A Writer's Journey

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Maya Angelou

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.

Victor Hugo

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Writing Wednesday: The Value of Critique

There are some people that can write without the need for an extra pair of eyes until the very end, right before submission. But even then, there are writers that go through the entire process alone, with only their own knowledge and their own views on the outcome of the manuscript. Others, like me, have those extra pair of eyes (or extra pairs, in my case) that see the process unfold as the manuscript evolves into what would eventually be the final version for submission.

Not to say that one way is wrong and everyone must go that route because with or without critique, it's really the work that speaks for itself and different people just have their own ways to get to that final product.

In my experience, I've tried writing on my own, without the extra eyes and extra input that another person can give. I don't have a degree in writing, English, or literature. The gist of my writing credibility when I first attempted writing a full length manuscript was summed up into a few creative writing classes I had taken and English courses from high school.



For the longest time, I was completely terrified of showing anything I had written to anyone for many reasons that I'm not going to get into here. I don't know at what point things had shifted, but I decided that I was going to need those extra pair of eyes.

I needed help.



I began using my social media experience to reach out to others who were in the same boat. I pored through blogs, and attended online conferences and webinars. Not only did I start gaining knowledge about the industry, but I also began striking up conversations with people who shared the same interests, who had the same ideas and experiences, and who could be someone that could help shape my attempt at a writing career for the better.

I started off with one or two people I had met at WriteOnCon and, eventually, ventured out to blog postings that helped to pair up writers with others of the like for the purpose of exchanging works for critique. It was one of the best moves I had ever made.

Not only did I make new friends, but I found writers who could take a look at what I had written and give me honest, no holds-barred input on what they felt could be improved. This experience with critique partners and beta readers also helped to thicken my skin (okay, I might still be working on this one...LOL *shifty eyes*). Their critique helped to see certain elements that I may have otherwise missed, or provide input that could potentially make the work much better.

Something to keep in mind about critique, however, is that all input is subjective. Every person has their own opinion of what should and shouldn't be. Of what is missing or what is glaringly obvious. The way the information is handled and filtered into the manuscript is all up to how the writer interprets and uses the information given.

I look back on the first draft of the very first manuscript I had written and sort of cringe. *laughs* But, I know that without that first attempt, I wouldn't have something to go back to that I could compare with how much better I've improved since then. Critique helps the writer to grow. It challenges the writer's current skills and help to shed a new light on things that might have otherwise been missed. It helps the writer to grow as a person and to take from it the good.

At least that's what it's done for me.

What are your opinions on critique? Do you think they're necessary for a writer's growth or do you think its influence does more harm than good?

And now for our regularly scheduled pretty...



Monday, August 29, 2011

Music Monday: Nice Guys - nigahiga

I haven't posted in a few...life's just been throwing me a bumload of stuff that I had to deal with. But I thought for today's Music Monday, I'd give everyone a supreme funny that I found on YouTube. Nigahiga was a channel I found via my brother (who's one of the most awesome people on this PLANET, but I may be biased) and the video is basically a parody on nice guys vs douchebags. Featured in the vid are Ryan Higa, Kev Jumba, Chester See, Dtrix, Cathy Nguyen, and Kina Grannis. If you like what you see, subscribe to their channels below.

Ryan Higa - nigahiga
Kev Jumba - kevjumba
Chester See - chestersee
Dtrix (Dominic from SYTYCD) - thedominicshow
Cathy Nguyen - lilcdawg
Kina Grannis - kinagrannis

Nice Guys - nigahiga version



And now for our regularly scheduled pretty...



Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tunes Tuesday: Katy McAllister - Worth Fighting For + CONTEST WINNERS!

In lieu of Music Monday because I was unable to post, I bring you Tunes Tuesday! Just as musical and full of win! *confetti* But before we get to my song of the week, I wanted to announce the WINNERS from my Writing Wednesday Dialogue and Pimpage Contest! *more confetti*

Winner for the dialogue contest: Lori Lee

Winner for the bonus entries: Samantha Rae

CONGRATULATIONS!
Email me at ThatGirlAni(at)gmail(dot)com to let me know if you would prefer the Amazon or iTunes gift card.

Thanks for all of you who entered and made my contest oh so fun! :D

Now for the music of the week...

Katy McAllister - Worth Fighting For



Lyrics

The sky is turning golden now.
Wish you were with me, now.
My body aches for you.
Feels empty since you left
Is anybody left, that isn’t broken?
Shattered, confused.

It’s not that I don't understand your side
It’s just hard to contemplate why this
Love so deep goes unanswered
I'm going places in this life
And I want you by my side
Do you remember that night

As you tell me goodbye
I see that look in your eyes
I never wanted you to break down
We found real love in this cold world
Isn't that what life's about
We can get away from this town

I know exactly how I hurt you,
There's nothing left but the truth
We can change this life
One step at a time.
I know there's so much more
Isn't that worth fighting for?

Its been so long I'm growing.
We've lost the only one who can fix me,
Now it's me who's breaking down.
I know you see me broken
But there's so much unspoken
Please give us hope.
Because I'll never let you go.

It's not that I'm forgiving myself.
It's just I'm going through hell.
To try and think of words to save me.

It's not so much I am missing you.
It's more like I'm so lost without you.
I'd give anything for you to just take me.

As you tell me goodbye
I see that look in your eyes
I never wanted you to break down
We found real love in this cold world
Isn't that what life's about
We can get away from this town

I know exactly how I hurt you,
There's nothing left but the truth
We can change this life
One step at a time.
I know there's so much more
Isn't that worth fighting for?

Honestly tell when you look at me
And don't remember everything
You're scared and that’s okay
I'll show you there’s a way
For us to truly be something happy

As you tell me goodbye
I see that look in your eyes
I never wanted you to break down
We found real love in this cold world
Isn't that what life's about
We can get away from this town

I know exactly how I hurt you,
There's nothing left but the truth
We can change this life
One step at a time.
I know there's so much more
Isn't that worth fighting for?

And now for our regularly-scheduled pretty...



Friday, August 12, 2011

Fun Friday: The Liebster Blog Award

It's a blog award kinda day! *grins*

I just got this frawesomesauce award from my original gal-boyfriend, Sophia. *squee and gives many thanks*



This award is intended to connect bloggers, specifically those with less than 200 followers. In accepting the award, I must:

- Show my thanks to the blogger who gave me the award by linking back to them.
- Reveal my top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
- Post the award on my blog.
- Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the internet —other writers.
- And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.

So here are five of my favorite blogs EVAR:

1) You Are the Unicorn of My Dreams - Lori M. Lee

2) JonYang.org - Jon Yang

3) All About Mom Sense - Christine Marie

4) Sirra Girl - Sirra

5) A Nudge in the Right Direction - Alz and Krispy

And now for our regularly-scheduled PRETTY...



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Writing Wednesday: Character Voice

Just a friendly reminder that there are still two days left on my blog contest for a chance to win either an iTunes or an Amazon gift card. CLICK ME to get in on it! ENDS FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH!

Today's Writing Wednesday post discusses character voice. Why is character voice important to the story and how does it help to shape the story itself? Here are a few examples from one of my favorite literary characters of ALL TIME:

"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible."

"When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around. I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something. Only, I don't go. I'm too worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go."

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be."


Can anyone guess whose very authentically crafted voice that is? *fangirls a little* All Salinger aficionados should know this, but for those of you that don't - that would be none other than the voice of one Holden Caulfield.

The way the character describes certain things, how they react to the environment around them, their speaking patterns, even their choice of verbiage, are all different ways to make the character's personality come alive.

The Catcher in the Rye was written in first person POV and throughout the entire book, you get an absolute sense of who Holden is. Every word, every action, and every reaction is all authentically Holden Caulfield.

So how does a writer, who I'm sure have their own voices that show through in their written works, construct a character so believable it's as though the character has a completely separate mind of their own? In my experience, only one thing can help (unless of course the writer is a complete natural at being five different types of personalities all at once and is not deemed verifiably loony).

Practice.

Practice. Practice. And oh, did I mention Practice?

You hear pieces of advice everywhere:

-listen to dialogue in different settings from strangers all around you
-have a conversation with someone who embodies similar personality traits to the character whose voice you're trying to authenticate
-draw up a practice dialogue scenario between your working character and a "quiet friend" to get a feel for how they would talk with limited prodding
-pick a few topics unrelated to your WIP/manuscript/book, along with a few of your key characters, and let them have at it in a practice dialogue setting

These suggestions may seem silly or what have you, but they totally work. I'm still learning how to write distinguishable character voices; to get them to a point where someone could read an excerpt of dialogue or monologue and say "Ohhh...I know who that is!".

But I know I'm getting better.

Voice was something I struggled with when I started writing to the extent of how I'm doing it now. I look back to the very first story I attempted to write and the WIP that I'm currently working on and smile (you know, after the initial epic grimace face). *laughs*

To me, there is a substantial difference. I'm happy with the progression. I'm ecstatic that the practice I've put in and the proactive learning helped out, even if only by a small margin. I can see it. And really, isn't that what really matters? That we constantly improve, learn more, and continue improving?

For now, I'm pretty content with that.

How do you begin fleshing out your characters? What steps do you go through to personalize them, to give them the tools to take the reigns and come alive?

And now for our regularly-scheduled PRETTY...



Monday, August 8, 2011

Music Monday: AJ Rafael - Without You + Contest Reminder!

Today's Music Monday selection is something that is near and dear to my heart. One, because the artist is YouTube sensation and fellow Filipino AJ Rafael, and two, because the video is something that hits close to home. The song describes a want, no a need, so badly to be with that one person that going on without them would be an impossible feat. The video depicts a couple who is going through the five stages of grief as they learn to cope with the circumstances surrounding her illness and the toll it takes on their relationship. It's a touching video and I ended up bawling as I watched it. I still get teary just listening to the song, the images something I just can't get out of my mind.

It has fast become one of my favorite songs and I hope you enjoy it as well! *grins*

**REMINDER** There's still time to enter my blog contest that ends FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH. SEE PREVIOUS POST HERE. Come stop by for a chance to win a gift card from either iTunes or Amazon! **WHOO HOO**

AJ Rafael - Without You



Lyrics

Bucket full of tears
Baby know I’m here
I’m here waiting

Close your precious eyes
And just realize
I’m still fighting

For you to be with me
Sit under this tree
And we can watch the sunrise
(We can watch the sunrise)

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you

I know it feels
Like no ones around
But baby you're wrong
Just get rid of the fear
Promise that I’m here
I’ll never be gone

So baby come with me
We can fly away and we can watch the
Stars shine

And baby you can be my love

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you (without you)
Hold on, I promise it gets brighter
When it rains, I’ll hold you even tighter
I won’t go another day without you (without you)

This is me tonight
There's no more games and no more lies
And I know it's right
'Cause of the way you look into my eyes
And when I hold you tight
The worries disappear, I’m glad you're in my life...

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you
Hold on, I promise it gets brighter
When it rains, I’ll hold you even tighter
I won’t go another day without you (without you)

And I won't go another day without you...

And now for today's regularly-scheduled PRETTY...



Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Writing Wednesday: Dialogue Excerpts and CONTEST!

Last week's Writing Wednesday post mentioned something about my very first contest. *insert SQUEE here* What better way to kick off "virgin contest" shoes than by combining two things that I love? Dialogue and movies! :D

Contest rules are simple: Guess which movie each dialogue sample comes from and the one to get the most correct WINS! *fanfare* In the event of multiple winners, one will be chosen using random.org. This is totally based on the honor system, so for you Googlers out there... *flits fingers from my eyes to you* ...I'm watching you. Okay, not really 'cause that would be creepy... o_o

BONUS ENTRIES: Because this contest is hopefully one of many on the road to 100 blog followers, I'm giving people chances for multiple entries. If you comment below, it's +1. If you tweet about this contest, blog about this contest, or otherwise link this post as a form of pimpage, it's a +1 for each entry! The second winner from this bonus round will be chosen via random.org.

Please leave a comment *points below to pretty comment box* there so I know how many points you have. Also include any applicable linkage. :D

The prize for each winner is a $10 gift card from either iTunes or Amazon. CONTEST ENDS FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH. Happy posting!!!



And now for our regularly scheduled PRETTY...