I decided to take a step back and make an outline of my novel. It's a very rough outline, but I have finally planned out the book. I have a plot, which I had worried it didn't, and I am building upon the skeletal structure.
I've read this book called Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb. It has helped me so much with several fears I've had.
Progess has been made, and I finally can feel like I am getting somewhere. This story I have created will be amazing. And, no matter if it does get publish (I will definitely put tons of effort to get it published believe me), it will certainly be a story worth telling.
If you are wanting to write your first novel or need some guidance, I have found some wonderful advice/knowledge/support in just one book. They have helped me relax and enjoy the ride in writing the story.
I haven't finished yet. I'm only on just a skeletal outline. An outline I never considered to use. I always thought that tactic was a step you could skip.
Well, I was wrong.
Outlines are your friends. They keep you on track and have the objective of the story right in front of you. I set the story in front of me, and now, it cannot be changed...or forgotten.
I tend to do that a lot.
The next step...outlining each chapter. The first needs a little introduction that has my narrator/main character looking back to the beginning. It's harder than it sounds because you have to make it believeable. That's the hard part.
James Patterson can do it. Perry Moore can do it. Rick Riordan can do it. Stephenie Meyer can do it.
With the right words I think I can climb over this bump in the road. I say bump because there are larger hills and mountains down the way.
Right now, I just have to get over this bump.
I can't wait. :)
Silent Bones
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
An Idea
I wrote this over the weekend. I'm probably going to write a new one, but I thought it was cool how many song titles can be used in everyday conversations...this however is an exaggeration (obviously). Between each song title is five or less words that do not make a song title. It is meant to be funny, in a way. An experiment if you will...
“Back to December” of “1985”
“Let It Be” because it doesn’t “Breakeven”.
“When You Look Me in the Eyes” “I Can’t Stop Loving You”.
I “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
You were my “Teenage Dream”.
But, “This Afternoon”, I was “Paranoid”.
“I Gotta Feeling” this was the “Last Time Around”, “The End” of “World War III”.
You said, “Hey There Delilah”.
“What the Hell”?
“That’s Not My Name”!
You said, “Who Do You Love”?
“What’s Love Got to Do with It”?
You say “Heartless” is “Who I Am”, and I “Love the Way You Lie”.
But, you are just an “Olive and an Arrow”.
I should have called “S. O. S.” the “First Time” I screamed “Help!”
So, “Forget You” “Big Boss Man”.
“Hit the Road, Jack”.
“Good Riddance”.
I “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.
Instead, “I’ll Run to You”, “Johnny B. Goode”.
Down the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” “You Found Me” with “Teardrops on My Guitar”.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” until I saw you.
You knew “How to Save a Life”, to make things “Much Better”.
I knew how to “Crush”, how to feel that “Burning Love” in my heart.
“1234”
I was “Over You”, “Tyrant”.
“Hey Baby”.
I saw a “Firework”.
“Don’t Speak”. Just “Hold On”.
He took me “Dancing in the Moonlight”.
It was a “Welcome to Paradise”. I didn’t feel like an “American Idiot”.
A permanent “Holiday” from old “Whatsername”. What a “Wonderful World” this could be!
“Cupid” hit me with the “Lovebug”, and I was hooked.
You didn’t say, “Let’s Go Get Stoned” or treat me like one of those “California Girls”.
“Why Can’t I” just “Breathe”?
I looked up to a “Smile”.
“If Today Was Your Last Day”…
“You Belong With Me”, he said.
“When I Come Around”…
I’ll be “With You”. “She Is” “Beautiful”.
“Naturally”. I knew I would “Be Ok”.
He pointed in the distance, “Here Comes the Sun”.
“Hey, Good Lookin’”.
“21 Guns” shot through me.
But, I put on a “Poker Face” and said, “Hey Jude”.
Who’s the “Cotton Eyed Joe”? I bet he “Gives You Hell”.
I’m her “Working Class Hero”. Let’s go “Before He Cheats” again.
“What About Now”? You think you’re a “Real Good Looking Boy”?
I said, “What Did I Do to Your Heart”? I “Busted” you in “Memphis” and in “Sweet Home Alabama”. “Heaven Forbid” you go without being “Hot N Cold”. Calling “634-5789” for a good time.
“Don’t Charge Me for the Crime”!
Why not? “Can I Get a Witness”? You make me have “Suspicious Minds” and give me a “Love Lockdown”.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
I’m going back to “The House That Built Me”.
With someone who loves you “Just the Way You Are”, my love said.
But, I’m “Fallin’ For You”. I “Gotta Be Somebody” to you. “Just Friends”?
It’s too late to “Apologize”. You’re the rash of “Poison Ivy”. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and see how I feel.
He shook around with no “Mercy”.
“My Life Would Suck Without You”!
“What Goes Around Comes Around”, “Crazy”, my love said. We’re going “Home” “Tonight”.
You’re “Over My Head”, and I won’t “Never Say Never”.
His face was “Burnin’ Up”, but he left, mumbling “I Gotta Woman”.
He pulled me away. “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”.
I smiled. “Goodbye, Apathy”. “Hello Beautiful”.
A “Love Song” brought to life “In the End”.
**"Never Say Never" is a Fray song. I may address this in another post about multiple songs with the same titles.
“Back to December” of “1985”
“Let It Be” because it doesn’t “Breakeven”.
“When You Look Me in the Eyes” “I Can’t Stop Loving You”.
I “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
You were my “Teenage Dream”.
But, “This Afternoon”, I was “Paranoid”.
“I Gotta Feeling” this was the “Last Time Around”, “The End” of “World War III”.
You said, “Hey There Delilah”.
“What the Hell”?
“That’s Not My Name”!
You said, “Who Do You Love”?
“What’s Love Got to Do with It”?
You say “Heartless” is “Who I Am”, and I “Love the Way You Lie”.
But, you are just an “Olive and an Arrow”.
I should have called “S. O. S.” the “First Time” I screamed “Help!”
So, “Forget You” “Big Boss Man”.
“Hit the Road, Jack”.
“Good Riddance”.
I “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.
Instead, “I’ll Run to You”, “Johnny B. Goode”.
Down the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” “You Found Me” with “Teardrops on My Guitar”.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” until I saw you.
You knew “How to Save a Life”, to make things “Much Better”.
I knew how to “Crush”, how to feel that “Burning Love” in my heart.
“1234”
I was “Over You”, “Tyrant”.
“Hey Baby”.
I saw a “Firework”.
“Don’t Speak”. Just “Hold On”.
He took me “Dancing in the Moonlight”.
It was a “Welcome to Paradise”. I didn’t feel like an “American Idiot”.
A permanent “Holiday” from old “Whatsername”. What a “Wonderful World” this could be!
“Cupid” hit me with the “Lovebug”, and I was hooked.
You didn’t say, “Let’s Go Get Stoned” or treat me like one of those “California Girls”.
“Why Can’t I” just “Breathe”?
I looked up to a “Smile”.
“If Today Was Your Last Day”…
“You Belong With Me”, he said.
“When I Come Around”…
I’ll be “With You”. “She Is” “Beautiful”.
“Naturally”. I knew I would “Be Ok”.
He pointed in the distance, “Here Comes the Sun”.
“Hey, Good Lookin’”.
“21 Guns” shot through me.
But, I put on a “Poker Face” and said, “Hey Jude”.
Who’s the “Cotton Eyed Joe”? I bet he “Gives You Hell”.
I’m her “Working Class Hero”. Let’s go “Before He Cheats” again.
“What About Now”? You think you’re a “Real Good Looking Boy”?
I said, “What Did I Do to Your Heart”? I “Busted” you in “Memphis” and in “Sweet Home Alabama”. “Heaven Forbid” you go without being “Hot N Cold”. Calling “634-5789” for a good time.
“Don’t Charge Me for the Crime”!
Why not? “Can I Get a Witness”? You make me have “Suspicious Minds” and give me a “Love Lockdown”.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
I’m going back to “The House That Built Me”.
With someone who loves you “Just the Way You Are”, my love said.
But, I’m “Fallin’ For You”. I “Gotta Be Somebody” to you. “Just Friends”?
It’s too late to “Apologize”. You’re the rash of “Poison Ivy”. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and see how I feel.
He shook around with no “Mercy”.
“My Life Would Suck Without You”!
“What Goes Around Comes Around”, “Crazy”, my love said. We’re going “Home” “Tonight”.
You’re “Over My Head”, and I won’t “Never Say Never”.
His face was “Burnin’ Up”, but he left, mumbling “I Gotta Woman”.
He pulled me away. “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”.
I smiled. “Goodbye, Apathy”. “Hello Beautiful”.
A “Love Song” brought to life “In the End”.
**"Never Say Never" is a Fray song. I may address this in another post about multiple songs with the same titles.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Easy Classes
Today, one of my classes did course evaluations.
The teacher hands out a form for students to fill in, evaluating the performance of the teacher for future employment.
Well, I loved this teacher. Her class was very easy...as long as you read the chapters before the test.
Some of my classmates did not share this opinion. And, I believe they unfairly evaluated her. Most likely my classmates ignored the reading, didn't pay attention to her lectures, received bad grades on the test, but blamed her for their stupidity.
Yes, stupidity.
Her tests are multiple choice. Easy multiple choice, too. So, there seriously is no excuse for not having a good grade on her tests.
The lecture is an abbrevated discussion of the chapter itself, and prior to the lecture, we watch a video on the chapter.
The key to passing her easy tests? READ THE BOOK!! Open the textbook and read the chapter. Geez. It's that simple. Really it is.
They are stuck in a high school midset that can't and won't work for college.
Wake Up, People! College is College, not High School! Easy classes are hard to come by, so when they are thrown to you on a silver platter, take the classes with joy. They are a breath of fresh air from the harder college classes.
Think people. Come on.
Silent Bones
The teacher hands out a form for students to fill in, evaluating the performance of the teacher for future employment.
Well, I loved this teacher. Her class was very easy...as long as you read the chapters before the test.
Some of my classmates did not share this opinion. And, I believe they unfairly evaluated her. Most likely my classmates ignored the reading, didn't pay attention to her lectures, received bad grades on the test, but blamed her for their stupidity.
Yes, stupidity.
Her tests are multiple choice. Easy multiple choice, too. So, there seriously is no excuse for not having a good grade on her tests.
The lecture is an abbrevated discussion of the chapter itself, and prior to the lecture, we watch a video on the chapter.
The key to passing her easy tests? READ THE BOOK!! Open the textbook and read the chapter. Geez. It's that simple. Really it is.
They are stuck in a high school midset that can't and won't work for college.
Wake Up, People! College is College, not High School! Easy classes are hard to come by, so when they are thrown to you on a silver platter, take the classes with joy. They are a breath of fresh air from the harder college classes.
Think people. Come on.
Silent Bones
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Letter to My Wildest Dreams
Dear my dreams,
You are such curious things.
Always leaving me wondering what you mean.
You show me the strange, horrifying, comforting, and refreshing.
Even some that are caressing or depressing.
But, the message is never quite crystal clear.
The truth, I think, we both seem to fear.
A clue perhaps. A meager hint.
Something other than the images you present.
I stumble, fall, or freeze in scream.
Please tell me, tell me, my troubling little dreams.
You put me out and leave me to dry.
The little I get only makes me cry.
My little dreams, I only ask for a glimpse of the picture.
For that glimpse will make my mind all the richer.
I toss and turn but to no avail.
And, now, I must be off, so I'll say farewell.
You've made your point, so I'll just try to hang on.
Because you take me on a ride a mile long.
I'll lay down my head and try to convince you.
But, you'll send me on another adventure, twice as wild as the last two.
For as I lay down, you rise with the moon.
Good-Night and Farwell, I'll see you soon.
From,
The Dreamer
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Free Writing
One of these days, I'll set me free.
I will go to the heavens where the stars shine.
I will break my chains and flee the prison line.
I won't care about status quos or people's thoughts.
I'll live to the fullest, every day an evil plot.
I will climb a mountain 50 stories high.
I will fight evil with my love at my side.
But, one day, when I'm ready, the Lord will call to me.
One of these days, I'll set me free.
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