I'll See You In My Dreams

Inspiration is generally hard to come by. You look to movies, books, music, poetry, and other works by other people. But it's not always up to other people to spark your mind into high creative gear. Sometimes it's as simple as getting a good night's sleep.

If you're one of the lucky few who has high-definition recollection of your dreams, count yourself blessed. Your dreams could easily give you crystal clear scenes or plots that lead to a phenomenal story. For those of you with my mind, a fuzzy recall of dreams that sometimes is clear and other times is a jumbled mess of nonsense, take what you can remember and write it down. The minute you wake up jot down what you can remember of your dream and be ready for sudden flashes of dream sequences you forgot. For those of you who can't remember your dreams at all, I truly mourn your dreams. Try daydreaming, perhaps you'll get so lost in a daydream that it will take on a life of its own and lead you down the path to a great story.

P.S. Daydreaming is also a great way to pass the time in bed if you happen to be an insomniac

Damn Dam

A while ago I found writing to be kind of stiff and while I typed it felt real professional so my voice kept coming out like a text book. Ugh! It was horrible. The plot had no problem, but the way it came out on paper was unattractive and unwelcoming. Shame to say (ok, not really) that class time has now been divied up into: listening, taking notes, and flipping to a page filled with tiny scrawl which is the continuation of my new story. Creativity is flowing free, now. The dam that had held me back has been demolished, though there is a bit of foundation left. I can't type stories well. I think I need someone else to type for me because I just am not comfortable with the hand-written words becoming blocky generic tattoos on paper.

The lesson in all this rambling: keep on keeping on! If typing isn't your thing lug a pad and pen(cil) wherever you go. And if you don't like writing just jot down ideas to flourish in ink at home, or lug a laptop with you all over. Keep your tools nearby and always be prepared for an incredible bowl-me-over idea. Writing is all about these moments, embrace them, do not be mad cause they come at unconvenient times. Be glad and embrace them.

Funsize

If you are having a bad case of writer's block or simply don't know what to do or where to go next here's a an idea. Take a random image or idea: a model, a house, a cat, a tree, a shoe, etc. Take this image and describe it's physical apperance in meticulous details. Follow this up with a new paragraph going in depth. Perhaps the model has sad eyes or the house has one window with the blinds down, why is that? Take that and you can either elaborate for practice if it goes nowhere, or you might get a whole story (idea) out of this excercise. Try it!

Here's an example:

His head (is it his head?) is curved smoothly like an egg made of soft gel. Speckles imitating a leopards only set against a clear body. Everything is clear, the ocean sets a soft, ethereal glow through the skin of the being. It's whispy, whiskery appendages float around it, a torn and tattered dress that still clings with its last intact strands. Behind this unsuccessful viel float bigger appendages, ruffled and soft and glowing with the ocean's magic. They scrunch and extend to push the magnificent thing through it's magical home.

Practice Perfection

This post has two points to get across today. The first:

DON'T STOP WRITING!

Even if you hit a rough patch and nothing you scribble down makes sense and nothing you furiously type is any good never stop! You need the practice, even if it's going nowhere. Keep writing even if it's just little quotes or plot charts or a few lines that lead nowhere. Writing is like every sport in the world, you can't stop and hope to start again and carry all those skills and ideas you had a week ago.

The second point:


Always be prepared. My best ideas have come just as I was falling into sleep or settling in under the covers. At work I would print off receipt paper and scribble in sharpie when an idea hit. So always be prepared. In your purse (or pocket) or in your car keep a pad of paper and a pen or pencil. On your bedside table leave a journal and a pen and a booklight. Always be ready for an idea so fantastic you'll regret letting it go.

Kismet's Word Of The Day:

According to Dictionary.com

Expression: Feeling, spirit, character; The power of expressing in words

A Listed List of Lists

So, recently, I was working on a story. It just came to me in the middle of my shift at work. I printed off some receipt paper about six inches long and scribbled all over both sides before abandoning it to list some names. I asked those around me for names and I rattled my brain around to see if any loose names drifted out. I got lucky!

When writing a story lists are exceptionally helpful. Lists can be compiled for just about any need! Names, Book Title, Chapter Titles, etc. You can even list off the plot line in order or just make a list of significant events and reorder them later. Lists can also establish what kind of name or title you may be looking for. For example, at work, I was listing off elegant names for men. Names that were older. Names outside this category were too obviously unfit and I easily realized what I was looking for.

And, always, an outside person is a great resource. I asked a coworker for ideas, not necessarily to use her ideas, but to at least trigger some new ones of my own. People outside the story and the writing process will help you edit better and tell if the story flows or if that paragraph makes any sense. They can also judge your names or titles and help you, yet again, come up with new ones or just point you in the right direction.


Kismet's Word Of The Day:


Wane: to decrease, decline, or grow smaller

Get Into Character

Before any story can start you need your characters. Just start with one. What do they look like? What makes their appearance special, or are they just plain and boring? How do they talk; sarcasm, soft voice, husky deep voice, bright chirping or bubbly talkativeness? What are their flaws? Their talents? Their dreams/goals? Their interests and dislikes? Their pet peeves and what makes them light up? Who is their love interest? Their enemy? Their best friend or relative or who give them their drive? Of course, you may just write out over a page on a character and you may not use all the information on that character in the book, but it builds a person. People need to feel like your character is real and that they are more than just a he said or a she said.

Then pick your point of view (POV). If you are using first person it's a little more involved because you have to convey thoughts and emotions and every aspect of the character from their eyes. You have to kind of become your character when writing in first person. If you use third person POV then you have a little more liberty. You can voyage through the thoughts and emotions and actions of every character and you can put a different interpretation on it whenever you want. These are the only two POV's I would suggest using.


The Word Of The Day According To Me!

Obsequious (adj): obedient, dutiful, fawning, servilely compliant.

http://www.teacherspetnj.com/basicobedience.htm

Everyone Ends Up Here In Bottles

So what are you trying to write? A song? A story? A book? A poem?

Either way you need some amazing word choice. And when you find an amazing word that lights up a poem or a story, use it. Just don't use it too much. I know for a span of time I constantly used the descriptive words frantically and sweet. Not impressive, but they worked in the project I was using. They worked so well I overused them in later projects and had to go back and edit them. Find your word. I'm going to post my own words on the blog now, words I love to use and words I hope you find of use.

Words Of The Day:

According to me!

Kismet (noun): Fate, destiny

Obscure (Adjective): amiguous, vague or uncertain, inconspicuous

A song for you today:

"Thief" by Our Lady Peace

~ Kismet

Sharing Is Caring ...

Life sucks, we all know it and we've all lived through harsh events and broken hearts and bones to prove it. And when things burn on the inside, we long to release it. Some of us scream into pillows or go target shooting or yell at whoever has done us wrong. Some people choose to do something that I hope no one reading this has had to do (or if you had, never has to do again): cutting. But I have found a much more safe and peaceful release ... although I might have broken a few letters off the keyboard in the process.

Write. Don't think. Just let everything on your mind fall through your fingers and type up a jumbled mess of pure emotion. If you need to, post it on a blog (like this) or read it to someone who cares or who you think needs to hear it.

Obviously, this can apply to the good times, but those are a little less hazardous and a little easier to deal with. So if you feel the need to stab someone very hard and very violently ... please don't. Write; you'd be surprised what you can conjure out of pain.

And when things go right, let that light shine in you and pour it into the paper along with your pain. Give your writing some real emotion. Like we've said before: write what you know. Let your writing breath and feel and know. Let your readers feel that.

Word Of The Day:

inveigle (verb):1. To persuade by ingenuity or flattery; to entice. 2. To obtain by ingenuity or flattery.

Random awesome picture:

Blue Blood...well that's just wrong

Blue Bloods is a book by Elizabeth De La Cruz. It's one of the most unique books I've read because it takes a common myth, a well-known creature of fantasy, and picks at it until it becomes something entirely different. Vampires in this book have a bit of a different quality, to say the least. These vampires can afford all the finest clothes and practically rule manhattan with their money. They are called Blue Bloods, not only for their wealth, but for their, well, blue blood. (I'm not one for spoilers, so I'll leave the rest for the future readers to discover.) And they are in serious danger. Shuyler and her friends, new and old, will fight against the new danger themselves, but there's a price.

I am anticipating the next book, Masquerade!

In other news, Twilight fans (yes I am obsessed), the Special Edition of Eclipse, and thus the official cover for Breaking Dawn, will be release May 31 and will also include the first chapter of the book we are all waiting for.

And a little lesson for you to walk away with today! Yay! Anyway, you always hear people say, "write what you know." Well the thing is, you don't normally want to catalogue your life, however if you add bits of random from your life into a book, it adds to it. It adds a certain real quality to it, and thus a more personal feel to the book. That is what makes books great and draws them to your book the most: Personality. So take a few random events, funny moments, and implant them into some part of your story to give it life. If your thing is Autobiographies, then throw that out the window and truly write what you know, your life.

Word Of The Day:

Afflatus(Noun): A divine imparting of knowledge; inspiration.

Life Changing

Every once in a while a book will fall into your hands; a book that ends up as more than just a good read. This book will literally change your life. You will never be able to read another book and say much more than "it was good". Books will simply become entertainement, like television, and this one book will become something much more. It will be what you wish you could write, it will be the book that outshines all others, and it will captivate and engage you like no other.

There are a few books in my life that have affected me this way...some much more than others. So in order, here is a list of books that changed my life.

1. The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

2. The Chanters Of Tremaris Trilogy by Kate Constable

The Twilight series, mostly the debut novel Twilight, is my absolute favorite collection of books. Ever. And I recommend that everyone, mostly girls, needs to read in their life ... and soon. The new book is set to come out August 2008 (this year!!) and the movie for Twilight is coming out this year as well. Though most movies demolish the books, I feel like they might succeed with this one, and even if they don't I have to make myself see it ... it's Twilight!

My only advice for reading this saga is this: 1. DO NOT let anyone EVER tell you about the book. 2. Make sure you have prolonged periods of time in which to read, it makes the experience so much more worth it. And 3. if you have the chance and the books read them all back to back in order with not other literary interuptions.

I suppose this advice applies to most books, but these books deserve so much more.

Sorry for the short entries as of late. I'll kick it up a notch next time!

The Word Of The Day according to Dictionary.com.

misnomer (Noun) - 1. The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment.2. Any misnaming of a person or thing; also, a wrong or inapplicable name or designation.

The Tenth Power

So if any of you are keeping up to date on the lovely right hand side of my blog, you may have noticed something. Not only do I absolutely adore A Fine Frenzy (favorite song? - Lifesize), but I go through books pretty fast. I am the bookworm and I am in the last book of an absolutely phenomenal trilogy. The Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy by Kate Constable is a must read and i will have a full trilogy review once I have flown my way through this last book (The Tenth Power). So be ready for many book reviews and don't expect too much negativity, I'm pretty partial to books.


Word Of The Day

Diffident (Adj): 1. Lacking self-confidence; distrustful of one's own powers; timid; bashful. 2. Characterized by modest reserve; unassertive.

Give Me Five!

So to let you all get to know me a little better, and maybe tug a little advice out of my ear, I am going to be posting random listings. They will be favorites, facts, or just randomness. Today:

Top Five Songs:



"Gravity" by Sara Bareilles
"LDN" by Lily Allen
"Brave" by Idina Menzel
"Fuego" by Bond
"4am" by Our Lady Peace




These songs are in no particular order. And yes, now it's time for me to scrap together a bit of advice from this little activity. And it's simple: lists.



You can list:

• Characters
• Places
• Plot points
• Unique vocab for your story
• Book titles
• Chapter Titles
• Any other random stuff you want to keep track of

Also, a bit of advice I've taken to this weekend, write what you need to. I was at work and struck, quite viciously, by a vivid idea. So I ran and took some reciept paper and jotted down two full reciept scraps of story. All this scrawled chicken-scratch was a description of one character. Of course I am nowhere near introducing her in my story yet, but I have her established completely now. And I have that part out of the way and written to it fullest potential. If a scene, a huge event, or just a snippet of story crawls into your brain, write it. Keep all your little story pieces to fit into one amazing story later on.

And a little exercise for anyone with writer's bloq or who is just bored and needs something to write. In one of my classes we were told to pick a person, not a famous or infamous person, but like a label (i.e. Painter, Ice cream truck driver, Vet, etc). Then we were told to pick a place, yet again, not a famous place or anything (i.e. Train, Woods, Basement, etc). And lastly we were told to pick a thing, yet again no famous items (i.e. Earring, Pearl, Hubcap, etc). And when you have a person you simple describe them. Do not elaborate into a story (at leat not until later), simply describe attitude and appearance and demeanor. This may become one of your most predominant or lovable characters. I'll provide my example for the person next post.

And the much anticipated Word Of The Day from Dictionary.com

Inchoate (Adj): 1. In an initial or early stage; just begun. 2. Imperfectly formed or formulated.

- Kismet

Twilight

For fans of Stephenie Meyer (with such amazing books as Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and, in August this year, Breaking Dawn) we have some news for you. Now you already know this if you are religious to stepheniemeyer.com, but there is a movie coming out for the book Twilight. It is set to be released in December 2008. So we're only about, oh, nine months away.

The casting so far:

Bella Swan: Kristen Stewart Edward Cullen: Robert Pattinson

Carlisle Cullen: Peter Facinelli
Esme Cullen: Elizabeth Reaser
Rosalie: Nikki Reed
Eric: Justin Chon

The other roles are all rumored. But if you want to check them out: CLICK ME!

Dictionary.com Word Of The Day
Rara Avis (noun): A rare or unique person or thing.

-Kismet

Spaces Of Sky And Treetops

Everyone has written something: essays, persuasive papers, literary analyses, and more grueling and generally unenjoyable experiences. So what are the keys to enjoying writing?


It's really easy: Pick something you enjoy. In your free time experiment. Try out a poem: haiku, sonnet, or just free form. Keep in mind that poems are not about rhyming and Dr. Seuss is not someone to admire for poetic brilliance. Rhyming does make for fun and whimsical poems, but it can also be a hindrance. Finding words to rhyme can deter your intent in the poem and ruin your flow and idea.


If you need help breaking the habit of rhyme just check out some free form poems and other alternatives (a good site to check out:fictionpress.com) Get used to the flow instead of the matching words and just let yourself go!


"April 18" by Sylvia Plath

the slime of all my yesterdays

rots in the hollow of my skull

and if my stomach would contract

because of some explicable phenomenon
such as pregnancy or constipation


I would not remember you

or that because of sleep
infrequent as a moon of greencheese
that because of food
nourishing as violet leaves
that because of these


and in a few fatal yards of grass

in a few spaces of sky and treetops

a future was lost yesterday

as easily and irretrievably
as a tennis ball at twilight


If you are going for the rhythm of rhyme, then try a new approach. Rhyming every line or every other line is too cliché. Try beginning and ending a stanza with a word that rhymes and don't set a number of lines to the stanza.

Truly the only great advice is practice. Experiment.





Dictionary.com Word Of The Day


Probity (noun): Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness.


On a writing-related note, you'll see a lot of books presented here. Recently I read The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. The book is an amazing piece of writing. It paints wonderful pictures in the mind and you truly become a part of this historical story. The story is that of Mary Carey, the sister of Anne Boleyn. Their family pits the two against each other to win over King Henry VIII. The scandals and deaths and the life in court are illustrated beautifully and the story is captivating. I recommend it to everyone, though mostly girls. A must read! And look for the movie which came out this weekend starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana.

Name Game

I'm going to start this post with a little something that most people, not to mention writers, despise by now. It's "elementary" dear, but though we are mature you'd be surprised. When given an outline, like in a name, how many doors open up for you...yes there is a lesson in this.



A little about me:


K. Karmic - I believe what goes around comes around

I. Inventive - My mind works in mysterious ways, but it works all the time

S. Silly - Do you have to ask?

M. Magnetic - People are drawn to me, not just cause they like me, I'm intriguing

E. Eccentric - I am constantly told I am strange and, at the same time, awesome

T. Thirsty - I am always thirsty



So what we've just done is taken a simple outline, and expanded it. It's easy.

The lesson here is that your story will blossom more readily and more naturally if you have a plot and storyline already set out. Pick characters, not necessarily names, and places and how the whole things begins, ends, climaxes and so on. Reference: old school plot charts. Map out your main events and work from there. It gets easier.



And the Word Of The Day according to Dictionary.com.



Temerarious: adj. Recklessly or presumptuously daring; rash.

-Kismet