I think I want to write the rich young man. I've put down things about him on the card. His name will be Daryl B. Walton. 29, a college graduate, born in LA, a bit chubby, can't say to be good-looking, but can pretend to be of good disposition.
Snub, drives his BMW around and talks to girls all the time, waits on a girl hand and foot but dumps her once she's hooked/they're engaged. Works under his father's big company. Protected by his father, he takes things he has for granted.
Likes sushi; not particularly likes music; good at swimming, tennis, and golf. Watches John Wayne and action movies.
85 more days to go.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Day 14: Most novels are written to a formula
...a formula to structure the story. The guide offers the example: there should be a hero and a villain, both are experts (thus the tension). The hero leads a team, and some members of the team must fall in love, and some must die. The most interesting one: "If you get bogged down, just kill somebody."
Today almost all day I thought and thought about what I'm going to write. I thought about many possibilities, but they all seemed...distant. I just don't really care about them.
But then I recall some interesting people I've known long ago:
A little girl I knew while I was a little kid, who always insisted me sitting right in front of her, watching her peeing on the street;
A nice girl who after being dumped twice, pursued a boy who was "under her league," successfully married him, and at the same time became a real bitch;
A boy who pursued a young girl w/ all his heart and mind--until the girl got lupus, went through treatments, and got swelling "moon-face"...
And I knew the girl w/ lupus had a feeling for me. But that was at the time the boy was pursuing her, and I really just saw her as my sister... very sadly, she suddenly died from complications at her early 20s.
A rich young man who changed girlfriends/fiancees faster than changing clothes--really, he intensely pursued every girl he thought was worthwhile: same strategy, same approach, same techniques; then after the girl was hooked/engaged, dumped her out of the blue w/out reasons, leaving that girl shocked to the core;
An over-protective older brother who bawled at every single man dared to come close to his younger sister, shielded away every possible "threat" (to whom?);
....
I might as well mingle those people together and see what will happen.
The formula? Some fall in love, some hearts broken, some betray the others, some affairs... if I got stuck, then more betrayals...
86 more days to go.
Today almost all day I thought and thought about what I'm going to write. I thought about many possibilities, but they all seemed...distant. I just don't really care about them.
But then I recall some interesting people I've known long ago:
A little girl I knew while I was a little kid, who always insisted me sitting right in front of her, watching her peeing on the street;
A nice girl who after being dumped twice, pursued a boy who was "under her league," successfully married him, and at the same time became a real bitch;
A boy who pursued a young girl w/ all his heart and mind--until the girl got lupus, went through treatments, and got swelling "moon-face"...
And I knew the girl w/ lupus had a feeling for me. But that was at the time the boy was pursuing her, and I really just saw her as my sister... very sadly, she suddenly died from complications at her early 20s.
A rich young man who changed girlfriends/fiancees faster than changing clothes--really, he intensely pursued every girl he thought was worthwhile: same strategy, same approach, same techniques; then after the girl was hooked/engaged, dumped her out of the blue w/out reasons, leaving that girl shocked to the core;
An over-protective older brother who bawled at every single man dared to come close to his younger sister, shielded away every possible "threat" (to whom?);
....
I might as well mingle those people together and see what will happen.
The formula? Some fall in love, some hearts broken, some betray the others, some affairs... if I got stuck, then more betrayals...
86 more days to go.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Day 13: Get a bunch of 5 by 7 cards and put each character’s name at the top...
"Next, think about the role each plays in your story, and what kind of person each is: age, education, place of birth, hot-headed, funny, fat, ugly. What are their quirks? Do they wash their hands 500 times a day? Do they hear voices? Are they kind to kids but love to torture cats? Put it down, put down so much that you finally come to know these characters intimately. Alfred Hitchcock would write down his scenes on index cards, one scene to a card. That way, as he said, by the time he was ready to shoot the film, he was already done.
Some characters will be major ones, around whom the story will pivot; others will play bit parts, but these will be critical too, as every player must have a reason for being in the story. If they don’t have a reason for being in your novel, they’ll slow down the story, and slowness bores readers."
Oh! This is the most important step! And I'm already suffering from writer's block!
I think I probably have to change a bit; about the plot. I have to create conflicts. By knowing the main conflicts I'll know what characters I need.
A good source:
http://www.divorcesource.com/MA/ARTICLES/neumann2.html
OK, the man wants to be recognized. To be understood. A good companionship. Acknowledge and attention. He feels his wife doesn't understand him. He feels stuck. He wants proof that he's still "young."
The woman wants to know she's still attractive, and get rid of her loneliness feelings....
Hmm, sounds the same. I have to think it over....
87 days to go...
Some characters will be major ones, around whom the story will pivot; others will play bit parts, but these will be critical too, as every player must have a reason for being in the story. If they don’t have a reason for being in your novel, they’ll slow down the story, and slowness bores readers."
Oh! This is the most important step! And I'm already suffering from writer's block!
I think I probably have to change a bit; about the plot. I have to create conflicts. By knowing the main conflicts I'll know what characters I need.
A good source:
http://www.divorcesource.com/MA/ARTICLES/neumann2.html
OK, the man wants to be recognized. To be understood. A good companionship. Acknowledge and attention. He feels his wife doesn't understand him. He feels stuck. He wants proof that he's still "young."
The woman wants to know she's still attractive, and get rid of her loneliness feelings....
Hmm, sounds the same. I have to think it over....
87 days to go...
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Day 12: Pick your characters first...
"...as they are harder to pick than a story."
I’ll just keep working on the characters.
Characters are indeed hard to develop. One of my problems is everybody in the story is the same. Good stories develop strong characters: they love, hate, desire, angry, revenge, kill… they have very strong emotions and one single goal. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but I think I really have to work on it.
The man is self-centered. He likes to talk about himself and is always unaware of it. He needs infinite support, respect, and most important of all, recognition and love.
It’s tougher to think about the woman character. The woman is also eager to be accepted. She feels lonely and her time is clicking. She has intense fear of being rejected or abandoned, and just can’t get enough emotional closeness. She's super sensitive and emotionally unstable, easily to get offended.
I have to come up some more.
88 more days to go.
I’ll just keep working on the characters.
Characters are indeed hard to develop. One of my problems is everybody in the story is the same. Good stories develop strong characters: they love, hate, desire, angry, revenge, kill… they have very strong emotions and one single goal. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but I think I really have to work on it.
The man is self-centered. He likes to talk about himself and is always unaware of it. He needs infinite support, respect, and most important of all, recognition and love.
It’s tougher to think about the woman character. The woman is also eager to be accepted. She feels lonely and her time is clicking. She has intense fear of being rejected or abandoned, and just can’t get enough emotional closeness. She's super sensitive and emotionally unstable, easily to get offended.
I have to come up some more.
88 more days to go.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 11: Begin by writing about what you know
"Begin by writing about what you know, if not the novel itself, then something about the place or people in your novel. It’s a lot easier to get started on your book if you are writing about people, places, and things with which you have already grown familiar."
I'm thinking about a man and a woman. The man is married and the woman is single. Maybe she is divorced. She got pregnant from the affair.
The man is in his early 50s. A successful career, quite plain looking, highly self-conscious, and eager to be recognized. He and his wife have 2 kids. The wife is a stay-home mom and a very traditional woman.
The woman is in her middle or late 30s. Got pregnant once at 19 but aborted. Married at 21 and divorced at 25. Lonely, impulsive, has experienced some failed relationships.
That's a start. 89 more days to go.
I'm thinking about a man and a woman. The man is married and the woman is single. Maybe she is divorced. She got pregnant from the affair.
The man is in his early 50s. A successful career, quite plain looking, highly self-conscious, and eager to be recognized. He and his wife have 2 kids. The wife is a stay-home mom and a very traditional woman.
The woman is in her middle or late 30s. Got pregnant once at 19 but aborted. Married at 21 and divorced at 25. Lonely, impulsive, has experienced some failed relationships.
That's a start. 89 more days to go.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day 10: Debunk another cliché - "Write only about something you know"
The guide says: "Write only about something you know" is nonsense. "Tom Clancy had never been a submarine commander before he wrote The Hunt For Red October. And it’s a safe bet that Richard Bach had never been a seagull before he wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull."
Instead, it suggests "write about something you love."
I've checked out another Michael Crichton's novel, "Disclosure," we'll see how it goes. The beginning is a bit similar to "Prey:" a middle-class family and a hint of programing or computer problem.
I also read many online stories about affairs and getting pregnant from it. As I said, they are sad stories.
Two similar stories but from different perspectives attracted my attention. They were on a message board. A long-divorced mother, probably in her late 40s, went to live with her daughter's family for some reason. This mother felt an intense and uncontrollable attraction to her son-in-law and started to seduce him. Finally they ended up in bed--and got pregnant from the affair. She regretted and panicked: "What should I do? I'm a monster!" She called herself.
Many people offered different advice, many scolded her. This mother admitted she was a mess-up: she used to be a teen mother (16 and then 19) and later abused drugs until she found religion.
Later she updated: she lost the baby. The doctor said she was just too old to keep a baby.
A woman left a message telling about her own story: 28 years ago, her husband whom she loved dearly suddenly disappeared without a trace. She was devastated, got married 4 or 5 more times. She never understood why until she got hold of him days ago. It turns out her husband had an affair: with her mother. Amazingly, this woman didn't use her own story to blame and attack. She just presented it. She also said she wouldn't confront her own mother: "She already knows what she did. I don't have to remind her." I thought she probably should: that will be a closure. But maybe she got her closure already.
Imagine his woman's at least good 30 years have been ruined by her husband and her own mother. Terrible.
But these mothers have issues, and when we get into understanding of those issues, we might not blame them so much.
I think stories like these are something I like to explore. 90 more days to go.
Instead, it suggests "write about something you love."
I've checked out another Michael Crichton's novel, "Disclosure," we'll see how it goes. The beginning is a bit similar to "Prey:" a middle-class family and a hint of programing or computer problem.
I also read many online stories about affairs and getting pregnant from it. As I said, they are sad stories.
Two similar stories but from different perspectives attracted my attention. They were on a message board. A long-divorced mother, probably in her late 40s, went to live with her daughter's family for some reason. This mother felt an intense and uncontrollable attraction to her son-in-law and started to seduce him. Finally they ended up in bed--and got pregnant from the affair. She regretted and panicked: "What should I do? I'm a monster!" She called herself.
Many people offered different advice, many scolded her. This mother admitted she was a mess-up: she used to be a teen mother (16 and then 19) and later abused drugs until she found religion.
Later she updated: she lost the baby. The doctor said she was just too old to keep a baby.
A woman left a message telling about her own story: 28 years ago, her husband whom she loved dearly suddenly disappeared without a trace. She was devastated, got married 4 or 5 more times. She never understood why until she got hold of him days ago. It turns out her husband had an affair: with her mother. Amazingly, this woman didn't use her own story to blame and attack. She just presented it. She also said she wouldn't confront her own mother: "She already knows what she did. I don't have to remind her." I thought she probably should: that will be a closure. But maybe she got her closure already.
Imagine his woman's at least good 30 years have been ruined by her husband and her own mother. Terrible.
But these mothers have issues, and when we get into understanding of those issues, we might not blame them so much.
I think stories like these are something I like to explore. 90 more days to go.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Day 9: Don’t be afraid to write down scenes or sections that don’t lead anywhere
Damn, I tried to invite some people to follow this blog, and I ended up followed myself! How do I remove myself as a follower?
I have tons of scenes or sections that lead to nowhere. Guess they are all potentially useful in the future.
Now, I have to say I'm shocked by how many "affair and pregnant" stories you can find online--I googled these two words and the mere 1st page took me hours to read. There are many, many unbelievable things happen in those people, and every one of them can potentially become a hollywood movie.
From the stories, you can feel their pain, panic, hurt, betrayed, hatred, regret, and so many other emotions. Many of them have their own issues from the start. It probably wouldn't be hard to find someone to write.
Why do people have affairs? How does it feel to find out your partner has an affair and is pregnant (or make someone pregnant)?
My.
91 more days to go.
I have tons of scenes or sections that lead to nowhere. Guess they are all potentially useful in the future.
Now, I have to say I'm shocked by how many "affair and pregnant" stories you can find online--I googled these two words and the mere 1st page took me hours to read. There are many, many unbelievable things happen in those people, and every one of them can potentially become a hollywood movie.
From the stories, you can feel their pain, panic, hurt, betrayed, hatred, regret, and so many other emotions. Many of them have their own issues from the start. It probably wouldn't be hard to find someone to write.
Why do people have affairs? How does it feel to find out your partner has an affair and is pregnant (or make someone pregnant)?
My.
91 more days to go.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Day 8: Imitation... but write from your own experience
The guide says: "Imitation can lead to originality. Do short exercises imitating different styles. Try on a dozen voices until you find one that fits." But it also says: "Your experience is unique. As John Braine, author of Room at the Top, wrote, “If you’re to be heard out of all those thousands of voices, if your name is going to mean something out of all those thousands of names, it will only be because you’ve presented your own experience truthfully.”"
Imitation part I know what I should do: I should read a lot first. Writing from my own experience... definitely, but I don't have affair experience (nobody wants me). But I've seen some people around me having that experience. Maybe I can write something based on their stories.
In fact, I've checked some of the stories online too. They are quite dramatic.
I'm checking out some other sources. 92 more days to go.
Imitation part I know what I should do: I should read a lot first. Writing from my own experience... definitely, but I don't have affair experience (nobody wants me). But I've seen some people around me having that experience. Maybe I can write something based on their stories.
In fact, I've checked some of the stories online too. They are quite dramatic.
I'm checking out some other sources. 92 more days to go.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Day 7: Think small
The guideline says: "One of the worst mistakes most beginning novelists make is thinking big, trying to come up with an end-of-the-world story... Look into your creative soul and search for a little story but one that has real meaning to you. If you create a story that has deep meaning to you, chances are it will have deep meaning for the rest of us."
Good point. One of my problems is thinking too big; thinking about writing an award-wining story. I end up with nothing. Another problem is I always think way too much, too detail. I care about tiny little things that I can't see the whole picture.
So, I guess it will be a story about some very common, average people coping with daily challenges that we all care about.
I just came back from one of my kids' county-level spelling bee competition. Ben represented his whole school. He didn't win, but it was a good experience. In fact, the process he won the champion for the whole elementary school was a thriller. Ben and his sister Yen (I know, I'm so proud of my kids!) were the final two competitors, and they fought head-to-head back and forth at least 5 times until Yen made a mistake. The whole school was holding breath, and burst into cheering for Ben's wining.
That is something to write about.
We all have something to be happy about, something to worry about, something to be sad about. Write those something and people should care about them.
So for this story I'm going to write: the woman in trouble trying to right the wrong, I need to first get into her head and understand her dreams and worries. I should read some stories about women getting pregnant from affairs, and how they deal with it. That will be interesting. Stories based on some true events are always interesting. Well, probably sad too.
93 more days to go.
Good point. One of my problems is thinking too big; thinking about writing an award-wining story. I end up with nothing. Another problem is I always think way too much, too detail. I care about tiny little things that I can't see the whole picture.
So, I guess it will be a story about some very common, average people coping with daily challenges that we all care about.
I just came back from one of my kids' county-level spelling bee competition. Ben represented his whole school. He didn't win, but it was a good experience. In fact, the process he won the champion for the whole elementary school was a thriller. Ben and his sister Yen (I know, I'm so proud of my kids!) were the final two competitors, and they fought head-to-head back and forth at least 5 times until Yen made a mistake. The whole school was holding breath, and burst into cheering for Ben's wining.
That is something to write about.
We all have something to be happy about, something to worry about, something to be sad about. Write those something and people should care about them.
So for this story I'm going to write: the woman in trouble trying to right the wrong, I need to first get into her head and understand her dreams and worries. I should read some stories about women getting pregnant from affairs, and how they deal with it. That will be interesting. Stories based on some true events are always interesting. Well, probably sad too.
93 more days to go.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Day 6: Analyze and learn from your favorite novel
It says: "Take your favorite novel of the type that you want to write and read it again, as if it were a how-to manual for becoming a millionaire... breaking the book down into sections. Outline the action on large sheets of paper that you pin to your office wall."
I probably will choose Michael Crichton's novel, though I don't have a favorite one yet. In fact, the only novel by him I've read is Prey. And that story disturbs me! It's not fair to write about the wife that way!
Though marital affair probably will be an interesting thing to write about.
But Michael was a smart guy, and his ideas are surely interesting. I don't necessarily agree with some of his opinions on technology and global warming, but I can learn a lot from him.
I just have to read a lot more. Yes, that's my problem; it's a problem that will have to take time to fix. Truly, time for non-academic things is limited. Guess I'll just squeeze out some time as best as I can. I just reserved another Crichton's novel from the library.
By the way, about the "what I care the most" topic, how can I forget music!? I've taught myself guitar, Chinese flute, piano, and violin (well, I went with my kid to this group lesson for a start, but stopped due to schedule conflict), and I plan to learn some more instruments in the future. I sing and I conduct choir. My all-time favorite is George Winston, the solo pianist. From the music I can see the pictures and the motions. In many of my stories I've written, almost every one of them has some songs or music in it.
And I love painting and drawing too. I'll say I'm pretty artistic.
Today will be a busy day, but I'll find time to get the reserved book and read it.
94 more days to go.
I probably will choose Michael Crichton's novel, though I don't have a favorite one yet. In fact, the only novel by him I've read is Prey. And that story disturbs me! It's not fair to write about the wife that way!
Though marital affair probably will be an interesting thing to write about.
But Michael was a smart guy, and his ideas are surely interesting. I don't necessarily agree with some of his opinions on technology and global warming, but I can learn a lot from him.
I just have to read a lot more. Yes, that's my problem; it's a problem that will have to take time to fix. Truly, time for non-academic things is limited. Guess I'll just squeeze out some time as best as I can. I just reserved another Crichton's novel from the library.
By the way, about the "what I care the most" topic, how can I forget music!? I've taught myself guitar, Chinese flute, piano, and violin (well, I went with my kid to this group lesson for a start, but stopped due to schedule conflict), and I plan to learn some more instruments in the future. I sing and I conduct choir. My all-time favorite is George Winston, the solo pianist. From the music I can see the pictures and the motions. In many of my stories I've written, almost every one of them has some songs or music in it.
And I love painting and drawing too. I'll say I'm pretty artistic.
Today will be a busy day, but I'll find time to get the reserved book and read it.
94 more days to go.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Day 5: (The story) must not bore the reader
Today I'm sick. In fact I've been sick since Sunday, but now I feel very weak. I even missed the parent-teacher conference; I never miss the conference before.
But still I want to write something.
"The story must not bore the reader." Well, it's so subjective. Things I find interesting may not be so for another. Guess the best I can do is to create conflict in the story. I'm evaluating the idea I have for the story so far: a woman gets pregnant from the affair with a married man, jumps into a time machine to go back in time before she meets the man. But what is she going to do? Warn herself? Kill the man? Kill the man's wife? Steal money from that man? Or else? And the time-traveling thing, can she always comes back and forth? Or is this just a one-time thing?
I guess it depends on what message I want to send.
Continue with what I care the most topic from yesterday, I guess I care about kids too. I am not really a good father: I don't spend enough time with them. Well, my excuse is my father never spent time with me so I just don't know what to do and how. But whenever I read news about abused children, I can't help it but to relate the news to my kids, and I am enraged. There are billions of people living in extreme poverty, every 3 seconds a child under 5 die, and yet the countries across the world spend over $30,000 on weapons every second. Each death could have been saved by just one dollar or two.
That's why I love the movie "The Girl in the Café." It tells you about helping the world without preaching on your face.
Alright. So a pregnant woman goes back in time to fix her problem, and I care about children. Is it heading to anywhere?
So far not yet, I guess. But hopefully we'll get there... 95 more days to go.
But still I want to write something.
"The story must not bore the reader." Well, it's so subjective. Things I find interesting may not be so for another. Guess the best I can do is to create conflict in the story. I'm evaluating the idea I have for the story so far: a woman gets pregnant from the affair with a married man, jumps into a time machine to go back in time before she meets the man. But what is she going to do? Warn herself? Kill the man? Kill the man's wife? Steal money from that man? Or else? And the time-traveling thing, can she always comes back and forth? Or is this just a one-time thing?
I guess it depends on what message I want to send.
Continue with what I care the most topic from yesterday, I guess I care about kids too. I am not really a good father: I don't spend enough time with them. Well, my excuse is my father never spent time with me so I just don't know what to do and how. But whenever I read news about abused children, I can't help it but to relate the news to my kids, and I am enraged. There are billions of people living in extreme poverty, every 3 seconds a child under 5 die, and yet the countries across the world spend over $30,000 on weapons every second. Each death could have been saved by just one dollar or two.
That's why I love the movie "The Girl in the Café." It tells you about helping the world without preaching on your face.
Alright. So a pregnant woman goes back in time to fix her problem, and I care about children. Is it heading to anywhere?
So far not yet, I guess. But hopefully we'll get there... 95 more days to go.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Day 4: Think of what to write from what is around you
What is around me? What do I know and care about?
I play basketball. And I probably am into it too much. Wining is everything for me. I can be depressed whenever I lose a game; sometimes the depression can last for days. That's one of the things I know and care about--too much.
I watch movies at least once every 2 or 3 days. I imagine one day I'll write a story that makes into a movie.
I think about what I'm going to teach in my class. I care about my presentation; how to make it inspiring and interesting. Pursuing knowledge is such a pleasure thing, I can't understand why some people just don't get it. How can anyone find knowledge (maybe especially psychology) not fascinating? Sometimes it's frustrating.
I like beautiful women. I enjoy watching them. However, recently I found out I probably am a sexist--it seems that I tend to believe that women are "better" than men in some traits: they are purer, kinder, etc.. That implies that I might see women in some limited roles and are not competent. Examining myself, I found that to be true to some degree.
No; I don't see women as incompetent. I admire Mary Curie, I love intelligent and/or athletic girls, and I believe women should have equal opportunities for pursuing careers instead of being stay-home moms. Men and women should learn all the skills to help the families. There's no "men's job" or "women's job." The traditional gender roles are just not right.
But when I see a woman, especially a pretty woman, I automatically assume she's a good person: kind, lovely, competent, tender, easy to work with, smart, and maybe talented. That's probably not true. She's also human, and chances are she shares similar strengths and weaknesses with everyone else. She is as common and average and unique as everyone else. The only special thing is her face and maybe her body. But that mostly is from her genes, not her own efforts.
But man, I can't help it. I still love to see pretty women and love to imagine them as perfect human beings. You know? That actually bothers me a lot.
There are some more things I know and care about. But to be continue tomorrow. 96 more days to go.
I play basketball. And I probably am into it too much. Wining is everything for me. I can be depressed whenever I lose a game; sometimes the depression can last for days. That's one of the things I know and care about--too much.
I watch movies at least once every 2 or 3 days. I imagine one day I'll write a story that makes into a movie.
I think about what I'm going to teach in my class. I care about my presentation; how to make it inspiring and interesting. Pursuing knowledge is such a pleasure thing, I can't understand why some people just don't get it. How can anyone find knowledge (maybe especially psychology) not fascinating? Sometimes it's frustrating.
I like beautiful women. I enjoy watching them. However, recently I found out I probably am a sexist--it seems that I tend to believe that women are "better" than men in some traits: they are purer, kinder, etc.. That implies that I might see women in some limited roles and are not competent. Examining myself, I found that to be true to some degree.
No; I don't see women as incompetent. I admire Mary Curie, I love intelligent and/or athletic girls, and I believe women should have equal opportunities for pursuing careers instead of being stay-home moms. Men and women should learn all the skills to help the families. There's no "men's job" or "women's job." The traditional gender roles are just not right.
But when I see a woman, especially a pretty woman, I automatically assume she's a good person: kind, lovely, competent, tender, easy to work with, smart, and maybe talented. That's probably not true. She's also human, and chances are she shares similar strengths and weaknesses with everyone else. She is as common and average and unique as everyone else. The only special thing is her face and maybe her body. But that mostly is from her genes, not her own efforts.
But man, I can't help it. I still love to see pretty women and love to imagine them as perfect human beings. You know? That actually bothers me a lot.
There are some more things I know and care about. But to be continue tomorrow. 96 more days to go.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Day 3: Decide upon the story you are going to write
Gee, I'm ahead of the schedule.
The guideline says "procrastination is your enemy," "get started planning it now." Yea, procrastination is one of my weaknesses. I have tons of unfinished stories in my hard drive.
I've got to write something I and others will care about. The story I thought about yesterday seems interesting, but I haven't really found the direction and major conflict yet. What's the ending? What's the purpose? Also, I'll have to develop the personalities of the characters too. Plot and characters. One of my biggest problems is underdeveloped characters.
97 more days to go.
The guideline says "procrastination is your enemy," "get started planning it now." Yea, procrastination is one of my weaknesses. I have tons of unfinished stories in my hard drive.
I've got to write something I and others will care about. The story I thought about yesterday seems interesting, but I haven't really found the direction and major conflict yet. What's the ending? What's the purpose? Also, I'll have to develop the personalities of the characters too. Plot and characters. One of my biggest problems is underdeveloped characters.
97 more days to go.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Day 2: Carve out specific time to write
Well, this is done. The only minor problem may be the length: 30 minutes a day seems a bit too short. But I guess I'm leaning toward being realistic.
Now, what am I going to do with the rest 29 minutes?
Guess I'll just think out loud. I actually always talk to myself as if talking to someone else. I remember one day while I was in high school, my uncle caught me explaining something to myself. "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Don't scare me like that!"
Yea. I am a bit crazy. Neurotic. I actually know that. Sometimes I hate that, especially when you are already over 40 but are jumpier than the less-than-30-year-old in front of you. But I have to live with it. That's me.
So, what will the story be? I'm thinking about Sci-fi combines with romance. I have a wide range of interests: astronomy, physics, history, music, biology, psychology, just to name a few. But I know just a scratch of every one of it. Except psychology, of course. I'll have to do a deeper investigation if I want to talk about something specific.
This story probably will take place in the modern time. I mean, it will be happening right now, like the year of 2010. But it also can involve time traveling, like someone in the future comes back and tries to solve some personal issues. Maybe a young girl has an affair with a married man and get pregnant. For some reason she finds this time traveling machine and comes back to try to right everything.
Well, that sounds like a start. 98 days to go.
Now, what am I going to do with the rest 29 minutes?
Guess I'll just think out loud. I actually always talk to myself as if talking to someone else. I remember one day while I was in high school, my uncle caught me explaining something to myself. "What are you doing? Are you crazy? Don't scare me like that!"
Yea. I am a bit crazy. Neurotic. I actually know that. Sometimes I hate that, especially when you are already over 40 but are jumpier than the less-than-30-year-old in front of you. But I have to live with it. That's me.
So, what will the story be? I'm thinking about Sci-fi combines with romance. I have a wide range of interests: astronomy, physics, history, music, biology, psychology, just to name a few. But I know just a scratch of every one of it. Except psychology, of course. I'll have to do a deeper investigation if I want to talk about something specific.
This story probably will take place in the modern time. I mean, it will be happening right now, like the year of 2010. But it also can involve time traveling, like someone in the future comes back and tries to solve some personal issues. Maybe a young girl has an affair with a married man and get pregnant. For some reason she finds this time traveling machine and comes back to try to right everything.
Well, that sounds like a start. 98 days to go.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Commitment
OK, I know there are literally a zillion people out there share the same dream with me: becoming a novelist. And many of them probably are more talented and/or have more resources. The situation seems bleak. In his website (peacecorpswriters.org) teaching people how to write a novel in 100 days or less, Mr. John Coyne says in 1996 alone there were 140,000 books being published in the United States. But instead of intimidating the readers, he re-frames this scary number and says: “So, why not you?”
I like that kind of “naïve positivity.”
The other day I watched the movie “Julia and Julie,” and I found the idea of determination, persistency, and consistency in finishing a project very therapeutic. I’m attractive to it! Therefore, I hereby decide to initiate my project: write a novel in a hundred days, carefully follow the guidelines of John Coyne.
This is just a test project. A trial. It’s OK nobody reads and/or cares about it (so I stated to convince myself). It’s possible what comes out is a junk. But that’s ok; it’s just a starter for me to cultivate a habit and to finish something from head to toe. I would say I have many excuses not to finish this thing: I have a family, 3 kids, both my wife and I are pursuing Ph.D.s, and I already sleep less and less. I have to propose my dissertation pretty quick, I have another project or two at hands, and I’m teaching a troublesome course. I have to compile another potential course, and I have to start to investigate job market. All in all, adding another task that seems to be unrelated to my academic goal on top of what I have to do is crazy and stupid. Finally, I’m old.
I know. Now, let’s try it, shall we?
Project:
A novel in 100 days
(link: http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/depts/resources/resour_writers/100daysbook/bk100da.html)
Proclamation:
I promise I will commit to this project by devoting at least 30 minutes every day on writing a novel. And I will finish a novel by the 100th day (May/24/2010).
Schedule:
Every day I’ll write from 8:30am to 9am. In case of conflict schedule, then 12:30pm to 1pm or 7pm to 7:30 pm.
The 1st day: Feb/14/2010 (Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year)
Day 1:
Make a promise to yourself that you are going to do it.
"I do."
99 days to go!
I like that kind of “naïve positivity.”
The other day I watched the movie “Julia and Julie,” and I found the idea of determination, persistency, and consistency in finishing a project very therapeutic. I’m attractive to it! Therefore, I hereby decide to initiate my project: write a novel in a hundred days, carefully follow the guidelines of John Coyne.
This is just a test project. A trial. It’s OK nobody reads and/or cares about it (so I stated to convince myself). It’s possible what comes out is a junk. But that’s ok; it’s just a starter for me to cultivate a habit and to finish something from head to toe. I would say I have many excuses not to finish this thing: I have a family, 3 kids, both my wife and I are pursuing Ph.D.s, and I already sleep less and less. I have to propose my dissertation pretty quick, I have another project or two at hands, and I’m teaching a troublesome course. I have to compile another potential course, and I have to start to investigate job market. All in all, adding another task that seems to be unrelated to my academic goal on top of what I have to do is crazy and stupid. Finally, I’m old.
I know. Now, let’s try it, shall we?
Project:
A novel in 100 days
(link: http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/depts/resources/resour_writers/100daysbook/bk100da.html)
Proclamation:
I promise I will commit to this project by devoting at least 30 minutes every day on writing a novel. And I will finish a novel by the 100th day (May/24/2010).
Schedule:
Every day I’ll write from 8:30am to 9am. In case of conflict schedule, then 12:30pm to 1pm or 7pm to 7:30 pm.
The 1st day: Feb/14/2010 (Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year)
Day 1:
Make a promise to yourself that you are going to do it.
"I do."
99 days to go!
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