I have written, outlined, and jotted thousands of words since I started writing a decade ago. And most of my novel ideas have a certain theme to them.
So here they are in all their vague glory! (Because I am not revealing all my creative details on the internet. Who would pay for a copy of my books, when I hopefully get them published, if all the details are free on my blog?)
Book Idea 1: The book I say is a female version of Lord of the Ring.
Book Idea 2: A book about teenaged mermaids who, during a certain birthday, get to choose whether or not they stay underwater or grow legs.
Book Idea 3: A period piece set in the early 1900's. Think Titanic meets Twilight only not as cheesy.
Book Idea 4: A story of fairy godmothers and the classes they must take to reach that status.
Book Idea 5: Werewolves and prophecies and a group of young campers who get stuck in the middle of a turf war.
Did you catch the theme? Did you? Obviously it's fairy tale creatures and epic journeys.
But what is my most recent story idea? A historical/supernatural mix up. Not only do I want to add supernatural elements to a time period that I'd have to research even more in depth than the random movies/internet searches/class work that I've already done but I also want to use characters that really existed.
That means I'll have to do even more research because I know I've read historical fiction about people like Anne Boleyn but what things do I have to worry about when I write about someone real? Would someone be offended if I added supernatural elements to a certain time period/situation? I really like my idea, and I already did some research and outlining, but I'm honestly not sure I'm up to the challenge.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Writer Problems: Too Many Ideas
I've realized over the years that I work better when I set myself writing goals so that's what I've been doing since the beginning of the year, making a list in my monthly planner of what I'd like to accomplish during each month be it writerly goals or otherwise. Sometimes I struggle to reach those goals while other times I fly by my goals. Last month I struggled, not exactly meeting my June goals until quite a few hours into July (but I counted it as meeting my June goal in the hopes I'll be able to overcompensate in July).
So one evening last week I was happily writing along, going back and forth between working on a fanfiction piece and one of my unfinished novels (unfinished in this instance meaning not fully written...other blog posts may mention an unfinished novel that is written but not edited enough for any attempts to publish; confusing I know). I work better when I hand write things before I type them (plus hand writing and then typing gives me a chance for a first edit) and I had just counted up how many lines I'd written so far this month and was happy to discover I was ahead on both projects. Minutes after discovering that happy little fact an idea niggled its way into my head. The best and worst possible idea at a time like this.
The idea for another new novel!
Why is that both good and bad at the same time you may ask? It's good because I always have to have something to write but sometimes coming up with a place to start is the hardest part. It's bad because I already have three epic fanfiction ideas to work on, two completed novels to edit, and two half finished novels! And when I get an idea I want to work on it right away, naming characters and doing research, but with everything else going on I can't.
(Well I probably could but then it would mean I'd have another half finished novel which is never good because it's so hard to get back into something after I've put it on hiatus for months or years. Believe me, it's happened before and it's awful. If you can I suggest you always finish a project even if you finish it horribly. At least you'll have an idea of what you wanted to do with it instead of having to figure it out all over again because the outline you wrote years ago doesn't make any sense anymore).
That's where I am, and have been since last week, too full of ideas. At times like this I wish something would fall into place and I could just be a full time author.
So one evening last week I was happily writing along, going back and forth between working on a fanfiction piece and one of my unfinished novels (unfinished in this instance meaning not fully written...other blog posts may mention an unfinished novel that is written but not edited enough for any attempts to publish; confusing I know). I work better when I hand write things before I type them (plus hand writing and then typing gives me a chance for a first edit) and I had just counted up how many lines I'd written so far this month and was happy to discover I was ahead on both projects. Minutes after discovering that happy little fact an idea niggled its way into my head. The best and worst possible idea at a time like this.
The idea for another new novel!
Why is that both good and bad at the same time you may ask? It's good because I always have to have something to write but sometimes coming up with a place to start is the hardest part. It's bad because I already have three epic fanfiction ideas to work on, two completed novels to edit, and two half finished novels! And when I get an idea I want to work on it right away, naming characters and doing research, but with everything else going on I can't.
(Well I probably could but then it would mean I'd have another half finished novel which is never good because it's so hard to get back into something after I've put it on hiatus for months or years. Believe me, it's happened before and it's awful. If you can I suggest you always finish a project even if you finish it horribly. At least you'll have an idea of what you wanted to do with it instead of having to figure it out all over again because the outline you wrote years ago doesn't make any sense anymore).
That's where I am, and have been since last week, too full of ideas. At times like this I wish something would fall into place and I could just be a full time author.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Book Challenge Entry Five: Favorite Classic
Entry Five Prompt: Favorite Classic Book
My Answer: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I first read "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen back in eighth grade. I don't know why because it wasn't part of my required school reading (not that those were the only books I read because they weren't). But I do remember finding a lonely little copy of it in the middle school library, a copy that probably hadn't been checked out for months or possibly even years. I don't think I was purposefully looking for it (it has been about twelve years since the event so maybe I just don't remember it) but the book went home with me nonetheless.
And I loved it. I've probably read the book, and watched the Keira Knightley version of the movie, about a half dozen times or more and if I read it again today I would still love it. But I probably won't because I have a massive "to read" list and I'd like to get it some new things/finish up some series I started awhile ago before I re-read other things.
Now onto why I loved it so much.
And even though the internet is full of women and memorabilia honoring the love of Fitzwilliam Darcy I honestly think the main reason I loved the book was Elizabeth Bennet. She's smart and loves books, she doesn't subscribe to the rules and restrictions of her time period and gender, because of that she wants to marry for love. Those are the makings of a strong heroine to me, a woman who isn't afraid to be intelligent and who doesn't really give a damn about societal conventions and it was even more interesting that she was a character in a book written by a woman who had published her books anonymously because of exactly what Austen was writing about, societal conventions. I have always thought that was both interesting and ironic.
And the love of "Pride and Prejudice" has led me to read several other of Jane Austen's works and buy a collection which I have yet to finish (but will most likely work on in the near future).
My Answer: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I first read "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen back in eighth grade. I don't know why because it wasn't part of my required school reading (not that those were the only books I read because they weren't). But I do remember finding a lonely little copy of it in the middle school library, a copy that probably hadn't been checked out for months or possibly even years. I don't think I was purposefully looking for it (it has been about twelve years since the event so maybe I just don't remember it) but the book went home with me nonetheless.
And I loved it. I've probably read the book, and watched the Keira Knightley version of the movie, about a half dozen times or more and if I read it again today I would still love it. But I probably won't because I have a massive "to read" list and I'd like to get it some new things/finish up some series I started awhile ago before I re-read other things.
Now onto why I loved it so much.
And even though the internet is full of women and memorabilia honoring the love of Fitzwilliam Darcy I honestly think the main reason I loved the book was Elizabeth Bennet. She's smart and loves books, she doesn't subscribe to the rules and restrictions of her time period and gender, because of that she wants to marry for love. Those are the makings of a strong heroine to me, a woman who isn't afraid to be intelligent and who doesn't really give a damn about societal conventions and it was even more interesting that she was a character in a book written by a woman who had published her books anonymously because of exactly what Austen was writing about, societal conventions. I have always thought that was both interesting and ironic.
And the love of "Pride and Prejudice" has led me to read several other of Jane Austen's works and buy a collection which I have yet to finish (but will most likely work on in the near future).
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