Category: Writing (Page 3 of 6)

A post about writing.

Sharing some writing today…

10/10/2016 / Mike / 1 Comment

losercover Since I’ve been having a few rough weeks, I figured I’d give y’all a sample of my writing. I can’t remember exactly when I wrote this… just that I was in quite the mood when I did. I was feeling the pressure of working 72 hour weeks and still barely being able to make it, when I wondered what it would be like to win the lottery (who hasn’t wondered?).

The idea that someone could win the lottery when their life was spiraling down the toilet hooked my brain, so I decided to write about it. What follows, is the rumination of someone down on their luck… and a whole bunch of wishful thinking.

*WARNING* There’s some language in here… but it very much enhances the mood of the story.

Interval or Roller Coaster Writing…

09/26/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

19877555553_bbac43de69_z Ever hear of interval training? It’s a method of exercising, where you intersperse bursts of work (running, cycling, weightlifting, etc…) with periods of rest. It’s supposed to make it so you can work out longer, with better results. It’s like a roller coaster… you get bursts of excitement with periods of rest on the downhill portions before it throws you around again.

What does this have to do with writing? Well, let me tell you. A couple of people in my writing group are trying to write this way. They set up a plan to write for a week. One day ‘on’, one day ‘off’. This ensures that not only do they get their writing time in, it also allows for fun.

Is writer’s block a real thing?

09/20/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

14059482689_f5c67fc230_z The definition of writer’s block is: a usually temporary condition in which a writer finds it impossible to proceed with the writing of a novel, play, or other work. (dictionary.com) We all understand what it is, and some people have admitted to experiencing it, but is it real?

My question has an underlying focus. There are times where we, as writers, sometimes write ourselves into a corner, or have created a plot hole so big, it’s more like a black hole, sucking at everything in existence. I’ve had uncooperative characters, or ones that magically appeared out of nowhere and jumped into my story.

Just what the heck is ‘good enough’?…

09/09/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

goodenough Today, I’m gonna be talking about (in a roundabout kinda way) goals… or just what is ‘good enough’ when it comes to my stories.

We all had to go to school (I hope). And chances are, we were all pressured to do the best we could when it came to ‘earning’ our grades. I remember a good friend that would always talk to me about how their mom would pressure him to get those A’s and not settle for anything less. Go for the best and leave everyone else in the dust.

Let’s crochet a book…

09/03/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

crochet I was crocheting today, and realized that it’s a lot like writing a book (in ways). I took up crochet as a hobby after my son was born. I was looking at being home for long stretches of time with nothing to do (I hadn’t taken up writing yet), so I originally jumped to knitting.

I watched several videos on YouTube, borrowed some yarn and needles from my mom, and learned how to knit. It was tough. For some reason, my brain couldn’t wrap itself around the idea of using those needles and yarn to create something. My first few projects looked like crap, and I was about ready to give up, when I thought, “How about crochet?”

Quite the character…

08/25/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

Where do I get my characters? Under the couch? In the back yard? When asked this, I usually look confused… because, don’t they just come with the story? Sometimes.

For the most part, before I sit down to write a story, I have a basic working knowledge of my characters. Some of the things they like or don’t like… ways they’ll react to certain things… sometimes, I’ll even have a slight idea of what they look like. For the most part, though, I don’t want to know much more than these basic things.

Where do you get your ideas?

08/08/2016 / Mike / 0 Comments

confused Where do I get my ideas? A question that seems to be asked of authors everywhere. I’ve tried to think of an answer that I might be able to rattle off quickly if I ever become famous enough to be asked that question (lookin’ to the future), but it’s not something that I can answer so easily.

I began writing earnestly just over two years ago. I’m a newb, technically. My first short story, Bridge to Limbo, was an idea I got from reading a story by Hugh Howey (The Plagiarist). The next short, Galileo Among the Stars, was my way of solving the problem of time travel using the theory of quantum entanglement (sometimes my mind wanders when I hear about new technology). The third one, The Strange Life of Walter Moody, was kind of a love letter to the woman who is now my girlfriend. I imagined how it might be possible to change reality by writing it (a la Death Note, but in a good way).

Welcome to Camp Wannawriteabook…

03/30/2015 / Mike / 0 Comments

file8761269190504 Camp Nano is in two days.

That’s enough to cause some palpitations right there. Even though it’s spring, and I’ve never actually been to camp in spring, it reminds me of summer camp. I participated in a few YMCA summer camps as a kid (as I was a latchkey kid growing up). While all the other kids were excited and frantic with wild energy, I didn’t really want to go. It meant you had to be social… and do… outdoorsy stuff. That was punishment for a kid that just loved to sit inside and read all day.

It’s about friggin’ time Spring got here…

03/09/2015 / Mike / 0 Comments

file000541561127 I know I’m not the only one that’s been standing here, tapping my foot and waiting for Spring to finally pop its sleepy head around the corner. But enough about that…

Have you ever noticed that when a holiday is coming soon, that people start getting excited about it? I mean, a good holiday like Christmas or Valentine’s Day or the Fourth of July, not one of those crappy holidays (I’m looking at you, President’s Day).

Stretching before the workout…

03/06/2015 / Mike / 0 Comments

file641244237038 Camp Nano is next month. (I know, because I’ve received the emails) While it’s not as… intense as NaNoWriMo (It can be, if you make it), it’s still a challenge. You have a deadline… and a goal. If you’re part of the working class, then you’ve got a job to do at the same time. The younger crowd generally has some form of school. Some of the lucky few have both to contend with while pounding out words on a daily basis.