New Novel Beginning

Last night I finally had the opportunity to sit down and start my next novel.  I only got 859 words down, but it's a start.  And I'm so excited about it! This story has been an idea for more than eight years.  To finally see words on paper (okay, words on the computer screen) makes me giddy.  When this story idea first came to me, I never imagined so many years would go by before I had the chance to start it.  But other projects and ideas fought for my attention, and it was just a small idea.  One simple scene actually.  And it went like this:

"Joey."
"Joe.  It's just Joe now."
"Yeah, nobody calls me Kallie anymore either."

Eight years ago, that was all I had.  Yet it says so much about the two characters.  Anyway, I left that idea on the back burner (i.e. I jotted it down with my other story ideas) and let it sit.  Knowing I would get to it some day, I never thought much about it.  But now the time is right.  This is the story that's ready to be written.  And from that one little scene, a story is growing.  I've been jotting down notes for a few weeks as details and scenes have come to me.  I have a good idea of the ending, but I don't know the how or why.  And I think for me, one of the most exciting parts of writing is watching everything develop as I write.  I love it! It's a lot like reading.  When I'm reading a good book and have to put it down, I can't wait to get back to it to see what happens next.  It's the same with writing.  I can't write 24/7, so when I have to take a break, I can't wait to get back to it to see what happens next.

For the first time, I've chosen a title beforehand.  Usually I wait, but I wanted to be able to refer to it easily.  And what title did I come up with? REKINDLE.  It's really just a working title.  It sort of fits, and I'm sure I'll change it by the end.

Okay, that's enough for now.  Time to slip into Kallie and Joey's world... :)

Movies vs. Books

Last night as I was finishing up a book, my husband was teasing me about staying up so late to read.  I quickly replied, "Well why do you stay up late watching movies?" He hates to read.  In fact, in the twelve years we have been together, not once has he read a book.  There are a few books he read in school, but he hasn't read since.  Give him a good movie though, or a few, and he has no problem staying up late on the couch while I sleep in our bed.  I, on the other hand, rarely stay up late watching movies.  Occasionally, on a weekend, I might.  However, give me a good book, and I can't bear to to put it down.  That's the reason I've been running on very little sleep the last few days.  I finally had the opportunity to finish the Hunger Games series thanks to a wonderful friend who let me borrow Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  Even though I have to get up at 5am for work, I stayed up until midnight on Sunday, eleven on Monday (because that's what time it was when I finished Catching Fire), and midnight last night, which is when I finished Mockingjay.  Because my husband hates to read, he doesn't get my obsession with books.  He doesn't mind, though; he just likes to tease me.

It's not that I hate movies.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  My husband and I love watching movies together.  I just prefer books.  And if for the rest of my life I could only read books or only watch movies, I don't even have to think about which option I would choose.

And that brings me to my next point.  Books are always better than their movie counterparts.  I understand there are time constraints and budget issues when it comes to making a movie, but I hate when a movie greatly differs from the book.  And that's why I'm a bit scared of watching the Hunger Games.  After reading the first book in the series, I knew right away I would not watch the movie in the theater.  I enjoyed the book too much and didn't want to spend money on a movie that vastly differs.  And that is despite the fact that it has gotten great reviews and was number one at the box office for several weeks.  I'm scared I'll be mad after watching it.  Not just mad.  Livid.  That's happened before.  I am a huge Chronicles of Narnia fan.  When Prince Caspian came out in the theater, I was excited to go see it.  I was livid for months afterward.  The character personalities were so incredibly different, I couldn't think about the movie without seething.  I don't want to feel that way about Hunger Games. 

Eventually I got over it.  I even bought Prince Caspian and watch it frequently.  However, I still turn my head away or close my eyes while cringing during some scenes; they're just so wrong compared to the book.  The great thing is I can always go back to the book.  I'll probably watch Hunger Games once it's out on DVD.  And even if it ticks me off, I'll get over it in time.  I'll get to a point where I can enjoy it, but it will never be as good as the book.

Movies never are.

My Love For Reading

I'm not sure if this makes me unusual or not, but I don't remember learning how to read.  I don't recall if my parents ever read to me as a child, either.  As a kid I mostly enjoyed playing with ponies, barbies, play doh, and I loved to draw.  That was how I occupied my time when inside.  Outside I was all tom-boy.  Climbing trees, splashing in the creek, sitting in the dirt, riding my bike.  And though I have a few vague memories of reading Peter Rabbit and some book about kittens, I don't think I developed a true love of reading until fifth grade.

Before junior high I was checking out four books a day from the library (library policy wouldn't allow me to get more than that at the time).  I'd read them all and exchange them the next day for more.  Some of my favorites were the Babysitters Club series and the Fear Street series.  Goosebumps were okay, but they weren't a favorite.  And then I read Gone With the Wind in eighth grade.  That book is still one of my all time favorites.  And I think that was the first time I was really pulled into the story as if I was there.  As a side note, I was upset for days after reading that.  I couldn't believe the ending! I was so mad at Scarlett!

A love for westerns and western/romance came next.  I kept with those two categories for several years, and not until the last couple years have I developed a more eclectic taste.  However, I do have to admit I am still somewhat picky when it comes to what books I will read.  If I don't think I'll love it, more of than not I'll pass it by.  And that's a shame, but it is what it is.  I love reading and I want to love what I read.

My husband thinks I'm crazy, but when I'm reading a book I have a hard time putting it down.  That being the case, I usually have a book done within two days.  I can't help it.  I get drawn in.  I feel what the characters feel; I laugh with them, cry with them.  And yes, sometimes I get upset with the characters as if they are real people.  Last week I read a book, and I was so mad at the main character that I had to keep reading just so I could get to the ending.  Because of the type of book it was, I was confident the character would redeem himself by the last page, which he did.  But I was so angry that I couldn't put the book down half way through; I would have been too angry to sleep! That's just how I am.

So who's with me? Feel free to share your reading experiences.

Glad To Beta

Last week I finished beta reading something for a fellow writer.  It was just what I needed, but I didn't realize it until I turned my focus back to my own story.  As you all know, I've been editing my novel for quite some time now.  And as close as I am to my story, it's hard for me to look at it objectively.  I can't just do a critique on it the same way I would on someone else's work.  And whenever I take a break from my story, I don't really take a break.  In other words, I might not write or edit anything, but I still focus all my thoughts on it. 

So after deciding to expand on a certain element in my story, I needed another break.  It's taken up tons of my time to get the word count down to a reasonable amount, and this decision was going to force me to add more words.  Not knowing where to start had me frozen, even though I didn't think it would take much to change it up.  About that time, a fellow writer made a request for a beta.  I jumped at the opportunity.  And I am glad I did!

I read the story submitted to me before offering my critique.  Then I went back to my story.  Without getting worked up about how to start, I started on page one and began reading.  Errors I had never seen before jumped out at me.  Why? Because I'd gotten used to watching for them in the story I was beta-ing.  Critiquing somebody else's work helped me to see my errors, which is always a good thing.  And not only that, it really cleared my head.  My over thinking about my novel had become my stumbling block.  Now that block is gone, and over the weekend I sailed through a third of my 113K word manuscript.  I tweaked here and there, added a bit in a few places, and removed unnecessary narrative/dialogue/etc.  And it's reading much better. 

Sometimes the editing process can be draining.  And for me, it's seldom fun, although it is necessary.  Thankfully, after putting all my focus on somebody else's work, my excitement for my story has been renewed.

I Love Books

I have a confession: I love books.  Some day I hope to have a large library filled with books.  There is an antique shop I go to occasionally, and I always have to go to the rows of books and run my fingers over them.  The older they are, the more I love to look at them.  Often I've been tempted to purchase a few, but I never do.  One thing I don't want is a room filled with books I've never read.  If I don't think I'll read them, I won't purchase them.  I bring this up because I've been noticing more and more people with their Kindles or whatever other electronic reading device they prefer.  Someone recently asked me if I would want one.  I didn't even have to think about it.  No way! I enjoy the experience of reading books too much.  Holding a book and looking at the artwork on the cover is part of the reading experience for me.  I enjoy browsing the bookstore too.  It wouldn't be the same for me if I was using a Kindle. 

I realize there are benefits to electronic reading devices.  For instance, they don't take up as much room as a pile of books.  Additionally, there would be no need to go to a bookstore to make a purchase, which would save time and gas.  But I just can't do it.  I can't swap all my books for one device.  And I think if I did have one, it would be too easy for me to download every story I want to read, and then I would never be caught up.

So, as they say: to each their own.  Some people love their devices.  Some people love their books.  Some people may love both.  Feel free to leave a comment to let me know which group you're in.