Monday, August 31, 2015

Checking Off The To Do List

When I was younger I had a teacher that would put all of her students' names on popsicle sticks then place the sticks in a coffee mug. Then when she asked questions of the class if no one raised their hands or if she needed volunteers she would draw name sticks from the mug. Later on a classmate had a similar system for chores and homework. She would write everything down on small dry erase board pieces then put them in a bowl drawing them out one by one and wiping them clean as she completed the tasks.

I began yesterday working on a number of outlines and files for projects that have been swimming around in my head. As I finished the third outline last night I noticed how much quieter the voices in my head were getting. At first I attributed it to the fact that I was so focused on the storyline I was writing that the rest had simply decided to silence themselves but then I realized that even as I moved from one to the next it was still a much softer rumble. Just as my friend and former teacher had done I was mentally pulling sticks out for each project and with them came the voices of the associated characters.

Now as I am preparing to cross off another group of outlines and files from the ever growing to do list I came hear the screams for attention of all the remaining characters vying for their turn in the spotlight. I have promised each that I will give them a time to shine and as I attempt to finally get all of the outlines written today I shall keep my word. It is odd though that the characters out of respect for other stories were calm for so long but now that they sense an opening coming in the near future they are all clamoring for attention once again.

I am excited though to see that as I concentrate and open my mind to the characters that they have waited patiently revealing the outlines of each of their stories for me and while some have lain dormant for a year or more they are still fresh and come to mind easily when I focus. The next year and a half or so should prove to be very exciting for me as a writer and I hope for this that enjoy my work as well.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Learning To Rewrite History and Mythology

It has been quite some time I took part in an anthology but a great friend has invited me to be a part of her halloween anthology. I am excited to be a part of it because not only is she my inspiration for my pet adoption anthology series but also because I love getting the chance to broaden my horizons. She did one last year as well and there is a different specific theme each year. This year the theme is creatures from mythology. At first I was beyond thrilled but as I have looked further into it I have become stifled in my search for inspiration.

Because most of the creatures as well as deities already have established stories of their creation, desires as well as, in many cases the way they were either handled or even destroyed by those in power. I love the Sirens but they already have stories where their powers were thwarted so I struggle to find ways to write a tale where they are able to sing their way into another's heart and soul as their defeat is known. I considered writing about Odysseus and how he went back after he successfully escaping the Sirens the first time.

However there are so many more stories involving him with other gods and goddesses that I struggle to find the opening for his return. I am now looking into other gods as well Hades the word of the underworld. It is interesting to me that I can see something simple like a painting or snapshot and create a story that becomes something real out of nothing yet when there is already a large amount of information such as the myths I get bogged down in previously established information.

I know there are those out there that are the opposite of me such as those that create fan fiction by taking well established characters and changing their desires or motivations in order to make a new storyline for them. I envy those that can alter established characters or settings in order to make something new. I am going to attempt to push my limits by making something out of already known information though I am undecided about submitting if it is not up to the standards I have for myself. It will be a learning adventure for sure.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Survivor - Jasmine's Story

When I was in eighth grade I attended a fun night for teens. It was at the local vocational center where we could swim in the pool, play games in the computer lab as well as run around in the gymnasium burning off energy on the basketball court or flipping onto the inflatable velcro wall. I had so much fun exploring a school that a few years later I would actually attend but it wasn't until I got to the pool that I found my home. I have always been fish and that night it showed.

As I left the locker room and went to check out the pool I heard the laughing and screaming of the other kids enjoying their evening. I slid into the shallow end feeling the cool water surround me. I splashed my best friend playing around but she wasn't paying attention to me at all. I turned to see what she was staring at and that was when I saw him, the boy I would fall for, the man that would change my life. I fell for him immediately and he spent the entire night with me making every other girl jealous beyond words.

That was the night our relationship started but I had no idea that had he ignored me and chosen a different girl just how much frustration and heartache I could have saved. He was handsome, charming and attentive. He was also manipulative, controlling possessive and even violent at times. He destroyed my mind, owned my heart and got me to blame myself for anything that he did to me. I hid from my friends because they all saw him as the perfect boyfriend and I was sure that they were right and I was the one letting him down. I hid my scars from my family fearing they would see me as the failure I was because he had to punish me.

Over the time we spent together I became isolated within myself. I blamed myself daily for not being able to live it up to what he expected me to be. Life was hard, my grades slipped because I spent all of my time either with him doing my best to be perfect or working on the list of ways I had most recently fallen short. I didn't do my homework very often for fear it would take time away from talking to him or being with him. I lied about what was happening so my parents wouldn't blame me or ground me so that I couldn't see him. He had convinced me that he was my life line and without him and his approval I was basically worthless.

I felt like I was completely alone. I wasn't. Now that I have opened up and agreed to talk about what I went through I have found such an incredible support system. I wrote Jasmine's Story, my story, to try and reach out to others like me to show them they are not alone and have the chance to fight back and survive. It took me years to fight and significantly longer to come into my own as a person but I am standing up for myself now as well as those who are going through the same battle I once endured. together we can end this and make sure no one else ever has to feel so terrible and alone.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Renewing a Prescence

This evening I was working on writing an email that could have a huge impact on an event I am attempting to plan. It was extremely difficult to compose the email because I am so unfamiliar with official proposals and formal requests. In fact I am still working on  getting my query letters just right for submission. It made me realize as I pushed to complete the email that I have been fighting with for nearly a week that I have been neglecting more than just the email.

I have been striving for the last week to have a stronger social media presence through my regular Facebook page along with my author and Rescue Me charity pages. I have done my best to keep updating twitter but then I scanned through and remembered that after a month away I had completely stopped writing this blog. Now I not only have to get a post up but I have to rebuild some sort of exposure. 

I have mentioned in the past that I struggle at times to come up with ideas for my posts which may be a large part of why I haven't been writing but with the completion of Survivor I stepped away from writing entirely. As I continue planning the launch event for Survivor I will be doing the character profiles and excerpts from the book but I will also be doing the same for upcoming projects as well. 

This is a very short post but I just wanted to make sure that I took the time to write some and get back in the groove of blogging more often.