You read that right...it's Writing in the Mood...not in the mood to write.  I find that sometimes when I'm in "a mood" is helps to write.  The muse can relate to my emotional state better than I can at those times.  We all get down once in awhile, work might be really stressing you out, or you're having trouble with the spouse or kids, whatever the cause - we all go there from time to time.  So why not use it?

Writing is a passionate, emotional, visceral experience, at least it can be.  Tap into that. Use it to create depth in your characters, life in your dialog, and tension in your story.  Let it fuel the scene.  Make it work and let the words flow from the gut.  It'll make the story real. 

Go for it, my writing friends.
BD
 
 
Just so you know there is another very popular blog called BD, but it stands for Bloody Disgusting. It's a writers blog, but I'm not a horror writer so you won't find me there.  If you're really into horror writing then do a search on their current "short story writers contest on BD" and you'll find it.  Have fun!

BD
 
 
I sent my laptop in for repair on Wednesday last week and got it back - fully repaired on Friday.  Impressed? I am.    I barely had time to go through withdrawl before it was back, and boy am I glad.  I dusted off my 7 year old IBM desktop and that poor thing crawled.  Although keeping up with email wasn't a problem, doing other things were challenging. 

My grandson doesn't enjoy playing games on my desktop because it works so slowly.  It may be time for a new video card, the games now are so amazing and my old computer just can't quite keep up.  The spouse is willing to help me upgrade it if I need to, but for most things I use the laptop.

I had thought very seriously about upgrading this year to the MacBook Pro, but now that my MacBook is repaired there is no need. It's almost like new.  Granted the new aluminum cover on the Pro is very cool, but hey, I don't mind the white cover. It works and that's all that really matters.

Maybe when my novel makes the best seller list (somewhere) I'll get enough royalties to upgrade.  Cross your fingers, I am!

BD
 
 
Did you every ask yourself whether or not the computer has become an appendage or tool?  I can truthfully say it started out as a tool, now I'm not so sure.  We spend a lot of time "communicating" on our electronic devices these days.  Has it replaced face-to-face interaction?  Maybe in some situations, yes.  It makes me wonder how it has affected my chosen profession - writing.


I'm a writer and while I do most of my writing on my laptop computer, there are times when a pen and notebook paper are just the thing to jump start the muse.  It's tactile.  Like a book as opposed to an electronic reader.  But some people get just as much enjoyment out of the electronic story version as they do the book/paper version.  I guess it's all in how we view communication and the "touch."

My family are pretty much all big huggers.  My spouse's family is not.  We express ourselves through touch and voice.  I've learned to not be quite as demonstrative as I was when I was younger, but I still find that a good hug does wonders for my mood.  With others it just scares them away.

How did I move from computers to hugs?  I'm not really sure, but that's how my mind works sometimes.  My laptop is going in to be fixed and I'll be without it for a week.  I'm having withdrawl already because the silly thing has become more than just a tool.  It's an extension of what I do, it's the tool that helps me make the words come to life on the page.  Could I write without it?  Sure, but I doubt any editor would take a story via handwritten notebook paper.  It's just not done.  So, I'll try to hold it together while I wait for my appendage to be repaired.  In the mean time I'll dust off my 7-year-old desktop and see what kind of mischief I can create with it.  You never know when an editor will want something, so you must be prepared.


Write on, BD
 
Network More 08/05/2009
 
I have a note on my laptop that says "network more."  In any kind of business, whether it's your "day job" or writing, networking is an important component to success.  You've heard the old cliche, "it's not what you know, but who you know..." and many times that proves to be true.

There's a lot of luck involved in the writing business.  It comes into play when you submit to contests, agents, editors or publishers.  Will my story be what they are looking for?  Will my story outshine the others?  Is it compelling enough? Is it polished enough?  All these things go through a writer's mind every time we submit a manuscript. 

Sometimes, what makes the difference, what pushes our work over the edge of "use or slush pile" is who we are.  Did we meet this agent at a conference and make a good impression?  Are we members of an organization like KWA, SCBWI or IWWG that the editor supports?  If they look us up online are there clips? A web site? Are we on Facebook or Twitter?  All of these are ways we can make an impression - hopefully favorably -  on others. 

You never know who will give you the leg up in this industry, so be watchful, be aware, be professional and maybe the next person you impress will be the one who helps you get published.  You never know. 

Write on, my friends,
BD
 
Characters 07/29/2009
 
We’ve all met interesting people on our travels that come to mind when we’re writing and creating new characters for our stories. And while sometimes it is the physical characteristics that catch our eye, or mannerisms, or the way they speak – they can be the jumping off point for a very interesting character in your book that everyone loves or hates.

Maybe the check out girl at the grocer who constants chews gum and blows bubbles comes to mind. Or perhaps the dentist that hums old show tunes while he works sticks in your memory. The check out girl inspired a gum popping receptionist for the doctors office (in my case). There are no humming dentists in the story yet, but perhaps you’ll write about a serial killer that hums or sings while he does his thing.

You can never tell who will inspire you to write, so be aware and watchful for that someone memorable.
 
Day Late 07/23/2009
 

I'm sorry that I'm a day late with the blog this week.  Things are pretty unpredictible around the home front right now and I've been missing out on my writing time.

It makes me think once again about how difficult it can be to make writing a priority when you have a day job, home, and family to care for.  Generally I'd schedule time to write like any other appointment, but my calendar is full of the job and caring for my recuperating spouse who just had spinal surgery.  My hands are full.

All of us will have times in our lives when we just can't get everything we want to do done.  Right now I'm allowing myself a couple of weeks away from all my normal pursuits to concentrate on the situation.  I don't feel guilty, it has to be done.  You may have something similar occur in your life that can't be helped and you may use writing to cope.  I've done that before, but it hasn't worked for me this time. I don't have the energy.  Know this: since writing is so much a part of me and my life, I will NOT be away from it long.  (I'm here aren't I?) Hopefully when something comes up that interferes with writing you'll not allow it to do so for long. 

Plan for the time when you can resume your focus on what is important to you - your prose or poetry.  Let your story reminate in your mind while you cook dinner or change the sheets.  Jot down ideas that pop in so you don't lose them in the clutter.  (I even have a note pad by my bed, but lately I've been sleeping like a rock and only waking up when something is needed during the night.)  Let your characters talk with you while you shop for groceries (just don't forget the grocery list).  And while you're brushing your teeth picture the next scene in your story.

It's all a part of the writers process, so even though I'm not camped in front of my laptop with soft acoustic music playing in the background - my fingers flying over the keys as I try to capture the story unfolding in my mind, I'm still "writing" just not in so many words.
Take care all,
BD 

 
Limbo 07/15/2009
 

Websters dictionary says that Limbo is "A place or condition of oblivion or neglect."  That's kind of where I'm at right now.  My spouse had surgery and I'm hanging out at the hospital to help where I can (nurses are spread too thin) and give support to someone who feels terrible right now.  It's hard sometimes.  My meager tiredness and stress is nothing compared to the pain and frustration the patient has of being unable to move around or even lift yourself up off of the bed without pain or assistance. Nothing.

It would be good fodder for a story, but frankly I'm a bit foggy in the brain arena and can't put the words together.  Instead I'm reading and catching a few winks in the chair when I can. Reading is good for the soul. I think I'll take an extra book to the hospital after I get a shower and a short nap.  Might help.

Write on my friends.
BD

 
Good Resource 07/08/2009
 

I picked up a copy of "Writing Basics" presented by the Writer's Digest Yearbook.  Wow.  It's crammed with good information.  I haven't read all of it, but I have read about "The Anatomy of a Writer's Website" and "How to write your book in 15 minutes a day" as well as "Rough up your first draft."  The Writer's Digest pubs are great resources, but this one has something for writers in all stages of their journey.  There's information for beginners, grammer info, prompts and stuff about the business side of writing.  Okay, can you tell I like this magazine? 

I have subscribed off and on to Writer's Digest, the Writer, Poets & Writers, and occasionally pick up a Writer's Journal.  They are all great resources.  I've marked my old copies with post-it notes and put a one or two word comment, basically indexing the articles and information I want to be able to refer back to.  Have I gone back to them?  YES.  Many times.  The basics don't really change that much.  But the industry does, so I'll continue to subscribe to one of the above mentioned pubs so I can get the latest author interviews and publishing business scoop.

I always feel like I make better decisions if I have good information.  How about you?

Write on, my friends.

BD

 
Making Progress 07/03/2009
 

What a fabulous writing day.  I took my notebook to Panera and had a nice salad and write some scene ideas for my new book.  (Patchwork Family, the sequel to Feisty Family Values.)  Then I took my laptop and notebook to Borders and wrote for 2 1/2 hours.  I rewarded myself with a Javakula for completing 10 pages, approximately 2500 words. I was on a roll!

Almost 1/2 way through the first draft and it feels like I'm really making progress. I'm still not sure how it ends yet, which I did in the first book.  Nothing to worry about though, the story seems to be developing well. 

My son and I are working on a new website, so once it's up and running I'll have excerpts from the novels on-line for you to read.  Stay tuned.

BD