Hello writers,
Another story idea is making that critical leap from my brain to paper! It's so exciting when that happens and words begin to flow onto the page. This one's a love story. I love love stories.
Until next time,
Write on!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Nanowrimo is over!
Hi Folks,
Nanowrimo is over! And I'm still writing up a storm! I finished Nano with over 185,000 words on my latest story for November! Since then, I wrote 120,000 more and broke the saga into 4 stories. Wahoo!
And as often happens when I finish the first draft, I begin to think about the next story. So off, I went to my favorite Irish Pub, the Wilde Rover, to hear my favorite Celtic style band, Geoffrey Castle's, with mini-me, my netbook, and a brand new ideas journal. The Rover was cozy. My netbook battery was completely dead! Out came the handy compostion notebook. The band was awesome, I think they're my muses, and I left with 40 new story ideas. Double wahoo!
Until next time,
Write on!
Nanowrimo is over! And I'm still writing up a storm! I finished Nano with over 185,000 words on my latest story for November! Since then, I wrote 120,000 more and broke the saga into 4 stories. Wahoo!
And as often happens when I finish the first draft, I begin to think about the next story. So off, I went to my favorite Irish Pub, the Wilde Rover, to hear my favorite Celtic style band, Geoffrey Castle's, with mini-me, my netbook, and a brand new ideas journal. The Rover was cozy. My netbook battery was completely dead! Out came the handy compostion notebook. The band was awesome, I think they're my muses, and I left with 40 new story ideas. Double wahoo!
Until next time,
Write on!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Nanowrimo
Hi folks,
And the word count is 105,000! Now, I get to make it pretty.
Until next time,
Write On!
And the word count is 105,000! Now, I get to make it pretty.
Until next time,
Write On!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Nanowrimo
Hi folks,
We're at the halfway point for nanowrimo. My goal was 50,000 words on my new story for the month. I reached that goal last week! Yipee! Now I can relax a bit and just write. Double Yipee!
We're at the halfway point for nanowrimo. My goal was 50,000 words on my new story for the month. I reached that goal last week! Yipee! Now I can relax a bit and just write. Double Yipee!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Nanowrimo
Hi folks,
This month I'm participating in Nanowrimo, the national novel writing month. It started last night at midnight with a local kickoff party (after all the Halloween festivities!) at a restaurant. We typed away on our laptops until 1:30am! I got 2500 words on my new story.
Today, its up to 5000 words!
Stay tuned for further progress!
Until next time,
Write on!
This month I'm participating in Nanowrimo, the national novel writing month. It started last night at midnight with a local kickoff party (after all the Halloween festivities!) at a restaurant. We typed away on our laptops until 1:30am! I got 2500 words on my new story.
Today, its up to 5000 words!
Stay tuned for further progress!
Until next time,
Write on!
Monday, October 5, 2009
October and writing on!
Hi folks,
It's been awhile since my last post, but the good news is I've been writing! One of my fairy tales is moving right along which makes me extremely happy. I'm also taking a stab at a murder mystery.
And...
I've finally started writing some poetry again. It started with a challenge to create a poem involving catapulting Sasquatches, a mayor, and the word ruby. Not a problem. The poem was 3 pages, in rhyming doublets, with Rocky, Bullwinkle, Natasha, and Boris thrown in just for fun. It was whimsical and fun!
Until next time, write on.
It's been awhile since my last post, but the good news is I've been writing! One of my fairy tales is moving right along which makes me extremely happy. I'm also taking a stab at a murder mystery.
And...
I've finally started writing some poetry again. It started with a challenge to create a poem involving catapulting Sasquatches, a mayor, and the word ruby. Not a problem. The poem was 3 pages, in rhyming doublets, with Rocky, Bullwinkle, Natasha, and Boris thrown in just for fun. It was whimsical and fun!
Until next time, write on.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Bright Ideas Book
Hi Folks,
This writer be has been working hard. Yes, I've been writing, but also lots of reading. I'm training myself to read outside my comfort zone. I normally consume lots of popular lit and nonfiction. Over the past month, I've been reading sci-fi, horror, mystery, biography, romance, and even alittle erotica. I'm really enjoying the mysteries.
One item that has been keeping me very busy is my bright ideas book. It's a small notebook, always with me, that I jot down story or poetry ideas, one idea per page. Then, when I have time, I expand just a bit on the original idea and stash it until I have time to develop it.
In other news, I helped judge a poetry slam. It was lots of fun and very difficult to choose a winner.
Now, that the sun is beginning to peek out less, I'll be writing more and exploring less.
Until next time
Write on!
This writer be has been working hard. Yes, I've been writing, but also lots of reading. I'm training myself to read outside my comfort zone. I normally consume lots of popular lit and nonfiction. Over the past month, I've been reading sci-fi, horror, mystery, biography, romance, and even alittle erotica. I'm really enjoying the mysteries.
One item that has been keeping me very busy is my bright ideas book. It's a small notebook, always with me, that I jot down story or poetry ideas, one idea per page. Then, when I have time, I expand just a bit on the original idea and stash it until I have time to develop it.
In other news, I helped judge a poetry slam. It was lots of fun and very difficult to choose a winner.
Now, that the sun is beginning to peek out less, I'll be writing more and exploring less.
Until next time
Write on!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Consuming story
Over the weekend, I consumed story! Delicious is the only word to describe Miss Meryl as Julia Childs in Julie and Julia. She steals the show. This one was fun to see how a blog turned book turned film. 3 pens up.
I also went to see 500 Days of Summer, a quirky story about love. This one had lots of fresh and inventive bits, also 3 pens up.
While at the gym, I finished The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I really liked the way she used characters with their own distinct voices in this story.
So a question, how do you consume tons of story on an ounce of budget?
1) Use your library for books, ebooks, books on CD and tape, movies, magazines, and anthologies.
2) Use your friends for the same. Start a story exchange.
3) Get to know when your local bookstores are having clearance sales.
4) And finally if a favorite author of yours has a new book out, just bite the dollar and buy it. (Your know you want it).
I also did a bit of advancing the craft over the past week by figuring out which workshops are a must for 2010. Here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, we have much to chose from. I finally settled on 5. After all, I still need some time to write!
Until next time,
Write on!
I also went to see 500 Days of Summer, a quirky story about love. This one had lots of fresh and inventive bits, also 3 pens up.
While at the gym, I finished The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I really liked the way she used characters with their own distinct voices in this story.
So a question, how do you consume tons of story on an ounce of budget?
1) Use your library for books, ebooks, books on CD and tape, movies, magazines, and anthologies.
2) Use your friends for the same. Start a story exchange.
3) Get to know when your local bookstores are having clearance sales.
4) And finally if a favorite author of yours has a new book out, just bite the dollar and buy it. (Your know you want it).
I also did a bit of advancing the craft over the past week by figuring out which workshops are a must for 2010. Here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, we have much to chose from. I finally settled on 5. After all, I still need some time to write!
Until next time,
Write on!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Let's all write together
Sorry, there's been no posting for the past few days. I've been consuming story, writing on my fairytale, and having a nasty series of computer issues. I think I've the computer back up and churning.
Let's all write together is having a small group of writing buddies. The group I belong to currently has 6 active members and meets weekly for about 2 hours. We have goals regarding our own writing, a vocabulary word, a hot write, and time to share things we are actively working on. We also share info regarding upcoming classes, workshops, and readings. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, having a writing group helps connect you to the other authors out there in the writing zone.
Until next time,
Write on!
Let's all write together is having a small group of writing buddies. The group I belong to currently has 6 active members and meets weekly for about 2 hours. We have goals regarding our own writing, a vocabulary word, a hot write, and time to share things we are actively working on. We also share info regarding upcoming classes, workshops, and readings. Writing can be a very solitary endeavor, having a writing group helps connect you to the other authors out there in the writing zone.
Until next time,
Write on!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Analyzing Sucess
We've been having a heat wave in the Seattle Area, which suffers from a serious lack of home air conditioning. Therefore, the Writerbe has been hanging out in lots of public spaces with air! I've been writing and reading in the library, coffee shops, malls, and the gym.
The write progress report: I've added another 3000 words to the YA modern fairytale.
On the reading list, I'm finishing a cool horrific adventure called Skuldiggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.
I've also been working on Analyzing Success. What's that you ask? First, read book A for pleasure. Then read another book (B). Next, go back and think about what part of book A really worked for you as a reader. Read book C. Finally, pick up book A again and analyze the parts that you still remember and really worked for you. Maybe, the book had colorful alive characters that popped off the page or a unique setting or lively dialog or a just right tempo. I jot notes about these things in my Analyzing Success notebook and they serve as reminders to me to work on these things in my own writing.
Until next time, read and write on!
The write progress report: I've added another 3000 words to the YA modern fairytale.
On the reading list, I'm finishing a cool horrific adventure called Skuldiggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.
I've also been working on Analyzing Success. What's that you ask? First, read book A for pleasure. Then read another book (B). Next, go back and think about what part of book A really worked for you as a reader. Read book C. Finally, pick up book A again and analyze the parts that you still remember and really worked for you. Maybe, the book had colorful alive characters that popped off the page or a unique setting or lively dialog or a just right tempo. I jot notes about these things in my Analyzing Success notebook and they serve as reminders to me to work on these things in my own writing.
Until next time, read and write on!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Advancing the Craft
Today, the WriterBe worked on advancing the craft. Advancing the craft is all the stuff a writer-to-be does to learn the skills of writing and the business of writing. This afternoon, I went to a writer's open house, featuring local authors in our area with newly published children's and young adult books. One of the authors was a former writing teacher of mine, Mary Jane Beaufrand, with her YA novel Primavera. I saw books about paranormal romance, stories of interracial friendship, poems for young children, and alternative universes. So how did this advance the craft? It gave me a chance to see what's getting grabbed for publication and to chat with the other authors about upcoming classes and workshops.
Later in the day, I went to our local used bookshop for a couple of reference books for background material for 2 in progress stories.
Until next time, read and write on.
Later in the day, I went to our local used bookshop for a couple of reference books for background material for 2 in progress stories.
Until next time, read and write on.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Welcome to WriterBe!
Hello Readers & Writers,
Welcome to WriterBe,
A writer's journey.
Some introductory background:
I love to write! I've been doing it since I was old enough to hold a crayon. (I still have my very first 'story'. It was about a bird. I was four.) As a kid, I wrote stories about my neighborhood.
During my teen angst, I wrote poetry, lots and lots of poetry! In high school, I won a national essay contest and went to university on an English scholarship.
A few years later, I changed my major to molecular biology and had a career as a biologist on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, followed by biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time, I wrote mostly nonfiction; long and boring scholarly articles for research.
Now, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and I'm writing for the pure love of story again!
What to expect:
I'll share the progress of my writing and what I'm reading.
First the write progress:
Since June, I've sent 3 short stories, 2 poems, and 2 children's book proposals out to editors. I'm currently writing on 7 more stories across 3 genre. I'm never sure which story I'll write on on any given day. It just depends which story and character are speaking to me at that time. My favorite stories to write are modern fairy tales, but I also enjoy concocting humorous sci-fi stories, relationship tales with unique twists, and nonfiction green articles.
Last night, I wrote a new chapter on my latest modern fairytale. Tonight, I'm working on a nonfiction piece.
Now the reading list:
Why the reading info? It's simple, if you want to write, you must read! So, I consume lots and lots of story in books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and tv.
Today, I finished reading a great young adult novel, Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner. I loved the way the author constructed her world in this one. I also finished Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. This one ties a Celtic myth to modern vignettes - terrific!
Tonight, I treated myself to a trip to our local independent bookshop. Here are the titles for future reads: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups, Fairy-Tale Psychology by Sue and Allen Gallehugh, Tooth & Tongue, 15 Fairy Tales, by Bret Fetzer, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I also found 3 books by Michael Chabon; The Mysteries of Pittsburg, Werewolves in Their Youth, and A Model World. Finally to satisfy the eco-geek in me, I picked up Orion, Permaculture, and Communities magazines.
Next week, I'll be frequenting the library!
Until next time, read and write on!
Julie Ann
Welcome to WriterBe,
A writer's journey.
Some introductory background:
I love to write! I've been doing it since I was old enough to hold a crayon. (I still have my very first 'story'. It was about a bird. I was four.) As a kid, I wrote stories about my neighborhood.
During my teen angst, I wrote poetry, lots and lots of poetry! In high school, I won a national essay contest and went to university on an English scholarship.
A few years later, I changed my major to molecular biology and had a career as a biologist on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, followed by biotechnology in the San Francisco Bay Area. During that time, I wrote mostly nonfiction; long and boring scholarly articles for research.
Now, I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and I'm writing for the pure love of story again!
What to expect:
I'll share the progress of my writing and what I'm reading.
First the write progress:
Since June, I've sent 3 short stories, 2 poems, and 2 children's book proposals out to editors. I'm currently writing on 7 more stories across 3 genre. I'm never sure which story I'll write on on any given day. It just depends which story and character are speaking to me at that time. My favorite stories to write are modern fairy tales, but I also enjoy concocting humorous sci-fi stories, relationship tales with unique twists, and nonfiction green articles.
Last night, I wrote a new chapter on my latest modern fairytale. Tonight, I'm working on a nonfiction piece.
Now the reading list:
Why the reading info? It's simple, if you want to write, you must read! So, I consume lots and lots of story in books, magazines, newspapers, movies, and tv.
Today, I finished reading a great young adult novel, Bones of faerie by Janni Lee Simner. I loved the way the author constructed her world in this one. I also finished Dream Angus by Alexander McCall Smith. This one ties a Celtic myth to modern vignettes - terrific!
Tonight, I treated myself to a trip to our local independent bookshop. Here are the titles for future reads: Bedtime Stories for Grown-ups, Fairy-Tale Psychology by Sue and Allen Gallehugh, Tooth & Tongue, 15 Fairy Tales, by Bret Fetzer, How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. I also found 3 books by Michael Chabon; The Mysteries of Pittsburg, Werewolves in Their Youth, and A Model World. Finally to satisfy the eco-geek in me, I picked up Orion, Permaculture, and Communities magazines.
Next week, I'll be frequenting the library!
Until next time, read and write on!
Julie Ann
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