100daysofwriting - Blog Posts
Day Twenty-six
of @the-wip-project‘s chalenge:
Q26: Which character is an absolute pain to write and why?
A26: I like the characters in my orginal wip but sometimes the main character is a cringe worthy awkward, anxious mess and that is difficult to describe because I care so much about her.
Day Twenty-five
of @the-wip-project‘s #100daysofwriting challenge
Q25: What have you learned recently, about yourself, about your writing, about your story?
A25: I’ve learnt all kinds of things recently, part of it during this challenge the most important ones to me are:
It’s difficult for me to “find time” aka force myself into a chair and actually write. Part of this issue is because I do have little time with a young family, a full time job and elders whom I support. But ... more and more I am concerned that I am not writing because when I finish this current wip I will have to say goodbye to the wip’s world and characters and I’m not ready to give up that part of my brain.
I have no shortage of creative ideas. I have difficulty putting them into a cohesive plot.
I tend to rework my plot every few months. I try very hard to stick to one but ... then ideas that are better occur to me.
#100daysofwriting, Day Twenty-four
@the-wip-project‘s Q24: Have you ever read a thing in a book or seen in a show/movie where you thought: “Oh, this is good, I’m gonna steal that!” What was it?
A24: Hmm ... really rethinking how I am inspired by others writing. Am I actually stealing? The answer is yes, I guess! Will now be more honest with myself when I “steal” an idea.
#100daysofwriting, Day Twenty-three
I’m continuing @the-wip-project‘s challenge, even if I’m really late in answering these!
Q23: Have you ever read a thing in a book or seen in a show/movie where you thought: “Oh, this is bad, I can do this so much better!” What was it?
A23: Yes, when Lexa died on “The 100″, I absolutely thought I could write something better. Fortunately, others felt the same way and created the fanfics to go with their better ideas!
Day Seventy-Seven
of @the-wip-project‘s #100daysofwriting challenge
Q: Is what you like to write the same as what you like to read?
A: Yes, I am writing sci-fi and enjoy reading sci-fi. However, I also enjoy reading many genres of writing. Even non-fiction.
Day Sixty-four
@the-wip-project
Q64: How do you start writing a new story?
My answer: usually, an idea comes to me when I least expect it, e.g., in the shower, while driving, just before I fall asleep. To take an idea from a day dream to an actual story, I jot down some notes about the idea. The next step for me is to think about who would be an interesting character to have in the story. Are their any tropes I can spin on their head with this character? Then I write a short dialogue between two characters who are discussing the story I want to write. If the idea and story still interest me, I write it :)
Day 34 of @the-wip-project ‘s 100 days of writing challenge.
Q. Do you prefer to write fluff or angst?
A. Angst. I have more personal experience with angst and, therefore, the writing comes easier for me.
A belated series of answers to @the-wip-project’s questions…
Day 16:
Q. Do you have prophecies and superstitions as part of the worldbuilding in your WIP? Could you add some?
A. Not in any of my current wips. I could see how that adding the above would be feasible in one of them.
Day 17 & 20 involve homework. I will answer those ASAP.
Day 18:
Q. What ideas came to you recently from daydreaming?
A. Something that is nsfw
Day 19:
Q. How do you decide which WIP to work on?
A. Right now, I’m forcing myself to work on one wip. Ideas for other wips are written in an “ideas” notebook I have. I have difficulty focusing at one thing at a time in general.
Day 21:
Q. What’s a trope you haven’t used yet but want to use one day?
A. Good question! Enemies to lovers.
Day 22:
Q. Tell us about a scene you’re most looking forward to writing in your current project?
A. The science explanation scene that happens in the middle of a dramatic twist.
Day 15 of @the-wip-project ‘s 100 day challenge
Does your WIP have fairytales? Do your characters tell mythical stories to each other?
No, not in my current wip but I love this idea! If I can think of a way to do the above that adds to the story of my wip, I will.
Day 14: @the-wip-project
Do you have figures / creatures of folklore in your WIP? If not, can you think of something that would fit?
Hmmmmm … in my clexa wip, I have creatures that have mutated into mythic proportions due to nuclear radiation.
On day 12 of this challenge @the-wip-project gave us the prompt:
Unfortunately, things never go as planned around here.
Great prompt! I’m trying to finish the first draft of a particular wip which is an original work. It was interesting as the result of that prompt could fit in so many places in my wip!
Day 11 of @the-wip-project ‘s challenge!
I know the character fairly well before I begin writing. What helps me define them is writing their backstory including circumstances and events they know shaped them plus a few they are unaware were pivotal.
Another good question from @the-wip-project on day 10 of this challenge.
1) how does a character react when a friend claims that their pet passion project actually belongs to the company they work for because it was created during company time?
2) what if the tower on an island in the river by my house became the only above water structure in this area by the end of the century?
Day 9’s question is above. I’ve never actually thought of writing in terms of competing elements. If anything, and to continue with the sports analogy, I think that all elements of the story should work together as a team to make a story captivating. My favourite books and movies have stories with strong characters that are pushed into difficult situations.
Thanks for these questions @the-wip-project ! They are very thought provoking
Day 8: favourite trope to read or write and is there a difference in reading or writing that trope.
Hmmm … a very good question! I recently read the Phedre trilogy by Jacqueline Carey. After reading the first book, Kushiel’s Dart, my life and writing has been rendered transformed. The books are written in first person and the detail of the world building and the twists in the plot are exquisite. Reading this trilogy has pushed me to reconsider the roller coaster plot structure and approach my current wip into something more interesting. Hopefully I can be at least a quarter as successful as Carey. If you have not read her stories, I highly recommend them.
In the trilogy, the tropes of “enemies to lovers” and “lovers to enemies” is explored. It is so beautifully done! In my current wip, I’m working on lovers to enemies for my main character. A character who is also a flawed hero with a heart of gold.
Wish me luck!
Day 7: Do I have a writing day? When do I get most of my writing done?
The majority of my writing occurs after I’ve dropped my kids off at school and before I start work. During my drive back from dropping them off, I think about my wip. By the time I’m back home and brewed myself some tea, I’m ready to write down my ideas. I usually get half an hour in before I check work emails.
Day 6: a world building idea I had to give up.
I had wanted to connect my current wip to the northeast blackout of 2003 but that was not feasible with the timeline and setting.
Day 5: what is the world building detail that I really like in my current wip? Asks @the-wip-project
The science
The main character in my current wip has two motivations, the one they know about and the other they really need to do: rescue their friends from bad things and not settle for a job they hate so much they numb themselves with booze and other vices.
Day 2 of @the-wip-project ‘s 100 day challenge
My current wip is a love letter to my home town. It’s also a call for people to “love the body they have the day they have it”.
Inspired by comments I received from my writing group, I decided to tweak my plot. But ... looking at my plot spreadsheet and at my many notes I felt overwhelmed. Solution (for today,at least) I created a mind map for my story. In the map, major the two nodes are: reality, in universe (e.g. what is allowed to happen in the story’s world). These have sub nodes of locations, technology, big events and characters. I’m hopeful this will help me make decisions about my wip’s plot.
Thank you @the-wip-project for this challenge!