Resurrecting old writing

After dabbling in other writing projects I've decided to revisit my first major writing attempt--Takani. I wrote this "novel" while I was in high school. Although the plot is novice, and the love part of the story is sappy, it shouldn't be impossible to resuscitate because the writing is alarmingly good quality for a high school student. In fact, it scares me that, at times, the 18-year old me writes better than the 23-year old me who took writing classes in college.

So far, my college degree has not helped me get a job in my area of study, but I plan on using everything I learned to help me write a good book. After four years of studying what makes a good novel, perhaps, I will be able to write one.

Living like Roseanne

When I watch the show Roseanne, I can't help noticing how many of the characters remind me of people in my life. For instance, my sister is Jackie because she relies so much on Roseanne, who is me. Other times, I am Darlene and Derrick is David. If the characters remind me of myself, I can't help wondering how much my life will come to resemble theirs.

For starters, I am like Roseanne because she is hateful, a feminist, bossy, goes from job to job, and has financial problems. She also has dreams of writing and leaving the crummy town she was raised in.

I'm also like Darlene because she is hateful, pessimistic, dyed her hair black on her sixteenth birthday, and an atheist who wants to write and leave her crummy hometown.

So, whose life will I have?

As a writer, I'm worried Ill end up like Roseanne. She never gets time to write, even after Dan finishes the basement for her so that she can resume her writing career. Alas she has no time, thanks to a crummy job.

I'm not sure that ending up like Darlene would be any better. She dreams of becoming a writer and goes to college, only to get married and have a baby. Similarly, I had a baby after college. I just hope that doesn't get in the way of writing like it did for her.

So, really, I hope my life doesn't reflect any of theirs. But the gravities that hold these characters down (mortgages, bills, families, jobs, kids) are all problems that I face or may face in my own life. Hopefully, I'll get to leave my town, move to the city, and write my books.

The Rush to Publish

It seems like everyone else is getting published: this girl I knew in high school, a college classmate, a friend of my sister's friend, and a friend of a friend. Everyone, that is, except for me. I offer words of congratulations, but what I really want to say is, "Why you and not me?"

I already have that answer. It's as simple as I haven't finished anything. Sure, I have several projects in the making, but scraps of cloth do not make a quilt--they have to be sewn together. Meanwhile, I'm sewing words together here and there and pricking my finger on the needle. Even when I get the time, I just can't seem to get a lot of writing done.

To those of you who have finished a project and are publishing, I mutter my congratulations. I know the hard work that goes into it.

Something to Say

I've been re-reading some of my college textbooks before selling them at the garage sale. I'm starting to remember why I chose to keep them. Part 1 of Style has some very good advice, starting with "have something to say."
I have no problem with this. I'm very opinionated; I always have something to say. I find that my agendas always make it into my writing.
I think a theme is very important to a book. If you don't have something important to say to readers, there isn't a point. I find that my themes always involve women's rights or anti religion.
As a feminist, animal rights activist, and atheist, I think I have a lot to say that has never been said.

Idea Overload

Usually, the problems that afflict writers are writers block and not knowing what to write. More often than not, that is the case for me; however, suddenly, ideas for novels keep popping into my head like popcorn kernels exploding in my brain. Every night I write a little. It isn't very good, but I'm happy to be writing again. And I haven't had writers block. My mentor, Karla Stouse said the only cure for writers block is to write. At this rate, I don't think that is going to be a concern.

All Talk

A week ago, my sister and I took Rylee on a walk at Highland Park. While we were there, we started a discussion about writing. Whenever we go on walks the subject of writing always seems to get brought up. It used to be a tradition during high school. During our walks, which included the dogs instead of the baby, we discussed books (books we were reading, writing or planning on writing).

While we talked about books, we realized that's all we have done--talked about writing. We haven't written anything in years. We have a lot of ideas and even some plot lines and notes, but we haven't started writing anything. What's preventing us? My sister posed an interesting question. Aside from being busy with work and school and life in general, were the people in our lives preventing us from writing?

For her, it could be that mom has the television too loud. For me, I can easily say that Rylee keeps me from writing. He requires a lot of attention--not to mention he shreds paper. I don't get a lot of time to myself to just dabble in a notebook. Personal space is difficult to get in a condo.

One thing is for sure. I think I would be more serious about writing if I went on more walks. Or maybe I would still be all talk.

According to Schedule

I've read in numerous books that writers should have a writing schedule. In high school, I had no problem keeping a writing schedule. I wrote every night and probably should have scheduled breaks for meals, sleep, and friends.

Scheduling has never been a problem for me, especially because my entire life revolves around schedules. During college, my entire life was formatted to comply with my class schedule (i.e., when to meet, leave, assignment-due dates, test days, etc). Both my jobs during college were also designed around due dates and schedules. So, I have no problem following a schedule or meeting deadlines.

Even now I have deadlines for articles I write during my summer internship. Best bets are due Wednesday before I go home, and the Answer Book isn't due until Fall.

Hopefully, with an internship, job, and a baby (not to mention a cat that is as needy as a baby), I will have some time this summer to schedule in a little time to work on my novel.

My Mentors

After the commencement ceremony it is a tradition for students to give the stole of gratitude to someone who helped them out. I had a lot of people to choose from: family, advisers, professors, other students, etc. But I gave mine to Karla Stouse, who was my mentor in W395. I learned more from her about writing and publishing in those short 3-4 months than I learned from other teachers or books on the subject. I will never forget her advice.
However, even though my individual study in writing is over doesn't mean I've stopped writing or studying writing. Today, I begin my internship at the Kokomo Tribune with my new mentor Erin Shultz.
Let's see what she can teach me.

tick, tick, tick

It is a stereotype that many women have a biological clock that makes them feel rushed to have babies. While, for some people this is true, I think everyone has their own personal clock. For my mom it's winning the lottery. And while I have known people who feel that time is ticking away for them to have kids, for me it is writing a book. I never felt rushed to have a kid. I figured, if it happened it happened. But every so often I get this sensation that I'm running out of time to write. After the new year, I felt it more than ever. My goal is to publish by the time I'm 25. I don't know why I picked that age. It's not like I'll be old after that or anything. It's just what I want. Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking...

Finally Getting Started on that Novel

On an episode of Family Guy, Stewie ask Brian if he's still working on that novel--the one he's been working on for three years. I can't help but feel like he's personally making a dig at me. I've been working on a novel for years and I have nothing to show for it. But this year, I finally started my novel. I am taking a class called Individual Studies in Writing. I am learning more about writing and the publishing process from my mentor, Karla Stouse, who is a published author. I've never had a mentor before, and I believe with her help and expertise I will finally make progress.

So the next time Stewie nags Brian about that book I won't feel such a personal sting.

History Repeats Itself

When I was a senior in high school, I started to write my first novel. I began to put writing above everything. I wrote during class, during lunch, after school, and late into the night until early morning. I even turned down my friends' request to hang out in order to continue writing.

I realized in order to justify writing, when I should be doing homework, I would have to find a reason to prioritize it.When it was time to choose a topic for my senior project--which is something seniors at my school had to complete in order to graduate--I decided to write my book.

History repeats itself. I am once again a senior; only now I am in college, and I am writing another novel. But in order to justify writing it I had to fit it into a class. So I took Individual Studies in Writing. Now, I HAVE to write.

Of course, history didn't repeat itself entirely. This time I do my homework first, go to work, and I remember to return my friends calls.

Why We Write

Writing is often a discouraging, overwhelming, and intimidating task. So, why do we subject ourselves to do what I'm describing as being seemingly akin to torture?

Simply, many of us feel driven. It can be a stirring, like a gentle nudge, that we feel deep within us that compels us to lift the pen on occasion. Or, in contrast, it can be a constant inner nagging that makes the writing project feel more time pressing than a to-do list.

Human kind may have first developed writing for the basic function of communication. But writing has evolved to include the task of passing on knowledge or ideas, telling a story, recording events, and expressing emotions or thoughts.

Some people write because they have something they wish to say or to persuade others to believe. Authors can also become immortalized by their writing. As long as you have a novel gathering dust on a book shelf, you will live forever.

Of course, money can be a motivating factor--although I'd rather read a memo than a story written without passion.

For me, I've enjoyed writing since I was a child. I've advanced from crude drawings and misspelled words in little green notebooks to my first real attempt at writing a novel.

It is important to know why you are writing. If there isn't a reason to write it, then there isn't a reason to read it.