Another new year, but I still have the same resolution I've made for every other New Year - to write more, and to keep working on my writing projects until at least one of my books is finished and in good enough shape to send out for publication. This blog will help me keep track of my writing progress. And if it's on public record, that raises the stakes enough to make me stay committed. The things that writers do to keep themselves writing!
Some info about me:
- I've been writing ever since I learned to read and write, and I've wanted a career in writing ever since I first understood that people actually wrote the stories I loved to read so much (around age 5).
- I wrote my first full-length book when I was ten, as a 5th grade writing project. Both my 5th and 6th grade teachers encouraged me in my writing, and I realized that a career in writing could be feasible.
- I studied journalism and communications at Northeastern University in Boston (NU) and later got a 2-year professional certificate in journalism from New York University (NYU) but I haven't pursued a career in journalism, because I realized that my heart is in fiction writing.
- I've worked for many years at a bookstore (will abbreviate as b.s.) which has helped me learn about the publishing industry from the retail end. I've also met many talented local writers who have done events at the b.s. And I've spent way too much money on books (esp. writing books) as well as CDs and DVDs there!
- I live in the Hudson Valley (H.V.) of New York State (NY).
- I have a great boyfriend, Ian, who works in a photo lab (p.l.) and is working on a photography career.
- I'm in a writing group, the "Wildwood Group," with two close friends, Michelle and Lisa - we meet every other Thursday.
- I'm a member of Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
- I've never done a blog before, and I'm not computer savvy, so if anyone reads this, please bear with me! Any constructive comments are appreciated!
So anyway - today was a very productive start to the new year. But I usually start out like this - full of ideas and inspiration and good intentions. And then things get in the way that keep me from writing as much as I wanted to, like work, life, and my own neurotic tendencies! I'm like an idea factory - I have about 20 books in various stages of development. Now the goal is to write to the finish line of at least one book!
This morning I wrote "morning pages" in a new journal. "Morning pages" writing is an exercise developed by Julia Cameron, a writer/screenwriter/playwright/teacher, in her book and 12-week writing program, "The Artist's Way." The goal is to write at least three pages of continuous freewriting (off the top of your head) every morning. I first read the book and did the program (on my own, although some cities have "Artist Way" groups) in 1999, and I felt that my writing improved greatly. The exercises help break through negative thoughts and writer's blocks. It was so hard to make myself write the first thing in the morning, but as I did it, it became easier. I've kept a "morning pages" journal ever since, although this past year, I haven't been as successful with writing every morning. I'm going to do my best to make it a daily habit again. I think Julia Cameron is awesome - I've read most of her other books, and a few years ago, I took her day-long writing workshop in NYC. I'd recommend her and her books to any writer.
I also started working on writing exercises from the book, "The Write-Brain Workbook," by creative writing instructor Bonnie Neubauer. I met her last year when she did a workshop event at the b.s., and I thought she was terrific. Her writing exercises are a reminder that writing can be fun, as well as work. I bought her book, and I gave copies to Michelle and Lisa for Christmas. We decided to do the first exercise and read what came from it at our next meeting, which is Thursday night. It was fun. You choose one word from three separate lists of random words, and use them, along with a starting sentence, in a story. The words I picked triggered a new scene for a teen novel that I was working on during the spring. I wrote ten pages, and it turned out pretty well. I read it to Ian, and he liked it. I'll see what Michelle and Lisa think of it on Thursday. But now I feel inspired to go back to that book and work some more on it, and see what comes of it. Writing exercises can be really productive! I'd also recommend "The Write-Brain Workbook" to any writer.
And now I'm writing this blog. My goal is to post two or three times a week. Hopefully, it will help get me to the finish line of my writing project(s) and will also be interesting enough to any readers who come upon it.
I think of New Year's Day as a time for fresh starts. Like U2's song says, "I... I will begin again."
Happy New Year, everyone!
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