The When, Where and How of Writing

I am endlessly fascinated by the uniqueness of the writing process. It is about as unique and dynamic as writers themselves. Think about it. How do you write? Where do you write? When do you write? Do you have special traditions that you follow? Do you have to do a precise action, or set of actions before you hunker down and start putting words on that page?

For example, I like my coffee. I like the process of measuring out the beans, grinding them to the perfect consistency until that make a certain kind of grainy hum in the processor. I enjoy measuring out the water to exactly to "8 cup" line and I love hitting that button that will soon grant me my warm, caffeinated beverage of deliciosity. This roughly translates to a good 2 minutes of skipping around my kitchen, reading for my daily tradition.

In no way is this habit unique. I know many many (not exclusively writers) that profess they cannot function without their morning coffee. Yet for me, those two minutes of prep allow me time to organize my brain, follow a set number of actions that will afford me the desired and intended result. Coffee. I feel like, for me, this deliberate domino-effect of actions is not unlike how I write.

I plot. I plan. I script. I revise. And then I actually start putting words on the page. I keep an open mind, just because I prepped doesn't mean that tings aren't libel to change. In fact, they often do, but ascribing to these actions beforehand, I find, wake up my brain to the creative process, and actually help me become more open to novel ideas.

Another vital aspect of writing for me is where I write. Suffice it to say, in this regard I am rather set in my ways. I like to be alone when I write. I like to be closed up somewhere, with my coffee and my appropriate story playlist. Then, and only then do I feel like I can be truly present with my characters and their story. I have tried to write in public. I have tried to bust out some words when I'm on my break at work, but it just doesn't feel as organic. I have other sounds, other voices, and external influences informing and affecting my mood. Heck, even if I am physically in my place of employment (even if I am not on the clock) I cannot shake the "I'm at work" feeling.

Also, I feel like the time of day is very important to my writing mind. Once upon a time I could write whenever, and usually that was very very late at night after the world (and all my family and friends) had gone to sleep. I had nothing to do but hang out with my thoughts. As I've gotten older, and the internet become endlessly more fascinating (hello Pinterest) it's been harder to keep my head clear and more receptive to creativity later in the day. By that time I've probably gone to work, or Pole Class and am buzzing with my thoughts and feeling on the events of the day. Was work stressful and hard? Did I not perfect that move in Pole that I had vowed I would? Am I less than 2 weeks out from a Showcase and have maybe 50% of an unrefined routine to show for myself? That last one's a true story, yeesh, but I digress...

I find now, that if I write earlier in the day, I face the page with a clear mine. Provided the events of the previous day weren't too taxing. I also recently discovered the Google Chrome app StayFocused which allows you to curb your internet consumption for certain times of the day. For me I have it set to block a whole slew of social media sites (oddly enough, not Blogger, yet) between the hours of 8am and Noon Sunday-Friday. For example, If I were to log onto FB right now, the countdown would begin, and it'd warn me when I have only 5mins or 60 seconds left to browse that site. Best part about that app, it's free!

So, what are some of your writing habits and traditions?

Assessing the Issue From Every Angle

(pic by aditya777)

    I've made no secret that I've been stuck. I've been very stuck. For an uncomfortably long time. The amount of time that makes me question whether or not its "okay" to even using the term "writer" when I introduce myself to new people. Writers, well, they write, and I haven't been doing much of that. What's up?
I can only blame "lack of inspiration" or a "fickle muse" so much before I have to assume some responsibility for my actions. Or, inaction  rather. I read blogs, I read Writer's Digest, I read numerous books, all in the hopes that maybe the wonderment of imagination and escape will jump-start my seemingly sickened creativity, but nothing takes.
    In truth, I have been significantly stuck since I finished the rough draft of Blood Wind over a year ago (almost 2 years ago... yeesh). To examine how profound that event was for me, let me give you a little perspective: I'd never finished a rough draft of a story (I intended to publish) ever before. The pressures of perfecting and tweaking (even though I've been told and read again and again that a story will never-ever be "perfect") a story had never been a task I've put myself up to. I always just blazed on to the next part of the tale, or a new tale, that had been brewing in my brain without ever really challenging myself to look back and assess the work I had just done.
    Why?
    Plain and simple: It forced me to look at my work critically. It forced me to accept that "okay, this needs some work". However, this mindset can do many things to a person. It can force them to meet the challenge or it can break them down. I think me for, I bob between those two poles. The higher side of me says "Lindz, you want this to be a good story, and you knew (deep down) it wasn't going to be perfect right away. So, let's get to work and make this something to be proud of" and the pithy side of me that kicks and screams and cries like a spoiled toddler and says "I've already worked so long and hard, I don't want to anymore."
    *sigh* Yes, I will recognize the obstiinant toddler within me.
    Another aspect of the ongoing struggle of proodreading and re-writing is that, for all intents and purposes, my current rough draft is really like a second draft. I wrote the first, fledgling rendition of this book when I was 18. I blew through it in a month and had almost exactly 50,000 words to show for myself. But, instead of ironing out the kinks and critically looking at the plot structure, character arcs and motrivations to see if everything was organic and logical, I launched headlong into book two.
    Problem? I'd say so. The fallout from such behavior subconsciously allowed me to get attached to the way that story was structured. I felt like that was just the right way for that plot to go, because it perfectly (or so it seemed) set up all the drama that was to come. Yes and no. So, as I rewrote my now current rough draft from Fall of 09' to Winter of 10' I didn't really change that much with the plot structure. Just expounded on areas that needed a bit more fleshing out.
    So, as I started to look critically at my rough draft, REALLY critically at it I think I CRITICALLY wounded my pride. Wow. This is what I wrote? This is what I though was good story structure and character development? Maybe it's not that bad. But, whoo, I was stung, and had no one to blame but myself. Talk about a blow to the ego.
    As I awkwardly plunk along with my revisions I feel like I have a lot more to work on than should be necessary for a second draft. I don;t know where that mindset came from. But I know I need to change it. Cuz that "I should be better than this" mindset I feel is desperately hindering me from moving forward. I can't forgive myself my poor writing ability, even though there are plenty of other areas in my life where I can forgive myself my current condition and challenge myself to grow, learn and change.
What gives? What's a girl to do? How do you shake that devil off your back so you can get to work and make stuff happen? I know I can do that. I have done that. But with writing it is particularly hard to forgive myself my short-comings.
    So, as I move into this next year, I resolve to make no resolutions, but the actively and consciously challenge myself to grow and learn as a writer. Just reading WD articles, blogs and books is not enough. Maybe I need classes. Maybe I need to (finally) join the local writing group. Maybe I need to take my notebook and pen to the park and hang upside down from the monkey bars and see what crazy ideas leap into my brain when I am upside down.
    I guess I'll never know unless I try.
    But, I gotta try.

A Story Through Dance

   Recently I had the wondrous privilege to perform in my first showcase with Vertical Fusion! I've been attending 4-5 classes a week there since April, and exactly 8 months to the day since my first pole class ever, I had the opportunity to show the community what I've been working so hard at. I posted last week about my journey up until the showcase, and now that it is over I wanted to record my thoughts and feelings on what it was like to specifically choreograph a full routine.

   It is regular for the instructors to offer "free dance" at the end of classes, but I always immensely enjoyed when Melanie would challenge us to string a series of moves into a mini routine. It was a unique challenge to figure out how to make your body transition from one move to the next, as well as figuring out what felt natural and what flowed with the music. So, I already had a very scant idea about how to string moves together, but for my dance I was fully in charge of the direction I took it.

   The dance first and foremost begins with the song. Not only was it required information as part of the initial agreement to participate in the show, but it would have been very awkward to string moves together without a piece to play it to. The theme of the show was Glambition: 
(noun) term used to define "real beauty" that involves caring about your appearance, but not sticking to a perfect image.

    "I admire her glambition, because her confidence makes her beautiful."

   When I thought about the theme of the show, I considered what glamor meant to me. To me glamor is drama, and when it comes to music there is nothing more glamorous or dramatic as Florence and the Machine! I knew my artist, but what song? She has so many, excellent and powerful pieces. I decided to go with one of her more recent and lesser known tracks from Snow White and the Huntsman: Breath of Life

    From the first time I heard this song I knew I'd love to put some kind of routine to it, but how and what, I had no idea. So, I went searching for guidelines on how to choreograph a pole dance and found this:

How To Choreograph a Pole Routine

    As suggested, I made my list of known moves, and basically started splicing pieces together. Running them in my head as I listened to my music over and over and over again. What's funny is, I'm still not sick of this song, and I have easily listened to it upwards of 400 times! When I went to my first open pole class to start walking out what I was dreaming up and found that I already had the first 1:30 minutes down solid. Sweet! Then things got weird. I had moves I wanted to incorporate, and definite poses I wanted to strike at certain moments in the song, but how do I get there?

   Not too different from writing a story, in fact. I had most of a beginning, and idea of the middle, some right before the end, and no end except for the very last spin I wanted to do. I even had an outline of what I wanted to put when and where. I am a total outliner! Ha!

    Thank goodness for private sessions though! Had it not been for my hour of consultation and brainstorming with Melanie I would have been left with holes all over my dance. So, case in point, it's good to have a creative consultant. Someone to bounce ideas off of, and help your flesh out the direction you want to go. Melanie from the very beginning stressed "what story do you want to tell?" And until she said that I hadn't even thought of my routine as a story. Which was silly considering the song I chose has an innate tale in it.

    I had an absolute blast working towards this goal, and rising to the challenge. It was an opportunity I had never been presented with before, and I liked the process of drawing out what the song meant to me, and interpreting that through my movement. The date for the next official showcase is already set for February 9th, and I already have my short list of songs for the event as well as a list of unused moves and tricks that I want to use.

   

A *Little Pole Story

*I dont' write little stories.

I'm going to take a moment and reflect on a major journy I have taken over the past 12 months. 

It was last Novemeber that I went on a hunt for a particular music video on YouTube: Small Town Witch by the Sneaker Pimps. Unfortunately for me there did not appear to be an official music video for the song, yet what I did find spurned a journey that has brought me to this moment in my life. At the top of the queue was a video called "Small Town Witch- Twirloween". Now, usually when trolling YouTube I click links with caution, for you never know what seedy things you'll find out there in Internet-land. However, on this day I guess I was feel a lil' brazen, so I clicked the link. This is where it took me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQwtaIp843c

For five minutes I sat, rapt by the display of sheer strength, flexibility, endurance and power. Then I hit replay and did it all over again. I shared this video with my friends. I went searching for more Pole Dance videos until finally I realized I had a bit of an obsession. I wanted to learn how to do this. I had to learn how to do this. Alas, I had never danced before. I wasn't that strong. I wasn't that flexible, and I've never had marathon-worthy stamina. So, seemingly, my pole dancing obsession was doomed to be nothing but a fleeting fancy.

Then, one day, in April my friend Alexis forwarded me a living social deal for a studio down in Longmont called Vertical Fusion. Without question I purchased the deal and the next day sped down to Longmont for my first Pole Dancing class. At first, I was intimidated, but the atmosphere Melanie created was welcoming, supportive and encouraging. I blew through my 3-class Living Social deal in less then a week. Then I bought a 5-class package deal, then another, and then a 10-class package deal until the months clipped by and I had been regularly attending pole-dancing classes for the better part of a year.

I noticed changes in every aspect of my physical fitness. Stronger, more flexible, more endurance- the very things I was convinced would hold me back rom ever being able to pole dance. However, I also noticed other, unexpected changes in me as well. I was more confident, I was more couragous, I wasn't afraid of a little pain if it meant a little gain- and not just when it came to pole dancing. It was this feeling of capability and self-power that kept me coming back. Everyone has their own reasons for pole-dancing, some want to be sexy, some want to be fit, and sure I don't mind those things either, but I do it for the buoy of confidence.

Fast-forward to about 2 months ago when an official announcement was made the next Vertical Fusion Showcase. I knew I wanted to participate, I dreamed of being at a place with my skill that I felt comfortable showing off all that I had learned and all that I was capable of. Yet, I still had that tiny voice of doubt whispering in the back of my mind: you can't last a whole song. For a month a wobbled back and forth between signing up to perform and running and hiding my head in the sand. Finally on September 25th, I signed the agreement to perform in the showcase... And immediately freaked out! My palms are too sweaty, my endurance is unreliable, my skill is "meh". But, I signed up, there was no backing out. It was a challenge I agreed to face, and damn it I was going to face it.

I'd never choreographed any kind of dance before, and the only dancing I had ever done was pre-choreographed stuff for high school theater. It began with a song, a song that since the first time I heard it I knew I had to dance to it. I didn't know how or what, I just knew this was the song. Thus I began to meticulously list all the moves, spins, tricks, poses, transitions and floor work I had learned over the past 7 months. In my first day actually dancing to my song I had 1:30 minutes choreographed. The next time I had the end choreographed. Then the middle of the song started to come together. Then, I hit a wall. I had close to a minute left of my song left that I had no idea what to do with. Thank goodness for Melanie though! Luckily with the performer package I purchased I also got one private session, and were it not for that I'd still have holes in my dance. But man, once the whole piece came together I felt worlds better. I actually felt like I could do this.

Tonight's the night. My first Pole Showcase, and I honestly couldn't be more excited. I've missed performing so much, and I am anxious and delighted to be pursuing such a wildly different form of expression. I owe so much to Melanie for creating such a wonderful, welcoming and encouraging atmosphere at Vertical Fusion. And, you know what, I'm even gonna take a moment to be proud of myself and what I've accomplished. I have changed so my=uch as an individual due to Pole dance. I've learned to patient with myself, and be kind to myself, but push myself also. Sure there are ladies who are far more advanced than I, but you know what, I'm gonna get there, I just gotta keep at it. The old Lindsey would have never, ever, given herself the chance to try. Pole has done something wonderous for me, and I cannot wait to discover how else it will help me grow as an athlete, performer, and most importantly as a person.

Operation Halloween 2012: Isabela from Dragon Age 2

Today we deviate from the norm of writing-based posts to explore my other love: Costuming. I've spoken before of my penchant for the fine art of sewing, so I feel I don't need to expound upon that anymore. Let's just get to the good stuff!

Since my friends and I are friggin' awesome theater/creative types Halloween is serious business for us. Every year we pick a theme and we each build costumes that pertain to it. In 08' we did a Dark Knight (Batman) themed Halloween. Last year we did Marvel Comic characters, and in the past we've done other theme parties such as Greek Gods and Angels and Demons. So, this year we decided to go balls-to-the-wall with a Video Game Theme, something we'd only been talking about since pretty much the beginning of our costume parties.

But it's only July, you say. This is true, but my friends and I (very much I) take Halloween and especially costumes so seriously it is vital to start so early. I'm a perfectionist after all, and I want it done right. So, with Video Games as the theme that gave us a broad, broad realm of possibilities. I had several choices. Tali or FemShep from Mass Effect, Sheik from The Legend of Zelda, or Isabela from Dragon Age 2. Well, if you read the title of my post and saw the picture at the top, I didn't necessarily set up much suspense, but anyway here's a look at the options.

Yes, I went with Isabela, because of the four options, her costume is the easiest. Granted, I would love to make all of these costumes at some point in the near future, but what had a lot of influence over my decision was the fact that I want to be able to help my friends with their costumes, should they need me. Isabela, being the least challenging, would offer me more time to help out. I'm not disappointed with my choice, by any means, I can't wait to be Isabela. So, let's see what she's all about!

Isabela is a character from Bioware's (The same company that produces Mass Effect <3) Dragon Age series. She appears in the first game, but she becomes a much more prevalent figure in the sequel. She's a pirate and rogue, as you might have noticed, and she has a penchant for daggers, loot, and sleeping with anything that moves. She is a great character, and has some of the best dialogue in the game! 

There's really only one garment piece that I need to sew, and that's her skimpy little shift dress. Relatively easy, and made all the easier by the fact that i don't have to buy a pattern! I already have something stashed away. Several years ago, for the Greek God party, I was Artemis. My costume was based off an original design, but I used a store-bought pattern as a base and then modified it to suit my purposes. I used New Look 6401 as my base:

The seams that were there were all in the right place, based on my design, I just need to add a few more to perfectly match up. Well, I still have that pattern, somehow it survived the Great Pattern Purge of 2011, and now I mean to use it again. Obviously with some magical modifications. As it stands, that's about as far as I've gotten with this project. Once I get my pattern all modified I can then better approximate how much fabric I need... Then let the sewing commence! So stay tuned

The Importance of Having Hobbies

Living a writer’s life can be taxing. I don’t know about you, but when I have downtime (free of chores, laundry, errands, playing with the pup, etc.) I feel like I should be writing. So, naturally, if I don’t end up making good use of this boon of free time, I feel guilty and morose. I look back at my afternoon and think: Well, another perfect afternoon for writing squandered away.

However, though writing is important to us, so is living. What’s the saying? “No beer, and no TV make Homer go, something, something?”... Wait! “All work, and no play make Jack a dull boy.” That’s it. For those of us seeking publication, it is VERY important to look at our writing as a job (a mindset I still struggle with), but like any job, it’s important to take a break and recharge those creative juices... With more creativity!

It is vital to have hobbies and interests. Looking at it logically, writing for you probably started out as a hobby yet? A hobby that was so pervasive that one day you thought: Hey, I’d like to do this. When I think of two of my major hobbies, both of them force me to set goals for myself and give something to aspire too. Not too unlike writing.

I’ve been a seamstress and costume designer since I was 17, and for all of that time I’ve designed, pondered, dissected and constructed costumes of both an original and adapted nature. Sewing forced me to set a goal for myself, and me being the perfectionist that I am, I had to complete it as perfectly and meticulously as possible.

Depending on the costume, sometimes it took months, one costume even took me a year to finish between all the embroidery and beading, but you know what, I stuck with it. I wanted to know I could do it, and even though it got taxing, and sometimes downright frustrating (There comes a point in every sewing project where I just want to throw my sewing machine across the room) I stuck with it. Just for a frame of reference on how serious I get about my sewing projects: I'm starting my Halloween costume now, because I want to give myself ample amounts of time to get it done right.

My other hobby I just acquired in the past couple months: Pole Dancing. Yup. Pole dancing. It’s been a form of dance I’ve found fascinating for a while, and thanks to a LivingSocial deal, I was able to get a 3-Class Package for $25. I was instantly addicted, and once my 3 classes were used up, I bought a membership. I’ve never had a gym membership that I stuck with, but this was something completely different. It was expressive, exciting, and throughly exhausting. I rarely leave class without new bruises or exciting strains. But I love every minute of it, and though it’s hard, and I’ve never been a dancer in my life, it REALLY speaks to me.

(I earned that money... Not!)

Not only does pole dancing force me to push myself to my physical limits, it has taught me several practices that I can apply to writing. Even sewing has taught me many of the same lessons:

1.) It’s not going to be perfect the first time. Be forgiving to yourself, but keep trying.
2.) Enjoy yourself. Learn to have fun with where you’re at, appreciate the process.
3.) Never stop learning

4.) Observe yourself; your work

5.) Brilliance must be earned

I Guess I'm Making a Korra Costume

THE LEGEND OF KORRA Pictured: Korra, Naga in in THE LEGEND OF KORRA on Nickelodeon. Photo: Nickelodeon. ©2012 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved ©2012 VIACOM INTERNATIONAL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Yep. It's happening. I'm making a Korra costume.

Why, you ask? Well, mostly because I can. However, as some of you may have noticed I finally opened up an Etsy shop in an attempt to sell some of my old costumes. As I scoured through my multitude of stored costumes I've been trying to discern which one I wanted to keep and which I could live with parting with. The long and short of it, I'm pretty much keeping all of my original pieces, and all of my LOTR dresses.

But, getting back on track. Korra. Yes, as I searched for costumes to post I toyed with the idea of wether or not I was going to sell my Smoke costume.

At first I thought no, but then today I reconsidered and decided to post it... The robe that is. As I pulled the costume from the storage bin it immediately flashed into my mind that I could modify the pants into Korra's from Avatar: The Legend of Korra... Well, obviously I wasn't going to let this opportunity pass me by.

So, I took an afternoon removing seams and contorting my brain to make it work... Here's what I have so far.

They're not finished yet, because the fur trim was proving medelsome. Yet, there you have it. The product of my flash decision to make a Korra costume. Stay tuned for more.