The milestone I hit this morning was to finish writing, spell check, and print out chapter nine, bringing me to a whopping 107 page manuscript so far.
The other cool thing is that about two years ago, while I was working up the preliminary material for this book, I jotted down some notes on a passage I wanted to include--snippets of dialogue and the like.
And then it sat in the background folder for two years.
But today I hit the part where those notes made sense, so I wrote them into the book--finally. That was fun because, even though I punched it up some as I wrote,
I was always sure it would be a funny section and it still seems to work.
I feel that I am still about roughly halfway through the first draft.
Not bad for just over seven weeks.
I feel just a bit ahead of schedule.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
INSPIRED BY OR PLAGIARISM?
I am this close (thumb and forefinger are almost touching) to reaching an important milestone: 100 pages! Nearly halfway through the story. I'll let you know in a couple days when I hit it.
It would have been tomorrow, but I am going to be off campus and so will not get my regular writing session in. That would bother me, but I am planning some non-writing, writing work.
As I've worked through this idea, it has occurred to me that I might be somewhat subconsciously influenced by the movie Ghost, which I saw only once a hundred years ago when it first came out. Consequently, I need to do some research and/or actually see the movie to ensure that I am not unintentionally "borrowing" scenes/ideas/lines etc. Considering that I just busted a young lady in class today for copying her essay--word for word--from another student's paper, it would hypocritical of me not to check this out.
There can be certain similarities I suppose--there are only so many notes in the ghost archetype that can be played--but I certainly want my work to be original.
***
Note:
1) To my friend who works in Mission Valley: I'll call you soon. It's been a month.
2) Hi, Val. Let me know if you have any questions.
It would have been tomorrow, but I am going to be off campus and so will not get my regular writing session in. That would bother me, but I am planning some non-writing, writing work.
As I've worked through this idea, it has occurred to me that I might be somewhat subconsciously influenced by the movie Ghost, which I saw only once a hundred years ago when it first came out. Consequently, I need to do some research and/or actually see the movie to ensure that I am not unintentionally "borrowing" scenes/ideas/lines etc. Considering that I just busted a young lady in class today for copying her essay--word for word--from another student's paper, it would hypocritical of me not to check this out.
There can be certain similarities I suppose--there are only so many notes in the ghost archetype that can be played--but I certainly want my work to be original.
***
Note:
1) To my friend who works in Mission Valley: I'll call you soon. It's been a month.
2) Hi, Val. Let me know if you have any questions.
Monday, February 9, 2009
GET BACK
When creating characters, it is important to find specific and individual details that set those characters apart and make them special. Since music always figures prominently in my writing (as well as my life), I thought it might be interesting to make my main characters fans of The Beatles.
Why would you make present-day teenagers fans of The Beatles, you ask? Three reasons. One, I thought that having my main characters be fans might make them stand out as individuals (as well as bonding them within the universe of the story). Two, because they are music icons that I can write about confidently because I know their work. Third, in a perfect world, if and when the book was a huge success, it would be great if I was in some small way responsible for introducing a new generation of fans to The Beatles.
As it turns out, number three was completely unnecessary.
My one concern was that today's teens would have any idea who The Beatles were. So I took a poll in each of my six classes, asking, "Raise your hand if you know who The Beatles are?" Not only did nearly all the hands go up, but they went up enthuastically.
My next question, "Can you name any of their songs" was immediately met with a storm of responses: "Let it Be," "Yellow Submarine," "Rocky Raccoon," "I Am the Walrus."
It was positively validating. I could write confidently about The Fab Four and my intended audience would know who I was talking about.
As a side note: another teacher who assists me in one of the classes noticed something that got past me. She pointed out, "at least they know the older songs." No one mentioned, "She Loves You," "Please, Please Me," or "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
Interesting.
Why would you make present-day teenagers fans of The Beatles, you ask? Three reasons. One, I thought that having my main characters be fans might make them stand out as individuals (as well as bonding them within the universe of the story). Two, because they are music icons that I can write about confidently because I know their work. Third, in a perfect world, if and when the book was a huge success, it would be great if I was in some small way responsible for introducing a new generation of fans to The Beatles.
As it turns out, number three was completely unnecessary.
My one concern was that today's teens would have any idea who The Beatles were. So I took a poll in each of my six classes, asking, "Raise your hand if you know who The Beatles are?" Not only did nearly all the hands go up, but they went up enthuastically.
My next question, "Can you name any of their songs" was immediately met with a storm of responses: "Let it Be," "Yellow Submarine," "Rocky Raccoon," "I Am the Walrus."
It was positively validating. I could write confidently about The Fab Four and my intended audience would know who I was talking about.
As a side note: another teacher who assists me in one of the classes noticed something that got past me. She pointed out, "at least they know the older songs." No one mentioned, "She Loves You," "Please, Please Me," or "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
Interesting.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
THAT'S LIFE. . .(CUE MUSIC HERE). . .
Today was the first day since I started School Spirit where the words came slowly and I was worried about not meeting my quota. I knew what had just happened and I knew what was supposed to happen a few scenes down the road, but I didn't know how to get there. So I spent a lot of time pacing, thinking, and making quick and dirty notes. But the writing itself came very slowly. It was like pulling teeth (hey, that's catchy. I should write that down!).
But that's not what I want to write about here.
I was reminded of another of those mysterious aspects of writing that defy explanation. It is how life can often inform your writing when you least expect it. Here is my case in point:
One of my writing friends (Lara Zielin, author of Donut Days) has--as many of us do these days--a facebook page that I frequently check for updates on her life. She had posted
a link about how some mischievous computer geeks had hacked into a traffic caution sign and written "Zombies Ahead. Run!" Lara has a killer sense of humor and so, naturally, this struck me as very funny.
Today, as I was writing a scene between the main character and his best friend, who happens to be a computer whiz with a bit of a mischievous streak, I needed a joke to help build to the climax of the scene. Without consciously thinking of it, I remembered this story and worked it into the scene. Here's what I wrote (be kind: this is a first draft):
“You coming over after school?” Ben asked.
All I could think about was the pile of homework that I’d let go the past few days.
“Maybe,” I said. “I’ve got—“
“’Cause you know those signs on the freeway that tell you the road conditions?”
“Yeah?” I said.
I couldn’t help it; I was intrigued.
“I figured out how to hack into them,” Ben said. “So yesterday I told drivers to avoid 5
North because there were Zombies in Tustin.”
“Brilliant, Ben,” I said. “Remind me to come visit you in San Quentin. You’ll be the one going to the prison prom with the drug runner named Spike.”
Ben looked pensive for a moment.
“Vest or cummerbund?” he asked.
The two point I wish to make are these:
1) As writers, we borrow shamelessly and liberally from whatever is around us in life and use it as material in our work. Everything is on-limits. Furthermore, if we listen carefully to our muse, something that has been simmering in our subconscious recently might just bubble up and be exactly what we needed in a scene on a day when the words weren't coming so fluidly. So thank you, Lara.
2) And now a few words about comedy. First of all, the freeway sign story is funny all by itself. Secondly, I tried to write short sentences which quickens the pace, hopefully intensifiying the humor. Thirdly, I admittedly went for the easy laugh on the prison joke--guilty as charged (no pun intended. Yeah, right). Fourthly (is that a word?), individual words are often funny by themselves, and I tried to use a number of them in this passage. They are, in order: Zombies, Tustin, Quentin, drug runner, Spike, and cummerbund. I also pleased with the alliteration of "prison prom." It think it works.
Tomorrow's scene stars the titular ghost. The writing should come more easily, I would think.
And come on, admit it, the word "titular" is just funny.
But that's not what I want to write about here.
I was reminded of another of those mysterious aspects of writing that defy explanation. It is how life can often inform your writing when you least expect it. Here is my case in point:
One of my writing friends (Lara Zielin, author of Donut Days) has--as many of us do these days--a facebook page that I frequently check for updates on her life. She had posted
a link about how some mischievous computer geeks had hacked into a traffic caution sign and written "Zombies Ahead. Run!" Lara has a killer sense of humor and so, naturally, this struck me as very funny.
Today, as I was writing a scene between the main character and his best friend, who happens to be a computer whiz with a bit of a mischievous streak, I needed a joke to help build to the climax of the scene. Without consciously thinking of it, I remembered this story and worked it into the scene. Here's what I wrote (be kind: this is a first draft):
“You coming over after school?” Ben asked.
All I could think about was the pile of homework that I’d let go the past few days.
“Maybe,” I said. “I’ve got—“
“’Cause you know those signs on the freeway that tell you the road conditions?”
“Yeah?” I said.
I couldn’t help it; I was intrigued.
“I figured out how to hack into them,” Ben said. “So yesterday I told drivers to avoid 5
North because there were Zombies in Tustin.”
“Brilliant, Ben,” I said. “Remind me to come visit you in San Quentin. You’ll be the one going to the prison prom with the drug runner named Spike.”
Ben looked pensive for a moment.
“Vest or cummerbund?” he asked.
The two point I wish to make are these:
1) As writers, we borrow shamelessly and liberally from whatever is around us in life and use it as material in our work. Everything is on-limits. Furthermore, if we listen carefully to our muse, something that has been simmering in our subconscious recently might just bubble up and be exactly what we needed in a scene on a day when the words weren't coming so fluidly. So thank you, Lara.
2) And now a few words about comedy. First of all, the freeway sign story is funny all by itself. Secondly, I tried to write short sentences which quickens the pace, hopefully intensifiying the humor. Thirdly, I admittedly went for the easy laugh on the prison joke--guilty as charged (no pun intended. Yeah, right). Fourthly (is that a word?), individual words are often funny by themselves, and I tried to use a number of them in this passage. They are, in order: Zombies, Tustin, Quentin, drug runner, Spike, and cummerbund. I also pleased with the alliteration of "prison prom." It think it works.
Tomorrow's scene stars the titular ghost. The writing should come more easily, I would think.
And come on, admit it, the word "titular" is just funny.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WE'VE GOT SPIRIT! YES WE DO!
I spelled checked and printed out chapter 5 today at the beginning
of my writing session. The book is now 59 pages. I was very excited about that. Since many agents ask for the first 50 pages (presumably because that usually seems to be a turning point in the plot), reaching that milestone always feels like some kind of accomplishment.
The other thing worth mentioning is that ghost that the title refers to made her first appearance today. She was the main character's girlfriend in life and she shows up in a dream he has. During their conversation, we find out that she needs something from him. So I guess the idea that there is often a major plot point around page 50 is not only true, but that with some editing, my pacing looks about right.
Thirdly, I was so happy with the way this four page scene turned out, I printed it out even before the chapter was finished, breaking a cardinal rule of mine: no printing until at least one draft of the chapter is complete. This rule is in place to make sure I keep writing and don't go into editing mode prematurely.
Finally, the idea that I printed out this fairly involving scene (if I may say so myself) about a ghost and her living boyfriend at 7 a.m. and that it didn't exist when I sat down at 6:15 is an amazing thought to me and one of the reasons I love to write.
of my writing session. The book is now 59 pages. I was very excited about that. Since many agents ask for the first 50 pages (presumably because that usually seems to be a turning point in the plot), reaching that milestone always feels like some kind of accomplishment.
The other thing worth mentioning is that ghost that the title refers to made her first appearance today. She was the main character's girlfriend in life and she shows up in a dream he has. During their conversation, we find out that she needs something from him. So I guess the idea that there is often a major plot point around page 50 is not only true, but that with some editing, my pacing looks about right.
Thirdly, I was so happy with the way this four page scene turned out, I printed it out even before the chapter was finished, breaking a cardinal rule of mine: no printing until at least one draft of the chapter is complete. This rule is in place to make sure I keep writing and don't go into editing mode prematurely.
Finally, the idea that I printed out this fairly involving scene (if I may say so myself) about a ghost and her living boyfriend at 7 a.m. and that it didn't exist when I sat down at 6:15 is an amazing thought to me and one of the reasons I love to write.
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