Research, research, research

Writing any period piece is extremely daunting. Somehow you have to create a world that is not only believeable to your readers but actually true to the time period. Conveniences we have today, how many times do we actually stop and think when those came into existence. 1962 was the year of the first wal-mart and k-mart. There were so many things we have now that didn't exist then and I have to weed out those things. Like flavored chips. The first flavored chip came out in 1962, salt and vinegar. Then after weeding all this out, I need to recreate the buildings, the dress, everything. So here is the question, do you use an existing city, school, etc. or do you create one. I am a personal fan of adding history into my books so I like to have a real place I can base everything off of but that leads to more research. Where is "My Life at Fairfield High" take place? Bangor, Maine.

My Third Book

I picked my third book, which is actually a series. I know, it took me forever to do. It is hard to decide on one because I have several started. Although this one is going to be quite an undertaking because it takes a lot of research, I think it is time. "My Life at Fairfield High" takes you through the life of a young teenager as she enters and completes all four years of high school. The kicker is that it is set in th early 60s. Thus, a lot of research. I am searching through some of the important dates of the early 60s as I listen to JohnnyAngel. It is a lot of fun to do, but still is going to take quite a bit of time. So the story of high school and all it's experiences through the eyes of a young girl in the 60s. Are you interested? Your history lesson for the day. Martin K. Speckter invented an interrobang in 1962 which was a new puctuation mark combining the use of the exclamation point and the question mark. Now here is the question: Do any of you use the interrobang?

Cindy our main character enters her freshman year in 1962 so expect history lessons as I take you with me through this journey. Stay tuned. Creating these characters is just the start. After book one is done, we still have three more to go. :)

Being Creative With Others

I have to tell you, I am not a fan of co-writing. Why is that? I think it is hard to take something so personal as writing and do it with another person. What is funny, inspiring, dramatic, cute, etc., to me might be totally different for someone else. And for me, I usually put a big piece of me in all my work so I usually get pretty emotionally attached to things. And everyone knows that when emotions get involved, watch out. I've only co-written a few times but it is never really been a good experience and I have lost friendships over it. Writing for me is very personal as I am sure it is for most people, so be careful when a friend asks you to co-writing, set a few boundaries, unless you are comfortable with losing that friend forever. Because in the end, feelings always get hurt. Of course, this is a very tough business, so you have to find away to keep business, business, and to not to take things so personally. It is hard. I know that. I've been doing it a long time and it is hard not to take "you're too short, you're too fat" personally but it is the nature of the business. With writing it is the same way. It is hard not to put all your heart and soul into something and be okay with people calling it crap or saying that you are an amateur. Writing is writing, acting is acting...if you do it because you love to do it, I think you'll be okay. Just remember everyone has a right to their opinions and just because they don't think you are talent, well, that doesn't mean that they are right.

Lack of Posting

My mother called me like a month ago to tell me that I am not posting on this blog. LOL!! I have been trying to get on since then and just hasn't been happening. A lot of exciting things are happening. I actually finally started writing my third book. An idea given to me by my Grandma before she died. I always feel like she is inspiring me everytime I sit down. I am working on a screenplay right now that I am very much in love with. It is sad because my executive producer, and financial backer, has fallen very seriously ill and might not be able to continue the project. His son and good friend are looking into taking it on but there are a lot of affairs that need to get in order first which makes it sound like John is not doing well at all. I hope the Lord blesses him and helps him to get better so he can see the project through. Not for my sake, but for his. He was looking so forward to it. He told me it was one of those things he always wanted to do before he died, make a movie. I wanted to help him with that. Anyway, I am still working hard on the script. I send him pages when I can and he is just loving it so much. He is so excited about the script. I want him to be here for the movie. Sometime soon I will come on and tell you all about it, but until then have fun. I will get on more, I promise! :)
Charity

Time Passes When You Are Having Fun

Writing is a tricky thing for me, because I can't write unless I really, really, really want to. I haven't been inspired in some time to write. I have added to or finished little projects here and there, but I haven't been able to sit down and start a new book, come up with a new idea, etc., etc. It is a hard thing, because I am now publishing my second novel. That is good, yes, but now I am out of manuscripts. At first, I had two manuscripts that hadn't been published, so I was sitting pretty. Then, "The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory" was published, but it was okay because I still had one more. Now that "A Tendency Towards Love" is getting published, I am down to none. What am I going to publish next if inspiration does not come. I guess I must look for ways to get inspired. I have lots of concepts, some started, some just concepts, but nothing solid. Let's hope something comes soon.

Nine

I went and saw Nine tonight. It amused me that the story was, essentially, about an author/director with extreme writer's block. However, I found a lot of it quite thought provoking. Mostly that all of his movies were basically scenes from his own life. I remember my husband once talking about one of my projects and saying it was if I was living out my fantasies through these stories. In Nine, he was living out all his fantasies to have something to write about. Ultimately, that destroyed his marriage. I imagine my stories are in some form or another like that. What would have happened, if...? I don't think it is because I am bored with my life or I am unhappy with the choices I have made. I just think those thoughts can lead to entertaining stories. I love my life. I am happy living it and do not use writing to escape, anymore. Yet, I have found you have to write what you know. I use the people around me to create new worlds. I guess that is why my leading ladies are in most ways...me...because I am always looking at each new world through my eyes.

Sticking to Reality

Writing a new story can be really hard for me sometimes. Mostly because you never really know when you have crossed that line of reality. Being a work of fiction, I should have liberty to write whatever I want, right? Wrong. I have found that the further you stray from reality the less your readers like it. It's true. Unless you are writing something within a sci-fi genre, when you are writing novels, you have to stick with what would really happen. Therefore, when you are working with a story and one of your characters is a psychiatrist, you have to research the elements of the story they are involved in. The problem is when you get to a point of the story when you are not sure if you are being realistic, and you can't find help through the web. Then, your options become such that you have to start making contact with real people, who can tell you if it is realistic or not. You don't just write a novel. There is a lot of research that goes into everything, and when you step outside of those realms of reality, you get a lot of criticism. Trust me. I know!