Heya folks! Long time no post (whoops).
I just wanted to make a quick announcement that I will no longer be using the Writing Emer blog. Instead, I've got a shiny new website. I would be so honored if you'd make the jump with me.
Much love,
Emerson
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Hellooooooo 2012!
Happy New Year, everyone! Never mind that I'm a few days late; it's all good in the long run. I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and no one needs too much recovering time.
The worst part about the holidays, in my opinion, is returning to work afterwards. Talk about dragging my feet. I had so much time over the last few weeks to veg and mull over some new ideas and then Monday hit and bam! I had to start getting stuff done for the next two weeks so I don't fall behind while I'm away from the interwebs. Another news point there: going to miss posts on the 11th and 18th on account of family visits. But I'll get this monster up and running again soon, don't worry!
The worst part about the holidays, in my opinion, is returning to work afterwards. Talk about dragging my feet. I had so much time over the last few weeks to veg and mull over some new ideas and then Monday hit and bam! I had to start getting stuff done for the next two weeks so I don't fall behind while I'm away from the interwebs. Another news point there: going to miss posts on the 11th and 18th on account of family visits. But I'll get this monster up and running again soon, don't worry!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
New Year
Last night, I could have sworn it had been longer than a week since I posted here. I guess it's just been a really long week. Which is funny because I haven't been in holiday panic or anything. It's just been work and plugging away at life. Woohoo!
I'm not going to be posting next week, just so you know. It's between holidays and I'm taking the time to recoup and rev up my creativity for the new year. Next year I'm going to finish polishing Savior and get at least a rough of another full manuscript. That's my goal. In addition to, you know, surviving work and life in general. Woohoo!
Who's ready for 2012?
I'm not going to be posting next week, just so you know. It's between holidays and I'm taking the time to recoup and rev up my creativity for the new year. Next year I'm going to finish polishing Savior and get at least a rough of another full manuscript. That's my goal. In addition to, you know, surviving work and life in general. Woohoo!
Who's ready for 2012?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Permanent Muse
Last night was the last meeting of my critique group for the year. How weird is that to think about? It feels like just a few weeks ago when I was heading home from Alaska for the last time. This year went by in a blur, am I right?
Anyway, I came home from critique group last night, made a cup of tea, settled myself in the best writing chair in the house (it's got big, wide arms for propping books or plates of snacks on) and was immediately attacked by a cat. As in, the big fuzzball jumped on my keyboard, shoved his chest in my face and demanded love. Then I got distracted by the beauty of the moon. Finally, I opened up my work in progress and pounded out a few paragraphs. But that, by far, was not the highlight of my night.
The best part of the night? That feeling that I knew exactly what I was doing. I mean, I didn't really know where my plot was going, and this is obviously a rough draft, but that feeling of knowing that I'm on the right track as a writer. My prose is solid for the most part, if occasionally a bit purple. My dialogue is great, my characters generally believable. And this is what I'm meant to be doing, maybe not for a living, but definitely for a hobby.
Writing is so important to me. And I'm extremely grateful to be out of my "ugh, I should give up" funk. I sincerely hope that anyone else who has been fighting creative blockage recently finds the new year brings you all sorts of inspiration and renewed passion. May 2012 be the year we all find our permanent muse.
Anyway, I came home from critique group last night, made a cup of tea, settled myself in the best writing chair in the house (it's got big, wide arms for propping books or plates of snacks on) and was immediately attacked by a cat. As in, the big fuzzball jumped on my keyboard, shoved his chest in my face and demanded love. Then I got distracted by the beauty of the moon. Finally, I opened up my work in progress and pounded out a few paragraphs. But that, by far, was not the highlight of my night.
The best part of the night? That feeling that I knew exactly what I was doing. I mean, I didn't really know where my plot was going, and this is obviously a rough draft, but that feeling of knowing that I'm on the right track as a writer. My prose is solid for the most part, if occasionally a bit purple. My dialogue is great, my characters generally believable. And this is what I'm meant to be doing, maybe not for a living, but definitely for a hobby.
Writing is so important to me. And I'm extremely grateful to be out of my "ugh, I should give up" funk. I sincerely hope that anyone else who has been fighting creative blockage recently finds the new year brings you all sorts of inspiration and renewed passion. May 2012 be the year we all find our permanent muse.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Overdone Uniqueness
You know those ideas you think are fantastic so you start work right away and get halfway through a manuscript before realizing that it's already been done a zillion times? An idea like "A young girl doesn't realize she's a lost princess/demigoddess/leader/powerful sorceress/chosen one until so-and-so comes along, recognizes her and takes her on a grand adventure, and they fall in love along the way."
Yeah, I got one of those last night right before bed. Still trying to work out how to make it unique and interesting versus just another "lost princess" tale. For those of you who have rewritten popular plots (fairy tales and the like), how did you manage to make yours different from everyone else's? Was it a spontaneous difference or did you have to work at it?
Yeah, I got one of those last night right before bed. Still trying to work out how to make it unique and interesting versus just another "lost princess" tale. For those of you who have rewritten popular plots (fairy tales and the like), how did you manage to make yours different from everyone else's? Was it a spontaneous difference or did you have to work at it?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Don't Give Up
You know those days when you wonder why you're writing? You wonder what's the point, if your story's never going to be polished enough to be published, if your characters aren't coming across on the page as they live in your head. You're moments away from trashing your manuscript or work in progress and quitting altogether.
I have three words for you: don't do it.
Even if no one reads your work, even if writing is hard right now, or you don't think your story's going anywhere, don't give up. Writing is a process of the soul. It can be cathartic, and you can write yourself in and out of moods if you pay attention. Your story needs to be told, even if it's just in your notebook or on your computer. It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours.
One of my favorite authors, Gail Carson Levine, tells us to never get rid of any of our writing. Save everything so you can go back and see how much you've improved, or pull an old idea and rework it. I'm a big believer in this. Everything you write is a part of you; it's like pouring your imagination onto the page. If you get rid of it, it's like throwing your very ideas away. No idea is bad enough to deserve that.
When I was in this position a few months ago--ready to trash everything I'd ever written and pretend I was content doing something less creative--a friend sent me maybe the most inspiring thing I've ever seen. It's a website that lists the failures and successes of all of these people we all know: Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Frank Sinatra, Dr. Seuss. None of them gave up; why would you?
I have three words for you: don't do it.
Even if no one reads your work, even if writing is hard right now, or you don't think your story's going anywhere, don't give up. Writing is a process of the soul. It can be cathartic, and you can write yourself in and out of moods if you pay attention. Your story needs to be told, even if it's just in your notebook or on your computer. It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be yours.
One of my favorite authors, Gail Carson Levine, tells us to never get rid of any of our writing. Save everything so you can go back and see how much you've improved, or pull an old idea and rework it. I'm a big believer in this. Everything you write is a part of you; it's like pouring your imagination onto the page. If you get rid of it, it's like throwing your very ideas away. No idea is bad enough to deserve that.
When I was in this position a few months ago--ready to trash everything I'd ever written and pretend I was content doing something less creative--a friend sent me maybe the most inspiring thing I've ever seen. It's a website that lists the failures and successes of all of these people we all know: Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Frank Sinatra, Dr. Seuss. None of them gave up; why would you?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm going to keep this post short and sweet:
For all of you in the States, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a great holiday filled with family, friends and good food. And don't forget to be thankful for all the blessings in your life.
What am I thankful for? A lot. My friends and family, the ability to read and write what I want, my overstuffed bookshelves, my job, my imagination, the world, the universe--the list is practically endless.
So go out this week and see everything you take for granted in a new light; what would your world be like without it? And remember to show some gratitude!
For all of you in the States, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a great holiday filled with family, friends and good food. And don't forget to be thankful for all the blessings in your life.
What am I thankful for? A lot. My friends and family, the ability to read and write what I want, my overstuffed bookshelves, my job, my imagination, the world, the universe--the list is practically endless.
So go out this week and see everything you take for granted in a new light; what would your world be like without it? And remember to show some gratitude!
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