Walk the Walk

I have a hard time saying I'm a writer. Maybe it's because I've never been published, and I'm afraid people will start asking those questions you don't feel like answering because they're just not going to get it unless they are a writer as well. Most of the time it's because I feel like an imposter, or unworthy of the title. But when I get right down to it, the truth is I do consider myself a writer.

 Sure there are things that take precedent over writing such as my children, but behind being a mom and wife, writing is my thing. I don't garden, I'm pretty sure I'd kill everything if I ever did. I've tried knitting and even though I got good at it, it wasn't able to hold my attention for more than a couple of weeks. I enjoy cooking, but I do not have the ability to come up delicious new meals that are of my own making. I could be a businesswoman, but I hate being told what to do and don't enjoy holding power over others. I did enjoy working as a barista, but that ship has long since passed.

Writing is it. It's my passion. I love it. Even with all the uncertainty involved in this gig, I won't be able to give it up. It helps to balance out my life, the one I chose and love, but revolves around me taking care of everyone else. It's MY thing, just for me and no one else. So I guess I have to stop hesitating, stop being afraid, and own up to the fact that I am indeed a writer.

Screw It: A Post About Characters

I read so many reviews, tweets, etc about 'likable' characters. You know how they say publishing is so subjective. well, so is reading. And with that said, liking characters is too. There are characters I adore that others hate, there are characters others hate that others adore. At the end of the day it doesn't matter if people don't like your characters as long as you wrote them true to themselves. Not every character I like is the same, some are quiet, some are loud, some are tall, some are short. They're just like people, we don't like everyone we meet right away, it can take time. Or maybe we won't ever like them, but as long as they're real, that's what matters.

The one thing characters I like have in common? They survive. A character who is strong doesn't necessarily go out there and kick someone's butt. Sometimes they even stand back and are quiet in the face of adversity, but along the way they grow and become themselves. That's what I love about reading, watching the journey of someone I may not like as they evolve. Make sure your character is learning, is growing, is true.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up, put on by Jamie Morrow and Erin Funk. If you'd like to join click on the links above!

What I'm Reading:
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I've only seen the movie and wanted desperately to read the book because I loved it so much. Verdict? The book is just as good if not better. Obviously, like most movies, it left out certain details that I appreciate very much in imagining the world created.  Sometimes I don't get why movie people leave out certain plot lines that only serve to make the story stronger. I like Sophie, she's a sympathetic character that doesn't put up with any of Howl's nonsense. I love how she comes to her own once the spell is put on her and stops caring about what others think. It's a really fun book and makes me feel like a kid again. It's one I can't wait to share with my kids.

What I'm Writing:
I haven't gotten as much writing done as I would have liked. We had family in town this weekend and I prepping for them most of last week. My husband was also in Colorado when the floods hit and barely made it out before things got really bad. Thankfully he's back safe and I know not everyone over there is that lucky. I'm setting a goal for next week to have the next major revisions done. There aren't that many, just one that really is kicking my butt at the moment.

What Inspires Me Right Now:
Sweaters, jeans, boots, hot chocolate, pumpkins....I see a pattern forming here. I love fall and it's cooling down over here. I can't wait to finally stop using our sprinklers and stop mowing our lawn every weekend. Of course there's all those leaves to round up, but I enjoy raking, it's good exercise and I love the smell of fallen leaves.

What Else I've Been Up To:
Trying to catch up on my sleep. It's my favorite pass time. And potty training. I won't go into the nitty gritty details, but it's been quite the adventure. I've already potty trained two boys so a girl kind of threw me for a loop, but it's going well. So I'm pretty much up to the mommy things in life, not that it's a bad thing, but I'm so ready to dive back into my writing.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up, put on by Jamie Morrow and Erin Funk. If you'd like to join click on the links above!

What I'm Reading:
Or rereading. I finished The Scorpio Races last night for the second and was once again struck by the beauty of the story. Even though in my head I know Thisby is not a real island, in my heart it is. Can you imagine a world where water horses rose from the sea once a year, not just any horses, but wild creatures with a thirst for blood and unprecedented speed and strength? The prose landed me straight on that island, I could picture everything perfectly and I fell in love with Puck and Sean once again.

What I'm Writing:
Still working on Restoring Casey. I got more feedback and am tweaking the first fifty to help pick the pace up and bring the inciting incident forward. I'm excited, even though it's going to take a little bit of time and work. I also might have started a new project...maybe...possibly. Or definitely. I love it thus far and can't wait to see where the story takes me. As a pantser I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning, I just had a voice nagging in my head and I knew I had to write it down. I love the process of writing.

What Inspires Me Right Now:
Maggie Stiefvater. After reading the Scorpio Races again and also starting The Raven Boys in preparation for Dream Thieves, I can't but help be inspired by her writing. I don't know if I'll be as good as her, but I truly enjoy reaping the benefits of all her hard work.

What Else I've Been Up To:
So the football season has started...I'm not sure if you've noticed and I'm trying to survive. I don't hate football at all, but it's not all that interesting to me. My husband, on the other hand, is like a walking sports caster with his vast knowledge of all things sports and football is his favorite so there's lots of it in our house. We live in a college town and football season is BIG. I get into every so often, it is fun to attend the games and eat all that fattening food, but it wears me out. I grew up in a house where sporting events were limited to ice skating and gymnastics so marrying a sports nut has taken some time to get used to. All in all I hope everyone has fun with the season and maybe even I can learn to more than tolerate it.

The Never Ending Process of Writing

I don't know about you, but for me it feels like writing is a never ending process. I'm always revising projects, thinking of ways to make the story stronger, tighter, ways to get rid of those plot holes. Even with books I shelved long ago, I can't help it. As a writer I strive to make my story the best it can be, a story that will touch many, a story others can fall in love with. And it seems like there's always something that can be better.

This got me thinking. Do you ever wonder if it's the same with published authors? Do they stay up late at nights running over all the different possibilities and directions they could have taken that story already out on shelves? Or do they FINALLY get to that point where the story is exactly how they want it to be? No one has written a perfect book, as writers we have our strengths and weaknesses and we always want to make sure we're making our weaknesses our strengths, but no book will ever be a clear picture of what we had in our heads. It'll always lack in some way. I've made peace with the fact that my story will not always match the idea in my head, but that doesn't mean I don't work hard to get it as close to it as possible. I know all writers, published and not, feel the same way. But I wonder if being published means you get it to the closest version of what you wanted versus non-pubbed. What do you guys think?