we say…enjoyment in the usage of words.

OK, let’s be blunt. We love the way they look on paper, the way some just roll of the tongue or create the most astonishing syllables with just a handful of syllables. I love the way such a seemingly random collection of consonants and vowels can mean so many different things. And don’t get me started on words in other languages…ah the bliss of language!

Today’s assignment is a simple one. Tell us your favorite words. Which ones do you long to find room for in that novel you’re writing? Which ones did you reluctantly remove when friends complained that no one outside yourself and a handful of other word aficionados would understand?

Write your favorite word, with definition in the comments. Or grab your journal and make up a handful of words. (Don’t forget the definitions!)

Enjoy yourself and just play with words today!

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #19: We Never Truly Forget…

Me at the skating rink

Wow, what a day! I took my kids to a roller skating party and instead of joining the rest of the grown-ups in the snack bar, I donned a pair of skates and took to the floor right with them. I wasn’t the only adult out there, and I have to say, that I think we had every bit as much fun as the kids.

It’s interesting how a body remembers. I haven’t been on skates in about 5 or 6 years. I barely remember the last time I rolled on a well-polished floor like that. But oddly enough, after the first couple of wall-clinging, terrifying rounds, my feed found the rhythm. By the end of the afternoon I was going almost every bit as fast as my teenage son, and loving the breeze upon my face.

You see, I used to skate a LOT as a child. Every Friday night from the time I was about 9 until I was maybe 11. There was a rink right near my house and it only cost $1 to go (and yes, that included skate rental). I was pretty good back then.

But that was back then. I certainly didn’t expect to find any level of proficiency today. Not given that I have more unsteady days than not with the Meniere’s and Fibromyalgia. Still, I did. I COULD skate, even after that long absence.

We’re like that. We remember things we don’t expect to. They say you never forget how to ride a bike. Which is try (though you wobble like crazy if it’s been awhile). And when I went swimming after a really long time away from the pool, I could still do a decent stroke. I guess all that time I invested as a kid paid off.

Today I want you to write about something you surprised yourself by being able to do. Or just write about something you did a lot as a child, something that you really became good at. If you picked that up again, do you think you could do it? Why or why not?

They say we never forget anything we learn. We just sometimes lose the way to where it’s stored in our brain. Let’s use today’s exercise to reconnect with something we used to really love.

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #18: Country Roads

It’s a beautiful day and you’ve suddenly noticed just how cooped up in the house you are. Maybe it’s been snowing where you are, or it’s been too cold to get out and about. If you’re like me, you just can’t resist a little extra time behind the wheel. Maybe you detour to your favorite park. Or find a few extra errands to run. Or something, anything, just to get out and about.

I get like this a lot. And the thing I love best to do, is find a road I’ve never travelled. Especially one out somewhere remote. I’ve found the best views, the kindest people, and the most amazing adventures down these narrow roads out in the middle of nowhere.

Today’s assignment comes from Chris Richards, the Executive Editor of Harpstring magaizne. She says this:

“You get into your car and drive until you find a road you have never traveled before. You turn onto that road. Where does it take you? What do you see on the road? Write about your adventures.”

So, who wants to at the very least travel some forgotten roads in your imagination. Or better yet (if weather permits) go wander a road you’ve never been down before. (Don’t forget your GPS, so you can find your way home again.) Share your experiences in the comments if you like!

Ready? Set…WRITE!

Resolve to Write #17: Remembering

Today would have been my sister’s 44 birthday. Sadly she passed away several years ago. Still, the day can’t come around with my thinking about her, and wondering what her life would have been like right now.

Like many of us, when we lose someone dear, certain anniversaries come along that will call to mind events. Birthday parties, family vacations, those talks that went on all night.

These are not easy anniversaries, no matter how much time passes. I found that after I lost my sister (such a silly phrase, like I’ve misplaced her somewhere), that writing about her helped. I felt better, and closer to her when I drew upon that bank of memories and created stories.

Today’s assignment is a tough one perhaps. I’m going to ask you to remember something or someone you lost. You don’t have to go deep – maybe you can’t find your car keys. Or you’ve misplaced your favorite book. Or like me, someone you love is no longer in your life. Today let’s write about your loss. You can just write how you feel when you think about this object. Or if you feel particularly creative, then write a story about your lost object or person and what they might be doing right now. (Personally I think my keys have taken a trip to the Bahamas).

You don’t have to share this one, but as always, it’s nice when you do.

Ready? Set…WRITE!