Taking the advice of Natalie Goldberg, I have decided to experiment with writing tools and bought disposable fountain pens. I didn't want to buy an expensive one until i'm sure that it is the writing tool i want to use.
So far I have only written in my journal so far with it since I have not written anything. So far it is a good pen. It does write smoothly but I feel like it is the same as a gel pen just with a fountain pen design. So now I wonder how long the pen is going to last. Supposedly then last awhile but we shall see.
I also bought a notebook. Originally I had a composition notebook in my hand but then I wanted something spiral. Of course they didn't have college ruled in the 33 cent cheap notebooks but I could see myself paying $4 for a college notebook with a cute cover. So I bought the cheap one. After all its only going to be filled with junk.
Planning on doing some writing this weekend!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Shut Up and Write
Just finished Writing Down the Bones. I know that I said I was going to take one chapter at a time but it was impossible. It seemed that Goldberg knew me and knew how to answer all the questions that I had.
One of the biggest things she constantly brought up was how writers constantly use an excuse to do something other then write but she refused to give into these excuses. If you want to write, then write. Just pick up the pen and start writing. Who cares what it is. Shut up and write.
Although I never read the book before, I felt that I had. Answers that she wrote about in her book seemed so familiar to me but upon reflecting, I realized that I had been answering all these questions on my own. The questions about why I wanted to be a writer and if I really wanted to do it. I answered after I met my uncles friend that writes for the Daily News. The answer was to reapply for jobs and now I am a staff writer.
It is so weird, how we know all the answers already but sometimes we need someone that we don't know to tell us. After reading this book, I feel refreshed. I feel ready to sit down and do some writing. I am ready to face the fear of the unknown and just write about it.
One of the biggest things she constantly brought up was how writers constantly use an excuse to do something other then write but she refused to give into these excuses. If you want to write, then write. Just pick up the pen and start writing. Who cares what it is. Shut up and write.
Although I never read the book before, I felt that I had. Answers that she wrote about in her book seemed so familiar to me but upon reflecting, I realized that I had been answering all these questions on my own. The questions about why I wanted to be a writer and if I really wanted to do it. I answered after I met my uncles friend that writes for the Daily News. The answer was to reapply for jobs and now I am a staff writer.
It is so weird, how we know all the answers already but sometimes we need someone that we don't know to tell us. After reading this book, I feel refreshed. I feel ready to sit down and do some writing. I am ready to face the fear of the unknown and just write about it.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Between the pages
I just finished reading "The Count of Monte Christo" and I am once again reminded why I enjoy reading the classics more then modern novels.
There is just something on each of those pages that has been forgotten in our time, something that is so rare to find among the pages of todays books.
I have found upon researching the novel, that while each story is different, they follow the same pattern. In a romantic novel, two strangers meet and they fall in love. Something will threaten that love and test their relationship but in the end, most of the time anyway, they live happily ever after. The same is true for each genre, in horror or fantasy, etc, you can undoubtedly find a pattern. Eventually it becomes boring.
However, when I delve into the classics, into a time before there was 'structure' to writing, I find that every page leaves me guessing what will happen next. I cannot even guess because most times I am totally wrong. By the time I finish, I completely in awe of these former masterminds. How could they have weaved such a tale so deeply?
Every page of Monte Christo left me holding my breath and I flew through each page wanting to know how he would seek his revenge and how each person life had ultimately interwoven with the next. It wasn't until the last page, that I took that breath and closed the back flap with the sense of awe that always fills me.
Some laugh at the classics, thinking they are a thing of the past, something that is long forgotten. Yet, they would be wrong. The classics should be read every day, if not to remind us of our history but to give us a learning experience like no other.
There is just something on each of those pages that has been forgotten in our time, something that is so rare to find among the pages of todays books.
I have found upon researching the novel, that while each story is different, they follow the same pattern. In a romantic novel, two strangers meet and they fall in love. Something will threaten that love and test their relationship but in the end, most of the time anyway, they live happily ever after. The same is true for each genre, in horror or fantasy, etc, you can undoubtedly find a pattern. Eventually it becomes boring.
However, when I delve into the classics, into a time before there was 'structure' to writing, I find that every page leaves me guessing what will happen next. I cannot even guess because most times I am totally wrong. By the time I finish, I completely in awe of these former masterminds. How could they have weaved such a tale so deeply?
Every page of Monte Christo left me holding my breath and I flew through each page wanting to know how he would seek his revenge and how each person life had ultimately interwoven with the next. It wasn't until the last page, that I took that breath and closed the back flap with the sense of awe that always fills me.
Some laugh at the classics, thinking they are a thing of the past, something that is long forgotten. Yet, they would be wrong. The classics should be read every day, if not to remind us of our history but to give us a learning experience like no other.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Some good advice
Even though I am in the middle of reading The Count of Monte Cristo (which is a great read!), I started reading Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. Just like in the store, the book just seemed to say READ ME! I already read through 3 chapters which are short (14 pages in) and I'm already feeling inspired.
The first chapter she discusses the importance of writing tools. She advises to get a pen that is loose flow since when your ideas are flowing through we don't have time to write slowly. She uses the Sheaffer fountain pen which is funny because I was looking at them myself. When I was younger, I used to write with a quill pen that was inspired from Jo in Little Women. As for paper, the point is to experiment to find what is for you. She uses spiral notebooks with funny characters on them so that you can write freely or as she says write what is junk. I prefer a composition notebook myself or a legal pad.
In the next chapter she discusses your first thoughts. She advises writing practice sessions including timed sessions. Start out small and after a week increase the time.but whatever time you give you have to commit and for that period
1)keep your hand moving (don't pause to reread the line you have just written. That's stalling and trying to get control of what your saying)
2)Don't cross out (that is editing as you write. Even if you write something you didn't mean to, leave it.)
3)Don't worry about punctuation, grammar, spelling and don't even worry about staying in the margins and lines on the page.
4)lose control
5)Don't think. Don't get logical
6)Go for the jugular ( if something comes up in your writing that is scary or naked, dive right into it. It probably has lots of energy.)
-natalie goldberg
She explains writing as a practice in her next chapter.
I tried this when I went on the cruise in May on the one day that I did sit down and write. It worked. I wrote for a good hour without worrying. I didn't think about what I was writing but I just kept at it. I forgot even where I was. As I got past those first thoughts it became easier and I just kept writing. It was so inspiring.
I am loving this book so far but I'm taking it one chapter at a time and trying out her advice. Tonight, after reading those first three chapters which ended with her telling the reader to stop right now and write whatever they were thinking and I wrote two full pages in my journal about my eye and ended up with how much work that I had at work. It was good not to think completely what I was writing. I felt liberated!!!
The first chapter she discusses the importance of writing tools. She advises to get a pen that is loose flow since when your ideas are flowing through we don't have time to write slowly. She uses the Sheaffer fountain pen which is funny because I was looking at them myself. When I was younger, I used to write with a quill pen that was inspired from Jo in Little Women. As for paper, the point is to experiment to find what is for you. She uses spiral notebooks with funny characters on them so that you can write freely or as she says write what is junk. I prefer a composition notebook myself or a legal pad.
In the next chapter she discusses your first thoughts. She advises writing practice sessions including timed sessions. Start out small and after a week increase the time.but whatever time you give you have to commit and for that period
1)keep your hand moving (don't pause to reread the line you have just written. That's stalling and trying to get control of what your saying)
2)Don't cross out (that is editing as you write. Even if you write something you didn't mean to, leave it.)
3)Don't worry about punctuation, grammar, spelling and don't even worry about staying in the margins and lines on the page.
4)lose control
5)Don't think. Don't get logical
6)Go for the jugular ( if something comes up in your writing that is scary or naked, dive right into it. It probably has lots of energy.)
-natalie goldberg
She explains writing as a practice in her next chapter.
I tried this when I went on the cruise in May on the one day that I did sit down and write. It worked. I wrote for a good hour without worrying. I didn't think about what I was writing but I just kept at it. I forgot even where I was. As I got past those first thoughts it became easier and I just kept writing. It was so inspiring.
I am loving this book so far but I'm taking it one chapter at a time and trying out her advice. Tonight, after reading those first three chapters which ended with her telling the reader to stop right now and write whatever they were thinking and I wrote two full pages in my journal about my eye and ended up with how much work that I had at work. It was good not to think completely what I was writing. I felt liberated!!!
Do you have a pocket muse?
As some can tell by my past posts, I have been suffering from writer's block for quite some time. I have the urge to write but when I sit in front of the computer, there is just nothing. But while I was browsing among the shelves at Barnes and Noble the other day, I came across a book called Writing Down the Bones Freeing the Writer Within
I don't know how I noticed it when I wasn't even looking for a book like that. It was in the middle of one of the tables they have set up in the middle of the aisles and it was among notebooks and planners. You could say it was a table for writing. Anyway, smack in the middle was this glaring white book that I was drawn to. I flipped to the back and I didn't consider it to be a great read but something would not let me put it down. I figured it was a sign so I held on to it.
This piqued my curiosity so I asked customer service where the writing books were and she directed me. As I browsed among the shelves and at first didn't come up with anything but upon reading each individual title, I came upon two books that will help me find my story.
The Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspiration for Writing. Not only does it give you tips about writing but it gives you little writing prompts so you can tune into your idea center. For example: a character arrived at work to find her chair missing. What happened to it? It tells you how to look at an object that you would never think of writing about such as a stray key in the junk drawer. What did it once open? Begin to write. One that I found interesting is looking in the Bible. Tempt Adam with a corvette rather an apple or place Lot's wife at the school board meeting. So many interesting ideas that has my head spinning. Why couldn't I think of that.
I also found The Pocket Muse 2: Endless Inspiration for Writers which is a continuation of part 1 but it gives you more tips about the effort of writing and what to do when your about to give up.
Finding these books were a god send. Just flipping through and reading a few tips my brain was already filled with story ideas. Of course I had to buy them. Even if I didn't read them entirely, at least seeing them next to me on my desk would keep me at ease and I would have something to turn to when I get stuck.
I can't wait to start writing again!
I don't know how I noticed it when I wasn't even looking for a book like that. It was in the middle of one of the tables they have set up in the middle of the aisles and it was among notebooks and planners. You could say it was a table for writing. Anyway, smack in the middle was this glaring white book that I was drawn to. I flipped to the back and I didn't consider it to be a great read but something would not let me put it down. I figured it was a sign so I held on to it.
This piqued my curiosity so I asked customer service where the writing books were and she directed me. As I browsed among the shelves and at first didn't come up with anything but upon reading each individual title, I came upon two books that will help me find my story.
The Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspiration for Writing. Not only does it give you tips about writing but it gives you little writing prompts so you can tune into your idea center. For example: a character arrived at work to find her chair missing. What happened to it? It tells you how to look at an object that you would never think of writing about such as a stray key in the junk drawer. What did it once open? Begin to write. One that I found interesting is looking in the Bible. Tempt Adam with a corvette rather an apple or place Lot's wife at the school board meeting. So many interesting ideas that has my head spinning. Why couldn't I think of that.I also found The Pocket Muse 2: Endless Inspiration for Writers which is a continuation of part 1 but it gives you more tips about the effort of writing and what to do when your about to give up.Finding these books were a god send. Just flipping through and reading a few tips my brain was already filled with story ideas. Of course I had to buy them. Even if I didn't read them entirely, at least seeing them next to me on my desk would keep me at ease and I would have something to turn to when I get stuck.
I can't wait to start writing again!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Makings of a Workaholic
What is a workaholic?
Dictionary.com defines it as a person who works compulsively at the expense of other pursuits or someone addicted to work.
I wouldn't say that i'm addicted but I have found several occasions where I have worked at the expense of other pursuits including my own health.
Take today for instance, I went to the emergency room this morning because my eye was swollen shut after it had started swelling yesterday. Turns out I have a bug bite and I'm on a bunch of antibiotics and steroids to bring down the inflammation and swelling. I got a work note from the ER abstaining me from work for 2 days. I even have to go back to the ER in 2 days to get check.
I called my boss who said I can work from home. She even told me that if I don't feel up to it tomorrow to do the same. She left it up to me whether to do to meetings but she said that I didn't have to since it was nothing I couldn't make a phone call with
So what do I do? That's right I went to a meeting in Eatontown tonight and I am going into the office tomorrow.
As I was sitting home today, I began to pace and it was really bothering me that I was going to miss one of my meetings. I had one in Matawan and one in Eatontown and although Matawan had the big story, Eatontown was closer and had more on the agenda. So I went to Eatontown. I just wore sunglasses.
The makings of a workaholic?
I am also the first one of my team in the office every day. Even though we don't have a specific time to be in and everybody else comes in after 11, I am in at 930 of 10 depending on traffic. I also stay late most days till about 4 or 5.
The makings of a workaholic?
I bring my work home with me and I check my email constantly when I'm at home.
The making of a workaholic?
Some may say that I'm just passionate about my job but when does being passionate border on obsession? And the craziest thing is that I enjoy every minute of work. I am bored when I am at home. I don't know what to make of it.
What is to be done?
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