Beginning Of A New Fortnight

Well, what a mess I made of last fortnight (which, I know, actually went for three weeks, which only makes it worse). Just over 30,000 words of the novel done. However, the only way to go on, as I see it, is to cut my losses and just start all over again with enthusiasm and anticipation for my next book.

Tomorrow I'm starting the third in the Castle Innis series. Yah! (Work with me here, I'm trying to build enthusiasm. Is very difficult if you read it in such as sarcastic way.) The previous two books were originally going to be back story for this book, so I already have the prologue and half the first chapter written. However, with new developments in the previous two books, a few things will change. Am very glad I spent that time with Jenny brainstorming the last story, otherwise this would be slightly more difficult. 

I am also going to start a 9am-5pm writing working day. Hopefully in this time I can include editing Sally Hunt a bit and working on this blog etc. I am working on the assumption that I won't actually being doing the TV extra work this week, which is sad in one way, but in another I'm glad I get more chance to enjoy my holiday. The choice between a movie star and a famous author is difficult, but the choice between a back-of-scenes extra and a published author (famous or not)? Not so hard.

Today I did something I haven't done for a very long time: read an entire book in a day. (Okay, when I say long time, now I think about it, I did it just a few weeks ago, but it feels like a long time).  Sadly my eyes are not what they used to be, and did start going a bit blurry towards the end. Am sure that is totally normal and doesn't mean I need glasses or am getting old. Right? I had the new Jasper Fforde, 'The Woman Who Died A Lot', and had been promising myself I could read it when I got through everything else. Today, I said 'stuff it'. I haven't finished The Spanish Bride, or any of the non-fiction books I've been reading, but honestly I wouldn't have finished them anyway. 

There is only one problem. I absolutely love Jasper Fforde, (if you don't know him, but love books and quirky sense of humour of the intelligent mind, highly recommended. Check out his website) and I love Thursday Next as a character. I also find his books addictive, as demonstrated by today. However, he does not inspire me to write at all. I read his books and think 'who am I kidding! With books like these in the world, who  would want to read mine? I'm never going to be able to think of plots this complex and entertaining' which is not at all inducive to writing. So, for the sake of my writing, better I get the entire book read as fast as possible and only on days off, so I can read things that make me want to write on work days. Good logic, no? Gives me a great excuse to do absolutely nothing but read all day. 

On a complete side note, today was actually warm enough for me to lie out in the sun (out of the wind) in tank top and shorts to activate my vitamin D. Was very nice lying on mum and dad's deck, sun on legs, reading good book...that is what holidays should be about.

Back to the topic, it is an important process to work out which books inspire writing and which don't. It is really quite surprising, as you would think books you loved would make you want to write and books you hate would have an adverse effect, but it is not always so. Some books I despise just make me think 'well, someone wanted to published you, so I might have a shot at this after all!' Further, I find some books even by the same author have different effects on me. 

Am currently in search of more work that inspires me to sit down and write. I think it is one of the reasons I took so long with Dorothea Brande's book, because I kept going off and trying to put into practice each little bit I read. Georgette Heyers can sometimes do it, but the Spanish Bride is not one of them. As I'm now moving onto the third book which is set back in London, I think I might read one of the other ones that I know quite well and see if that works. I'm thinking the Grand Sophie, which is one of my favourite of her female characters (though I have to say, Charles as the leading man is not my favourite, but what can you do? Except, obviously, re-write it yourself with a better guy... :D )

So, had better get to bed early, so I can get in a full day of work without losing concentration.

Sleep tight.

Buffy.

Other People's Blogs

Okay, so I'm kind of new to this whole blogging thing, both writing and reading (hey, I'm a classicist and Old Testament scholar, if it's happened in the last 2,000 years, I probably don't know about it yet). So, I don't have a hundred other blogs that I follow. But I'm starting to look around and see what I like.

Yesterday I came across one which, if you are reading my blog, you probably already know because it's much older, larger, and more frequently visited than mine. It's Paperback Writer. If you haven't visited it, I currently highly recommend it, because it appears to be on the same sorts of things I want to talk about, except of course I want to focus on my writing journey/lessons/challenges rather than her's, and she has years of experience and is actually published, while I'm still a wanna be. But, other than that...

Was reading through her 25 Reasons to be a Writer, and just had to share some of my favourites with you (it's not plagiarism if I've told you I've stolen them!):

2. It’s the only time in your life when you really are Master of a Universe.

9. Three words: Love Scene Research.

11. Only writers are officially allowed to make Dan Brown, Stephen King or John Grisham jokes.

(Some of the suggestions in her comments section are priceless too, such as:

1. Suddenly, daydreaming and staring out the window is acceptable, even noble.

2. Because you can take the vow of poverty without having to become a nun, a Moonie, or a Freegan.

3. Because how else am I going to get reap revenge on everyone who has ever wronged me without going to jail)

So, am open to all suggestions of good and useful blogs you want to recommend (particularly focused on writing). I will test them out. But, if they turn out not to be good or useful, and you have merely misled me for your own personal advantage, see comment number 3.

In sadder news, found out today that they are changing the scenes for the TV shoot I was going to be in as an extra, and they might not need me after all.

The upside of this is I get another week to see if I can get better at this being a full time writer.

And if they really don't want me, I might fly up to Queensland for a few days.

So there, Melbourne, with your stupidly annoying changing weather! You tempt us all with scents of spring, and then dump on our heads when we try to smell the wattle.

Not impressed.

The Pressure of Writing Full Time.

I had suspected, but not fully realised, the awful pressure that comes from deciding to write full time. True I'm on holiday and exhausted from work with numerous little errands to catch up on and the desire to actually get out and enjoy myself. However, having said I would spend this week writing, I have got less writing done than any other week so far (including, I think, when I was sick). And the worst thing is, it's not just the distractions.

Tuesday I slept in, so decided I would spend my day doing all the little things I needed to (for example, the thrilling task of going to VicRoads and trying to get my license unsurrended and my car registered) and then I would spend the evening writing. As I spend most evenings writing, and go reasonably well at it until I run out of time before needing to go to bed, I thought it should work very well.

I ended up also going for a look around Chadstone (largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere, for those of you not from Melbourne), and seeing Total Recall (everyone warned me, but I didn't listen, to my folly. It was as bad as you have heard, and if you haven't heard: it's bad. Though I still think Kate Beckinsdale did a great job). I then went to the gym, and found myself stupidly upset over silly things (largely that I didn't look like Kate Beckinsdale, and I wasn't getting to go away for my holiday). Got home and just couldn't bring myself to face writing. I did my prayers and Bible readings, still couldn't face it. Ended up going to bed at 6.30pm, curled in a little ball afraid of my laptop. So then bargained with myself I could go to sleep then, but wake up around 11pm and spend some time writing then. 

Woke up at 11pm and went back to sleep.

So then told my unconscious self I would get up at 5am and try writing there. Woke up at 5am after a nightmare that probably wouldn't sound all that scary, but left me with that feeling someone was constantly looking over my shoulder in the not good way. Had some breakfast to try and steel myself, and sat down and wrote for an hour. Then went back to bed and woke up at 10am (yeah, don't add up how many hours I slept... and still felt tired. Yes, have considered all the medical possibilities and had blood tests etc., but nothing). Did another hour of writing, but that was it for the day. I did actually stop because I needed to know more about stained glass window making, so then spent a few hours reading up on that as well as who was the English Ambassador to Portugal in 1810, (it wasn't called Ambassador at the time, and it switched over that year, and I don't know exactly when they switched, which is a bit annoying) what did the Cathedral look like (thanks Ben!) and random other facts like that.

Today doesn't count, because I've come up to my parents' house to help direct the removalists and unpack for my aunt and my grandmother who are both moving from Sydney to Woodend (my grandmother to live with my parents, and my aunt to live nearby). On the drive up to my parents'  with my little sister, we did discuss my current story where it was up to and what could be the big bad plot my guy uncovers (this had been worrying me, big bad plots that haven't been done already are hard to come up with). So I did manage to spend some time today writing out where I wanted the story to go, and adding in some of the research I had done the other day. 

So, what I need to find out is how to create a lifestyle of writing, where the pressure of the open day doesn't destroy my soul. Sadly, as much as I complain about it, and it does leave me almost no other spare time, my current method of just writing in rushed blocks between work actually seems to be quite effective. So how to harness that, but allow for more free time? 

I will investigate and get back to you. 

Yours,

Buffy. 

First Day of Holiday Writing.

So, for the past two months I've been telling myself that if I were writing full time I would get so much more done. I would have time to read, do my writing, exercise, update my blog, perhaps start one or two others, etc. But realistically I knew there was a good chance I would get even less done than I do now, because now I have to write in my spare time or else it won't get done. However, with a whole day ahead of me, what is one hour of TV, a bit of time surfing the net, going up the street to shop?

Therefore, I decided for the next week I would test out how I go writing full time. The aim is to get the full 10,000 words everyday, as well as updating my blog (and fixing up those weird formatting issues I had in earlier posts, sorry about those), do some exercise everyday, edit my first novel with the recommendations by the reviewer and prepare it to be sent out into the big bad world of publishers.

I took the weekend off entirely from writing, catching up with my mum on Saturday and my best friend on Sunday, as well as reading lots (getting all inspired by 'Unlimited Power' by Anthony Robbins, though his section on nutrition is atrocious! His argument that drinking water does not hydrate the body it just drowns it, instead what we need to do is eat food rich in water is a little difficult to handle. However, his exercises on mental imagery can be quite useful.) and getting some knitting done while listening to podcasts. Went to bed all ready to start today as the first in a week of focused writing. The plan was/is to test out different strategies and methods.

Woke up not quite so focused, but still got myself out of bed at the time I said I would (it was 8.30, but that is pretty good for me on a holiday). I followed some of Robbins' advice on nutrition just to see (he suggests eating nothing but fruit until midday... I made it an hour before making myself some raisin toast as well, but still, it was an attempt), and did my prayers with a bit of meditation chucked in there. I also tried some breathing exercises Robbins' suggested.

I then sat down to write, planning to do a four hour stint (with my usual break every hour). First hour got just under 2,000 words done, and felt like I had no flow. Then had my raisin toast. Second hour felt easier, but still just got under 2,000 words. Probably didn't need anything else to eat, but got some cheese on corn thins just in case. Third hour got cut in half when I realised I needed to go up to parents' because my dad and sister were arriving back from Sydney and we hadn't done father's day yet. So only did half an hour, and got 1,000 done. Then caught the train up to my parents, and had 45 mins when everyone was away from the house to sit down and do some more. Probably could have written on the train, but decided to knit myself into a meditative state. I also walked home from the station, which should have helped. I got around 1,400 words written before my brother came home and I gave up. Admittedly I did then watch two episodes of TV shows, which I could have spent writing instead, but one of the joys of going to my parents' is that I can catch up on some of the TV I miss by not watching any at my place.

I admit that there might have been another slight motivating factor in going up to my parents' place. My little sister and dad drove down my new car for me! My aunt has upgraded, and instead of trading her car in, she instead has donated it to the Poor Writers Foundation (all donations gratefully received!). It is a 2001 Holden Vectra, which has been kept in wonderful condition. It looks fantastic (drives slightly like an old lady, in that you press down the brake and it asks you 'did you say something, deary?') and it is mine, all mine!

Yes, I have had cars in the past: while living in Japan my brother and I had Gloria, who was amazing (he originally had a Skyline bought before I came over, but it died, like totally. So then we got Gloria). During one of my degrees I ended up with Bud, the Toyota Corolla who was older than I was. I eventually gave him to my sister in exchange for her bike because I was living in the inner suburbs... and they both cost about the same. And no, it wasn't even a particularly good bike. When I lived in the UK I had Sven, the Saab. He was very faithful and I loved him as he was the first car I picked and bought for myself. He also traveled all around England and Scotland with me. But for the past two years I've been carless, borrowing or stealing one off siblings or parents when in dire need, and just riding with shopping bags stuffing up my steering the rest of the time. (Riding a bike with full shopping bags off the handle bars is not as easy as it looks, let me tell you).

My new car is also going to let me go to romantic and inspirational spots within a few hours drive of Melbourne to help me in my writing this week. I will also need to go to the less inspiring VicRoads department to get the registration moved over into my name, and probably have to fork out for a roadworthy, new registration, and insurance. But still, can't complain when the car itself is free.

Possible names at the moment are Vikki, Valerie and Vlad (because it's a Vectra). I want it to be Vlad, but I don't know if I'm just trying to make it more masculine than it really is. Maybe I should just accept and embrace its femininity. Will it drive slower if I call it Vikki?

Now that I've written an ode to my new car, let me get back to talking about writing.

Based on today's efforts, the get straight up and start writing gets words on pages, but does not utilise flow very well. The flow sort of kicked in a bit in the second hour, but the first hour was pretty painful. Of course when there isn't a lot of choice, it is much better than nothing. And for anything less than a three hour writing session, doing much more prep would probably be a waste of time.

I'm also not really recommending eating just an apple to get you going in the morning. Mental effort appears to require a bit more input.

The other methods I want to try out:

1. Getting up super early (like around 5am) writing for a few hours, then sleeping in the afternoon, and writing again until late at night.  I used to do this sometimes with essays, because I found at 5 in the morning I had much less to distract me, and it was so early that my mind didn't register it as early, so I didn't feel all that tired, just in a weird focused state. Also, I love afternoon naps, much better than going to sleep at night.

2. Starting like I did today, but going to the gym first.

3. Try the full Flow Method again.

What I'm looking for:

- ease of writing: ability for mind to just fall into the state where you are no longer focused on forming words etc., but your fingers are just racing to keep up with the images that are playing out in your head.

- speed: I'm looking for over 2,000 words an hour.

At the moment speed is very important, because it's taking most of my spare time to meet my targets, so anything I can do to meet my targets faster would be great.

However, on the days that I have off, ease of writing is also a major blessing. Facing four to five hours of just sitting down and writing is much easier if the writing is coming naturally and you can fall into a meditative state.

That's all from me tonight. Will keep you updated with my test results.

Yours,

Buffy. 

First Experiment of the Awakening Your Genius Method

So, two posts ago I laid out the 'Awakening Your Genius' Method, the purpose of which is to allow all parts of your brain to contribute to your writing and to get yourself into the right mindset to sit down and write. Well, yesterday being my day off from work, I tested out the method.

Overview of my day:
Woke up at 8.30 am. Made breakfast of porridge (with almonds, apricots and coconut, hmmm... delicious. Though I did accidentally make enough for a minor army.)
Now usually I take about half an hour from getting up to sitting down to write, which includes breakfast, some bible reading/prayer time, and recently attempts to improve my meditation abilities.
Yesterday, after making breakfast I pulled out pen and paper and while eating started brainstorming about my story. I will very happily admit that this was super useful. I did this for probably 45 minutes and worked out the next few scenes and planned how much I wanted to write for that day.

Following the method, I then took my drafting and went for a twenty minute walk. I did forget that I was meant to be just watching the story in my mind rather than plotting out how to write it, but otherwise was generally pretty good. Though, as it is almost the beginning of spring, it was an absolutely gorgeous day to be out, the sun was shining, the air was sweet with blossom scent, and I was in my daggy trackies because the method includes shower after walk. Oh well.

Got back and had my shower, then lay down in my spare little study nook to try and meditate.

Wow, I really suck at meditation. I have had good sessions in the past, but this was definitely not one of them. My legs were itchy, and there were some workmen outside my apartment (which is quite freaky as I'm on the second floor, but they are working on the roof next door). I got cold, and kept almost falling asleep, etc. etc.

Now the method states that you should stay meditating until you feel a sudden surge of energy to get up and write, and in a semi sleep walking state, you sit down and write with super power focus.

However, if you can't wait til the surge because you start getting too cold and are falling asleep, it doesn't seem to have the same power.

By the time I sat down to write it was 10.30am. I then wrote for 2.5 hours and got 5,000 words done. (while still breaking every hour to get a new cup of tea, and in this case make sausage rolls for lunch).

The writing session was good, but it wasn't magically so. I've had better flow days. Furthermore, the thing that made it easiest was not my meditative state, but the fact I had said I needed to write these set three scenes, as worked out in brainstorming.

The biggest problem with the method for me was that it took me an extra hour and half before sitting down to write, and didn't get me any extra words. That is 3,000 words I could have written if I had just sat straight down. And by 2pm I felt like I had spent my entire morning writing, while only get half what I should have got done.

In fairness I then read my book for a bit, and had a nap (which turned into about a three hour snooze), and woke up grumpy and groggy. I felt like I had got none of the other things done that I wanted, but still didn't have enough words. This I blamed entirely on the method and not on my mega-nap.

I wrote for a bit more that night, but felt dry and grumpy so went to the gym and then got into bed and knitted while listening to podcasts.

So, general summary of first experiment:
- Brainstorming before hand what to write for that session seems a good idea.
- The walk is just good for you, and so you should do it anyway.
- The meditation thing I think would be better a) if I practised more and b) if I had a blanket so I didn't get cold (but would still have the falling asleep issue). However, it is only of use if you are writing full time. If you only have two hours to write in, I think it's much better to use that time writing.

But I will try again on the weekend.

Tomorrow is my last day of work at my day job for 2.5 weeks! Yah! I've got a week of just plain holiday (though I'm tutoring a uni subject for one of the colleges, so will have to read up on that and go in and teach it: Arab-Israeli Conflict, fun times). The second week, very excitingly, I'm going to be an extra on a new TV series! For all you Australians who have seen Paper Giants, they are making a second one, and I'm going to be in the background of all the Woman's Day office shots! Look out for my amazing 80's fashion and hair. However, shooting is 12-14hours per day, so there is a very good chance I won't get that much writing actually done. Will see if I can make up for it in this coming week.

But, after tomorrow, I'm going to keep trying out the method and see if practising my meditation improves things at all.

Will come back with more data for you to analyse.

Yours,
Buffy.