How I Write

I know that everyone writes a little bit differently. I decided to explain how I get in the mindset to write. I wrote about my writing habits a little over a year ago, and feel like they've changed a bit. Though some things have remained the same.


You're Wearing That?!?
The thing about what I wear when I write is that it has to be comfortable. I'm less likely to write well, if I'm dressed up in my work clothes or wearing painful shoes. It's a matter of trying to fine the most comfortable thing that's clean and making it work. One thing that is a constant, is the bracelet I got from Helen for my birthday last year. It reminds me that I have friends who are supporting me and wanting me to succeed.



Om Nom Nom
If I'm at Beans and Brews, it a chai. Really, anywhere I write I get a chai, but Beans and Brews is the best. As I'm trying to cut down my soda intake, I've also become addicted to Snapple drinks and I've been forcing myself to drink more water.

I can't write on an empty stomach. Even if I'm just munching on banana chips or something, I need something in my stomach.


Where Are You?
(I very nearly titled this part "Where You At?" but it made me flinch when I read it.)
I usually write better when I'm not at home. Though I have gotten better at remaining focused while I am at home, I prefer to write somewhere else. During NaNoWriMo, I realized how much I love writing at the library. Specifically the one downtown. First it was just convenient (I worked just around the corner), then I liked seeing all the different people that came in and out of the library. Lastly, this library is the perfect place to write because it's not eerily quiet, but no incredibly loud either.

If not the library, then Beans and Brews. I've talked a lot about Beans and Brews, I just really love writing there.


Hey Mr. DJ...
I've never ever been so grateful for a music program. Spotify has been my saving grace for writing. I can search for movie scores and add them all to a writing playlist and just play it while I write. Recently this playlist has consisted of:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Score
Warehouse 13 Season 2 Score
Under The Tuscan Sun Score
P.S. I Love You Score
The Avengers Score
and
Stardust Score

It's all just so pretty.



What are some of your writing habits?

Camp NaNoWriMo

Here's the thing.
I write pretty slowly. I was lucky to finish NaNoWriMo last year.

Then today, I got an e-mail from the NaNoWriMo team, about Camp NaNoWriMo. For June and/or August. The idea isn't completely repulsing me, it also doesn't make me think that it would be too much to handle. It's more curiosity.

As exhausted as I was after Novembers NaNo, I still find myself a bit curious as to whether or not I could do it in a month again. With a new job, new hours, and virtually no TV, could I make it again through another 50,000 word novel?

So as of right now, I'm going to do it. If I fail, then I fail. It wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last. If anyone is planning on doing it too, let me know. Find me on the Camp NaNoWriMo site.

Another Five Things I'm In Love With Right Now

Nerdist Podcast
This is something I've only recently become addicted to. Podcasts. I blame the podcast, CastleCast (a podcast for the ABC series Castle). While surfing the interwebs for something to occupy my earholes, I ran across the thriving nerd hub called Nerdist. Specifically the Nerdist podcast has my interest. Host Chris Hardwick his hilarious and always has quality guests. Then as an offshoot, you have the podcast Making It, With Riki Lindholm. Which continues to grab my interest as I listen to some of my favorite content creator's beginning stories.

The Hourglass Door
The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum was a surprisingly good book. When my younger cousin suggested I read it, it took me over a year to finally get around to it. I'm really glad I did finally read it. I was completely enthralled with the book. There is a bit of a cliche beginnng, but as the story progresses that cliche does melt away. If you have time to check out this great book, I highly suggest it. It was a great read. I can't wait until I  can read the next one.

Community
Have you guys seen this show? I tried watching it when it first started and couldn't get into it. Now, I feel like I can't miss an episode. Though I'd take How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory over it any day, It is one of those shows that never fails to make me laugh. One of the greatest parts of this show is that it has a pretty decently sized cast, and they all get really decent air time. No one really gets passed over.
Seriously, check it out.

Diet Snapple Noni Berry
I'm trying really hard not to drink a lot of soda. The problem is, I really don't care for water. So I'm trying to find really good juices that I like. This has been one of the yummiest drinks I've had in a long time.

Forget the Storm by Tyler Hilton
Remember how a few months ago, I posted about this amazing musician I have been obsessed with since my tween years? He finally has a new album. Not an EP, but a studio album. This is his first studio album in 8 years! And I would wait another 8 if the music continued to be this good. My favorite song on the album: Prince of Nothing Charming and Jenny

Monthly Writing Group

Recently I've become addicted to a podcast called "Making It with Riki Lindhome". While this podcast is mostly about how actors and other people have made it in the entertainment industry, I find it fascinating to find out how people get their start. We always hear how certain actors go to LA/New York, meet their agent and become big movie stars. That usually (re. almost always) takes a few years to happen. This podcast is all about those forgotten years between arrival in the city and arrival in entertainment.

Recently, Riki interviewed nerd queen extraordinaire, Felicia Day. If you don't know who this person is, you need to discover her immediately. As I listened to the podcast, Felicia talked about how when she was having a really hard time in her life and career, the thing that helped keep her on track was a monthly meeting with a handful of her friends. They made goals to each other, kept each other on track and understood when things didn't quite pan out.

As she was talking about this, all I could think of was NaNoWriMo. As bad as my NaNoWriMo is, the community I discovered during the crazy month was one of the best parts. We had word wars, talked about characters, helped each other out of writer's block, it was an amazing group of people.

This gave me an idea. I know that there is a group in the Salt Lake Valley called "Writers of the West" (that meet every Thursday at The Coffee Club on Redwood and 4800 S), but meeting every week can be a bit tiresome, and I feel like giving everyone a month to get their goals done is a good idea.

So here's what it comes down to.
If you'd like to join me (and most likely Helen), for a monthly writers group (I keep wanting to say support group... which it kind of is... I guess), leave me a comment here or e-mail me and let me know what days of the week are the best for you. I'll try and accommodate everyone I can. Chances are, we'll meet the last week of the month on whatever day works for everyone.

I really think this could be awesome, so if you're interested just let me know!

"My Thoughts are Stars I Cannot Fathom into Constellations."

I've been contemplating on whether to do a book review on The Fault in Our Stars for a while. The thing is, I'm not really that good at book reviews. If you're looking for an excellent review for this book check out my friend Meg's review.

Since I'm generally a follower and not a leader, I figured what the heck, I'll give you guys my thoughts on this book. Now that I've had almost four months to collect my thoughts about it.

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

So here's the thing with John Green. It's no secret that I adore his books. When I heard that John was taking a leap and writing from a female perspective for the first time, I was stoked. He writes some amazing male characters and some truly interesting female characters as well, but writing a main female character can be a bit of a challenge when you've written primarily male characters. With a few exceptions, I felt that Hazel Grace was a very well developed character with faults and strengths that are incredibly relateable (even to those of us not dying from cancer). There were a few moments where I thought that she was a bit of a cliche, but a book with out cliches is hard to find, and the cliches weren't part of the main story points.

Clearly this book is not the happiest of all books. But the way this book flows is incredible. It takes the rollercoaster of teenage love and sets it to super fast. Just when you get the highest you can be, it brings you down a little bit, lifts you up, then plummets you down quicker than you'd like. It's heart crushing and heart touching all at the same time. I have never read a book that made me feel as many feelings as this book did.

I'm ending with Augustus for a reason. I read a lot of contemporary YA fiction. This (more often than not) consists of a lot of teen romances that end in happily ever afters and kisses and rainbows. It has some of the dreamiest guys that you can't help but fall in love with. That being said, after meeting Augustus Waters, I felt that most all the other guys paled in comparison. The thing about Augustus is that he is incredibly aware of how he effects Hazel. He is also, extremely set on getting what he wants. There is nothing sexier than a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to take it.

Hazel and Augustus' relationship is a whirlwind of a romance that manages to stay fairly grounded in the reality of their situation.

Warning: If you read this book, you will cry at least once. If you don't cry: We can't be friends anymore (just kidding).

Because I'm a quote-aholic, I'm going to end this post with quotes from this book... there will be a lot of them... sorry.

"What a slut time is. She screws everybody."

"Some infinities are bigger than other infinities."

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are book which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal.”

“(I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a women. Now die.)”

You can check out John Green every tuesday on his Youtube channel, Vlogbrothers