My accountability group this week asked about hobbies. What do we do when we're not writing?
I'd like to say that I've had time lately to do much in the way of hobbies, but I haven't. I used to paint. I love doing it, but haven't done much in the way of it lately. There's something about putting the colours on canvas and having it turn into a piece of art work. I love acrylic. Water paints can frustrate me. Oil takes too long to dry. So for me, acrylic is my Goldilock medium. It's justttttttt right.
I can also be quite the baker. Not a cook. A baker. I love the sweets. I'm always in search of finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. I still haven't found it yet. It needs to be chewy and buttery and chocolatey goodness. My mom came close once. They were flat and chewy and yum. But my dad likes fluffy so...that was the end of the flat cookies. I haven't quite got the same result yet.
I play a lot of games online. Random games. Why? Because if I join a game that goes on forever, I'll never leave. So I stick to the free short games. I have too much of an addictive personality (I think that's right?). Games, I can get lost in. I've done it before. TV shows I love? I'm obsessed about.
I wish I had the time to do a hobby of some kind, but really, between writing and my soon to be two daytime jobs), I don't have a lot of time to do much else because when I'm not working, I NEED to be focusing on writing. I'd love to go horseback riding again, and in a few years go on an archaeology dig, but right now, those aren't in the cards.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
Read about the hobbies of my friends:
Danie Ford
Emma G. Delaney
Kimberly Farris
Kristen Koster
Showing posts with label writing life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing life. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
How I Write- Writing Routine
This week in How I Write, Danie posed a great question. She asked us what our writing routines were like.
I'd like to say that I have a routine but really, I don't. During the last month of revisions, I have been writing until 4-5am and then crashing until noon, waking up and starting at 3pm. That seemed to work for me. I think I tend to be more of a night-time writer. I know I'm definitely not a morning one. lol.
Usually, I wake up, take a few hours to fully become conscious (I don't drink coffee so it can be a slow process). I'll watch some tv, browse the net, whatever. If I have to crit, what I was finding was that I can crit first up to 3pm, and then at this point, force myself to move on to my own stuff. That said, I'm currently not working so this doesn't always work. When I was working, I'd write from 8:30-9am and then 7-11pm.
The point of writing is to do it. If I get a chance or am up to it before 3pm, I do it. I try to take advantage of my time however I can.
Want to read more about schedules? Check out these folks!
Danie Ford
Emma G. Delaney
Kimberly Farris
Kaige
Writing Routines
I'd like to say that I have a routine but really, I don't. During the last month of revisions, I have been writing until 4-5am and then crashing until noon, waking up and starting at 3pm. That seemed to work for me. I think I tend to be more of a night-time writer. I know I'm definitely not a morning one. lol.
Usually, I wake up, take a few hours to fully become conscious (I don't drink coffee so it can be a slow process). I'll watch some tv, browse the net, whatever. If I have to crit, what I was finding was that I can crit first up to 3pm, and then at this point, force myself to move on to my own stuff. That said, I'm currently not working so this doesn't always work. When I was working, I'd write from 8:30-9am and then 7-11pm.
The point of writing is to do it. If I get a chance or am up to it before 3pm, I do it. I try to take advantage of my time however I can.
Want to read more about schedules? Check out these folks!
Danie Ford
Emma G. Delaney
Kimberly Farris
Kaige
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
A new breed of monsters
Monsters don't always hide in the closet or under beds.
Where in the past we used to see creatures of the night as villains such as Dracula, now, these beings are often being seen as heroes and heroines of their own story. Take a walk through the paranormal romance shelves for instance. You'll find vampires who although they need blood to survive also are looking for acceptance and love. Or were-creatures who turn furry (whether it's only by full moon or at at will is another post), needing the company of a mate. This doesn't even include faeries and ghosts and all other supernaturals. Sometimes, it's the HUMANS who are the monsters.
From dark monsters who kill ruthlessly, we've seen a rapid progression of the new times. And it's not just books. If you turn on the tv, you'll find shows as well that are following suit. Just look at Being Human. The show closely follows the lives of the ghost of a woman who was murdered by her ex-fiance, a vampire who although he may or may not have killed his family fights the urges constantly, and a werewolf afraid of what he's capable of doing on full moons.
Do you like this new wave of supernaturals or would you prefer your monsters dark and blood thirsty?
Where in the past we used to see creatures of the night as villains such as Dracula, now, these beings are often being seen as heroes and heroines of their own story. Take a walk through the paranormal romance shelves for instance. You'll find vampires who although they need blood to survive also are looking for acceptance and love. Or were-creatures who turn furry (whether it's only by full moon or at at will is another post), needing the company of a mate. This doesn't even include faeries and ghosts and all other supernaturals. Sometimes, it's the HUMANS who are the monsters.
From dark monsters who kill ruthlessly, we've seen a rapid progression of the new times. And it's not just books. If you turn on the tv, you'll find shows as well that are following suit. Just look at Being Human. The show closely follows the lives of the ghost of a woman who was murdered by her ex-fiance, a vampire who although he may or may not have killed his family fights the urges constantly, and a werewolf afraid of what he's capable of doing on full moons.
Do you like this new wave of supernaturals or would you prefer your monsters dark and blood thirsty?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Why I Write Paranormal pt 2.
Last week, I blogged a bit about why I like paranormal romances. A few days later, I found this great post at Yummy Men, Kick Ass Chicks about why some authors write paranormal romances. Check it out. There are responses there from authors such as: Larissa Ione, Moira Rogers, Nalini Singh, Jill Myles, Lara Adrian, Zoe Archer, Meljean Brook, and Jeaniene Frost.
Just just a lot of freedom with writing paranormal. There's more opportunities to think outside the box. With genres such as historicals, you have to fact check everything and make sure that it's every bit accurate to how it was. As much as I LOVE reading historical romance, I just couldn't write it and I admire those who can. For me though, I need more flexibility to let my mind wander.
I can't remember exactly when I first reading paranormals. Although I used to read scary scary stories when I was young, I never picked up a paranormal romance until I was in University. I believe my first step into this world was a Christine Feehan book called Dark Guardian. From there, I devoured pretty much her entire series, moving on to other authors. I was hooked. More than anything however, reading this genre gave me insight that this was where my books belonged.
Just just a lot of freedom with writing paranormal. There's more opportunities to think outside the box. With genres such as historicals, you have to fact check everything and make sure that it's every bit accurate to how it was. As much as I LOVE reading historical romance, I just couldn't write it and I admire those who can. For me though, I need more flexibility to let my mind wander.
I can't remember exactly when I first reading paranormals. Although I used to read scary scary stories when I was young, I never picked up a paranormal romance until I was in University. I believe my first step into this world was a Christine Feehan book called Dark Guardian. From there, I devoured pretty much her entire series, moving on to other authors. I was hooked. More than anything however, reading this genre gave me insight that this was where my books belonged.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Why I Write Paranormal
So the paranormal... well what does that mean? Coined ca. 1915-1920, the paranormal are the experiences that don't fall under range of normal or cannot be explained by science. Many things can fall under the range of paranormal, particularly: ghosts and cryptids (a creature or plant unrecognized by a scientifically such as vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot, etc). There are many shows I watch, so many I've become hooked on (in no particular order):
1. Paranormal State
2. Psychic Kids
3. Fact or Faked Paranormal Files
4. Destination Truth
5. In the past: Animal X
And many more. These are just some shows I enjoy watching that explore the unexplained. Really, we're just skimming what can be described as paranormal. There's so much out there we don't know about, so many things that maybe we don't even want to acknowledge. There are those who close their mind to it all and refuse to even give the possibilities a chance.
It's these possibilities that I love. The unknown. The 'what-if' factor. And it's why I write paranormal/urban fantasy. There's nothing wrong with contemporaries but I love the extra wow factor the supernatural can add. Historical romance with paranormal aspects, yes please! There aren't too many of these that I know about but I would love to hear about them.
Do you like the paranormal? Why or why not? What about it pulls you in?
1. Paranormal State
2. Psychic Kids
3. Fact or Faked Paranormal Files
4. Destination Truth
5. In the past: Animal X
And many more. These are just some shows I enjoy watching that explore the unexplained. Really, we're just skimming what can be described as paranormal. There's so much out there we don't know about, so many things that maybe we don't even want to acknowledge. There are those who close their mind to it all and refuse to even give the possibilities a chance.
It's these possibilities that I love. The unknown. The 'what-if' factor. And it's why I write paranormal/urban fantasy. There's nothing wrong with contemporaries but I love the extra wow factor the supernatural can add. Historical romance with paranormal aspects, yes please! There aren't too many of these that I know about but I would love to hear about them.
Do you like the paranormal? Why or why not? What about it pulls you in?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Wanted: missing muse-crack
Ever wander around in a daze, unsure where to begin because everything is just SO messed up? Oh yeah, that is my day. It's amazing how much can be packed on after a weekend. It is... frightening.
But this isn't just my daily life, it seems. It's also my writing... yes, I do somewhat know where I'm going with it, but that doesn't mean it isn't messed up. My first drafts?, they aren't something someone can follow through. And this is simply because of the jumble of scenes out of order. I write as I write, as things come to me for that first draft and it's in the second attempt when connector scenes get written and things get layered. So right now Muses, oh yeah it's a mess.
But, that makes it all fun, right? Sometimes. Sometimes it's just a pain. ;) The last few weeks, months... it's been the latter I'll admit. Oh muse-crack, how I miss you.
But this isn't just my daily life, it seems. It's also my writing... yes, I do somewhat know where I'm going with it, but that doesn't mean it isn't messed up. My first drafts?, they aren't something someone can follow through. And this is simply because of the jumble of scenes out of order. I write as I write, as things come to me for that first draft and it's in the second attempt when connector scenes get written and things get layered. So right now Muses, oh yeah it's a mess.
But, that makes it all fun, right? Sometimes. Sometimes it's just a pain. ;) The last few weeks, months... it's been the latter I'll admit. Oh muse-crack, how I miss you.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A confession...
One thing about life is that you have to expect the unexpected. You have to expect that things aren't going to happen as you want them to and that you'll run up against roadblocks. I have faced one of these hurdles and instead of leaping with the agility of a gymnast, I've landed on my face.
You see, my wordcount for Nanowrimo has dropped. You may have remembered my deluded determination to write 100k. I've conceded that I may have been a bit foolish thinking I could. It's good to be determined but life happens.
50k, will be written but not 100k. I'm already at 27k, so a bit past half done but 100k will not be in the cards. I haven't given up, but I'm no where near where I need to be. High hopes clashed with reality and I was spun around. Delusions happen and I'm not quite sure what I was thinking. I wanted to push myself past my limits but at this point in time, I've realized that it just doesn't always work that way.
You see, my wordcount for Nanowrimo has dropped. You may have remembered my deluded determination to write 100k. I've conceded that I may have been a bit foolish thinking I could. It's good to be determined but life happens.
50k, will be written but not 100k. I'm already at 27k, so a bit past half done but 100k will not be in the cards. I haven't given up, but I'm no where near where I need to be. High hopes clashed with reality and I was spun around. Delusions happen and I'm not quite sure what I was thinking. I wanted to push myself past my limits but at this point in time, I've realized that it just doesn't always work that way.
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