Keeping up the Momentum

I was thinking today about how exactly does a writer keep their momentum during the writing process. How do we keep our enthusiasm and focus when “real life” is so jam packed with everything that is determined to distract us?

When I was writing my first manuscript I had this undeniable fixation with my writing. I HAD to write. It was a deep burning under my skin that screamed at me whenever I wasn’t writing. And I absolutely loved it. It was Passion, plain and simple - a deep seeded passion for my dream to be a published writer. And I have heard of quite a few other writers having a similar feeling. But they are usually still early in their writing careers – have not yet become complacent with the whole process or jaded by the whole writing/publication industry. Their drive is still intact.

But my question is what happens when the drive dwindles a little. (I’m not saying gone completely because I honestly don’t think that someone who wants to write ever loses that drive completely) How do you keep finding time to write, keep finding those moments of inspiration that lead you to dive head over heels for the keyboard as fast as you can?

The truth is I don’t have a real answer. I have been experiencing my fair share of dying drive syndrome lately. My life has only gotten more chaotic the older my kiddos have gotten – chauffeuring to after school activities, getting what they need for this school project or that game before it’s due, making sure the kids’ homework, my housework, my errands, and everything else is done when its needed. And don’t even get me started on the laundry.

But lets face it folks – being an adult means putting all of your responsibilities before your desires. And that sometimes leads to the death of our dreams. It’s an occupational hazard. So I guess the only real answer is WANT.

If getting published is something you WANT - if it is your dream you have to fight to keep it alive. You have fight for the time, fight for the energy at the end of the day when all you really want to do is drop unconscious.

Fight or Let it Die ….who knew writing was such a Keeping up the Momentum

I was thinking today about how exactly does a writer keep their momentum during the writing process. How do we keep our enthusiasm and focus when “real life” is so jam packed with everything that is determined to distract us?

When I was writing my first manuscript I had this undeniable fixation with my writing. I HAD to write. It was a deep burning under my skin that screamed at me whenever I wasn’t writing. And I absolutely loved it. It was Passion, plain and simple - a deep seeded passion for my dream to be a published writer. And I have heard of quite a few other writers having a similar feeling. But they are usually still early in their writing careers – have not yet become complacent with the whole process or jaded by the whole writing/publication industry. Their drive is still intact.

But my question is what happens when the drive dwindles a little. (I’m not saying gone completely because I honestly don’t think that someone who wants to write ever loses that drive completely) How do you keep finding time to write, keep finding those moments of inspiration that lead you to dive head over heels for the keyboard as fast as you can?

The truth is I don’t have a real answer. I have been experiencing my fair share of dying drive syndrome lately. My life has only gotten more chaotic the older my kiddos have gotten – chauffeuring to after school activities, getting what they need for this school project or that game before it’s due, making sure the kids’ homework, my housework, my errands, and everything else is done when its needed. And don’t even get me started on the laundry.

But lets face it folks – being an adult means putting all of your responsibilities before your desires. And that sometimes leads to the death of our dreams. It’s an occupational hazard. So I guess the only real answer is WANT.

If getting published is something you WANT - if it is your dream you have to fight to keep it alive. You have fight for the time, fight for the energy at the end of the day when all you really want to do is drop unconscious.

Fight or die….who knew writing was such a transient lifestyle. :

Quick P.S.

I just wanted to let you guys know, I've started a playlist page over to the left that has some of the songs that I'm placed on my Bearers playlist. Check them out and tell me what you think!

Going Against the Norm

I know I've been rather quiet for the last couple months (wow that makes it feel a lot longer than it should) so I apologized, but I am starting to gear back into my writing mode again.

Instead of forging on though and writing fresh stuff, I've been going back through my manuscript to fix the parts that have been bugging me. I guess you can call it preliminary editing. I know I will be called out as an odd ball for this but I love that stage. I know, I know, keep the gasps of horror to a minimum please. But the polishing is what makes my writing sparkle and its usually when my best stuff comes out.

But my best friend thinks I'm nuts. She thinks I should just keep writing and save the editing until I'm finished with the first draft. I suppose for most writers she's right. Most writers have written out outlines and scribbled out notes of how conversations will go. But I don't roll that way. I like building upon what I write. I like going back to revisit what I've got so far and then build from there. Its a good way for me to keep a cohesive thread in my storyline.

So that leads me to my question...What do you guys do that's purely you? How does your writing process differ from the general norm?

Yes I'm still Alive....

But I haven't really been writing much since my laptop took a digger and it sucks. I miss it. There is something about writing your own story that gets deep into your veins and won't let go. Creativitiy and Musing takes up a special place in my heart and when I'm not doing something to make it blossom, I am left wanting.

So tonight while I had a minute I decided to sit down and start by taking a fresh look at my current WIP - The Bearers. (A title I'm still not happy with) While I was sitting here, I realized when I was writing my first manuscript I had an amazing playlist that went along with it and with this one I really don't. I want something that can help stir something inside me the way my old playlist did.

So I decided to share the one song that I always went to in order to feel inspired. I'm hoping maybe some of you can share your songs of choice when you really want to provoke strong feelings inside of you.

So here is my song....
The Storm by Lifehouse.

Where I'm at...

Well, I'm still in computer limbo which means I'm take a slight hiatus until I can get it fixed. A Huge bummer but what can you do. :( (well besides rant and rave about the crappy computer maker....but I digress) So anyway, out of the blue I had these two songs pop up on my Pandora account that hit me like a tone of bricks.

This first one is my main character Jordan in a nut shell. I love it because it is 100% absolutely perfect. That's a very rare thing to find a song that suites a character so well.

What I've Overcome by Fireflight


And the second song is the scene where Ethan - Love Interest - finally confesses that Jordan means a great deal to him. Enjoy!

Save Your Best by Steve Reynolds

The Nightmare Scenario

Well the nightmare scenario for any writer has happened. My brand new laptop has had a heart attack. Seriously this thing is less than a month and a half old and the OS system has been corrupted.

According to the evil computer company, my only option is to reload the OS which will erase everything on my laptop, ie. my wip will be gone. And any of my other manuscripts that I stored on there.

So the reason for my post, you ask? You mean besides wanting to yell and complain about the evil company that makes crap for computers? A word of warning to you writers out there.

BACK UP YOUR MANUSCRIPTS.

Please, for the love of Pete. Flash drives, portable hard drives, another computer, something - just back it up. For your own sanity.

Luckily, I have the majority of my manuscripts backed up on a flashdrive and a portable hard drive as well because of past experiences. I will probably just lose the last round of edits which luckily enough wasn't anything too important as far as I can remember. But I did want to warn you guys because no matter how much you don't think it will happen to you ...it will. And when it does nothing is as heart wrenching as losing all your work. So cover your butt and make a backup file. :)

Restore the Gulf Petition!!!

UPDATE: Well it turns out that BP is being sneeky and underhanded yet again. And those the new nice, polite terms I chose to use as opposed to what I am really thinking. I appologize to any of you who signed this potition because you had seen it here. It turns out that the some big oil companies were behind it. Trying to get the government to fit the bill for the clean up instead of them.

Anyway, I appologize again and hope that these people will finally feel some remorse for what they've done. Our world is severly hurting and needs to be cared for.
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